episode_0054

“So that was Aunt’s goal for coming out into the world.”

A silent women’s restroom, just the two of them.

Sitting on the sink, stroking his chin and smiling faintly,

“I hate to rain on your parade, but…”

“…What.”

“An aunt with a long education like you would surely know the value of within the current group, right?”

“……”

, owned by my mother Jung Sooran.

Its stock price and market capitalization value far exceed trillions.

A hotel that probably holds a value of about 3.5 trillion won in pure numbers alone.

However, from my position, having been expelled from the group, it’s an unsellable item that I could never buy, no matter how much money I poured into it.

No, not just me, but anyone who came would never be able to acquire it, as it holds an enormous equity value.

Market capitalization is, after all, merely the value of superficial numbers.

Its true intrinsic value lies in ’s internal governance structure.

“As you know, it’s not just the value of a concrete lump; if you coveted that, it would be no joke from both above and below, wouldn’t it?”

The reason Cha Seongtaek specifically bequeathed to his wife, Jung Sooran.

It was none other than because the name alone could exert pressure on the entire conglomerate’s affiliates.

This problem arose from South Korea’s uniquely distorted large corporate structure.

A method born from rampant ‘illegal inheritance’ and ‘gifting’ that Korean chaebols use to defend their management rights.

Cha Seongtaek judged that after his death, the group could potentially be dismantled by disputes between his siblings.

Thus, while researching if there was a way, he utilized Jung Sooran’s usual strong affection for her family, giving birth to Hwaryeong’s unique structure.

To summarize simply, the person with the most influence in currently is the eldest, Cha Seonmi, but if one were truly determined to operate the entire group, Jung Sooran would be in an advantageous position.

It’s complicated to explain, but it’s because insurance and liquid assets are deeply intertwined with .

Being able to freely control affiliates much larger than oneself with money and privilege means that acquiring among the affiliates holds a very special significance.

“Of course, Mom doesn’t seem interested in those privileges.”

However, Jung Sooran did not do so.

Mom merely occupied the position; contrary to Cha Seongtaek’s expectations, she only acted as a deterrent and did not actively participate in management.

Just as she didn’t protect me when my was forced out by my sisters, and silently condoned it as a neutral party.

Only Jung Sooran knows if she has no interest in management at all, or if she’s simply not prepared to control her children.

Anyway, this is the meaning of Hwaryeong’s current structure.

Jung Sooran sits on the throne, but the actual control was wielded by Cha Seonmi, or the second daughter Cha Hwaryeon and the youngest, Cha Soeun.

“At least those three people will have their eyes lit up (with vigilance), are you prepared?”

“……”

Ptui!

Aunt looked down at the sink and spat.

After turning off the running water, she swept her long straight hair back and straightened her posture.

“No matter what you say, it’s my rightful share. Because that bastard Cha Seongtaek promised it.”

“…Dad?”

This was news to me.

“You might not know, but every time we met, he promised to give me a hotel if I kept our relationship quiet.

Even before pesky reporters started following us—no, even after that, he said he’d give it to me secretly if I just stayed quiet. …The result, as you can see.”

“He threw out empty promises to Aunt in his lifetime to gain her favor….”

Shrugging his shoulders in futility,

“I’m not sure how useful the words of someone who died years ago will be.”

“Right, the head of a large corporation just spouted it off like a con man, so there’s no particular evidence.”

Even if there was evidence, it would be a laughingstock.

Because such a verbal promise is useless.

Or, even if by some chance crucial evidence of a promised gift remained, it would likely turn into a thriller movie-like story.

If not Mom, then Cha Seonmi… no, if the youngest reached out for a spoon, a thriller-like situation would unfold.

Thud!

After thoroughly emptying her stomach, Aunt gargled her mouth with mouthwash from the handbag she had placed on the sink.

Her complexion had become somewhat pale from all the retching, but her expression was clearer than ever as she faced him.

“That’s why I’m only telling you.”

“……”

“You must have come to find me, instigated me, and even arranged a meeting with my sister because you want something from me or have a reason, right?”

A quick-witted type.

A suggestion to lay everything bare without hiding or measuring each other.

‘Is she going straight into the game…?’

As the other side showed willingness to advance the conversation at once, he also started calculating.

Aunt’s face, similar to Mom’s if she didn’t frown.

He gazed at it idly, and as he drew a suitable conclusion, he replied with a wide grin.

“I’m going to fuck Mom.”

“……???”

As he paused, her eyelids fluttered open and closed at light speed.

“W-what, what, what?!”

“Well, Mom’s so damn hot, so I’m gonna screw her.”

“W-what on earth!?”

As he answered again, her composure, which she had prepared herself for, crumbled in embarrassment.

She widened her eyes, as if she hadn’t expected such vulgar and absurd words.

Regardless, he plainly revealed his true objective.

He would be transparent with anyone who would join his side after Cha Hwaryeon.

“It’s not just Mom; the entire Hwaryeong is my objective. Because they’re all my family, I want to take care of them intimately by my side.”

“What—what crazy talk is that?!”

“By the way, I’ve already finished things with Hwaryeon noona. She’s on our side now.”

“!!!

Cha Hwaryeon… that loud-mouthed bitch—no no no, that’s not important, what on earth is this…!”

Aunt, who had been acting cool-headed, stammered.

She pressed her temples as if trying to clear her cluttered mind.

He compressed the information again for the aunt, who couldn’t seem to process it.

“Think simply.

The reason and objective for me drawing out Aunt, who was living in hiding, and wanting to bring down Mom, is simply family.”

“……”

“And Aunt, broadly speaking, is also family that needs to be taken care of.”

At first glance, an appearance similar to his mother, Jung Sooran.

Though she was taller and had more sharply upturned eyes, Aunt possessed her own unique charm.

Unlike her past self, buried in squalor, she was now dressed up, looking like a female, and as he approached, excited, she flinched, drawing her shoulders in.

He showed consideration, worrying that touching her too much might trigger a panic attack, so Aunt looked up at him, trembling.

“I thought you just showed up at my house out of nowhere, but you’re completely… a madman, aren’t you?”

“Hmm… that much doesn’t even faze me anymore. My insults are quite everyday, so feel free to curse all you want.”

“You’ve been looking at Mom—my sister and our family—with those kinds of eyes all this time?”

“Not just Mom, but Aunt too.

Ever since I visited you before♪”

“……”

He freely revealed his impure intentions, which might feel dirty.

Just as Aunt had revealed her ambition to own a hotel, he, too, laid bare his dark true intentions.

Because he could.

Even if they were family, in his eyes, they were just females.

Moreover, in a world where no one else remained around him, Aunt desperately needed his power, so it didn’t matter.

“……I see.

Such a idiotic reason that it explains why you specifically sought me out.”

Moreover, for Aunt, who had been thoroughly exploited by Cha Seongtaek and was filled with distrust, this approach was far more effective.

Her blossoming youth had been devoured by Cha Seongtaek, so she would surely shudder at any further betrayal or backstabbing.

“Then, what was that about joining forces to bring down my sister before…?”

“I was serious.

Only if Mom truly collapses can I fully put her in my grasp.”

“…………To do something so insane, I suppose that would be the case.”

Again, she shook her head as if it logically made sense.

“Then you approached me because… my body is your objective?”

“I won’t deny it. However,”

He took a step forward, closing the distance.

As he touched the shoulder of the delicate woman,

“Ugh!”

*Flinch!*

An immediate reaction.

‘She must have suffered terribly….’

As he made contact with the body that had endured harsh years alone, she showed an aversion to men, perhaps a lingering effect from suffering under Cha Seongtaek.

He looked down at it bitterly and comforted her.

“I’m greedy, so I want Aunt’s true feelings too.”

“……”

“Isn’t it much better to connect with each other than to force feelings?”

This, too, was his unvarnished truth, stripped of all pretense.

Tormenting a woman who hates it, especially one who suffers from panic disorder, would be mutual torture.

“To be honest, I can get Aunt the hotel she wants right away.

might be difficult, but it’s not like there are no other hotels in South Korea; I can acquire a suitable one and put Aunt in charge.”

“……”

“Furthermore, because of your severely burned experience, you still have deep distrust towards men, and I understand your desire for material compensation. I think your demand for your share is justified.”

This was why she readily accepted the luxury bag he had given her as a gift earlier.

The luxury bag, sitting conspicuously on the sink, always carried by her lest someone take it, revealed Aunt’s dark, deep-seated psychology.

She is a woman with many scars in many ways.

Even if I were crazed with lust, I wouldn’t force myself on Jung Chaewon, who suffers from panic attacks.

If I slowly close the distance by revealing my true intentions so she doesn’t feel betrayed, her heart will open on its own.

If I were to force myself on her coercively, it would be no different from Cha Seongtaek’s methods; all I need to do is act with consideration.

“The conversation has been long.

Now that we’ve revealed our true intentions, shall we wrap things up for today?”

“……”

He decided to leave for now.

He had left Mom alone for a long time, so as he was about to exit the restroom door—

*Grab!*

He was pulled back.

“…Aunt?”

An arm stretched out with difficulty.

Though she was trembling, supporting herself with her other arm as if hives might break out at any moment, she didn’t let go.

Aunt let a clear string of saliva slightly stretch to the floor.

Then, with a deeply wrinkled face, she slowly lifted her head.

“Now… go.”

“Huh?”

When he asked again, she swept all her hair back.

Her mouth mumbled, unlike her expression which had mustered up all her courage.

“Since the topic came up… let’s go to my house now.”