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Chapter 26
“Let’s settle this first. I think you’ll need to pay for the table.”
Yeonsuk frowned as if she had no idea what he was talking about.
“Do you know the world-renowned glass artist R?”
“…W-what? R?”
“Lucien Delmar. During World War II, his home was destroyed by bombing. Everyone mourned it. At the time, he was sculpting something out of glass made using a special technique.”
Apparently unable to understand what I was saying at all, Yeonsuk’s eyelids fluttered, and the center of her lips curled upward toward her philtrum in visible anxiety.
In contrast, Ji-hyeok’s face was perfectly calm.
“His apprentices later went back to the house, gathered up the shattered glass, and managed to make a rectangular glass slab just big enough to place on a table. And last year, that piece sold at auction for five billion won.”
“W-what are you even saying right now…?”
“It means the table glass you broke is that very glass.”
Ji-hyeok finished speaking with a faint smile.
That elegant smile looked like a devil’s grin to Yeonsuk.
Her face went pale as she shook her head repeatedly.
“T-that’s a lie… W-why would something that expensive be in a place like this…?”
“It’s worth bringing in. This is the office of someone who might lead Sehan next.”
With that, Ji-hyeok made it unmistakably clear that Yeonsuk was on a completely different level from them.
He pressed the intercom button on the desk and called Secretary Choi.
Soon, Secretary Choi knocked and entered the office.
“You called for me, Director.”
“Secretary Choi. Did the CCTV in this room catch the madam breaking the table?”
“Yes. I’ll extract the footage and send it to you right away.”
“Thanks.”
As the door closed, Yeonsuk’s hands began to tremble as she fussed with her mouth.
“Before you start talking about grandchildren, the video of you damaging property in my office could spread first.”
“…E-excuse me…!”
“We’ll organize the damage details separately and send you a statement. Review it and let us know how you plan to handle it through your representative.”
Ji-hyeok stood up.
As he walked past the sofa, he paused and leaned slightly toward Yeonsuk.
“For your reference, the office door is also made of very expensive wood. Please open and close it gently.”
A groan slipped from Yeonsuk’s mouth.
Ji-hyeok chuckled quietly and headed back to his desk.
As he sat down, he saw Yeonsuk fling open the office door and flee in a hurry.
She probably thought that if she ran off like this, her mistake would be overlooked simply because she was from a wealthy family—but not a chance.
That kind of mercy was reserved only for good people who knew how to repent for their mistakes.
Han Yeonsuk was the kind of woman who would come back at any time and use Doha as a hostage to threaten them again.
Ji-hyeok called Secretary Choi once more.
And when Secretary Choi returned to the office, he gave an instruction.
“Write up a detailed damage statement for the broken glass and send it to that woman’s house.”
“…You really mean send it?”
“Yes. By today.”
Secretary Choi replied that he understood and left the office.
Ji-hyeok then calmly resumed reviewing his documents, as if nothing had happened.
Yul Bakery Shop
“Are you done yet?”
Jieun urged from the hall.
Yul wiped the water from her hands on her apron and quickly came out of the kitchen.
“All done.”
Seeing Yul come out with a bright expression, Jieun smiled.
“Are you that happy?”
“Yeah.”
After getting Ji-hyeok’s permission to visit Doha once a week, Yul immediately reopened the shop.
Even if she couldn’t raise Doha herself, she could still watch him grow and share in his life.
To do that, she needed to be a proud and wonderful aunt.
And in case something happened to him, or he wanted something, she decided to work hard again so money would never be an issue.
Although she’d taken a few days off, thankfully the shop was still packed, and everything sold out around lunchtime as usual.
Today, all the bread sold out an hour earlier than normal.
In a good mood thanks to the strong weekday business, Yul had suggested earlier that they go to the department store.
She planned to buy gifts for Jieun and Taehoon, who had supported her when things were hard, and pick up lots of things for Doha while she was at it.
As she took off her apron, Yul asked,
“What did Taehoon say? Can he come?”
“Nope. He says studying’s going well today, so he’s going to keep at it.”
“Really? Think he’ll pass this year?”
“If he passes this year, that’d be great~”
Smiling, Yul nudged Jieun in the side with her elbow.
“What? If he passes this year, that’s only two years. Becoming a police officer at twenty-six is pretty elite, isn’t it? He even did his military service.”
“Well, true. Oh, but…”
While talking about Taehoon, Jieun suddenly trailed off as if something came to mind.
“What? What is it?”
“Well… Taehoon doesn’t seem too happy about you getting close to Director Seo Ji-hyeok.”
She wasn’t exactly close to him. Their relationship had gone from outright enemies to something slightly improved—just enough to shift him marginally to the ally side.
Still, she understood why Taehoon would say that.
After all, Sehan’s predecessor company had driven his father to his death when they were young. Of course he’d hate the idea of being close to the chairman’s son.
Anyone would understand if they put themselves in his shoes.
“Sigh… that makes me feel kind of bad…”
When Yul said weakly, Jieun grabbed both her shoulders firmly and made her straighten up.
“Well, it’s not like Director Seo Ji-hyeok himself did anything, so Taehoon will understand with time. Who knows? If you offer him an expensive gift, he might not care whether you date or marry Director Seo.”
“W-what are you talking about? Why did dating and marriage suddenly come up?”
As Yul stammered in fluster, Jieun pressed her index finger to the center of her chin and replied innocently.
“No reason~ It’s just, when you thought of him as an enemy, he looked like the most evil person in the world. But now that you know he’s not completely heartless—since he even let you see your nephew—he just looks like a normal person. Can’t help seeing him objectively.”
“Objectively?”
“Well, he is ridiculously handsome. To the point that celebrities and idols don’t stand a chance.”
Yul recalled Ji-hyeok’s face, which she hadn’t seen in a while.
Jieun was right.
Back when he refused to show her her nephew, calling him nothing but a source of money, he looked like a demon wearing human skin.
But after the day Doha was sick—after they cared for him together and protected him—Ji-hyeok no longer seemed bad.
If anything… he seemed good.
As his face came to mind, a strange warmth spread through her chest.
It felt similar to when her heart raced after seeing a celebrity who was exactly her type.
“Huh…? Han Yul~ You? The fact that you’re not denying it means you think so too, huh? Well, you were a pitiful soul who’d never even dated once, all in the name of being a devoted older sister… How about trying to seduce him this time? You should date a little!”
Yul was horrified.
“W-what are you talking about?!”
“Why not~ You’re completely unrelated anyway. You’re not even legally family with your sister, and Director Seo Ji-hyeok is a half-brother to his own brother!”
“That’s completely ridiculous!”
Clicking her tongue, Jieun held up her index finger in front of Yul’s face and waved it side to side.
Then she grabbed Yul’s shoulder as she tried to escape, slung an arm around her, and said,
“If you end up with Director Seo Ji-hyeok, you get to see Doha every day, right?”
Yul’s eyebrows shot up.
“Being an aunt is nothing~ You could practically raise him like your own son.”
“I-I’m not hoping for that much!”
“Fine. Becoming Doha’s mom is a bit much—I went too far. But isn’t it still a win just being able to watch him grow up every day?”
Yul thought it was ridiculous… but she imagined it anyway.
If she were married to—or no, even dating—Director Seo Ji-hyeok…
Wouldn’t she be able to go to his house every day under that excuse and see Doha daily?
Her heart began to pound.
“Okay, okay. You have zero romantic feelings for Director Seo Ji-hyeok. But you’re dying to see Doha, right? Then just close your eyes and try seducing him once!”
“W-what…?”
“What do you mean what? I’m telling you to seduce Director Seo Ji-hyeok!”
“Hey, Kye Jieun!”
When Yul finally shouted, Jieun curled her lips mischievously and tried to run away.
But Yul couldn’t bring herself to stop her.
Because deep down, part of her was starting to think that the absurd idea… wasn’t entirely bad.
