CGC 27

Chapter 27

“Seduce Director Seo Ji-hyuk…?”

But almost immediately, Yoo-eul shook her head.

Using Doha as an excuse to deliberately approach Ji-hyuk—someone she didn’t even have feelings for—was something she couldn’t do to Doha. And even if she somehow succeeded in luring him, there was still the huge obstacle called her aunt. Because of that woman, Yoo-eul would surely end up harming Ji-hyuk and his family. And the fallout would eventually circle back and affect Doha negatively as well….

Now she understood even more clearly why her sister had disappeared after finding out she was pregnant.

Yoo-eul let out a sigh.

Putting all those complicated reasons aside, there was no way Director Seo Ji-hyuk would ever see her as a woman in the first place. Thinking back, their relationship had been a string of bad encounters from the very beginning.

Even if it hadn’t been intentional, she had thrown herself in front of his car and nearly ruined his life. She had recorded a phone call where she demanded her nephew back and tried to threaten him with it. It was only because he was fed up with her that he allowed her to see Doha once a week.

And she was supposed to approach a man like that as a woman? As a romantic interest?

He’d probably feel intense disgust toward her—and might even take away her one chance a week to see Doha.

“Yeah. That sounds exactly like something he’d do.”

When Yoo-eul muttered the conclusion she’d reached in her head, Ji-eun—who had been keeping her distance—spoke up with a mischievous grin.

“What would he do, exactly~?”

“Forget it!”

Laughing, Yoo-eul grabbed her bag from the counter.

“Let’s go raid the department store!”

Just as Yoo-eul was about to leave the shop with Ji-eun—

Jingle.

The door opened with a bell.

She was sure she’d hung up the Closed sign. Who could it be?

Putting on her business smile, Yoo-eul turned toward the door.

“I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the day—”

She couldn’t finish her sentence.

The person who had entered was someone she absolutely never wanted to see.

Her aunt—Han Yeon-suk.

Yoo-eul’s face froze instantly.

So did Ji-eun’s.

Knowing how viciously Yeon-suk treated Yoo-eul, Ji-eun quickly stepped in front of her to mediate the situation, sending Yoo-eul behind her and facing Yeon-suk instead.

“Aunt, hello.”

“Move.”

Ignoring Ji-eun’s effort, Yeon-suk shoved her aside.

“Ji-eun!”

After checking that Ji-eun was okay, Yoo-eul shouted at Yeon-suk.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“And what do you think you’re doing?”

Yeon-suk’s voice was lower than ever.

Yoo-eul knew that tone well. It was the same voice Yeon-suk used every time—when Yoo-eul had gone to see her sister, begging her to stop tormenting her and to stop squeezing money out of her, only to be met with violence and verbal abuse, accused of being an ungrateful sibling.

But now, Yoo-eul was no longer afraid of her aunt.

She had already failed to protect her sister, shrinking back in fear. She had sent her off to the afterlife like that.

It was far too late—but still….

Thud—

Yeon-suk’s bag slammed straight into Yoo-eul’s head.

“Yoo-eul! Are you okay?! Aunt, have you lost your mind?!”

Ji-eun tried to rush forward, but Yoo-eul stretched out her hand to stop her and glared at Yeon-suk.

“Where do you think you are, glaring at me like that? Do I look easy to you now? Huh?!”

“Ji-eun. You can get the CCTV footage of me being hit, right?”

“Of course!”

Yeon-suk laughed in disbelief.

“Both of you—always threatening people with CCTV. You think this is funny?”

Grinding her teeth, she glared viciously at Yoo-eul again.

“Choose your words carefully. This isn’t a threat—I’m planning to demand proper punishment for what you just did.”

“Getting all big-headed now, are you?!”

“I’m not a child anymore. No—after losing my sister, I understand even better. I should’ve done this to you a long time ago.”

Because her parents were gone, she’d always cowered in front of her aunt like an idiot. Yeon-suk had gaslit them, saying she’d taken Soo-young in out of kindness, that her own life was miserable because of the sisters.

Even though Yoo-eul had grown up with her grandmother, Yeon-suk had exerted control not only over her sister but over Yoo-eul as well.

Even after Yoo-eul became an adult and her bakery started doing well, Yeon-suk would demand money every time they met, calling it “repaying her kindness.”

Back then, thinking of her sister, Yoo-eul had foolishly handed over large sums more than once.

But she wasn’t the same Han Yoo-eul anymore.

She couldn’t protect her sister—but she had to protect Doha.

Even now, it was obvious Yeon-suk would bring up Doha and try to extort money from Sehan Group.

Using a child like that was unforgivable.

Absolutely not.

She couldn’t let Doha become a nuisance or an unwanted burden to that family.

If she refused here, her aunt would just go alone and use Doha as a hostage to demand money.

That couldn’t happen.

Clenching her fists tightly, Yoo-eul lifted her chin.

“Did you tell me to go to that house and make Soo-young bring the child or not?”

As expected.

Yeon-suk recited exactly the script Yoo-eul had anticipated.

“Aunt. Get a grip. Even if you’re connected on the family registry, Soo-young isn’t your daughter.”

“You ungrateful bitch!”

Yeon-suk raised her bag again and struck Yoo-eul’s head and shoulders repeatedly.

Ji-eun tried to stop her, but Yoo-eul shouted for her not to.

She planned to get a medical report and turn it around on her aunt.

But Yeon-suk, completely blinded by rage, seemed to have no idea how far Yoo-eul was thinking and continued the assault.

At some point, a metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Her lip must have split after being scraped by the zipper of the bag.

Wiping the blood from her lip, Yoo-eul spoke.

“And no matter how many documents you wave around, it won’t help. I have all the text messages showing how badly you treated my sister, and bank records of you extorting money from her for over ten years—since she was in high school.”

“…What?”

“You think I’m lying? Do you think I’d be this confident without any proof?”

Even as she said it, Yoo-eul was terrified.

It was all a lie.

She had a few messages, but no bank records.

If her aunt formally claimed rights over Soo-young’s and Doha’s assets, there was no solid evidence to refute her.

But right now, her aunt had no way to verify that—so Yoo-eul threw out a bluff.

And luckily, it worked.

Yeon-suk faltered, taking a step back.

“So that innocent face—while you were scheming like a fox behind my back? You think I’ll let this slide?”

“Don’t let it slide. That way, I can bury you completely. Go ahead—make this as big as possible so I can take proper action.”

She was shaking with fear, gripping her fists so tightly her palms were soaked with sweat and aching from her nails digging in.

“Hah. Unbelievable. This is how you repay kindness. I raised a pair of snakes.”

Yeon-suk spun around.

Then, just before leaving the shop, she turned back and warned Yoo-eul.

“You think everything will go your way? The world isn’t that easy. Separate from Soo-young’s kid—I’ll destroy you first.”

Leaving those chilling words behind, Yeon-suk walked out calmly.

Ji-eun was stunned.

“What the hell… Is she really an adult? How can someone say something that awful to their own niece?”

Yoo-eul collapsed onto the floor.

This was the first time she’d ever stood up to her aunt so forcefully.

How long had she dreamed of this?

She felt an indescribable sense of relief.

Seeing Yoo-eul sitting there, pale as a sheet, Ji-eun rushed over, bent down, and quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe the blood from Yoo-eul’s lip.

Ji-eun sniffled, on the verge of tears.

Forcing a smile, Yoo-eul said,

“Why are you crying, Gye Ji-eun?”

“It’s just… It’s so unfair and infuriating. How can someone like that even exist? What is the King of the Underworld doing, letting people like her walk free?”

Thanks to Ji-eun getting angry on her behalf, Yoo-eul found a bit of strength and stood up.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you see something like that. Let’s go shopping and blow off some steam.”

“What are you talking about? Where do you think you’re going in that state? Go home and rest. Got it?”

Ji-eun turned on her phone and called a taxi.

A few minutes later, when the driver called to say he’d arrived, Ji-eun practically dragged Yoo-eul into the cab.

Before closing the door, she warned her firmly.

“Don’t think about anything today—just rest, okay? And make sure to ice the places you got hit. Got it?!”

Knowing Yoo-eul was a mess inside, Ji-eun was being considerate.

Feeling bad about refusing, Yoo-eul weakly asked,

“…Okay. What about you?”

“I’ll close up the shop and head home. Send me a picture when you get there, okay?!”

Yoo-eul nodded, and the taxi door closed.

The driver pulled away.

Staring blankly out the window, Yoo-eul realized that if she went straight home like this, all she’d feel was crushing guilt for failing to protect her sister from her aunt long ago.

She spoke to the driver.

“Driver… I’m sorry, but could you change the destination?”