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Episode 2: The End of a Catastrophic Marriage
Seowon bit her lower lip for a moment.
As expected, there was nothing he didn’t know.
“Judging by your expression, it must be true. Well, you were always unusually fond of women, weren’t you?”
“How can you say that? Isn’t that going too far?”
“Did I cheat? Your husband’s bastard was the one acting like a madman, so I don’t see why I should be polite.”
He was the same as always.
Poisonous Northern toad.
That was the nickname that followed his name.
During his university days, numerous students took a leave of absence after being hurt by his venomously straightforward way of speaking.
He was four years her senior, and among the female students, he enjoyed idol-like popularity.
When it came to legends of Seoun University’s Business Administration department, Kang Tae-seung was mentioned the most.
Currently, the CEO of Ares Hotel.
A top-tier South Korean corporation encompassing various businesses such as semiconductors, aviation, hotels, food, and telecommunications.
His influence was so immense that even a single action of his could shake the market landscape.
As he is currently pointed out as the strong successor to Ares, no one wants to get on his bad side.
If he just kept his mouth shut, he’d be a living pictorial, but his prickly and nasty personality seemed to worsen with age.
“What, is it because I badmouthed your husband that you don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s all just rumors. My husband having an affair? There’s no way that’s true.”
Seowon’s voice grew smaller and smaller.
“You know it. It’s just the kind of gossip chaebols often go through…”
“Are you saying it’s not true?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’d better manage your expression well. I don’t like working with amateurs.”
He bent down, meeting the eyes of Seowon, who was sitting on the sofa.
“Tell me now if you want. That you can’t do the live broadcast.”
“…What happens if I say I can’t do it?”
“What happens? I’ll have to cancel it for you.”
“Are you suggesting we… pull out now, at the last minute?”
“There’s no choice, is there? This would be much better than ruining the live broadcast.”
Seowon slowly shook her head. She didn’t want to get caught up in his provocation.
“No. I can do it.”
“Then, you take responsibility until the end. Stop making that face like you’re about to cry. Min Seo-won.”
With those words, Kang Tae-seung left the waiting room as if he had no further attachment.
Left alone in the quiet waiting room, Seowon turned her head and faced herself in the mirror. The area around her eyes had turned red.
Ah. So this is what my face has been like all along.
Letting out a deep sigh, she pulled out a tissue and covered her eyes. The thin paper dampened in an instant.
After leaving the waiting room, Kang Tae-seung took out the Zippo lighter he had put in his pocket.
Click.
For an instant, a spark flared up and then died down.
The security guards lined up along the long corridor all bowed in unison as soon as they saw him.
Thump, click―.
The alien sound of metal striking metal echoed through the silent corridor.
Pushing open the terrace door and stepping outside, he lit his cigarette. The bluish-gray smoke spread into the sky and vanished.
Kang Tae-seung’s deep gaze was as dark as pitch. Looking down, the mother and daughter who had been provoking Minseowon earlier came into view.
They were the kind of family she would be better off without.
He recalled the staff whispering about the conversation coming from beyond the broadcast station’s waiting room door.
‘Oh my, aren’t they fighting inside? Shouldn’t someone stop them?’
‘Right, there was even a sound like something was falling.’
If the sharp-eyed secretary Lee Gong hadn’t stationed security, the rumors of Minseowon’s husband’s affair would have been confirmed and already turned into articles.
Perhaps that’s what they wanted. That’s why they didn’t hesitate to expose Minseowon’s weaknesses.
But what a pity.
Kang Tae-seung’s lips twisted.
“Over my dead body would I let that happen.”
Strength filled his hand gripping the railing. The knuckles on the back of his hand bulged prominently.
His gaze naturally drifted towards the dandelions by the roadside. The seeds scattered in the wind, flying high into the sky.
‘It’s okay to cry if you want to.’
‘…’
‘If you keep holding it in, your heart might feel so stifled you could die… so cry if you want to. It’s okay.’
The sixteen-year-old Min Seowon, who had said that, was sobbing loudly next to him.
Her cries were so heartbreaking that it made his own heart ache.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Yes?’
‘Just… I’m sorry for everything. All of it.’
In response to Kang Tae-seung’s apology, Seowon, knowing nothing, simply shook her head. The yellow dandelion blooming beside her swayed just like her.
‘Someday, the day will come when we can look back on this day with a smile.’
With the sound of the terrace door opening, the old memories also came to an end. As he turned his head at the presence, Secretary Lee Gong approached.
“Sir, it’s 30 minutes before the broadcast starts. You should start preparing soon.”
“Guess so.”
Stubbing out his cigarette, Kang Tae-seung gestured with his chin towards the area below.
“Gong-ah. What do you think? How do they look to you?”
Lee Gong bowed his head. At the end of his gaze were Lee Hyun-jung, the director of the Leeum Art Center, and Min Do-hee.
Lee Hyun-jung was holding Min Do-hee in her arms, affectionately stroking her hair.
“They look like a close mother and daughter.”
Kang Tae-seung let out a low laugh.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if they treated Min Seowon like that too? Then I would have cherished her very much.”
A buzzing vibration sound indicated an incoming message, and Secretary Lee Gong checked his phone before reporting.
“They’ve finished cleaning CEO Minseowon’s waiting room. They said she has no injuries.”
What the hell. Should I laugh and say that’s a relief?
“No.”
“Sir?”
“Tell them to check her foot too. I saw it earlier, and it was red and swollen.”
“Surely they didn’t hit her, even on a day like today? Are those people even human?”
Kang Tae-seung’s brow furrowed coldly.
No way they’re human.
They’re worse than animals.
“Sir, shall we bury them quietly? Just say the word.”
At Lee Gong’s lowered voice, Kang Tae-seung chuckled.
He was the CEO of Ares Hotel, while secretly extending his reach into the tertiary and fourth-tier financial sectors and even private loans.
Although currently pointed out as the strong successor, with his older brother Kang Geon-woo around, he couldn’t let his guard down.
Securing financial power was the most important thing for the future.
His gaze lingered on Min Do-hee.
There were rumors going around that after he dumped her, she was recently hitting up to Kang Geon-woo; looking at them now, they seemed to suit each other quite well.
“By the way. Where is that bastard now?”
“They say he’s at Felice Hill.”
Damn.
Cursing under his breath, he furrowed his brow.
Now that he thought about it, he fully understood why Minseowon’s mood was so utterly ruined.
Doing such despicable things in her precious home. How could he make that man pay back the pain she suffered, in a way far more horrific?
Kang Tae-seung slowly clenched his fist.
Crunch, crackle―.
The knuckles ground heavily, and his eyes instantly blazed with murderous intent.
Perhaps finding the sight chilling, Secretary Lee Gong silently watched CEO Kang Tae-seung.
When it came to matters involving Minseowon,
Kang Tae-seung stopped at nothing, regardless of what it was.
Seowon couldn’t hide her nervousness.
Thirst kept overwhelming her, so she picked up the bottled water she had placed under the sofa.
She quietly opened the cap and took a sip.
Her gaze, while drinking, briefly turned to the table in front of her.
A prop that definitely wasn’t there during the rehearsal had suddenly appeared.
Well, thanks to it, she could cover her injured foot, so that was a relief.
Kang Tae-seung, sitting beside her, looked completely relaxed, as if he wasn’t nervous at all.
He casually wiggled his foot. Each time he did, his black straight-tip custom-made shoes gleamed smoothly.
“Aren’t you nervous at all, CEO Kang Tae-seung?”
“What’s there to be nervous about?”
He smiled faintly.
“I came here today trusting only in Min Seowon.”
At that, Seowon flinched.
“CEO Min Seowon will handle everything well, won’t she?”
Kang Tae-seung’s eyes crinkled playfully. He lightly snatched the water bottle from Seowon’s hand and took a big gulp.
Thud.
He put the bottle down and stared at Seowon.
“What’s with that face? Don’t tell me you’re upset because I stole your water?”
“Yes. You had your own water, CEO Kang Tae-seung, but you deliberately…”
“Yeah, deliberately. I felt like drinking it.”
widely
He had already turned his gaze away, now staring at her foot.
The bandage was so big it completely covered her small foot.
Feeling his intense stare, Seowon hurriedly hid her injured foot behind the other, saying, “Ah…”
“I got bitten by an insect.”
“Oh, really? Did you kill it?”
“Yes?”
“It dared to bite Minseowon without fear. Of course, you should have killed it.”
At the gruesome joke, Seowon involuntarily swallowed dryly.
“If you let something like that live and escape, you’re an idiot.”
“Well, that’s…”
“If it ever happens again, just stomp on it. So it can’t ever crawl up again.”
His voice was low and calm. Which made it all the more chilling.
“If you really can’t do it, just tell me. I’ll kill it for you instead.”
Kang Tae-seung flashed a grin.
What he was talking about was probably an insect. But why did it sound like he meant something else?
Seowon slowly nodded her head.
“Thank you.”
Anyway, MinSeowon. There’s a lot to be thankful for, isn’t there?
Seeing her wound made his anger flare up again. Kang Tae-seung swept his large hand over the back of his neck.
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