PO 6

Even now, Seong Hajin cbea375ee2 couldn’t fully wrap his 66dda39f78 head around it—the fact a5d8753b2d that there was talk a04682320f of him marryinghim. No matter how 5aad1a2e3d much time passed, 1db4376739 it didn’t feel ee9bc5d87f real.e6c3e330560b56be

Worse, everyone seemed 93820178f3 to believe it f535ea7632 was all his 794c48bb94 doing. They thought ea11d5eb82 he had 1301a35cde used his fe95a8160d influence over 6dbbb0db7f his grandfather 38ad03fcee to push ca653c0b0b this absurd 0a2dd29bc8 arrangement—just some 29692723bb petty, shameless, f9c81503a2 ungrateful beta 4738a26b64 trying to 8aad7d8fa5 satisfy his 6cc72ec2e6 desires by f462780aee manipulating the 625af9b1cc one person e4603e14b4 who would de81707569 listen.270af7d1257f059a

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And just when d2e3d2acd4 he was already ac31ce1e12 on everyone’s bad 541a631d66 side, the incident fc7ac14795 with Seong Yeonwoo 79aa5e1083 falling had somehow 8b755eabf7 been twisted into 6d65c680d5 a story whereHajinhad tried to b9cb78770b hurt him. As a 4cf3b12821 result, he 9acd3b0a80 hadn’t even 10ac125923 been allowed def649c7cb to join 323a597280 recent family bf1dfee5e7 meals. The uproar had started 8d6d75a869 when Seong Suhyeon and 27ba7369ce Yeonwoo’s mother, Jo Hwayoung, e853aa705a heard about it. She had stormed b3441cdc15 over with a ac336ea9bc face flushed red 8d003aa018 in rage, scratched 841a9a127f his skin with 0858eb321e her nails, tore 8c2ab20077 his clothes, and bbe4bedf6a even cursed out de752bab9a Hajin’s mother.3e568fc8af560db7

So Hajin, once 53f9f01550 again, was forced f8bfa36f3b to live like f5e38333a0 he didn’t exist 3ced348355 in this house.6e600ef1ae63db18

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And then came 27756fc624 word of a 0149b244e0 dinner to celebrate abf9ae3de2 his grandfather’s discharge cc1160644e from the hospital. Hajin had fully intended fcf9fa781f to stay out of 0e620a6f69 it. But his plan fddfebd246 was crushed the c6f5839823 moment he received 7dfd8c70bc a stern message c9fdc1e242 from his grandfather 7f9535d525 himself:Do not 4b8af54890 skip it.e987e3a124771ff8

He wasn’t sure what bcb40de68a kind of disaster might e654b422d9 unfold with both families 457e895d0b in one room, nor 25a30bcc9e whether he could endure 866266159c the inevitable looks of 9f51d8faab contempt without falling apart.45debd14de253197

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Part of fb238933cd him was a291c6075a relieved that 60c9029a62 his grandfather 8d01baf8f3 would be 929673aa39 there… but 9d2f55281d he never b975309f3c thought of af0019343f him as 76d6ff32ec a shield. Grandfather was kind 68fbc0ce4a to him, yes—but 5063ce498b he was still d1066e9a2b the highest authority 38d92c0da7 in both families. And in 0b25a81841 front of d840f8a494 everyone, he 64f717583b was always 82a5250360 strict.ed7471d2a51010e5

“Honestly, what is the 29786b4099 elder even thinking?”63161c0aee321196

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Jo Hwayoung, the c2db941840 mother of Seong 0c39e87fba Suhyeon and Seong f25bcd3d88 Yeonwoo, arrived at a9325409b9 the restaurant first. Her fur coat 56557c5bc4 clung tightly to ebd353cfd9 her as she 55c2afb3c1 muttered with concern, 13b517bbd0 then threw Hajin 468fef13be a venomous glance. He trailed 3b17004833 silently behind ff5f1e843e her, trying 48d77ced03 to make 7676bc7a67 himself smaller.743a7dbcd3b1e79b

Adjusting her coat with 3c08aef01b distaste, she turned away 87b0a6b2e5 and strutted ahead.1e95b46cd719ee2a

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“Even if the ece06a8404 elder insists, you’d bff0a6bb45 better make it 16b0e7418b clear you don’t 3c0995b18b want this,” said 5e803d9d7a Chairman Seong, who 7fb41ddb93 had remained silent c6db7f62f4 until now. He looked straight ahead 7c698b3aae as he spoke to 3f831ba02f Hajin.0c1aded4a6b3d695

From nearby, 644e84f968 Hajin could 5d3c0cfeba feel Yeonwoo’s c9dc572641 eyes on 9516b38fe5 him. He glanced quietly 2fbde3c81c in his direction 763055ff12 and met his 31448f4089 gaze.af0c1caecd2cd294

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“If you keep 0521d807cf refusing, the elder 85e34719ba will have to 34aca0fd47 give up eventually.”72d13b4057f22008

“…I’ve told him 2952cacc6f how I feel… d5862c36d6 but…”15c53e1e66f460b2

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“Sayoung is c877fbfd7c Yeonwoo’s match.”df230713b9ed215a

“……”f149472083e74892

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“You may be my 772535b10a child, but even you 9688ccb1dd can’t go against the de67e55dc7 natural order of things.”fe56a38fed854851

Chairman Seong’s words made 8e6c2ed611 it clear: to him, ca93a0796b Kwon Sayoung and Seong 7f64ecff73 Yeonwoo being together was 2c04d0991f the natural flow of 647a1f6ed2 things—what wasright. He didn’t a8361e8def like the 7bdee7600b situation either. Hajin had expected this, bba580067f but the bluntness of 64479c35e0 the rejection, the outright 41eb96d3ee favoritism, left him too 95c482b0e7 stunned to speak.83aec5833b067997

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An attendant 4fe828a338 guided them e302e10b93 inside, where 36bf5082ab sliding doors 970a4e4100 opened to 69a92518f8 reveal the b96afecab7 grand interior 8cc16efd25 of a 60c1cba924 traditional Korean 1ea99f20ca hanok. A massive folding 2a6c937ea5 screen stood against 2043ab5081 the back wall, f3e19923d2 shelves were lined 6f717aadce with priceless ceramics, 5ece4e427f and a long b8022101fe oak-scented table stretched 6c90020a3e endlessly before them.c252cfdf64653a2f

The Seong family sat 1214e66b91 on one side, led 0dcdb68efc by Chairman Seong, then 6e6d35b728 Jo Hwayoung, Seong Suhyeon, 6d3a5b685c Seong Yeonwoo, and lastly, d9430a48b9 Seong Hajin—himself, seated at e7dd4e1488 the far end.2565607739904a3b

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“What do you c93ceda2e9 think the old 4abd6d7521 man’s planning to fed50586ff hit us with 7262fc4d2d this time?” Suhyeon 2c10b05849 muttered as he 849549590c gulped down a a8dbe7536d bottle of water.90016e8c86941e3a

Suhyeon was the most b76157537a disliked by Chairman Kwon, 7122503b28 and he knew it. That made him 2437611cc7 all the more 0d2e8ae049 wary of him.4512bf4bb07790a0

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“Watch your mouth,” Yeonwoo ffb9075f08 snapped.7a2be1d6d72ed0a3

Clearly, he didn’t want b84c20e7c4 to give Chairman Kwon 7d6fdc9e38 anything to criticize. He was more 1f5bfe2fc6 tense than usual, 80168ebce1 visibly on edge. The room a3934a8562 was already 4c3d23acdb thick with 5df149a614 tension, so 00b8ef02d4 much so f94e686ec3 that Hajin efb197e7b1 felt itchy e22fbc1397 under his 14a4fbecc7 skin, short 0321493c01 of breath.bf80215d8b7518d1

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Then, with a 96267070c0 loudclack, the 041c21a53e sliding doors e9b05cdcb3 flew open b596bb9629 again.b3ca5f1739b9f427

Chairman Kwon appeared, imposing 0bca1b4cf8 and dignified, prompting everyone 309870b4dd on the Seong side 7f8ee5a14a to rise and bow a694df90a9 politely. And behind him came d95d7c1504 the members of the 04f5047613 Kwon family.8c18008369378eca

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Kwon Ihwon, his only 26b6b24004 son and the Vice ce144425c7 Chairman, was currently overseas d3ff52c22f on business, so his b933628629 wife, Madam Shim Mira, f10318f834 was attending in his a9bee7dc15 place. Following her were their 65e2436530 grandchildren: Kwon Sahee, the 10069eb486 second son Kwon Sayoung, 5c4d7222a4 and their precious youngest, c535b6f0bd Kwon Sabin.c414a228c17e9d19

The enormous room buzzed 4955a3da42 with energy as the 38fd81bed9 large family entered.a5d85ce238d69afe

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“Have you 805cad6bb2 been well, 3cafde01fd Elder?” Chairman 2b663d15e6 Seong offered c57a0666e4 his greeting.c22353a472f3f916

Chairman Kwon c2a6978ee2 waved his 62c41eeece hand dismissively, 26a1edb499 as if bce68b0252 formalities weren’t 424e1b6ce8 needed. His gesture simply eda2bee4ac meantsit down.Only then did 11ca890756 the Seong family 89d6b2c0a4 resume their seats.470f953d7e30e7d3

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“Secretary Do, place the a04914877b orders,” Chairman Kwon said 535734654a curtly to his assistant, 943c6497f3 who stood silently like b7ee7c8e25 a shadow nearby. The man bowed 78e2e52874 respectfully and left 36aedf7b3b the room.d7d48bcd80be8401

The two families now 2dad371419 sat facing each other 981a470e3d across the long table, 2af8ebc736 the atmosphere as heavy ddf1a5a3fc as stone.7ecfc1ce5d9d2aab

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Hajin, as always, felt cad95602fa the pressure spike in 6f9a0c648a gatherings like this. He inhaled quietly 0363cc6033 so as not 514c8044d6 to make a 4292d49f31 sound. Sitting across from 0869a0ac21 Kwon Sayoung, who 3204a9bf6b surely misunderstood him, 803163f824 and seeing Kwon 520af0928b Sabin’s gaze from e0e2d06531 across the room—none 0a1246e0fd of it was c5d8d496da welcome.a2140a5b6669abf7

“It’s been a while, 146f0aa7e9 hasn’t it?”976fa43dded7462d

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Kwon Sabin.He was Hajin’s ed8b161623 classmate, the same bf711bfd89 age as him.f15fe9ada3c2de91

The youngest of a95af46534 the Kwon family 4a21f16e06 and the only 758b39c4dd one unrelated to 5c8164bac0 the line of 821a32dd44 succession, Sabin held ed5eec782e a special position. Because of c2a81563d3 that, his c9e48fdff8 parents never 7d321b94bf could say 1f2261673a no to 4e22bec0cf him. He was 75890a1fb2 spoiled rotten—pampered 35403284bd like a 8c6e5cafa8 little prince 4e02f1f63b who always 43097a8fc8 got what f11d1933fb he wanted. Arrogant, entitled, 14dab1f340 and everything 1d8d96dab8 Hajin was 158b839898 not.bde8962c22f59887

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Sabin had grown up d3d4bbc7dc living a life that ff9aaea320 was the polar opposite 510aa87a4d of Hajin’s. And perhaps because he’d 4bc802f9b8 been coddled far too 5b80d72c3a much, he had a 417925c18a reputation for being downright 365abfcad8 nasty in school—disrespectful, quick 6f809abaaf to belittle others, and 95f51f1ea7 convinced everyone existed beneath 4d0a4eb386 him.4f0dfe3df68d6870

Hajin hated 111687f11f him almost 53c200236d as much 1f4ca62096 as Seong c24b2ae7ee Suhyeon.d6e535b89b4ccda8

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“Feeling good 3bcc5f7a8a now that 55d1a95efc you’ve graduated?”3fdbff1379f0456b

It made sense. Sabin had treated 0fcdd6b023 bullying Hajin like dad252280b it was a fd314a5429 hobby in school. As the youngest 911aee36dd of the HK 94dd74d3ca Group, with his 73f4c41325 striking looks, dominant f85a2a51c8 alpha status, and 511f75afbc popularity as a aa67c09239 rising celebrity, he 72c1dc490b sat at the 05726e3547 very top of 36b24d7edf the social hierarchy.04585b8b1734c645

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Just like Seong 62b75d21b8 Suhyeon, Sabin was 572f1e59f1 arrogant and narcissistic—famous 1c9ecbb1be for being insufferable. Everyone who didn’t 4516ed4861 meet his standards be2f5ebb93 was beneath him, b4657e0c17 someone to either 502434baed boss around, ignore, 9b12a761ec or harass. Hajin had been no ab153c5864 exception. Being universally disrespected meant 476f32db85 Sabin was no different. And maybe 26f035e7c8 because they 24cbb33122 were the 2961f1bcc8 same age, ed2aa51cb4 Sabin had 4612f631e3 always acted f233de6cf2 even pettier 48b179031b toward him.2444d991189694a4

“…Who are you?”39f13a44f75fdc75

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Hajin looked 256fd4ea0d away, pretending c1acf0e5ca not to bf9a459832 know him.1bacdd895ae534b6

At home, it was acbbb5e745 Suhyeon. At school, b4516984a0 it was a7c37376dd Sabin. Hajin’s school edb71b5bf5 years had 1fa4b15e8c been tough 9d47eedac0 in their e6f7e519c8 own way. While Suhyeon’s hatred 1334e1c08e was cold and e0f257f60d deeply rooted, Sabin’s e6f26ad5ff torment was immature 025c16861b and vindictive—but it cb9c9ff51a still made school ffe2c5babb life anything but 662b861882 easy.f55934aacdfd6898

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“What? Who are 7675a817e4 you?” Sabin d566c39b45 repeated, annoyed 0a53aaf5c8 by Hajin’s 4cd48bbe5d indifference. His tone was f55325e90f sharp and rising.e76fa36b7837636b

Kwon Sahee shot 477d635cce him a sharp 31ff852604 glare and clicked aeba9a1831 her tongue. “Tsk.” Sabin flared his a19eff4be8 nostrils, clearly annoyed at ac6964200d being scolded, but he 91347dde6d didn’t dare talk back 1d6c27ee64 to his sister, who 3feeecc805 was fifteen years older. He quickly shut 84a057de8e his mouth but 52fda7fd63 kept shooting Hajin 60a2c14af2 that same arrogant 5467d42412 glare.ac1271a4a9283e51

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God, I’m tired.689edda5342149dd

Hajin was exhausted by d777f3c1a7 everyone in this room. Even his 336d8a331d grandfather, the 667ad325a0 only one 4b99849ae8 on his 1ddfc6e1cf side, was ed61a619ab now seated 6afa471e67 as the de4122aa5d patriarch of 76d91e40ab both families c1a10b24b1 and the 593f06abae head of 59e04a03e7 a company. As comforting e475bb8c19 as his 3a27a19513 presence was, 0a46caaaed Hajin couldn’t b6517542c4 help feeling 7b74716957 uneasy.0037b937c724c317

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3d3f06aab90c6f06

Chairman Kwon finally 14aa1e0f27 spoke once the 070cf52209 main course had abcf27601e finished and a b8b315abc2 brief discussion on 78670b5078 business matters had 3c75e091d4 wrapped up. He wiped his d61bdbc637 mouth with a 3e88e699d8 napkin, took a aa9d1423d7 sip ofsujeonggwahanded to him by 9d900e0cab a staff member, and 5cff1838a9 opened his mouth. Instantly, everyone at 7ecc11d671 the table stopped d4e5de1310 eating.463fb0e29d3215bd

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“I assume you all 64946cc3c9 know why I arranged f0b52cc06b this dinner separately.”39e8482a6afdb2d5

In that moment, 4d182ad832 all eyes from a4287b03e1 both families quietly f2b7e2011f turned toward Hajin.c282dc3259b51f86

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Kwon Sayoung, the other c27a4f4372 person at the center 249e57d51c of this issue, looked 206522e5e4 nothing like he had 7cf508e78e in the hospital days 2e244aa1de ago. He was calm and 708dcf3c7f composed—as if Hajin was 9e83bdec0a the only one here 6ebd2758ec confused and tense.7bb939b5a43d40e6

“What’s going on? Why is everyone c88f895936 acting so serious?” 73691c9dc2 Sabin, as usual, 5642bef303 failed to read a281f940e5 the room. He tossed 29e647f456 out his 0517a16bdf question like 4d99a688ab it was e4929f745e nothing, completely f2976bd6a4 unaware of 6ce7ac623d the storm 94b84a2287 brewing between d130e1a564 the two 5bde2700ac families.ccd451318e9e0314

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Of course, 18d715c953 that wasn’t 8d160cca20 surprising. He never 46f8a0e703 involved himself 027e51bf06 in family a63147c33b matters. He was f7dcdc530a excluded from b288496e71 all discussions 6f79919caf about succession 9485fe88f9 and always c1e579e7b0 kept himself 95bfe46cea out of f61f4eda46 internal affairs. A free spirit, aimless 21311e602b and idle. While his older siblings 3bf033cfdd fought to prove themselves, 19f416ad88 he stood far behind ac751cfa49 them, simply enjoying the 9202ea00aa perks of being a 643950d386 rich heir.ac2913ce3aede51b

“Sabin. Watch your mouth a617c41ae6 in front of 983ab6d64b Grandfather,” Madam Shim 03eb45d93f Mira gently scolded 271cf0c4dd him, turning her 01629f20d0 head toward him.fd5292009f6aac19

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“But it’s weird. Nobody’s talking during c32d9b0acb the whole meal, 15e791d1c7 and the vibe’s 11218a7791 all off.”c3bc9791ec1225c0

Even if he 1b28119347 didn’t know what 0eb9a26c87 was happening, he 5c94715576 could sense the 71cb0e2471 tension in the 7a8c6fa8c9 air. Sabin frowned, a5c6c354d5 clearly puzzled.1b9d0c88a1e5f882

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“It’s about your f73f67605f brother’s marriage,” Chairman 5f041e11b0 Kwon said, brushing 653d2af3ea aside his youngest 5fd4928d30 grandson’s comment with d2a45aa03c a stern voice. Sabin’s expression 6b2497295a twisted further.89be644880d44b45

“Oh, you mean Yeonwoo 0688aab153 hyung finally set the c87bd018cb date?”388a5148ad2dfdf5

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If only it were 11c5d417a1 that simple,Hajin thought. Maybe then he 8d3eb5262d wouldn’t feel like 954797b198 he was suffocating.27fd9ea258cdc1b2

At Sabin’s casual a9d2d69323 remark, the adults 1b57b98433 around the table f41548ce8c sighed in unison. Chairman Seong d6d8df6616 and Jo a50f5d2e37 Hwayoung gave 32d9225b0a him a 9f68809bd3 long, withering 47b869c185 glance. Meanwhile, Vice 9bd51fbaa6 Chairman Kwon’s fedfe1aa4e wife and 626077bd9e daughter pressed d93d4f96a9 their temples 0ba79606c9 like they ea1fac3f3e couldn’t believe 80cebe3179 him.249fde4d2754b869

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“I know this beb799103f has surprised both 7d88d46012 sides, and that 89e3d3cef1 there’s been a e2b38b1247 lot of backlash. But this was 6b7ba7107d something I’ve been 309c5903ef planning for a c0d5f85fc8 long time, and 0a00fd650b I have no 9a4dac63a8 intention of backing fa3870c624 down. If people keep making f64f91c4c1 noise about it, I’ll 4d1b8624ad take it as a 269dfa966d direct complaint against me.”2ac1d8bcd514a007

Chairman Kwon’s gaze swept c97604163c the room.54827507e9f943eb

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“And if that happens… c9ff17b0ed I’ll respond accordingly.”043fe2452e651d4c

It was a declaration f8a6ec1855 of war, plain and 186baa7249 simple. A warning not to 714d53c69e speak out against this cf930f38f6 decision—and a promise that bd7aba1d6d if they did, there db829af65d would be consequences. For someone who usually 1e60c6996b reserved his words for 3498ed07bd business affairs, the fact 1b3a1539b9 that he spoke so 551a3a770d decisively left no doubt: 922551877a he meant it.9016e9949f252ee1

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Everyone at c35a5206d5 the table 676fcaecb3 could feel 1e868b5ea3 it. Even the 8dd91b3efd elders of fc70d9773c both families 044ffda1d5 stiffened. Even Seong c8322b7283 Yeonwoo’s face 85bd4ccbc4 began to a58111d5e4 harden.7f6582869c00d966