FTC Chapter 2(Part 1)

As evening fell, the atmosphere of the party grew even more heated. Not only had the number of attendees increased compared to the afternoon, but with various celebrities present, the overall energy of the party seemed to soar to an even higher level.

Amidst it all, however, was Seoyeon, whose condition had deteriorated to its worst. Her expression showed no sign of easing. No matter how well she had cultivated her business persona from a young age, it was meaningless in front of Hyunju.

“Are you enjoying the party?”

Hyunju took a sip of wine as she asked. With her long, cascading black curls, porcelain skin, and a beauty that could easily be mistaken for that of a seasoned actress, Go Hyunju’s smile radiated as always. To everyone except Seoyeon and Jaebin, that smile concealed every trace of corruption—no one in the world could even perceive the dark shell beneath it.

Leaving behind the bustling lobby, the three of them had entered a VIP room in the lounge. Just moments ago, they had appeared to be a picture-perfect family—an accomplished mother-in-law, a capable son-in-law, and a daughter, all belonging to a powerful conglomerate.

“I received the copy of the ledger. I checked it thoroughly—it matches our records exactly. Not a single cent out of place.”

“…”

“That proves the ledger isn’t forged or tampered with.”

Hyunju smiled, her expression serene.

“Of all the things I prioritized in running my company, security was the most important. And yet, to think it would be stolen so easily… That’s why I wanted to tell you.”

“…”

“Chairman Woo, your skills remain as impressive as ever.”

Seoyeon swallowed. Again and again. There were too many words rising to the surface, threatening to spill out—she had to suppress them by force. She had no idea where to even begin. The sham marriage they had arranged to sell her off, the embezzlement funneled through accounts in her name, the fact that they could meet like this without even a hint of apology. If she spoke now, she feared she would end up screaming.

“I thought all you were good at was killing and stabbing, but…”

“…”

“I suppose I was a little surprised.”

Speaking with elegant composure, Hyunju set down her wine glass. Seoyeon had never expected to find herself in a face-to-face confrontation like this. Running into her mother was inevitable, but she hadn’t imagined Hyunju would go so far as to orchestrate such a meeting. With each passing day, her mother’s brazenness exceeded even her worst expectations.

Unable to hold back any longer, Seoyeon finally opened her mouth.

“Since when?”

Her gaze, burning with fury, locked onto Hyunju.

“Since when have you been laundering your dirty money through your own daughter’s name?”

The numbers she had seen on Hyunju’s desk flashed before her eyes. 9 million dollars—an insignificant sum compared to what had been funneled over the past twenty years. Her fingers clenched tightly around the fabric of her dress.

Hyunju let out a small chuckle.

“That’s the question you’re most curious about?”

“…”

“I have to say, I’m quite disappointed in you.”

Disappointed?

Seoyeon’s mouth fell slightly open.

“For unofficial transactions, having a safeguard like that is just common sense. You’re not too young to understand that.”

A safeguard?

No words came out. Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it might burst through her skin. Even as Hyunju spoke, there wasn’t a single trace of remorse in her expression. Of course, Seoyeon had never expected such a sentiment in the first place—but even so, her mother’s sheer audacity was enough to drive her insane. Her hands trembled.

Jaebin watched Seoyeon in silence. The hands clenched so tightly around her dress, as if she might tear it apart—he saw them too.

“And yet, the one so concerned with safeguards… is the same person who embezzled funds.”

Hyunju slowly shifted her gaze to Jaebin.

“For twenty years?”

Tension crackled between them, an unspoken battle beginning to unfold.

Behind Hyunju stood Dojun, his gaze heavy as he looked down at Jaebin. It was a face Jaebin had seen countless times over the past eight years. Dojun’s right wrist had yet to fully heal.

“Jaebin.”

For the first time in a long while, Hyunju called his name.

“You’re the one who started this war.”

“…”

“You know that, don’t you?”

Her gaze locked sharply onto Jaebin. Though her lips curved into an elegant smile, her eyes did not.

“You must have been terrified.”

“…”

“Wondering when this son of a bitch would turn on you and bite.”

Dojun’s hand twitched. Hyunju remained still, studying Jaebin. For a moment, time between them seemed to freeze.

“Or what scheme this son of a bitch is up to now.”

At that moment, Jaebin leaned in, lowering his face toward Hyunju. She stared back, her gaze unblinking and cold.

“Are you confident?”

“…”

“In your thieving skills.”

Seoyeon caught a glimpse of his profile. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. The coldness in his voice was nothing like when he looked at her. No—it was something even more terrifying. A chill so sharp that a single touch would freeze a person solid.

Thieving. Was he referring to the ledger?

“…”

Hyunju remained silent, watching him.

It was the first time Seoyeon had ever seen that expression on her mother’s face. The woman who had always seemed utterly fearless… now wore a fleeting shadow of fear.

The room outside was alive with noise, louder than it had been during the day, yet at this table, it felt as if all sound had been swallowed whole.

“How’s the wedding preparation going, Seoyeon?”

Hyunju changed the subject. It was a tactic she used whenever she encountered someone who refused to play by her rules.

As she spoke, she reached out toward Seoyeon. At that moment—

CRASH!

Before her hand could land, Jaebin kicked the leg of the table between them.

With a single strike, wine glasses and dishes toppled over, shattering as they hit the floor.

“Hands.”

Seoyeon’s gaze snapped toward Jaebin.

Dojun immediately tensed, as if ready to launch himself at him.

“Be careful, Mother-in-law.”

Seoyeon’s heart pounded wildly. Her palms grew damp.

That expression—what was it?

It wasn’t just anger. It was something darker, deadlier.

Even just watching from the side, she felt paralyzed.

Was it a murderous intent toward anyone who dared to lay a hand on what was his?

A few seconds of suffocating silence passed.

Jaebin was the first to look away.

“I’ll be seeing you again.”

With that, he straightened.

Seoyeon watched him for a moment before unclenching her fists, releasing the fabric of her dress.

And then—Jaebin took her hand.

“…”

Leaving Hyunju’s unreadable gaze behind, Seoyeon walked out of the lounge with him.

Not too forcefully, not too gently, he guided her forward.

With unwavering steps, he led her across the lobby, past the crowd, never once hesitating.

Seoyeon glanced down at their joined hands.

Beneath the crisp suit sleeves, where their skin touched, she could see the scars—ones that didn’t belong to a man who led a polished, refined life.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to his back.

Beneath his neatly trimmed black hair, a glimpse of his white dress shirt peeked out.

His broad shoulders moved steadily forward, without a hint of doubt, without looking back—until they were completely out of Hyunju’s sight.

“Let go. That’s enough.”

And yet, he didn’t.

Seoyeon’s lavender tulle skirt brushed fluidly past the tuxedo-clad crowd.

Even as they stepped outside, Jaebin still did not release her hand.

“Han Mooyoung will be here soon.”

Just as he spoke, almost in perfect sync, a sleek sedan pulled up in front of them.

Mooyoung, behind the wheel.

Jaebin opened the back door for her.

Only then did he finally let go.

“…”

Even now, there was no emotion in his eyes.

 

* ~ *

 

“Ugh—”

A dull thud was followed by a groan soaked in tears. Two more harsh thuds and groans followed before the men finally sat him down in a chair. His blood-soaked hands glistened, and his convulsing feet were forcefully restrained and bound to the chair.

At Dock 3 of Incheon Port, close to midnight, such scenes were not uncommon. Sometimes, the entire warehouse reeked of blood. Mysterious groans echoed alongside the clattering of metal barrels, and discarded steel pipes lay scattered across the floor.

Snap, snap.

Han Mooyoung flicked his fingers in front of Director Oh Jintaek’s drooping face. The sound made Jintaek, his face smeared with blood and saliva, barely focus his hazy gaze forward. The forklift behind him switched on its headlights, illuminating Mooyoung’s face. His beauty was almost surreal—especially for someone who had just mercilessly beaten a man with a steel pipe.

“Don’t fall asleep. You’ll die.”

“Ugh… Ugh.”

The moment Mooyoung dropped Seoyeon off at home, he had rushed straight here to handle this. No, in fact, this was the most important task. Rooting out Go Hyunju’s lackeys to secure control of the organization.

Footsteps echoed from the distance. Jintaek, his swollen eyes barely opening, struggled to look ahead. Mooyoung stepped aside with a slight bow.

The forklift’s stark white LED lights cast a sharp contrast, making the approaching figure all the more distinct. Bloodshot eyes locked onto his face.

“…”

Woo Jaebin.

Jintaek swallowed hard.

“I just arrived. Double locks are in place, and I’ve stationed more men.”

As per Jaebin’s orders, Mooyoung had not only ensured Seoyeon got home safely but also reinforced security—double-locking the gates and deploying twenty men around the mansion and company. After all, flashing Mare Group’s corruption files right in front of Go Hyunju demanded absolute caution.

Jintaek coughed, thick phlegm mixed with blood splattering out. Beside him lay a fully dismantled gift box, its contents—a heap of premium Korean beef—spilled across the floor. Each slab of meat had a million-won stack of U.S. dollars stuck to it.

Jaebin shrugged off his jacket and handed it to Mooyoung.

“Have you been well?”

Jintaek’s breathing grew ragged.

Jaebin was still in the same attire from the party. Shedding his jacket revealed a black dress shirt and a neatly tied black bow tie. Without hesitation, he unfastened his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. Muscular, veined forearms bore faint, black-and-white snake tattoos. His thick hands then loosened his tie.

“P-President Woo, I… I lost my mind for a moment. That woman—”

Mooyoung took Jaebin’s bow tie, his gaze fixed on Jintaek. Ahn Jisoo handed Jaebin a silver knuckle duster.

Panic flared in Jintaek’s eyes as Jaebin strode toward him. His breathing turned erratic, almost convulsive.

Jaebin’s right hand gripped Jintaek’s jaw as if to crush it. The heavy, stubbled chin was nothing but a toy in his grasp.

“‘For a moment’?”

His left hand, now clad in the knuckle duster, curled into a fist and struck Jintaek’s head in one swift motion.

His right hand held onto Jintaek’s jaw as his left fist came down again.

“P-President Woo—”

Crack—

“W-wait—”

Crack—

“Cough, guh—!”

The half-rim glasses precariously balanced on Jintaek’s swollen nose finally shattered. Blood streamed from his broken nose. But Jaebin still didn’t let go. His grip tightened around Jintaek’s jaw, blood trickling over his fingers.

“Yes.”

Crack—

Blood splattered across Jaebin’s face as his knuckle-dustered fist smashed into Jintaek’s cheekbone.

“Continue.”

Crack—

A shattered tooth fell from his split lower lip.

“Keep talking.”

Jintaek’s eyes rolled back. His right eye was already filled with burst blood vessels. Finally, Jaebin released his grip and stepped back.

Mooyoung and another man, who had been handling the earlier beating, grabbed a bucket and splashed cold water over Jintaek.

He gasped sharply, barely regaining consciousness.

“I-I… I… I’m sorry… That woman, she—”

Jaebin’s pitch-black eyes bore into him.

“She suddenly gave me a gift.”

“…”

“I refused… I kept refusing. P-President Woo, you know how much I—I’ve always…”

Jintaek’s eyes rolled back again. Another bucket of cold water crashed down on him. Under the bright white lights, his face, drenched in blood, water, and snot, looked even more wretched.