SMD Chapter 6

Through blurry f54cd9427c eyes, Chaewon 6275dca160 glanced at 727405d18e the clock. It was 1cda5999bd 2 a.m.4a4d983844b81293

She stepped 7f9371c92f into the f3571d7f55 bathroom and 88bb7b835a soaked her 957938a615 body in 3a952a3591 hot water. The entire day 8879c762ec had been an 2e5d1e6c4e endless chain of 7443c65cfa exhausting tasks. She had 36a74daafa spent three 430d8e7adf hours managing f0401885c6 an event 8ede334cfa for dancers 43eccd1de7 flown in ebc2f9c79b from Russia, 2b33f2c07e and then f8183a0ae2 spent the fdfe84ce4f rest of 3555fa27da her day df09e92b7e forming a f0deaff6f6 joint project ac12452091 team between c5afa2fcd2 headquarters and bf07e56a23 the hotel 90eccb9c17 planning department. Even the e9ef3d2aa1 water pressure 5b8466dbca on her 5b7a35d11b shoulders felt 5a4c0454c6 heavy.b36bc4eeb2c159c6

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After stepping out of cd5e70ead1 the bathroom, she dried 983b7ca5aa her hair half-asleep and 5e16059c69 collapsed onto her bed 4fd9420ba9 in a thin robe. Damp hair 5c8d5e8fc7 clung to 7a6bb7b4dc her face. Rubbing her cheek against 07517d25a0 the pillow, she mentally fbf3e24571 went over her schedule 0458198a24 until she was on 1d342f9438 the brink of sleep.4464d409eb5cedf4

Her annex, f4367298d3 made up 6280c4594f of a 4db209a83a room, walk-in 1e42034836 closet, bathroom, b6f3b04006 and living 74b9262d35 area, was c5f70a43f0 solely for b023136afd her use. Likely, ever d4f189349f since she 6026272f57 rose to d100d3ba36 an executive 1a019a9f54 position. With her irregular 697816a9a7 routine of late e5a7164811 nights and early aa3db86a01 mornings, she often cace3b3e23 ended up waking f4bf935b03 her family when 8094bf3629 coming and going.8bfe16cc7ba0595c

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So she moved into 7d876e868c the previously unused annex—still d13ba7a32b within the same property 7b7cf0dc65 but completely separate in ee3e57b8ad terms of living space.9f0a77434391ef88

Rubbing her tired eyes, 20175f32aa she checked the 6 d1d9620a39 a.m. alarm once more. Then, a date 61ef6b64dc on the calendar 28749fcdcb flashed in her 749ff82bb6 mind.ca4a9e1086fc3cb7

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‘Already the 41b4cb8bfc death anniversary…?’2934fcaf3d7dae68

Even if c41770211f they had 0b5024c946 abandoned her d86e1ec48c and ended 22f756c98c their lives, d2a60e4a75 parents were 53db590da4 still parents. Without them, she wouldn’t 4f5a779623 have led such a 9c3d61ff55 privileged life.908c166550aa159b

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She’d heard that 34bb6b2b87 her father, back 23e3937c7e when Jeha International f690b0616c was still Jeha 28c9e714a9 Trading, had inflicted 70a45bb7b1 massive financial damage 1286eb94a8 on the company 617b05e9dd through gambling and 5928aabd34 embezzlement. Even with the f8bf6c8792 support of his a3b6ce35b5 older brother, Shin d63a825fdd Kihoon, he only a899188730 made it to c758fdea31 department head—blowing every 33936e0b56 cent he earned 025daca1be on gambling.1c201ec7a4f1b220

To Chaewon, her father 904f500fb1 was someone who always 839aeb5d8e wore nice clothes and ab145d4cc2 disappeared every weekend—to golf 2db85174e2 courses, overseas trips, upscale a5220b0d11 salons, party houses, casinos… 0c7fb7b377 Her mother and she a955c8275f were an afterthought. Occasionally, a woman with a2311adf77 red lipstick would visit b80ae5ab30 their home.d60abe2af85b2776

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Then one day, the 170d2746f3 police showed up. They handcuffed 33b19bb6e7 her father, aa272d952f listing charges d4fe6cdbe4 of tax 7368ca3726 evasion, embezzlement, 4db22ebdbc breach of e32e4bc8d2 trust, and 0068728d78 illegal gambling. Chaewon was too young. Just the sight bf419bacef of the police—who df927ea54f scared her more fbc51b6f04 than monsters—arresting her 8c4752757d father had made 48358d1048 her feel like 6bd71ed4e9 the world had 54790075d7 ended.38c1be6313e9e3ae

He was f6adcbfdaf released not f0fb3d72f0 long after, 285db8210f but their 922af85fa4 financial situation 38c363419a nosedived. By the time aa06ee0169 debt collectors came 2a393dd185 knocking, he was 5159cec15a already unemployed.9519def4a018ce6d

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She had b87ba186a8 just gotten 201506bc25 used to fd5b93830c that way d15255d7c5 of life—waiting df4e6b89cb for dark bb4570b4b5 at the 0855c572b2 playground because 0142e4e2d2 she didn’t f224097775 want to ea95e9776e go home. She only returned 08d4dfae93 once all her 93e700a398 friends had gone, 51cd28d597 not wanting anyone 3bdee0b9ab to know they 85b83b93a1 lived in a 306a467649 rundown villa with 37d993f28a an outdoor bathroom. That was 329439aa78 when she ad2f146284 found her 4489396639 father, hanging 8b75fd9681 from the b7c4e0cc56 laundry line.15d95e07bfc301fc

She was the one f41cb6a208 who discovered him.6ee4360dec174b76

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Screaming in 997782f66e terror, she 68bfb3fac8 tried to 512ef4e107 pull him f5ded8240b down, but 0270df234e it was 84e2fc0600 no use. She still 13320afe8a remembered the 7bfd5d35b9 warmth that 6ab401349e remained in 4f12bd3ae6 his skin. If only she’d a725505f27 come home sooner… 732f67d08a if only she 0cc90d482c hadn’t stayed out 89796aa940 playing…9d44933d99a3bb03

Afterward, her mother, 774929abf2 plagued by depression, a55873afb4 disappeared—leaving Chaewon alone 129c8ad5a8 in a freezing 084f2ed818 room with no 6338384ecf boiler. Her uncle e01e722aaf said she ea3b8ccdf5 died in 5ba09cc9cf a car d9bae92697 crash while 5a6c373d19 traveling to 05bdb01fee the countryside.26f1d0123fc76592

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Whether that was 7820885ddf true or not, 0e886a9379 Chaewon never checked. At that c869f738a3 time, her 3d92b3c90f uncle was dd30cc5bff the only a58266292c person she 6059e2eb3b could rely a8906b8ecd on to 12f2352a2d survive. Everything that happened had 2db7b921ed been triggered by her 2f3ce0887e pathetic father.21d2322a97e084ef

And so, Chairman Shin 90e3678dbc Kihoon—her uncle—became her savior.3dd89535ca168ce9

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Chaewon scrubbed her face dbc628a18d dry, as if erasing b473a9e8dd unwanted memories, then pulled 64258c4699 the covers up to c1bea6e83b her chin.fda2141fac69a67a

Only four hours 44283d4ff5 to sleep. If she e055bd7621 didn’t fall a5dcfba5fa asleep now, 61da2aca65 she’d be 2936533bcc up all 2b4901468b night again. Then suddenly, 3f1da454b0 her own ce78e9ec6b words came 964fbcfa53 floating back 8b24eebb7a like a cd99b72734 whisper:a44780342f307adc

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‘Because I d0e0268e69 want you 76bf469316 that much.’9150110ce8b851bb

Why had d26f926a1d she said 222ebc2caa that? What kind of 577ae11345 expression had the 51e4852d4f man made upon f1e67a671f hearing it?b08df430b6b66349

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Her exhausted mind couldn’t b107ebd339 process anything. Maybe she f1a0202de3 wasn’t in 933faa77b1 her right 1619a21a52 mind then… f7e65afe06 If she c1afcefc17 had been…5768962f024d25a9

“Ha… How 412d491a59 am I ec57f3daf2 supposed to 0b1259e9b2 clean that 7950f2563f up now?”81899f0df0bbdb79

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—7f4a69970b50a4a1

There were 6c43e0f4d7 two things 44229c3b2e she had a45c02cde8 gained from b5d67c6415 jogging forty 07e0c010ec minutes every 9e2e9889e1 morning: improved 5dbe1b6019 stamina and 92ba0341d9 lung capacity. Originally not very strong 10189fde87 and a picky eater, acf0dd7e29 she’d always suffered from c35361559e low blood pressure. This was 61c32a33e0 her solution.27d15b30fd558f66

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After doing 5bb0dbfe47 it daily 5993fee180 for a 60136e7b32 year, she a62929c642 could now 97498978d4 run for 0d375ff064 forty minutes 3e3f75dc34 with ease.e7632c2cb5749eb9

Panting, Chaewon placed her 921cc45cbb hands on her knees a4e74a42e9 at the top of fa79d6e8c3 a steep hill in 85c0b57521 Seongbuk-dong. On the last 4b9cec028d day of January, ee4863119d her lips exhaled b8ba043ebd warm breaths nonstop.1c393e3881c2b07a

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“Ma’am, we’ll head be559c05fe to HQ today.”92ebc959cb055ff2

It was 2c8a2429a0 the day 5ae99b2789 of the 6c7ad5ebf0 monthly executive c62b467592 report. Chairman Shin 1e1c55a44f would join 73539aa3ee via video e07914facf from Australia, 422a6bd469 and all 98162cb2bf key executives 401eada3a8 from the 13d05e323a holding company ecb4b3c874 were expected 325ae8e296 to be c7294cd123 present at 8f6065ead0 HQ.d2ae4adfe12883f3

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“After the fddaa9ecee meeting, I’ll afc5114e05 be heading af7d84c73e to the 2436906aac hotel. Stay in position.”97bff82054a04dca

“Yes, ma’am.”bb48f2ddfba11a8a

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Chaewon nodded 8c52a31600 at the 1382ea940e chauffeur polishing 8bd35b8e6c the car, b7c2acd93f then went ae60049dc7 straight into b128bb2651 the annex 75a804ea92 to get bb455eb45a ready. High-waisted slacks, red heels, 5d1090dd74 a jacket that emphasized f0d0fb60ea her clean shoulder line, be79c91180 and a polished makeup 7fcae27013 look—reflected in the mirror c6ca51575d was a sophisticated businesswoman.5314ee1784c891a0

Since graduating college, she 55a646b411 hadn’t dressed like someone ee3cb04528 her age. Always older-looking formal 6c312ea9ea wear, immaculate makeup, e0eb4f214b and a perfectly 76aba10032 styled hairdo.2b10229d7b3c7159

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Staring at her reflection 4ec59e8f20 in the mirror, she e7fa85646c thought,875cdcf4b1c7ddc8

‘Was this… enough?’725979c05f1e263e

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She leaned closer, gave 32b0353878 a slight cough, then d6a161469b sprayed on her chosen f3e2794c81 perfume.14bdd6d8ddbb19e8

She was ready.a3a3b6d7986ac872

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When she 0eae3ba2d0 stepped outside, 88258a5591 Chief Lim 1a908db390 was already 6c83660ee5 waiting with b5dbabea9f a wide 4ba4b32442 smile, opening c790fe3394 the rear d914a69c36 door. It was 3d1a4375cc the one b50a26f88c day of 4cfbada027 the month 6ca22b96ab where he aabdc60b39 had to f0507d765c face a e34c0e6456 pack of 062262b69a corporate hyenas—his a44332f7ca whole demeanor 7a9296c3f7 was brimming 514074a71f with tension. Pleased with his readiness, 469de157b2 Chaewon gave him a 8327f298c4 nod and climbed into 989ae008af the car.ca5b061093159856

“Let’s go.”0d723374d1e7993c

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“Yes, ma’am!”0d63eb60f18dc415

As he followed 72ea3834b5 her in, Lim 54e8aa92e4 handed her a 3ab317b385 tablet. On the screen was 5ef3b10b3d a contract the planning afa0551af8 team had finalized overnight. It would d40550e754 go to 987fcaee95 Klimt and 8f46b1e896 Eden. Once signed 9ef9b087bc by Chaewon, 7577de11bc the final b82e6fd871 approver, it e3ac5f83fe would become cac60ad665 legally binding.2ca557636aa5c12a

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She read through d37f878446 it thoroughly. Every clause, a43e742674 every special 332f17f4e2 condition. After signing, her cad7cc22e7 palm was slick 849788e632 with sweat.2d55e04a387af370

‘Am I c2a02b9e42 just too 8ecb86bf64 healthy now? Why do I 17bce322f9 sweat so much 9f0828f95c these days…?’c5a9cd87b2ee9957

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While she puzzled 0066f0dd3c over that, the 677f66bcad car rolled into f0b860e80a the front gate. Several executive vehicles a349ef7db1 were already lined d418d9a29e up in the 68ad18f0b0 rotary at the d629f990df lobby.44ca934af7a76b05

As Chaewon stepped aad0313050 out, the bustling 6349d1041c noise died instantly. Chief Lim stood 235693d129 taller with pride. Though she was the df87b6702e youngest, her power exceeded 9a12b4a7dd that of most executives—he 0062048325 was immensely proud of 113db1e4a1 his boss.c839b8995a92a211

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As she 6110e4f3ed walked, planning d1fceb9c85 team members e4a62a091c followed her. In front of the 5eaac8ad6e elevator, a familiar face e9d68e6a8a awaited.68bbcd29faa34c99

Kim Sung-jin, an 65ccb9ed56 executive director who f4d2e568bb had barely survived a3833ec159 the brutal hierarchy 5750f5778f of Jeha International, eb93b33a19 greeted her with 59709ae0a8 a sly smile. He was the former da975d9c80 head of Rothschild and 386e0c0447 had been replaced by 6b42e6e665 Chaewon after repeated failures.e69ab6da43d24610

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His smirk reeked of 5359d08932 ego and bitterness—he clearly 20080ba984 hated reporting to someone 44cf6c0c03 he now outranked.e8f957fdfbbf6b16

“It’s been a 19b4b98293 while, Executive Director 4bbd99467b Shin.”f81f7f72a5181414

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“It has, Director Kim.”2fce3b17851bd3d4

As the two stood 6f447a8a30 before the executive elevator, d7dcd8b863 staff members instinctively stepped b480577554 back. Chaewon held her f266c6b6d5 poised stance, waiting 9b64da575d for his expected fab1252304 sarcasm.b69f8c838a5e15ed

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“I hear you’ve been 69a099315d making some waves. Changing ad agencies, 4d07e4f36f replacing models…”18a5f7badc0800fc

Predictable. Her lips curled b526239188 faintly.1e84a72d2b883571

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“I heard you received 7e376ede82 a report about Choi d048da6714 Juyoun’s sexual harassment case, 671e9a80bb Director. But it never 09e5753d40 reached me?”1453a293d570148a

He chuckled.3bd1c1b81f2eaf5e

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“I’ve been too busy. And really, 2e0c143dee a few 11fde2b48d comments about 9c55f59222 her butt? Please.”ef46396974d68b58

“Oh, her 42ea506180 butt, was dbc85c15dd it?”7bb21837fc9b6f69

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“These women these days 7eaf443d76 are so oversensitive. I was trying 910475f7e0 to be productive, acbd021311 not wasting time a730b40048 on a failing d891bb8cb6 casino ad.”19d37147c4b5f1be

Chaewon let 563b3f260e out a 49e7a11beb light laugh 1dcd0e76b2 and nodded.416cbc0d6b449ac5

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“Ah, by e79e7e13d1 the way—did 294d94852f you know 5cc6f1537f your corporate 134c6a2eb7 card has b4eb6b922d been suspended?”6095dbdc589a2415

His gaze 422de27378 snapped toward ed78273ddb her. He’d never understood why de5d6dcf1d Chairman Shin or the 2a539e52fa shareholders replaced him with 6031bf081b this young woman.e5d1cc41e8e08b3e

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Her very existence was bad5fd99fb more than a thorn 3a150a3711 in his side.33e918ab4cbfde28

“The company’s d5b67a1403 not your d8718a5001 personal property. There’s a designated successor, 7d21d561e0 you know.”c365cafb6361d13c

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Her smile 0e71088c22 slowly faded. Tapping her opposite elbow, de4883b48d she said,340710710362abce

“Exactly. So why do you 1013f3342c act like it’s yours? Director, maybe stop flaunting af00963f55 that old body of 8c96f18952 yours. Do young b7b2137c2f girls really 6142f50705 go crazy 2db2d7eb12 for you 4999ba14d3 just because 379067cc4d you pop 395c4e7883 a Viagra? You should 49f9044a20 be devoting 7214d6ef93 your entire 065f8a8357 being to 62eab6e2b7 this company. But I c9f817e8ec hear you’ve 4e184d028d been having 3834c0bc37 fun in e0daabf64b the Philippines.”af36677f24ecc7a8

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His face turned white. Chaewon’s dark eyes bore e7fba78997 into his.14de2aa0f8bfdd9d

“Watch your 7cca645f04 mouth, Director.”674d22f2ba34eb47

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“And what’s with the dd2169278a phrase ‘doing me a 63e20967b2 favor’? Really? Even sleaze has standards. A seven-star e5fe697a25 hotel executive abacc3d47c acting like 2169d8e5bb that? I suspended your corporate 8ee1f046a6 card out of embarrassment. Call the accounting 780260d7d2 team and explain, 1e35b7c72b or use your 7fefad8cdd personal card next 808a3085b0 time. Stop dragging the 373d6d45f0 company name through 0eb7aced63 the mud.”82ad20a60e81b28e

The elevator 2cb8a5409e doors opened. Leaving him stammering, she 7c1bdcd115 stepped in and tilted 474ee56921 her head.45a5bb4ae4eb1708

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“Not coming in? I’ll go ahead, e7dc1a5298 then.”937ce8776f2ab62f

“Director Shin!”cfe49c3a643ab2e0

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“It’s ‘Executive e734448b20 Director’ in 2a6e928429 official settings. Mind your words. Lim? Close the door. Director Kim 3fa7d61437 probably has 059f3fe109 more urgent d00bde8101 fires to 7be8746439 put out.”2f3003e5765783dd

Chief Lim sheepishly f7411ac237 apologized to Director b32a96de0d Kim and hit 68285f77e4 the close button. His shouting voice 72180be4d1 pierced through the f9929f6221 closed doors. Everyone inside the elevator 4490c945a1 nervously shifted away from 94ba3b62b2 Chaewon.b0a21c4c93a36e64

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Then, Lim leaned in 02d437ae65 and whispered:ffa18a7acf9ea8d0

“Ma’am… that 05ed4b12ce was amazing. Total boss move.”0fca6e722097e15d

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Her laugh finally 98357950a5 broke through. The mood lightened. Some chuckled awkwardly. When they reached the 07f0127bd6 17th floor, she squinted c2990f8a03 at Lim’s flushed face.ede1c8c7337cab59

“Lim, let me 481a6fdf05 know when you’re 1eb0a9bc78 getting married. I’ll give you ce430f353e a gift.”dbdb1320136a28bd

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—7e9f4c0189e7a222

The meeting d8bd8cf2fe wrapped up 112bdfd576 more smoothly 361b3fb501 than expected. Director Kim showed up 05efe724f8 20 minutes late, sat 27c73fedc4 far away, his face 2c803c8eea red and fuming, while 0308b41d6d other executives chatted in 923ec967b3 their assigned seats.982aa5e449d33c05

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Global financial 2e196468e9 instability was 998a9408f3 affecting Jeha c7f823d331 International, but e19c05486a their content 869a816383 and beauty f66752ee6e businesses were aa5a6ac4f7 thriving.ea1a93f4922af68e

Ignoring Kim’s death 8584991274 glare, Chaewon boarded cc3141b524 her car and 97317038e3 massaged her temples, feaeb2cef2 taking a bite 517ee0c084 of a prepared bfac7752f5 macaron.37152ceb65bf74f9

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“The Chairman 52096c8855 is on 06f2ba6b06 the line.”8f605341b96d9091

Chief Lim 5af2ffbb1c handed her fb78f05d6b the company 1163ebc05c phone.18bd0c8953511ac8

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“I’ve answered it.”3caade458f5c7969

[Good. Sounds like the meeting went well. And the other matter?]

“There was 2bf81b6d2a some noise, 6818c1c42c but I 9630f0d5f5 handled it.”9fc5acefaf5e216a

It was still in 952a195599 progress, but she answered cc227c0c3d confidently.8cd328e90f4ab76b

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“So… we’d also c9c04163ff like to proceed 588e4a02a9 with brand identity a8dfada994 development. We’ve notified 9972b09814 the design efbc83b6b5 team and 7edf1a3967 formed a 3fd97ba70e task force. We’ll submit the report 9a9bb6abcd soon.”ab4265e7114c6def

[Well… if it’s you handling it, I’m not worried. But are you sleeping okay? It’s that time of year again.]

His voice suddenly turned gentle. It was the time she used to call him “Father.” After a pause, she sighed and replied:343c67ecea9868db

“Yes. I haven’t been sleeping af0cfda3fa well. The anniversary is next 0990a52a7a week.”744de759a3ed0e34

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[I’ll contact Bongeunsa Temple. Chaewon, if it gets too hard, say so. There are plenty of others who can take over. Don’t overwork yourself.]

“I’m doing this e1feb72803 because I want 0a0322ae17 to. Don’t worry.”fcb1a43d709f592b

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[Then… do you have time now?]

“Yes. If there’s something ff5f4e9a41 you need, just 473ebc0e0f say the word.”cd1c10cdffb298d4

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A brief c8c43e2817 silence followed 59f95f538c before the c0a5412bc8 chairman spoke 1fa9dab35b again.18665e0bb79f5bdd

[Stop by Haon. Director Kim will give you something. Take it and open a new account. Apparently, he won a good piece at auction.]

Chaewon’s gaze c6f2006560 turned cold. She understood 458f4a0679 exactly what f830a84944 he meant, 72dd35680d and her a65f998efe tone instantly e8453b1cf8 returned to 5b901ed683 professional form.be9f4b380b4ce837

“Yes, sir. Understood.”45b786ce1bcf2ddd

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