By Zephyria A cool air circulated in Pyeongchang-dong, where outside air rarely entered. It was all because of the young master who had barged into the empty house without a word. Unless Chairman Lee Kang-sun summoned him, the young master never even glanced at the house he had left after getting married. His sudden visit put the Pyeongchang-dong staff on high alert.
It was only natural that Kim Mi-hee, who had been spending time in the department store’s VIP lounge, rushed home. Chairman Lee Kang-sun, who didn’t care about one’s origins, remained indifferent, and Lee Gyu-hyeon, who had been quietly self-reflecting since his discharge from the hospital, couldn’t even be reached. Kim Mi-hee, returning as if she would break her high heels, bit her lip and suppressed her anger upon seeing Lee Do-hyeon casually sitting and eating. Her face was already pale, and she had applied so much makeup that her complexion looked ghastly white, making her appear quite pitiful.
Despite the icy atmosphere, Lee Do-hyeon finished his meal without a care and sat in the middle of the spacious living room, ostentatiously tilting his teacup. It was then that Kim Mi-hee, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke.
“What brings you here?”
Kim Mi-hee asked, bringing the lukewarm teacup to her lips. Perhaps out of habit, the little finger of the hand holding the cup was slightly raised. Sitting upright and savoring the tea, she looked quite elegant, but the abnormally large white diamond ring on her fourth finger made her seem somewhat ostentatious.
The ring, sparkling in various angles whenever the light hit it, naturally drew attention. Lee Do-hyeon tasted the bitter and rough flavor of the tea leaves lingering in his mouth before carelessly putting it down as if he had lost interest. The sound of the luxurious tea set clattering echoed through the room. Secretary Yoo, standing behind Kim Mi-hee, subtly gave him a warning glance.
“Am I not allowed to come here?”
The content was polite, but the attitude and tone were almost sarcastic. In public, they had to be cautious of the shareholders’ opinions, but in this setting, he didn’t bother to hide his sharp words.
Kim Mi-hee slightly raised the corner of her mouth as if amused. Of course, the smile didn’t last long due to the many eyes watching. Skillfully and shamelessly changing her expression, Kim Mi-hee tilted her head as if nothing had happened.
“It’s your time to be at the company. I was just surprised that you, who used to go to work even on weekends when you were busy, came without any notice.”
It seemed like she was happy to see her son come home after a long time, but Lee Do-hyeon heard it differently. She was saying that the pup who only did what his owner told him to do was making her uncomfortable by coming without a word. Lee Do-hyeon barely suppressed the laughter that threatened to erupt at her blatant words.
“I just thought I’d have a home-cooked meal after a long time. I knew no one would be here, so I was just going to eat quietly and leave, but I’m really grateful that you came running out barefoot to greet me, Mother.”
Kim Mi-hee was much older, but Lee Do-hyeon, who had matured early and learned to read people’s faces, was no less skilled than her. He was saying, with a face that seemed overwhelmed with gratitude, that he was wondering what she was so anxious about that she came running with fire in her eyes.
“Auntie’s cooking skills are… indeed good.”
At the word “Mother” that came out of Lee Do-hyeon’s mouth, a crack appeared on Kim Mi-hee’s face. Her pretense of being a benevolent mother, showing generosity even to the children her husband brought in from outside, wavered precariously at the word “Mother.” Kim Mi-hee quickly pretended to drink tea to hide her expression. However, the hand holding the teacup was trembling slightly.
He probably didn’t come just because he wanted a home-cooked meal. Kim Mi-hee swallowed the cold tea and carefully observed Lee Do-hyeon, who was impossible to read. Both inside and out, he was like a tiger cub. There was no way that a guy hiding his claws would barge in without any ulterior motives.
Kim Mi-hee, with her lips touching the small teacup, glanced behind her. Secretary Yoo, who had been guarding her side ever since she returned to Pyeongchang-dong, remained unresponsive as always.
Since she had people watching him day and night, she would be the first to know through Secretary Yoo if she sensed anything suspicious. The fact that Secretary Yoo, who was like her own limb, hadn’t said anything yet meant that there were no special movements… but for some reason, she felt a chill down her spine, and the feeling wasn’t good.
Could he know something? Kim Mi-hee, more anxious than ever, swallowed hard. Her fingernails, as extravagant as the gemstone ring on her finger, scratched against the teacup. If she opened her mouth rashly, she might reveal all her cards to that tiger cub. In times like these, there was nothing better than asking questions.
“How’s work going these days?”
Lee Do-hyeon raised an eyebrow.
“It seems you’re very interested in my work, Mother.”
“Of course, I should be. You’re not only my son but also the second son of our Youngkang. You’re not doing anything else, and you’re using the name of our Youngkang, so who else would be interested if I, the mistress of Youngkang, didn’t care?”
She was telling him to act accordingly since she was watching. Kim Mi-hee gave a confident smile.
“I don’t know. Chairman Lee hasn’t said anything.”
However, Lee Do-hyeon, as if mocking Kim Mi-hee, responded with a nonchalant expression, as if he had no interest in her great concern. Unlike his actions of barging into Pyeongchang-dong, his tone was subtly indifferent.
At the mention of Chairman Lee Kang-sun, Kim Mi-hee’s expression momentarily distorted. She bit her brightly painted lips tightly and glared with venomous eyes. The tone, as if treating her as nothing more than a second-in-command, directly attacked her pride. Power that was only an illusion. That was Kim Mi-hee’s weakness.
From a precious young lady from a wealthy family to the mistress of a rich household, she had to hold her breath and protect her position, contrary to the surrounding evaluations that she would be successful. Living as a capable daughter-in-law in a family where she couldn’t do anything as she pleased was a very difficult task.
Her husband, who kept wandering outside, couldn’t be a reliable fence, so Lee Gyu-hyeon, her only bloodline, was like a lifeline for her to achieve her dreams. However, her son, who was born to enjoy himself, was too small a vessel to fulfill her ambitions. Moreover, her husband’s illegitimate child, with whom she shared no blood, was holding her back.
“…Don’t you know your father’s personality? He’s probably just pretending not to care on the surface.”
“Is that so?”
Lee Do-hyeon replied casually. He didn’t seem to be listening. Kim Mi-hee hid a cunning look behind her teacup and gritted her teeth.
Not just an Alpha, but a Dominant Alpha. A child born from a woman who couldn’t even be considered a concubine had the Dominant trait that she couldn’t even give. She wore a serene smile on the outside, but inside, bitter jealousy and anger were bubbling up.
Fortunately, the girl who was born with a normal trait had other intentions early on and wasn’t an opponent. But Lee Do-hyeon was different. She had put a leash on him, thinking he was just a dog, but he grew up to be a tiger and tried to cut off his owner’s breath. The easiest way to get rid of an eyesore was to eliminate him without anyone knowing, but even that wasn’t easy because of her husband, who seemed to be neglecting him but was actually weighing things as he pleased. There was a reason why he had surpassed his older brothers and become the Chairman.
Still, she had to take action before it was too late. There was no reason to keep a dog alive who didn’t listen to his owner.
“Get out of the way, you!”
It was at that moment, when Kim Mi-hee was calculating in her head. Amidst the silence where all the servants in the house couldn’t even breathe properly, a commotion erupted. It was Lee Gyu-hyeon.
A woman’s scream was heard, indicating that he had pushed a servant. Judging by the sound of the sturdy wall shaking, the person who was pushed had collided with it, or Lee Gyu-hyeon himself had thrown something. Nevertheless, neither Lee Do-hyeon nor Kim Mi-hee were disturbed, as if it was nothing surprising. Lee Gyu-hyeon was like a runaway horse in places where Chairman Lee Kang-sun wasn’t present.
“Where is that bastard? That son of a bitch, you fucking bastard!”
Lee Gyu-hyeon, who had come in screaming wildly as if he couldn’t control his anger, stopped abruptly. He was breathing heavily as if he couldn’t contain his anger, looking quite different from his “young businessman” image. His shirt collar, without even a tie, was a mess, and his hair was disheveled as if he had just woken up. The dark stubble and the smell of alcohol and Omega pheromones made it possible to guess what had happened to him earlier.
“That bastard, I wouldn’t be satisfied even if I tore him to pieces!”
As if his mother wasn’t even visible, Lee Gyu-hyeon approached with his eyes shining fiercely red. Unspeakable vulgarities poured out of his mouth, but Lee Do-hyeon responded without flinching, as if it were just another name.
“Long time no see, Hyung.”
It was a calm tone that contrasted with Lee Gyu-hyeon’s, to the point where it couldn’t even be called a conversation in the same space. Lee Do-hyeon, looking him up and down with indifferent eyes as if he were an inanimate object, raised the corner of his mouth in a mocking smile at his hair, which was covered in black ink, unlike the bright yellow it had been before.
The rumors about drugs that had been circulating were quietly buried. They must have worked hard to bury something that wasn’t the first time. The judiciary was extremely lenient towards drug offenders, especially first-time offenders, but Lee Gyu-hyeon had never even received the label of a first-time offender despite the numerous rumors.
No one could easily determine whether it was Youngkang’s intention or Kim Mi-hee’s intention. But what was clear was that Kim Mi-hee was always behind Lee Gyu-hyeon. Lee Do-hyeon, taking his eyes off Lee Gyu-hyeon, smiled as if it was obvious.
“Don’t make a fuss and sit down.”
Kim Mi-hee, holding her throbbing head, quietly suggested. It was an order with a clear sign of displeasure rather than an invitation, but Lee Gyu-hyeon, who was drunk from midday, didn’t seem to be listening. He ran to the sofa where his mother and Lee Do-hyeon were sitting and raised his voice as if he would grab their collars at any moment.
“Even a dog doesn’t bite its owner! It doesn’t bite the owner who raised it!”
“Speak clearly.”
“Speak clearly? You’re telling me to speak clearly? You, you son of a bitch, did something, and you’re asking me if I don’t know about it?”
His booming voice echoed through the living room. Every time Lee Gyu-hyeon spat out a word, saliva splattered on the transparent glass table. Lee Do-hyeon, disgusted, simply raised his eyes and looked at his half-brother. Lee Gyu-hyeon, with a face that was red and black as if he had returned to his immature childhood, couldn’t contain his anger and screamed into the air.
What a sight. Even though the anger was directed at him, Lee Do-hyeon muttered his impressions as if he were a third party.
He had expected Kim Mi-hee to come, but Lee Gyu-hyeon was unexpected. He had caught Secretary Yoon’s tail, but he didn’t think that such a meticulous act could have come from Lee Gyu-hyeon’s head. He was too greedy and had no guts, and he thought that simply taking things away like he did when he was young was the best way. He was a man who was used to being wrapped in Kim Mi-hee’s skirt, as always.
As if to prove this, Lee Gyu-hyeon showed a different behavior from Kim Mi-hee, who was busy hiding her emotions.
“How dare you show me something like this? How dare you, a son of a bitch?”
“What is it?”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
“Tell me what it is, and I’ll tell you if I know or not.”
Lee Gyu-hyeon, enraged by the wordplay, threw a document envelope. The envelope that flew through the air hit Lee Do-hyeon’s arm and fell to the floor. Lee Do-hyeon, not intending to pick it up, glanced at it and shrugged as if he knew what it was. It seemed that the hotel construction plan that he had sent through Chief Yoon had gone through Chairman Lee and down to Lee Gyu-hyeon.
“Who else would look at it if Hyung didn’t? You’re the Vice Chairman.”
What a joke. He didn’t bother to add the rest of the words, but his contemptuous gaze and bitter smile said it all. Perhaps because it wasn’t a position he had rightfully earned, Lee Gyu-hyeon, enraged, rushed at him in an instant.
His upright posture crumbled in an instant. There was no one to stop him, and he wasn’t the kind of person who would be stopped even if someone tried, so Lee Do-hyeon had to give up his collar. Lee Gyu-hyeon, who seemed to know how to use his strength, straddled Lee Do-hyeon and growled, grabbing his collar.
“Do you think you can do it? Do you think you’re any different?”
“……”
He had known it before, but Lee Gyu-hyeon was very wary of the hotel business. It was a field in which he had failed miserably, so if he were to succeed, it would only be a matter of time before Lee Gyu-hyeon’s position within Youngkang disappeared.
When he first leaked the new business plan, it was obvious that he was trying to put a spoon on the table that had already been set, but in the past few months, he seemed to have become impatient and was now openly trying to interfere.
Of course, he didn’t misunderstand Lee Gyu-hyeon. But the position that Lee Gyu-hyeon and Lee Do-hyeon were aiming for wasn’t guaranteed to be safe.
Lee Do-hyeon, feeling tired for some reason, frowned at the hot breath pouring out from a close distance. As Lee Gyu-hyeon wheezed, the strong smell of alcohol stung his nose. Above all, it was plastered with the sticky and thick pheromones of Omegas, making it disgusting just to be in close proximity.
He was like a dog in heat. It was unclear who he was calling a dog.
“You came all the way here just to argue about this?”
“‘Just’? You fucking talk like shit… Ack! Ah! You fucking bastard, ahhh!”
Lee Gyu-hyeon, fixated on the word “just,” screamed something, but he didn’t have the time to listen. Because it wasn’t worth listening to, Lee Do-hyeon grabbed the wrist that was holding his collar and twisted it hard as if to break it. Kim Mi-hee, her face pale, jumped up from her seat. There was nothing she could do.
As if by mistake, he punched Lee Gyu-hyeon in the jaw. Lee Gyu-hyeon, unable to even scream, fell over and rolled on the floor after hitting the table hard. The sight of him rolling around while holding his injured jaw was truly unsightly.
“I’ve said it many times, but you should take care of yourself, Hyung.”
Lee Do-hyeon dusted off his hands as if he had nothing more to do. He neatly straightened the shirt collar that had been messed up by Lee Gyu-hyeon’s grip and kicked the crumpled document envelope on the floor with his toe.
He was about to leave when a thought crossed his mind. “Ah, right,” Lee Do-hyeon said, stopping and turning to Kim Mi-hee.
“Please give my regards to Chairman Lee, Mother.”
Kim Mi-hee trembled all over with anger. As if she had been hit herself, the resentment she had been suppressing all along welled up in her eyes. Her wide eyes glared at Lee Do-hyeon as if to cut him out of her skin, but Lee Do-hyeon turned away indifferently as if nothing had happened.
Kim Mi-hee, losing her reason, cursed at his departing back. Of course, Lee Do-hyeon didn’t care at all. He was just disgusted by the Omega pheromones that had rubbed off on him from Lee Gyu-hyeon.
What could Ryu Jeong be doing? He wanted to bury his nose in his lover’s sweet pheromones and drown.