“Do-Jun… what are you saying right now?”

After a long pause, my aunt finally spoke, but her words were shaky.

“I’m saying exactly what you heard. President Oh Se-hyun isn’t interested in this matter. I’m the one who wants to proceed according to the contract.”

“So, what exactly do you mean? Are you serious? You want to take over my company?”

“Have I ever spoken nonsense? By next year, I’ll be the owner of Sunyang Distribution. That includes the department stores, hotels, golf courses, and discount mart chains under it. Do you understand the situation now?”

Understanding this would be difficult. It’s like trying to solve a puzzle without ever having seen the pieces. If it were a still life, it might be easier to grasp, but this is an abstract painting. It takes time to comprehend. But eventually, one truth becomes clear.

“You… you traitor! You used me, didn’t you?”

“When were we ever on the same side? Our family has always lived in suspicion of one another. Betrayal, using each other… those words never existed between us. Just like you never saw me as a partner, only someone to use.”

“You little brat, how dare you toy with me? Wait… was the stock investment all part of your scheme too?”

“I was the one who advised you to sell when you made double your investment. Did you forget? You said you sold everything, but then you secretly bought more, didn’t you? What are you talking about?”

“Hey!”

The shock, the confusion, the chaos—all of it vanished, leaving only anger directed at me.

I had no obligation to absorb all of her fury, nor did I have the compassion to do so.

“Stop shouting and calm down. This is the moment to decide the future of the department store group. As the major shareholder of Sunyang Distribution, I haven’t yet decided whether to keep President Jin Seo-yoon in her position. You should be showing a calm and rational demeanor.”

“You brat. Stick to the contract! You only have 30%. Major shareholder? Fine, I’ll give you that. But Miracle… no, you can’t do anything. Shareholders just collect dividends.”

With a dramatic flourish of her fur coat, my aunt stood up.

“Get out! Get out of this building right now! You have no right. Just show up at the annual shareholders’ meeting!”

“Sit down. The major shareholder hasn’t finished speaking.”

“What?”

Her eyes were bloodshot with rage.

“As you said, with 30% of the shares, I plan to sue you for embezzlement and breach of trust for squandering company funds on stock investments.”

The word “sue” hit her like an arrow, and her mouth fell open.

“When a major shareholder takes action, replacing the CEO or executives is a simple matter. Especially for someone like you, who meddles with the company without being part of the system, causing harm and siphoning off money. You need to disappear quickly.”

Regaining her composure, my aunt smirked.

“Didn’t Grandpa teach you? Why do you think we’re not part of the company system? It’s precisely for times like this. We rule without responsibility. That’s who we are.”

“I don’t need to be taught that. It’s not just me; the whole nation knows.”

“They know, but they can’t do anything about it. You’re no different from them. You won’t be able to do anything. As you said, go ahead and replace the CEO and executives. They’ll be the ones to take the fall.”

“Are you sure about that?”

I took out my phone and pressed a speed dial number.

“Yes, it’s me. Please come in. It’s time for some explanations.”

“Wh-what? Who are you talking to?”

“Those who will take responsibility. We need to hear what they think. Whether they plan to take the fall for you or point fingers at you to save themselves.”

As footsteps echoed outside the conference room, my aunt’s gaze shifted to the door.

“If they all point at you, there’s nothing you can do. Ah, that’s what betrayal looks like.”

At that moment, the conference room door swung open, and executives from the department store and hotel divisions, led by Executive Director Im, filed in.

They avoided my aunt’s gaze as they took their seats.

“Let’s skip the formalities. Everyone here is already aware of the contract with Miracle.”

The color began to drain from my aunt’s face as she sat at the head of the table.

“The 140 billion won that President Jin Seo-yoon lost came from the companies you are responsible for. And President Jin Seo-yoon firmly believes in your loyalty. She thinks you’ll take responsibility for that money. Is that correct?”

Not a single person spoke.

“Silence means consent. Are you all going to take responsibility?”

I slammed the table and shouted, prompting Executive Director Im to speak first.

“I’m sorry, President. I can’t spend my old age in prison.”

“I’m sorry, President.”

Once one person started, the rest followed, bowing their heads and apologizing to my aunt.

“You… you all…”

My aunt, already pale, found it hard to accept the situation. She didn’t want to believe it, especially from those who had dedicated their lives to Sunyang Group.

“Who said anyone’s going to prison? Don’t you trust Sunyang? No matter how much that brat stirs things up, there won’t be any problems. At worst, it’ll end with a suspended sentence.”

Executive Director Im spoke on behalf of everyone.

“If people like us get a suspended sentence, then you’ll probably be acquitted, President. Or maybe not even indicted? What are you afraid of?”

“Executive Director Im!”

My aunt shouted, but it was too late. Executive Director Im only glared at her coldly.

“Stop thinking about digging up dirt on the executives or directors to use against them. If even one person becomes a target of investigation, I’ll personally sue you, and all these people will be witnesses.”

With my final warning, an uncomfortable silence settled in.

Everyone had rolled their dice, and now they waited for the outcome. I was the only one who could reveal the results.

“No matter where the company’s future leads, your positions won’t change. It’s a situation where everyone has a knife pointed at each other, so no one can wield it recklessly. Rest assured and return to your duties.”

They hurriedly got up and left the conference room. Their retreating figures seemed lighter, as if they had just shed a heavy burden.

Left alone in the empty conference room, my aunt stared blankly at the ceiling, half out of her mind.

“Now that you understand the situation, let’s talk about practical matters. How do you plan to cover the 140 billion won promissory note due in a few days? Grandpa won’t throw money at a company that’s been spun off, so there’s no way to cover it. Oh, and as for the uncles… let’s not even go there. They’re even more ruthless than I am.”

It was hard to tell if she was even listening to me, her expression was so blank.

I felt a surge of irritation but waited for her to regain enough composure to make a decision. She needed to be able to read the contract I had prepared.

When her gaze finally shifted from the ceiling to me, she seemed to have regained her senses.

“Aunt, I’m about to extend my hand. If you take it, we’ll be allies in the same boat. I’m not like you, who stabs loyal people in the back for your own survival.”

“You expect me to work under you? How dare you spew such nonsense?”

“Look at President Oh Se-hyun. Does he seem like someone beneath me? Doesn’t he appear as an equal?”

It took her a long moment to grasp the meaning behind my words.

“So, you’re saying you’re the real head of Miracle Investment?”

“Think bigger. I own over 95% of the shares, and more than 70% of the funds managed by this company are mine. President Oh is indeed the actual CEO. I don’t see professional managers as mere subordinates. I own, but I let them manage.”

When I revealed that even the massive fund was my money, she was more shocked than when I said I’d take over the company.

“Now, look me in the eye and decide. I’m the one who acquired Ajin Group and took over Sunyang Motors. That was my work when I was a freshman in college two years ago. Do you really want to make an enemy of someone like me? Or would you rather have me as an ally?”

“Who… who exactly are you?”

“Take my hand. No matter how much you struggle, you can’t beat me. Instead, take my hand and continue to enjoy the life of a chaebol family member. The uncles will never offer you such an opportunity. You know that, right?”

“Does your grandfather know about this? Your real grandfather, I mean.”

“He’s the only one who knows my true self. That’s why he willingly gave up the automotive division. Understand? It’s not because he favors me, but because I’m the only one in the family he trusts to handle Sunyang Group.”

“Could it be… already?”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, but her curiosity was obvious.

“Grandpa loves his sons more than his grandson. That’s why he only gave me the financial sector. But he probably suspects that one day, I’ll take it all.”

The abstract painting in my aunt’s mind was slowly coming into focus. As the shadowy figure in the fog revealed its true form, she looked more than shocked—she seemed utterly defeated.

Perhaps she was in the process of giving up. When she’s completely fallen, offering her a lifeline will end this tedious battle with her.

“I’ve laid everything bare, so the choice is yours. If you refuse my hand, I’ll make sure you rot in prison for ten years. The embezzlement of 140 billion won will be the first news of the new millennium.”

I hoped she would grasp this one simple truth.

No matter what happens, Grandfather won’t help Aunt. He believes I’m the only one who can sustain the Sunyang Group, which he loves more than her.

“If I take your hand… what happens then?”

“I’ll let you lead the department store group in my place. Just like how President Oh Se-hyun runs Miracle for me.”

“Like now?”

“I’ll have the final say in executive appointments. You won’t be able to use company funds as you please anymore. But don’t worry, you’ll still enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, as long as there are no major mistakes.”

Sometimes, sweetening the deal can help speed up decision-making.

“What do I need to do?”

She seemed alert enough now to read the terms of a contract.

I handed her the prepared documents.

“Let me get to the point. I’ll buy a portion of your shares in Sunyang Distribution for 140 billion won. That will make me the majority shareholder with 55%.”

There was no protest. She knew what would happen if she refused: a first default, embezzlement charges, and finally, a court sentence.

I offered her the pen, watching her twitching face.

“Take my hand. As Chairman Jin Yang-cheol’s daughter, you won’t lose a thing.”

Her trembling hand reached for the pen.