Chapter 274: The Dutiful Sons, Part 2
Seeing the joy on my mother’s face, I realized the weight of the burden she’d carried all her life.
Perhaps feeling self-conscious about showing her emotions so openly, she glanced at my father and stood up.
“I’m going to rest for a bit.”
As soon as she left the room, my father began to ask probing questions. It seemed my mother had left on purpose to give us privacy.
“How’s your grandmother doing?”
“Worried about the investigation expanding, she’s already left the country.”
“Is it that serious? Can’t your uncles handle it?”
Knowing he’d find out eventually, I decided to be honest.
“I’m preventing them from covering it up.”
“Why?”
Though his expression hardened, he didn’t seem angry.
“If Grandmother stays in Korea, it makes things difficult for me.”
“Because it’s hard to face her?”
“No. She keeps trying to push me out of the company by rallying people against me. So far, it’s just been my uncles, but she’ll widen her net to include the directors and executives. They won’t be able to ignore her, and rumors about me will spread.”
“So, you want to make her a criminal?”
“She won’t have to appear in court or serve time. It’s more like… an extended stay abroad, like when Grandfather was alive.”
“But not being able to come home when she wants is different. That’s exile.”
“A luxurious exile. It’s what I want.”
I was nervous he might get angry, but he just looked troubled.
Caught between his parents and his child, my father was in a difficult position.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“Enough. Let’s drop it.”
He was silent for a while, just looking at me before he spoke again.
“Whatever happens, let’s make sure your grandmother, who’s over eighty, never ends up in prison. Promise me that.”
“Yes. I’ll make sure she doesn’t have to flee from one European country to another.”
He patted my shoulder once and went into the room where my mother was.
He chose to side with me, his son, over his own mother.
No parent can win against their child.
“Lee Seo-hyun? Who’s that?”
“She’s the wife of President Jin Yoon-ki. Jin Do-jun’s mother.”
“What? My sister-in-law?”
“Yes. All related taxes have been paid, and the shares have been transferred to her name.”
“That damn kid. Of all people…”
Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi was more incredulous than angry. His youngest sister-in-law, of all people.
If Mother found out, she might faint.
“Gather the entire legal team. The shares were under Mother’s name, so find any illegality in the transfer process and nullify it.”
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
Secretary Baek Joon-hyuk bowed and left.
Jin Do-jun’s intentions weren’t a lie. The shares were just a bonus; what he really wanted was to make his grandmother pay for the humiliation she’d caused him.
What could be more infuriating than having the daughter-in-law you despise take all your inheritance?
What kind of person would be so cruel as to dig into someone’s heart like this? Jin Young-gi wanted to open up his mind and see.
Jin Young-gi was pulled from his thoughts of Jin Do-jun by the secretary’s voice over the intercom.
“Leader, I apologize for the intrusion, but I needed to speak with you.”
“Yes.”
“Seems like my naive nephew picked up some wrong information. He probably thought it would help the opposition, but I apologize…
Jin Young-gi felt a heat rising in his stomach. This was urgent.
“Leader, let’s not discuss this over the phone. How about we meet for a meal and talk it over? We need to correct any misinformation and clear up misunderstandings.”
After the call, Jin Young-gi slammed the receiver down.
“Leeches!”
Thinking about how much those Yeouido bastards would extort with this huge leverage made his head throb.
I watched the opposition leader’s expression after the call. His lips curled up in satisfaction.
“What did he say, Leader?”
The deputy floor leader couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“It seems our informant, Mr. Jin, was spot on. Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi wants to meet immediately.”
The party leader looked at me intently.
“It seems like you already knew Mrs. Lee was involved, didn’t you?”
“I only suspected a small possibility.”
“Really? Doesn’t seem like it.”
The party leader chuckled, raising his glass.
“Looks like we’re getting tangled in Sunyang Group’s family affairs. What do we do?”
“Think of it as an advantage. The opposition isn’t in a position to be lenient with anyone right now, are we?”
His smile faded.
“Is there nothing you want?”
“I doubt you’d act according to my wishes, and we can only move forward if our directions align. I believe what’s advantageous for the opposition aligns with what I want.”
“The late Chairman Jin’s most cherished bloodline, indeed. You’re no ordinary person.”
“You’re too kind.”
“This is a tough choice… The chairman’s eldest son or his most beloved grandson…”
He’s already made up his mind but pretends to ponder. It’s a typical tactic of a seasoned politician, but I play along.
“By the way, your son had surgery recently, right? I heard it went well. How is he?”
“Thanks to Chairman Jin Yoon-ki’s care, he’s recovering well. I was too busy with the election to thank him properly. Please convey my gratitude to your father.”
“Of course, it’s what hospitals are for. I’ll let him know. And if you ever need anything, just say the word. We’ll keep a VIP room at Sunyang Medical Center ready.”
I’ve done my part, and now it’s time to say what the old man wants to hear.
“I understand that politics and business are inseparable, but politicians and businessmen are like lovers who can part ways at any time. A little push and pull keeps the other side from getting complacent.”
“What if they really break up?”
The party leader worried about completely severing ties with Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi.
“Attractive people always find new connections, don’t they? Who knows? A younger, more capable partner might appear.”
The party leader laughed, taking a drink.
“I do like having options…”
Greedy old man. He doesn’t know how to give up even one thing.
“That’s a matter of capability, not choice.”
“Do you know what kind of capability lets you have both? You seem like you’d be good at romance, being young and handsome. Share some tips, will you?”
“You can’t be too greedy. Otherwise, you might end up losing both.”
I took a sip of water and dabbed my mouth with a tissue, signaling that the meal and conversation were over.
“One more piece of information. There might be movement in the U.S. If that happens, there’ll be no way to hide it, and neither I nor Vice Chairman Jin Young-gi will be able to intervene. Sunyang Group’s power is ‘domestic only.’”
I offered advice to make the best of an inevitable situation.
“We can’t let our efforts go to waste. Thank you for the meal, Director Jin Do-jun.”
The opposition leader nodded lightly, indicating he understood.
With the house empty of its owner, the sons gathered, leaving the staff bustling. They hoped one of the sons would decide to live there.
Unlikely as it was, if the house were sold, they could all be out of a job. They prepared the table with more care than when the chairman was alive.
“The opposition won’t take my calls. The leader I was supposed to meet is supposedly in his district.”
“Those bastards don’t intend to waste this opportunity.”
Jin Yoon-ki didn’t shy away from the accusing looks from his two older brothers.
“Stop Do-jun. You don’t want Mother living in exile, do you?”
“Return Mother’s shares. Let her decide what to do with them.”
At their commanding tone, Jin Yoon-ki replied.
“Do you think Do-jun listens to me? And my wife doesn’t listen to me either. It’s the same as your wives not being obedient to you. We’re at the age where we have to watch our wives’ moods.”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Just do as we say!”
Jin Dong-ki shouted at Jin Yoon-ki, who seemed to be taking things lightly.
“I’m not joking. And do something about Mother’s phone. We should at least be able to contact her.”
Jin Yoon-ki’s complaint made Jin Young-gi flinch. He’d cut off all contact around their mother to secure the shares, worried that they might have caught on.
“Looks like you and your wife have gotten greedy. Are you afraid to let go of the shares in your hands?”
“Think of it as keeping them for Do-jun. That’s why I can’t act recklessly. Is this why you called me? It’s a waste of time. Settle the shares with Do-jun.”
Jin Yoon-ki spoke firmly to his brothers.
“Let me ask you one thing. If Do-jun offers to give up all the shares on the condition that Mother never returns, what will you do?”
Jin Yoon-ki’s question made Jin Young-gi’s eyes change.
“Are you sure that’s what Do-jun wants?”
Jin Yoon-ki scoffed at his older brother’s reaction.
“You all care more about the shares than about Mom, so you have no right to tell me what to do. Isn’t that right? If you’d suggested giving up the shares to bring Mom back home, I would’ve convinced Do-jun to avoid all this mess.”
Jin Young-gi fell silent, feeling awkward.
“Don’t drag Mom into this. It’s a fight over inheritance, isn’t it? A battle where the winner takes the spoils. From where I’m standing, it looks like Do-jun’s already won.”
Jin Dong-gi, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
“It’s not over yet. A long legal battle awaits us. You know it’s not about who’s right legally, right? It’s about who has the better lawyer and judge. Surely you realize we’re better positioned than Do-jun in that regard?”
“Don’t kid yourself. My wife is the one holding Do-jun’s shares. Do you think I’m just going to sit back and watch? If this goes to court, it’s my fight too.”
The brothers’ faces hardened at their younger sibling’s defiance, but they still had one card left to play.
Exchanging a glance, Jin Dong-gi revealed their trump card.
“We’ll give this house to Do-jun.”
“What?”
“This house holds a special meaning for him, doesn’t it? Especially this study—it’s like his own Mount Sinai. It’s where Father chose him. Am I wrong?”
“You’re suggesting we trade this house for the shares? That’s ridiculous. Are you even the owner of this house?”
Jin Yun-gi’s voice lost its strength.
After their father’s passing, the house belonged to their mother. If they offered the shares, she would undoubtedly give up the house.
“We’re not asking for the shares. If Do-jun gets the house, he’ll have to give something in return, right? Let him decide what that is. Just pass on the message.”
Jin Yun-gi knew well how much his son cherished this house.
The carefully prepared meal by the staff of Chairman Jin’s mansion ended up being eaten by them alone.
All the sons of the house had stormed off, their faces filled with anger.