Chapter 3: The Birthday of the Conglomerate Chairman
As I descended to the dining room, countless eyes turned toward me.
They were seated around three massive tables. It was easy to identify them as the company’s top executives, including the heads of subsidiaries. Some faces were familiar, as if I was seeing them thirty years into the future.
These key figures of the group were husbands, fathers, and sons, but their loyalty to Chairman Jin Yang-cheol surpassed any love for their families. They were the ones occupying the seats I had once dreamed of, the chairman’s loyal guards. In return for their loyalty, Chairman Jin listened to them.
I needed to win them over to my side.
At one table sat the children—my older brother and eleven cousins. Among them was Jin Young-jun, the eldest cousin and future vice-chairman who would one day be responsible for my downfall. The sight of him made me tremble with anger. If I had a gun, I might have shot him right there.
The last table was reserved for the chosen ones. Their only qualification was being born as Jin Yang-cheol’s children. Five heirs and their spouses sat there.
Wait a minute! Why are there only nine? Someone’s missing. Where is my mother?
I scanned the room, but she was nowhere to be found.
As Chairman Jin took his seat, two chefs brought out a cake with sixty-six candles.
“Happy birthday, Chairman.”
“Father, happy birthday. May you live a long and healthy life.”
“Grandfather! Happy birthday!”
The room erupted in cheers and applause as the chairman blew out the candles. Only two people didn’t join in the celebration—my father and brother. Despite being out of favor, how could they look so defeated? What was our family’s place in this household?
The answer became clear when I finally spotted my mother. She wasn’t at the table because she was being ordered around by the other women—mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and aunts.
“Could you bring more soup?”
“Get us some cold water with ice.”
“Clear these empty dishes, please.”
They treated her like a servant. In a house with five kitchen staff and over ten maids, there was no need for my mother to be running errands. It was blatant mistreatment.
Seeing this made my blood boil, as much as when I first saw Jin Young-jun. Though I hadn’t lived with my mother for long, I had felt her boundless love and warmth. My anger was not just for those who mistreated her, but also for my father, who sat there eating as if nothing was wrong.
My brother, Sang-jun, who had likely witnessed this many times, seemed unable to bear it. His tightly pressed lips trembled.
No wonder he didn’t want to come to grandfather’s house. I felt a pang of guilt for scolding him, thinking it was just a tantrum.
Hold on, one day I’ll make sure these women kneel before my mother.
In the end, my mother barely ate and was practically chased into the kitchen to do the dishes.
After dinner, the grandchildren split into two groups. The teenagers disappeared somewhere, while the younger ones gathered around grandfather.
“Alright, let’s go upstairs, you rascals.”
Ah, so access to the playroom upstairs required the chairman’s permission. What a controlling old man.
Despite my disbelief, I followed them upstairs. As I did, I felt a hand ruffle my hair.
“Our little Do-jun, the star of the day.”
It was Jin Young-jun. Seeing him made my hair stand on end, but I forced a smile. With a ten-year age gap, he looked at me with a fondness typical of an older brother.
Let’s see how long that smile lasts.
“This is Do-jun’s gift, so he gets the first ride. You all wait your turn, understood?”
With that, Chairman Jin left the room.
As soon as he was gone, someone shoved my shoulder.
“Move it, kid. I’m first!”
The nerve of this brat. My face flushed with anger, and I clenched my fist, ready to retaliate, but my brother Sang-jun held me back.
“Okay, Kang-jun, you go first. We can wait.”
Sang-jun looked terrified.
Kang-jun? Jin Kang-jun? The name rang a bell.
Ah, him. The eldest son of Jin Sang-gi. At the time of my death, he was an executive at Sunyang Telecom.
Jin Sang-gi had lost in the succession battle and begged for his son’s future. Jin Kang-jun was known for his foul temper, even as a child. As an adult, he was notorious for his violent outbursts, assaulting employees and causing trouble in restaurants and bars.
I wasn’t interested in toys, but I remembered how his mother had bossed my mother around at dinner.
What should I do? Let it slide or seek a little revenge?
The decision didn’t take long. A little revenge was necessary, and I needed to think about how to gain from it.
I wanted to leave a strong impression on our founder grandfather. We didn’t meet often, so I had to seize every opportunity to make myself known.
With my plan in mind, I acted.
Sang-jun noticed the mischievous smile on my face, the same one I had when I poured hot water on myself earlier.
I winked at him and approached my cousin Jin Kang-jun, who was too absorbed in pretending to be a cowboy on a rocking horse to notice me.
“Having fun?”
“What?”
As he turned to look at me, I kicked the horse’s rear with all my might.
Crash!
The horse toppled over, taking Jin Kang-jun with it.
“Ahhh!”
Oops, did I break his leg? His scream was sharp.
No matter. Growing up with a few injuries makes you stronger.
The other five cousins in the playroom were too shocked to make a sound.
I tapped Jin Kang-jun’s cheek as he lay there, trapped under the horse and crying out in pain.
“Don’t touch my stuff again.”
I heard footsteps pounding up the stairs.
Women rushed in, one of them paling at the sight.
“Kang-jun!”
The room turned chaotic as they lifted the horse and checked on him, but one person remained still, watching me.
My mother.
The children chattered like sparrows, but she only heard one thing.
Do-jun pushed him!
She looked at me with a pained expression, unable to handle what was to come. But I smiled brightly and winked at her.
Unfortunately, Kang-jun’s mother saw it.
“You little brat!”
Slap, slap!
Her hand struck my cheek, and my mother rushed to hold me.
Poor woman. She couldn’t say a word, only thinking of protecting me.
Kang-jun’s mother raised her hand again, eyes filled with malice.
“What’s going on here? How dare you raise your hand?”
“F-Father…”
With Chairman Jin’s arrival, the room fell silent.
He surveyed the scene and quickly assessed the situation.
“Kang-jun’s mother, take him to the hospital.”
“Yes, yes.”
As they carried the crying child out, Chairman Jin addressed the rest.
“Everyone, go downstairs. Now.”
I hesitated, holding my mother’s hand, hoping to leave last.
“Do-jun, you stay.”
Of course. This was what I wanted.
As I let go of my mother’s hand, she hesitated, worried and anxious. But under Chairman Jin’s stern gaze, she bowed her head and left.
Once we were alone, Chairman Jin glared at me.
“Did you do it?”
“…Yes.”
“Why? Why would you do something so dangerous? To your own brother!”
“It was mine, but Kang-jun took it first.”
“What? You hurt your brother over something so trivial?”
Chairman Jin’s brows furrowed in anger.
“No, I didn’t mean to hurt him. I wanted to break the horse.”
My unexpected response made his furrowed brow disappear, replaced by a look of utter surprise.
“I’d rather destroy what’s mine than let someone else take it. So no one can have it…”
I trailed off, lowering my head.
“You won’t let it be taken?”
“Yes.”
I lifted my head slightly to gauge Chairman Jin’s expression.
Success.
He was clearly struggling to suppress a smile.
He must have seen the ruthless determination essential for a leader of a kingdom—the fierce resolve not to lose even an inch of territory. It’s a crucial trait for waging war against external forces.
“Even if you didn’t intend to harm your brother, the fact is, he got hurt. You must face the consequences of your actions.”
Chairman Jin led the way, and I followed, pretending to be remorseful, my head bowed low.
He took me to the study.
As the door opened, my heart pounded.
To think I could enter this place!