Chapter 11
“Are you telling me I should believe that right now?”
Jang Jubin scoffed in disbelief, her eyes narrowing slightly. She still didn’t look pleased.
“Sorry for being late.”
“Forget it. If it weren’t for Seonghun, you wouldn’t have even gotten in.”
“I really didn’t mean to be late.”
“I said, forget it.”
“Still, since Oppa invited me, I thought it wasn’t right to show up empty-handed. I prepared a gift, but because my flight was delayed, I had to rush here.”
Kang Dasom continued speaking politely. Jang Jubin’s displeased gaze shifted to the shopping bag in her hand.
When she noticed the golden logo printed on the pristine white bag, her expression subtly changed.
“I know Seonghun Oppa has caused a lot of trouble.”
“Hey… do you even know who you’re saying that in front of?”
“We had a big fight about that a few days ago. He promised he wouldn’t do it again. I want to believe him. Doesn’t Oppa deserve another chance? I trust him.”
When Kang Dasom openly sided with Yoon Seonghun, Jang Jubin flinched.
Even though she had elevated Yoon Junseok as Cheonmyeong’s real power holder, when it came to her own son, there was no winning.
Especially when she thought about Seonghun’s marriage, her chest would tighten even in her sleep. She knew well that Seonghun understood why she only ever talked about his older brother in public.
Still, she was stressed by the constant whispers and gossip behind her back.
Suppressing her anger, she silently studied Kang Dasom. At least her appearance and attire passed the minimum standard.
“Hah. So you’re saying we should bring in Chairman Kang’s illegitimate daughter into Cheonmyeong? Do you think Cheonmyeong is a joke? Or do you think Seonghun is that easy to fool?”
“Mom, why do you always have to say things like that?”
“Shut your mouth. Do you know how many scandals you’ve caused over women?”
“…I won’t anymore. I’m almost thirty now. It’s time to stop fooling around.”
“If you really want to stop, then meet the woman I introduce to you.”
“What’s wrong with Dasom?”
“Yoon Seonghun! Listen to me! How dare you bring in such a low-born girl?”
The argument between Jang Jubin and Yoon Seonghun escalated, their voices rising. Even though Kang Dasom, the subject of the fight, was right there, neither of them seemed to care.
Lowering her head, Dasom’s cheeks flushed red. Seonghun, seeing the sting in her eyes, felt a surge of anger.
“Is being an illegitimate child a fucking crime? Did she ask to be born that way? Damn it! Jinwoo gets to do whatever he wants, but I can’t even date one girl?”
“Do you know how many women you’ve already dated recklessly?!”
“Dasom is already registered under Chairman Kang’s family register.”
At the word register, Jang Jubin paused to think. She cracked the door open and ordered a maid passing by to bring cold water.
Sitting down on the nearby sofa, she drank the water. Seonghun nudged Dasom to sit as well.
“Is that true? If you’re lying…”
“It’s true.”
Even in chaebol families, no one knew every single detail about the others’ private lives.
Especially when it came to illegitimate children—it wasn’t easy to know whether or not one had been formally registered.
“I said something I shouldn’t have.”
“It’s okay. I completely understand. I would have thought the same in your place.”
“You said you fought with Seonghun about women?”
“Yes.”
“And if you fight again?”
It took her a long time to ask that next question. Seonghun grumbled from the side, but at his mother’s single word, he shut his mouth.
No matter how much trouble he caused, Seonghun was still a mama’s boy.
“What I mean is…”
“How could that be Oppa’s fault? Isn’t it the fault of people who take advantage, knowing how lonely Oppa can get? But I’m not kind enough to just leave such people alone.”
Leaning slightly forward, she brushed her hair back and locked eyes with Jang Jubin, her gaze bold and challenging.
“Do you know who Oppa is? Right, Oppa?”
“Th–That’s right!”
Although Seonghun quickly asked her to trust him, Jang Jubin didn’t answer easily. No doubt, her head was busy calculating possibilities.
Dasom set the shopping bag aside and pulled out the box inside. Intentionally, she opened it and presented it toward Jang Jubin.
“It’s not much, but it’s a gift.”
“Put it away. Why would you…”
But when Jang Jubin’s eyes caught the certificate inside the leather case, they widened. The Delphinus logo had made her doubtful at first.
Not long ago, at one of her regular gatherings, Madam Choi had bragged endlessly about buying a Delphinus emerald pendant. Jang Jubin had been irritated enough to snap at the department store over it.
“Well, at least you made the effort.”
“Would you like to try it on? I think it would suit you beautifully, Mother.”
Dasom naturally called her “Mother,” but Jang Jubin didn’t object. Dasom nudged Seonghun with her foot, and he quickly jumped up.
“Wait, Mom! I’ll help you put it on.”
Excitedly, he clasped the necklace around her neck. Dasom brought over the full-length mirror from the wall.
“It’s perfect on you, Mom!”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s nothing special.”
“How can you say that in front of the person who gave it to you?”
“It’s fine. Oppa, I think so too. Even though it’s a limited edition designed by their chief designer, it doesn’t quite suit someone as graceful as Mother.”
At her flattery, Seonghun tilted his head, unsure.
But Dasom clearly saw the slight upward curl of Jang Jubin’s lips as she criticized the necklace.
In her past life, that necklace had belonged to Jung Hana.
There was only one time when Hana had ever rubbed Jang Jubin the wrong way.
“Dasom, can you go say something to Mother for me? Please? I swear I’m innocent.”
“What’s wrong, Unni?”
“That Delphinus necklace! Apparently Madam Choi was flaunting it around at Hana Club, and then said something to Mother because of it? How would I even know about that?”
Once, at a family event, Jung Hana had unknowingly worn the Royal Emerald pendant in front of Jang Jubin, offending her terribly.
In her previous life, Jang Jubin hadn’t particularly disliked Dasom.
As Seonghun had said, Dasom was officially on Chairman Kang’s family register, and back then, she had been much more docile.
Perhaps naïve. But at least better than loud, brash women.
Back then, Dasom had spent days visiting the main house, begging Jang Jubin to forgive Hana. But this time, things would be different.
“Next time, I’ll bring something that truly suits you, Mother.”
“That’s enough. The type of gift doesn’t matter—it’s the thought that counts. I’ll have to think about this more carefully.”
“Yes.”
“Come visit again for tea next time.”
“I will.”
“Since you’re here, go pay your respects to the Chairman. Seonghun, make sure you speak properly in front of your grandfather. Understand?”
Seonghun nodded eagerly. After telling them the Chairman was in his study, Jang Jubin left the room.
No doubt, she was eager to go boast about her new necklace as soon as possible.
Dasom and Seonghun entered the study to greet Chairman Yoon Hyuktae. Yoon Junseok was visibly surprised to see Seonghun bringing Dasom with him.
“Mother told us to come and pay our respects with Dasom.”
At that, Junseok scanned Dasom briefly, then just gave a small nod. He couldn’t tell what was going on, but this wasn’t the place to question it.
After a short greeting, they stepped back out. The hallway between them felt heavy with awkward silence.
Seonghun sighed several times, clearly overwhelmed by the whirlwind of events.
“When did you prepare that gift?”
“I always intended to give it.”
“O–Oh, really?”
“Oppa, you promised in front of Mother.”
“Huh? Oh, that… yeah.”
“You’ll keep it, right?”
“……”
“There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
Dasom slowly approached, then turned her body to face the massive painting on the wall—worth hundreds of billions.
“I know you don’t really like me that much, Oppa.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If I’d been better, you wouldn’t have gone off playing around with other women, right? It’s my fault.”
“That’s… I’m sorry. I have no excuse. I won’t do it again.”
“But the thing is, I’m a bit greedy. You see, Oppa, I want this painting to be mine.”
