Chapter 11
I ignored Ian, who kept trying to butt in from beside me, and continued speaking. Honestly, isn’t it ridiculous? Just how much of a life had he lived, trampling Kyle however he pleased, for him to be this furious over something so trivial? And in front of the very parents he cares about the most, no less?
So the only way I could deal with this quietly, without drawing unnecessary attention, was this. There was no other choice—appeal directly to these parents.
I’d even heard that this bastard’s fiancée was a woman who had once exchanged words with Kyle. He took everything there was to take, and yet he flies into a rage just because he was ignored a little? Does that make any sense?
“No, I—”
“You keep opening your mouth. Do you want to talk that badly? Want to try saying it yourself?”
I cut him off and asked Ian directly. His eyes wavered violently as he looked at me.
He looked far more subdued than before, but he didn’t seem willing to back down. I fixed my gaze on him with a blank expression. The moment our eyes met, Ian’s mouth snapped shut. He just rolled his eyes around with an awkward expression, probably realizing how ugly and pathetic his protests looked.
Strangely enough, perpetrators often can’t face what they’ve done. Just like Ian.
Keeping my eyes locked on him, I continued.
“What are you even trying to do? You came here out of jealousy just because our parents showed up, and now you’re trying to belittle what I accomplished too? If what I’m saying isn’t true, then what? What do you gain by insisting I attempted suicide? Do you just want to hurt me? Why? Are you telling me to die with your name written on it again this time?”
“I—I mean, no. That’s not—”
Ian’s face turned deathly pale a beat too late. It seemed he finally realized what he’d said wrong. Of course he did. Caught up in his emotions, he’d completely overlooked the fact that I had died earlier this morning and only just come back to life. He’d crossed the line—by far.
His eyes darted left and right. I clearly saw the fleeting awkwardness and guilt that surfaced on his face before disappearing.
That’s the funny thing about people. No one wants to see themselves as a bad person. So when they’re put in the spotlight, they inevitably shrink back.
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what is it? You won’t even let me eat.”
“No, what I mean is—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
Ian began making excuses in a completely different tone than before, but I snorted derisively, cut him off, and glanced at the people seated around the table. As if they’d planned it, not a single one of them showed any expression.
Poor thing, our Youngseo.
Suddenly, I thought of my younger sibling, who must have gone through hell sitting in a place like this. No matter how they were adopted into a chaebol family, dressed in fine clothes, fed expensive food, and given elite education, they couldn’t possibly have been happy. In a place where people didn’t love them, but instead imposed so-called “duties” out of sheer malice, my sibling must have slowly withered away—silently.
You must have been lonely, Yoon Youngseo.
But don’t worry, little sibling. Like I said, your body belongs to me now—and I won’t disappoint you.
“Mother, Father. No—everyone here. There’s something I want to state clearly.”
Would these people believe Ian? Or would they believe me?
I didn’t know. But as always, I decided to trust my instincts. Ian attacked me. And the final chance I had to defend myself was right now.
“You may have already received a report, but I believe I was attacked. There is definitely someone here who does not want me alive in the Olfail family.”
I spoke calmly. I had no desire to look weak or virtuous. There was no reason to put on that kind of act for people who had driven my sibling to death.
And besides, that kind of act wouldn’t work on them anyway.
What mattered most in this moment was justification.
Justification.
“Since I survived, I’ve decided to give up the idea that this life belongs solely to me. Under the name of Olfail, I will live in a way that doesn’t disgrace that name. So.”
I continued in a gentle, courteous tone.
“I hope that among those who share the Olfail surname, no one will be subjected to unreasonable verbal abuse anymore. I don’t want to experience something this unpleasant ever again. I would appreciate it if everyone would show some basic courtesy.”
When I finished speaking, an uncomfortable silence followed. But I met everyone’s gaze head-on. Even if they disliked me, I knew they wouldn’t pick a pointless fight with me at this moment. These people were far too sharp for that.
“…You’re right. Ian will issue a formal apology later. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Mother!”
“Ian Olfail.”
The first to break the silence was Mata Olfail. Adjusting her shawl, she did not hide the stern expression she directed at her troublesome youngest son.
“Ian, you touched someone who is ill. And someone who is trying to recover—someone who is struggling to survive. On top of that, the results Kyle showed today, despite his injury, were admirable.”
As their mother explicitly pointed out what Ian had already vaguely sensed, he had no choice but to bow his head in unbearable shame.
At least he seemed to realize he’d done something he shouldn’t have.
In the United States, tormenting the socially vulnerable was treated with almost unimaginable severity. Whether consciously or not, if you wanted to be treated as human in society, there were certain people you never touched—those with disabilities, the elderly, women, and children. What he’d done was harass his own brother, who was both a patient and someone suffering from family-related trauma.
Still, it wasn’t guilt he felt. What humiliated him was that he’d crossed the line in front of the Olfail couple—he should have bullied quietly, without drawing attention.
In the end, Ian wore an aggrieved expression.
Of course he would. If I had to guess his thoughts, he probably felt that while he’d changed clothes and prepared carefully just to look good in front of his parents, this guy—who had tried to kill himself—was suddenly being praised just for pulling off a small negotiation.
“……”
“Ian Olfail, apologize properly. If you don’t, the wedding you have scheduled for this year will be postponed indefinitely. I’ll inform the Tame family myself.”
“Mother!”
“You must receive Kyle’s forgiveness properly. Only when he personally calls and says he’s forgiven you will the wedding proceed.”
Ian’s face turned ashen. Ian Olfail was scheduled to marry Nicola Tame, the heiress of the Tame Group, later this year.
And Mata Olfail was one of the very few people who knew that Ian genuinely loved Nicola Tame.
“No, this is too much. It’s not like these two companies are playing house.”
“That wedding was rushed in the first place because of your constant demands. If we have time, we can finalize the prenuptial agreement more properly.”
“Mother!”
“I’ve already decided.”
Cutting him off cleanly, Mata Olfail turned her head toward Keith.
“Keith.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“I still haven’t decided on the head of Olfail Pharmaceuticals. You are all still competing. To ensure that no one interferes with that competition, I will be increasing security and safety checks around you from now on.”
Carefully worded words.
On the surface, it sounded like concern for everyone’s safety—but I understood. Mata Olfail was issuing a warning to her children. Don’t threaten each other’s lives during the succession battle.
She hadn’t mentioned penalties outright, but the message was clear: if anyone harmed another, she wouldn’t stand by and watch.
Whether that could truly be trusted was another matter entirely.
“Mother!”
Ian stirred, but Mata Olfail continued without changing her expression.
“Keith.”
“Yes.”
“You and Ian may leave the hospital room first. The meal is already over. If you want dessert, tell me—I’ll have it sent to your car.”
It was an unmistakable dismissal. Keith and Ian quietly left the room. And at that moment—
Amazingly, affinity levels adjusted rapidly.
<System: Keith Olfail’s affinity has increased. +10>
<System: Mata Olfail’s affinity has increased. +30>
<System: Matthew Olfail’s affinity has increased. +10>
<System: Ian Olfail’s affinity has decreased. -90>
Wow. Every single person in the room had gained affinity with me. Mata Olfail’s increase, in particular, was remarkable. Not bad at all. At this rate, winning their favor smoothly might actually be possible.
What surprised me was Keith Olfail. He’d just been kicked out because of me—so why had his affinity toward me increased? I didn’t quite get it. Hadn’t he disliked Kyle until now?
Meanwhile, Ian clearly hated me now—and very thoroughly, too. Which was understandable. His engagement had been postponed indefinitely. Judging by how strongly he’d reacted, it seemed he truly cared for that fiancée of his.
Just like with Youngseo. What was it about that woman? I didn’t know yet… but it was something to watch closely. I had no intention of letting Ian get married peacefully. No—more than that, I planned to make every single day of his life painful. I’d just decided.
“Ah, seriously. Mother…”
Even as he was being dragged out, Ian’s lips jutted out in resentment. As he reached the door, he glanced back at me once. His gaze was vicious. But I smiled innocently and waved my hand, as if I knew nothing. It must have looked infuriating. I understood. That was exactly why I waved.
Even though Mata Olfail had punished Ian, my resentment hadn’t faded in the slightest. I’d only held back earlier because there were too many eyes watching. Later, I planned to repay him hundreds of times over.
It didn’t matter.
What mattered was that Ian got a taste of hell.
