Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 36

Sookhee sat in the dimly lit study, her eyes closed.

Her face might have appeared serene, but a closer look would reveal that she was barely suppressing a surge of anger.

Sookhee moved her trembling hands to grasp her phone.

The other party answered quickly, as if aware of the situation.

Sookhee suppressed her emotions as much as she possibly could. Nevertheless, the voice that slipped through her teeth was utterly chilling.

“President Son. It’s me, Choi Sookhee.”

－President Choi. What brings you here at this hour?

Deep furrows formed between Sookhee’s brows. His response was nothing short of ungrateful, when he should have been offering apologies.

Sookhee gritted her teeth. She wanted to lash out, asking if he’d forgotten all the money he’d taken under the table.

But she couldn’t abandon the social standing and reputation she had built over the years to spew out every word filling her mouth.

Sookhee took a deep breath, making her best effort to calm herself.

Her voice, when it emerged again, contained a much more subdued emotion.

“I know, right? I’m calling you at this hour, without regard for propriety. I couldn’t bear to wait until tomorrow morning with my feelings of disappointment towards you, President Son.”

－…President Choi, I apologize. It seems my employees handled things that way while I was away on business. I don’t know how to express my apologies.

Sookhee let out a hollow laugh. She found his words astonishing, given the situation he had created.

It was a ridiculous excuse. What kind of employee would handle matters without the president’s approval?

Moreover, this particular matter involved daring to cross Choi Sookhee. Even someone with immense audacity wouldn’t have acted without foresight. It was certain that the proper procedures were followed, and President Son’s approval was obtained before it was done.

Sookhee’s jaw jutted out, her emotions becoming difficult to contain.

She couldn’t help but try to understand President Son’s position. HN Group was likely as cautious of RM Group as RM Group was of them.

Knowing the standing and value of HN Group, Sookhee had married Sera to a son from that family.

If the formidable HN Group had pressured President Son, he might have had no choice.

However, if it was unavoidable, he should have at least informed her before she learned about it this way.

He would have had ample time to give her a heads-up before it was reported in the news.

Even if there was pressure from HN, that much, at least, was a line President Son should have defended to maintain his trust with Choi Sookhee.

No matter how many times she pondered it, the outcome remained the same. Sookhee closed her eyes once more.

She couldn’t calm her emotions. But she had to do it.

She couldn’t let a mere President Kim, who had offended her, provoke a reaction that would make her abandon her dignity.

“If you know you should apologize, then that’s enough for now. I didn’t call you at this hour just to hear an apology.”

－Then…

“From today onward, will there be any reason for me to call you, President Son, without regard for propriety?”

It was a warning: if the RM Group matter was reported in the news again, she wouldn’t let it slide.

Sookhee waited silently for his reply. The fact that an answer didn’t come readily suggested there was additional information to be reported beyond what was published today.

The more that was the case, the more Sookhee remained silent.

The choice was President Son’s.

Now that the situation had escalated this far, she had to step in, one way or another.

Even if one more task for President Son was added to the many things that had to pass through her hands, the already anticipated fatigue would be the same.

－No, President Choi. If there is any material scheduled to be reported regarding RM tomorrow, I will issue an order to have it all destroyed immediately.

Though the answer came late, President Son’s now respectful voice eased Sookhee’s heart a little.

Normally, she might have bestowed a reward for such a satisfactory answer, but not today.

Sookhee’s lips parted, a cold, settled expression on her face as she twisted the corners of her mouth upwards.

Just then, the study door, which had been closed, opened without warning.

“Mother, Sera is here.”

It was her daughter-in-law, Yoojeong, who appeared.

Sookhee nodded and gestured for her to go ahead. Then, she refocused on her call with President Son.

“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. I will not forget today’s events for a long time, President Son.”

So, keep your wits about you.

Sookhee conveyed her true intentions indirectly. She figured that would be enough for him to understand.

Her business with President Son was concluded. The rest was for her granddaughter to provide answers.

Sookhee hung up the phone without lingering.

Sera sat on the living room sofa, unable to lift her head.

The already heavy atmosphere felt suffocating, and she could feel Sookhee’s sharp gaze constantly upon her.

She had no confidence to meet Sookhee’s eyes.

At that moment, Yoojeong stepped forward and urged Sera.

“Sera. You need to tell Grandmother what happened quickly. What will you do if you just keep your mouth shut like this, hmm?”

Yoojeong was clearly trying to prompt Sera, hoping to lessen the scolding she would receive.

Sera knew her only mother’s consideration.

But she couldn’t bring herself to utter a single word.

The words Sookhee was waiting for were likely why Jung Junhyeok had leaked RM Foods’ corruption to the press, and she couldn’t say it was due to her own careless mistake.

Furthermore, to explain that, she would have to talk about her dealings with Shin Yeonhee, and the story about the fake bride at the wedding.

Sera felt her vision darken. This was not a situation she could gloss over, yet she couldn’t even muster the courage to speak.

“When you visited home not long ago, you told me yourself. You said you were getting along well with Jung Junhyeok.”

After a long silence, Sookhee, unable to bear it any longer, finally spoke.

The warmth that usually characterized her grandmother was nowhere to be found.

Sera’s shoulders visibly tensed at that moment, and it wasn’t just for that reason.

Sera fidgeted, picking at her fingertips.

When I visited home not long ago?

It was unbelievable.

She hadn’t visited home even once since her wedding day with Junhyeok.

Moreover, she had avoided not only her home but also RM Group’s headquarters and its affiliates, for fear of running into anyone.

She hadn’t gone anywhere near places where someone might recognize her.

Given that, Sookhee couldn’t possibly have met her. The possibility of her encountering Sookhee in this house was practically zero.

Sera’s mind raced. No matter how many times she thought about it, the only person who would come to this house looking like her was Yeonhee.

Beyond the shock of a situation she had never imagined, she was furious.

How dare she come here, after taking money to impersonate her?

Sera clenched her fists tightly. She had known from the moment she was summoned home that she couldn’t escape, but now, there was truly nowhere left to run.

A sigh of resignation escaped Sera’s lips.

“I have something to tell you. First, I’m sorry. Mom, Dad, and Grandmother.”

She hadn’t even spoken the words she truly needed to say, yet her chest already felt tight and unbearable. The gazes of the three people directed at her felt like shackles.

The words she was about to speak wouldn’t be long. But their impact would be anything but small.

Knowing that, yet having to speak them, tormented Sera.

“I deceived everyone.”

She finally uttered the words.

Sera closed her eyes tightly with a sigh.

Sookhee couldn’t go to bed until deep into the night.

She was already troubled by the news report. But her granddaughter’s words pushed her into an even deeper mire.

‘The woman who entered the wedding with Mr. Jung Junhyeok.’

‘….’

‘That wasn’t me.’

It was a shocking statement. The woman who married her grandson-in-law was not her granddaughter?

Sookhee had attended Sera and Junhyeok’s wedding. There was no reason for her not to.

That day marked the achievement of one of many goals Sookhee had accomplished in her life.

It was also the day she had rectified the most significant issue in the plans she had made for Sera.

Sookhee wanted Sera to succeed her son and become the next chairman of RM.

Sookhee, who always achieved what she set her mind to, was tirelessly working behind the scenes to achieve this goal once more.

It would be a lie to say the process wasn’t arduous, but she could endure it all if it meant seeing Sera adorn the final chapter of the lifelong dream she had envisioned.

Of course, seeing that moment with her own eyes would be greedy. She was already past eighty, and her son, Myungho, was still active. Moreover, there were still many areas where Sera needed to improve to be placed in that position within a year or two.

She would be satisfied if she could ensure Sera’s position as the next chairman was secure on the day, she closed her eyes.

To that end, Sookhee had planned the marriage to Junhyeok.

Sookhee knew better than anyone about the social discrimination women faced.

Even though the world had changed, that perception hadn’t completely disappeared.

Now, Sera was within her grasp, and no one could easily dismiss her. But she couldn’t guarantee it would be the same after she was gone.

She would be constantly attacked by those lurking for opportunities.

She needed the best defense against such situations, and Sookhee had chosen HN Group.

The effort she had put into making that marriage happen was immeasurable. And yet, the person at the wedding wasn’t her granddaughter?

Sookhee groaned, clutching her temples.

She clearly had Sera’s face, but it wasn’t Sera?

As soon as she mulled over that thought, past events flashed through Sookhee’s mind.

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