MCMRH 08

Chapter 08…

“As you instructed, the kindergarten enrollment procedure has been completed. Once the documents are verified, the child will be able to attend right away.”

“Alright, I understand.”

In Mi-ae’s office, her secretary continued the report. At the words that the enrollment process had been completed, Mi-ae’s gaze shifted to the papers in the secretary’s hand. To be precise, they were documents investigating Soo-ah.

I never expected her ex-husband to be related to our family.

Choi Hoon. Hyun’s cousin, currently running a company abroad. Though they were cousins, they had never been particularly close, and since the wedding had taken place overseas, Mi-ae had taken little interest in his wife at the time.

Actually, this works out better. If I have to raise a child, I’d rather it be one with at least a little of our blood than a complete stranger’s.

At first, there might be some gossip, but eventually everything would quiet down. Moreover, Soo-ah and Hoon’s divorce had been clean and amicable, without any scandal. There was nothing left for Mi-ae to fear.

“So, the two of them met? How did Hyun react?”

“They did meet. But the young master still seems confused about the fact that Miss Han Soo-ah once married him—or rather, married his cousin.”

“I expected as much. Still, make sure he’s watched closely, just in case.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A Hyun at twenty years old was even more unpredictable. And while Kang-chan practically shadowed him everywhere, the truth was that Mi-ae didn’t like Kang-chan much either—especially since he was more loyal to So-jung than to her.

“And then, about the company’s 50th anniversary celebration.”

“…Who’s attending?”

“Most of the guests you predicted are indeed coming. Here’s the list.”

Mi-ae’s eyes quickly scanned the guest list. When she spotted familiar names, her brows knit tightly.

Of course. They just can’t stay out of it, can they?

Those names belonged to Seok’s siblings and their families—her husband’s side of the family. Technically, they were family, but Mi-ae’s expression was icy. To her eyes, they were nothing more than vultures circling, waiting for their chance to seize control of Kyungmun Group.

I’ll have to come up with a way to deal with them.

It all stemmed from the sudden collapse of Chairman Seok, who had left behind no will. The succession line was thrown into chaos, and Hyun’s amnesia only worsened the situation.

“So then, about the young master’s attendance at the ceremony…”

“Absolutely not. Why should I give them the advantage?”

If it became known that Hyun had lost his memory, his qualifications as heir would be questioned instantly. She had to keep his condition a tightly guarded secret.

“Make sure Miss Han Soo-ah continues staying at the villa for now. Keep her occupied so she won’t distract him in other ways.”

Mi-ae had no intention of stepping back. What she needed now was a solid foundation—both a powerful company and a secure family standing—to firmly support Hyun’s position.

It was late at night, but the bar was still crowded with people chatting over drinks. Yet at one table, silence hung heavy. Hyun and Kang-chan sat together, food and drinks untouched in front of them.

“……”

“……”

Despite the spread before them, Hyun hadn’t spoken a word. Unable to stand it any longer, Kang-chan finally broke the silence.

“So why’d you suddenly want to drink?”

“……”

“Just so you know, I’m not drinking. I have to drive. If you want to drink, go ahead.”

“Call another driver.”

“I’m literally on the clock right now. Do you drink soju while you’re working?”

Kang-chan made a show of flicking his suit jacket. Hyun’s brows furrowed in irritation.

“Then quit.”

“I still have to make a living. Do you know how many savings accounts I’ve built up?”

“……”

“What, did you think I stuck around you all this time out of pure friendship? Even friendship requires a full stomach, my friend.”

Kang-chan’s sharp retort came as he sipped soda instead of alcohol. Hyun wasn’t about to let that slide.

“Says the guy who used to drink like a fish.”

“Yeah, back then. These days, if I did that, I’d end up dead drunk on the street. Ugh, I’ll order some peaches.”

“Are you crazy? Why peaches?”

“Because it’s your card, obviously. You think I’d order them on mine?”

The banter flowed naturally, as if the silence earlier had been a lie. Finally, Hyun cracked open a bottle of soju, and Kang-chan raised his brows in surprise.

“What are you staring at?”

“It’s just weird.”

“What is?”

“You quit drinking. So seeing you drink again feels… odd.”

“…I quit?”

“Yeah. After you got married.”

Hyun blinked in disbelief.

“Me? I quit after marriage?”

“Yeah. And smoking too.”

“Smoking too?”

“Yep. Quit drinking after the wedding, and smoking… when you had a ch—”

“A what?”

“A ch—…chilling realization. Anyway, these peaches are good. Must be a specialty here.”

Kang-chan hastily stuffed his mouth to dodge the slip. Hyun’s face darkened at the idea that he had voluntarily quit alcohol and cigarettes.

“I must have been insane. How the hell did I quit?”

“I don’t know, but you did. Cold turkey, too. Honestly, it was kind of impressive.”

“…Don’t tell me that woman made me.”

“You mean the madam?”

“……”

“She didn’t exactly tell you to, but yeah, she worried about you whenever you drank or smoked.”

Kang-chan smirked.

“Guess it was the power of love, huh? Because she worried?”

“…Ever been slapped with a peach?”

“Nope.”

Hyun’s glare was sharp enough to cut, but Kang-chan, knowing his temperament well, quickly backed down.

“Anyway, it was a political marriage. There was never any love involved.”

Love was not something to be discussed in a relationship like that. Hyun denied it firmly, but Kang-chan shook his head.

“Sure, at first. But later… your eyes started looking different.”

“What eyes?”

“You know, the sweet, honey-dripping kind. Loving eyes. That’s what they were.”

“……”

“Yeah. Thinking back, it must have been love in your eyes.”

Hyun itched to shove something into his friend’s mouth to shut him up. Unfortunately, the peaches were already gone, and wasting alcohol seemed unforgivable. In the end, he drowned his irritation with another deep swig.

“So what’s really bothering you? Why the long face?”

Finally, Kang-chan cut to the chase. Hyun set down his glass slowly before answering.

“Do I really look like someone unreliable? Someone who can’t even protect his girlfriend?”

Kang-chan understood immediately.

“This is about Han Soo-ah marrying your cousin, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Look, she didn’t really have a choice. The company was in serious trouble back then. They needed support, even if it meant marriage. And you—you weren’t even thinking about marriage at the time.”

As someone who had been by Hyun’s side, Kang-chan could speak honestly. Hyun bit his lip hard.

“So, how did I react after the breakup?”

“Honestly? You went off the rails. Drinking every night, picking fights in the streets, getting into every kind of trouble imaginable. Thinking about it now still gives me chills.”

Kang-chan shuddered at the memory.

“You basically lived like a wreck. Then one day you suddenly said you were going back to Korea.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You said you were going to study management.”

It was shocking how much Hyun had changed in just a few months after breaking up with Soo-ah. Mi-ae had been thrilled, saying her son had finally matured. But Kang-chan had only worried more—because Hyun hadn’t smiled sincerely since that day.

If I told him he actually looked happier after marriage, would he even believe me?

Would he realize that in that family photo of three, his own smile was the warmest of all? Kang-chan doubted it. Hyun wasn’t ready to hear that—and even if told, he wouldn’t listen.

“…Enough about that. So where is that bastard now?”

“Who?”

“Choi Hoon.”

Hyun’s anger burned hot. Not only had Hoon stolen his lover, he was also his cousin. The thought made Hyun’s eyes blaze, and Kang-chan faltered.

“You—you’re not thinking of going after him, are you?”

“……”

“Come on! They’re divorced now. They’re nothing to each other anymore!”

But Kang-chan felt a dreadful premonition of disaster. Hyun’s determination was unmistakable—he meant to confront Hoon no matter what.

“Um, excuse me.”

Just then, a group of women approached their table.

“There aren’t any open seats left. Would you mind if we joined you? Drinks will be on us.”

The tension from moments ago was completely lost on them. Smiling, they looked straight at Hyun. He opened his mouth to refuse, but Kang-chan quickly cut in first.

“Sorry, we’re drinking alone.”

He didn’t want Hyun’s anger to be diverted into something worse. But the women pressed on.

“Why not? It’ll be fun with us. Come on.”

“Look, we’re really not—”

“Brother-in-law?”

The sharp clash between the women, Kang-chan, and Hyun was broken by another voice.

“…Brother-in-law, right?”

Standing there, looking incredulously at the scene, was So-jin.