Free Web Novel“Father.”
At the airport, Cheon Jiwon waved as he spotted Cheon Sooman.
“Let’s head straight to the hospital first.”
“Yes.”
“What about Jisoo?”
“I told her not to come.”
As they got into the car Jiwon had brought and began the drive, Sooman was the first to speak.
“Korean air really is something else.”
“When Grandfather passes, you’ll have to come back for good.”
“Of course. How’s the old man doing?”
“He’s senile. Barely recognized me. Kept calling me ‘Sooman’ like I was you.”
“The old man... Acting so tough all his life, and this is how it ends. Can’t believe he treated us so coldly if this was how it was going to go. No wonder he ended up like this in his old age.”
Cheon Sooman clicked his tongue.
Not even a hint of concern in his tone for Chairman Cheon.
“What about that punk Muhyuk?”
“I told you last time, he’s not who he used to be. He’s got incredible connections. Even Grandfather treats him with caution.”
Jiwon tried to explain how much Kim Muhyuk’s status had changed while Sooman was in Australia, but Sooman only sneered.
“All just riding the old man’s coattails, that’s all.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“And the matter I asked you to look into?”
“Ilseong said they’d assign a legal team as soon as they verify the Chairman’s condition. But since you told me to refuse, I went ahead and scheduled with Atlantic Law Firm instead.”
“Good. That was the right call.”
Sooman smirked, as if it was all going just as expected.
“If we owe them anything, they’ll take everything we stand to gain. You saw how Cheongpunghoe tried to cut me off, didn’t you?”
“...Yeah.”
Jiwon answered reluctantly.
“Don’t trust anyone. Not even family. That includes the old man, and Chairman Seo of Ilseong too.”
Sooman’s venom-laced voice hung in the air.
The group went straight from Gimpo Airport to Korea National University Hospital.
In front of the VIP ward, they ran into a familiar face.
“It’s been a while, President Cheon.”
“Manager Ha. Really has been a while.”
Sooman didn’t even try to hide the hostility in his eyes.
But Manager Ha’s expression remained unchanged, despite meeting that gaze head-on.
Perhaps that indifference irritated Sooman even more, because he clicked his /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ tongue and spoke.
“I can go in, right?”
“Yes. You may.” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
“Unbelievable. A son needs permission just to see his father? What the hell is this?”
Sooman muttered loudly on purpose as he entered the room.
Cheon Taesan was lying in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. As he sensed someone entering, he slowly turned his head.
“Sooman...”
His voice was faint, like it could break at any moment.
But Sooman looked away and said coldly,
“Father, this is what happens when you cast your sons aside. You get punished like this. Suhan’s locked in a mental hospital because of you, and I’ve been wandering abroad, unable to even return to Korea. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been?”
“Sooman...”
Sooman’s voice grew louder, as if releasing years of pent-up resentment, but Taesan only repeated his name.
“There’s no point in calling for me now. I’m going to take back what’s mine—no matter what it takes. Watch carefully how that precious Kim Muhyuk of yours comes crashing down.”
“....”
Taesan didn’t respond. Instead, he slowly raised a trembling arm toward Sooman.
But Sooman only looked at him. He didn’t take his hand.
He stood there, staring silently at his father’s face for a while, then turned away.
“Sooman...” ƒreewebɳovel.com
In the large hospital room, only Taesan’s small, trembling voice echoed.
Outside the room, Sooman looked at Manager Ha, who had remained posted at the door.
“He just calls my name and can’t even speak properly—why did he call me now? Was it Kim Muhyuk who told you not to call me? He should’ve called while the old man could still talk.”
“...He can still communicate.”
“Then why doesn’t he say anything—just keeps saying my name?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ha... Fine. Can I come back next time? Or do I need permission again?”
“Not at all. Come whenever you’d like.”
After receiving bows from Manager Ha and the security guards, Sooman exited the VIP ward and went straight to the hospital director’s office.
He hadn’t made an appointment, but the director greeted him warmly.
“It’s been a while, President Cheon.”
“Congratulations on becoming director.”
“Thank you. Good to see you too, Jiwon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Having served as the Cheon family’s attending physician for many years, the director knew them well.
The three of them sat across from one another.
The director spoke first.
“I’d heard you were abroad.”
“Circumstances, you know. But that’s not important. How long does my father have?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked how long he has left.”
“He’s physically weakened, and his memory will continue to deteriorate. Eventually—”
“No, I’m not asking about his condition. I’m asking when the old man’s going to die.”
“....”
The director was too stunned to answer immediately.
“From the look of it, he’s on death’s door. Just give me an exact timeline.”
Sooman’s attitude was exactly as Kim Muhyuk had described.
The director shook his head internally.
“...At most, a year.”
“Why? Isn’t there a way to keep him alive longer?”
“There are limits. For now, he can just barely eat on his own. But eventually, we’ll need to feed him intravenously.”
Sooman furrowed his brow in frustration.
“Korea National can’t do better than this?”
“If it were cancer or another physical illness, we might be able to try treatment. But with the brain, it’s difficult. It’s not just a matter of nutrition—eventually, even breathing may cease.”
Speaking calmly but firmly, Director Kim Taehyun laid out the worst-case scenario.
“Tch... I’m short on time. Would sending him overseas keep him alive longer? What’s your opinion?”
“There wouldn’t be much difference. Our hospital is on par with most renowned international ones.”
“Well, alright then.”
As he scanned the director with visible displeasure, Sooman suddenly said,
“If anything happens to my father, contact me first. I’m his son—what sense does it make for the first call to go to Kim Muhyuk? You understand?”
“Sorry?”
The director looked startled, and Sooman’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Is that hard to understand? Contact me. Don’t regret it later.”
“....”
“This is a warning. I’m taking back what’s mine. I’m telling you to choose wisely. I’ve known you a long time, Director.”
Gone was the Sooman who used to cower under Taesan’s shadow in Korea. The man before them now radiated cold resolve.
Leaving the speechless director behind, Sooman stepped outside and glanced up at the hospital building.
“A year at most, huh. Got a lot to do.”
“Pardon?”
Jiwon looked at him, thinking the words were directed at him.
“Nothing. Are we heading straight to Atlantic?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
Atlantic Law Firm.
It wasn’t quite on par with Yoon & Jang, but it was among the top 2 or 3 law firms in Korea.
The only one unafraid of going up against Yoon & Jang in court.
“President Cheon, it’s been far too long.”
“Yes, Director Gong. Good to see you.”
Gong Seungyeon, the managing partner at Atlantic, welcomed him with a smile.
Chairman Cheon Taesan’s wealth had never been publicly disclosed, but everyone knew this legal battle would be worth several hundred billion won at minimum.
Which meant the success fee alone would be enormous.
Gong Seungyeon’s smile was genuinely warm.
“I heard you were abroad. Are you staying in Korea for good now?”
“I plan to.”
“Jiwon gave me a rough overview, but I’d like to hear the full details.”
“The most urgent matter is filing a petition for incompetency.”
“What’s Chairman Cheon’s condition?”
“He’s having trouble recognizing people. Memory is fading, I hear.”
“In that case, it’s not too difficult... But actually, President Kim Muhyuk has already filed for incompetency.”
A look of surprise appeared on Sooman’s face.
“He has?”
“Yes. Yoon & Jang submitted the petition last week. A judge was assigned unusually quickly, too.”
“Hm...”
“You’ll need to file an objection immediately—today, if possible—and begin the legal contest. No matter what, you’re the Chairman’s eldest son. The problem is Yoon & Jang’s lobbying power and Kim Muhyuk’s influence...”
“Isn’t his influence just a product of Father’s shadow? That doesn’t matter.”
Director Gong gave him a long, incredulous look.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I’m not sure if you don’t know, or if you’re deliberately ignoring it. Kim Muhyuk’s influence has already surpassed Chairman Cheon’s. If you want to win in court, you need to understand your opponent properly.”
Director Gong wasn’t the type to talk nonsense.
Sooman straightened his posture.
“Explain in detail.”
“He has significant sway in the legal field. Most of his university friends entered the legal world—and their relatives include Chief Justice Oh Jungseok and Representative Yoon Hyungmin. And Yoon himself—who rarely gets involved—is personally overseeing this case.”
Yoon Hyungmin, symbolic figure of Yoon & Jang, rarely took direct action. But when it came to Kim Muhyuk, he made an exception.
“He also has heavy political influence. You’ve been abroad a while, so you may not know—but most people are aware that Yoon Changho, the leader of the Moderate Party, is one of his allies.”
“...It’s that serious?”
“Yes. If you want to win, you’ll absolutely need Ilseong’s help. Even then, it’ll be difficult. I think you may have underestimated the situation.”
Most would’ve sugarcoated their words—but Gong Seungyeon was deliberately blunt.
Rather than anger, Sooman began to feel a creeping sense of crisis.
Kim Muhyuk had grown far more than he expected.
“What should I do, then?”
“You must get Chairman Seo’s support. You’ll need to leverage public opinion as much as possible. With the general elections coming up, even President Yoon will be cautious about offering help. Most importantly, highlight the fact that you’re the eldest son.”
“If I get my father-in-law’s help, I’ll have to share the spoils. He’s not the type to help for free.”
“If you hesitate over that, I can’t help you. My assistance assumes you’ve got Ilseong’s support. Otherwise, this is a losing battle—and I don’t want to incur Kim Muhyuk’s wrath for no reason.”
Faced with her resolute stance, Sooman felt a sinking dread.
Before he went abroad, even major conglomerate chairmen treated him with deference.
Because he was Taesan’s eldest son—the heir.
But Muhyuk was different. His power wasn’t just inherited—it was earned.
Sooman had known this deep down... but ignored it.
“I’ll secure my father-in-law’s cooperation.”
Now wasn’t the time for pointless pride.
Even if only half of what Gong Seungyeon said was true, Muhyuk’s influence was far beyond what he had imagined.
“If I offended you, I apologize. But unless you face reality, you can’t win. We intend to give our full support to your side, President Cheon.”
“No offense taken. Just tell me what I need to do now.”
From that moment, Cheon Sooman and Gong Seungyeon began systematically planning the legal strategy ahead.
* * *
“Just as expected. But... he really only has a year left?”
If we really wanted to extend his life, we could. But as I said before, I don’t know if that’s what the Chairman would want...
“I see. Thanks.”
I ended the call from the hospital director.
It was all unfolding as I’d predicted—but I’d never felt worse about being right.
I turned to Chief Ma with a bitter look.
“As expected.”
“Was that Director Kim?”
Chief Ma guessed the call’s contents.
I nodded heavily.
“He didn’t even ask about Grandfather’s condition—just how long he had left. And then he told the hospital not to contact me if anything happened, only him...”
Some people really don’t change.
“What do you want to do?”
“Ilseong will probably back him, right?”
“If I know Chairman Seo, he’s been waiting for this moment.”
“...Ilseong, huh.”
At the name Ilseong, a cold glint passed through my eyes.
