Free Web NovelCheon Jiyoung fainted when she heard that Cheon Suhan had committed suicide.
But she soon regained consciousness and rushed home.
When she arrived, despair crashed down on her like a wave.
Her mother, Kim Jeonghee, completely unaware of her husband’s death, was looking at luxury goods with a hired clerk.
“Oh, Jiyoung? What brings you home at this hour? You hardly ever come by these days.”
Kim Jeonghee tilted her head, puzzled, as she looked at her daughter.
“Mom! What are you doing right now!”
Normally, Jiyoung would have let it pass. But this time, she couldn’t hold back her anger and screamed.
“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden? Did something happen?”
Tears welled up as Jiyoung glared at her mother with fierce eyes.
Only then did Kim Jeonghee sense something was off and sent the clerk away. Crossing her arms, she looked at her daughter.
“What is it? Did something go wrong with your work?”
Just as Jiyoung was about to open her mouth, Manager Ma called.
When she answered, he spoke briefly and coldly hung up.
— Miss, we will take care of everything. Please bring your mother to the Korea National University Hospital funeral hall immediately.
Jiyoung’s ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) lips moved soundlessly in shock. She had never expected this.
If Manager Ma was acting, that meant Kim Muhyuk had given the order.
And her father, Cheon Suhan, had been one of those responsible for the deaths of Muhyuk’s parents.
Now Muhyuk was arranging his funeral?
It was something she herself could never have done. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She hated her father. What he had done could never be forgiven.
But... the way he smiled at her, the love he had given her — that had been real.
Just when her belief in who her father was began to crumble, the one who reached out to her was Kim Muhyuk.
Though she was the daughter of his enemy, he treated her with care, calling her his cousin and helping her with anything she wanted to do.
Among a family that hardly felt like family, Muhyuk alone had treated her like one.
“Jiyoung! Jiyoung!”
Startled by her daughter’s sudden tears, Kim Jeonghee called out in panic.
“Dad’s dead. And you’re just shopping for designer brands like nothing happened?”
“What? Why would your father die?”
“He... he took his own life.”
Kim Jeonghee’s legs gave out and she dropped onto the sofa.
“He wasn’t someone who’d go like that...”
She mumbled to herself like a madwoman. Jiyoung spoke through clenched teeth.
“Get up. We have to go.”
“No, maybe it’s better this way. Living in hell forever would’ve been worse.”
“Mom!”
When Jiyoung called again, Kim Jeonghee waved her hand irritably and stood up.
“All right, all right. Stop whining. You’re such a nag.”
After her brief shock, she regained composure with unnatural calm.
“I’ll get dressed, so wait. Call the relatives, and your father’s friends— no, never mind, he didn’t have any.”
Giving instructions in a cold voice, she turned away.
Jiyoung just stood there blankly.
There was no warmth — only the suffocating sense of being trapped within a family in name only.
Even the grandmother she had met just once, Kim Muhyuk’s grandmother, had felt kinder than her own mother.
A moment later, Kim Jeonghee emerged from the dressing room, draped head to toe in luxury brands.
“Mom... you’re going like that?”
Her voice trembled. That outfit couldn’t belong to someone going to her husband’s funeral.
“What’s wrong with it? It’s black, isn’t it? They’ll have proper clothes at the hall anyway. Where is it? Where are we going?”
Jiyoung bit her lip hard. Arguing was pointless.
“Korea National University Hospital.”
She answered weakly and turned away, tears trailing down her cheeks.
Cheon Suhan’s memorial altar was prepared at the Korea National University Hospital funeral hall.
Ma Seokdae carried out Kim Muhyuk’s instructions thoroughly.
He contacted the hospital to rent a special funeral suite and sent messages to Cheon Jiwon and Cheon Jisoo.
Suhan’s body had already been transferred, and all other details were completed.
After finishing the preparations, Ma Seokdae gathered his subordinates.
“Until the funeral is over, you’ll stay here. Record every single visitor. And whatever Miss Jiyoung orders, treat it as the boss’s command. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Ma nodded and turned away.
At that moment, the automatic doors opened, and Jiyoung and her mother entered.
“Welcome, Miss.”
Ma bowed to Jiyoung.
“Thank you, Chief Ma.”
“It’s nothing. The President ordered it.”
“Where’s Oppa...”
“He asked me to tell you he’ll contact you after the funeral. My deepest condolences.”
Ma bowed again, his tone perfectly polite but utterly emotionless.
“Then I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please tell the staff. They’ll help with whatever you require.”
“All right. Thank you.”
After he left, Jiyoung entered the family room and put on the prepared mourning clothes.
“What’s this? That boy arranged all this?”
Kim Jeonghee glared at her.
“What right does he have to do that? Move it somewhere else immediately.”
“Mom... please. Just stay quiet, okay? I can’t handle this right now. Please...”
“Are you out of your mind?”
Kim Jeonghee’s lips quivered.
“Before I cut off all your cards — just three days. Behave like a normal person for three days. This is a warning, Mom.”
Jiyoung turned after changing into mourning clothes. If she faced her again, she would cry.
“What did you say? Are you threatening your mother?”
“Mom, please... just three days. I’m begging you.”
Jiyoung looked back at her mother, her face trembling with tears. Kim Jeonghee was speechless, her lips barely moving.
“I’ll let you do whatever you want later. Just act like a normal family for three days, okay?”
“...You’d better keep that promise.”
Kim Jeonghee sighed deeply and began to take off her jewelry. One by one, she removed the accessories adorning her body and changed into a plain black mourning dress.
Jiyoung stopped crying, watching her mother with pity.
When they finally stepped out of the room, Jiyoung saw her father’s portrait smiling at her and collapsed.
Even after hours had passed, barely anyone came.
When a nobleman’s dog dies, the gates are crowded; when the nobleman himself dies, not even a dog comes.
She let out a bitter laugh. Other than a few relatives from her mother’s side, no one visited.
The next day, Cheon Jisoo arrived early.
After bowing before the portrait and speaking briefly with the family, she sat beside Jiyoung.
“Are you holding up?”
“Yeah...”
“No one expected Uncle to go like that. ...Sorry, that was insensitive.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for coming, Unni.”
Jisoo sighed as she looked at the empty hall.
“This is our reality.”
She stood and pointed toward the family room.
“There’s still mourning clothes left, right?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll stay until tomorrow. It feels wrong with so few people here. Who’s carrying the coffin tomorrow?”
“...Those men.”
Jisoo followed her gaze.
“Must be people sent by Kim Muhyuk. That heartless boy sure takes care of you.”
“...”
“All right. I’ll go change. Wait here.”
Jisoo went inside, leaving Jiyoung sitting dazed on her chair.
A few visitors came and went as evening approached.
It was late when Cheon Jiwon finally appeared.
After paying his respects, he looked at Jisoo with a smirk.
“Why are you wearing mourning clothes?”
“You should change too.”
“No thanks. We need to talk. Sit down.”
Jiwon led them to a table.
“Bring me a bottle of soju. And some spicy beef soup.”
He ordered the attendants, and soon food arrived.
As he opened the bottle, he asked,
“Did Kim Muhyuk come by?”
“No.”
“He kills him and doesn’t even show up?”
“Oppa!”
Jiyoung’s shout made him flinch, but he raised his voice again.
“Can’t I even talk? It’s true! Our father, our uncle — all of them died because of him! Everyone knows the so-called accident wasn’t what it seemed!”
“If you’re going to talk like that, leave.”
Jiyoung’s voice was weak. Jiwon took a swig of soju and shrugged.
“Fine, fine. Whatever.”
“Why did you even come? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Jisoo glared at him. The delinquent of the family, Jiwon, disgusted her.
“What else would I have to do? Anyway, you two interested in investing?”
“What? Investing?”
“I got a good tip. You know...”
He rubbed his fingers together with a sly grin.
“So, why don’t you two invest in me?”
“Idiot. What happened to all your money?” ƒгeewebnovёl.com
“I already invested it! I’ll double — no, triple it for you.”
He poured another cup of soju.
“I mean it. I just need about twenty billion won.”
“You don’t have that kind of money?”
“Whatever. You lending it or not? You nag like an old lady.”
“Old lady? When’s the last time you saw your mother?”
The two bickered endlessly, and Jiyoung closed her eyes, then opened them again.
“Both of you, stop.”
Her tired voice made Jisoo quiet down. Then she muttered toward Jiwon,
“Anyway, I’m not giving you a cent. So stop your nonsense and put on your mourning clothes.”
“Why would I?”
“He’s your uncle. You should be in mourning. Isn’t that obvious?”
“Since when did we ever act like a loving family? Forget it. I’ll just sit here for a while and leave.”
“Hey!”
“What!”
As they started to argue again, Jiyoung finally raised her voice.
“I said stop! Both of you! If you’re going to act like this, just leave! Please, just go!”
“Sorry.”
Jisoo apologized at once, but Jiwon just chuckled and downed his drink.
“Who knows. Maybe if you lend me the money, I’ll put on mourning clothes.”
“...Oppa. Do you even hear yourself?”
“Come on, Jiyoung. Don’t play innocent. That cousin you used to know died the day Grandfather did.”
Even as she glared at him, he kept talking casually.
“So what’ll it be? Lend me the money or not? People are going to love seeing this — three women keeping vigil alone, no men around. Especially that famous actress, Cheon Jiyoung. Maybe I’ll have drinks with a reporter friend tonight.”
You bastard. Even as Jiyoung hissed the words, Jiwon only shrugged.
Her face went cold, emotionless.
“How much do you need? How much to make you leave?”
“Jiyoung.”
“Unni, please. If I can drive this trash away with money, I’ll consider it lucky. So tell me. How much to keep pretending?”
“...”
Even her voice carried a chill now. That kind-hearted Jiyoung — how had she turned into this?
Jisoo looked at her with silent pity.
“Twenty billion?”
“You crazy bastard. You’ve lost your mind.”
Jiwon chuckled and crushed his paper cup.
“I may be crazy, but not as crazy as Kim Muhyuk. You know it, Jisoo knows it, I know it — only the rest of the world’s still fooled by that monster.”
“...Ten billion. I’ll lend you ten billion. Not a won more.”
“Deal!”
Jiwon pulled a note from his pocket.
“I’ll go change. Send it there.”
He headed to the family room. Jisoo asked quietly,
“Are you really lending it to him? There are rumors he gambles.”
“I know, Unni.”
“Then why...”
“It’s Father’s final journey. At least... let it end peacefully.”
Hearing her strained voice, Jisoo fell silent.
Jiyoung picked up the note with trembling hands and called an attendant.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Please transfer ten billion won to this account. I’ll explain it to Muhyuk later.”
“Pardon?”
The attendant stared, stunned.
“Ten billion?”
“Yes. Give it to Manager Ma. He’ll understand.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Jiyoung’s body shook as she walked back to the table.
Maybe it was a blessing that no one else was around to see. She gave a bitter laugh at the empty hall.
Then Jiwon emerged in mourning clothes, flexing his hands.
“Well then, time to play my part.”
Unable to bear the crushing despair, Jiyoung closed her eyes.
‘Father... Grandfather...’
And then, unbidden, another face came to mind — Kim Muhyuk.
