Free Web NovelYoon Hyunju was clearly agitated.
I calmed her down and guided her to a seat.
“Director Ma, please bring some cold water. I think that’s what Director Yoon needs the most right now.”
After asking Director Ma for ice water, I turned to her as she breathed heavily in agitation.
“Are you saying Chairman Choi Woosik demanded a divorce from you?”
“Yes. He informed me unilaterally this morning. He said he’s leaving the house starting today. He’s obviously going to that mistress’s house!”
It seemed Choi Woosik was finally planning to move into the actress’s home.
Now that he knew Yoon Hyunju was thinking differently, he probably saw no reason to maintain the marriage any longer.
“So it’s come to this. It was somewhat expected. If the two of you are going to fight over management rights, you can’t help but split.”
“I have no intention of divorcing him. Why should I divorce him and make things easier for him?!”
Right then, Director Ma returned and placed a glass in front of the loudly protesting Yoon Hyunju.
“Please drink this first and calm down. Your complexion looks terrible.”
Grinding her teeth, Yoon Hyunju grabbed the ice water and drank it in one gulp.
Although the heater was on, the office was still quite cold since the building was old.
But she didn’t care about the cold at all and finished the ice water anyway. Once the glass was empty, she even chewed on the ice.
After confirming that some color had returned to her previously pale face, I asked:
“Are you calmer now?”
“I’m sorry. I made a scene. I never expected something like this...”
I fell into thought as I watched her nod.
She wanted to take management rights away from Choi Woosik, yet had no intention of divorcing him?
The contradiction couldn’t have been clearer.
“Please explain in detail. How did the conversation about divorce even come up?”
“Last night I had a trivial argument with that man, Choi Woosik...”
She began explaining what had happened.
“It was just an ordinary marital argument like always. There was no talk about Seungwoo. After fighting for a while, we went back to our separate bedrooms and slept.”
“Do you argue often?”
“Is there any married couple that never fights? Do you think it’s different just because we’re a chaebol family? We pretend to be a happy couple outside. We do fight fairly often, but he has never once talked about divorce or said he’d leave the house before...”
Yoon Hyunju trailed off in a sorrowful voice.
In public gossip, the marriage between Choi Woosik and Yoon Hyunju was often described as a political marriage.
But the truth was different.
The two had actually married for love.
They had fallen in love at first sight during their time studying abroad.
Of course, Minister Yoon had opposed the relationship.
At that time, the difference between the two families had been enormous.
It was natural for him to want a more prestigious in-law family.
But Yoon Hyunju had even run away from home in protest, and eventually Minister Yoon relented.
Then, thinking he should elevate KS Group into a family worthy of his daughter, Minister Yoon poured countless privileges and favors into the company.
Thanks to that, KS Group—once too embarrassing to even call a major corporation—grew explosively and eventually secured its place among Korea’s chaebol.
After hearing her story, I nodded and asked another question.
“I see. Forgive me for asking, but may I ask one more question?”
She looked at me curiously.
“A question?”
“Yes. It may sound rude, but please consider it simple curiosity.”
After thinking for a moment, Yoon Hyunju nodded.
That allowed me to ask something I had been curious about for a long time.
“Who cheated first? Contrary to what people say, didn’t you and Chairman Choi marry for love? Who committed adultery first?”
It was basically the same as asking whether the chicken or the egg came first.
But it was something I needed to know.
“You don’t have to answer if it’s uncomfortable.”
“...It’s not something I can’t answer. That man, Choi Woosik, started cheating first with that actress. When I found out, I drank out of sorrow. And that night, Seungwoo was conceived.”
According to Yoon Hyunju, Choi Woosik had started the affair first.
Whether that was true or not was impossible to know.
However, Choi Seungwoo—the child she had with her secretary—was five years older than the child Choi Woosik had with his mistress.
“I see. When did you realize the eldest son wasn’t his?”
“When he was three, maybe? As he grew older, I kept seeing the secretary’s face instead of his father’s. That’s when I realized. But that man, Choi Woosik, never suspected anything. He was such a caring father...”
I almost laughed internally.
As if that were possible.
Among Korean chaebols, bloodlines were valued above everything.
There was no way Choi Woosik hadn’t felt something strange.
He must have noticed the subtle differences in his eldest son’s face.
That suspicion must have deepened until he eventually conducted a paternity test.
“Alright. That’s enough about your personal life. It doesn’t matter who cheated first or whose son is whose. You said you don’t want a divorce, correct?”
“Yes. I will never let that woman and her son become the lady of KS Group.”
I called Director Ma and told him to contact Yoon & Jang and have them come here.
Seeing Yoon Hyunju look at me with confusion, I explained.
“Yoon & Jang will handle the divorce lawsuit. Even if you disagree, Chairman Choi will probably pursue legal action anyway.”
“What? Yoon & Jang will take the divorce case?”
Yoon & Jang, the largest law firm in Korea, had a strict rule.
They never accepted divorce cases.
The people who could even consider hiring them were either chaebols or extremely wealthy.
If they took one side, they would lose the other client.
So no matter how much money was offered, they refused divorce cases.
“If I ask them, they’ll do it. Now let’s talk about the real matter. Have you thought about it?”
At my words, Yoon Hyunju nervously touched the empty glass.
“You mean transferring all the real estate...?”
“Yes. I’m not interested in the real estate under your name. The properties managed by Chairman Cho. Sell all of them to me at market price.”
“...I’ll transfer them. But promise me you’ll help me drive that man Choi Woosik out and secure control of the company.”
“Of course. I’m a businessman, Director Yoon. For businessmen, trust is the greatest value. As long as you don’t break our agreement first, I will remain on your side.”
When I spoke firmly, she nodded with difficulty.
“Then could you call Chairman Cho here? Since we’re already discussing it, let’s finalize the deal today.”
“Today? Right now?”
“Why delay? I already know the locations of those properties and have sent employees to check the market prices.”
“That should happen after I secure management rights...”
I shook my head and cut her off as she hesitated.
“No. I don’t trust verbal promises. Transfer the real estate first.”
“...What about the shares held by Sovereign Fund?”
“Eva, CEO of Future Investment, flew to Morocco to negotiate for those shares. We should receive news today. Once we secure them, they will also become your friendly shares. The moment the real estate is transferred, Eva will call an emergency shareholders’ meeting.”
When I mentioned acquiring the shares held by Sovereign Asset Management as well, her eyes widened.
The stock prices of KS Group’s listed companies had already risen significantly.
She could probably guess how much money I was pouring in.
“You don’t have to go that far...”
“It’s fine. KS Group’s stock price still has room to rise. I never engage in losing business. So don’t worry about me. Just transfer the real estate. And after securing management rights, immediately transfer KS Teletech’s manufacturing plant to us.”
“I’ll do that. Let me step out and make a call.”
She was probably calling Chairman Cho.
“Go ahead. Director Ma, please guide her to an empty office downstairs so she can make the call privately.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Director Ma summoned an employee and had them escort Yoon Hyunju out.
After she left, I asked him:
“What did Yoon & Jang say?”
“They said they’ll send someone immediately.”
I nodded with satisfaction.
If money didn’t work, connections would.
Yoon & Jang always handled my requests as special exceptions.
“Oh, and... contact the people watching Chairman Cho and tell them to monitor him closely. If he tries to run away, things will become complicated.”
If he came here without resistance after Yoon Hyunju contacted him, there would be no problem.
But the world was full of “what ifs.”
“I already contacted them the moment I heard Director Yoon had arrived.”
“As expected of you, Director Ma. You always know what I want.”
I looked at the closed office door and continued.
“Director Yoon must really be desperate. Divorce...”
I reviewed my memories from my previous life.
Divorce had never happened.
KS Group had passed through succession smoothly without a management battle.
Of course, there had been gossip about a mistress and an illegitimate child.
But considering Choi Woosik’s age, it had remained nothing more than rumors.
“Right. Also keep an eye on Chairman Choi’s mistress.”
“Yes, Boss.”
I spent some time chatting with Director Ma. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
But even after quite a while passed, Yoon Hyunju still hadn’t returned.
At that moment, the lawyer sent by Yoon & Jang arrived at the office.
But the lawyer turned out to be someone unexpected.
“What?”
I looked at Yoon Jaeha with surprise.
This guy was supposed to be busy with successor training.
And yet he left the firm to come here?
At my reaction, Yoon Jaeha shrugged playfully.
“You asked for a lawyer, didn’t you?”
“I did. But I didn’t ask for you. Isn’t your schedule packed with successor training?”
“Well, they call it successor training, but I’m basically learning how to manage people instead of flipping through law books. Honestly, it’s exhausting.”
Half of Yoon & Jang’s power came from its network of former officials.
They invested massive sums recruiting high-ranking prosecutors and judges after retirement.
Those recruits worked tirelessly for the firm.
The other half came from veteran litigation specialists who had fought countless cases in the field.
Even with influence, without people who could exploit the weaknesses of the law, maintaining a high win rate was impossible.
In the end, the firm’s power depended entirely on people.
“That’s a valuable lesson. Managing people is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Are you finally realizing how impressive your father is?”
“I don’t know. I just used you as an excuse to get out. Don’t even think about kicking me out. If Kim Muhyuk personally requests something, someone like me should come, right? By the way, shouldn’t you at least offer tea to a guest? Why is this place so cold?”
Yoon Jaeha grinned mischievously.
He seemed to have gotten even more playful with age.
Or maybe it was because he spent too much time around Myungsoo. freёweɓnovel.com
Thinking of someone who resembled him, I chuckled.
“What do you want to drink?”
“Hot Americano. There’s a Starbucks nearby. Grab me one from there.”
I nodded and signaled Director Ma.
While Director Ma stepped out to have an employee fetch coffee, Yoon Jaeha asked:
“So what’s the case?”
“You know Director Yoon Hyunju, right?”
“Huh? The lady of KS Group? Choi Woosik’s wife? Why?”
“You know Minister Yoon too?”
“Who in Korea doesn’t know that old witch? What kind of question is that—”
I cut him off before he could ramble further.
“You talk too much. Anyway, Minister Yoon bought a bunch of Gangnam real estate under borrowed names. I’m buying it at market price.”
“What? What do you mean? Borrowed-name real estate?”
“You know Chairman Cho?”
When I mentioned Chairman Cho, Yoon Jaeha paused to think.
“You mean that huge Gangnam landowner?”
“Right. He’s basically Minister Yoon’s caretaker. After the minister died, he’s been managing the assets. I’m taking them over today.”
When he heard that the biggest landowner in Gangnam was essentially Minister Yoon’s servant, Yoon Jaeha was stunned.
“I didn’t know that. Maybe I shouldn’t have come. Real estate isn’t my specialty.”
“Don’t think too hard about it. We just need to transfer ownership. I’ll pay everything today and take the titles.”
Yoon Jaeha nodded seriously.
“And...”
Just as I was about to mention the divorce lawsuit—
Yoon Hyunju returned.
Yoon Jaeha quickly stood up and greeted her.
“I’m lawyer Yoon Jaeha from Yoon & Jang.”
“Oh my, aren’t you the son of CEO Yoon?”
“You recognize me? I’m honored, Director Yoon.”
“I didn’t expect you to come personally for something like this.”
“Something like this? I was told it was a real estate transaction.”
Yoon Jaeha suddenly turned his head and looked at me.
Well... how could I know she’d walk in before I finished explaining?
With an awkward expression, I said to him:
“Chairman Choi Woosik is probably going to file for divorce. Your firm will need to represent Yoon Hyunju in the lawsuit.”
