Chapter 110
Hyun-se arrived exactly on time. He seemed to have come in a hurry, dressed casually with his hair softly disheveled over his forehead like a college student. He was even wearing sneakers instead of dress shoes. Upon closer inspection, the wear and tear around the sleeves and collar were visible. After always seeing him with even his trouser hems pressed knife-sharp, this attire was quite refreshing.
However, his demeanor was far from relaxed. Hyun-se looked as if he was about to bury someone. Though he had no weapon and wore his usual smile, the killing intent simmering inside occasionally burst through like water through a loose net. Perhaps because of this, even his casual attire seemed like preparation for something.
Seo-hee In quietly scanned the cafe. While some people occasionally glanced at Hyun-se, they didn’t seem particularly afraid, just interested in his appearance. It was proof that he was hiding it well. Or they might have simply recognized him as an alpha.
“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.”
“What’s this about?”
Seo-hee asked, ignoring the prickling sensation on her exposed skin every time Hyun-se’s aura leaked out. Even though she had bluntly asked for the main point, Hyun-se smiled amiably.
“Let’s break off our engagement.”
She looked up at him while holding her coffee cup. His tone was as casual as if suggesting they have a meal, but the content was rather shocking. Seo-hee put her cup down and straightened her back.
“I thought all discussions about the marriage were finished.”
She had spent a large sum on her lover for this, and they had already arranged everything from the newlywed home to the wedding venue. How would they handle the land, buildings, and stocks that were to be gifted on the premise of marriage, and what about the penalty fees? It was supposed to be as simple as putting on clothes and holding the ceremony, but she couldn’t understand why he was suddenly causing a commotion when they were so close to the picture-perfect ending.
“What’s the reason? Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
Hyun-se hadn’t even ordered coffee. It was a clear indication that he didn’t intend to stay long.
“It’s because I’m a recessive alpha.”
“What?”
She frowned deeply and asked again, as it made no sense. There was no way Hyun-se could be a recessive alpha.
“I thought I was a dominant alpha, but it turns out I’m a shitty recessive. Practically no different from a beta. That should be enough for Minister Kim to understand.”
Ironically, Hyun-se seemed to know her grandmother better than she did. Her grandmother, with her sense of privilege and class-based authoritarianism ingrained in her marrow, would be the first to demand breaking off the engagement if Hyun-se was revealed to be a recessive alpha. She had already been displeased that Hyun-se wasn’t a biological child and had only reluctantly agreed because he was a dominant alpha.
“No, why suddenly…”
Hyun-se grinned, showing his even teeth. His smile made him look like a mischievous child about to play a mean prank.
“What’s the real reason?”
“Do I really need to tell you?”
“I’ll keep it confidential.”
It was a question born purely out of personal curiosity. Whatever the reason, there was no need to disclose it to others.
She felt his intense gaze. He seemed to be gauging whether she would keep quiet or spread it around. The sharp scrutiny only ended when Seo-hee took a sip of coffee to alleviate her boredom. As if he didn’t care if she spread it around, Hyun-se casually blurted out:
“I’ve found someone I love.”
“…”
She wondered if she had heard wrong. Seo-hee looked at Hyun-se with a serious expression. Had he perhaps suffered a head injury and experienced temporary regression while she wasn’t aware? Their relationship was far too complex in terms of mutual benefits to break off the engagement for such a trivial reason. They were also well past the age of letting emotions ruin their affairs.
“Are you in your right mind?”
“Yes, I’m in my right mind. I slept well too.”
He responded as if nothing could be clearer. No matter what she said, he didn’t seem to have any intention of reconsidering the breakup. Since there wasn’t enough affection to persuade him otherwise, Seo-hee simply nodded lightly.
“Is this really the end?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t care if he was willing to take the blame. Since she would be safe, Seo-hee just shrugged her shoulders.
“Did we really need to meet in person to discuss this?”
Seo-hee grumbled while checking the time on her phone. Meeting Hyun-se wasn’t boring, but it wasn’t particularly enjoyable either.
“We were engaged once, so it’s only polite to say it face to face, isn’t it?”
“You’re finding manners in unnecessary places.”
More than half of her coffee remained, but she didn’t mind. Hyun-se seemed to feel the same as he stood up and extended his hand to her. Since he had shown courtesy, she would return it.
“Still, thanks to you, I got plenty of practice for marriage. Well then, take care.”
Her attitude was as businesslike as when sending off a client. Hyun-se grasped her hand. A dry handshake served as their farewell.
A wisp of white smoke escaped as he parted his lips. After smoking it down to the filter, he put the butt in a portable ashtray. He had been tempted to throw it in front of the damn mansion but resisted. He didn’t want to be on the same level as someone who had sold their morality to a passing dog.
Hyun-se leaned against the mansion’s wall and took out his phone to check the video Shin-do had sent. The runtime was quite long. Five minutes would have been enough, but at this length, it would be impossible for the entire nation not to recognize that face.
He knew that Seokwang Construction had been bribing the old man, but he hadn’t realized they were providing other forms of entertainment as well. The cast of characters was impressive across the board. Not only the construction company chairman, but also senior members of the old man’s political party and renowned newspaper columnists had shown their faces.
A lewd video of such esteemed individuals – it couldn’t be anything but bait that the mass media would go crazy over.
He had blurred the victims’ faces but left the main culprits’ identities exposed. With a few gestures, the video spread across the internet. The view count exploded with each refresh. He also anonymously submitted it to online and offline media outlets, mixing in reliable sources. It was a bomb set to explode within hours, or by tomorrow at the latest.
He slipped his hands into the prepared gloves. As he clenched and unclenched his fists, the stiff leather softened. The cold, smooth sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time brought a rush of exhilaration.
He slowly turned his head right and left to loosen his muscles, then opened the mansion’s gate. As he crossed the lawn and entered the house, Secretary Yoon, who had been notified in advance, came rushing out in a fluster.
He didn’t have his usual stoic expression, perhaps having heard the news of the broken engagement. He already looked like he had taken a beating. His hair was disheveled, and dried blood was stuck to his forehead. It seemed the old man had thrown an ashtray at him.
Secretary Yoon’s job differed from that of an aide. He was someone who would prostrate himself and resolve any issue the old man ordered, no matter how dirty.
“He’s waiting for you.”
Hyun-se stared at him intently. He knew he had only acted on orders. But his anger was impartial.
“You’re Secretary Yoon, right? The one who brought Si-yul here.”
Secretary Yoon, who had been bowing politely, flinched and raised his head. Hyun-se was smiling.
“Let’s just take one hit.”
There was no room for sympathy. The secretary, suddenly kicked in the stomach, fell backward with a groan. He heard a maid gasp but paid no attention. In Hyun-se’s eyes, everyone who had remained silent when Si-yul was brought here was an accomplice.
“Is he in the annex?”
He asked, addressing the secretary who was still on the ground unable to get up. Clicking his tongue at the time-wasting as the man clutched his stomach, Hyun-se grabbed him by the hair. Only then did the secretary hastily nod.
Throwing the secretary aside, he started walking. Even while meeting Seo-hee, this had been his only thought. His pace quickened. He crossed the small path between the main house and the annex in an instant.
“Young master!”
The secretary, who had somehow caught up, urgently called out to Hyun-se. He didn’t look back. As if aware of his arrival from the commotion outside, the moment he opened the door, a silver object flew rapidly towards him. He twisted his shoulder to avoid it, but couldn’t prevent the razor-sharp scissors from grazing his cheek. Blood trickled down from the long gash.
“You bastard—!”
A thunderous roar shook the study. Hyun-se faced Woo Jung-ryeol, the old man, without even blinking. His face was flushed dark red with anger, his eyes and sparse eyebrows raised high, furrowing his brow.
“I’ve been too lenient with you, have you lost your mind completely?”
The sound of grinding teeth was amusing. How could he lose his mind when this had been his plan from the start?
