One seat was for Minkook, who was currently on a long business trip, and the other was for Jihan.

Although it was awkward to take charge of the announcement during this sensitive time, it was a moment when he had to strive to continue the report.

The firmly closed meeting room door opened.

And as Jihan confidently entered, the executives began to stir as they looked at him.

“I’m late. I apologize.”

The executives’ gaze was fixed on Jihan as if they had seen someone they shouldn’t have.

However, he paid no attention to their warm glares and sat in the empty seat.

Certainly, the regular reports were supposed to start after lunch.

The emergency meeting related to Intech was adjusted to the morning due to the regular report schedule. It seems the meeting continued without me realizing it.

My heart felt chilly at the thought that if it weren’t for Director Kim, who urgently came, I wouldn’t have attended.

Mujin deliberately didn’t inform me of the changed meeting time.

Mujin’s gaze, which seemed dissatisfied with me, and the mocking glances from the executives.

Feeling the disapproving looks, Jihan clenched his fist under the table.

‘I can’t be driven away like this.’

Jihan had no intention of stepping down from the successor position so ingloriously.
Observing Jihan obstinately holding his ground, Mujin clicked his tongue and gestured towards the head director.

“Yes. I will continue. This year’s founding anniversary event was personally planned by Representative Seo Jihan…….”

“That’s enough. Manager Jo.”

“Yes!”

Manager Jo, who was sitting in the last seat, responded in surprise to Mujin’s call.

He was wide-eyed, apparently not expecting Mujin to call him.

“For the founding anniversary event, you take charge and submit a new plan.”

Manager Jo, assigned unexpectedly to the founding anniversary event planning, stiffened in surprise.

Then, as if understanding the situation, he bowed.

“Understood. I will prepare without delay.”

Jihan couldn’t believe his ears.

He had been in charge of planning the founding anniversary event since the beginning of the year.

“Then, let’s conclude the meeting here today.”

“Chairman! I should be in charge of the founding anniversary event….”

Jihan urgently stood up and called out to Mujin.

However, Mujin, with a cold gaze, glanced at Jihan and left the meeting room.

“…”

Jihan’s hand holding the desk trembled so much it turned white.

Mujin had blatantly excluded him from the representative’s duties over the past few days.

It was so apparent that rumors circulated within the company that a change in leadership was imminent.

Jihan gritted his teeth.

Avoiding the executives who were standing still, Jihan left the meeting room.

Alone in the now empty meeting room, Jihan crumpled the documents in his hands.

His eyes were filled with venomous resentment.

Back in his office, Jihan threw the document clip he had been holding onto the floor in frustration.

Even then, unable to dispel the lingering frustration, he loosened the tie that had been uncomfortably tight.

“Darn it!”

Jihan didn’t expect Mujin to ignore him so blatantly in front of everyone.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling of falling into an abyss in an instant.

“Hoo.”

Wiping away the sweaty hair from his forehead, Jihan picked up an envelope on the table.

Seeing the words “Genetic Test Center” written on the envelope, he hesitated for a moment.

Prominently displayed on the first page of the document was the phrase “Close Relative Verification Test Results Report.”

A few days ago in Pyeongchang-dong, Mujin’s words echoed in Jihan’s ears.

“Haven’t you ever thought something was strange? Even if it’s a blood relation, the mother who gave birth to my son cannot enter Korea without my permission.”

“Also, everyone in the family has an allergic reaction to medication, except you.”

Jihan, who had come to Pyeongchang-dong alone at a young age, couldn’t understand why he had to live apart from his mother at such a young age.

But as time passed, he naturally realized that the relationship between him and Mrs. Oh was not an upright one.

And after Sookyung’s death, Mrs. Oh took her place as if it were a matter of course.

Now, the thought of being able to live with his mother brought a momentary joy, but Mujin did not allow Mrs. Oh.
Living together was not allowed, and even contacting without permission was not tolerated.

‘Ha…….’

He thought it was because of his resentment toward Mrs. Oh, who had maintained an inappropriate relationship.

Jihan held onto his pounding heart and turned the first page of the documents.

If what he thought was correct…….

If it was indeed true, what should he do from now on?

During the short time it took to pass the documents, countless thoughts rushed through Jihan’s mind.

And Jihan slowly began to read through the documents.

Passing a chart with unfamiliar numbers, Jihan’s gaze slowly moved downward.

Eventually, after confirming the test results, Jihan couldn’t believe it.

[Test Result Determination] Requestor Seo Minkook (M) & Requestor Seo Jihan (M.) cannot provide evidence reflecting a biological family relationship.

He wiped his eyes and looked again, but the word ‘mismatch’ in the document remained unchanged.

“Not biologically related…? Me?”

[Dash] Tuck.

The kinship verification paper slipped from Jihan’s hand and fell weakly to the floor.

A helpless smile appeared on his lips.

For a brief moment, Jihan, who had been frozen in place as if malfunctioned, let out a sound.

“No way……. There’s no way!”

Jihan screamed, forgetting that he was in his office.

In frustration that wouldn’t be released, he threw everything on the desk, but his unyielding heart made him overturn the desk.

This couldn’t be happening.

How could the test yield such results!

With trembling hands, Jihan called Mrs. Oh.

Surely it was Mrs. Oh who had forced him into Pyeongchang-dong, claiming that he was Minkook’s kin.

There was no way that the resolute Mujin and Minkook would accept him without a kinship confirmation.

‘Surely, it’s a fabrication by Mother.’

From the beginning, Jihan harbored a twisted sense of inferiority towards Jaeha.

Unlike Jaeha, who naturally grew up as a successor from Sookyung, Jihan was an extramarital child.

How much effort did he put in to ascend to the current position as a successor, given his innate flaw!

But in reality, he was not even an extramarital child, but a perfect stranger?

‘Damn it!’

Jihan’s unbearable frustration boiled over.

[Dash] Son, did you call?

At the end of the seemingly long dial tone, Mrs. Oh’s strained voice came through.

Being pushed into such a predicament and faced with Mrs. Oh’s nonchalant voice, Jihan let go of the fragile threads of his reason.

“Where are you now, and……!”