The reason Hee Won and Young Won were so hostile towards Tae In was because of an incident that happened 9 years ago.

When Tae In’s household staff was all fired, Hyung Man, who was then the factory manager at the Hwaseong factory, was also fired.

He had been tossed aside after only doing work, trusting only in Jung Gyu.

He was so focused on making products without any interest in the company’s operations that he got fired without securing anything substantial.

At the same time, the relationship between the twins and Tae In also ended.

Tae In realized this fact too late.

In fact, not only were they abandoned then, but Tae In was included too.

He realized this fact too late as well.

“If I seemed shameless, then it’s a success.”
“You’re getting more and more shameless? Quite impressive. Wonder who you take after.”
“You can’t talk any better to a friend who came back from the dead?”
Tae In provoked Hee Won in a whisper that wouldn’t be heard by Hyung Man.

“Speaking ill of one’s own reflection. I thought you must’ve survived the poisoning, and I was right.”

Tae In gazed intently at Hee Won as she poured water into a paper cup and drank.

“You didn’t come to my funeral, did you?”
“Why should I have gone there!”
“I figured as much.”
Tae In refilled her cup after finishing her water.

“Hey, just go to another restaurant and eat. Don’t make a fuss.”
Unable to watch any longer, Young Won stepped in.

“So, can you please scram to some other restaurant?”
Thrilled that her brother had taken her side, Hee Won spat out harshly. Tae In smiled faintly, her face unscathed.

“I have things to discuss with my uncle, so can you two scram instead?”
“What, how dare you!”
As Hee Won stood up abruptly, as if to grab Tae In by the collar, Hyung Man, who had just come out of the kitchen, set a tray of food on the table.

“Eat quietly and leave.”
At Hyung Man’s terse words, Tae In, who had been unfazed by the twins’ attack, was slightly taken aback.

As a child, Tae In had been the recipient of abundant love from those around her.

Both peers and adults adored the bright and cheerful Tae In.

Among them, Hyung Man cared for Tae In the most after her parents. Tae In followed him, calling him “uncle”.

She learned how to inspect leather, how to puncture holes in the leather, and stitch it one stitch at a time from Hyung Man.

Despite having been kicked out of the house five years ago, she was fortunate to be eating food, thanks to her neardeath experience.

“Uncle.”
Hyung Man, who was about to go into the kitchen, stopped.

Hyung Man, who had once been bulky enough to lift a young Tae In and give her a piggyback ride, seemed smaller today.

“I almost really died in that Hwaseong factory.”
“…….”
“Don’t you wonder who did it?”
“I don’t want to be involved with Tae Gang anymore.”
“So, you are convinced that someone from Tae Gang did it.”
Hyung Man remained still while Tae In began to eat the stew and rice he had prepared.

Eventually, Hyung Man pulled out a chair from a table across from Tae In and sat down.

“You’re lucky to have survived. Forget everything and live. You’re married anyway, so don’t worry about your family.”
“……Lucky, you say. What have you forgotten, Uncle?”
“When you came back, I thought you might ask that. But I have nothing to answer. Eat and leave.”
“Then tell me where Butler Park is. I’ll hear it from Butler Park.”
Tae In, who had quickly finished a bowl of rice, spoke as she wiped her mouth with a tissue.

“Don’t look for him.”
“Why?”
“If I say don’t look for him, just don’t!”
Hyung Man yelled uncharacteristically.

Tae In looked at Hyung Man with an unfazed face. The fear that appeared on Hyung Man’s face, which was large and menacing, was nothing but strange to her.

“Okay, I’ll find him myself.”
Tae In stood up as if there was no regret.

That’s when Hyung Man reluctantly opened his mouth.

“He’s dead.”
“……What about the other employees?”
“Everyone who worked in that house is dead. Except for Jo Young Mi and Jo Young Gap.”

It was worse than he had imagined. What on earth happened 9 years ago that necessitated the massacre of so many people?

Tae In was desperate.

It seemed like the channel to the truth had been blocked. His stubborn older brother would not tell him.

No, it was better he didn’t tell him.

His brother, or perhaps the twins, might have died like them.

“I had a good meal. I’ll come again next time.”
At Tae In’s words, three people blinked their eyes.

They had faces that seemed to ask if he would come back after enduring this ordeal.

“Next time, let’s talk about business.”
“…What?”
“Uncle, you shouldn’t do this here.”
“…Why, wasn’t it delicious?”
“Yes.”
Hyung Man scratched the back of his head awkwardly, and Tae In gave a slight smile and stood up.

Just before leaving work, Jung Ri clutched the resignation letter in his pocket tightly.

It would have gotten crumpled from all the fiddling, but it didn’t matter.

He had heard from his grandmother that Jung Don had safely returned home. He also heard he had cried himself to sleep without eating.

He was okay with whatever happened to him. He had endured with the steady salary and the pride of working in a large company, the satisfaction of being able to take care of his grandmother and younger brother.

But it was different when his family was the ones enduring. That crossed a line.

Even if he himself scraped by with convenience store food, he sent side dishes Jung Don would like to his grandmother’s in a styrofoam box with ice packs. He bought good clothes for Jung Don so he wouldn’t be ridiculed, even if he himself wore the same clothes every day and got scolded by his boss.

For Jung Ri, his grandmother and younger brother were more precious than his own life.

He didn’t want to create a situation that would make Jung Don cry again.

With a firm resolve, Jung Ri entered the executive office.

Se Ji was engrossed in work.

Se Ji always seemed to be working as if being chased by someone.

Despite having less work than Tae In, he seemed busy trying to surpass the nowabsent Tae In.

It was also because the businesses he attempted to imitate the born businessman Tae In had all resulted in poor sales.

While Tae In was able to salvage even failing businesses, everything Se Ji touched ended in failure.

He was topclass at shifting blame and escaping responsibility, so much so that it made one wonder if he was smart after all.

Anyway, it was meaningless to think about this on the day he was going to quit.

“You’re here just in time, Secretary Lim.”
“…Yes? Were you looking for me?”
“I mean Seo Tae In, he seems to be making moves soon.”
“…Yes.”
Again, Seo Tae In.

Was he thinking he could beat the noblyborn Tae In by imitating a nobleman?

“I have a habit of not giving up on people. Keep an eye on Seo Tae In for a while. What he’s doing, who he’s meeting.”
“…About that.”
He had to say it now. That he would no longer be his lackey.

Just as Jung Ri was about to take out his resignation letter.

“Ah, I’ll double your current salary.”

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