Only Bad for Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4

About five hours ago, at W Hotel Korea.

Two middle-aged men hurriedly passed through the revolving door, their steps brisk and anxious.

The one who appeared older kept repeatedly wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.

“He said he wouldn’t be here until the end of this month—when did he sneak in without a word and catch us so off guard?”

“They say that’s just his personality. He supposedly ordered minimal protocol, claiming formalities are bothersome and tiresome. But isn’t this sudden appearance even more disrespectful? He’s so young, yet already acting like he’s setting the tone from day one.”

“He’s the founder’s only grandson—somehow, the word ‘discipline’ just feels odd coming from us, haha.”

“But he’s ethnically Korean through and through, isn’t he?”

As they reached the front desk, a staff member bowed politely to greet them.

“Good afternoon, Director. Welcome.”

“Oh, Director Kim is here—perfect! Saves us a long explanation. There’s a Kyle Alexis staying in the VIP suite, correct? We’ve come to see him. Please connect us.”

“Ah, you’ve come to meet the new CEO. One moment, please.”

While the staff member attempted to call the suite, the man who’d been sweating profusely muttered under his breath.

“It’s infuriating that the hotel staff knew before we did.”

“Ah, what should we do? The CEO isn’t answering the phone.”

“Director Kim, just give us the elevator key card. We’ve already notified them we’re coming up—no need to worry.”

With their assertive demeanor, they quickly obtained what they wanted and soon arrived at the 36th floor.

“By the way, I heard he doesn’t speak Korean well. Should we speak in English? Director Kim, you’re fluent, right? We’ll rely on you.”

“What? Not at all! They say his mind works faster than light, that he speaks several languages like a native… Oh my aching head. As the saying goes, ‘An old hand is best’—Hampden’s CEO was just perfect to work with.”

“It seems selling Seoil Bank ended up backfiring and tarnishing the company’s image.”

“Exactly. What good is massive profit if it leaves such a sour taste? Ah—here we are!”

3601.

The room where their new boss, ‘Kyle J. Alexis,’ was staying.

Jae Ha had just stepped out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel around his waist.

Thanks to a hotter and longer shower than usual, his throat was parched.

It should’ve been here. He ran his damp fingers through his hair and stepped onto the plush carpet.

Water droplets clung to his meticulously sculpted body, glistening with each movement, clearly outlining the evenly divided muscles beneath.

The refrigerator was fully stocked with beer, prepared earlier by the concierge.

With a crisp *hiss*, the cold can opened, and the sharp Adam’s apple of the man rose and fell smoothly.

It had been utterly chaotic. Three weeks had flown by in the blink of an eye.

Critical tasks had piled up beyond measure.

The situation in Korea was far worse than anticipated, and identifying and correcting fundamental flaws had taken far longer than expected.

He’d been buried in work nonstop—aside from a few hours of sleep and exercise, even meals had been hastily wolfed down.

Earlier today, finally catching a break, he’d chosen the final candidate from the houses Secretary Kang had pre-selected.

That last villa he’d viewed… Jae Ha rubbed the corner of his mouth with his knuckles and sharply raised the ends of his thick eyebrows.

Of course, he’d have to keep her close by. Just as that thought concluded, his phone screen lit up.

[Good afternoon.]

The person on the line skipped formal address yet spoke with utmost deference. Kwon Jae Ha responded in kind—straight to the point.

“Did you find out?”

[Yes, of course. I’ve already emailed you the details. Please review them and…]

Ding-dong.

“Hold on a moment.”

Still holding the phone, Jae Ha moved and opened the door without hesitation—only to face two men with flushed, anxious faces.

Standing nearly naked before them, Jae Ha spoke first.

“What’s the matter? I never invited guests.”

His English was smooth, with a faint, curious hint of British accent.

“Oh—Mr. Alexis! We, uh, welcome you, one-two, welcome! So, that is….”

He really doesn’t speak Korean at all? As the two stunned men glanced at each other, Jae Ha simply shrugged.

“So, anything else?”

His icy gaze made the already nervous pair shrink even further into themselves.

But just before the door closed completely, the two dazed men finally heard it—clear, precise Korean.

“Speak.”

.

.

No sooner had he finished listening to a brief additional explanation and hung up than another call came in.

No rest for the weary—it was Secretary Kang.

“Yeah.”

[You’re still at the hotel, right?]

“Unless I’m not.”

[Then why did you just send them away like that? You’re not with someone else, are you?]

“What, did you see a woman or something?”

[Not exactly, but you were completely…]

“I was naked, yes.”

[What?]

Jae Ha pressed the speaker button, picked up his silk robe, removed the damp towel from his waist, and spoke in a refreshingly calm tone.

“I’d just finished working out and showering. I clearly told you I wouldn’t meet anyone.”

Sitting on the sofa with his laptop open, Jae Ha took another swig of his beer.

[If you keep acting this way with your American style, you’ll run into trouble constantly. And frankly, it puts me in an awkward position too. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.]

“You know I follow my own rules.”

[Yes, I know! Sigh… Still, sending away people who went out of their way just to greet you—that was too harsh. As you saw yourself, they’re much older than you.]

“They certainly looked it.”

His boss’s dismissive reply made Secretary Kang sigh deeply again, as if the ground might cave in beneath him.

[From an American perspective, it might feel stifling, but here in Korea, it’s still common sense to ask someone’s age upon first meeting. And if you’d just reflect on why you came to Korea in the first place—the fundamental reason… Hello? Are you listening, CEO?]

“That last house we saw.”

[Yes, the one you liked for its terrace.]

“Sign the contract. Immediately.”

[Immediately? But you said you’d think it over…]

“I’ve finished thinking. Sign it and call me back. Have a good weekend.”

Jae Ha tossed the phone aside and stared intently at the woman filling his screen.

It’s not like living nearby means he’ll do anything about it—he rationalized to himself.

Yet his temples throbbed faintly, veins already taut.

Christmas rose.

He recalled the delicate white flower from his adoptive father Shawn’s garden.

[“To bloom this beautifully despite the cold winter wind—truly remarkable, isn’t it?”]

Yoon Eun Jo in the photo looked neat and pure. Icy winter wind seemed to fill her round eyes.

Something sharp and cold pierced Kwon Jae Ha’s chest.

“Hah….”

She was so annoyingly pristine he almost wanted to soil her. Breaking that fragile stem might bring some strange relief.

And he wondered—

Did she still, upon reaching the peak of sensation, unknowingly whisper “I love you” over and over?

Damn it. Kwon Jae Ha remembered every single moment, every single scene with painful clarity.

Her breath, hot and ragged, gasping in shallow bursts.

Her pale hands, desperately trying to hide unbearable ecstasy—then finally breaking into sobs.

“F*ck.”

His face crumpled in frustration. Pathetic—to be this foolish over just a photograph.

The thirst was familiar and intense, yet equally infuriating.

But that sudden, fierce emotion instantly froze the moment he saw the next photo.

He’d known she had a child. But another cohabitant—

…a woman?

The aluminum can in his hand crumpled like paper.

Long ago, it had been he himself who silenced Secretary Kang when the latter tried to report the situation. He’d callously tossed the USB drive the man left behind straight into the trash.

Just the words “child” and “cohabitant” had left him so dazed he couldn’t think straight—he hadn’t wanted to know the petty details.

“Fucking idiot!”

Whom should he blame? For what reason? Why? Did any of it even make logical sense?

A red bead formed on his fingertip where the sharp can edge had cut him—but he felt nothing.

Lee Min Ah, 26 years old—Yoon Eun Jo’s biological younger sister.

Graduated from Seorang Nursing College; currently awaiting civil service appointment after passing the exam. Adopted one month after birth.

Yoon Da On, age 6—Yoon Eun Jo’s son.

Quite the extended family. Frowning deeply, Jae Ha picked up the phone tucked away at the edge of the sofa.

Tap tap—the moment he touched the screen, an immediate reply came, as if it had been waiting.

[Yes, please speak.]

“I’ve checked your email. Is this woman, Lee Min Ah, definitely her biological sister?”

Despite his distorted expression, his voice remained calm—even elegant.

[Yes. They were reunited through DNA testing. She still uses the surname of her adoptive parents.]

“What else can you tell me about the child?”

[About the child, sir—what exactly are you asking? There’s no marriage record, but as you’ve seen, he is registered under Ms. Yoon Eun Jo’s family registry.]

“Look deeper. Find out who the father is, whether he’s alive or dead, and if alive, where he is and what he’s doing. And if anything else comes up that I need to know, contact me immediately—any time.”

[Understood.]

What irresponsible bastard—

Jae Ha cursed under his breath, sinking into the sofa and rubbing his face with his hands.

How foolish. Why have a child.

.

.

To steady his emotions, Kwon Jae Ha chose work.

It was well past midnight when he noticed his phone vibrating on the sofa—just as he stepped out to fetch another beer.

[010-7206-xxxx Ms. Yoon Eun Jo and Ms. Lee Min Ah are currently at the Seocho Police Station, Traffic Division.]

How precise and concise. Jae Ha chuckled softly and set down the cold beer can in his hand.

He first summoned his executive secretary, then dressed unhurriedly.

On the way to the police station, he learned the details of the incident and, of course, had already made the necessary calls to contacts who could influence the matter.

…Yoon Eun Jo.

Merely whispering her name silently sent a thrilling shiver through him.

Sooner than expected.

And far too easily—he now had her within his grasp.

Such a catastrophically awful reunion. With a bitter smile, Kwon Jae Ha stared out the black tinted window.

The luxury sedan sliced through the darkness.