Kang Mo’s thoughts suddenly shifted to his father, Seok Hoon.

Chairman Kang, who was all alone in the world, was the only adult who had extended a helping hand to Kang Mo’s father, Seok Hoon, who had lost his entire family in an unexpected accident. It didn’t really matter that Chairman Kang was the boss who led the organization.

It was said that Seok Hoon was only thirteen years old at the time. Of course, it was not an age to make decisions on his own, and even his relatives turned their backs on him, so he must have been desperate for any lifeline, even a rotten one.

Fortunately, Chairman Kang, who had recognized Seok Hoon’s innate intelligence early on, spared no effort in providing him with the means to receive an education without any shortcomings, and made every effort to ensure that his dark shadow did not fall upon Seok Hoon.

Seok Hoon responded to his expectations by steadily climbing the elite ladder. When Seok Hoon, who had even studied abroad at a prestigious university in the United States, expressed his desire to work under Chairman Kang, the first major dispute arose between Seok Hoon and Chairman Kang.

Chairman Kang wanted Seok Hoon, who was like a son to him, to walk a smooth path unrelated to himself, while Seok Hoon wanted Chairman Kang, who was like a father to him, to break free from the dark world.

Seok Hoon had only one wish. A smooth life and a safe retirement for Chairman Kang. To achieve that, reorganizing the organization was inevitable.

There was a lot of noise, sacrifice, and even more trial and error, but Seok Hoon did not hesitate in pushing ahead with the task. In the end, he accomplished what he had wished for all his life, and as Seok Hoon had hoped, Chairman Kang had broken free from the darkness and become the head of a respectable corporation.

Everything had proceeded as Seok Hoon had thought and prepared for over a long period of time, and it seemed that there was nothing more to be desired. That is, until trouble arose with the second-in-command of the organization, who had regarded Seok Hoon as a thorn in his side.

Kang Mo’s expression suddenly contorted as his thoughts reached that point.

“What’s the use of my father coming out and the old man dying? You know very well the reason why you insisted on keeping me at the headquarters even though I didn’t want to. He left hoping for only one thing, for me to protect and watch over the chairman until my father returns.”

“Hmm…”

“Fortunately, the chairman’s condition doesn’t require open-heart surgery. They say they can insert an artificial valve through the femoral artery in the thigh without opening the chest, so there’s no reason not to do it. The surgery time is short and recovery is quick, so go in with peace of mind.”

Kang Mo raised his voice as he looked at Chairman Kang, who was still looking at him with a serious expression.

“Hah… Why have you become so weak-willed? You should be stubborn when you need to be. Do you think I’d let the old man die?”

“You, you, with that temper of yours.”

“That’s why you should listen to me. I heard even people much older than you get it done a lot. Stop worrying and just do it. Come on.”

“Alright. Alright. I’ll do it, so stop frowning. Where does this wretched son curse at his father, making a fuss, making a fuss. Your father didn’t raise you like that either. Understood? Understood? You insolent fellow. I wonder who you take after.”

Kang Mo snickered at the sight of Chairman Kang, who had been looking like he was about to die, shouting with a sharp glare.

“See? You’re still in good shape. After the surgery, you’ll have no problem living for another 50 years, really.”

“You, you. You cheeky fellow. Don’t make that smug face.”

“Knowing that I’m good-looking shows your eyes are still sharp.”

“Ha, haha. Really. Now you’re even making fun of your grandfather.”

Chairman Kang stared at Kang Mo, who was finally grinning, for a long time.

“Go on. I’ll wait here without budging… Grandfather.”

“Yes… Do well and come back. Kang Mo…”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Chairman Kang felt a sharp pain in the tip of his nose at the form of address he heard for the first time in a very long time.

“Thank you for growing up well. When your father comes out, be sure to tell Seok Hoon thank you too…”

“Ha, come on. Where are you going to die? How will you face me when you come out after the surgery, feeling embarrassed? Just go. Come on. It’s making me cringe.”

The tears that had been welling up suddenly disappeared. Looking at Kang Mo grumbling, the heavy mood vanished without a trace, and a light chuckle spread. As the fellow said, it would be quite embarrassing to face that smug face when he came out later.

As Kang Mo had confidently stated, the surgery was a success.

When the anesthesia wore off and Chairman Kang had fully regained consciousness, he couldn’t properly look at Kang Mo’s face, which was grinning as if he had a screw loose somewhere.

“Rest. I’ll go to the company and come back in the evening.”

“What are you coming back for? Don’t be overconfident about your health and take good care of yourself too. You must have been out of your mind yesterday and today, so don’t come here and go home and rest.”

“It’s fine. It’s not often that my old man is considerate of me, so I’ll keep coming until you’re discharged. How could I miss this great sight?”

“You, you, you. Look at the way you talk.”

Although he shook his head as if he couldn’t be helped, a warm smile remained on Chairman Kang’s lips the whole time.

In that way, Kang Mo went back and forth between the company and the hospital for three days straight.

At the company, he had to firmly hold his ground in order to reassure the executives who were unsettled by Chairman Kang’s absence of his well-being, and at the hospital, he had to closely monitor Chairman Kang’s condition to see if there were any unexpected side effects or sequelae, considering his advanced age, even though the surgery was said to have gone well.

Despite the dissuasion of the medical staff and his close aides, the reason Kang Mo couldn’t leave Chairman Kang’s side was a slight unease that had taken hold in a corner of his heart. On the outside, he had confidently stated that everything would be fine, but in reality, it was Kang Mo, not Chairman Kang, who was the most anxious.

Having lost his mother and sister in a sudden manner, and with his father currently absent, Chairman Kang, who was not even a blood relative, was the only remaining pillar of support for Kang Mo’s heart, so he was not yet ready to let him go.

In the end, he personally came to the hospital and stayed by Chairman Kang’s side until he had fully recovered, and Seung Ho, who had attended to Kang Mo for several years, knew all too well that the sensitive Kang Mo was not getting proper sleep at the hospital.

As always, Kang Mo headed to the hospital after work today, and Seung Ho, worried about him, pleaded with him once again.

“Executive Kang, you need to go home and rest today. I’m worried you might collapse at this rate.”

“If I collapse just from staying up for three nights at this age, I might as well die.”

When Kang Mo replied nonchalantly upon arriving in front of Chairman Kang’s hospital room, a long sigh escaped from Seung Ho.

Director Kwak Sung Man, who had been guarding in front of the hospital room, noticed Kang Mo and stood up from his seat, bowing his head. Seeing him still adhering to his funeral fashion, Kang Mo couldn’t help but shake his head.

“You’re here, Executive Kang.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

Before Kang Mo could reach for the door, Director Kwak blocked his way. Instantly, Kang Mo’s sharp gaze pierced into Director Kwak.

“What are you doing now?”

“I apologize, but the chairman instructed me to absolutely not let you into the room today.”

One corner of Kang Mo’s lips curved up.

“What exactly did he say? Tell me exactly as you heard it.”

“Well, that, he said… your face is unpleasant to look at, so you should rest properly for at least a day and come back recharged.”

Kang Mo scoffed, tilting his head from side to side.

“Move aside.”

Just as he reached for the door again, a shout came from inside the room. It seemed he had heard the commotion outside.

“Listen to Director Kwak. Go home for today.”

“But I came all the way here, and you’re going to turn me away at the door? That’s too much. I’ll just see your face and leave.”

After a few seconds, a resounding voice rang out from inside.

“Sung Man, open the door.”

Only then did Director Kwak step aside next to the door. Kang Mo entered and approached the bed, and Chairman Kang, whose complexion was improving day by day, clicked his tongue as he looked over Kang Mo’s appearance.

“Your eyes are rotten. That’s why I told you to rest, but you really don’t listen, just like someone I know.”

“Think carefully. That person’s genes are in there too. What can you expect when I grew up watching him?”

“Anyway, you never back down. Go home for today. Looking at your rotten dead fish eyes, I’m losing my appetite.”

Chairman Kang, who had been silently observing Kang Mo smiling wryly and shaking his head, cleared his throat with a harrumph and asked an out-of-the-blue question.

“Did you… get some rest in Guam?”

“Rest my foot. I couldn’t even properly see the room.”

Kang Mo let out a soft sigh, his eyes wavering. Seeing Kang Mo like that, Chairman Kang swallowed a sigh and muttered to himself.

“Foolish thing. What’s the point of setting the table for you?”

“What? What did you say?”

“Nothing. I said go home now. I want to get some good rest today without worrying about you.”

“Ha, when have you ever worried about me? You sleep just fine whether I’m here or not.”

“Ehem. You’re so talkative. It’s draining my energy. Don’t make me talk and get lost.”

“Yes. Now that I’ve seen you’re doing well, I’ll leave for today. Get plenty of rest. And if anything happens, contact me right away.”

Chairman Kang waved his hand with the IV as if he couldn’t be bothered. Kang Mo left the hospital room after repeatedly instructing Director Kwak.

Kang Mo’s brow furrowed as he headed toward the hospital parking lot. Judging by the way he was pressing his right temple with his palm, it seemed a migraine had come on.

Seung Ho, who had been standing a step behind, closely observing Kang Mo, asked with concern.

“It seems you have a headache.”

“It’s okay. It’s not bad enough to take medicine.”

“In any case, it seems your body has been strained from not being able to sleep properly for several days. You need to rest well today without worrying about anything.”

If only it were as easy as he said. The thought that he wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably again today, with various complex thoughts boring into him from all angles, was the only thing that unpleasantly pounded in his head.

“No particular movements from Kim Chang Joo’s side?”

“No. Surprisingly, it’s still quiet.”

Kang Mo smirked as he recalled the bad blood between his father and Kim Chang Joo.

Kim Chang Joo was the biggest obstacle to the reorganization of the organization, which had been Chairman Kang’s long-cherished desire and his father’s long-standing wish. As the second-in-command of the organization, he hated the idea of serving Kang Mo’s father, Seok Hoon, who was only a year older, as his elder brother.

Having grown up experiencing all sorts of evil customs and corruption while being deeply involved in that world, Kim Chang Joo believed that with his fists, he could grasp money, power, and even honor in his hands, and that there could be nothing superior to fists in the world, making him an extremely wicked and greedy man.

On the outside, he appeared to be a straightforward and loyal subordinate, conforming to the organization’s system and showing his loyalty, but inside, a despicable and ugly desire was boiling.