After Yeon Se Eun and Ki Sun Woo, the newlywed couple causing a stir, finished their waltz and left, it felt as if a spring breeze had lingered in their place.

Amidst laughter blossoming here and there, the very person who had planned this event was fuming.

“…What on earth is this?”

There was no way Se Eun, who originally had a limp, could have danced a waltz.

Moreover, she had come wearing a short dress, so it was believed she would be even more careful with her body.

But everything had turned into a mess.

She had intended to imprint on everyone that Yeon Se Eun was the ‘flaw’ of the Ko San Group, but instead, she had made her the protagonist.

She had even invited people who had been greatly wronged by Ki Sun Woo on purpose, but they only came to pick a fight and then scurried away with their clothes all wet.

Some seemed to have left the party venue altogether, as they were nowhere to be seen.

To make matters worse, very unpleasant conversations reached her ears.

‘Doesn’t that Ki Sun Woo seem to be taking good care of his wife?’

‘Indeed. They look closer than I expected.’

‘I thought he was nothing but a troublemaker, but has marriage changed him? His expression has become more serious.’

‘Anyway, he’s become the son-in-law of Ko San. Doesn’t that mean the chairman, who’s like a white tiger, has acknowledged him?’

Feeling her irritation rising, Mo Na abruptly turned and headed for a corner.

She intended to drink some cold water to cool down this anger.

That’s when it happened. A cheerful laugh was heard from behind.

Then, an infinitely irritating voice was heard right next to her.

“Oh, our sister-in-law was here.”

“…!”

Mo Na’s hand, which was about to pick up a water glass, dropped.

Turning around, she saw Yeon Se Eun and Ki Sun Woo standing there, looking very affectionate.

Perhaps she had even been drinking, as Se Eun’s face was quite flushed.

Grinning, Sun Woo picked up a champagne glass from the table and handed it to Mo Na.

“Here, shall we have a toast too? We’re family now, after all.”

“Family? You just drink to your heart’s content.”

“I’m saying this out of gratitude. It’s my wife’s first official event debut today, you know. I was quite worried about how to make her stand out, but you set the stage for us. I didn’t know our sister-in-law was so considerate.”

Mo Na glared at Ki Sun Woo with fierce eyes.

He was truly a master at speaking in a way that irritated people.

“Not drinking? Then we’ll be going now. Thanks to you, the spark between us as a couple has been ignited.”

“M-Mr. Ki Sun Woo, really…”

Gritting her teeth, Mo Na bit down hard.

To think he was acting like the main character when he had married like a thief, only after other people’s wealth.

Even more pathetic was Yeon Se Eun, blushing with pink cheeks next to the arrogant Ki Sun Woo.

Suddenly, she felt as if she could see the image of her beautiful aunt overlapping with her.

Mo Na was suddenly seized by the urge to slap that peach-colored cheek.

“Well then, goodbye. Have a good time, sister-in-law.”

“…See you later, Mo Na.”

Ki Sun Woo protectively embraced Se Eun’s exposed shoulders and was about to turn away.

At the same time, Mo Na raised her hand that was about to pick up the water glass.

In that instant, someone roughly grabbed her wrist.

“…!”

“Shin Mo Na. Will you not come to your senses?”

“…Mom.”

The one pressing down hard on her wrist was Ko Do Hwa.

Only then did Mo Na realize that she had habitually almost raised her hand against Se Eun.

Stepping close and handing her cold water, Do Hwa whispered ominously.

Her voice too was suppressing irritation.

“Control your expression well. There are many eyes watching. If you make even a small mistake, everything could crumble.”

“…I understand.”

“Ki Sun Woo, that guy is no ordinary person. We need to be on high alert too.”

Instead of answering, Mo Na downed the cold water and nodded.

Though he seemed light and cheeky at a glance, his skill at slipping out of crises like a snake was no ordinary feat.

Resolving to keep a closer eye on him from now on, Mo Na handed a glass of water to her mother as well.

Her mother must be as displeased with this situation as she was.

Taking the glass, Do Hwa muttered quietly towards the backs of Ki Sun Woo and Yeon Se Eun who had just left.

“…They’re just defective goods anyway.”

*

Ko San had originally planned to just show his face briefly and leave.

But with things going more pleasantly than expected, he even indulged in some alcohol for the first time in a while.

Indeed, welcoming Ki Sun Woo as his granddaughter’s husband had been an excellent choice.

Though he was an impudent fellow who didn’t even fear the great Ko San himself, his ability to take action was certain.

Seeing Se Eun’s face today, it seemed she had clearly begun to harbor Ki Sun Woo in her heart.

Feeling a joyful premonition that the goal was not far off, Ko San let out a hearty laugh.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

Suddenly, a clear voice was heard from beside him.

When he looked up, Im Ryu Ryeong, the mistress of Ju Ha, was standing there, having arrived at some point.

Exuding an elegant figure at a glance, she politely greeted him.

“Happy birthday. It’s been a while, Chairman.”

“My, what brings such an esteemed person to this old man’s birthday party?”

“Of course I had to come. Ju Ha and Ko San are in-laws now, after all.”

With a gentle smile, Im Ryu Ryeong replied in a calm tone.

Soon, she naturally sat down next to Ko San and picked up a glass.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes. My husband and son are quite busy with work. They asked me to convey their congratulations instead. They even sent a special gift for you, Chairman.”

“What gift for an old man like me.”

“Oh my. What are you saying? They say greed knows no end even as one ages, you know.”

With an elegant laugh, she took a sip of her drink.

Ko San had already figured out that Im Ryu Ryeong’s purpose for visiting was not simply ‘congratulations’, so he decided to observe her small provocations for now.

Gently setting down her glass, she turned to Ko San with a hint of reproach.

“But you went too far, Chairman. How could you hold the wedding when I wasn’t there?”

“When does an auspicious day ever go according to human wishes?”

“You didn’t do it on purpose, did you?”

“Well, I think you should ask your second son about that, not me.”

As soon as Ki Sun Woo was mentioned, a tiny crack appeared in Im Ryu Ryeong’s elegant smile.

“As you know, our Sun Woo is such a troublemaker. He doesn’t care about my wishes at all.”

“Don’t worry about what a grown child does. Besides, he’s not even your real son, is he?”

Flinch. Seeing her fingernails tremble as she held her glass, Ko San smiled with satisfaction.

He had long since seen through that despite her beautiful appearance, she was a woman full of ambition inside.

After becoming the second mistress of Ju Ha, she had manipulated Ki Ju Hwan and firmly established her position within the group.

Not only was she involved in various businesses along with running her gallery, but she had already placed her son Ki In Hyeok, whose existence no one even knew about, in a president’s position.

Noticing the guests’ gazes turning this way, Im Ryu Ryeong naturally picked up her handbag.

Slowly rising from her seat, she looked down at Ko San with meaningful eyes.

Ko San greatly disliked being looked down upon by anyone.

And Im Ryu Ryeong, well aware of this fact, was deliberately placing him below her gaze right now.

“…What is it?”

As Ko San spoke with a tone mixed with displeasure, Im Ryu Ryeong once again flashed a picture-perfect smile.

Finally, the true purpose of this visit flowed from her lips.

“What are your intentions, Chairman?”

“What do you mean by that out of the blue?”

“I was wondering why you arranged this marriage. You’re not particularly on good terms with the Ju Ha Group, and you especially don’t associate with guys like our second son.”

Amused by her blatant question, Ko San decided to gift her with a somewhat appropriate answer.

“Well, let’s just say this old man wanted to see the antics of a bold young lad.”

*

Ko San’s 82nd birthday party ended successfully.

And he stirred up the world with a very unexpected announcement, rather than the inheritance or succession everyone had been expecting.

‘My daughter Yeon Hwa was preparing to recreate a jewelry brand under Ko San, and I intend to carry on that work.’

It was his desire to continue the unfinished work of his beloved departed daughter while he was still alive.

At this announcement, Ko Do Hwa and Shin Mo Na’s faces lit up.

They had recently expressed their wish to launch a brand, and for such an announcement to come at this time – wasn’t it to fulfill their desire?

But their expectations were completely off the mark.

Ko San made the shocking declaration that he would choose the owner of the brand from between his two granddaughters.

Two granddaughters.

That referred to Se Eun, Ko Yeon Hwa’s daughter, and Mo Na, Ko Do Hwa’s daughter.

Additionally, he mentioned an inside story that had never been revealed before – that Ko Yeon Hwa had intended to design Ko San Group’s signature line.

Expressing regret that she had passed away without achieving that great work, he challenged them to create jewelry worthy of ‘Ko San’.

The owner of the brand would be determined through those results – a truly Ko San-like idea.

Faced with this unexpected bombshell, Shin Mo Na was furious.

“Really, Grandfather, this is too much! A competition? Me? With Yeon Se Eun?”

“Calm down, Mo Na. You know it’s not even a game, right? She’s never learned about or made jewelry before. It’s bound to be a disaster.”

Ko Do Hwa tried to calm her daughter while suppressing her own anger.

But in truth, she was even more furious inside.

She had lived her entire life overshadowed by her sister.

The sense of defeat, that she was not better than her sister in anything, had been a darkness looming over her life.

But now she could not let her daughter taste defeat as well.

Absolutely not. Even if it cost her her life, she could not allow that.

“If things don’t work out, Mom will help you no matter what. You just need to create what Grandfather wants.”

“Mom…”

Seeing Mo Na’s wavering eyes, Do Hwa renewed her resolve.

She had no need for the glory of a dead person.

She would make her daughter sweep it all away with her own hands.