Seung Ae swallowed hard as she faced Hyun Young, whom she was meeting after 5 years.

The feeling was even more intimidating than 5 years ago.

She nervously shook one leg due to tension.

Meanwhile, Hyun Young thought that since Seung Ae had come after 5 years, she must not have found Seo Ha until now.

And judging by her reappearance at this time when Tae Kyung had met Seo Ha, Hyun Young guessed that Seung Ae’s appearance was related to Tae Kyung.

Hyun Young stared blankly at Seung Ae with an indifferent face.

Seung Ae felt chills as if Hyun Young’s gaze was piercing right through her.

However, she couldn’t back down here. She had to somehow use this opportunity to obtain money.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ho ho. Indeed. Have you been well? In-law?”

At Seung Ae’s words, Hyun Young’s hand paused briefly as she was lifting her teacup, then moved again.

“Where do you see an in-law here?”

“Ho ho, why such cold words? Our young master Han has grown so much.”

“Young master Han?”

Hyun Young didn’t even flinch.

Seung Ae sensed that Hyun Young already knew her dark intentions. But she thought she should act more brazenly in this situation.

‘What are you going to do? You can’t do anything about a child that’s already born.’

Thinking of the child, confidence welled up in Seung Ae’s chest.

“Our grandchild looks so handsome, just like young master Han. The madam must want to see him too.”

“……”

Seeing Hyun Young silent, Seung Ae grew anxious again.

She mustn’t lower the settlement amount out of impatience like last time.

Seung Ae clutched the hem of her faux fur coat tightly.

“You know how expensive it is to raise a child these days, right? Our grandchild has HY Group blood, how can he attend a regular kindergarten? What’s it called, English kindergarten? He should attend places like that.”

“Hmm……”

When Hyun Young showed no reaction, Seung Ae started nibbling on her lower lip.

“Ah, won’t you invest in your only grandchild? I heard young master Han’s elder brother still has no children, it’s hard to have children after being married for over 5 years. You know that.”

“……”

Hyun Young just silently listened to Seung Ae’s words. Seung Ae’s insides started burning up.

As her frustration grew from things not going her way, Seung Ae’s brow began to furrow.

“And now there are rumors that young master Han is engaged to Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook’s daughter, what nonsense is this when we have our Seo Ha? I’m truly upset.”

“……”

“I was thinking of going to Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook for my daughter and grandchild’s sake, but I came to you first, Chairman. I didn’t want to put you and young master Han in a difficult position. I heard Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook is running for president, you’re not going to abandon our Seo Ha, are you?”

“So, what’s your conclusion?”

When Hyun Young finally opened her mouth, color instantly returned to Seung Ae’s face.

‘That’s more like it. No matter how much I try to act aloof.’

Seung Ae let out a detestable laugh and made her demand.

“Ho ho, I’ve already said it, but you don’t seem to understand. I’m asking you to invest in our grandchild’s upbringing. I hear it costs hundreds of millions to raise a child these days, you’re not trying to settle with just 100 million like last time, are you?”

“Education expenses?”

“You should provide child support at least until the child becomes an adult. He’s 5 now, so until he’s 20, you should give about 3 billion won, 200 million per year. I’m being very considerate here. If we calculate the inflation rate, this is just the bare minimum, you know.”

Hyun Young was silent again. Seung Ae sipped her tea with a slurping sound. Seung Ae started rambling on her own again.

“Oh my, 5 years ago, I hadn’t raised a child, so I thought it wouldn’t cost much for the child’s future. But after raising one, I found out it’s not just that. Ho ho ho. Oh my, Chairman, you don’t know because you haven’t raised a grandchild?”

Seung Ae laughed, waving her hands.

Hyun Young put down her teacup and looked straight at Seung Ae.

“Hup, hiccup!”

Seung Ae hiccupped, overwhelmed by Hyun Young’s ominous aura.

Hyun Young slowly closed and opened her eyes before speaking.

“Well, well, this is quite a spectacle. Ramble on as you please. Go get child support from Tae Kyung, not me. Now leave.”

Unlike last time, Hyun Young didn’t even stand up. After a moment, there was a knock, and security guards, not the secretary, opened the door to the chairman’s office and entered.

When two security guards in black suits flanked Seung Ae on both sides and glared fiercely, Seung Ae was flustered.

“Ah, no! Who do you think you’re doing this to? Oh, come on, Chairman Park, you’re making a mistake now. I won’t let this slide.”

The security guards grabbed Seung Ae’s arms as she was shouting and dragged her out.

Hyun Young glared fiercely at the spot where Seung Ae had been.

Soon she closed her eyes, rubbing her temples.

She called Tae Kyung. After the phone rang a few times, Tae Kyung answered, and just as he was about to speak, Hyun Young spoke first.

− What……

“Come here right now. I won’t say it twice. If you think of Seo Ha, you’d better come.”

Hyun Young deliberately brought up Seo Ha. Tae Kyung hesitated silently for a moment, then said he understood and hung up.

Feeling tightness in her chest, Hyun Young asked her secretary to bring ice water and gulped it down.

Less than an hour after hanging up, Tae Kyung entered the chairman’s office.

“What’s the matter? Why are you bringing up Seo Ha?”

As soon as Tae Kyung entered the chairman’s office, he stood before Hyun Young with a skewed attitude.

Hyun Young remained seated on the sofa without moving, even as Tae Kyung approached her side.

“Are you meeting Seo Ha again?”

“What does that have to do with you, Chairman?”

“Break it off with Seo Ha immediately. What about Yoo Na!”

Tae Kyung stood even more crookedly and folded his arms.

“I have no relationship with Jin Yoo Na. You know that. I told you last time. I will protect Seo Ha.”

“What power do you have to protect Seo Ha! Don’t hurt Seo Ha and leave her alone to live well!”

“Why can’t I protect Seo Ha? Are you telling me to marry Jin Yoo Na instead?”

“What’s so difficult about it? If you really care about Seo Ha, forget her and marry Yoo Na!”

Hyun Young knew her son’s stubbornness, but this time she couldn’t yield.

She thought it was right to cut ties with Tae Kyung, not just for her son, but for Seo Ha’s sake as well. It was obvious how much Seo Ha’s mother would cling to Seo Ha and Tae Kyung like a parasite. She must not give that person any chance. If Seo Ha and that child stay with Tae Kyung, they will be harassed by that person trying to extort money from Tae Kyung.

Hyun Young had lived feeling deeply that sometimes you have to cut off your own flesh, even if it’s painful and tears come.

For Hyun Young, now was the time to cut off flesh even if it hurt. Tae Kyung didn’t seem to know yet that the child was his.

Hyun Young decided she had to separate them before Tae Kyung found out about the child.

“What sin does the child have to be involved in this, let alone Seo Ha? Are you only thinking about your own feelings and not about Seo Ha and the child?”

“How do you know Seo Ha has a child? You must have investigated behind my back. Haa!”

Hyun Young steeled her heart. It would be a lie if Hyun Young said this was easy and didn’t bother her.

She knew better than anyone how hard it is for a woman to raise a child alone.

That’s how she raised her two children.

Through her ex-husband, who was as good as non-existent, who constantly asked her for money and came to her until he died, she knew well what people like Seung Ae were like.

Hyun Young hoped that neither Tae Kyung nor Seo Ha would live being extorted their whole lives like her.

“You can’t handle Seo Ha’s mother or Assemblyman Jin. Stop it!”

“Chairman!”

Hyun Young was determined not to back down an inch today.

‘Moreover, if Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook knows about Seo Ha’s existence as he’s running for president, we don’t know how he’ll react. It could be dangerous not just for Tae Kyung but for Seo Ha too. That’s why it’s even more impossible.’

The Assemblyman Jin Chul Wook that Hyun Young knew was rumored to be a person who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, unlike his gentle appearance. It didn’t matter whether the methods were legal or illegal.

So Hyun Young gritted her teeth even harder and pushed Tae Kyung.

“If you truly care for Seo Ha, listen to your mother! Announce your engagement to Yoo Na right now!”

“No! I won’t marry Yoo Na. If I get married, it will only be to Kim Seo Ha.”

Hyun Young’s head throbbed at Tae Kyung’s firmness.

As Tae Kyung left the chairman’s office, leaving Hyun Young behind, she took out a headache pill and tossed it into her mouth.

It seemed difficult for her to persuade Tae Kyung.

If so, there was no choice but to meet Seo Ha directly.

Hyun Young made a phone call on her mobile phone.

Ring ring ring.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well? Seo Ha, I need to see you…… Yes. See you later.”

She finished the call with a sigh.

The dry early winter air stings Hyun Young’s chest as it passes by.

When Hyun Young arrived in Yangpyeong, Yoon Hee greeted her with her consistently warm smile.

“You’ve come all this way. It may look shabby to the Chairman’s eyes, but please have a cup of tea. The green tea I bought recently is really delicious.”

“It’s not shabby at all, it’s cozy and nice. I know your tea-brewing skills are excellent.”

Yoon Hee and Hyun Young slowly walked to the director’s office. Just then, the 5-year-old Leaf Class children were lining up to move classrooms.

“Director, hello?”

“Yes, hello.”

The children chirped greetings like baby birds.

Yoon Hee warmly received their greetings like a grandmother.

Hyun Young’s gaze fixed on Min Joon among the group of children.

Min Joon was the spitting image of Tae Kyung when he was young. It was as if young Tae Kyung was standing there.

“Is that, the child?”

“He looks a lot like Tae Kyung, doesn’t he?”

“He does.”

Hyun Young’s voice sank low.

‘If he’s going to resemble him, why resemble growing up without a father too?’

Hyun Young’s heart ached.

She felt self-loathing for what she was doing to that young child, but she decided to steel her heart.

“Is Kim doing well? Your son isn’t doing well. You know?”

“He’s not one to listen to me. Children are only in your arms when they’re young. Now he thinks he knows everything.”

“Haha. To hear you say such things, time is indeed frightening. If your aunt heard this, she’d jump right out of her grave.”

“Oh, you!”

Hyun Young whined like a young girl. Yoon Hee just chuckled as she opened the door to the director’s office.

The two brought the green tea that Yoon Hee had carefully brewed to their lips.

Hyun Young was the first to speak.

“Thank you for looking after Seo Ha.”

“I should be thanking you. Kim is better than my disobedient daughter. She’s sociable and works well. If I had a son, I’d want her as a daughter-in-law. Min Joon is cute too.”

“His name is, Min Joon?”

“Yes. Kim Min Joon.”

Hyun Young rolled the name Min Joon around in her mouth.

“It should have been Han Min Joon, not Kim Min Joon.”