In the car on the way back. No one opened their mouths. Se Hyun, who lived near Chairman Oh Kyu Baek’s house, said he would walk, so there were only three people in the car.

Although they had received apologies from Oh Myeong Se and his parents, the mood could not help but be gloomy. They apologized because of pressure from Chairman Oh Kyu Baek. Even if the apology had been voluntary, the feeling would have been the same as it was now.

It was natural to feel terrible after being treated like a beggar who came to mooch off relatives. Chairman Oh could only cover for them so many times, and it was uncertain how long that would last.

It was Gyeo Ul who broke the heavy silence that had persisted for a while.

“Elder sister, can’t we live without seeing our maternal relatives? In a few months, I can start part-time work too. When I earn money… It would still be hard, but I don’t think it would be as miserable as today.”

“I’m sorry. For making you go through this. If you really can’t stand it, let’s live on our own. I don’t want to seek out our maternal family if it means being treated like beggars.”

Ki Dae Un was startled to hear their conversation. What are these kids saying now? Do they know how much I invested to get them into their maternal family? At this rate, I might end up crying every time I see the painting I just donated to Shinhwa Art Museum.

“Don’t make hasty decisions and let’s wait and see a little longer. Everything is hard at first. We should give them time to adjust too. From their perspective, you might look like people who’ve come to take what’s theirs, don’t you think?”

“I guess that’s how people with money see even their own flesh and blood.”

Ga Eul spoke sarcastically, still seeing Dae Un as a freeloader. However, Gyeo Ul, who regarded Dae Un as a great businessman, nodded at his words.

“It’s true that I suggested entering the maternal family for money. I thought there was no need to purposely ignore an obvious easy path. It’s not like I’m living such a noble life. But that wasn’t the only reason for entering the maternal family.”

“I know. You want to take revenge. You want to show the people who drove Mom out that her choice was right. We grew up well like this. Much better than their money-raised children. You want to show them what Mom would have wanted to show, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Until just now, that was my goal. To show the people who don’t acknowledge us that we are much better people than them. But after experiencing our maternal relatives today, my goal has changed.”

Ga Eul paused and hesitated for a moment. Then, as if resolved, she spoke with shining eyes.

“My goal is to torment people like Oh Myeong Se. People who look down on and bully those without money. People who act all high and mighty when they’re nothing. I’m going to torment them properly. Starting with our maternal relatives if they act that way.”

“Elder sister!”

Gyeo Ul cried out in surprise.

“That can’t be a goal. How can hurting others be a life goal? You shouldn’t do that. That will only make you unhappy.”

Ga Eul snickered at Gyeo Ul’s exemplary response.

“No, that can be a goal too. You saw it, right? How Oh Myeong Se, who was so arrogant towards us, prostrated himself flat with just one shout from Chairman Oh. The only thing that works with such people is power. They can’t hear the words of the weak. No matter how right those words are.”

“But still…”

“So I’m going to prevent them from getting what they want most. That’s how I’ll torment them. What those people want most right now is the position of group successor. I’m going to take that. So they can’t have it.”

Ga Eul wanted to hear Gyeo Ul and Dae Un’s reactions to the incredible thing she just said, but they didn’t say anything.

“So Gyeo Ul, I need you to help me.”

So Ga Eul continued speaking alone.

“Help you? Me? How?”

“You live righteously. Stay as upright as you are now. And if you think I’m going astray, rein me in. If you think I’m becoming like those people, stop me.”

“Alright, elder sister. Don’t worry. If you start to seem like you’re not my elder sister anymore, I’ll throw my whole body to stop you.”

Gyeo Ul smiled for the first time since leaving Chairman Oh’s house.

“But elder sister, it seems like there are many people around you who can hold you back besides me. CEO Ki Dae Un, lawyer Jung Se Hyun, grandmother too.”

“Not the CEO. What has he done? Even today…”

Words that should have stayed in her heart suddenly spilled out. It was too late to take them back. Still, Ga Eul shouted in her heart.

Not the CEO. Not him. When I begged him so desperately to hold me back, to tell me that entering the maternal family was the wrong choice, he cut me off sharply. Your elder sister was cast aside like a sliced radish.

“What is this unfair and ungrateful criticism? To say I did nothing.”

Ki Dae Un was incredulous.

“Thanks to my quick thinking, the scene of Oh Myeong Se bullying you and Gyeo Ul was vividly relayed to your maternal relatives.”

Ga Eul made a ‘pft’ sound, as if for the CEO to hear.

“This girl, really.”

However, Dae Un did not insist on highlighting his own achievements. Now was not the time for that. The priority was to change Ga Eul and Gyeo Ul’s minds about cutting ties with their maternal family.

“And were you really the victims? To be honest, who won’t be able to sleep tonight? You? Or your maternal relatives? Isn’t it enough that you got hit once and then hit back that much? Did you see Oh Myeong Se’s face when he apologized? Just thinking of that face makes me feel so triumphant, I feel full without even eating.”

“Why you, CEO? What reason do you have to feel triumphant? We were the ones who suffered, and it was lawyer Jung who saved us. Hmph, I thought you had left first because you were so unremarkable. Gyeo Ul, wasn’t lawyer Jung really cool today… Ahhh!”

Ga Eul suddenly screamed. A car passed by her passenger seat with a loud noise. That car suddenly cut in front of Dae Un’s car.

“What the hell, we almost had an accident.”

Dae Un, who had slowed down to avoid an accident, cursed. That car changed lanes and then cut in front of Dae Un’s car again, obstructing their path. This happened several times.

When that car stopped at a red light, Dae Un changed lanes and pulled up to its right side.

Then the passenger window of that car rolled down. Dae Un also lowered his driver’s side window. Inside, they could see Oh Myeong Se grinning maliciously while gripping the steering wheel.

Oh Myeong Se threw something towards Dae Un’s car. Dae Un quickly raised his arm to block the window. The flying object hit Dae Un’s arm and fell outside.

“It’s a shoe.”

Dae Un kindly informed what had been thrown. He must have seen what flew by despite the darkness.

Then Oh Myeong Se began spewing curses.

“You beggar bastards, don’t you know your place? Hey, crazy X, did you act up believing in that bastard who was kicked out of a chaebol family? How long has it been since that bastard was kicked out of his home, and he’s still going around acting like a chaebol? Pathetic bastard.”

While Oh Myeong Se was in the middle of cursing, Dae Un quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.

“If you came to mooch off someone else’s house, you should quietly pick up the crumbs falling from the master’s table like a dog, where do you think you’re acting up trying to be treated like people? Ah, what the hell, you son of a bitch!”

By the time Oh Myeong Se’s scream-laced curse was heard, Dae Un had already gotten back in the car and was raising the driver’s window.

So in that time, Dae Un had unbuckled his seatbelt, gotten out of the car, picked up Oh Myeong Se’s shoe that had fallen on the road, and then thrown it back into his car.

The motion was as smooth as flowing water. And accurate too. The shoe hit Oh Myeong Se’s body precisely.

“Here’s your shoe, you bastard.”

Dae Un shouted just before the driver’s window closed completely. Pronouncing ‘shoe’ like ‘ssin-bal’, Dae Un laughed heartily as he started the car.

“Heh heh, hahaha. Follow me if you can, you bastard.”

Dae Un’s car was known for its high output and torque, so he knew Oh Myeong Se couldn’t follow.

“Are you okay?”

After shaking off Oh Myeong Se, Dae Un looked at Ga Eul and Gyeo Ul seriously.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I’m alright.”

Gyeo Ul’s face was full of admiration for Dae Un as he answered.

Alright, I admit it. This time, even in Ga Eul’s eyes, Dae Un looked a bit cool.

The way he quickly threw the shoe back through the car window and hit Oh Myeong Se, or how he avoided an accident despite Oh Myeong Se’s threatening obstruction, and ultimately outmaneuvered Oh Myeong Se’s car with his driving skills. It might be for childish reasons, but what can you do if it looks cool?

“But why did Oh Myeong Se throw his shoe?”

“Well… I…”

With a look that said, “Right? It was your doing, wasn’t it?”, Dae Un looked at Ga Eul.

“I threw the gum I was chewing into Oh Myeong Se’s shoe. When Gyeo Ul was taking me into the house, I saw the shoes Oh Myeong Se had taken off as he went in first.”

Hahaha! Dae Un laughed loudly again. If he hadn’t been driving, he would have clapped too.

Just then, a text message arrived on Ga Eul’s phone.

It was from Oh Myeong Se.

“It looks like Oh Myeong Se is planning something.”

“Now I see your vindictiveness is inherited. Oh Myeong Se’s grudge is no joke either. You, don’t come to the office while I’m in India. Don’t go out late at night.”

“We can’t keep avoiding forever, can we? Seeing how he acted towards Gyeo Ul earlier, and his driving just now, he seems like he’s not in his right mind. Wouldn’t it be better to teach him a sharp lesson? I don’t think we should deal with him moderately.”

“That’s true, but…”

Dae Un trailed off. He knew Ga Eul was right, but couldn’t readily agree. The risk that Ga Eul and Gyeo Ul would have to bear was too great.

Then Gyeo Ul’s sigh was heard.

“It’s frustrating. If I had just a little bit of power… I can’t even stop such a worthless guy from treating us recklessly…”

“You’re still a minor. You’re still in a position to be protected. You can gain power in the future, so don’t think too hastily.”

Dae Un comforted Gyeo Ul. Gyeo Ul looked at Dae Un with admiration. Ga Eul thought Gyeo Ul was accepting it because it was Dae Un who said it. If she had said the same thing, he would have told her not to treat him like a child.

Jealous of the mature and powerful Dae Un, Ga Eul spoke up to do her part:

“We need to think of a proper way to deal with Oh Myeong Se. If we leave him like this, he’ll keep harassing us to the end.”

“I’ll come up with a plan, so wait until then. Don’t act impulsively.”

Her effort was commendable, but far from doing her part, it only highlighted Dae Un’s maturity.

“But how did Oh Myeong Se get my phone number?”

Ga Eul casually threw out, giving up on competing with Dae Un.

“Se Hyun probably told him.”

Dae Un openly slandered Se Hyun. Then, bothered by Ga Eul’s admiring gaze as she recalled Se Hyun’s brilliant performance today, he inwardly made excuses that it wasn’t like that. It was a truly immature Dae Un.