Chapter 123: The Kingdom Burns

My eyes widened as I clicked the news link Kim Minseok sent.

A huge headline appeared.

[Haewon Group Vice Chairman Choi Younggil Named Suspect in Noh Jaesik Murder]

“……?!”

Quickly playing the news video, the dry, clear announcer’s voice filled the room.

<Haewon Group’s Vice Chairman Choi Younggil appeared at the prosecution at 4 AM today on murder charges for the deceased Noh Jaesik. Noh Jaesik kidnapped Vice Chairman Choi Younggil’s eldest son Choi Seunghyun in July demanding 10 billion won ransom, escaped during prison transfer, and was found dead two days later. Meanwhile, the self-surrendered Mr. Kim claims he acted on Vice Chairman Choi Younggil’s orders….>

My mouth hung open.

Sleep not only gone, felt like plunged into winter Han River and dragged out.

I immediately opened the laptop and searched Haewon.

As expected, every portal was plastered with Father’s name.

<Prosecution focusing on revenge murder, but Vice Chairman Choi Younggil fully denies charges. Meanwhile, the same person is in divorce proceedings with Seonjeong Foundation Chairwoman Shin Miseon….>

I stared blankly at the laptop screen.

He hired someone….

Of course I thought he didn’t kill directly, but knowing the method gave chills.

Heart pounded.

But my head cooled.

If not handled properly now, the tipster could be in danger.

I jumped up, paced a few times, sent Mother the link I received.

Then texted right away.

[Did Mom do this?]

About 10 minutes later, reply from Mother.

[No.]

Sitting on the bed holding the phone, I jumped up the moment the reply came.

[Can we talk?]

As soon as I sent that, Mother called video right away.

I wanted to avoid video….

As feared, Mother looked pitiful seeing my face.

<Are you eating well? Your face is half gone.>

I brushed my hair back and said.

“…Stayed up late gaming. Anyway, really not Mom?”

<Not me.>

I was confused.

If not Mother, good but….

“Who else knows Father killed Noh Jaesik besides Mom….”

Saying that, chills suddenly.

“No way Noona?”

Then Mother silent for a moment and said.

<Seunghyun-ah, don’t keep worrying about these things from there. We’ll handle it here.>

‘We’ meant Seunghee apparently.

I was horrified.

“Noona… why suddenly. Is she okay? Doesn’t she need protection? Father won’t stay quiet?”

<Of course tipped through other routes. Your father doesn’t know who yet.>

I sighed in slight relief.

But Mother’s face still dark.

<Your father… threatened if I don’t divorce, he won’t inherit anything to Seunghee.>

My eyes widened at the unthinkable.

Then curse flew without filter.

“Crazy bastard lost it.”

I was surprised I said it, but Mother seemed unfazed by my curse.

Well, the most horrible person here is Mother.

But knew Choi Younggil was trash, didn’t expect this dirty.

Seunghee is his daughter.

This was just lashing at Mother.

After learning I’m not his son, seems he dropped even minimal pretense.

Suddenly thought, maybe he silenced people by killing before.

Just the way he killed the threatening doctor who was his secretary….

Who did he learn that from?

While I sat stiff-faced, Mother added briefly.

<So Seunghee decided to strike first.>

“…Noona alone? Too dangerous? Cousins are noisy now.”

From what I heard, Grandfather’s will changed three times already.

Seunghee seemed cornered.

I said anxiously.

“I’ll do anything to help. I still have the stocks.”

Then Mother silent a moment and said.

<…That kid is helping behind too.>

Didn’t get who ‘that kid’ was at once.

I made a puzzled face, Mother said.

<Choi Doyoon.>

“……!”

I froze like a paused screen.

Didn’t expect to hear Doyoon twice today.

Chest burned again in an instant, but clenched teeth and replied.

“…Good.”

But Mother looked at me for a while, then asked hesitantly first.

<You okay?>

“I’m….”

Was going to say totally fine, but strangely the words wouldn’t come out.

Mother saw me trailing and said.

<Didn’t think that kid would help Seunghee. Even when your father said he’d give Seunghee’s inheritance to him, he didn’t care at all.>

“…….”

Mother’s voice trembled slightly.

She said.

<…Mom didn’t know a lot until now. Sorry.>

Momentarily tears nearly burst foolishly.

Luckily Mother continued.

<Tell if you need anything, don’t worry too much.>

“Yes….”

Brief silence.

<Contact again, eat well, don’t get sick.>

“Yes.”

Call ended.

Nothing to worry about, yet heart felt hollow and strange.

I lay on the bed and cried a bit.

Foolishly missed Doyoon so much.

Surprisingly, <Vice Chairman Choi Younggil Murder Case> mentions decreased in news after first day.

Thanks to a big celebrity dating scandal.

Someone clearly pulling strings behind.

Plus, not sure if comment bots, but nonsense defense started: ‘If Choi Younggil is murderer, how cool for a father avenging his child.’

Most netizens dismissed as bull, but gradually stock communities agreed.

I briefly wondered if Kim Minseok thought so, shook head.

Riding the momentum, suddenly my few childhood photos with Father released, image making started on how much Vice Chairman Choi Younggil loved his children.

Haewon PR team working hard.

At this rate, even if Choi Younggil admitted killing Noh Jaesik, whole nation might go ‘It’s okay, understandable.’

And if fact I’m not Choi Younggil’s biological child released now?

Would justify his bold affair, reborn as unparalleled affectionate father cherishing wife’s betrayal child.

And seemed aiming for that image.

But then something braked the atmosphere.

Someone who worked at our house posted: Vice Chairman Choi Younggil had no interest in children, rather abused and neglected them, violent to wife.

Deleted hours later, but captures spread everywhere.

No article, but enough to douse cold water on Choi Younggil’s image making.

Haewon strong stance to sue poster for defamation and false information.

But then, more surprising.

Doyoon suddenly released statement through Korea Daily, mocking the report.

He entered Haewon family at sixteen, before that Vice Chairman Choi Younggil never paid child support to his biological mother, lived on basic livelihood until middle school, after adoption current Chairwoman Shin Miseon raised him with love.

Even publicly disclosed his childhood basic livelihood records as proof.

Qualitatively different from Choi Younggil’s emotional ‘loves children’ play.

Anyone could see asserting that internet post was true.

This made Choi Younggil’s ‘paternal love’ image mocked online.

And as if waiting, his power abuse incidents exploded like fireworks.

Choi Younggil’s driver and secretary testified to assaults and verbal abuse by Haewon vice chairman, tipped recordings to media.

Public opinion worsened uncontrollably fast.

Netizens who were neutral on chaebol affair and murder switched instantly with abuse revelations.

Most enthusiastically bashing Vice Chairman Choi Younggil was Korea Daily.

I realized they switched to Mother’s side.

Soon, Choi Younggil held press conference taking all responsibility, resigning vice chairman position to reflect.

All this in less than a month.

Incredible speed.

Surprising not end.

Few days later, Choi Younggil unable to contain anger, suffered stroke, hospitalized.

“Faking to avoid police investigation?”

<No. Threw things alone screaming for days, suddenly quiet, checked and collapsed. Might die.>

Seunghee’s voice relaying news was not just calm, but cold.