Chapter 128: “Aren’t you being too modest? You’re more than that, my dear nephew. Why do you lack so much confidence?”

“Aren’t you being too modest? You’re more than that, my dear nephew. Why do you lack so much confidence?”

My aunt exuded warmth as she patted my back.

“You’re still young. Don’t set your limits so early. Anyway, let’s put that aside for now. More importantly, about those divorce papers… how should we handle them?”

“Regarding Grandpa…”

“I know, right? Hand over the divorce papers and make sure to get what’s coming to me?”

“Yes. And ask for one more thing.”

“One more thing? What is it?”

“Soonyang Distribution. Aren’t they preparing to launch a hypermarket?”

“Hyper? Oh, you mean a large discount store.”

“Yes. A significant amount of capital has been invested there. Besides, Soonyang Distribution is a private company, so make that the parent company. Transfer the department store and hotel shares there as well. Then, Aunt, you’ll have your hands on all the cash-generating businesses within the group. It’ll be practically the group’s bank.”

“Do you think they’ll give me all that?”

The thought of acquiring the subsidiary with the most active cash flow sent my aunt into a frenzy of excitement.

“Aren’t department stores and large discount stores essentially the same structure? Only the grade of products handled is different. Aunt, you’ve already proven your excellent management skills with the department store, and considering this divorce, you deserve at least that much. Completely separate the subsidiary by making Soonyang Distribution the parent company. That way, you’ll have a solid foundation.”

My aunt swallowed hard, her mouth watering.

“If we make distribution the parent company, I only need to hold the distribution shares, and the rest can be transferred with company funds, making it a clean break, right?”

“Yes. Since it’s just moving things from one pocket to another, you can separate the subsidiary without spending any money. A win-win situation.”

My aunt pulled me into a tight hug.

“Even the great strategists like Zhuge Liang and Zhang Liang wouldn’t be a match for our nephew.”

Feeling a bit awkward, I gently detached myself from my aunt.

“Aunt, go meet with Grandpa first. I’ll have Representative Oh… no, I mean your husband, meet with Uncle. I’ll scare him a bit first, and then you can deliver the final blow.”

“Scare him? How?”

“Make him realize he’s nothing without you as his wife. Representative Oh has a real knack for getting under people’s skin.”

* * *

“Mayor Choi, word on the street is you’re holding a royal flush, ready to rake in profits.”

“What? Who’s saying that?”

“Rumor has it you’ve been having frequent private meetings with Chairman Joo of Daehyun. What are you planning?”

His attitude had already shifted. Mayor Choi was beginning to understand the nature of power. He had experienced the balance of power, where money lined up hundreds of times over for a sliver of authority.

He thought his father-in-law’s money moved power, but the reality was the opposite. His father-in-law, Chairman Jin, was merely placing thousands, even tens of thousands, of times more money on the scales.

Oh Se-hyun felt a surge of anger at Mayor Choi’s condescending gaze.

“I only met with Chairman Joo regarding the New Town development starting next year. Oh, and Representative Oh, you won’t be involved this time. We’ve already settled our accounts with DMC, haven’t we?”

“If you award the New Town contract to Daehyun Construction through a private deal, there will be a lot of talk. But don’t get me wrong, HW isn’t interested in apartments.”

“HW? Ah, Dae-ah Construction changed its name. Are you the CEO of HW Group now?”

“Chairman Song Hyun-chang of Ajin holds that title. I’m just the head of the holding company.”

“I know the family tree now, so get to the point. I thought you were here to ask for a piece of the New Town pie…”

Oh Se-hyun sighed and began to speak.

“When I told you to shed the Soonyang Group label, I meant to erase the image of being a chaebol family member. Not to switch from Soonyang to Daehyun Group.”

“If you’re just going to offer unsolicited advice, let’s end this here. I can handle my own affairs.”

He didn’t bother to hide his displeasure. He believed himself to be immensely powerful. Not hiding, not enduring, not concealing – that was the privilege of the powerful.

“If you still don’t understand, then there’s no hope for you. Listen, Mayor Choi. You’re just a toy for Chairman Joo. A plaything to be used for a while and discarded when he gets bored.”

“What? How dare you say such things!”

His hand gripping the sofa armrest trembled, but Oh Se-hyun didn’t stop.

“He’s just having fun, filling you with hot air and shaking you around. All to piss off your father-in-law, Chairman Jin. That’s all it is. Just a game for bored old men with too much and not enough excitement in their lives.”

“Shut your mouth!”

“If Chairman Jin abandons you, the head of Daehyun will also lose interest and discard you. Do you think Chairman Joo even cares about redeveloping those apartments?”

Mayor Choi’s expression turned cold. He was no longer agitated.

“Abandon me? Who’s abandoning whom? Does Chairman Jin have a habit of abandoning people twice? You don’t know anything, so don’t go around spouting nonsense.”

“What do you mean?”

“Chairman Jin already abandoned me. The moment I ran for Seoul mayor. We’re only connected by the legal tie of father-in-law and son-in-law. That old man and I are already strangers.”

Oh Se-hyun now fully understood why Mayor Choi was going down such a twisted path. With this mindset, there was no turning back, not until he faced an even greater shock.

“Removing someone from your heart is one thing… but you just mentioned it, didn’t you? The legal tie remains. Severing that tie would be abandoning you a second time. Once that breaks, you’re truly finished. Don’t you know the Soonyang loyalists are holding back because of that connection?”

Mayor Choi’s complexion changed. Could such a thing be possible?

“The moment that tie is severed, people from Yeouido to Seocho-dong will come swarming to hunt you down. Instead of businessmen bringing bags of money to this room, only arrows will fly.”

Oh Se-hyun rose from his chair. He had delivered a sufficient warning.

“I came here because I’m worried that your downfall might splash back on me. There’s no way to stop someone determined to die. When you go down, go quietly. If any fallout hits me, I won’t stand idly by.”

Leaving a dazed Mayor Choi behind, Oh Se-hyun left City Hall.

A slight feeling of regret lingered. He could have squeezed a bit more out of him during his remaining term.

* * *

“What is this?”

Chairman Jin opened the file Jin Seo-yoon handed him.

“Divorce papers. Consensual divorce.”

“You brought this quickly. What took you so long to deal with that pathetic excuse of a man?”

“Father! I have three sons. Shouldn’t I consider the children?”

“What’s there to worry about with grown children? And do they even care what their parents do? All those Choi family brats care about is taking their mother’s department store luxury goods to impress those girls.”

“Father!”

Jin Seo-yoon shouted, causing Chairman Jin to chuckle as he began to examine the documents carefully.

“But why is there no date? Get his seal on this and process it immediately, even tomorrow.”

“I’ll process it on the last day of my term as mayor. Just imagine the scandal if it’s known that a sitting mayor is getting divorced. The newspapers and broadcasts will go wild, bringing shame on the family. And the children too.”

Chairman Jin tossed the divorce papers aside and began to glare at his daughter.

“Don’t even think about trying to pull a fast one. That man’s fortunate enough to be a National Assemblyman in the electronics factory district. I can’t stand the thought of him sharing anything I give you.”

Hearing the sincerity in her father’s words, Jin Seo-yoon’s courage surged.

“I have no intention of trying to get away with anything. I’m sick of it too. I dragged that idiot this far, but looking at how he behaves, there’s no hope for him. I plan to live for my children now.”

“Aren’t they just like their father?”

Despite him being her father, Jin Seo-yoon was disgusted.

They were her sons, but he had never treated them warmly, solely because they bore the Choi surname.

“They take after me. You wouldn’t know because you’ve never paid them any attention.”

“Alright, what’s with the complaining?”

Seeing her father’s softened demeanor, Jin Seo-yoon could sense just how much he disliked her husband. Yet, he was the one who had arranged the marriage.

Perhaps he felt a tinge of guilt because of that, she hoped.

“Then, will you proceed with the subsidiary separation as promised?”

Chairman Jin felt a pang of affection as he watched his fifty-year-old daughter look at him with wide, childlike eyes.

How did she grow old so foolishly? He deeply regretted keeping her sheltered for so long, which was ultimately his fault.

“Alright. Securing and processing the shares will take some time. Once you bring back the divorce papers with Choi’s seal, I’ll start immediately.”

“But Father, there’s something else….”

“What is it now?”

“Since it’s in the same category as the department store, give me the distribution company too.”

Jin Seo-yoon spoke cautiously, but Chairman Jin immediately understood what she wanted.

“Do you know that Soonyang Distribution is launching a new business next year?”

“…”

Jin Seo-yoon hesitated, and Chairman Jin waved his hand.

“Don’t be greedy. That’s not something you can handle.”

“You know my management performance with the department store has been good. Large discount stores have the same structure as department stores, only the quality of the goods sold is different. I… I’m confident I can do well.”

“Bundling that together will create one or two complicated issues. Transferring Soonyang Distribution shares to the department store would be like a merger….”

“No. You can make distribution the parent company. Transfer the controlling shares of the department store and hotel to distribution, and I’ll hold the distribution shares. It’ll be much easier. Since distribution is a private company, it won’t be difficult to defend the management rights. If we need more funds, we can issue new shares.”

He couldn’t dismiss his daughter’s words. It was easy, avoided taxes, and was advantageous for defending management rights. Moreover, since it was the same category of business, it could avoid suspicion of illegal inheritance.

Chairman Jin looked at his daughter with surprised eyes.

“So you have that kind of brainpower? Haha, amazing.”

“I’ve told you many times that I’m much better than my brothers. Please, trust me.”

Seeing Chairman Jin’s positive reaction, Jin Seo-yoon felt like she was flying, having gotten even closer to her goal.

* * *

“Sign here. Considering your situation, I’m planning to submit this to the court after the next election, so be grateful. Although, there’s no guarantee you’ll be re-elected.”

“Honey… what is this….”

“There aren’t any divorced public officials in our country. Divorce is detrimental to elections, so I’ll go through the legal procedures after the election. But from now on, we’ll live separately. Pack your things and leave by the end of this month.”

Mayor Choi’s hand, holding the divorce papers, trembled. This couldn’t be happening!

He never imagined that Oh Se-hyun’s warning from a few days ago would become reality.

“Don’t even dream about alimony or anything like that. When you married me, all you brought was the clothes on your back. This house is in my name, and you haven’t contributed a single penny during our marriage, so you wouldn’t be petty enough to fight over alimony, would you?”

It felt like he had been struck hard on the back of the head with a club.

He couldn’t hear his wife’s words properly; there was only a buzzing in his ears.

“Honey, no, Seo-yoon. Why are you suddenly like this? We’re over fifty years old; why would we get divorced? What reason do we have to divorce?”

“Reason? Are you asking because you don’t know? Why I’m doing this?”

Looking at his wife’s sharp, cold gaze, Mayor Choi was suddenly reminded of the distant past.

The moment he first met the chaebol’s daughter, feeling intimidated by her gaze looking down at him, unable to even meet her eyes. It was the memory of that very first arranged meeting.