Chapter 227: An Unexpected Confession

Seeing the earnest look on my grandfather’s face, my body moved on its own. Wasting precious time because of me was out of the question.

I quickly moved closer and supported his frail frame.

“If we’re not going somewhere good, I’m turning the car around.”

“It’s a place I’ve put off for far too long, so I’m sure you’ll love it. Heh.”

Clutching my hand tightly, my grandfather’s parched lips stretched into a bright smile.

We passed through the bodyguards who completely blocked off the surroundings and descended into the underground parking lot. Three cars were already idling, waiting for us.

Seeing the ambulance waiting at the very back brought a slight sense of relief.

“What do you think of this car? I heard they had a new model, so I told them to bring it over.”

A sleek BMW 7 Series, proudly displaying its presence, purred between the lead car and the ambulance, greeting us.

“Once I use it today, I doubt I’ll have any more need for it. You can take it and use it.”

“I have plenty of good cars too. You keep using this one, Grandpa. You need to go to nice places and get some fresh air.”

“Nonsense. You know my condition. I know you’re trying to comfort me, and it would be wonderful if a grandson’s comfort could make me young again… but it’s pointless. Take the car.”

The fact that my grandfather had already accepted death so readily pained me even more. It seemed he wouldn’t even try to extend his life by a single day.

Perhaps this moment, just the two of us, was the only one we would ever have. We really didn’t have any time. Damn it…!

Sturdy bodyguards boarded the lead car first.

“Then please have a safe trip, Chairman.”

Chief of staff Lee Hak-jae bowed his head. It seemed he wouldn’t be accompanying us.

The three cars slowly pulled away.

“You must be tired, Grandpa. Try to get some sleep. I’ll let you know when we arrive.”

“How many days do I have left to rest eternally? I need to diligently look at my grandson’s face while I still have breath in me.”

Our grandfather, known as Iron Face—should I change his nickname? Every word he spoke pierced my heart.

“Well, it’s hard to find a grandson as capable as you anywhere else. Haha.”

As the youngest, I wanted to be playful and cheer him up, but all I could manage were these lame jokes.

But it was a relief that he continued to look at me and smile despite my poor attempts.

“Oh, I heard about it. You gave up on acquiring Daehyun Card?”

He was a hard person to dissuade. Talking about work at a time like this?

I almost suggested changing the subject but reconsidered. The thought suddenly struck me that the only times he truly felt alive might be when he was working or talking about work.

“Yes. I apologize for the disappointment. LG Card caused such a massive issue that Daehyun snapped back to its senses instantly. They did throw me a bait, but I didn’t bite.”

“So? Have you completely given up on Daehyun Card?”

“No. I changed my approach.”

“How so?”

“I’m going to have a proper fight and beat them to a pulp. I plan to snatch all their profitable clients.”

Grandfather’s eyes sparkled at the mention of a fight.

Indeed, it wasn’t his grandson’s antics that brought him to life. My grandfather only felt alive when it came to work.

“That’ll cost you a bit of money, won’t it?”

“Isn’t that my only weapon?”

“The spoils might not be worth the cost.”

“Perhaps. But this time, it’s not about fighting with profit and loss in mind.”

“Why? A businessman doesn’t start a venture unless there’s a profit to be made.”

“But I felt it was time to show them what I’m made of. They keep looking down on me, wanting to use me as a tool.”

“Joo Kwang-shik, that bastard?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re looked down upon, it’s over, I tell you. Crush him so he won’t even dare to look at you again. Make him piss his pants just by seeing your shadow. Heh.”

I even talked about trivial company matters in the moving car. Seeing the pleased smile on my grandfather’s face as he listened, I started to feel more at ease.

“Oh, and Chairman Oh Se-hyun has stepped down from company affairs and left for Kota Kinabalu.”

“What? No… How old is that rascal that he’s already living the life of a carefree man?”

“That’s what I’m saying. He’s finally got it easy, I guess. Oh, Grandpa, you should have checked out the resort there….”

“Resort? Forget it. My house is a hundred times better and more comfortable than any resort. Why would I take a plane to a hot country? Going abroad is only for business trips. What’s the point of living in a huge house? Isn’t it to relax comfortably after spending all that money?”

He didn’t even offer a token lament about not being able to see the resort his grandson built. Typical of him.

We departed late at night, so the roads were deserted. Before I knew it, we were out of Seoul, heading south. The continuously appearing signs told me where we were going.

“Stop the car for a moment.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

After turning on the hazard lights and pulling over to the side of the road, my grandfather lowered the window.

“Do you remember this place?”

The place my grandfather was pointing to—the traffic light was showing a red light, just like it was back then.

“Yes.”

The very spot where Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk had charged forward in the BMW in our place. It was the place where we almost crossed the river Styx.

“You can get out for a bit. You must be tired from driving for so long. Stretch your back and have a smoke.”

It wasn’t consideration for the driver. It was to prevent him from hearing what my grandfather was about to say.

The driver understood this perfectly.

“Thank you, Chairman. I’ll wait outside.”

Once the driver got out, my grandfather raised the window again.

“It’s been quite a while since the accident happened there, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. If we hadn’t come here today, I wouldn’t have even remembered. Assistant Manager Kim Yoon-suk deserves my gratitude again.”

“Ah, bring that fellow with you sometime. I didn’t properly thank him. I think I only barked at him, afraid he would become too attached to you. Haha.”

“It’s alright. Didn’t you send him to Chief of staff Lee Hak-jae? He’s always grateful for how much he’s learned.”

“Still, bring him along. He’s a lifesaver.”

“Yes, I will.”

My grandfather stared silently at the accident site for a while.

“Do-jun.”

“Yes?”

My grandfather’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke again.

“Have you never once thought that accident was strange?”

What should I say? Should I say I was curious to the point of madness and had a pretty good idea of what happened?

But a commonplace answer came out.

“It was an accident. Wasn’t it ruled the truck driver’s fault?”

“Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes.”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation. I couldn’t bring myself to say I suspected family.

“Now you even lie without your expression changing. You’ve become quite the con artist. Heh.”

For some reason, my grandfather slapped the armrest and burst into laughter.

“Grandpa.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s difficult for you to talk about, you can just leave it buried. Didn’t I already say? If we hadn’t come here today, I wouldn’t have even remembered. I’ve already forgotten all about it.”

It was the truth. It was obvious who was behind it without needing to be told. Wouldn’t it be a member of the family? It’s impossible to dig up a buried case and send someone to prison now. It’s truly over.

“I’m sorry.”

My grandfather suddenly grabbed my hand.

“It’s all my fault. It’s my responsibility.”

“Why are you suddenly like this….”

My grandfather raised his hand, stopping my words.

“If I had taken a little more care of your grandmother, that wouldn’t have happened. We became like strangers, so that old hag fixated on our son instead of me.”

It was my grandmother.

I’d rather believe it was one of my uncles… no, that all of my uncles were involved. A grandmother trying to harm her grandson was too inhumane, wasn’t it?

“She must have thought I was going to hand over the entire Soonyang Group to you instead of my son. She must have been seeing red. If you took over Soonyang Group, she would lose everything. Her husband, her inheritance, her son. So she tried to stop it before it happened.”

I didn’t want to hear any more. But I couldn’t interrupt my grandfather. He still had more to say, and there were words I needed to hear.

“The reason she hated your mother so much was also because she felt her son was being taken away. I was like that once too. But the reason was different. I was disappointed in your father for failing to meet my expectations, and I directed that anger at your innocent mother.”

“Father said yesterday that with you collapsing, the ten years of his youth spent resenting you felt so regrettable and filled with remorse. Please don’t blame yourself too much.”

“Yoon-ki truly said that?”

“Yes.”

The tips of my grandfather’s fingers trembled, and joy filled his eyes.

I was immensely happy that I could convey my father’s sincerity.

Wiping away a single tear that welled up in his eye, my grandfather said,

“They say old age makes tears common, and I’ve become exactly that. That boy’s one sentence pulled out the deeply embedded nail in my heart.”

“I’m glad. So, Grandpa, you don’t need to say any more.”

“No. Not yet.”

My grandfather steadied his trembling voice.

“Your grandmother might hate you forever while she’s alive. Her hatred will only dissipate after she dies. That immense hatred is because of me. So, for my sake, be generous and forgive your grandmother.”

These were the words I needed to hear.

“Don’t worry. I don’t hate Grandmother; she’s just difficult to deal with. And there’s nothing to forgive or not forgive. I’ve already completely forgotten about it.”

“No. I’ll make sure to tell her firmly, but I’m saying this in case that old hag tries to harm you again. Even if that happens, forgive her.”

The hatred directed at me was aimed at my grandfather. How cruel. Even if she hated her husband, hadn’t she lived a life of luxury thanks to him?

No, perhaps it wasn’t hatred but desire. The desire to believe that everything her husband had built was hers and to not lose a single thing. That’s the only way to understand it.

It’s easier to accept that the desire to harm her grandson was driven by greed rather than hatred. Greed is powerful enough to transcend blood ties.

“No matter what happens in the future, I won’t resent Grandmother. I promise you, so please stop now.”

My grandfather looked into my eyes, trying to read my sincerity.

“Alright. If I can’t trust you, who can I trust?”

Nodding, he lowered the window.

“You’ve suffered in the cold. Let’s go.”

The driver quickly signaled and got into the car.

The car started moving south again.

“Grandpa, aren’t we going to Seoul?”

“No. This was just a stop along the way. We’re going to Gunsan.”

Gunsan, huh.

Could it be that he’s pushing his ailing body like this because of what he couldn’t do back then?

“Grandpa. I already understand your intentions. Is it really necessary to go all the way to Gunsan? You’re not feeling well; you’ll only wear yourself out. Let’s just go back.”

“You rascal! It’s the starting point of Soonyang Group’s history. Are you saying we should just pass by such an important place? Don’t even think about it! Sometimes the form is more important than the content.”

There was no way I could break his stubbornness. I decided to follow my grandfather’s wishes without complaint until his last day.

“And it’s not just because of that. There’s someone you need to greet too.”

Greet? Who?

Don’t tell me… it’s the ‘small grandmother’ he’s kept hidden away?