#66

“Daon-s……”

Just as I reached out toward Lee Daon, unsettled by his reaction, a loud and jovial voice interrupted me. I hesitated for a moment before withdrawing my hand and turning toward the source of the voice. A group of people, seemingly just finishing their meal, came into view.

“Oh, well, if it isn’t Rep. Oh! What brings you here? Hm? Chairman Goo Won is here too? Are the two of you having dinner together?”

“Yes. I had some important matters to discuss with the chairman. It looks like you’re just leaving after your meal, Party Leader.”

“That’s right. We had a few things to discuss today, so we decided to have a meal together. But I had no idea you had any connection with Chairman Goo Won.”

“My sons recently joined the new entertainment company the chairman established. So, in a way……”

Rep. Oh Hahyun trailed off with a bright smile. There was a subtle nuance in her words that was hard to ignore. The man, addressed as the party leader, listened to her response while scrutinizing me and the twins with a sharp gaze, as if assessing the situation. Then, as if he had come to some sort of conclusion, he suddenly let out a hearty laugh and clapped Rep. Oh Hahyun on the shoulder.

“Oh, I see. Well, since fate has brought you all together, I hope it leads to a lasting and beneficial relationship.”

“I’m certainly trying my best, but I’m not sure how well it’ll work out. The chairman is quite a meticulous person.”

“That’s exactly why he’s been able to achieve such success at such a young age. Meticulous people tend to have a keen eye and handle their affairs with precision.”

With that, the man looked at me with an expression full of goodwill. The intensity of his gaze was almost suffocating, but I managed to maintain my composure and responded in a firm voice.

“……Thank you for the kind words.”

“No need to thank me. I’m only stating the obvious. Our Chairman Goo Won takes after his father—so humble and well-mannered. Former Chairman Goo Sung would have been so proud if he were still here…… Gone far too soon, though.”

At the mention of that all-too-familiar name, my fingers involuntarily twitched.

Did this man have a personal relationship with my father? Or was it just a business connection? Either way, I had no interest in dealing with people associated with my father. The discomfort swelled inside me, and I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek as those thoughts churned in my mind.

Sensing the tension, a man who appeared to be the party leader’s secretary cautiously spoke up.

“Party Leader, if we don’t leave now, your schedule will—”

“Oh dear, look at me, completely forgetting about the time. I should get going now. You two have a good conversation. Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes, Party Leader. Take care on your way.”

“Goodbye.”

As I gave a small nod of farewell, the man patted my shoulder with a pleased expression before quickly exiting the restaurant. It seemed his schedule was indeed quite tight.

“Ah, getting older really does make even simple greetings feel like a chore.”

Unlike me, who had only slightly bowed my head, Rep. Oh Hahyun had bent at the waist in a formal bow. She let out a small groan as she straightened her back and turned to me with a smile.

“I’m sorry. Meeting the party leader so suddenly must have been quite a surprise.”

Her lighthearted apology only solidified the suspicions I had been harboring ever since she first appeared.

“……You planned all of this, didn’t you?”

Rather than asking, my words were a statement of fact. Rep. Oh Hahyun simply responded with a gentle curve of her lips, not bothering to deny it.

As expected, everything—from Lee Gaon and Lee Daon being here to that so-called party leader showing up—had all been orchestrated by her.

“Yes. I needed to showcase my connections with you a little.”

“I wasn’t aware that our relationship was significant enough to be called a connection.”

“Well, even if it wasn’t before, it can be from this moment on.”

Speaking in a carefree tone, as if there was no problem at all, Rep. Oh Hahyun then turned her gaze toward Lee Gaon and Lee Daon, who had been standing quietly to the side.

“My dear sons, how have you been? Were you surprised that I suddenly called you out? I’m sorry. I was in a bit of a hurry. There was someone I needed to show a scene of my sons, their mother, and the chairman all together.”

Her eyes curved softly with warmth as she spoke. In response, Lee Gaon slowly shook his head.

“……It’s fine. If it helped you, that’s what matters.”

“Oh my, my eldest son is always so sweet. You’re just too precious, really.”

Rep. Oh Hahyun looked at Lee Gaon with an expression full of pride, as if she could hardly contain it. She reached out to him slowly, her hand gently brushing against his cheek, which was quite a bit higher than hers.

At that moment, Lee Gaon flinched ever so slightly. His reaction, as if uncomfortable with Rep. Oh Hahyun’s touch, made my eyes narrow.

However, she seemed completely unaware of his response. Instead, she stroked his cheek a couple of times before shifting her gaze to Lee Daon.

“Our Daon, you’ll understand your mother like your brother does, won’t you?”

She spoke gently, just as she had to Lee Gaon, and reached out toward Lee Daon’s cheek. But her hand never made contact. With a sharp slap, Daon roughly swatted her hand away.

Slap.

The sound of skin colliding with skin echoed in the air, and Rep. Oh Hahyun’s hand was left hanging, rejected.

“Don’t touch me without permission.”

His voice trembled with suppressed emotions, boiling just beneath the surface. He glared at her as if she were his worst enemy, his eyes burning with hatred.

“You’re angry, aren’t you? I told you, I’m sorry about this.”

Even I, just watching from the side, felt unsettled by the sharpness of his gaze. Yet, Rep. Oh Hahyun seemed completely unfazed. She merely clasped her rejected hand with the other, as if it were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

“Our youngest is always so sensitive. It would be easier to go through life if you were more indifferent, like Gaon.”

“And what does that have to do with you?”

“How could it not? I’m your mother. It’s only natural for a mother to worry about her child.”

“Your son? That’s something even a passing dog would laugh at. Even if you twist the truth, at least say it right. You’re not worried about me because I’m your son, but rather……”

With a sharp voice, Lee Daon trailed off, breaking off his sentence midway. His gaze, which had been fixed on Rep. Oh Hahyun with burning intensity, began to shift. Slowly, deliberately, his eyes moved—until they finally landed on my face.

The hatred that had been directed at Rep. Oh Hahyun just moments ago was now aimed at me.

“……Because I’m just a product to be sold.”

A product…… to be sold?

I stared at Daon, utterly stunned by the words that had just come out of his mouth. I needed to understand what he was saying, but my brain struggled to process it.

“What did you sell me for this time?”

“……Daon.”

“Why? Can’t you say it? What did you get this time that makes you unable to speak? Last time, you proudly admitted that you sold us off for some sponsorship money and a bit of political backing. You told me that since you gained so much, I should just obey without question, do whatever they tell me at that damned Lee Yong Entertainment, and act like a well-trained dog! So what did you get in exchange for selling us to this person this time?”

Lee Daon’s words burst forth like an explosion of emotions long buried deep inside.

Without realizing it, I took a step back.

Seeing me retreat, a cold smile formed on Daon’s lips.

I needed to deny it. I needed to say it wasn’t true, that such a thing could never happen. But for some reason, my lips wouldn’t move. As I struggled with my uncooperative mouth, Rep. Oh Hahyun sighed deeply, pressing her fingers to her forehead.

“I wondered if this was still bothering you…… Are you seriously still upset about that incident? I told you so many times that I was sorry, Daon. I said I had no choice back then. What was I supposed to do? How many times do I have to apologize before you finally let it go? Haven’t I done enough? Don’t you think it’s time to move on, my son?”

“…….”

“Your brother says he’s fine now. So why are you still like this? Hmm? You’re making your mother so sad. And now you’re even hitting me? Look at this—my hand’s all swollen. It’s because you hit me, Daon.”

She held out her hand right in front of Daon’s face. As she said, her palm was visibly reddened and swollen. Daon’s body tensed as he stared at it.

“Daon, you’re hurting your mother. I’m your mother. A son shouldn’t hurt his own mother, should he?”

She continued, dragging out her words slowly, deliberately. There was no mistaking her intent. Rep. Oh Hahyun was deliberately trying to instill guilt in him.

And it was working.

Daon’s eyes flickered with a mix of resentment and guilt as he stared at her outstretched hand. Satisfied by his reaction, Rep. Oh Hahyun smiled softly and continued.

“It’s okay, Daon. People act out when they’re upset. I understand.”