#69

“I see. So that’s your answer, Chairman. But no matter what, I can’t give up on you. Just as you said, you are truly indispensable to me.”

“……”

“Even if you keep rejecting me like today, I will find something that only I can do for you. Well, perhaps I already have.”

There was a peculiar nuance in Rep. Oh Hahyun’s voice as she spoke. Lowering the pitcher I had been holding onto the table, I looked at her with a meaningful gaze.

“That sounds like a statement with a hidden meaning. Is this the part where I’m supposed to ask, ‘What do you mean by that?’ Or should I just say what I’m already suspecting and demand to know if I’m right?”

Tilting my head slightly to the side, I asked coldly. Rep. Oh Hahyun responded with a bright smile. That smile alone was enough to confirm that my suspicions were correct.

“If you’re thinking of using those children…… I’d advise you not to. It won’t do you much good, and you’ll end up making an enemy of me. And just in case you haven’t figured it out already—I’m not the kind of person who lets my enemies roam free. No matter what it takes, no matter what I have to do, I will bring them down.”

My voice carried a deep sigh as I issued the warning.

But if she were the type to heed warnings, she would have already accepted my rejection and ended this meeting long ago. I had no expectation that my words would reach her. And annoyingly enough, I was right.

“Of course, there are risks involved, but given the current situation, there’s no better method available.”

“Don’t refer to those children as a ‘method’.”

Rep. Oh Hahyun fixed me with a steady gaze, her expression tinged with faint triumph.

“You must really care about my sons. That’s good news for me. It means they’ll be very useful.”

“I thought I made myself clear. Don’t even think about using them.”

“And why shouldn’t I? The solution is right in front of me. Ignoring it and taking the long way around would be foolish.”

“No matter what, there is a fundamental level of respect a parent should have for their children. What kind of parent in this world treats their own child as nothing more than a useful tool?”

Rep. Oh Hahyun widened her eyes in surprise at my cold, furious outburst and stared at me.

“There’s no law saying I can’t, is there?”

……What? I couldn’t help but look at her in disbelief at the sheer sincerity behind her words. Seeing my reaction, she let out a small laugh.

“Chairman, don’t tell me you actually believe that parents must unconditionally protect their children?”

“……”

“If you really think that way, I might have to reassess my opinion of you. I’d be disappointed to find out you’re still clinging to such a naïve belief.”

Her voice carried amusement, but I was too stunned to respond. As I pressed my lips together in silence, my mind in turmoil, she shook her head as if in disappointment.

“Oh dear. It seems you really do believe that. That’s a little disappointing. I thought you were a more rational and pragmatic person, but I guess I was wrong.”

“……Are you saying you don’t love Gaon-ssi and Daon-ssi?”

It took effort to push those words past my lips, but she answered with ease.

“Of course I love my children. Do you know how useful they are? Especially after debuting as idols—they’ve done wonders for my recognition and public approval. How could I not love children like that?”

A wave of shock hit me. Suddenly, I recalled Lee Daon’s desperate cry from earlier—What did you get in exchange for selling us this time?

At the time, I had assumed it was somewhat of an exaggeration. No matter what, they were still family. The idea of actually selling one’s own children seemed absurd. But as I listened to Rep. Oh Hahyun’s words, an ominous feeling crept over me. Maybe that wasn’t an exaggeration at all. Maybe it was the plain, unvarnished truth.

“You’re saying you love them because they’re useful?”

“Of course. What other reason would there be?”

“……Because they’re your children. Because you are their mother. Isn’t that reason enough?”

I hesitated before speaking, but her response was a sharp, bitter laugh. Of course, it was coming from her.

“Chairman, I’m sorry, but that doesn’t mean anything to me.”

“Why not? They are your children—the ones you gave birth to.”

“That’s right. I gave birth to them. But so what? Why should I devote unconditional love to them just because I’m their mother? That’s unfair, don’t you think? That’s a losing deal for me.”

Losing? Deal?

Hearing those words in a conversation about familial love was so unexpected that I was left speechless. I could only stare at Oh Hahyun in stunned silence.

I wasn’t one to believe that a mother must dedicate herself entirely to her child. After all, a mother had her own life to live. But to weigh love for one’s child on the scales of profit and loss…… That was something beyond my imagination.

“I’ve spent my entire life calculating profit and loss in everything—school, friendships, even marriage. So why should Gaon and Daon be any different? What makes children so special?”

There was no malice in her voice, only pure curiosity. I couldn’t answer.

I just…… I just felt overwhelmingly sad.

Sad for Lee Gaon and Lee Daon, who had been raised by a mother who thought this way. Sad for the 22 years they had spent under her care.

“……Your expression is strange. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“……Because I pity Gaon-ssi and Daon-ssi for having someone like you as their mother.”

My voice carried sorrow, pity, and a faint trace of derision. Oh Hahyun tilted her head slightly, falling silent as if contemplating something. Then, she slowly spoke.

“Someone like me…… Honestly, I don’t see why I deserve to hear that. I’ve given my children everything I could. I raised them in wealth, ensuring they lacked nothing. Isn’t that enough for a parent? There are countless children in far worse situations than them. Given that, you really shouldn’t say something like someone like me. Everything they ate, wore, and used came from my pocket.”

“……”

“And while we’re on the subject, I find Daon’s ‘sold us out’ remark offensive. Sold them out? How could he say something like that to his own mother? After everything I’ve done for him? If his mother is in a difficult situation, shouldn’t his first instinct be to help rather than throw around such awful accusations?”

She clicked her tongue in irritation before continuing.

“Honestly, sold them out is the wrong phrase. Setting their career path is more accurate. Lee Yong Entertainment recognized their talent and asked me to send them for debut, so I did. I trusted his words, that’s all. Sure, there was some mutual benefit involved, but that’s how the world works, isn’t it? And yet, he calls it selling them out…… Kids these days, so immature. When will he finally grow up?”

She sighed deeply and shook her head.

And I realized—she truly meant every word. There wasn’t a single trace of deceit in her expression. At that moment, I knew there was only one thing left to say to her.

“……Worthless.”

“……Pardon? What did you just say?”

“Speaking to someone like you any further has no value.”

Though I had maintained an unfriendly demeanor throughout my meeting with Rep. Oh Hahyun, this was the first time I had spoken so bluntly, with such raw emotion, to tear her down. And judging by the way her lips trembled in displeasure, she felt it too.

“Chairman. I understand that I’m the one making a request, but don’t you think your words are far too harsh? As a fellow human being, I’d at least appreciate a basic level of courtesy.”

“I’m still here, aren’t I? That’s the last courtesy I’m willing to extend to you, so don’t expect any more.”

“Chairman!!”

At my cutting remark, Oh Hahyun finally snapped. She slammed her palm against the dining table, her voice rising in a furious shout.

The force of the impact sent a nearby glass of water teetering precariously, and I instinctively reached out to steady it. Then, I met her sharp, burning gaze with my own unwavering stare.

“Children are not objects for you to use as you please. You lack even the most basic decency as a human being. I don’t know where you came up with such a twisted sense of logic, but don’t go around proudly flaunting it as if it’s something to be admired. ……Not that it would make a difference. I doubt you’d understand even if I explained it to you. It’d just be a waste of my breath.”