Impossible Romance - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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46.

Kim drove with practiced ease despite the congested evening traffic, taking his time without rushing. Through the car window, office workers streamed out from the company building in small groups, disappearing into restaurants and cafes. As night deepened, the city’s storefronts blazed with light, coming alive with energy.
Kwon Seok-ha sank deep into the back seat, gazing out at the passing scenery. His formal attire matched what he’d worn that morning, but his expression was far more rigid than it had been at the office.
“Ten minutes until we arrive,” Kim said.
Seok-ha nodded briefly in response. Kim watched him through the rearview mirror and continued driving smoothly.
Soon, a quiet residential district came into view. As they entered the neighborhood of sprawling estates behind high stone walls, the car’s speed gradually decreased. They came to a stop before a massive iron gate.
Someone monitoring the CCTV recognized the vehicle, and the iron gate opened automatically. The car continued down the long drive and finally came to rest in the spacious yard near the Family Home.
Seok-ha stepped out and instinctively checked his appearance before looking up. The garden was breathtaking regardless of season, and in the ripeness of autumn, the fall foliage was at its peak.
“Finally home to see your face, my son.”
Han Seon-young had come out to greet him, brushing past the servants. Her face glowed with such radiance that she seemed to shine like a full moon.
“Why did you come out? You should be resting inside.”
“How could I stay inside when my son is arriving?”
Han Seon-young linked her arm naturally through his. As they walked together, her loungewear—which reached her calves—swayed gently in the evening breeze.
“Are Grandfather and Father in the Study Room?”
“Yes. Go greet them. But first, don’t you have something to tell me?”
Han Seon-young’s voice took on a sharper edge as she leaned against her son while walking.
“Something to tell you?”
Seok-ha lowered his head to look at her.
“Never mind. I’ll tell you first. Seok-jun made an investment agreement with Singapore H Invest. Three hundred billion won, no less. And Seok-jun is in the Study Room with them right now.”
“That’s something to celebrate.”
Seok-ha let out a dry laugh.
“Celebrate? Because of this, Grandfather is now leaning toward passing the succession to Seok-jun instead of you. At such a young age with that scale of investment—it’s impressive.”
“So be it.”
“This boy…”
Han Seon-young struck his back hard. But his back was so solid that her hand hurt instead, and she grimaced.
“Mother, that hurts.”
“Don’t lie. That Seok-jun who used to slack off all the time—all of this is thanks to Sung-won Corporation. Do you understand? There’s been marriage talk with their daughter. While you’ve been fooling around with Jun-hee, they’ve been giving their future son-in-law generous gifts. Wake up.”
Han Seon-young spoke in a hushed voice, her eyes blazing with intensity toward Seok-ha. If Chairman Kwon in the Study Room overheard this, it would be disastrous. But there was an unexpected complication.
The way Seok-ha looked down at me was more frightening than ever. No—he seemed like a complete stranger, not like a son at all.
“Mother, let’s not talk about this.”
“What?”
Han Seon-young’s face, which had been wearing a smile, froze like a statue.
“If you’re going to blame Jun-hee, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Seok-ha’s voice was colder than ever.
“Huh?”
Han Seon-young’s eyes widened in shock, wondering if she’d heard him correctly.
“You know what Jun-hee means to me.”
“You know how it is. You know what Jun-hee means to me.”
“….”
“If you didn’t know, let me inform you now. Back at the villa when the children were playing, Mother cleaned up after them. But now that I’m an adult, the mess will be bigger than what Mother can handle.”
Han Seon-young’s mouth fell open at Kwon Seok-ha’s words. It sounded like a threat—no, it was a threat.
“Are you blackmailing me?”
“It’s not blackmail. It’s a request.”
Kwon Seok-ha gently caressed the back of Han Seon-young’s hand, which was linked through his arm.
“How could you do this to me?”
Tears welled up in Han Seon-young’s eyes. She had endured everything beneath an indifferent husband and demanding in-laws, clinging only to her son, and his words cut deeper than she could bear.
“Mother, I love you.”
He spoke quietly, trying to soothe Han Seon-young.
“That’s why I’ve been patient even when I knew you were interfering with Jun-hee, isn’t it?”
A cold, cutting edge emanated from Kwon Seok-ha.
Startled by his intensity, Han Seon-young suddenly burst out with emotion.
“How could you? How could you abandon me and say such things about Jun-hee…?”
Han Seon-young was always graceful, but heat flushed her cheeks and her voice rose.
“I’ll make sure to inherit the successor position from Grandfather. Won’t that settle it?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”
“You said I’m losing to Seok-jun because of Jun-hee. So if I become the successor, Jun-hee has done nothing wrong, right?”
“You’re absolutely impossible!”
Han Seon-young glared at Kwon Seok-ha and struck his back. His words made it clear that no matter what, he would never abandon Jun-hee and would become the successor anyway. It was infuriating that he didn’t understand her feelings and only took Jun-hee’s side.
But she knew now that talking to Kwon Seok-ha would yield nothing. Especially when it came to matters involving Jun-hee, there was no benefit in testing his patience.
It would be better to handle it quietly from behind.
Han Seon-young painfully acknowledged her mistake—she had gained nothing from this confrontation—and turned to leave.
“Let’s go. They’re waiting inside.”

***

The reception room I visited after so long remained unchanged. It stood beside the study where Grandfather Chairman Kwon primarily spent his time, preserving its classical elegance as if time itself had frozen.
Chairman Kwon occupied the seat of honor, with my father Kwon O-min and my cousin Kwon Seok-jun flanking him on either side. Kwon Seok-ha and Han Seon-young, who arrived later, took their seats across from them.
A servant poured Chairman Kwon’s preferred Seolrok tea and quietly withdrew. In the ensuing silence, Chairman Kwon took a sip and set down his cup.
“Seok-ha, it’s been a while. You should visit more often.”
Chairman Kwon’s eyes gazing at his eldest grandson brimmed with affection. Though he had built and grown the company with a sharp, unforgiving gaze, he had always been tender toward Kwon Seok-ha.
Once believing that Seok-ha had grown up away from home without receiving his father’s love, Chairman Kwon forgave and understood everything, even when Seok-ha caused trouble.
This favoritism troubled someone—Kwon Oh-tae, the younger son. He believed his own son, Kwon Seok-jun, was deprived of their grandfather’s affection because of Seok-ha.
“I’ve been rather busy. I’ll make sure to visit more frequently.”
Kwon Seok-ha offered a respectfully formal greeting.
“Good. I hear our Seok-jun is undertaking a major business venture. I wanted everyone to gather to congratulate him and see his face.”
“It’s only the beginning. Thank you for your encouragement.”
Kwon Seok-jun’s face brightened as he swept back his hair.
Kwon Seok-jun had also caused his share of trouble as a child. However, unlike Seok-ha, he had thrown himself into alcohol and women for a time, falling out of Chairman Kwon’s favor. It wasn’t until recently that he had sobered up and begun participating in business operations.
Now, captivated by the scale of money flowing through the company, he and his father Kwon Oh-tae were desperately trying to win Chairman Kwon’s approval.
“Since you say it’s just the beginning, investigate H Invest thoroughly. It’s a company that rose suddenly in recent years, so it seems verification hasn’t been done properly.”
Kwon Seok-ha offered this advice based on his own investigations.
“Are you jealous because things are going well for me?”
Kwon Seok-jun immediately countered. The two, being the same age, had bickered since childhood.
“Jealous? I’m saying this for your sake.”
“Really, if you’re going to say something like that, at least mention it privately. Why do this in front of Grandfather? And contrary to your concerns, things are going very well, so don’t worry.”
Kwon Seok-jun spoke with unbridled confidence.
“You two, Grandfather is here. Keep quiet.”
At Kwon O-min’s reprimand, both lowered their heads.
“Ha ha, it’s a pleasant sight. This is how Seonjin grows—with you two checking each other’s business ventures. Since both Seok-ha and Seok-jun grew up as only children, you’re more like brothers than cousins. So help each other. Understood?”
Chairman Kwon spoke to the two with a benevolent tone.
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Both Seok-ha and Seok-jun answered Chairman Kwon’s words and ceased their quarrel.
“How are the preparations for the founding anniversary celebration next week progressing?”
“Well.”
Kwon O-min straightened his posture as he answered. Even to him, well past sixty, Chairman Kwon remained an imposing figure.
“If any of you have girlfriends, bring them along. Let Grandfather see and judge what sort of women they are.”
The white-haired Chairman Kwon chuckled warmly as he spoke.
All three except Kwon Seok-ha tensed visibly at Chairman Kwon’s words. Among them, Han Seon-young, appearing most flustered, hastily opened her mouth.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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