AOA 41

Both of Baek Sujin’s sons were alphas, and her eldest, Baek Unhyeon, was not only good-looking and intelligent, but also a model student who never caused trouble.

Although Baek Sujin usually attended family gatherings alone, it was said, ironically, that she actually had a fairly decent relationship with her ex-husband. Considering she had kept him, a former chief prosecutor, in charge of the legal team at the distribution division, there were even rumors that their divorce had been for show.

At this rate, Daesong Distribution might end up in Baek Sujin’s hands. Though it remained to be seen whether the greedy Baek Jaehan would stand by and let that happen.

He was the kind of man who would ram a truck into someone if things didn’t go his way.

Before the regression, the blood alcohol content of the truck driver who caused Baek Mugyeong’s fatal accident had been high enough to warrant license revocation. No evidence ever surfaced linking him to Baek Jaehan, but the suspicious nature of the incident made everyone raise their eyebrows.

I glanced at Baek Jaehan once, then turned my gaze toward Baek Mugyeong, who was seated beside him. I’d heard that Baek Mugyeong had died instantly in the accident. Back then, that had been a small consolation, but not anymore.

Seeing him alive and well now made me feel all sorts of complicated things. This time, we wouldn’t part through death. We’d have to divorce while still breathing.

Honestly, I wanted to lay everything bare and say we should part ways so we could both live. But if I did that, I wouldn’t be filing for divorce, I’d be committed to a psychiatric ward.

I swallowed a sigh. Just then, Baek Mugyeong turned his head toward me, he must’ve sensed my gaze.

I quickly shook my head as if nothing was wrong and lifted my teacup. While I sipped quietly, I could feel his gaze brushing my cheek, but I pretended not to notice.

“But Daehan. Your wife didn’t come again today. Is something going on?”

After going on about Unhyeon’s study abroad plans, Baek Sujin quieted down, and Baek Jaehan called o[stolen content]ut to his youngest sibling.

I turned my eyes to Baek Daehan, seated across from me. The youngest of Baek Jinseok’s children, Baek Daehan looked more like a kind-hearted professor than a shrewd businessman.

He was the only one among the siblings who wasn’t an alpha, a beta. Being male but not an alpha meant Baek Daehan was never considered for succession.

Though he held the title of CEO of DS Motors, he didn’t wield much actual power. Nor did he seem particularly driven about business matters.

Baek Daehan was a quiet man. I didn’t know much about his abilities, but I was sure he lacked ambition.

“She’s resting. Came down with the flu.”

As always, Baek Daehan quietly sipped his tea before answering slowly. He usually showed up alone to these family gatherings, likely because his wife and children were also betas.

Baek Jaehan made no effort to hide his contempt for his beta sibling. He treated Baek Daehan’s wife and kids the same way.

“Oh dear. How can she be so delicate?”

“Right? I wonder if that herbal medicine I sent helped. Should I send more? Since beta-compatible herbs are easier to source, how about taking them for a long stretch?”

As expected, Baek Jaehan and Im Songyoon immediately started digging in. But Baek Daehan seemed unbothered. He politely declined, saying he was already taking something.

“Daehan, is there a problem with the new car model?”

As Baek Jinseok, who had been quietly observing everything, finally spoke, the atmosphere shifted. I didn’t know what ​visit our site​the new DS Motors car was, but I perked up my ears.

“I was going to report it to you on Monday, sir, but the latest model will be subject to a large-scale recall.”

Baek Daehan, in charge of DS Motors, answered plainly.

“A recall? Why?”

“There’s an issue with the engine. Something near the valve, causes the engine to shut off.”

“How does an engine shut off just like that? What kind of quality control is this?”

“We re-ran the tests and found the results differed from the final report. We’re still investigating what caused the discrepancy.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s lucky we caught it early. If we hadn’t, there could’ve been serious accidents.”

The conversation continued for a while, but I couldn’t focus. I was trying to recall when the DS Motors recall had taken place.

Wasn’t it in the summer?

Before the regression, a major highway accident involving a DS Motors car had occurred due to the engine shutting off mid-drive. It caused a massive pile-up with fatalities, including trucks.

Once it was revealed that the engine failure had been the cause, Baek Daehan held a press conference and bowed deeply [visit our site]on camera. He took full responsibility and resigned from his position as CEO.

As far as I remembered, the recall only came after the accident. That they were doing it now meant something wasn’t adding up.

In the previous timeline, no such discussion had taken place at the New Year’s gathering. Back then, Baek Daehan typically sat in silence, barely noticeable.

I couldn’t tell whether the recall would happen now and again in the summer. While I puzzled over that, the family continued discussing how to handle the recall. It had the feel of a formal report from Baek Daehan to Baek Jinseok.

Though I was still confused, I decided to see this early recall as a good thing. At least it might prevent a deadly accident.

“Minchae.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

I had just started to relax when I heard the name “Minchae” and instinctively looked up. Only one person here would address me like that. Sure enough, Baek Jinseok was gazing at me with a kindly smile.

“Did you understand what we were talking about just now?”

“Yes. You said the engine of DS Motors’ new model has a defect, and there’s going to be a recall.”

Prompted by his expectant look, I summarized just the facts. Internally, I was wondering what this was all about. I wasn’t the only one, everyone was staring at me.

Baek Jinseok, face unreadable, continued.

“Test results can vary from trial to trial.”

“Yes.”

“Sometimes that’s due to error, but other times it’s intentional. If it turns out to be deliberate, what do you think should be done?”

I froze at the unexpected question.

Wait, why, now, me?

A flood of questions ran through my head, but none of them mattered. What did matter was that Baek Jinseok had a habit of tossing serious questions at people. To stay on his good side, I had to give a decent answer.

My mind raced. Before the regression, I remembered him asking a similar question, to Baek Mugyeong, after the fatal highway crash. I hadn’t been in the right state of mind then, due to medication, and couldn’t recall exactly how Mugyeong had answered.

Maybe he said the person responsible should be punished? Jinseok hadn’t objected to that.

I knew nothing about DS Motors. I knew nothing about business. So what Baek Jinseok likely expected from me was honesty.

“Are you suggesting someone intentionally tampered with the test results?”

“Exactly.”

“If that’s the case, then I think they should be strictly punished.”

“Strictly punished? Why?”

“I don’t know much about business. But I do know that if someone altered the results to cover up an engine defect, it would be a huge blow to the company. In the worst-case scenario, that defect could cause a fatal accident on the road. DS Motors would be vilified. If someone did that knowingly, they should absolutely be held accountable.”

I explained while recalling the past. When it came out that engine failure had caused the highway crash, DS Motors was heavily condemned. Their stock plummeted, affecting the entire Daesong Group.

That wasn’t all. There was even a boycott, with people calling them a “murderous company.”

If there really was someone behind all that, they needed to be punished to prevent it from ever happening again. That was the most straightforward answer I could come up with.

“A very upright answer.”

“Yes.”

Luckily, my answer seemed to satisfy Baek Jinseok, who smiled. Reactions around the table varied. Baek Jaehan and Im Songyoon looked displeased. Baek Daehan and Baek Mugyeong remained expressionless. Baek Sujin subtly gave me a thumbs-up.

“But tell me, what if the one who tampered with the results was Mugyeong?”

Baek Jinseok asked with a grin, suddenly cutting straight to the point.

What the hell?

I instinctively turned to look at Baek Mugyeong. Even now, his face didn’t twitch a muscle.

Before the regression, the one who stepped down was Baek Daehan, but only because he was the CEO.

I had no idea about DS Motors’ internal affairs. I couldn’t even guess who might’ve altered the data. But I didn’t think Baek Mugyeong was the type.

“If someone does wrong, they should be punished. Even if he’s your grandson.”

I didn’t know if this was a trap. I couldn’t read Jinseok’s intent. Still, I chose to face it head-on.

“You’re a sharp one. That’s right. If you do wrong, you get punished. Mugyeong, you’d better watch out. Looks like Minchae won’t take your side.”

Baek Jinseok chuckled. Baek Mugyeong replied calmly that he had nothing to hide, which made Jinseok laugh and loosen the tense atmosphere. When Baek Sujin chimed in, saying she’d had to crack down on those who hurt the company for personal gain, the topic shifted that way.