AOA 59

Among Baek Jinseok’s four children, the only one who was a beta was Baek Daehan, and I had never once seen Baek Jinseok treat him warmly. The reason he had Baek Yeongseop’s only daughter sent away to her maternal family was also simply because she was a beta. That, too, was Baek Jinseok’s will.

The same went for Baek Mugyeong. Though he was an alpha grandson, his manifestation rate had been extremely low. So when his parents passed away, Baek Jinseok had left him in the care of his maternal family.

Then, when Baek Mugyeong finally manifested as an alpha—more than that, a dominant alpha—while drifting between schools abroad, he was summoned back to Korea. It was clearly to keep Baek Yeongseop in check. Up until then, Baek Jinseok hadn’t even bothered to find out how he was doing.

This went beyond mere preference. It was twisted obsession, pure arrogance. And that meant it wasn’t something I should interfere with.

I lowered my eyes and said nothing.

A heavy silence settled over the room. It was suffocating. Unsurprisingly, the one to break it was Baek Jinseok.

“Mugyeong-ah.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Do you still intend to return to the United States?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t raise my head during their exchange, but my ears were focused. This was the first I’d heard of Baek Mugyeong going back to America.

Baek Jinseok, clearly displeased with the answer, raised his voice in frustration.

“Why? You don’t like the executive director position at DS Motors? If you think the company won’t be yours, you’re mistaken. Have a son, an alpha, and I’ll give DS Motors to you.”

This time I couldn’t stay silent. I involuntarily raised my head, and our eyes met.

“That’s right, you too. You’ll be the one running the household at DS Motors, and live even more grandly than your father.”

Baek Jinseok’s eyes glinted sharply. If I hadn’t regressed, those words would’ve sounded like the devil’s temptation.

I’d wanted nothing more than to take revenge on my biological father and stepmother, who trampled on my pride and hurled cruel words with no regard. I had gritted my teeth, thinking I’d give birth to the alpha grandson Baek Jinseok so desperately wanted, and then cast them aside in scorn.

But people don’t always achieve what they set their minds to. Before the regression, I hadn’t been in my right mind, and I never acted on that desire.

Once I realized I had been murdered by Jeong Guhyeon and had regressed, I dreamt of bloody revenge.

But realistically, I didn’t have that kind of ruthlessness, the kind that cries tears of blood and sinks its teeth visit our site into the heart of its enemy.

My options were limited. No matter how I calculated it, the best outcome was to inflate the money I’d received from Baek Jinseok and use it to escape from my biological father, who blackmailed me with my younger sibling’s hospital bills.

I was doing my best to ensure Jeong Guhyeon couldn’t live comfortably, but that didn’t mean I wanted to become the mistress of DS Motors.

So Baek Jinseok’s sweet temptation didn’t hold much sway. I could be run over by a truck sent by Baek Jaehan before I ever became the mistress of DS Motors. Even a fortune wasn’t worth risking my life.

But maybe Baek Mugyeong wanted DS Motors. I glanced at him, just in case, but his expression didn’t change. There was no interest or greed in his face.

“Grandfather. I sold you several years of my life. During that time, I promised to be a good grandson. But DS Motors was never part of the deal.”

He answered in my place while I stayed silent, and Baek Jinseok turned his gaze to him.

“I’m offering you a good gift, why turn it down?”

“From my perspective, it’s not a good gift. It’s a burden. If you want to buy more of my time, you’ll need to offer something more appealing.”

“Well, look at you. Asking for more? Out of the question.”

“I don’t want more.”

The atmosphere was chilling. The two men stared each other down coldly, as if fists might fly at any moment.

So this was what it felt like to be caught in the middle of a fight between whales.

“You’ve got a sharp tongue. Don’t back down, do you?”

“Since we’re already here, let me say one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Please don’t go around saying you’ll give DS Motors to me. My uncle won’t like it.”

Baek Mugyeong lobbed a fastball with no warning. Startled, my eyes widened and I stared at him. Baek Jinseok, in turn, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“What, now I’m supposed to watch Jaehan’s mood?”

“If you really want to see the great grandson you adore playing at your feet one day, you know what I mean.”

Even without detailed explanation, it wasn’t hard to understand what Baek Mugyeong meant. Baek Jaehan was exactly the type to do everything in his power to prevent me from having a child. Before the regression, he had done just that. He had even run Baek Mugyeong down with a truck in the end.

There was no way Baek Jinseok hadn’t caught the implication. His face darkened instantly. He knew exactly what kind of man his eldest son was.

“That’s enough. You may leave.”

Baek Jinseok didn’t explode in anger. Instead, he quietly gestured for us to go, his voice low and heavy. Baek Mugyeong stood and bowed. I, still tense, quickly followed and gave my own bow.

Because it was Lunar New Year, Baek Mugyeong drove today. Compared to usual, the roads were practically empty.

We didn’t say a single word the entire drive. I couldn’t bring myself to ask him what was going on.

The offer to give him DS Motors if he had an alpha son, that had also happened before the regression. But this was the first I’d heard that Baek Mugyeong planned to return to the US or that he had “sold” several years of his life to Baek Jinseok in exchange for playing the good grandson.

My thoughts were tangled, but I wondered if I even needed to know everything. It was enough that Baek Mugyeong had no intention of having a child, and no desire for DS Motors. Otherwise, not only would I suffer, but his life could also be in danger.

“Do you have something to say?”

He must’ve noticed me glancing at him from time to time, because he spoke without even looking this way.

“I… are you okay? I mean, the Chairman seemed really angry.”

I was curious about “that day” Baek Mugyeong mentioned, and why he couldn’t sleep beside anyone. But I didn’t ask. Unless he brought it up himself, pretending not to know was the right thing to do.

The real concern was Baek Jinseok. Since Baek Mugyeong had refused to obey him, he was bound to make a move.

“Are you disappointed?”

“About what?”

“Don’t even think about dreaming of becoming DS Motors’ mistress.”

His voice was cold, cutting, even. A warning to throw out any foolish ambitions.

He had a talent for speaking only facts that left you feeling gutted, and he could also fire off baseless assumptions that made your blood boil.

I wasn’t hurt by it anymore. My resolve to maintain a good relationship with him hadn’t changed. But it still felt unfair to just silently accept it.

“I don’t have any such dream. I told you that from the start. Don’t you remember?”

I spoke as calmly as I could, as if I were truly puzzled. Read on I wanted to snap, “Why do you only forget things that benefit me?” but I held back.

That would’ve just meant starting a fight.

He glanced at me briefly, but I stared him down with intent, as if asking, Isn’t that right?

Eventually, he turned back to the road.

“I sold five years of my life to Grandfather. At a high price. Two years have passed. Three remain.”

“If you go back to the US… then can we divorce?”

I remembered how, before the regression, he often went on business trips to the States. I had assumed he was working for DS Motors, since the company sold tons of cars in America.

But maybe he had some secret haven waiting for him there. Whether that was a person or not, it was clear he didn’t want to stay in Korea.

And if that was the case, we could divorce. The hope made my heart race. I looked at him expectantly, but he just kept his eyes on the road in silence.

I didn’t press for an answer, I just kept looking at him.

“Stop staring.”

“You haven’t answered.”

“When the time comes, we’ll get divorced.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Satisfied with his answer, I sat up straighter and looked ahead. Knowing that we had a specific timeline of three years made me feel at ease.

Until then, all I had to do was grow my money and become rich.

“But… is it really okay that the Chairman is angry?”

I remembered my original question and turned to look at Baek Mugyeong again. Baek Jinseok was someone who always rewarded or punished clearly.

There was no way he’d just let it go after being defied like that.

“It’s fine.”

“I think he’s going to get mad.”

“Grandfather likes obedient grandchildren, yes. But he doesn’t favor ones who act like puppets. A little rebellion is fine.”

“I see.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly at the realization that being perfectly obedient didn’t earn you full marks. Baek Jinseok really was a difficult man.

“And if you have a child, Uncle won’t stay quiet. I’ve told you this before, but you’d best not have any such thoughts. That said… Jeong Minchae, are you doing this on purpose?”

“What?”

“Do you not even remember what you just said?”

“I really don’t understand what you mean.”

He had thrown my words back at me. But I had no idea what part he was referring to.