Chapter 146
‘Who is that…?’
Certainly, this was a staff member belonging to his father.
Having grown up within the Hwanhee Group, where leadership was educated to thoroughly understand surroundings due to potential attacks at any moment, Kwon Hee-sung was particularly meticulous. With an exceptional memory and extensive heir training, he consistently tracked his father’s frequently changing personnel through his own established channels.
The man who boarded the van was a staff member who had joined five years ago. Having risen from the bottom to the chairman’s personal security team and survived five years, he would have garnered some level of trust. However, it didn’t seem that his father held Ga-eun in such high regard as to assign such a dedicated escort.
“I recently returned from a business trip to Hong Kong. The business seems to have proceeded smoothly. The chairman was pleased.”
Ga-eun still referred to her father as “chairman” rather than “grandfather”—a clear indication that she had not been accepted as family.
Turning to his wife, Hee-sung wondered, ‘Would Si-heon know about this?’
***
After a lengthy meeting, the executives trudged out of the conference room, exhausted. Only Si-heon and his staff appeared unaffected.
As Si-heon proceeded toward the underground parking lot, he inquired routinely, “Anything unusual?”
“The project is progressing without issues,” responded his staff member.
“The project,” Si-heon repeated, pressing the elevator button.
Noh man-su flinched under Si-heon’s gaze, immediately lowering his head.
“It sounds like there might be issues elsewhere.”
“There was a disturbance today at the charity bazaar held at the Royal Hotel.”
“What disturbance?”
“PK Holdings Director Park Ju-yeon reportedly brought a woman, claiming she was the chief executive’s aunt.”
Ga-eun’s aunt?
An entirely unexpected character.
He vaguely recalled Woo Ji-hyang, who approached him cautiously during the wedding, introducing a woman who looked remarkably similar to himself as her sister.
But why would such a person be involved?
“Physically resembling the Chief Executive, but according to eyewitnesses, she speaks incoherently, as if having a disability.”
Resembling Ga-eun? Impossible.
…If that aunt is truly who they claim…
“So?”
“So, after hearing about this person, Director Park Ju-yeon and Executive Director Jung Yeo-jin allegedly claimed the Chief Executive is… an illegitimate child.”
Nonsense.
The absurdity was so profound it didn’t even provoke laughter. This had been thoroughly verified before the marriage.
“They must be remarkably idle to fabricate such baseless rumors.”
“Sir…”
Noh man-su hesitated as the elevator arrived.
“I’ll go alone. No need to accompany me.”
“There are still additional matters to report, Executive Director.”
“If lengthy, report by phone. If brief, report now.”
Seeing Ga-eun was his priority. The unease he’d felt when she didn’t answer her phone still lingered faintly within him. He needed to see her as soon as possible.
As his hand moved toward the close button, Noh man-su added, “The Chief Executive reportedly acknowledged it.”
“Acknowledged?”
“Director Park Ju-yeon claims the woman is indeed her aunt, and that the Chief Executive himself directly confirmed being an illegitimate child.”
His heart began beating an unsettled rhythm. Noh man-su’s information was rarely incorrect. Such a scenario seemed impossible—except for one potential explanation.
“Reexamine Ga-eun’s information. Director Noh, move personally. Use methods least likely to attract the group’s… grandfather’s attention.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Contact me immediately upon discovery.”
The elevator doors closed as he finished speaking.
Inside the descending elevator, Si-heon called Ga-eun. She didn’t answer.
Checking home CCTV revealed no sign of her return. Her car hadn’t entered the garage since leaving in the afternoon.
He called her assigned guard.
“Report location.”
[Entered the Royal Hotel’s suite.]
A suite?
Why not return home?
An ominous feeling settled over him.
[Unable to access the suite without a card, currently waiting in the lobby and underground parking.]
Si-heon’s gaze turned cold.
“Continue surveillance. I’m heading there now.”
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