novelraw Chapter 55
Chapter 55
It was exactly that kind of expression.
It was a contemptuous gaze that seemed to say, ‘How dare you come here and show such a pathetic display?’
Jeong Tae-jun was overwhelmed by Lim Man-seok’s gaze and could not even breathe properly.
Lim Hye-seon also distorted her expression at her husband’s miserable appearance and turned her head away.
Lim Do-kyung also looked at him with a cold gaze, wearing an expression as if he had seen a loathsome insect.
The silence flowing in the hallway felt long, as if time had stopped.
Their gazes became sharp blades and aimed at Jeong Tae-jun’s heart.
Only then did Jeong Tae-jun know.
He realized not only the weight of the disturbance he had caused, but also the cold reality that there was no longer a place for him in the Taeseong family.
Chairman Lim Man-seok stared intently at Jeong Tae-jun with a stiff face.In his eyes, there was only a senseless and contemptuous gaze rather than his usual sharpness.
As if he was not even worth exchanging words with anymore.
Chairman Lim Man-seok commanded in a cold voice.
“Who is making a disturbance during a meeting! Kick him out immediately!”
Chairman Lim’s voice echoed loudly through the hallway and struck Jeong Tae-jun’s heart.
The bodyguards immediately approached him.
Jeong Tae-jun was caught by them and dragged away from the front of the meeting room without even a chance to resist.
What was reflected in his eyes was only the coldly closing meeting room door and the indifferent gazes of the people left inside.
“Father-in-law! No, Chairman! This, it’s really not true. Please hear me out….”
Jeong Tae-jun’s voice only hovered in the air and did not receive any response.
He was no longer the son-in-law of Taeseong Group.
After being dragged out to a corner of the Taeseong Electronics hallway, he realized that there was no gain even if he stayed here.
Jeong Tae-jun moved with heavy steps and got into the car he had brought.
He started the engine and stepped on the accelerator to try to leave the headquarters.
At that moment, Lim Do-hyun suddenly came to mind.
He took out his cell phone and called Lim Do-hyun, but the dial tone only rang for a long time.
In the end, he did not answer the phone.
Jeong Tae-jun, who was enraged, threw his cell phone and spat out profanities.
“Damn it, this bastard!”
He gripped the steering wheel as if he would crush it.
It might not be right now, but he vowed that he would never leave Lim Do-hyun alone once this matter was resolved.
He drove somewhere while gasping for breath.
The place where Jeong Tae-jun arrived was a small provincial city away from Seoul.
The place where his son and mistress were living.
Even though it was late, his son ran to him, excited by his father’s appearance.
Jeong Tae-jun held his son in his arms and wore a faint smile.
The warm table and the mistress’s kind voice.
And the innocent laughter of his son calmed his confused mind for at least a moment.
As the night grew deeper, his son snuggled into his arms and whined.
“Daddy, when are we going to live together? I want to be with you all the time.”
Jeong Tae-jun whispered while stroking his son’s small head.
“Daddy will live with you and Mommy soon. Just wait a little bit.”
That night, he fell asleep with his son in his arms for the first time in a long while.
The child’s warmth made his heart infinitely weak.
The next morning.
Waking up, Jeong Tae-jun resolved that he should go back up to Seoul and finish the work.
Leaving a promise to his son and mistress that he would return soon, he turned the car without lingering.
Jeong Tae-jun, who returned to the Taeseong Ilbo headquarters, got out of the car with a deep sigh.
However, someone was already waiting in front of his office.
It was Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo of Chairman Lim Man-seok.
As soon as he saw him, he had an ominous premonition.
Chief Secretary Kang Cheol-woo’s eyes seemed not to hold a single trace of emotion.
It was a face as if he already knew everything.
Jeong Tae-jun spoke while instinctively becoming tense.
“Chief Secretary… what brings you….”
“President Jeong.”
Kang Cheol-woo called out coldly, cutting off his words.
It was very different from usual.
He was a polite person.
No matter how much younger someone was than him, he never lowered his speech to a member of the Taeseong family.
“Since you are no longer a member of the Taeseong family. I have no need to use honorifics.”
Jeong Tae-jun’s expression stiffened in an instant.
“What does that mean! Me, not a person of the Taeseong family.”
“As of today, Taeseong Ilbo is convening an emergency board meeting. And consider yourself informed that President Jeong Tae-jun’s duties have been suspended.”
Those words gouged Jeong Tae-jun’s heart more clearly than any blade.
“Was this, was this ordered by my father-in-law, no, the Chairman?”
Kang Cheol-woo answered briefly.
“That’s right, Mr. Jeong. From now on, your entry into the headquarters building is prohibited. The official notice will go out soon as a formal document, but we will organize and send your personal belongings on our own.”
Jeong Tae-jun said with his lips trembling.
“What are you talking about right now? How did I get to this position….”
“Look here, Mr. Jeong Tae-jun.”
This time, Kang Cheol-woo spoke while even omitting the title of President.
“You are finished now. If it hadn't been for Ms. Hye-seon all this time, this should have happened long ago.”
Those words struck his ears heartlessly like a cold death sentence.
And Kang Cheol-woo turned around without lingering.
Jeong Tae-jun watched that back and eventually lost his strength and slumped down right there.
The nameplate saying President Jeong Tae-jun of Taeseong Ilbo entered his sight.
Now, he could not even dare to look at that name.
‘Is it really all over.’
That afternoon, an emergency formal document was delivered to all affiliates of Taeseong Group.
[Notice of suspension of duties for Taeseong Ilbo President Jeong Tae-jun and commencement of special audit]
His three-syllable name was being erased from Taeseong quietly and quickly like that.
***
Breaking news shaking Taeseong Group erupted all at once through media outlets.
As if they had been waiting for such a day, all media outlets were hell-bent on reporting Jeong Tae-jun’s fall.
[
[
[The fall of a chaebol family son-in-law. Power crack within the Taeseong family]
Real-time search terms on portal sites were instantly plastered with keywords such as Jeong Tae-jun, Taeseong Ilbo, and Taeseong Group son-in-law instead of Daehan Group.
Anonymous tips poured in.
The tabloid-style rumors they spoke of spread quickly through social media.
The political and media circles also showed reactions little by little.
It was a scandal without precedent in the history of Taeseong Group.
The public was excited that the ugly bare face of a chaebol family was revealed.
A sense of anxiety hung within the company.
Jeong Tae-jun’s fall was not just an individual problem, but was dealing a serious blow to the credibility and image of the entire Taeseong Group.
Of course, the one who intended this was Nam Kun-ho, the head of Daehan Group.
In this situation, Chairman Lim Man-seok, the head of the Taeseong family, called the family members to the house.
Expensive cars stood in a line in front of the luxury residential area.
Lim Hye-seon entered the annex of Chairman Lim Man-seok’s residence with Jeong Seo-yeon.
Soon after, Vice Chairman Lim Do-kyung’s couple and I, Lim Hyunjun, arrived.
After that, Lim Do-hyun’s family also went inside.
The living room of the annex created a heavier atmosphere than usual thanks to the calm lighting.
This was a completely isolated space where no one but family could enter.
Chairman Lim Man-seok was sitting on a heavy leather sofa by the fireplace.
By his side was Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook, wearing a fine Hanbok.
They only stared at the clock with their mouths firmly shut, and turned their heads when Lim Do-hyun’s family finally entered.
“…Everyone is here.”
After exchanging short greetings, a silence flowed for a moment.
Lim Man-seok slowly said while looking at the faces of his children and grandchildren one by one.
“As you all know, the matter of Seo-yeon’s father is not a problem that can end as a simple moral wrong. He is my son-in-law and the representative of Taeseong Ilbo. This is a matter directly linked to the credibility of Taeseong Group.”
Everyone was listening to the words coming from Chairman Lim’s mouth.
A subtle tension hung in the air.
Chairman Lim Man-seok’s voice was heavier and more determined than usual.
“Therefore, regardless of what the outside world is making a fuss about, we must first organize our position. I hope each of you says clearly in this spot if you have an opinion before conflict builds up even among family.”
At that moment, Chairman Lim Man-seok’s gaze headed straight toward Lim Hye-seon.
“Hye-seon….”
She looked at her father without relaxing her firmly closed lips.
“This matter is most closely related to you. He is the president of Taeseong Ilbo, but before that, he is not your husband. Tell me first how you want to handle this. I want to respect your opinion.”
When all gazes focused on Lim Hye-seon, she took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
Her gaze was determined without a single trace of shaking.
Eventually, Lim Hye-seon opened her mouth.
“I thought very much about what would be for the sake of my parents, my siblings’ families… and my daughter Seo-yeon. Honestly, I think it is right that I should make a decision now.”
Lim Hye-seon took the hand of Jeong Seo-yeon, who was sitting in the seat next to her.
Looking at her daughter’s face, an expression filled with apology and hesitation was present.
Noticing that, Jeong Seo-yeon opened her mouth first.
“I am ready to follow whatever decision you make, Mom. Even if it is separating from Father.”
At those words, surprise spread across Lim Hye-seon’s expression.
For a moment, she could not continue her words, but she wiped the tears welling up in her eyes with a handkerchief and slowly opened her mouth.
“When did our daughter grow up like this? You are much more mature than your mother.”
Jeong Seo-yeon said nothing and just nodded while holding her mother’s hand tighter.
Lim Hye-seon only turned toward her father after firmly squeezing her daughter’s hand once more while barely distorting the corners of her tightly shut lips.
Now, any hesitation had disappeared.
“Father, I wish to end my marriage with Jeong Tae-jun. It no longer helps me or the child to have that person by my side. And I hope it does not bring disgrace to the name of the Taeseong family.”
The living room became quiet for a moment.
Lim Do-kyung quietly closed his eyes at his older sister’s decision.
Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook let out a low sigh.
While living with her daughter all this time, she was not unaware of what kind of person her son-in-law was.
She was only pretending not to know despite knowing because she was worried that her daughter would be hurt.
She only felt pity for her daughter and granddaughter who must have spent time with their hearts in their mouths, only for things to turn out like this in the end.
On the other hand, Lim Do-hyun wore a subtle smile that was not noticeable.
It was an expression as if it was just as expected.
Lim Hye-seon continued to speak without letting go of her daughter’s hand.
“That person’s problems have exceeded the level I can turn a blind eye to. I do not know how much of the truth of this incident will be revealed, but I will fulfill my share of responsibility.”
Chairman Lim Man-seok slowly closed and opened his eyes after silently listening to all her words and opened his mouth.
“Very well. I will respect your decision.”
After that, he turned his head toward his wife.
Mrs. Yoon Myeong-sook also quietly nodded as if she shared the same thought.
After that, Chairman Lim Man-seok spoke toward his children again.
“Now Hye-seon’s intention has become clear. Therefore, this matter can no longer be seen as only an internal family problem. The position of representative of Taeseong Ilbo will enter formal dismissal procedures as of tomorrow. And know that the full-scale audit of Jeong Tae-jun will be thoroughly identified and carried out at the group level.”
Lim Do-hyun opened his mouth immediately.
“I would like to take charge of and organize the appointments for the audit team.”