Small and Fragile Things - Chapter 29

It had long been common knowledge that the lady of the Samun Group had a hobby, hosting guests.

Showing up in dazzling outfits and flaunting everything she owned? That was her life’s greatest joy. Among all the things she boasted about, she ranked her stunning beauty at the top, closely followed by her love story with Chairman Choi. To her, being a former rookie actress who landed the crown prince of the business world was a lifelong badge of honor.

And when that story felt a bit stale, she turned to her children. Not just the ones she gave birth to—but even Muk-hyun, the chairman’s child from another woman. If something was beautiful, she wanted to hold it, show it off, and claim it as hers.

The size of her social events varied—from casual tea times to lavish parties. Chairman Choi, rather than interfering, even built her a separate guesthouse so he could pretend not to notice.

“Shall we all raise our glasses for a toast?”

Tonight, she appeared in a pomegranate-red dress, sparkling with diamond hairpieces, urging everyone at the table to lift their glasses.

“Chairman, would you like to say a few words?”

“You go ahead.”

“Well then… how about Jihyun, our star tonight?”

“I’m the star? That’s news to me.”

Only five people sat around the outdoor table in the guesthouse garden. The chairman and his wife, their two children, and Muk-hyun, who had just arrived. Of them, the only one who knew the real reason for this gathering was Seo Yuseon—herself.

“Today, we’re celebrating our Samun Group’s little gem, Jihyun, for meeting someone wonderful! So let’s all toast to her happiness!”

“…Seriously?”

Jihyun, clearly blindsided by the announcement, still clinked glasses along with the rest—though no one’s expression matched the energy of the toast.

Anyone with a shred of social awareness would’ve backed off after that, but not Seo Yuseon. To her, her own mood always mattered most.

“I’m just so thrilled. Il-hyun’s wedding is coming up, and I was worried about Jihyun being alone, but then—bam! Someone great shows up just in time!”

“Mom… Who exactly did Jihyun meet?” Luckily, eldest son Il-hyun had decided to play along for her sake.

Yuseon beamed like a child and launched into the story.

“Drumroll, please… Guess who it is?”

“Ugh, Mom! I just went on one blind date, and now you’re making it sound like a fairy tale.”

“Excuse me! Do you know how much effort I put into setting that up?”

“If you were gonna try that hard, maybe go all the way next time. I told you—I hate those old-soul types.”

Up until then, Muk-hyun had been quietly seated, barely present. But when he caught Chairman Choi’s subtle glance, he stood up immediately.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

“Oh, son! Still haven’t quit smoking? It’s really bad for you, you know. Even classy women hate chain-smokers!”

“I’ll do my best.”

Muk-hyun gave a brief glance to Yuseon—who freely called him “son”—then slipped around the back of the guesthouse. Chairman Choi, phone in hand, followed soon after.

“Enough bickering. I’ll be making a call. Clear the table and bring out the whiskey, would you?”

“Aww, come on. If both of you leave, the party’s gonna die! You’ll be back soon, right, Chairman?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Behind the building, Muk-hyun was waiting. The chairman let out a soft chuckle.

“At least thanks to her, the house never feels too quiet.”

Muk-hyun didn’t comment on the excuse-like remark and got straight to the point.

“Is he agreeing to the deal?”

He wasn’t here because of Yuseon’s party. He had come at the chairman’s summons, after days of traveling for work. He’d only just returned to Seoul.

“No. That cockroach of a man sent a one-sided message instead. Said if we don’t return what was stolen, he’ll have me arrested.”

“Did he mention the ledgers?”

“He didn’t have to. It’s obvious. What else could a guy like him possibly use to blackmail me?”

Chairman Choi laughed, wiping his lips as if craving a cigarette.

“Sly bastard.”

Neither of them had said it directly, but between the ledgers and the girl, the deal had already begun.

It was unexpected. Muk-hyun had figured Kim Deok-gyu would deny everything, at least at first.

“What’s your plan?”

“I don’t need one. This game’s already mine.”

For a man to be that confident after the ledgers were taken, he either had to be absurdly arrogant—or holding a very solid hand.

“You’re that sure the girl is worth it?”

“Of course. She’s more than worth it. That guy should be groveling, not threatening. He knows that too. His pride just won’t let him admit it.”

“…Want me to meet with him?”

“You just focus on protecting the girl.”

Muk-hyun got the message loud and clear. The chairman had no intention of sharing any details. If he was going to pressure the prosecutor general, it would be through his aide, Mr. Gu, and whatever happened during that process would stay between them.

This wasn’t new. But it still rubbed Muk-hyun the wrong way. Being treated like a disposable pawn was never pleasant.

If he really wanted to, he could find out what was going on. With time, money, or muscle—nothing was off-limits.

But he held back.

Because he didn’t want to get any deeper into this mess, he wanted this job to be his last, a clean break. So he kept his questions to himself.

One thing was clear, the girl—just a small, quiet girl—somehow held the kind of power that could topple a prosecutor backed by the prosecutor general himself.

He’d promised himself he wouldn’t care about Illy’s secrets. But watching Chairman Choi act like she was some kind of wild card? That left him uneasy.

“If your hand is that strong, I could speed things up.”

It was a test—an attempt to gauge the chairman’s intent. But again, he was met with a flat rejection.

“No need. Even if we give them time, they’ve got nothing.”

It didn’t sit right. Normally, a job like this should be handled quickly and cleanly. Drawing it out felt odd.

“She says she doesn’t know who she is. Claims she’s lost her memory.”

“Is that so? Not entirely stupid, then.”

Chairman Choi snorted, clearly thinking it was a lie. That reaction pushed Muk-hyun to ask the question that had been lingering.

“Is she the prosecutor’s daughter?”

“Please. You think a guy that uptight would have a love child? He’s too afraid of his wife to do something like that. That girl? She’s Kim Deok-gyu’s own shovel—dug his grave with it.”

The chairman smirked, that same dirty grin Muk-hyun had seen too many times before.

No point asking further. But something still felt off—like he was missing a key detail. Irritated, Muk-hyun tugged at the collar of his shirt, suddenly feeling choked.

“Just remember, in this deal, you’re holding the most important card.”

That unusually pleased look on the chairman’s face sat in his throat like a thorn.

“Gentlemen! Get back here!”

Seo Yuseon’s sharp, chirpy voice sliced through the moment, pulling him from his thoughts. Even before the unease faded, a deep, sticky fatigue came rolling in.

***

Irang had been sitting on the living room sofa since sundown.

The sunlight had swept across her face, faded silently, and vanished—until the sky outside looked like it had been drenched in black paint. She hadn’t moved an inch.

Partly because there was nothing to do, but mostly because her body felt drained after throwing up everything she’d eaten.

Just like Park Eun-young had warned, her body was acting weird lately.

Gi-seon brought her all kinds of delicious food, and at first, she could eat it just fine. But by evening, she always ended up forcing it back out. If she didn’t, she’d be stuck all night clutching her swollen belly, groaning in pain.

Sleep was one thing. Gut-wrenching cramps were another.

“I want cream bread.”

Now that her stomach was empty, she craved bread again.

“I think there’s one left…”

But if she ate it, she’d just end up repeating the cycle.

We’ve got stuff to do, so we’re heading out. Don’t cry just ’cause you’re scared—just go to bed early or something.

Since the police incident, they sometimes left her home alone. As if some kind of trust had settled between them.

She appreciated it—but being alone still sucked.

“This house is too big.”