Small and Fragile Things - Chapter 54

At Il-hyun’s words, Muk-hyun’s lips curled into a cold, humorless smile.

“What?”

“I promise you won’t feel shortchanged. I’ll make sure you get a proper position in the hotel division, and I’ll treat you as a true member of the owner’s family.”

Muk-hyun couldn’t tell if Il-hyun had just let his real thoughts slip, or if it was a careless mistake. Either way, what he’d just said was as good as admitting he’d always seen Muk-hyun as little more than the family’s errand boy.

“I’ll make sure you live without envy. Irang will be able to hold her head high. Once you’re officially part of our family, who cares about paperwork like the family registry? You’ll have a nice house, plenty of comfort, maybe a kid or two. She can take care of you. Isn’t that what she’d want?”

Muk-hyun clenched his teeth as a sudden wave of nausea rolled through him. The things Il-hyun was talking about so lightly were the kinds of things Muk-hyun had endured countless sacrifices to even attempt.

“And by then, you’ll be settled. I’ll be in the chairman’s seat.”

Muk-hyun finally saw the picture Il-hyun was trying to paint.

“When that time comes, come to me. Just like you worked for my father, I want you to play that role for me.”

Even Jihyun, who usually butted in at every turn, stayed silent now. That meant this was already a done deal.

“For the sake of our family,” Il-hyun added.

Muk-hyun stared at him. So that was it. These bastards thought that if they dangled Irang in front of him, they could keep him chained up like a family dog.

The reality hit him hard. Any woman Il-hyun kept by his side would end up treated like this — just a leash to keep the hunting dog from biting the master.

Muk-hyun dragged a tired hand over his face. “For the family…?”

He felt that if he let his guard drop for even a moment, he’d lunge forward and snap Il-hyun’s neck. Covering his eyes with one hand, he took a long, slow breath.

“I wonder what the chairman would think if he knew his son was already treating him like an old relic to be shoved aside — and trying to steal away his loyal dog, too.”

“It doesn’t matter if he knows. He’s already agreed. When he hands me the chairman’s seat, he’ll hand you over too. That’s only natural. But still… I’d like you to come to me by your own choice.”

“Natural…?”

“We’re family, Muk-hyun.”

Muk-hyun laughed — an empty, bitter sound.

Family. Family…

Mother… was this the kind of ‘family’ you had in mind when you named me Muk-hyun?

“That’s right,” Jihyun seized the moment to chime in.

“So stop with the ‘I’m leaving’ crap and just focus on your work, got it? And answer the damn phone when I call!”

Muk-hyun rubbed the bridge of his aching nose and slowly got to his feet. That was enough. More than enough.

“Family, huh. Sounds great.”

His gaze sharpened like a blade as he looked at Il-hyun still lounging smugly in his seat. Then he picked up the overturned glass.

Il-hyun caught the look and flinched, but quickly twisted his mouth into a sly grin.

“What? Should I pour you one? As a sign of our agreement—”

“Read the room, you idiot.”

The moment Il-hyun realized the mood had shifted, his face hardened — and then crash. The heavy crystal glass shattered in Muk-hyun’s hand.

“Wha—what the hell are you—”

Before he could finish, Muk-hyun hurled Il-hyun’s half-filled whiskey glass to the floor. It exploded, shards flying, slicing open Il-hyun’s brow.

“B-bl00d…!”

Il-hyun’s panicked cry rang out, but Muk-hyun’s face remained calm — almost languid, the tension from moments ago gone.

“You know, medicine’s gotten so advanced they can drain all the bl00d from your body and replace it with someone else’s. Ever heard of that?”

A large shard of glass was still lodged in his palm. While Il-hyun flailed, Muk-hyun calmly pulled it out, as if pain didn’t even register. Bl00d ran bright down his arm.

“I’m thinking of trying it. Pretty sure this Choi family bl00d doesn’t suit me. Filthy. Disgusting… and I’ve had enough of it.”

He poured whiskey straight from the bottle over his bleeding hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. Only then did Il-hyun seem to realize who he was really dealing with, and that his earlier confidence was cracking.

“Your father used my sick grandmother as leverage. And now you… you’re trying to use my woman. Truly a fine bloodline. Don’t you think?”

Every word dripped like a cold, dangerous warning. Even then, Il-hyun couldn’t drop his arrogant pride.

“Muk-hyun. Don’t do something you’ll regret. Think about who’s standing in front of you.”

“Yes, Vice Chairman. But for someone making that kind of offer to me… you’re really nothing much.”

“What did you just—”

“For all your talk of ‘our family,’ you haven’t done much for it. Always making a mess, letting your underlings patch it up so you can save face… and you think you’re something special?”

Muk-hyun’s gaze softened in mock pity.

“If I turn you down… what exactly do you think you can do to me?”

“…”

“You’ve never had a drop of bl00d on your hands, have you? And you think you can threaten me?”

Il-hyun’s composure broke under the sharpest ridicule he’d ever faced. His earlier fear evaporated, replaced by pure rage.

“You dare—!”

“You should’ve held back a little longer. At least until you were in the chairman’s seat before trying to strike a deal with me. You got lucky with a woman and thought it was your big chance? No wonder you ruin every business you’re handed.”

“You—!”

Il-hyun’s fist cut through the air, but Muk-hyun caught it effortlessly. He even raised his brows and smiled, like he was praising a child.

“Want me to show you what happens when someone doesn’t know their place?”

Thud.

Muk-hyun’s fist drove into Il-hyun’s gut.

“Ghhhk—!”

Il-hyun crumpled, gasping, unable to breathe. And that was just the beginning.

“You’re nothing but the smiling face on the clean stage I set. The proud ‘heir’ of Choi Jung-do. That’s all you are.”

“You can have the spotlight on stage — but you don’t get to covet what’s mine.”

“St… stop—!”

“If you make pathetic offers to me without knowing your place… this is what happens.”

Thud. Thud. Crack. The blows kept coming, merciless.

“Hey, that’s enough! Are you trying to kill him?!” Jihyun shouted, hands clamped over her ears, but the moment Muk-hyun’s eyes met hers, she shut her mouth. She didn’t really want to get in the middle of this.

By the time Il-hyun stopped even making a sound, the icy fury on Muk-hyun’s face had melted away. Straightening up, he took a moment to catch his breath and lit a cigarette. The tension in the air began to thin.

When he was done smoking, he nudged Il-hyun’s limp body over with his foot.

Bl00d, spit, and urine soaked his clothes. He looked like someone pulled out of a river. His cloudy, unfocused eyes wandered the empty air. Clearly, he’d never imagined things wouldn’t go his way. And he’d certainly never pictured losing a fight like this.

“How’s it feel to be bitten by the dog you thought you owned?”

“…”

“If you want to be the master, you should know how to hold the leash yourself, you pathetic bastard.”

Muk-hyun wiped his bloody shoe on Il-hyun’s pants, looking almost refreshed now.

Jihyun, still shocked by how quickly it had all happened, scoffed in disgust.

“God… I knew this idiot was full of himself. ‘An offer you can’t refuse’? Please. I thought he had some kind of ace up his sleeve, but this? Just posturing? And he calls himself a man…”

Muk-hyun ignored her rambling, snatched the scarf from around her neck, and used it to wrap his bleeding hand.

“So. Where is she?”