Chairman Yoon paced around the foyer, waiting for Min to arrive. The elder was absolutely mortified. How could that child reject Chairman Park’s granddaughter with such an absurd statement?! Just why couldn’t Min understand the gravity of the situation?! Gritting his teeth, the chairman stared at the front door when Butler Kim rushed to his side.

“Sir, here’s the salt you asked for. But, er, what are you going to do with it?” 

“What else would I do with it?! I need to drive away that ball of bad luck!”

Turning on his heel, the irate chairman threw a fistful at Min, who was entering through the front door. A moment of stunned silence settled the room before Butler Kim rushed to cover the heir from the salt attack. However, he was pushed away from the irate chairman. 

Gritting his teeth, Min brushed off the salty particles from his suit. He had anticipated his grandfather to kick up a storm and not ambush him with condiments. “... Are you trying to drive off evil spirits? I didn’t know you became a mudang in the eight years I’ve been gone.”

Scowling at Min’s words, the chairman threw the rest of the salt at Min’s face, “Just what were you thinking?! Do my words mean nothing to you?!”

“I don’t need an arranged marriage to widen my social networks–”

“You think I arranged such a meeting for something like that?! How can you still be so naive? Do you not want to take over this company?”

“I didn’t realize that an arranged marriage was the only way for me to inherit the company.” 

“You… Is it because of that entertainer?!”

“He’s a singer, not an entertainer.”

“Ha…! You pathetic fool! That child is more important to you than this family?!” Chairman roared, glowering at this grandson in exasperation.

“Grandfather, what more do you want me to do?”

“What…?”

Min inched towards his grandfather, towering over the elder like an imposing fortress, “I did everything you wanted me to do for the last eight years. I never questioned your decision to kick me out of this country nor asked you for anything… I thought that was the right thing to do because I caused the accident.”

“Min–”

“You know just as well as I do that I’m not fit to inherit the company. It should have gone to my brother, but I messed everything up. If I didn’t ask them to take me to Yi-an’s graduation and took the subway like I was supposed to, they wouldn’t have….” Min’s soft voice broke as tears rolled down his face.

“Don’t be ridiculous! That accident was never your fault–”

“Grandfather, I’ll do everything to grow and protect S&H Group, so please….” Min fell to his knees, fervently grabbing Chairman Yoon’s legs, “Please let me stay by Yi-an’s side.”

The elderly businessman clenched his fists, suppressing the tears welling up in his stern gaze. Just why…? Of all the people Min could have fallen in love with, why did it have to be that boy? 

“... I would have allowed it if you were born in an ordinary, average family. But you were born into this family. As long as you are a member of this household and the next heir, I will never allow it. I will not see my only surviving child dig his own grave.”

“Grandfather–”

Peeling himself away from Min’s grasp, Chairman Yoon turned to leave but froze at the heir’s words.

“I’ll give up the company.”

“... What did you just say?”

Rising from his knees, Min shifted his lifeless, obsidian eyes at the flabbergasted businessman. “Even if I do become chairman, I will always be targeted. So instead of living my life in constant fear of being kicked out, I’d rather give everything up and be with Yi-an.”

“Y-You…!”

Bowing to his grandfather, the heir exited the sprawling mansion, leaving his stupefied grandfather behind. Chairman Yoon stared after him, his blood rushing to his head. How could his only remaining grandson say such a thing…?! His knees buckling under his weight, the wealthy businessman collapsed onto the floor.

“CHAIRMAN YOON!”

~~~

Chief Secretary Choi sighed as he gazed at the sickly chairman. Why was the Yoon family so stupidly stubborn? Couldn’t they come to a compromise instead of taking things too far? 

“... That stupid boy….”

“Chairman Yoon! Are you alright? Let me go get the nurse–”

“No need. Just get me some water, will you?” the elderly chairman croaked, smacking his dry lips together.

“Of course.” Pouring a glass of water, the chairman’s right-hand man slowly guided the cup to the elder’s lips. “...Are you sure you’re okay? Dr. Oh says that your blood pressure–”

“I know; I heard that old hag when she came in earlier. I was merely pretending to sleep.”

“Ah….”

“...What about Min?” the chairman glanced behind his secretary, hoping to see Min in the room.

“We couldn’t contact him, so Joon-woo is looking for the Young Master.”

 “It’s a wonder he put up with this for so long. I suppose I was too selfish to hope for a granddaughter-in-law or great-grandchild from that rascal. Tsk.” The chairman shook his head as he leaned back in his bed again.

“Sir, when will you tell the Young Master the truth about the accident? I’m worried the relationship between you two will further disintegrate until there’s nothing left.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell him before I croak.”

“But….” The chief secretary clamped his mouth shut upon meeting Chairman Yoon’s gaze. 

“Stop talking nonsense and call Reporter Kang.”

Biting his lip, the secretary silently obliged the chairman’s demands and handed his phone to the elder’s outstretched hands. Looking away, Chief Secretary Choi nervously clasped his clammy hands as the daunting words spilled out of Chairman Yoon’s lips, 

 “Release it.”