Early this morning...
Ingrid Mikage was busy making coffee before heading to work. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen as she stood by the counter, waiting for the machine to finish.
She glanced towards the living room and noticed her daughter, Kim Yeon Mikage, sitting on the floor with her high school homework spread out in front of her.
Judging by the number of unfinished pages, she had clearly left everything until the last minute.
"Serves you right for not finishing your homework last night," Ingrid scolded, maintaining her usual calm expression.
Kim Yeon glanced up briefly, giving her mother an awkward smile before returning her attention to the pile of assignments. Her pencil moved frantically across the pages as she tried to finish as much as possible before school.
Ingrid shook her head slightly. She had half a mind to lecture her daughter about time management, but instead, she opened the refrigerator and took out a small plate filled with peeled and sliced apples. She carried it into the living room and gently placed it beside Kim Yeon.
"Don't pressure yourself too much, Kim Yeon," she said kindly, although a trace of worry lingered in her voice.
Kim Yeon paused her writing and looked at the plate of apples. A small smile appeared on her face as she picked up a slice and took a bite.
"I know. And, Mom..." She hesitated for a moment, lowering her gaze towards her homework. "I'm sorry about everything."
Ingrid studied her daughter for a moment. Her expression softened, but she didn't immediately respond. Instead, she turned around and walked back towards the kitchen counter, picking up her coffee and taking a slow sip.
Her thoughts drifted back to the events of the past few weeks, a period she wished she could erase from her memory.
Kim Yeon had nearly been drugged and rxxe at the Harlon Hotel, an establishment connected to the criminal operation orchestrated by Gin Chu Won, the mastermind behind the entire affair.
If Shan Wolf hadn't intervened in time, Ingrid couldn't bear to imagine what might have happened to her daughter.
Even now, the memories were enough to make her fingers tighten around her coffee cup.
She could still remember the news reports that had flooded the television screens that day, announcing Gin Chu Won's death and exposing a dozen cases involving the rxxe of teenagers between the ages of fifteen and seventeen.
They had all been lured by promises of becoming celebrities, their dreams of fame exploited by people who had no intention of helping them.
Ingrid's jaw tightened as those memories resurfaced. She had spent so much time keeping her emotions under control, convincing herself that everything had been dealt with. Yet, whenever she looked at Kim Yeon, the fear returned.
She had come dangerously close to losing her daughter.
"It's not your fault, child. It's just as well that everything turned out this way, so don't apologize for something you didn't know about," Ingrid said softly.
Her voice was gentle, almost a whisper, but Kim Yeon heard her faintly from the living room.
The younger girl stopped writing for a moment and looked towards her mother. Although Ingrid had her back turned, Kim Yeon could sense the sincerity in her words. She lowered her head, quietly accepting them before returning to her homework.
A few minutes later, Ingrid finished her coffee and began gathering her belongings. She checked her smartphone, adjusted her glasses, and straightened her clothes before picking up her handbag. With everything ready, she headed towards the entrance of her high rise apartment.
Just as she was about to leave, she turned towards her daughter.
"Don't forget to lock the door before you leave," Ingrid called out.
"Okay! Tell Uncle I said hi!" Kim Yeon answered cheerfully.
Ingrid froze with one hand on the doorknob.
"Wait, Uncle? You mean Shan Wolf?" She turned around, staring at her daughter in confusion.
"Yeah. Did you really think I didn't know?" Kim Yeon replied with a mischievous grin. She set her pencil down and leaned back slightly, looking far too pleased with herself. "Besides, he's getting pretty close to earning the title of 'Dad' from me. Or maybe 'Godfather' would be more appropriate. And ack!"
Before Kim Yeon could finish her sentence, Ingrid rushed over and gave her a sharp knock on the head with her fist.
"There's nothing between me and that bastard!" Ingrid scolded, her composure cracking as she glared at her daughter. She raised her fist again, making sure Kim Yeon understood that she wasn't in the mood for further teasing. "Finish your homework quickly and get ready for school!"
"Aww! And you even saved Uncle's contact under the name 'Bastard'," Kim Yeon complained, rubbing the top of her head with both hands.
Ingrid's eyes widened.
"You... How did you know?!" she stammered, momentarily losing her ability to form a proper response.
Kim Yeon giggled at her mother's reaction. Seeing Ingrid so visibly flustered was a rare treat, and she had no intention of letting the opportunity go to waste.
"I saw the missed calls when your phone was ringing on the table over the past few days. Did you really think I wouldn't notice, Mom?" she asked playfully, tilting her head as she watched her mother's face turn red.
Ingrid opened her mouth to respond, only to find herself at a complete loss for words. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath, desperately trying to regain her usual composure.
"Just...! Just get to school!"
"Hai, hai. Wakarimashita yo," Kim Yeon replied in Japanese, waving her hand dismissively before returning to her homework with a smug smile.
Ingrid could only glare at her daughter for another moment before turning sharply towards the entrance. She opened the door and stepped out of the high rise apartment, closing it behind her with slightly more force than necessary.
She made her way to the assigned parking space, where her Porsche was waiting. After unlocking the car, she slipped into the driver's seat, placed her handbag beside her, and shut the door. The familiar scent of the interior greeted her as she settled into her seat.
Ingrid inserted the key, started the engine, and leaned back against the headrest with a heavy sigh.
Kim Yeon's words continued to echo in her mind.
He's getting pretty close to earning the title of Dad.
Her cheeks began to warm as she replayed the conversation. She covered her face with one hand, shaking her head in disbelief at her daughter's audacity.
"That brat...! What was she thinking, saying such nonsense?" she muttered to herself.
She lowered her hand and stared through the windshield, trying to convince herself that Kim Yeon was simply being childish. There was absolutely no reason for her to take those words seriously.
Shan Wolf was just a man who had helped them through a difficult situation. He was a troublesome, infuriating man who somehow always managed to get under her skin.
That was all.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
Ingrid closed her eyes and took a slow breath, attempting to calm her racing thoughts. Unfortunately, the silence inside the car only made it easier for memories to resurface.
She remembered that night in the hospital, when Shan Wolf had told her to stop and look back at what she was doing. He had even referred to Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem The Charge of the Light Brigade, using its message to make her reconsider her relentless pursuit of her goals.
At the time, she had been irritated by his words. Who was he to tell her how to live her life? She had spent years building her reputation, learning to control her emotions, and making difficult decisions that others would never understand.
Yet, despite her initial resistance, his words had stayed with her.
The memory faded, only for another to take its place.
A week after Shan had rescued Kim Yeon from the Harlon Hotel, Ingrid had offered him a ride back to his place. It was supposed to be nothing more than a simple drop off. She had merely wanted to thank him in her own way before returning to her usual routine.
However, things had taken an unexpected turn. What began as an ordinary ride had eventually led to a night of unrestrained intimacy between them, one that had left her struggling to understand her own feelings.
Even now, the memory made her face burn.
But it wasn't the intimacy itself that lingered most strongly in her mind. It was what happened afterwards.
Shan had asked about Kim Yeon, his voice carrying a genuine concern that she hadn't expected from him. There had been no mockery, no attempt to pry into her private affairs. He had simply wanted to know whether her daughter was doing well, his expression serious and his attention entirely focused on her answer.
For a brief moment, he had reminded Ingrid of a worried father checking on his child.
That was what had unsettled her the most.
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling of the car, letting out another weary sigh.
"Why are you always breaking down my walls, bastard...?" she muttered.
Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she remembered another moment, one that had stayed with her long after their conversation ended.
"I won't let them make you suffer anymore, Ingrid."
His promise replayed in her mind with startling clarity.
Ingrid's heart skipped a beat. She pressed a hand against her chest, as though doing so might somehow quiet the unfamiliar sensation spreading through her.
She had heard countless promises throughout her life. Most had been empty words, spoken by people who wanted something from her or believed that saying the right thing was enough to earn her trust.
But Shan had never sounded as though he was merely saying what she wanted to hear.
He had spoken with a certainty that made her believe him, and that was precisely what frightened her.
"What am I doing?" she whispered, staring blankly ahead. "Am I really falling for that guy?"
She immediately shook her head, as if the movement alone could dismiss the thought.
With a long, exasperated sigh, she rubbed her forehead and leaned back in her seat.
"Unbelievable. I can't believe I'm thinking like some teenager in a love story," she muttered to herself.
For several seconds, Ingrid remained still, allowing the silence to settle around her. Then she straightened her posture, adjusted her glasses, and took one final breath before shifting the car into gear.
Whatever she was beginning to feel for Shan Wolf, she had no intention of letting it interfere with her responsibilities.
She set her personal feelings aside and drove towards the company, ready to resume her position as the same ice cold queen who led the Investor Relations department.
Back to the present....,
Currently inside the men's tiolet lock from the inside, Ingrid was panting after she pause when Shan Wilf asked her what was wrong.
She was riding him intimately but with more eagerness, she answered him without hesitiation. "I want you to live with me, Shan."
She said it, looking at him dead in the eye.
"...., is that a joke? What nonsense is that?" Shan asked, but for some reason when he daid that, Ingrid got pissed off a little.
"What do you mean 'nonsense'? Why does that sound like a nonsense to you?!" She continued her assault on him.
"Just imagine," she panted, "imagine everyday, you coming home, seeing me in an apron, seeing my fucking ass, admit it, you wanna take it." She teased, doubling her performance.
Shan Wilf cant hold it, he got up holding her steadily hooked under her legs as he slmas her back against the wall.
"As i said earlier, im not that easy to be persuaded, Ingrid." He slap her rear. "Ah, bastard!" She hissed.
He took her harder and deeper, "uh...! So hood, fuck its too good. What are you a machine? And what the fuck is this fucking size, never in my life have i asked, enhancement?" She asked, teasing him assuming her he got implants.
"Oh you really piss me off this time, bitch!" He double down, "ah! Yes! That's it! That's the Wolf i prefer. Fucking hate fuck me!"
Thr two grew intimate, psitting insults at one another. "I hate you, i wanna kill you! But fuck, why. Why didnt you just be a good dog and leave Korea, yet you caught me! You caught me and i dont regret it at all. Punish me! I deserve it! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!!" Said I grid, she was holding in, not wanting the burst first.
"I hate you too, asshole! But fuck! Im glad i caught you the act and fucking blackmailed you! Your mine! Answer me, Ingrid! INGRID!!!" Shan Wolf demanded the answer.
"Yes! Im yours, fuck make me yours, churn me up and knock my fucking door UPPP!!!!!" In the end, they both exploded first and stayed there awhile.
"I think we just burned a few calories, bastard." She chukcled in ecstacy and panting in heated sweat.
"Yeah, we did, Ingrid." Shan Wolf replued back.
"Shan...., kiss me. Not the hate or the force or anything. Kiss me like you mean it. Im serious." She asked, Shan Wolf didnt hesitated by her request and ended up kissing her, makk g out with her for a frw more minutes.
"No,no,no....come back here. Dont stop, your so delicious." She panted from the heat and continued kissing him tightly.
Shan Wolf held her close, warping her aeound her back and another hand held her head through her hair.
"Shh..., i know, Ingrid. Im here." Shan replied back and continued making out with her inside the men's toilet lock.
An hour passed before Ingrid and Shan found themselves strolling through a park she knew well. The morning air had settled around them, and the trees cast long shadows across the walking paths. For a while, they simply enjoyed the quiet, away from the demands of work and the complicated circumstances surrounding their lives.
Eventually, Ingrid returned to her usual businesslike demeanor.
"As much as I wanted to scold you earlier, I have to admit that, thanks to that incident, our plans are proceeding quite smoothly," she said, glancing at Shan.
He looked at her with a slightly amused expression.
"You think I'm surprised by the plan? Things were going well until that asshole decided to post those horrible things about Mei Yoo Jun."
Shan shook his head in irritation.
"Honestly, what kind of person does something like that just to ruin someone else's reputation?"
Ingrid listened quietly before slipping her arm through his.
"Don't ask me. You already know how disgusting some people can be."
She leaned against him slightly, her expression turning playful again.
"And besides, didn't you say that I'm yours?"
Shan glanced down at her.
"Was that part of the business discussion?"
"Don't be ridiculous." She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "I'm asking whether you meant it or whether it was just something you said in the heat of the moment."
He considered her question for a second before answering with a teasing smile.
"A bit of both."
Ingrid stopped walking and stared at him.
"Bastard."
Shan scoffed, then leaned down and planted a brief kiss on her cheek.
Ingrid's eyes widened. For a moment, her usual composure completely abandoned her, leaving her staring at him in surprise.
Shan straightened up and continued walking as though nothing had happened.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm your bastard, aren't I?"
She let it slide and went back to the matter at hand, ingrid tells Shan Wolf she received a call ftom Mei Yoo Jun's father, Seo Tang Jun will support them to take down the Vice President, Jen Heo Won.
Shan nearly stumbled in shock.
"Wait, what?!"
He stared at Ingrid, trying to process what she had just told him. Mei Yoo Jun was the daughter of a powerful congressman, and he had slept with that very same woman several times without knowing anything about her family background.
He brought a hand to his forehead, letting out a disbelieving sigh.
"Jeez, you really might have a shot at becoming part of a political family, Shan," Ingrid remarked casually, seemingly unconcerned by his reaction.
Shan could only give her a bewildered look.
What the hell is my life anymore?
Meanwhile, Ingrid turned her gaze towards the brightly illuminated city of Seoul. The buildings stretched into the distance, their lights glittering against the evening sky. Standing beside her, Shan followed her gaze, allowing the quiet atmosphere to settle between them.
"Shan," Ingrid called.
He turned towards her.
"Yeah?" he answered.
"You have this weird trait," she began, her eyes still fixed on the city. "There's something about you that attracts people and makes them want to approach you. And when that connection becomes defective, you can easily pull the plug and walk away."
She paused briefly, contemplating her next words.
"That trait of yours is worth more than being a smartass or having a golden spoon in your mouth."
Shan remained silent, listening to her carefully.
Finally, Ingrid turned towards him. Her violet eyes met his, and for once, there was no teasing smile or sarcastic remark on her face. She looked at him with the seriousness of someone about to make the most important decision of her life.
"I want to bet everything on you, Shan."
She held his gaze, her expression unwavering.
"So, here's my question."
Ingrid took a quiet breath before asking him directly.
"Do you want to take over Won Group with me?"
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Chapter 87 — End.