The meeting with President Yoon wrapped up at last and early than they expected. The long hours of discussion, negotiation, and adjustments had reached their conclusion.
Soo-hyun stood, his expression composed and dignified. "President Yoon, thank you for taking the time. I look forward to your cooperation."
President Yoon smiled, extending his hand. "The pleasure is mine, Director Je. I can see why your company is thriving under your lead."
The two men shook hands firmly, a brief but professional clasp that carried mutual respect. Then they exchanged bows, polished and precise.
Kiyonari, standing just behind Soo-hyun, mirrored the bow respectfully before stepping forward to guide his boss out of the building.
The sun was setting, casting a soft amber glow across the plaza as they made their way toward the parked car. The driver, who usually stood by, wasn't around this time—leaving the sleek vehicle gleaming quietly on its own.
Kiyonari reached for the door handle out of habit but paused when he noticed Soo-hyun stopping beside the car.
"Sir?" Kiyonari asked cautiously. "Is something the matter?"
Soo-hyun turned his sharp eyes toward him, though there was something weavier beneath them tonight. "Do you have a license."
Kiyonari blinked. "Yes, I... I do. I've had mine since college."
"And you know how to drive."
"Why, yes, sir."
Soo-hyun exhaled slowly, leaning a hand against the car roof. "Good. Then you'll drive."
Kiyonari's brows lifted slightly, surprised.
"Me?"
"Do you expect me to sit behind the wheel after the day I've had?" Soo-hyun's tone wasn't harsh this time—it carried exhaustion instead, a quiet weight. "I don't feel like driving... so take the wheel and let's go."
He sighed sharply.
Kiyonari hesitated for a beat, then gave a small nod. "... Understood, sir."
He stepped forward, sliding into the driver's seat, adjusting carefully to the unfamiliar luxury interior. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, the leather cool against his palms.
Kiyonari started the engine, his mind steadying.
As he glanced at the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of Soo-hyun in the passenger seat—leaning back, eyes closed, a man who for once looked less like the untouchable director and more like someone who needed to rest.
*****
The evening came swiftly, and Kiyonari found himself standing a step behind Soo-hyun as they entered the Grand Acadia's private dining hall.
Crystal chandeliers glimmered above, casting warm light across polished marble floors and the pristine white tablecloth. The fragrance of roses filled the air—the bouquet Kiyonari had ordered earlier now rested elegantly at the center of the table.
Sitting down was Je Min-kyung, Soo-hyun's mother, with tailored ivory blazer, slim black trousers, no extravagant jewelry save for a pair of pearl earrings. Her attire was sharp, yet commanding—an elegance that did not need embellishment.
"Mother," Soo-hyun greeted, before taking a seat.
Kiyonari bowed politely. "Good evening, madam."
Min-kyung acknowledged him with faintest nod before her gaze returned to her son. Her eyes, though calm, carried an unmistakable weight—cold yet expectant.
"You came on time. That's good," she said, her voice smooth but formal, as though this were a business meeting rather than a family dinner.
"I wouldn't dare be late," Soo-hyun replied evenly.
The waiter entered and began serving the appetizers, but neither mother nor son seemed to care much for the food. Their focus was entirely on each other.
From his place nearby, Kiyonari kept silent, hands folded neatly in front of him. He wasn't here as a guest—he was here to watch, to listen, and to be ready when Soo-hyun needed something.
"Red roses—"
Min-kyung's gaze drifted briefly toward the bouquet of roses. "You remembered."
Soo-hyun leaned back slightly. "Of course. You told me once that roses are the only flowers worthy of a Je."
Her lips curved, faintly, but not quite into a smile. "At least you listen. You even gifted me a box of jewelry."
Though their exchange the subtle strain under their words. Each phrase carried something unspoken, as if behind the polished surface lay a storm neither wished to acknowledge in public.
The first course had barely been served when Min-kyung placed her utensils down with practiced grace.
"There's no need for small talk," she said calmly, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. "You know why I called you here tonight."
Soo-hyun lifted his glass of water, his expression unreadable. "I can guess."
Min-kyung's sharp eyes bore into her son. "Then you know it's time. The Association has already prepared the list of prospective mates. Your father and I expect you to review them."
Silence pressed between them. Soo-hyun's jaw tightened as he set the glass down.
Kiyonari, standing behind, lowered his gaze to the floor. He already knew about this from Eunji, but hearing it spoken directly from the mother's lips felt heavier.
"I've worked too hard to be shackled by traditions," Soo-hyun replied coldly. "My achievements speak for themselves. How come my private life needs to be dictated by family politics?"
Min-kyung's expression didn't waver. "Because you're not just you, Soo-hyun. You are now the heir of the Je family. Everything you have—your position, your influence, even the respect you command, rests on that name."
Soo-hyun scoffed bitterly, but she continued, her tone lowering, firmer.
"You will meet them. All of them, if necessary. This is not a request—it's your duty."
For a moment, Soo-hyun didn't answer. His fingers drummed against the table, eyes cast down, as though holding back the weight of his frustation.
Then Min-kyung's gaze softened, though only slightly. "It's been a while since the last time you came home."
That caught him off guard. His eyes flickered to her.
"Your father pretends he doesn't care, but he notices your absence. Your grandfather ask why he never see you. Even I..."
Her words trailed faintly before regaining firmness, "You should come home often. Everyone wonders if you've forgotten where you came from."
Her words lingered in the quiet private dining room.
Kiyonari, standing silently nearby, felt the heaviness settle even on his own chest. It was rare—almost shocking—to hear the cold, commanding woman speak with longing. Even the way the two interacted felt nothing like family would do.
"Come home, Soo-hyun," Min-kyung said, straightening her posture once again. "If not for tradition, then at least for your family. Visit us. Even once."
She touches his hands resting still on the table.
Soo-hyun exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. His expression was guarded, but his silence was enough to show the inner conflict brewing within him.
As the main dish was laid on the table, Soo-hyun placed his utensils down and turned his head slightly.
"Mr. Soo," he said flatly.
Kiyonari blinked, standing behind him. "Yes?"
"Leave us. Wait by the entrance."
Kiyonari hesitated for half a beat, glancing at Min-kyung, who gave no indication of objection. He bowed politely and excused himself, though he lingered near the door, just close enough to hear fragments of the conversation.
*****
The moment it was just the two of them, Soo-hyun's voice dropped, edged with steel. "I'll make it clear, mother—I refuse."
Min-kyung arched a brow, unshaken. "Refuse?"
"I've build everything with my own ability. I poured all my time to the company's growth—none of it required me to parade around with a mate. I can't let you use me as a bargaining chip, again."
Her lips curved into a cold smile. "How naïve." She leaned forward, her gaze piercing into him.
"If you think you're standing here all because of you alone, then you're greatly mistaken. Every step of your rise, every door that opened for you—was because of me."
Soo-hyun's eyes narrowed, but she pressed on.
"It was all my doing. What makes you think you have a choice or say in this matter?"
She shifted her weight, her tone firm again.
"Do not delude yourself, Soo-hyun. Without me, you'd still be nothing but an illegitimate child in the shadows of your siblings. You are where you are now because I built this path, piece by piece. And I will not let you throw it all away because of your petty pride."
His jaw clenched. "So you expect me to listen and bow to a tradition I despise?"
"I expect you," Min-kyung said sharply, "to prove yourself worthy of the name Je. To show your father—and especially your grandfather—that you are the rightful heir to lead, not some reckless and stubborn child."
The weight of her words pressed down heavy, leaving only the faint clinking of cutlery in the background.
Soo-hyun leaned back, his expression tight, his voice low. "And if I refuse still?"
Her eyes hardened like steel. "Then everything I've built for you will crumble. And you will have no one but yourself to blame."
Silence hung thick between them.
And only then did her tone shift, just slightly softer. "That's why I'm asking you... at least, come home. Show them you haven't forgotten your family."
The silence between them felt suffocating, broken only when Min-kyung delicately set her glass back down. Her tone sharpened again, leaving no space for negotiation.
"Think carefully, Soo-hyun. This is not merely about you. It's about the Je family, our legacy, and the reputation we bled to preserve. You cannot afford to be selfish."
Soo-hyun's fingers drummed lightly against the table, his gaze cold. "Selfish?"
"Yes," Min-kyung said firmly. "You act as though rejecting the arrangement is strength, but in truth, that'll become your weakness."
Every powerful family has entrusted the Association with finding their heirs a prospective mate. A truth that Soo-hyun could never deny.
"Do you believe you are above that tradition? That you can break it without consequence?"
He scoffed under his breath, but she pressed on before he could speak.
"You will consider the marriage, and that's final. The Association has already gathered suitable Alphas—strong candidates who will elevate your position, protect you, and strengthen the Je bloodline. That is how you secure your future. That is how you prove you are worthy."
Soo-hyun's hands curled into fists beneath the table. "You would have me chained to a stranger. For business."
"For survival," Min-kyung corrected sharply. Her voice lowered, steely yet almost maternal in its finality. "You may resent me, but remember this: the world will never be kind to someone like you, no matter how capable you are. With the right Alpha by your side, you will never lose. Without one... you will always be vulnerable."
Her words landed heavy, leaving Soo-hyun staring down at his untouched plate.
By the door, Kiyonari clenched his jaw as he quietly lowered his gaze. He shouldn't be hearing this—but every word echoed in his head, tightening his chest with guilt and unease.
The air around the table snapped like a taut string when Soo-hyun shoved back his chair, the legs scraping sharply against the marble floor. He shot to his feet, his chest rising and falling as though he'd been holding his breath too long.
"Enough, mother!" His voice rang out across the quiet room, raw with fury. His jaw tightened, teeth gritted, the veins at his temple visible. His brows knotted in a storm of restrained anger.
"Why do you have to always control me? Isn't all of this enough for you?!" His hand swept toward the table, the untouched plates. "I already got the position you wanted! Stop using me for your ambitions!"
Min-kyung's eyes flared wide at his audacity. With a sharp motion, she slammed her palm against the table, silverware clattering from the force. "How dare you speak to me this way! Do you think any of this was for me?!"
Her voice cracked like a whip. "I've done everything so you won't suffer the humiliation of failure. If you ever make a mistake, even once, this family will cast you aside without hesitation."
But Soo-hyun didn't waver. His voice lowered, steadier, laced with venomous truth.
"No. You're afraid that you will lose power in this family."
That pierced through her composure. For the first time, Min-kyung faltered—her lips parting without a word, her eyes trembling as though he had struck her bare.
"I don't need any Alpha to stay in power," Soo-hyun said, each word deliberate, cutting. He stepped closer, his shadow falling across her.
"I don't need your strings to claim my right as the heir. I will do everything on my own—without your help."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking into hers, sharp and unrelenting. "I'm in control of my life now, mother. Not you."
The weight of his glare lingered like fire against her skin.
Then, with a final turn, he pivoted and strode toward the door.
"Soo-hyun!" Min-kyung's voice cracked, trembling with rage and fear. Her hand clutched desperately at the tablecloth until her knuckles whitened. "Come back here!"
She gritted down sharply. "How dare you talk to me like that?! You don't understand! Do you have any idea how hard I had to use my power just to give you what you want?! And this is how you will repay me?!"
"One day you will fail and realize you were wrong!"
But her words only echoed in the emptiness he left behind.
Min-kyung stood frozen, her hand still clawing at the fabric, her chest heaving. Her grip tightened until the cloth nearly tore—anger masking the deeper tremor of dread that had been struck in her.
Soo-hyun stormed out of the private dining room, the door flinging open with such force that nearby staff flinched. His strides were long, sharp, and furious, his aura heavy enough to silence the hall around him.
Kiyonari, who had been outside, immediately straightened up. His eyes widened as their gazes collided for the briefest second. In those eyes, he caught a flicker of something—anger, exhaustion, maybe even pain—but just as quickly, Soo-hyun turned his head away.
"Let's go. We're leaving." His voice was low, clipped, yet calm.
Kiyonari blinked, still rattled, but quickly nodded. "Y-Yes, sir." He hurried to match Soo-hyun's pace, following him out of the restaurant.
Once at the curb, Soo-hyun stopped, tossing the keys to himself before Kiyonari could reach for them. "I'll drive. Alone."
Kiyonari froze. For a moment, he wanted to insist, but the stern set of Soo-hyun's jaw told him this wasn't the time. So, he bowed his head obediently. "Understood, sir."
The luxury car roared to life, tail lights flaring as Soo-hyun pulled away without another glance back.
Kiyonari stood at the curbside, his figure small against the flow of the city evening. He watched the car disappear down the street, thoughts storming inside him.
Even without hearing their words, he knew something heavy had taken place inside that dining room.
*****
Earlier, when he had returned from a quick bathroom break, he had noticed waiters exchanging nervous glances, the restaurant staff whispering in hushed confusion, as if standing on the the edge of something volatile.
And now, after seeing Soo-hyun's expression... it only confirmed it.
Kiyonari exhaled slowly, a deep sigh pressing out of his chest. His shoulders sagged under a weight he couldn't name.
What to do? He thought bitterly. I don't think this match making will ever be smooth sailing as everyone expected.
Not after seeing how reluctant Soo-hyun is about the matter. And even if Kiyonari wanted to, it was never his place to say anything.
The helplessness stung. He couldn't explain why as he clenched his fists at his sides before letting them loosen again.
Yet, beneath it all, a quiet worry gnawed at him—an ache that crawled up his throat and sat heavy inside him.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "Let just go home..." He muttered, pressing his hands on the back of his neck.
No point in thinking about this too much.
But his mind still lingered to Soo-hyun...