The drive to the Cha family estate was a silent, grim procession. The sprawling traditional compound, with its manicured gardens and silent, bowing staff, had always felt more like a museum than a home. Tonight, it felt like a prison.
He was shown into the formal dining room, a cavernous space dominated by a long, black lacquered table. His father, Cha Tae-hyun, sat at the head, a carved stone idol in a tailored suit. To his right sat Lisa, Min Jae's stepmother, her beauty as sharp and polished as cut glass. And there, to his father's left, was Do Hyun, Lisa's son from a previous marriage. His presence was a clear signal that this was not a family dinner, but a corporate debriefing.
"Min Jae," his father's voice was like gravel, devoid of warmth. "Do Hyun tells me you were… inspecting retail properties today. An unusual use of a CEO's time."
