Chapter 11
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“Pitiful thing. Sarcasm hides behind phrases like ‘excellent work’—surely you recognize the bite.”
Weon shook his head in disdain.
“Mockery. Sneer. Derision. Ex-cell-ent~ Yeongeo performance. Precisely so.”
Ignoring whether Yeongeo’s jaw dropped, Weon tucked a fresh wrap into Yewon’s mouth from across the table.
“Little one, try the bossam. Your uncle’s occupied, so this fellow steps in to help.”
“Right, little one. Savor every bite properly~”
“Make me an uncle, and I’ll call you child instead of kid~”
Frustration boiled inside her, yet Yewon ground the food down methodically.
No chance of that—he’d stay a mere stranger forever.
Yeongeo fidgeted under Doha’s quiet tone, eyes darting about.
“Uh, he wants Yewon at the office tomorrow for an introduction. Family ties mean we ought to meet properly…”
Weon arched a brow. “Odd for our CEO to sound so affectionate. No personal spin—repeat his exact words.”
Tears welled in Yeongeo’s eyes as he complied amid Weon’s pushback.
“Iron-fisted boss spoke like that? Lee Doha, you’re doomed. Expect a lavish send-off.”
“It’s his usual style. Kind words from a terrifying figure signal doom. Classic warning sign.”
Weon’s casual verdict drained the color from Yewon’s cheeks.
Whispers about Time Entertainment’s CEO had reached her ears before.
In his early thirties, he’d broken away from powerhouse Wonder Entertainment to launch Time Entertainment, rocketing it straight into the elite top three.
Legends painted him as unbreakable—even a blade wouldn’t draw blood.
Terror gripped Yewon as she gazed up at Doha.
Yet he remained utterly composed, untroubled.
“We’ll head over tomorrow afternoon. Yewon comes with me.”
Weon whistled. “Lee Doha, fatherhood’s turned you fearless. Child-rearing packs a punch, folks.”
Doha shot him a sharp look when Weon tsked again.
“With circumstances like these, a courtesy visit makes sense. Any weirdness, and I skip renewal.”
“Renewals loom, and he knows dependencies cut both ways.”
The trio sighed in unison at Doha’s steady reply.
“Seven years already, huh?”
In moments like these, Lee Doha proved anything but average.
Yewon couldn’t bear the tension any longer and voiced her fears.
Doha laughed softly, resting a palm on her crown.
“Fearsome, yes—but no villain at heart.”
Reassurance failed to lift the shadow from Yewon’s face.
Would this encounter truly pass without harm…?
A staggering offer from “not-so-bad CEO Park” left Yewon and Doha petrified.
It echoed like cracking rock.
They gaped at him, frozen in shock.
“CEO, such lavish openhandedness. Blown away—not by sentiment, but sheer magnitude.”
“Seizing Lee Doha this way? Capitalism reigns! Inspiring stuff.”
CEO Park’s growl silenced Weon’s theatrics as he mimed sealing his lips.
With peace restored, the CEO cleared his throat.
“Dead serious, Doha. This solves everything optimally now.”
“Yeongeo filled me in on Yewon’s story… At 53, a granddaughter fits better than another child. Perfect timing for me.”
Even formidable Lee Doha stood mute, caught off guard.
Yewon studied CEO Park with quiet awe.
His striking, edged charisma made her envy that look for her own fiftieth year.
“One daughter acquired instantly? Smart move, CEO. Bypassing the inevitable headache husband for this lovely girl—pure profit…”
“Quiet.”
Weon’s chatter aside, CEO Park fixed Doha with earnest eyes.
“You dismissed Yeongeo’s pick publicly at the funeral. She viewed you as true kin.”
“Real family"—the phrase stirred unrest in Yewon’s chest.
Jeyeon had insisted otherwise.
She’d seen herself as an accidental burden on Uncle Doha.
What relation could he claim?
She decided to press Doha for answers soon.
“Doha, explain your reasoning there.”
CEO Park blinked at Yewon’s abrupt words.
“He spouted frightening nonsense, so I refused him.”
Flustered made sense—the carefully selected match had terrified a girl.
Yet grievances burned in her too.
That candidate terrorized her relentlessly, culminating in her death.
“He demanded endless labor ahead. Whispered I’d shoulder Mother’s debts entirely!”
Not precisely at the funeral, nor yet occurred, but the threats rang true.
Horror etched every adult face at her revelation.
“Confirmed? He uttered that? Spill the rest.”
“Unbelievable Park Yeongeo unearthed such scum. Police now? Insane. Drag him over first.”
“S-s-sorry… Focus—lawyer consultation urgent!”
Rage united the four on her behalf.
Yewon stared, startled by their fierce defense.
True fury for her sake felt alien—Mother’s era the last.
Doha’s knuckles whitened.
“Deeper checks were essential. A relative volunteering after silence? Red flag from her never meeting him.”
“Her father’s early death severed ties—why doubt? No alternatives surfaced. He appeared ideal then.”
Yeongeo scrambled to soothe Doha’s wrath.
Context revealed Fake Uncle as paternal kin, not maternal.
Why the lie about Mother’s side?
“I’m sorry, Yewon. Unaware he was rotten. We’ll make him pay.”
Yeongeo bowed deeply in regret.
Yewon dipped her head, clutching Doha’s arm close.
“Precisely. Makes me the superior choice. Distrust elsewhere seals it.”
