# Chapter 50
“I… kidnapping… about being kidnapped… how… No. No.”
He started to speak but then closed his mouth.
Then he was about to pick up the intercom but remained still for a while.
“…”
I hated the silence he was creating.
I didn’t want to be forcibly trapped in that stillness either.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Wait. You’re misunderstanding. I don’t know how to make you believe me, but I absolutely never did such a thing. It’s something you could figure out just by thinking about it rationally. Erasing you to solidify the succession plan? Seyoung isn’t my plaything. I’m looking for someone who can devote their strength to Seyoung’s revival, not simply planning to hand it over to my child just because they’re mine.”
I thought his words sounded plausible, but my heart wasn’t moved at all.
“I can’t deny that my children are precious to me. But there’s no reason to entrust something important to an incapable child and end up ruining Seyoung and putting everyone in a difficult situation, is there? Wouldn’t it be better to entrust it to someone else and let my children live abundantly enjoying the benefits? Of course, it would be ideal if my child had such abilities from the start.”
What did he mean?
Was Uncle not that kind of person?
I recalled people’s evaluations of Uncle.
And about Grandfather’s collateral branches and those who acted as his hands and feet.
Come to think of it, there was a lack of evidence to say that Seyoung’s succession plan had been firmly established.
At this point, Noona was exercising absolute influence over Seyoung Electronics, Grand Tamer had significantly increased its recognition within South Korea, and Seyoung Media’s ecosystem was changing, all of which was giving Uncle considerable power.
But was it the same when I was kidnapped?
That was something I hadn’t thought about before.
When I was outside of Seyoung Group, I had no choice but to uncritically accept the stories that reached me.
But now…
We looked at each other.
As if trying to find answers to our questions by looking into each other’s eyes.
“Who kidnapped you? Tell me how you were kidnapped.”
“…”
I didn’t want to recall what happened that day.
How hard had I tried to forget it?
I had finally managed to bury it, and now he wanted me to dig it up again?
I shook my head.
But he wouldn’t let me go so easily.
“Seomin. This is an important matter. I can stake everything on this. That everything I’m telling you right now is the truth. If there’s any lie in what I’ve said, I can do whatever you ask. I can even give all the assets I have at my disposal to you and your mother. I’ll do that. If what I’m saying proves to be false.”
“…”
There was absolutely no reason for him to go that far.
Yet Grandfather spoke firmly.
“I need to know who that bastard is. Who would dare to…! Who kidnapped my grandson whom I didn’t even know existed! I must find out!”
“I don’t understand why you’re suddenly acting like this now when you kept your distance even after I returned.”
“That…! It was at your uncle’s request. He said you were badly hurt and that it wouldn’t be good for me to step in right now. So he said they would take care of you for the time being and reported that to me.”
“…”
“But no matter how long I waited, it seemed like they had no intention of showing you to me, so I called you.”
I felt like something was off.
What had been happening?
I shook my head.
There was no need to believe what Grandfather was saying.
He must have risen to his position by deceiving all kinds of people and trampling on the rights of the weak.
Thinking that this kind of response wouldn’t be difficult for Grandfather at all, I recalled all sorts of negative emotions I had about him.
Grandfather seemed to vaguely know what I was thinking.
And from then on, he fell silent and appeared to be deep in his own thoughts.
My mind became complicated too.
I resented Grandfather, wondering why I was suddenly caught up in this situation.
It was Uncle who reached out and helped my mother and me when no one else cared for us and the world mocked us.
And Noona and Hyung…
Without them, I would have been nothing.
I could be certain that the current me wouldn’t have existed.
But…
I shook my head.
“Noona and Hyung aren’t those kinds of people.”
“I understand. I understand, so… for now. Please grant me one favor.”
“…”
“I’ll provide you with a new house, so move there. Let’s think of an appropriate reason for the sudden move. Perhaps citing security concerns would be good. We could even make it look like a burglary happened when the two of you were out together.”
I listened carefully, trying to understand what Grandfather was saying.
Though much explanation was omitted, he seemed to think that Uncle giving us that house wasn’t with good intentions.
He might have installed surveillance cameras to exploit our weaknesses…
When my thoughts reached that point, I suddenly felt dizzy.
There was an occasion when Cha Yeonwoo came to the house when my mother was out.
And there, I shared a kiss with Cha Yeonwoo.
“…!!”
This was merely Grandfather’s speculation, and I couldn’t be certain that there were actually cameras there.
“How many people are in the house? Working people, I mean.”
“…”
The number wasn’t what mattered.
Those people were also sent by Uncle.
If any of them were under Uncle’s instructions…
I just hoped that wasn’t true.
When I looked at Grandfather, he gazed at me with a complicated expression.
“You should be able to figure out who’s telling the truth with just a little investigation. Even I can quickly spot the contradiction in those words. Even if you don’t like me, your mother’s safety could be at risk, so move into the place I’ve prepared. If my son were still alive, it might be different, but he’s gone and now only you remain. What reason would I have to treat you and your mother badly?”
“…”
My head felt like it was going to explode.
“Noona and Hyung… they’ve been really good to me. Really… really. As good as they possibly could be.”
“Those children might not have known. Perhaps Jiyoung knew what her father was planning. She might have half-exploited you and half-pitied you while helping her father. This is just my speculation. And as for Seungwon. That boy isn’t the type who could meticulously show two different faces, so what he did for you was probably sincere.”
Inappropriately, I laughed.
“I know it’s hard to believe what I’m saying. I’m experiencing that right now too. I was about to call a few people, but I’m hesitating because I’m not sure if I can trust them. Wondering if those I thought were completely my people are really mine. I’m hearing this from you for the first time. And I never thought something like this could have happened.”
That meant that Grandfather’s eyes and ears had been thoroughly blocked by someone all this time.
That revelation was shocking to me too.
When I realized that what I had thought about Grandfather was actually a misunderstanding, it approached me as an even greater fear.
Uncle…
If Uncle had really deceived me as Grandfather said…
But it was also difficult to simply listen to Grandfather’s words and believe them as they were.
Even if I had no choice before because I didn’t know, now I could verify it sufficiently in my position.
I looked at him.
“I think I understand what you’re saying. But I can’t trust you either, Grandfather. So if you’re concerned about my mother and me, don’t say you’ll prepare a house, but give me money to find one. Then I’ll use that money to find a house myself.”
He looked surprised at my words, and after a moment, burst into laughter.
“Right. That’s correct. You’re right. You’re quite sharp. Your father was the same.”
His laughter grew louder.
A face that seemed satisfied.
Would someone wear such an expression if they discovered a valuable jewel in a cave they frantically fled into while being chased? It was that kind of expression.
I watched him like that and eventually gained his agreement.
“Alright. Let’s do that. This old man has entrusted too many things to others all this time. Even tasks I could do with my own hands. It seems that was a mistake.”
I didn’t know what Grandfather had decided, but he stood up from his seat and looked at me.
“I’ll keep my distance from you for the time being. If I show that I acknowledge you, unnecessary people will start causing trouble for you.”
“…”
Somehow, I found myself paying more and more attention to what he was saying.
Still, I was cautious, not completely letting go of my suspicions.
