Prey - Chapter 34
Suhyeon frowned as she tried to recall the time she got married to Do Jeonghan.
The blind date arranged by Park Young-hye was surprisingly a match with Do Jeonghan from the renowned domestic conglomerate, Cheonkyung Group.
Because of that marriage, Hee-nam’s company, HN Corporation, received enormous support from Jeonghan. With Cheonkyung backing them, HN quickly resolved its financial troubles and attracted investments from all around.
The biggest beneficiaries of that marriage were Seol Hee-nam, her stepmother Park In-ok, and her daughter, Seol Hana.
However, Seol Hee-nam’s management skills were terrible, and the support from Cheonkyung, which she had taken for granted, suddenly ceased at some point.
“When was that…?”
Suhyeon rummaged through her memories.
“Don’t answer the phone from your in-laws. Don’t meet them even if they come by.”
At some point, Do Jeonghan had said that.
From then on, Seol Hee-nam’s calls persisted obsessively, and Suhyeon ignored them. Even if Jeonghan hadn’t said anything, she had no desire to answer them in the first place.
What more could be asked of her, having already been forced into marriage by Seol Hee-nam’s threats?
Since the marriage, support for Oh Kyung-hee had also become Do Jeonghan’s prerogative, and there was no reason for Seol Hee-nam to drag him along.
Suhyeon had already heard several times at social gatherings about how Seol Hee-nam was relying solely on Cheonkyung and foolishly pursuing absurd business ventures while acting high and mighty.
“Do Jeonghan surely wouldn’t want to keep pouring water into a bottomless pit.”
It was only natural.
This wasn’t a marriage based on love, and given the lopsided conditions, it was questionable what Seol Hee-nam was relying on.
“Perhaps it’s just the result of her being a greedy person with a bad head.”
As Suhyeon wore a bitter smile, her expression became serious.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on a framed photo of Oh Kyung-hee, showing her smiling brightly in her healthy and youthful days.
…Mom.
As Suhyeon stared at the picture, her eyes subtly reddened. She took a deep breath, as if swallowing a familiar lump, and exhaled slowly.
Avoiding the gaze filled with guilt, Suhyeon resumed her tangled thoughts, like unraveling a knotted thread.
She couldn’t understand why Seol Hee-nam was so terrified when she saw Do Jeonghan. No matter how she thought about it, it seemed strange.
Was it because he had cut off her financial support? Why was Seol Hee-nam so afraid of him?
Recalling Seol Hee-nam fleeing as if she had seen a ghost, Suhyeon felt a certainty.
Something is happening.
Something she doesn’t know.
* * * * *
Park In-ok and Seol Hana, who had been waiting the whole time, welcomed Seol Hee-nam.
“Dear, you’re back?”
“Dad! What happened? Did you see Seol Suhyeon?
“……”
Seol Hee-nam, with a flushed face, left Park In-ok and Seol Hana behind and silently entered the inner room.
Park In-ok and Seol Hana exchanged glances.
“Did he not meet her?”
Seol Hana asked with a worried expression.
“That can’t be… Wait a minute.”
Park In-ok frowned and quickly followed Seol Hee-nam into the inner room.
“What happened? Did you meet her?”
As soon as the door closed, Park In-ok hurriedly asked.
“……”
Even with Park In-ok’s questions following her into the room, Seol Hee-nam remained silent.
‘What went wrong?’
Sensing something ominous, Park In-ok asked again,
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Did you not meet her?”
“I met her.”
Park In-ok’s face brightened again with doubt.
“Oh! What did she say? You didn’t go to see her only to be told again that she has no money, did you? She really takes after her mother with that annoying personality.”
Park In-ok frowned and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
After Seol Suhyeon’s marriage, HN had dreamed of rising to the ranks of a large corporation with the support of Cheonkyung, but it suddenly plummeted.
Do Jeonghan, who had seemed like an endless source of funding, had abruptly cut off his support one day.
‘How badly must Seol Suhyeon have affected our situation?’
Fury welled up in her, and she wanted to confront Seol Suhyeon and demand that she speak to Jeonghan directly, but she was chased away at the front gate without even being able to ring the bell due to the men guarding the house. It had been a long time since she had been able to contact anyone.
She also tried to find Jeonghan to explain, but he had blocked her as well.
During that time, the house in Gangnam was put up for auction.
She had been desperate to stay in Gangnam, but ultimately ended up in a rental house far from the Gangnam area.
At that time, Seol Suhyeon’s divorce lawsuit made headlines.
