The Diamond Hall, like its name, was shaped like a diamond. Luxuries and lavish furnishings decorated each of its four tall walls. It was the size of a royal ballroom. The floor was made of Calacatta marble and crystal diamond-shaped panels. The domed roof was made of diamond-shaped glass panes that gave a clear view of the moonlit sky and evening stars. The walls were made with gold panelling and inlaid with real 4 carat diamonds. The wallpaper was illustrated with silk threads and studded with small diamonds and crystals every centimetre. Just one patch of that wallpaper would be enough to feed a country.
Sometimes even I had to marvel at the sheer wealth that the Kang family had accumulated over the centuries. I would only be able to see the family treasury when I became the Head, but I was sure it would be even more impressive than this room.
A place like this was made and used for only one reason, to show off.
Many of the guests danced in the large centre whilst an orchestra played on the stage and our staff, dressed in Hanbok, served drinks and food.
For all his faults, I had to admire how thick-skinned Joon-ki was.
The moment we entered the hall together all eyes were on him, conversation halted and whispers filled with mockery spread like wildfire. Yet through all the insidious words and callous laughter, Kang Joon-ki stood tall. He navigated the crowd and the circles like a true insider, greeting everyone he came across whether he knew them well or not.
He used me craftily as a tool in his hands. No one wanted to speak ill of him or make a bad impression in front of his genius child who never forgot a face or a word spoken. So most of his conversations went well; with forced smiles and fake politeness. Joon-ki was also quite silver-tongued and dare I say, charming. Soon enough he had garnered quite a crowd around him and many people were enjoying his company.
However, for me, the novelty of Joon-ki's thick skin quickly grew boring. All he was doing was small talk and ass-kissing. I thought it would be more fun but I remembered that this was all he was capable of. Boring people came up with boring solutions, and for a spoilt trust-fund child who only knew how to use the people around him, networking was all he amounted to.
I tugged his arm while he was exchanging some fake laughter with the Minister of Health. He glanced down at me with surprise, "What's up?"
"I'm feeling a little tired, I'm going to sit with Min Ho for a bit" as I said that Min Ho appeared before me like a spirit I had summoned.
He stepped out so silently that Joon-ki audibly gasped, "Is your Manny a Ninja" this sent a ripple of laughter through the small group of people he was standing with.
He quickly regained his composure, "Yes go rest, you've been very good, Dad will come to look for you soon." I was dismissed. He didn't even give a second glance as Min Ho picked me up, and we walked across the hall.
"As usual he's a piece of shit," Min-Ho muttered, "I wish I could scalp him and leave his exposed skull in the fields to be feasted on by crows."
A wry laugh made my lips twitch upwards, "That's not a bad idea, but I have bigger plans. In a few years, he will be wishing for death."
I expected Min Ho to laugh or reply in some way, but instead he was silent. I glanced at him only to realise he was distractedly gazing at the woman Joon-ki had brought to the fundraiser.
I was confused until a light flickered in my head. That strange sense of familiarity from Ms Ha-Rin finally became clear. She looked a bit like Min Ho. They had similarly shaped eyes, although Min Ho was more striking appearance-wise, they shared the same ambience. They must be related.
"Who is she to you, you look similar?"
Min Ho's expression became bitter, "M-my mother, she's my biological mother."
"I see" I nodded quietly.
Min Ho had mentioned his family situation[1] to me before. So that was the woman that had forgotten about her son, or rather, she simply didn't care about him.
There are people that see their children as appliances rather than individuals. Once that tool becomes inconvenient to them or no longer fit for the purpose they have in mind, they toss it aside. Beating it, ignoring it, and even killing it. Reproduction at its core is egotistical and narcissistic. Children are a form of wish fulfilment and even parents with the best intentions are using their children for some means.
Min Ho was simply a tool that was tossed aside. Perhaps his mother did hold some love for him, but her life was easier without him, and so she neither searched for him nor did she bother to recognise or reach out to him. An action that was louder than any words.
"Do you want to kill her?"
Min Ho froze at my question, he didn't even blink as he thought deeply, but then a minute later he shook his head. "When someone is murdered people close to them and their relatives are always suspected first, it wouldn't take long for officers to uncover our connection. Plus she is a wealthy woman with many people that love her, even if I got rid of her body properly, someone would still intensely look for her if she goes missing. It would be troublesome... The only people I need to kill are the ones you want to kill, so the real question is...do you want to kill her...If you do, I can go through that trouble?"
His answer made me happy. I had to fight the urge to giggle.
He clearly wanted to kill her but he was self-aware of the consequences of his actions and the steps he would need to take, and he was also well aware that he belonged to me. His will didn't matter, my will was what mattered.
I smirked and shook my head.
"For the moment we shouldn't toy with her, but it's not completely off the table. I'll let you have your fun soon, but not today."
Min Ho gave me a warm look filled with affection and he was about to say something but then we were interrupted by a silky voice.
"If it isn't my two favourite people, long time no see" It was Sang Min [2], his hair had become more silver over the years, but everything else about him was the same including those hungry pale eyes.
"You haven't contacted me in years but I know your little pet has been working closely with Golden Hoove, even outsourcing some of our workers for some private projects" he leant close to my ear, "a little birdie even told me about a playroom you have somewhere. Won't you let me in on the fun?"
Sang Min was smiling smugly until he leaned back and saw my expression. My usual poker face momentarily fell and for a split second, he saw my rage. At that moment the desire to plunge my nails into his eyes and bite off his nose filled every inch of my being.
But, a second later I was back to my more innocent facade.
I gave the purest look I could muster while I said, "It seems like Min Ho will need to start exterminating some little birdies soon. My playroom and private projects shouldn't be reaching your ears Ahjussi."
Min Ho immediately apologised, "I got rid of all the workers that knew the exact location of the playroom but it seems I should have gotten rid of them all, I apologise, Young Master, no rumours should have spread."
"As long as you know what you need to do" I glanced at Sang Min, "I'm sure Golden Hoove won't care about some more of their expendable lackeys going missing, right?"
Sang Min seemed slightly startled but he quickly went back to his confident self, "Well Golden Hoove doesn't need workers that mindlessly chat, feel free to do what you want. I won't stop you."
I laughed childishly, "Well whether you stopped me or not I would have done it anyway."
Sang Min squinted and then also laughed, "You've gotten even more adorable than the last time I saw you. It's such a shame that you're not my son."
"Well if you're cooperative and stay out of my business, I might just call you Dad one day Ahjussi."
Sang Min smirked and then made a wide bow, "Well I hope that day comes, Young Master." He then stood straight and left, "Enjoy your evening."
[1] Min Ho's family situation was discussed in Chapter 28.
[2] His Character was introduced in Chapter 22