Kang Group had always been a powerhouse, a legacy spanning decades under the iron will of Chairman Kang Tae-hyun. But since Min-jae had taken over as CEO, the company had transformed into something else entirely—something sharper, more precise, and almost untouchable.
Sitting in his office on the top floor of the Kang Group headquarters, Min-jae sifted through a pile of reports, his sharp eyes scanning the pages with the efficiency of a machine. His assistant, an older man who had served the company for over twenty years, stood silently, his admiration for the young CEO evident.
"Another acquisition finalized," Min-jae said, setting the papers aside. "The competitors didn't even see it coming."
"Your foresight is remarkable, sir," the assistant said.
Min-jae gave a small, enigmatic smile. "It's not foresight. It's understanding people—how they think, how they react, what drives them. Business is no different from relationships. Predict, control, and execute."
His assistant bowed slightly before leaving the room, but as the door closed, Min-jae's father entered, his expression unreadable.
"Min-jae," Chairman Kang said, walking to the large glass window overlooking Seoul. "You've exceeded every expectation I ever had for you. The company is thriving under your leadership. Your strategies, your ability to outmaneuver opponents—it's nothing short of genius."
Min-jae looked up from his desk, his expression calm. "I've simply done what needed to be done."
Chairman Kang turned to face his son, his gaze sharp. "And yet, I can't help but wonder… where does it end? You've mastered business, reshaped Kang Group, and even secured Seo-jin in a way that no one else could. But at what cost?"
Min-jae leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Father, you taught me to win. To protect what's mine. That's all I've done."
Chairman Kang's jaw tightened. He had always prided himself on being a shrewd, calculating man, but even he was beginning to fear just how deep Min-jae's mind went. His son wasn't just a brilliant businessman—he was a master tactician, capable of weaving webs so intricate that no one could escape them.
"I know what you've done to Seo-jin," Chairman Kang said quietly.
Min-jae's expression didn't falter. "Do you, Father?"
"I don't need you to tell me. It's written all over her face. She loves you, yes. But it's a love born from desperation. From dependence. You've made sure she can't live without you."
Min-jae's gaze darkened, his voice low and controlled. "She's happy. That's all that matters."
Chairman Kang took a step closer, his voice hard. "You think I don't see the parallels? You've turned her into what this company is—something flawless on the surface but bound tightly under your control. It's brilliant, Min-jae. But it's also dangerous."
Min-jae stood, his towering figure commanding the room. "Dangerous to whom, Father? To you? To Chairman Yoo? Or to those who think they can take what's mine?"
Chairman Kang didn't respond immediately. He stared at his son, the man he had once thought weak and aimless, now standing before him as an unshakable force.
"You're playing a game that has no end," Chairman Kang said finally. "And one day, it might consume you."
Min-jae's expression softened slightly, his voice taking on a quieter tone. "I've already been consumed, Father. Years ago. When she left me. When I realized that without her, I was nothing. Everything I've done—everything I've become—it's for her. To keep her. To protect her. And if that makes me dangerous, so be it."
Chairman Kang felt a chill run through him. Min-jae's love for Seo-jin wasn't just deep—it was obsessive, all-encompassing. And yet, there was an undeniable logic to it, a method to the madness that made it impossible to refute.
As much as Chairman Kang wanted to criticize his son, he couldn't deny the results. Kang Group was flourishing. Seo-jin was devoted. And Min-jae… Min-jae was unstoppable.
"Be careful, Min-jae," Chairman Kang said finally. "Even the strongest chains can break under the wrong pressure."
Min-jae smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a quiet intensity. "Then I'll make sure there's no pressure, Father. Just as I've always done."
Chairman Kang left the office, his mind heavy with unease. For all his brilliance, for all his accomplishments, Min-jae was a man driven by a singular, consuming purpose. And as much as Chairman Kang admired his son's genius, he couldn't shake the feeling that it came at a cost—one that might one day be too great to bear.
But for now, Min-jae stood at the helm of Kang Group, untouchable, unyielding, and unwavering in his love for Seo-jin—a love so powerful, it had reshaped not just his life but the very world around him.