The scent of grilled steak, truffle butter, and aged wine lingered in the air, mingling with the faint hum of classical music that echoed through the dining hall. Jaehyun Choi lounged at the head of the long, lacquered table, his silk pajama shirt stretched taut across his bloated frame. A faint sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead as he reached for another slice of wagyu beef, ignoring the judgmental gaze of the family butler.

"Another glass," Jaehyun demanded, his voice heavy with entitlement. The butler hesitated for a moment before refilling his crystal glass with red wine.

Jaehyun's life was one of unparalleled excess. The youngest son of the Choi chaebol empire, he had grown up with everything money could buy: private tutors, exotic vacations, designer wardrobes, and meals fit for royalty. Yet, despite the privilege, he had achieved nothing of substance. His grades were mediocre, his hobbies non-existent, and his physical condition... well, it was plain for all to see.

His parents, Seung-Hyun and Min-Ji, sat at the opposite end of the table, their faces impassive. They exchanged a glance, their expressions betraying a quiet disdain. Jaehyun noticed but didn't care. He knew what they thought of him—that he was an embarrassment to the family name. But why should he care? Their fortune was enough to sustain him for ten lifetimes. What was the point of effort when luxury came so easily?

His sister Ji-Na, perfectly poised and dressed in a tailored Chanel suit, couldn't hide her smirk as she sipped her tea. "I heard you barely scraped by at Seoul National, little brother. A miracle, really. I thought you'd never graduate."

Jaehyun's eyes flicked to her, narrowing. "Don't act so surprised, Ji-Na. You know I prefer not to waste my time with things as trivial as academics."

Ji-Ho, his younger brother, stifled a laugh. "Trivial? More like you couldn't be bothered. You were too busy ordering late-night fried chicken and buying every limited-edition sneaker on the market."

"Jealousy doesn't suit you, Ji-Ho," Jaehyun shot back, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Not everyone can have my refined tastes."

Their mother cleared her throat, her icy gaze silencing the room. "Enough. Jaehyun, your behavior has become... intolerable. You may have graduated, but you've done nothing to prove yourself worthy of this family's name. Your siblings have contributed to the empire in meaningful ways. What have you done, besides bring shame?"

Jaehyun leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine with a lazy smirk. "Shame? Hardly. I'm living proof of our family's success. Isn't that enough?"

"Success?" His father's voice, cold and cutting, sliced through the air. "You're a parasite, Jaehyun. A leech. While your siblings work tirelessly, you indulge in your every whim without a shred of gratitude. Do you think this lifestyle is eternal? That it requires no effort to maintain?"

Jaehyun's smirk faltered, but only for a moment. He shoved another piece of steak into his mouth, chewing slowly before replying. "You're right, Father. This lifestyle does require effort—your effort. And since you've done such a stellar job, I see no reason to complain."

The room fell silent, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Ji-Na shook her head in mock pity, while Ji-Ho pretended to focus on his phone, though his lips curved into a faint grin.

"Enjoy this while you can," Min-Ji said quietly, her tone devoid of warmth. "Your free ride won't last forever."

Jaehyun chuckled, raising his glass in a mock toast. "Cheers to that, Mother."

Later that evening, Jaehyun retreated to his suite—a sprawling space larger than most apartments. The marble floors were heated, the plush furniture imported from Italy, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Seoul's glittering skyline. Yet, for all its opulence, the room felt hollow.

Jaehyun sprawled across the oversized leather sofa, a half-eaten box of macarons on the coffee table. He scrolled aimlessly through social media, liking posts of celebrities flaunting their wealth and luxury vacations. It was a shallow existence, but it was all he knew.

Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, a nagging thought tried to surface—a fleeting sense of dissatisfaction, of yearning for something more. But Jaehyun shoved it down, burying it beneath layers of indulgence and apathy.

What more could he want? He had everything.

Or so he thought.