"Shouldn't you at least tell me where we are headed?" Ryan asked Jane as they drove toward the destination she had mentioned earlier.He was sitting beside her. "You will find out when we get there," she replied sternly, without making an attempt to look at him. The drive continued in silence until Ryan's phone rang, breaking the quiet.It was Rose."I thought you were dead," she joked as soon as Ryan answered. "Yeah, your call brought me back to life," he replied, and they both laughed.For the first time since the trip began, Jane glanced at him, surprised and curious about who was on the other end of the line."I was really worried, Ryan. I thought you had been imprisoned, and I couldn't make it to the station because of what you told me." Her voice was filled with concern. "I'm sorry," Ryan apologised, explaining that he was released the same night."How? Where are you, anyway? Everyone is freaking out, even Mr. Lee. He said he has not been able to reach you, and you have not
Ryan was about to say, "I used to sell skewers on the street before I got into construction. I now own a construction company." He wanted to test if Jane's family, especially her grandmother, only cared about money and status. He figured dropping this information would show their true colors. "He is the CEO of a construction company." Jane cut in. "Will you shut up this instant?!How dare you speak on his behalf when he is here?! Can't he speak?" The grandmother growled. Jane apologised, and Ryan agreed with what she said, realising he didn't need to stick to his original plan anymore. The grandmother scoffed, "The CEO of a construction company? Who is your family?" He chuckled. "Actually, I'm an orphan. I don't have a family, and my adopted mother has passed away." "Besides the construction company, what other businesses do you own and run?" He already knew where the conversation was headed and confirmed that she was materialistic. He chuckled. "That is the only
As Ryan stepped out of the sleek, black Mercedes-Benz S-Class that Jane had granted him to use as his, heads turned. His Versace suit screamed wealth. The vendors barely recognised him, assuming he was just another wealthy customer until he removed his sunglasses, revealing his face."Ryan?" Someone muttered.A gasp rippled through the crowd. People immediately gathered around him, their surprise evident. Some whispered to each other in disbelief, while others simply stared. Ryan stood there, his eyes scanning the crowd with an air of superiority.Mr. Lee, the man who had known him the longest, pushed through the group. "Ryan, where have you been all this while?" His voice was laced with concern. "Do you know how worried everyone has been, not hearing from you?"Ryan smirked, his lips curling up mockingly. "Well, as you can see, I'm alive and healthy."Mr. Lee glanced at the car, the suit, and then back at Ryan. "What is going on? What is with the car and the clothes?""That is b
As Ryan sat in his car, it was clear that the vehicle cutting him off was no accident. Three men stepped out, each gripping baseball bats. There was no doubt—they were here to cause trouble.Still, he could not quite place them until he noticed Jackson emerging from a second car parked behind the one blocking his path.A smirk curled on Ryan’s lips as he got out of his car, fully aware of how this was likely to play out. It was dark, the streets were deserted, and this confrontation felt inevitable. He leaned casually against the hood of his car, crossing his arms as he faced them."Been following me this whole time, huh?" He scoffed, locking eyes with Jackson, now standing in front of the three men.Jackson sneered. "You really think you can have it both ways? I don’t know who you are for the commander to settle things so easily, but there is no way I’m letting you get away after humiliating me in public." He flashed a satisfied smirk, clearly eager for a fight.Ryan let out a low
The next morning, it was Jane's knock that woke Ryan up."I—we need to talk," she said.He was confused and asked her, "Why? What is it this time?""I'm not here to cause trouble like the last time but to talk. So, can I come in?" She asked, and he let her in. She began after they had sat on the bed. "First, I'd like to apologise for what I did the last time. I'm sorry. I wasn't myself that day."He chuckled. "I've forgotten about that, honestly. I wasn't hurt by that. I've been through worse. Is that all you wanted to say?"Her expression turned more serious. "If you claim you are not upset, then why do you keep doing this to me?"But her utterance threw him into confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't get it," he admitted."Have I ever done anything to you that justifies you constantly humiliating me, making me regret choosing you for this plan—which I already am?""You are not being clear. What do you mean by humiliating you? Why would I do that?" he scoffed."What’s the
It had been over a week since Jane had received her grandmother's ultimatum, and the weight of it was starting to crush her. The deadline loomed closer with each passing day, and her internal struggle was tearing her apart. It was not because she lacked a viable plan, but because the feasible option she had to consider felt utterly unbearable. Hence, it began to affect her daily life. She could not focus on anything else, and the anxiety was starting to seep into every aspect of her routine.That particular morning, Ryan, dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt and was heading out to the office. As he strolled past the dining room, he noticed Jane sitting at the table, her head buried in her hands, as if weighed down by the world.“Jane, I’m off to the company,” he said, but she did not respond or look up. He had grown accustomed to her aloofness and her tendency to act as if he were invisible unless she needed something from him. Normally, he would have let it slide, but today he n
"You all are fired," Ryan announced. The clerk scoffed and faced the MD. "Didn't I tell you that he's crazy?" Everyone nodded in affirmation. "You think I'm crazy?" He chuckled. The MD, still leaning against the desk with a cocky smirk, scoffed. "Yeah, that is exactly what I think, including everyone. Just wait till the guard arrives. I bet you are used to being embarrassed by now, so this should not even bother you."Everyone laughed.Ryan did not respond to their mocking right away. Since he had had enough of their games, he sat down in one of the chairs there, their glares following him as he did.When he finally spoke, his voice was so calm that the laughter stopped immediately."You know," he said, barely looking up as he unzipped the briefcase. "It is funny how quickly things can change."The MD chuckled dismissively. "Yeah, right. What is your point?"Ryan smiled and pulled a slim black folder from the briefcase. He opened it, revealing official company documents. His name
Ryan was excited when his uncle explained the plan to him."Thank you, uncle." He smiled. "I'll handle things on my end. Nothing could be more perfect than this," Ryan said confidently."But how do you plan to get it back without revealing who you are?" his uncle asked, concerned.Ryan chuckled. "I don't know yet, but I will figure it out."His uncle had his doubts, as it seemed impossible to retrieve what they had discussed without exposing Ryan's identity."Whatever you decide, make it quick. There might not be another chance after this," his uncle warned.Ryan reassured him, saying, "Just stick to the plan, and I will take care of the rest on my end.""Is that all?" his uncle asked."For now.""For now? Do you think you can keep using me like this in my old age while you hide in the shadows? You don’t even care about my well-being, do you?" His uncle snapped.Ryan chuckled and teased his uncle. "Is that a subtle way of telling me that you miss me and want to see me?"His uncle's v
Ryan had always found a way around every obstacle, but this time, it felt like he had hit a dead end. No amount of thinking or even a smoke break could help him figure out a way forward without exposing his true identity. Frustrated and angry, he decided to leave the house the night after the break-in. Staying any longer meant facing her, and that was something he just could not do without getting annoyed at her.He sat in the car, ready to start the engine, when a knock on the window made him pause. It turned out to be Jane. "What's going on, Ryan? You've been avoiding me since... since yesterday," she said as he rolled the window down. Earlier, Lauren had seen Ryan walking through the living room with a travel bag in hand. Sensing something was off, she went straight to Jane. "It looks like he's leaving for a while," Lauren told her. "With the travel bag, I’m pretty sure he’s not coming back anytime soon.""So why are you asking me when you know I have?" Ryan scoffed, his face
Lauren's face was pale, fear still flickering in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "It was some men... they were wearing masks... they broke in and attacked me."But that did not concern Ryan."What did they take?" he asked her swiftly, his mind racing.He was devastated when she broke the news to him that it was a document from his room they took as the implications clawed at his chest. A man who introduced himself as the head of the estate security team stepped forward."Sir, be rest assured that the culprits will be arrested. We are already on it. The gates are locked, and no one’s leaving." He assured Ryan.Ryan scoffed, disbelief etched on his face. "You're assuring me? If your team had done the necessary thing instead of following a useless protocol when I reported it, none of this would have happened!" He scowled."I'm sorry about that. I've been briefed on it, but you can't really blame the person since it's the protocol, and it can't be violated. But don't worr
Two days after Ryan received the proposal, Jane's grandmother unexpectedly invited him and Jane to a family meeting, catching them off guard after everything that had happened the other day. "What about the offer from Hyeom Group? Have you signed it?" the grandmother asked Ryan as soon as the meeting began, after making him and Jane wait for a long time.Ryan chuckled in amusement when she asked him why he was yet to sign it and submit it to the company. "Why are you suddenly concerned about it? Didn't you want me to reject it two days ago?" he replied. She leaned back on her chair. "I need answers, boy. I need to know your decision on it, whether you've chosen this family over the offer or the other way around."He scoffed. "Is this family worth it?"Everyone's eyes widened in shock, including Jane's. She had begged him before they left home to be on his best behaviour, but he was done pretending she had any real say over their lives—especially his. "What are you doing, Ryan?" S
The moment Ryan's uncle stepped into the boardroom, he muttered a brisk "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," as he acknowledged the board directors and shareholders gathered for the emergency meeting he had called to set things straight. After settling into his chair, he let his gaze sweep across the room, taking in each face one by one. A small smile tugged at his lips seeing that everyone was present, just as he wanted.Mr. Cho, whose face has been scrunched in fury, leaned forward.“Where is he?” he asked, his voice cutting through the room like the crack of a whip. “Where is the chairman? We believe that the reason for this meeting is for you to finally reveal who the chairman is to us, as we've demanded."Murmurs of agreement echoed from several of them, some nodding, and others staring expectantly at Ryan's uncle.With an unreadable expression but a faint smile, he announced, his voice carrying the weight of control. “Yes, part of this meeting is about the chairman."Curiosi
Ryan had arranged to meet his uncle at the unfinished building where he interrogated Chris. To get there, he disguised himself and hired a taxi to prevent being followed.Ryan laughed hysterically, much to his uncle's surprise, when his uncle explained in detail to him how drastic the meeting with the directors and shareholders ended. "What's funny?" His uncle asked him with a furrowed brow. "It is uncle. I'm surprised it is the reason you demanded we meet urgently," he replied.“You know this is all your fault, right?” He added, realising that his uncle's silence was a request for clarification.His uncle's brow furrowing in confusion. “What? How?” Ryan let out a scoff. "How is it your fault?” he repeated mockingly. “It is the way you’ve been handling them with levity, Uncle. From the way you described Director Cho—is that his name?” His uncle nodded in affirmation.“From the way you said he acts and speaks condescendingly to you like you are beneath him says a lot, uncle. it sa
The joint meeting between the board of directors and the shareholders was nearing its end in the boardroom when Mr. Cho suddenly cleared his throat to draw every gaze to him. "Before we round up this meeting,” he began, his lips curling into a smug smile, "I’d like to bring to notice something important that needs to be discussed.” Ryan's uncle, seated at the head of the table, leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze locking onto Mr. Cho. "Go ahead," he said curtly, motioning for him to continue. Mr. Cho adjusted his tie and straightened his suit jacket like he had all the time in the world before scanning each face in the room. "It is concerning the Managing Director of the construction company,” he declared. "It has been weeks since the position became vacant, and I think it’s time we discuss who should take over the role.” Several shareholders and directors nodded in agreement, some more eager than others, while a few muttered their support under their breaths. Rya
Mr. Grant's sleek, black sedan pulled up in front of a sprawling mansion illuminated by golden lights that belonged to Mr. Alfred Cho, one of the most influential directors of the Hyeon Group.Mr. Grant is a senior manager of the Hyeon Group. "We are here,” Mr. Grant said as the driver stepped out to open the doors. Ethan gave him a curt nod, his mind buzzing with strategy as he adjusted his tie.As they approached the double doors, a maid opened them, bowing politely. “Mr. Cho is expecting you.” Inside, the grandeur was overwhelming—polished floors, an extravagant chandelier, and artwork that screamed wealth and status. Mr. Cho was seated on a leather couch in the living room, flanked by his wife and his daughter.Ethan stepped forward, flashing a polite smile at Mr. Cho after Mr. Grant and Mr. Cho had exchanged greetings."Mr. Cho, it’s an honour to meet you. I’m Ethan Lin, the heir to the Lin Empire."Mr. Cho barely nodded, his expression unreadable."The heir? I thought the fi
The car cruised through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound between Ryan and Jane. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms folded tightly as she replayed the heated confrontation between Ryan and her family in her head, her chest tightening at the memory of her grandmother’s words—"You better talk some sense into him, or you will be the one paying most of the prices." A storm was brewing, and she knew it would not take long before it reached them.Ryan broke the silence first. “You’ve been quiet, Jane. What’s on your mind?”“You know… it’s not too late to go back,” she replied.He shot her a quick glance before returning his eyes to the road. “What?!”“We shouldn’t have left like that,” she continued, choosing her words carefully. "We should have stayed, heard her out, and left on better terms. Even if we didn’t agree with her, at least we would not have pissed her off.”He exhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Pissing her off w
Jane’s family remained in silence as Ryan drove away with Jane.The grandmother finally spoke up, calling everyone’s attention."Alright, everyone, I need you all to focus. I think it’s best we talk about this now, while that brat isn’t here, like he suggested," she said firmly."Exactly, Grandmother!" Ethan shot up from the couch, pacing restlessly."We need to do something about this, and fast. I can’t believe this is happening."She ordered him to return to his seat, but he hesitated until she raised her voice at him."How will pacing around solve this? Just sit down, and let's discuss this properly."Even as he sat back down, his nerves would not settle as his legs bounced restlessly, shaking with anxiety. “Does anyone have anything to say about the offer?” the grandmother asked.The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone mulled over it until Noah finally broke it with a chuckle.“I’m still trying to wrap my head around why I’m the only one who doesn’t think this is a big dea