Page 12 of Scarbound

“Everything’s ready. Someone will meet him outside the airport. You’ll get daily reports, early morning your time. Immediate calls if anything urgent happens.”

“Thank you,” Chung-Hee said. “I owe you.”

“You always do,” Jun replied lightly.

“Is something going on, my son?” Ms. Lee asked sharply.

“No,” Chung-Hee replied, cutting into his steak. The meat was tender, perfectly seasoned. “Just a small favor from Jun.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Professional. The steak is good. Would you like more?”

Her smile vanished. “Your brother hid things from us. Look where that led. If something is wrong, don’t hide it.”

“There’s nothing,” he said flatly.

“Don’t lie to me. I gave birth to you.”

Chung-Hee set his utensils down with a sharp clink. “This discussion ends here.”

“Is it a girl?”

“No.”

“You’re twenty-six. The only heir. You need to marry and have children.”

“I won’t,” he said calmly. “We’ve discussed this. Can’t you accept it yet?”

“Accept that you’ll end this family line because you can’t connect with women?”

“Yes.”

She slammed her hand on the table. “Then use a surrogate. I don’t care. Fulfill your duty, then do as you wish.”

Chung-Hee sighed.

A waiter appeared. “Would you like anything else?”

“One more bottle of wine,” Chung-Hee said quietly. “And dessert?”

“Yes,” his mother replied. “Dasik with black sesame and Insam tea.”

As the waiter left, she added coldly, “This conversation isn’t over. I’ll find out what you’re hiding.”

Chung-Hee said nothing. He drained his wine, welcoming the burn.

CHAPTER 5

Jung Noeul woke that morning feeling groggy. A vague sense that something was off nagged at him, though he couldn’t quite identify why. Perhaps it was just the anxiety of his first day at work.

By 8:00 a.m., Noeul stood in front of the glass doors of Greenlight Tech. He straightened his tie, a flicker of nervousness crossing his brown eyes, then stepped inside.

A receptionist greeted him with a warm smile. “Good morning, Mr. Jung! Welcome to Greenlight Tech. Ms. Evans is expecting you in Conference Room B.”

“Thank you,” Noeul replied softly.

Sarah Evans, the HR manager, welcomed him before leading him through the standard orientation. Later, she guided him around the office, introducing him to the different departments. Heads turned, offering polite smiles and greetings. More than one employee gave him a second glance as he passed.