At the Choi Mansion — The Library
Minjae stood by the library window, staring down at the courtyard below.
Despite being ordered to leave, reporters continued to clash with the security guards, desperate to squeeze out more footage, more photos, more scandal. Their voices rose in chaotic bursts, refusing to fade.
Just then one of them noticed her, he froze when he spotted Minjae standing at the mansion window. Instinctively, he lifted his camera and began taking pictures.
Mean while Minjae didn't react.
She simply stared down at him, silent and utterly expression less. Something about her gaze made the reporter uneasy. For someone who had clearly made it known she didn't want them there, drawing her attention felt like crossing an invisible line.
Her suffocating, as though she were measuring how easily she could erase him.
Slowly, the reporter lowered his camera.
He knew better than to provoke her.
Even without knowing her personally, the stories and rumors surrounding Choi Minjae were enough to make his instincts scream caution, enough to remind him that she was not someone to trifle with.
Soon, the other reporters noticed her as well and began taking photos frantically. Cameras clicked in rapid succession. Still, Minjae didn't move. Her eyes remained fixed on the first reporter alone, as if the rest of them didn't exist.
Just then a soft knock broke the silence behind her.
Madam kim walked into the libery, after few unanswered knock on the door, "young miss, some one is here to see you, he is..."
Minjae cut her off "I taught i made it clear, that i don't want any guest..." before she completed, the door opened and a young man stepped in,
"I'm sorry to barge in, but i had no choice" he sighed frustrated "You have to stop this, Miss Minjae."
"And you are?" she asked not looking back
He exhaled sharply, irritated by her lack of urgency, but answered anyway. "I'm Geum sangtae." He said
"And?" she asked, still not facing him
"I worked as your sister's personal secetery and assistant at the CHNs Company" He explained, taking a step forward "Dismissing those people that came, is not the right thing to do, and now treating the reporters like this would make things worst...."
"reporters would always make things worst, playing nice to them doesn't really change anything" she said as sangtae sighed,
"I know you are hurting, but..." He began but she cut him off
"I'm not hurting," She said, then turned to face him, her expression calm—almost pleasant.
"You don't know me well enough to say that." she said "If anything at all, I should be the happiest person here."A faint smile on her lips. "An inheritance like this doesn't come every day. You see, grief and opportunity have a way of arriving together, you never can tell what a person is feeling Sang tae." She said softly the smile lingering for only a second before she turned back to the window.
Sang-tae stood frozen, clearly unprepared for that response.
Minjae folded her arms loosely across her chest, her gaze fixed on the chaos below.
"From what I know, most of those people are already against the company," she continued. "Should I have given them the luxury of standing here, pretending to mourn while secretly celebrating the fall of the great Choi family?"
"Choi has not fallen," Sang-tae said firmly. "And you can prove that. Yes, many of them are rivals, but there are also a few sincere ones. People who would help you succeed when you ascend the Gold Seat."
He paused, then added, "I intend to serve the Choi family until the end. I won't allow the name to collapse the way everyone else predicts."
Minjae let out a quiet chuckle.
"It seems I already have one supporter here" she said, glancing at him briefly. "Amid all the people waiting for me to fail. Though I don't recall asking for supporters when the seat is already rightfully mine." She turned slightly,
"If I need to prove myself as the new head, I'll do it my way. I don't need an advisors, or an assistant, to guide me."
She studied him for a moment, as though reassessing his value.
"That said," she continued, exhaling softly, "I do admire your courage. Barging in here and telling me what to do, most people wouldn't dare." She tilted "You must have a stronger position in the organization than you let on. You're not just a mere assistant, i see." She smirked
"Well, here's a piece of advice for you," Minjae said. "You don't need to be a loyal dog. This is business. People would always side with the lower risk, and right now, I have too many odds stacked against me. The schemers won't waste this opportunity."
She added casually, Her gaze returned to the window.
"But don't worry," she added indifferently. "Your position is intact, if that's what you're concerned about." She added. Without looking away from the window, she spoke again.
"That middle-aged reporter. Red T-shirt. Mole under his eye," she said
"Find out which station he works for and make sure he's fired. Consider that your first assignment as my assistant." She turned and walked away.
Over her shoulder, she called,
"Madam Kim."
"Yes, Young Miss."
"Call the lawyer. Tell him to meet me at the hospital," Minjae ordered. "And send in more security guards outside." She added, not waiting for response as she exited the mansion.
Outside reporters surged towards her, voices erupting all at once. Security immediately blocked them, forceful and unyielding. Moments later, additional guards arrived, far more aggressive than before.
Minjae walked through the chaos without breaking stride. She took the keys from the driver who opened the car door for her, slid into the driver's seat herself, and drove off, as two black cars following behind.
---
Minjae drove straight to the hospital where her sister was admitted, it was her father's hospital___ the same hospital where her parent were confirmed dead. She drove with full speed, without regards for anyone or anything in her way.
Upon arriving to the hospital, Minjae drove into the vip section will reckless speed and parked there. As she just sat in the car emotionless, she sighed, her fingers clutched the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white, then slowly rested her forehead on the wheel, as she inhaled and exhaled deeply
"...the reason for the crash is because the break failed, but by the look of things it didnt just happened due to the car malfunctioning.... Some one had tampared with it... Intentionally." she recalled the mechanic telling her about the cause of the car crash, the weight of the mechanic word, echoed in her mind.
---
Minjae was greeted by the top tier doctors in the hospital, Who led her straight to her sisters room while her guard followed behind___ensuring she was secured, as she is now the only surviving child of the Choi family.
When she got to the private room, she stoped at the room door step, as she spotted her niece, Lee Min ah___Choi Min sol's 16 years old daughter from her ex husband.
The young girl was sitting beside her mother, quietly sobbing as she stared at her mothers brusies and almost lifeless body.
"Mina" Minjae called, slowly Mina turned, her face hardend with a glare as she gazed at Minjae for a moment, and then turned back to her mother. Then Minjae walked to her and grabed her hand, immediately Mina pushed her hand away and stands up facing her Minjae___the Choi family had tall gene in them, as the young girl was almost reaching the height of Minjae Who is also very tall.
"Look at my mother, isnt this what you wish for? Now she is here, im sure you are very happy about it" the girl snearled glaring fiercly at Minjae, mean while Minjae just stared did not even budge, her eyes staring tiredly at mina as tho she was not ready or interested in any furthe arguement as she turned to the guards at the door step and said "take her home" she said in the most calmest tone as one of the men walked in and held her as the girl started struggling
"let go!" she yelled hitting the man
Then Minjae held her hand from hitting him further and next thing, she landed a slap right across Min ah's face, as the young girl stiffen with her eyes opened wide, while tears dropped out.
The doctors present stiffend,statled by the scene in front of them and the intense atmosphere which it has now created in the room.
"Your mum is'nt dead, mine are," she said coldly "stop making a scene, get a grip and go home" she said, Mina sobbed, just then the other guard walked in and they both took her away while she just followed quietly without resistance,
Minjae turned to the doctor, her expression unchanged, without saying a word the doctors bowed and exited,
"Jung shin." she called the other guard that just stood few steps away from the door__ he was her personal guard.
"when the lawyer arrives, let him in." she instructed as he just bowed, then she walked to the door and closed it.