NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: BEFITTING PUNISHMENT
"ARE YOU sure you want that punishment for your father, Hyung?"
Sohee turned to Kim Heedo, raising an eyebrow at the kid.
I discussed my plan with Kim Heedo, but I didn't expect him to react this way.
The two of them were still in his room while waiting for Kim Heedo's men to bring Sohee's father there.
"Hyung, I think that's too light of a punishment."
For real?
"I was worried for a second, Kim Heedo," Sohee said, letting out a sigh of relief. "I thought you'd say I was being too harsh on my father."
"Hyung, your father practically sold you to those loan sharks when he abandoned you to save himself," Kim Heedo said, sighing while shaking his head. "If I were you, I would cut ties with that person. Then I'd send him on a boat."
"To where?"
"Somewhere really, really far away."
Pfft.
It sounded like Kim Heedo was joking, but Sohee could tell that the kid was serious.
And it has the means to do something like that anyway.
Sohee missed his chance to tease Kim Heedo for abusing his power as a chaebol when they heard a knock on the door.
"Young Master, it's me— I have Mr. Park Mansu with me."
"That's Mr. Shin Kang, my right-hand man," Kim Heedo whispered to Sohee, and then he cleared his throat before speaking in a louder voice. "Come in, Ahjussi."
The door carefully opened.
Argh.
Sohee frowned as soon as he saw his father looking like the bum that he was.
Park Mansu was a man in his early forties.
My parents conceived me when they were high school seniors. According to my grandfather's story, my father didn't want my mother to attend a university in Seoul. And, so, he got her pregnant and convinced her to keep me.
Yep, his father was a scumbag ever since he was young.
"Park Sohee, my precious son!"
Argh.
Sohee almost threw up when his father suddenly hugged him.
Kim Heedo, on the other hand, bowed his head politely before leaving the room with Shin Kang.
I really don't want to be alone with my father right now, but I have to do this.
"You did well, Park Sohee!" Park Mansu said, breaking the hug— only to hold Sohee by the shoulders quite tightly. "I talked to Vice Chairman Kim Dohan when he dragged me here."
Ah, Vice Chairman Kim Dohan would be Kim Heedo's father.
I haven't met Kim Heedo's parents in person yet.
"Chairman Kim Hyungsik, that bastard who stole my father's lottery win, finally grew a conscience, huh?" Park Mansu said, obviously overjoyed at the moment. "I heard the chairman asked you to marry his grandson, and you agreed."
"Yes, Abeoji— I'm going to marry the kid you just saw earlier."
"Good job, my son! We're going to be rich now!"
"I am going to be rich, Abeoji."
"Yes, but I'm your father— your money is my money, you silly child."
"Are you playing dumb, Abeoji?" Sohee asked coldly, swatting away his father's hands on his shoulders. "I'm saying I won't share a single won with you."
That was when his father's smile finally faded away.
"I asked Kim Heedo to give you a job," Sohee continued in a cold voice. "Starting next week, you're going to work as a construction worker in one of the affiliates of Ilsung Group, Abeoji."
"Why do I need to work when my son is the spouse of Ilsung Group's future heir?"
Haaah.
Some people are really evil by nature.
"Since I'll be the spouse of Ilsung Group's next successor, Kim Heedo agreed to still take care of you, Abeoji," Sohee said. It was his request, but it wasn't because he cared about his father. "Ilsung Group will provide a studio apartment for Abeoji, and it's near the construction site where you'll be working. Weekly groceries will also be sent to you, so don't worry about food. But you'll only get half of your salary."
Park Mansu grabbed Sohee by the collar. "What the fuck are you saying?"
"Half of your salary will go to me until you fully pay the original amount you borrowed from those loan sharks, Abeoji. You should be grateful that I'm not asking for the interest that the Kim Family had to pay to clear your debts."
"Stop this bullshit, Park Sohee!"
"Ah, don't even think about running away, Abeoji," Sohee warned his father. "Once you try to escape, I'll ask Kim Heedo to put you on a boat."
Park Mansu's pupils shook as if he was afraid, but he hid his fear by punching Sohee in the face. "Is this how you treat your father?! If I didn't keep you after your mother abandoned our family, you would have been sent to an orphanage!"
"I'm not saying this to look down on orphans, but I would probably have had a better life if you just left me in an orphanage."
"You ungrateful bastard…!"
Sohee grabbed his father's wrist to stop him from punching him. "I have nothing else to offer Kim Heedo besides my face and body, so I have to take better care of myself. So, I can't let you ruin my face, Abeoji."
"Hah!"
Ah, I underestimated my scumbag of a father.
That was Sohee's first thought when his father suddenly punched him in the stomach with his other hand.
Fortunately, Park Mansu didn't hit the part where he got stabbed.
But it still fucking hurts…
The wind was still knocked out of Sohee.
He gasped for air so loud that he didn't know if it was his imagination or not when he heard a familiar voice speak.
"Hyung, this is the part where you should be calling for my help."
Ah, the smell of vanilla…
Sohee willingly fell into Kim Heedo's embrace because the Dominant Alpha's scent was calming, and it kind of eased his pain. "Kim Heedo, I'm sorry for always showing you my embarrassing side…"
"Hyung, you've never done anything embarrassing in front of me. It's just unfortunate that you're surrounded by bad people," Kim Heedo assured him. "But don't worry, Hyung." The kid suddenly carried Sohee in his arms as if Sohee was only as light as a feather. "I'll do my job as your 'golden goose' and increase your luck."
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