‘My granddaughter is pregnant.’
At twenty-four, at the height of her youth—and before she’s even married.
Ah…
It hit him like a bolt from the blue.
Even though he’d already learned the truth from Dr. Kim, hearing it from his granddaughter’s own mouth left him unable to steady his emotions.
‘I wasn’t even like this during menopause…’
Suddenly he felt a lump in his throat, a stab of grief, a tightness in his chest as if he were choking—and then a surge of anger, mingled with a sense of injustice. It was an indescribable cocktail of feelings.
“Grandfather…?”
“I’m sorry… this old man’s going senile.”
With superhuman effort, Yoo Jin-gap forced back his reddened eyes. Still, his throat felt unbearably tight.
“I hope you’ll forgive me, Grandfather.”
“…”
He would have granted any wish of hers. If she’d asked him to pass HR Group to her, he’d have been tempted to reshape the entire succession plan—bloodline be damned.
But this… he could not answer easily.
“I’ll come to pay my respects this weekend.”
“…No.”
“No? You won’t let me marry?”
His lips twitched. Yet he could not bring himself to block his granddaughter’s marriage.
“Bring him here…”
“All right—then—”
“No, don’t bring him.”
“…?”
“Wait—bringing him might be right.”
“So I may bring him?”
“…”
He could not reply and merely exhaled heavily.
“I’m sorry, Sia. Grandpa’s a bit… out of sorts right now.”
Instead of answering, Sia rose and wrapped him in a tender hug from behind, as though understanding his feelings.
“Grandfather, you know I love you, right?”
“I know…”
“You’re the most precious person to me in the world.”
“You are to me, too.”
“That’s why, more than my parents, I wanted you to meet him first.”
Hearing that, even Chairman Yoo could not refuse her. To deny her suit before her own parents would make him a foolish old man.
He clasped her hand tightly.
“Thank you, my Sia…”
She looked into his eyes and spoke calmly, “I’ll come this weekend, Grandfather.”
“All right…”
“This weekend…?”
“Yes. Sunday evening—I’ve made plans.”
His head spun. To meet Chairman Yoo in just three days…
“Is that uncomfortable?”
“It’s not that— I expected it, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.”
“You must hurry and ask his blessing.”
“Indeed…”
“Shall we postpone it?”
“S-should we?”
“You could, but it would only make it harder for you.”
She was right. A man like me, with a small heart, would torment himself for days if it were put off. Better to get it over with.
“Let’s keep it this week.”
“That’s best, right?”
“Yes.”
Sia chuckled and rubbed my shoulder.
“Don’t worry so much. Surely my grandfather won’t eat his future grandson-in-law, will he?”
“…I think he might.”
“No, he won’t. People say he’s scary—until you actually meet him, and he’s sweet as can be.”
“That’s just because you’re his granddaughter.”
“I’m not kidding.”
She patted my back.
“Relax. It’ll be fine.”
I wished I could feel so assured.
On a peaceful Sunday at 4 p.m., on the terrace of the mansion in Hannam-dong where Yoo Sia lived, two people in their fifties were enjoying tea.
They were Yoo Jong-hwan, president of HR Media, and his wife, Baek Ok-ja—Sia’s parents.
“So she’s going to see her grandfather today?”
“That’s what they say.”
“Going with that Assistant Manager Son to buy a present to bring him.”
“Oh, bless their hearts.”
Ok-ja wore a conflicted expression: proud that her daughter was grown and preparing to marry, yet also feeling it was too soon.
“They haven’t been dating long—why rush to pay respects to the chairman?”
“Well…”
Jong-hwan hesitated. He already knew of Sia’s pregnancy—it was for his wife’s sake he hadn’t told her yet.
“Did the chairman call her?”
“Maybe.”
“He’s always doted on her, though…”
“That’s why I’m more worried.”
“Huh?”
Ok-ja looked puzzled.
“Why?”
After a moment’s thought, Jong-hwan spoke in a low voice.
“I never told her, but something happened before.”
“What was it?”
“When Sia was in high school, there was a boy who liked her.”
“Oh, she was so popular.”
Ok-ja smiled at the memory: no acne, immaculate uniform, student-body president—pure youth exuding from her.
“Yes, but one boy followed her too much.”
“Right—I remember Jang Tae-baek?”
“That’s him.”
His name was hazy, but his face was clear in memory: unusually long hair for a boy and an oddly gloomy look for one from a wealthy neighborhood.
“He kept confessing even after she said no.”
“Yes, he was the worst—texting all night, stealing her gym clothes, even sneaking into her locker to steal underwear. You stepped in and had him transferred, right?”
“Actually, it wasn’t just a transfer.”
“Huh?”
He exhaled heavily.
“My father overheard that it was causing Sia distress.”
“And?”
“I was going to have him transferred, but your father said he’d handle it himself.”
“I thought that was it—then it was settled.”
“That’s what I thought… but recently I heard…”
“He did what?”
He hesitated, then spoke with difficulty.
“He removed… his manhood.”
“…”
“Literally removed it—physically.”
He shuddered.
“He realized he liked men.”
Ok-ja froze, as if her mind went blank, then tried to deny reality.
“Oh, he must have discovered his true identity later. Happens sometimes with young people today.”
“I thought that too.”
“You’re saying otherwise?”
“…”
He offered neither affirmation nor denial, unwilling to speak further, staring off as he sipped his tea.
At the grand Naegok-dong estate, I was so nervous my heart—and my balls—felt like they might fall out.
‘Why must you drive through the grand gate?’
From the entrance onward it was palatial, fit for royalty, even in Seoul’s most expensive district. Only now did I truly grasp that Sia was a third-generation chaebol.
“Don’t tremble so much, oppa.”
She called me “oppa” to calm me, but I barely heard.
“I can’t stop… I just can’t…”
Even my lips were shaking.
Chairman Yoo: supreme head of HR Group, tiger of Korean industry—his very aura commanded awe.
If I have a heart attack today, the coroner will note “died of pure terror.”
“Let’s go, Assistant Manager.”
“All right…”
I was led inside like a calf to slaughter by Sia.
The interior was beyond imagination: an East-Asian antique theme, massive chandeliers, and Renaissance-era artwork harmonizing East and West.
Passing a hall larger than three apartments combined, I pushed open a door twice my height.
“…Wow!”
A dining table seating over twenty stretched before me.
At the head sat Yoo Jin-gap alone.
“Grandfather!”
Sia waved happily, but he did not react with his usual fanfare. Instead, he motioned us to sit.
Sia hesitated at his changed demeanor, then beckoned me. “Please sit here.”
“S-should I…?”
I crept over and took a place where the table was already set.
Chairman Yoo stared at me a long moment before speaking.
“Assistant Manager Son, is it?”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
“Come with me for some air.”
Just the two of us…?
“Grandfather, may I—”
“You stay here.”
Sia tried to intervene, but he refused.
“Men have business to discuss.”
He stood and walked alone onto the terrace. Sia looked at me anxiously, but there was nothing she could do.
Reluctantly, I followed behind him.
Each step felt weighted with dread. Deep inside, a primal voice screamed: I might die today.