MIM 89

89

From the moment Joo-yeon, Ma Jae-seung’s mother, stepped foot into the mansion’s garden, her nerves were on edge. Unlike someone who once owned this house, she kept looking around with wide-open eyes at every step. While waiting for Ma Jae-seung in the reception room, Joo-yeon continuously scanned every corner of the mansion. Her scattered demeanor clearly showed her wariness.

While Ma Jae-seung was briefly delayed fixing his appearance, Butler Hwang had an employee bring warm black tea. It was steeped strong, just as Joo-yeon used to like it, served in her favorite cup. Nevertheless, she didn’t even touch the cup, sitting with a rigid posture and just staring out the window.

Ah, sugar cubes. After watching Joo-yeon act as if something was wrong, Butler Hwang belatedly realized he had forgotten to bring out the sugar cubes. He rushed to the kitchen himself and quickly brought them in a small dish, but his thoughtfulness went unappreciated as Joo-yeon winced as if having been served something inedible. She waved her hand irritably and even gave a small shudder.

“I’m not drinking it. Take it away.”

Just as she finished speaking, the door opened. Butler Hwang was internally relieved when Ma Jae-seung appeared, perfectly dressed. He entered with his appearance now impeccable, gave Joo-yeon a slight bow, and sat across from her.

“Is something wrong? You came so suddenly today.”

Ma Jae-seung smiled while lightly pointing out the rudeness of her sudden visit. Seeming to understand his implied message that he wouldn’t apologize for keeping her waiting, Joo-yeon forced out a smile with stiffened lips.

“Do I need a reason to visit this house?”

“You always called me to come to you. You rarely come here.

“You coming here so suddenly makes me thing something must have happened.” 

As Ma Jae-seung was speaking, he asked a nearby employee for a glass of water. While observing him sitting relaxed with his legs crossed, showing no signs of tension, Joo-yeon glanced at Butler Hwang and made a gesture with her eyes.

“I want to talk quietly with just the two of us, so please leave us. And take away these sugar cubes.”

Despite the direct order, Butler Hwang didn’t move immediately. He turned toward Ma Jae-seung, not Joo-yeon, waiting for his master’s approval. While Joo-yeon was looking back and forth between them carefully, the employee returned with water and placed it in front of Ma Jae-seung. Only then did Ma Jae-seung point to the sugar cube dish and order, “Please take that away.”

The sugar cubes disappeared from sight as soon as Ma Jae-seung finished speaking. Joo-yeon stared at the employee closing the reception room door on their way out, then nodded at Butler Hwang, who was still standing by Ma Jae-seung’s side, as if telling him to leave quickly. Just as Joo-yeon’s gaze toward Butler Hwang was becoming increasingly sharp, Ma Jae-seung rested his hand on the armchair and spoke.

“Speak comfortably. Everyone here is my person.”

My person. At these words that clearly drew a line, Joo-yeon bit her lip with displeasure. She glared daggers at Butler Hwang while appearing to carefully choose her words for a long moment.

“Your mother came because she’s worried about you. I saw the news. That missing person, wasn’t he a friend you’ve been hanging out with lately?”

“Yes. Ye-wook.”

Though she waited for him to say more, Ma Jae-seung added nothing beyond Kim Ye-wook’s name. With Kim Ye-wook’s disappearance as the topic, he leisurely sipped from the water glass in front of him. It was a completely different attitude from his usual anxious and nervous demeanor. Caught off guard by this unexpected response, Joo-yeon asked urgently, seemingly quite flustered, “Is it just a simple disappearance? I heard this Ye-wook had never disappeared without saying anything before. Nothing suspicious?”

“Well. The police will definitely investigate.”

“Didn’t you have your birthday party with him this time? I heard there were some strange people there too. Maybe because you were close with—”

A small laugh cut off Joo-yeon’s words. 

“Because I was close with what?” 

His voice, mismatched with the atmosphere, carried an undertone of amusement. Butler Hwang read the air while holding his breath. Joo-yeon, who had assumed Ma Jae-seung would already be suspicious of Shin-woo, looked bewildered at failing to draw out her desired response. Ma Jae-seung put down his glass, setting aside his quiet laughter.

“Shall we have this conversation when Shin-woo arrives? It seems to be about Shin-woo.”

“…Yes, Shin-woo. Since you brought it up, I don’t think your friend is missing—I think Shin-woo killed him.”

After her momentary shock, Joo-yeon faced Ma Jae-seung with a confident expression on her face. Despite the shocking statement, Ma Jae-seung didn’t even blink as he slowly crossed his long legs. Whether he didn’t understand the gravity of the situation or didn’t believe it, watching his composed attitude, Joo-yeon’s brow furrowed. During the uncomfortable silence that followed, they faced each other in confrontation. Joo-yeon was the first to break the tense atmosphere.

“Wasn’t Shin-woo acting suspicious the day Ye-wook disappeared? Like being absent for a long time?”

“If you’re talking about last weekend, we were together the whole time.”

“Even at night? He could have left while you were sleeping.”

“That’s impossible.”

Ma Jae-seung answered decisively, showing no signs of doubt despite her continued questioning. As the conversation kept hitting walls without progress, Joo-yeon’s face alternated between red and pale. Her voice grew increasingly agitated, and her speech quickened.

“Did you ask the employees? With so many people in this house, someone might have seen Shin-woo coming in early in the morning.”

“We barely slept all weekend because I was in rut.”

“…If you were in rut, you must have been more out of it. You might not remember if he stepped out briefly since you weren’t in your right mind.”

The seemingly endless exchange stopped when Ma Jae-seung suddenly fell silent. “Haah.” He rubbed his temple and deliberately let out a heavy sigh.

“…Mom, you’re doing this because you’re worried about me.”

In response to his gesture that clearly conveyed his fatigue, Joo-yeon stepped back and added as if making an excuse. “Worried.” Ma Jae-seung quietly echoed the word and lifted the corner of his mouth.

“Shin-woo wasn’t in any condition to go out and come back then. I guarantee it. You know what I’m like when I’m in rut.”

“…”

“Since you sent someone to me before.”

Just as Joo-yeon had done, Ma Jae-seung threw a direct pitch. Joo-yeon flinched but remained silent without readily answering. His indifferent gaze swept across the unremarkable table, showing no intention of observing her reaction. Watching his disinterested gaze, Joo-yeon’s expression hardened as if realizing she had been completely pushed outside the line.

Seeming to realize there was no point in waiting any longer, she heaved a deep sigh.

“I had no other choice then. What could I do when Shin-woo was changing your decisions without permission and hiding your examination results even from me? I have a right to know.”

“A right to know?”

“A right to know, that’s something even I don’t have. What right to know?” 

Ma Jae-seung muttered mockingly. Joo-yeon’s words struck down on Ma Jae-seung’s face, full of cynicism.

“The reason why you’re a failure.”

“…”

“That damned reason why your father suddenly decided to leave everything to your brother.”

Joo-yeon clicked her tongue and met Ma Jae-seung’s eyes. Then she tried to persuade him in a softer voice.

“When your father died and the will was revealed, I was honestly happy. I thought he died without having time to change his will. But that wasn’t true. When I went to see you in the hospital after your father died and you collapsed, they wouldn’t let me in.”

That ungrateful child of unknown origin. Joo-yeon let out a hollow laugh while speaking deliberately.

“The situation is the same now as it was then. At this rate, Ma Corporation won’t end up being yours. Listen to your mother.”

“…”

“Now answer me again. Were you really together that weekend?”

“Yes.”

Ma Jae-seung answered without the slightest hesitation. Joo-yeon remained motionless for a moment with her mouth slightly open. Though she waited a while as if giving her son one last chance, Ma Jae-seung unflinchingly met his mother’s pale face.

Finally lowering her head, Joo-yeon slowly rose from her seat. “How strange,” she muttered while gathering her coat. A sneer spread across her face as she turned to look at Ma Jae-seung.

“Someone I know said they saw Shin-woo at the dock.”

“They must have been seeing things. If you came here to talk nonsense, please leave now.”

“Fine, I won’t come again.”

With those final words, Joo-yeon turned her back on Ma Jae-seung. As she strode out and opened the reception room door, she encountered Shin-woo, who had just finished tidying up. Ma Jae-seung, who had followed her out, stopped beside Shin-woo. Joo-yeon glared at them, standing shoulder to shoulder, then whirled around. She left the mansion without another glance back.