Chapter 4
Chapter 4. Realizing
Now in his fifties, the eldest brother looked much older than the last time she saw him. It was natural, after five years, that he looked older. Next to him, who had gained weight, stood their strangely thin sister-in-law and two daughters glaring at Jiwoo with disapproval.
“If you don’t sign here, you know we’ll have to shut everything down, right?”
The eldest brother shoved the documents handed by the accompanying lawyer at her, insisting without even telling her to read them that she must stamp immediately.
Wondering why he was rushing her like a desperate bastard, Jiwoo looked more closely. It was about budget execution for a contest held once every three years by the Seongwoon Foundation.
The detailed statement, deliberately complicated, showed suspiciously high costs for just one contest. And in tiny print, obviously meant to be overlooked, there was a clause stating that her eldest brother, as her proxy, would have full control over all future events hosted by the Seongwoon Foundation.
Who writes anticipated approval documents so recklessly?
It was clear he planned to slowly eat away at Jiwoo’s share.
“If you don’t sign quickly, it’ll all be canceled.”
When Jiwoo hesitated, her eldest brother exaggeratedly pointed to the concert hall on the TV in the chairman’s office with a stern gaze. He’s like a mean adult scaring a clueless child.
Maybe it was because the age gap was like parent and child.
He always treated Jiwoo like a child. Honestly, it felt more like he treated her like an imbecile, but to put it nicely, that’s how it was.
Jiwoo, fascinated by his still firm but noticeably pudgy eyelids, turned her gaze to the TV.
The concert hall, busy preparing for the contest, was already bustling with people. Participants who had worked hard, their families, casual spectators, reporters, and foundation staff carefully checking stage conditions…
‘……’
Her eyes circled the space and finally settled on the papers in her eldest brother’s hand.
Cruelly, the budget execution date was that very day. If Jiwoo didn’t process the budget by 3 PM, when banks close, the contest would be canceled.
But to hold the contest, she had to agree to her greedy, ill-tempered eldest brother using the foundation’s money as he pleased. It wasn’t the money that bothered her but the thought of letting him have his way.
Maybe she should just go crazy and tear up the contract.
That’s exactly what she was thinking.
“It’s all stuff I’ve handled so far anyway. Just leave it all to me, don’t worry about the foundation. I’ll take good care of it and return everything to you when you’re an adult.”
Her eldest brother tried to persuade her with empty words.
Every time he took something from Jiwoo, he used her age as a weapon to prevent her from asserting her rights.
“You should start studying properly too. You’re in 11th grade this year, right?”
Though it was his own regret, her eldest brother tended to be careless in his work.
If he wanted to investigate, he should do it properly.
At that time, she was not in 11th grade but 12th.
And she didn’t need to study hard for the college entrance exam like others.
She had already received early admission notification to the Seongwoon University business department in the first semester.
Anyway, the point was that in a few months, she would be an adult.
Even if she signed the papers her eldest brother handed her, they would soon become just scrap paper.
No matter what the greedy man planned, he wouldn’t be able to achieve it in that short time.
‘……’
If you’re going to find out, then find out properly.
A person who claims to be a businessman…
Jiwoo clicked her tongue lowly and reluctantly stamped the document.
Her eldest brother grabbed the contract as if someone was going to snatch it from him, puffing up his neck and babbling nonsense, trying to act serious.
“Yeah, good thinking. Since you’re here, sit down and learn some culture, huh? Don’t act like you know stuff in front of others, got it?”
D*sgusting.
The contempt that had become a habit hit Jiwoo hard.
D*sgusting? Isn’t the truly d*sgusting one the person drooling over their minor sibling’s inheritance?
Jiwoo’s mouth itched to talk back, but as always, she stayed silent.
Since their father passed away, she had been a ghost in this family. Present or not made no difference. Like someone dead, she wasn’t allowed to act on whatever she wanted.
Jiwoo thought that was what being mature meant.
At least in her own mind, her mental age was higher than that foolish middle-aged man in front of her.
When she said nothing, her eldest brother crooked his mouth and, leading the family, left the chairman’s office.
Left alone, Jiwoo finally spoke.
“Of course…”
She had money stolen right in front of her eyes; there was no way she could calmly sit and listen to music.
Contest or whatever, it would run fine without her anyway, so she thought she might as well go home and just sleep.
“…I want to eat a chocolate pie.”
Buying a chocolate pie from the foundation’s convenience store was purely an impulsive act.
It was just a coincidence that she remembered the small secret spot behind the waiting room where she often went with her mother.
After a long time, finding her secret place, Jiwoo stuck a candle into the chocolate pie she bought and quietly clapped for herself.
She didn’t sing or light the candle. That would have been too melodramatic, like a tragic heroine.
When the song she hummed in her heart ended, it was time to blow out the unlit candle.
Clatter.
At that moment, the door opened.
The chocolate pie Jiwoo was holding flew away, knocked by the door, tumbling on the floor.
“Ah…”
