keeping up with the lees || svt

thirty-two: cruel

"what's wrong with you?" mr. lee asked as he sat where jihoon and yoongi was. "do you realize what you've said?"

"i personally am not a fan of arranged marriages- but father explained that it's an amazing way for him to gain more power, who am i to interfere that wonderful purpose?"

"i apologize, father-"

"quiet" mr. lee glared, "and there i thought you were the perfect child" 

"you seem to keep forgetting about me, father" yoongi crossed his arms and leaned against the chair's back. "am i no longer your son?"

"not one that i'm proud of"

"i'm hurt" yoongi said, his face not matching his words. he displayed emotions as though wet cement. his face was relaxed- almost too relaxed for what was happening. "cancel the engagement"

mr. lee arched a brow. "what?"

"you heard me, father"

suddenly, their father let out a barking laugh. jihoon looked at his older brother, confusion written over his forehead. it was disturbing.

"i knew it" his laughter died down. "you wouldn't come to see me without anything planned. going to blackmail me into cancelling esther's engagement?"

"you caught on later than i expected"

"of course" he scoffed. "going to tell them all you're my son? i'm not ashamed"

it was yoongi's turn to scoff. "you think your children are shallow minded? well, you're not the only smart devil among the crowd"

mr. lee stared, waiting for the man to continue.

"employee exploitation and abuse, defamation of mr. choi with forged documents in 2001, malware attack- shall i go on?" 

a wave of shock hit jihoon like a tsunami.

father never played fair.

mr. lee wasn't fazed. he didn't even quirk a brow nor twitch a finger. "for once, i'm actually proud of you. good to know you have a fragment of my mind. such a shame your blood is dirty"

yoongi clenched his teeth, but his eyes stayed clear or any emotion. 

"jung jieun"

he balled his fist and slammed it on the table. jihoon turned his head towards him, a brow arched. 

"so it's true?" their father chuckled. "secretary jung's daughter"

jihoon knitted his brows. 

secretary jung's daughter.. isn't that yujin?

"you can't do anything to their family. they're under mrs. lee's protection" 

"are they, now?" taunted the man. "if you forgot, hera hotels has been under rose group ever since 1995. i get a say on everything so don't test me, yoongi. you only have my mind, not my heart" 

mr. lee turned to jihoon. "this is what i keep telling you, woozi. form only connections with people that matter. a soft spot is a weak spot"

"so?" jihoon asked his elder brother impatiently. "are you gonna expose him or not? your sister's happiness is on the line"

yoongi didn't reply.

"just what i thought" grimaced their father, "before you attack, secure your defenses. how disappointing" the man stood up but before he walked away, he said, "although i am proud of you, jihoon. i will have a word with you later"