Sunset at Hamdeok

Chapter 22

"Sajangnim," Choi Minsik put his tab on the coffee table, "this is the girl that Taehyung is having an affair with. She is not only a big trouble for Taehyung and Sooyoung's engagement, but also a serious problem for our company."

They were sitting in Grandpa Kim's office. The old man took the tab. He swiped the screen several times. And with each picture he saw, his eyes glowered more and his hands clutched tighter.

"This is unacceptable!" The old man looked furious.

Choi Minsik nodded. "I don't think it is acceptable too. If public knows that our executive vise president is seeing a girl who posts her lewd pictures on the internet, our company will suffer a great loss. Please think about our share in the market." Choi Minsik bowed his head.

Grandpa Kim looked at his employee. "Do you think I will let my grandson keep seeing this girl?"

"I believe sajangnim is wise enough to know what to do to solve this problem."

Grandpa Kim sighed. He crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. "I thought Taehyung would be smarter than this. I must've spoiled him too much." He glanced at Choi Minsik. "How is Sooyoung?"

Choi Minsik cleared his throat. "Sooyoung is deeply affected by her breakup with Taehyung. She loves Taehyung so much. But Sooyoung pretends to be strong." Minsik looked so troubled, "I really feel sorry for her. I can't believe Taehyung could fall into this vixen's trap. But with a face and body like that, I don't blame Taehyung. This girl can lure and fascinate any men who have eyes to see. Taehyung is just unfortunate."

"Will Sooyoung accept Taehyung again?"

Choi Minsik seemed to be surprised. "Sajangnim, Sooyoung's love for Taehyung is so pure and indefinite. She will absolutely take him back. That's all she ever wants."

Grandpa Kim nodded. "Arasseo. Taehyung will marry Sooyoung next spring, just like what we had planned before."

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"Taehyung-ah, you can't see that girl anymore." It was the first thing Grandpa Kim said the moment he saw his grandson walked into their living room.

"Halabeoji," Taehyung stopped to greet his grandfather. He never thought his grandfather would be waiting for him. "What girl?"

"Listen to me, I know about your affair with that barista, and now I want you to stop seeing her again."

Taehyung folded his coat and came closer. "Halabeoji, it's not even an affair. I am sorry I haven't introduced Tiffany to you." He curtseyed. "But since you've heard about us, I'll immediately take her to see you."

"You're not listening, Taehyung-ah. I want you to stop seeing her. You're going to marry Choi Sooyoung."

"I thought we'd done with that. I'm not gonna marry Sooyoung. I'm marrying Tiffany Hwang."

Grandpa Kim jerked upright. "Watch your mouth Kim Taehyung! You are talking to your grandfather. I didn't raise you to become an unscrupulous man."

Taehyung closed his eyes and opened them again, "what did I do wrong, Halabeoji? I just want to marry someone I love. Is that a crime in your eyes?"

Grandpa Kim flung off some pictures at Taehyung. With the corner of his eyes, Taehyung saw every picture had Tiffany's image in it. He knelt down and pick them up one by one.

"Is that the girl you want to marry? A girl who posts her nude to be consumed by any guys who click on her sns account? Is that the woman you wish to be the mother of your children?"

Taehyung didn't say a word. He kept picking up all of the scattered pictures on the floor. He had to make sure no pictures would be left on the floor.

"You can sleep with anyone you want. Sleep with that girl if you want to. Quench your thirst for her body. But tomorrow, I expect you to cut any ties with her."

Taehyung stood up while holding all pictures in his hands. "Halabeoji, I'm not fooling around with Tiffany. I love her. And I want to spend my life with her. I want her to be the mother of my children. No matter what Halabeoji say, I won't change my mind. I'm going to marry Tiffany."

"Where have you put your brain, Kim Taehyung? I don't remember I have a stupid grandson." Grandpa Kim had never lost his calm before. "Do you even realize that you've jeopardized our company? Have you seen you are photographed kissing that girl? You are not someone who can acts whatever his heart desires. You are my grandson. You are Kim Group's heir. Everything you do affects our company!"

Taehyung took a step back. "Halabeoji must know something. These pictures and all those sns accounts are fake. Someone used Tiffany's face and attached it to these photographs.... She is innocent...."

"I don't care." Grandpa Kim hissed. "She is not the woman I want for my grandson."

"But she's the only one that I want." Taehyung clenched his teeth. "Tiffany may not seem perfect to you, but she is perfect to me. She is the most kindhearted girl I've ever known. Her heart and her love are so pure and ask nothing in return. She loves me like I'm the best thing in her life. She makes my life so wonderful that I'm so grateful for every second of it. I am her sun and she is my moon."

"You are not at the age of talking flippantly. That girl will only taint our family. Look at what she's done."

"These pictures are fake. Is it hard for Halabeoji to trust me?" Taehyung knew it would be a long argument.

Grandpa Kim moved forward. "If you disobey me, I would rather lose you as my grandson."

Taehyung was extremely hurt by his grandfather's words. Never in his life Taehyung had ever disobeyed his grandfather. He always did his best to please him, to comply to him. Taehyung loved and respect his grandfather so much. That old man had raised him well and given him the love that he had never received from his deceased parents.

"Why, Halabeoji?" Taehyung looked at his grandfather with sorrow in his eyes. "I would never disobey Halabeoji...," he gulped, "I always do everything you tell me to. And the only thing I want, the only thing I am asking you to understand is that I love Tiffany with all my heart and soul and that I want to make her my wife."

Grandpa Kim took a deep breath. "If you want to love that girl, go and live with her." He stared at his grandson. "But don't come to me again, don't call me your grandfather anymore. You are no longer my grandson. And I don't do this because I hate you. I'll assume my grandson has died. You are no longer entitled to Kim Group. You're no longer an executive vice president. Are you happy, Kim Taehyung ssi?"

It was as if he was struck by a lightning. Taehyung realized there was no turning back. His grandfater had asked him to choose: his family or his girlfriend.

"How am I supposed to choose between Halabeoji and Tiffany? You are the only world I know. Both of you."

"Just choose, Taehyung. Leave your grandfather and lose everything... Or leave that girl and you're still my grandson and the heir to Kim Group. You don't have to marry Choi Sooyoung, you can stay celibate if you want to."

Taehyung let go a breath he was secretly holding. "I was blessed because I was born as your grandson, Halabeoji. Nothing will make me stop loving you and respecting you." Taehyung smiled, "but I can't leave Tiffany. I don't care about being an heir. I will choose Tiffany over any fortune in this world because she is my biggest fortune. And even though Halabeoji doesn't want me to become your grandson anymore, to me you will always be my grandfather." Taehyung bowed down for a few seconds. "Please stay healthy, Halabeoji."[]

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