At that moment, she was truly pushed to the edge.
She began hyperventilating.
Thankfully, the estate's medical staff arrived just in time. The nurses and doctor immediately rushed to provide first aid to both Elder Madam Keir and Hadi.
Shin sat calmly on a chair near the window, lighting a cigarette as if nothing had happened.
The medical team worked silently, keeping their heads down. No one dared say a word.
One of the kitchen staff nervously approached, asking him if he'll be staying for dinner.
"Boss," Secretary Yun said quietly. "It's past seven."
"Then no one's eating," Shin said coolly, exhaling a puff of smoke and glancing toward Hadi.
The chef standing at the hallway entrance froze, uncertain. Was he trying to starve the patient now?
He looked at Elder Madam Keir, hoping for clarification, but she was too busy mentally calculating how to preserve her shares to even answer.
Eventually, she waved her hand and dismissed everyone. Once it was only the four of them left, she sat beside Hadi's IV-drip-hung body and whispered:
"Hadi, Grandma promises to take care of you and your wife after this… But what you did was wrong. You have to take responsibility… Sign the transfer. I'll give you two villas in my name and 5% in one of the subsidiaries. That's better, isn't it?"
Hadi looked torn, pained, and still crying. They went back and forth, both unwilling to give up a single cent more than they had to.
Shin snorted silently.
In the end, Hadi signed.
Not out of guilt, or the old woman's coaxing but because when Shin stood up and looked at him again, he truly believed he'd never walk again if he didn't.
Secretary Yun quickly collected the signed documents, neatly tucked them away, and gave a nod.
Shin looked at Hadi like he was a corpse already in a coffin. "Next time you want my attention, think about what you can't afford to lose,"
Hadi couldn't meet his eyes.
Only when the sound of Shin's car finally left the driveway did Hadi finally break down and howl like a man who had lost everything.
Elder Madam Keir quietly instructed the doctor to prepare an emergency transfer to the hospital.
It was estimated that Hadi would need at least three to four months for full recovery.
---
That very night, Ellis and Hiro Keir—Hadi's father and older brother, rushed to the Keir mansion the moment they heard the news.
Elder Madam Keir broke down in tears as soon as she saw them, clutching at them like they were her last threads of warmth and security. In her despair, she didn't notice the irritation on their faces.
"Hadi's wife went to see him in the hospital. Grandma, what exactly happened?" Hiro asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Between sobs and choked breaths, Elder Madam Keir recounted what she knew.
"Damn it, that idiot!" Ellis growled, slamming his fist onto the armrest of the couch.
They were both shocked to hear that Hadi had been beaten within an inch of his life but what enraged them more was the fact that he had lost three percent of his company shares.
For Ellis, this felt like a nightmare repeating itself. He had once been humiliated, stripped of his CEO position for reasons he considered unfair, losing everything to Allister.
And now, history seemed to be mocking him. His sons hadn't even gotten the chance to properly compete for the heir position against Shin, and worse, they were being trampled without a shred of dignity or authority left in the clan.
Hiro's expression was grim as well. For years, he and his father had been quietly scheming, building connections behind Shin's back, trying to gain influence and slowly regain power. But their efforts had barely moved the needle.
Shin Keir wasn't just influential, he had everything: vision, intelligence, strategy, and loyal allies spread not just throughout the company, but across the entire country. Trying to move against him in secret was like trying to sneak past a dragon with its eyes wide open.
"Dad... do you think something might've stimulated Hadi into recklessly sending someone after Shin?" Hiro asked cautiously.
Ellis looked like he was about to explode. "Does it even matter now?"
What truly mattered was the possibility that Shin might grow suspicious and start digging deeper.
Unlike Allister, who had at least maintained the illusion of family ties, Shin didn't care. He had never shown them even the slightest courtesy or hesitation. In truth, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call that brat a demon.
There was a time when Ellis had hoped to use Shin's cold, tyrant nature against him. In the corporate world, everyone wore masks, and even the sharpest players were vulnerable to hypocrisy.
But Shin… he was a monster who managed to remain both untouchable and profitable. His results always outweighed his unpleasant temperament.
"Mother, can't you see it? That brat is getting more out of control by the day," Ellis said, his voice laced with desperation. "If this keeps up, he might kick us out with nothing but the clothes on our backs."
He continued, "You still hold a significant amount of shares. If you combine them with mine, I can use that leverage to regain my position and challenge Shin."
Elder Madam Keir froze.
His words made the elderly woman nearly hyperventilate again.
She stared at her eldest son as if he had just asked her to give up her life.
That night, the Keir family mansion was destined to be sleepless.
---
Meanwhile, just as Yeri returned to her dorm, she received a message from Jj.
Wanna go check out the summer night market? it said.
Yeri blinked in surprise. It was rare for Jj to invite her out, especially when he was usually buried in his books and classes. But since she didn't have any pressing schoolwork, she agreed.
They planned to meet at the high school's back gate, and when Yeri arrived, she spotted someone she hadn't expected to see at all.
"Yeri's here," Venice called out sweetly, flashing a smile as if they were the closest of sisters.
Yeri raised a brow. Of all people... Venice?
She turned to Jj, her tone flat. "What's going on?"
Jj reached out and gently patted her head, pretending nothing was wrong. "No school stuff to do, right? The night market isn't far. I thought it'd be nice to take a break... and, uh, it was actually Venice's idea."
Surprisingly, Venice wasn't acting arrogant or disdainful like usual. Instead, she gave a friendly nod. "We're cousins, after all. We should hang out sometimes. You and Jj are always staying at the school dorms...we barely get to see each other."
Yeri didn't respond, but she didn't reject the idea either. She simply turned and walked alongside them.
The three of them made their way through the lively city streets. Like them, many people, mostly students, couples, or groups of friends, were enjoying the summer night.
The night air was filled with the mouthwatering scent of grilled skewers, roasted corn, sweet pancakes, and the occasional hint of squid. Neon lights blinked lazily above the makeshift tents and stalls, while the sound of laughter, chatter, and the occasional shout from a competitive balloon-popping booth added to the lively ambiance.
There were game booths, street performers, even a few musicians strumming guitars or playing violins under the glow of string lights.
Venice clung to Jj's side like, throwing her head back and laughing every few minutes as if Jj were the funniest man alive. Jj, just smiled faintly, clearly doing his best to keep things civil.
Even Yeri, who had braced herself for a tense evening, couldn't help but get distracted by the sheer liveliness of the market.
Venice peeked over her shoulder with a honeyed smile. "Yeri, want to try that balloon dart game? I remember you used to be good at it, right?"
Yeri "..."
Jj was already tugging her sleeve. "Come on, just one round."
Yeri rolled her eyes but followed. The vendor handed her three darts.
"Don't embarrass yourself now," Venice teased playfully.
Yeri took aim, narrowed her eyes and popped three balloons in rapid succession.
"Pick any prize!" the vendor beamed.
Yeri reached over and grabbed the cheapest keychain she could find. It was a tiny duck wearing sunglasses.
"A duck?" Venice asked, confused.
"It reminds me of you," Yeri said flatly, pocketing it. "Want it?"
Venice blinked, processing that. "Because it's… cute?"
"No, because it makes noise and waddles around trying to be relevant."
Venice's smile twitched. "Oh, Yeri, you're so funny."
Before the conversation could turn uglier, Jj gently nudged them forward. "Let's try some skewers."
They settled on a nearby bench. Venice tried to inch closer to Jj, while Yeri sat cross-legged, duck keychain dangling from her wrist as she waited for the pork skewer.
Venice volunteered to buy them drinks and left.
When it was just the two of them, Yeri side-eyed him. "Did she ask you to invite me?"
Jj nodded.
"Why?" she asked, jabbing him with the duck keychain.
Jj scratched his neck. "She said she wanted to clear the air. Maybe try to get along better."
Yeri snorted. "Venice wanting to get along with me is like a snake offering a group hug."
Jj laughed and shrugged casually. "Maybe she has other intentions. Let's see."
Yeri rolled her eyes, but a ridiculous thought crept into her head.
Technically speaking, Jj and Venice weren't even that closely related. Jj was adopted from a distant branch of the family, they didn't even share the Zhi surname.
And in their country, marriage between second cousins or distant relatives wasn't considered immoral or illegal.
Could it be... Venice was actually after Jj?
That horrifying idea made Yeri squint at him.
Noticing her intense stare, Jj snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Hey. What's with the look?"
Yeri blinked and, before she could stop herself, blurted, "Do you think Venice likes you?"
If Jj had been eating, he definitely would have choked.
His face twisted in disbelief and disgust. "You—what is wrong with you?! Don't be ridiculous. We're cousins."
"Right," Yeri muttered with a pout, picking at her skewer. If only Venice shared that same mindset...
When Venice returned from a nearby stall, Yeri was already happily munching on pork skewers.
"Yeri, didn't you used to avoid heavy meat at night? Are you sure you'll be okay eating that?" Venice asked with a sweet tone that didn't quite match her eyes.
Yeri nodded casually. That had only been an issue back when she was more sickly. She was doing fine these days at least physically.
Venice then placed two milk teas and a bottle of something suspiciously green on the table. "This one's healthy," she added, sliding the bottle toward Yeri. "Good for your digestion."
Yeri eyed the label. Kale-spinach-bitter melon-fusion with chia seeds? It looked like a punishment disguised as a drink.