CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 173. SOMETIMES, LATE IS WORSE THAN NEVER

[A mega construction project by S Entertainment and D company is done on top of a historic burial site! How could this happen?]

A link to an elaborate news article that felt more like an essay was sent to several organisations, including environmentalists, conservationists, historical preservation activists, and even war veterans. It was a small ripple that got the news circulating even while the general people ignored it. These people, already used to fighting for their voices, discussed the article fiercely among themselves.

Some didn’t think it was real and the proof could be fabricated. Some did an even deeper investigation to see if it was true. Some got to work and sent a petition letter for an investigation to the authorities, or went to the district where the hill was and observed the situation.

The article itself didn’t garner much attention, but small actions were still born out of it--exactly what Sarah wanted.

It wasn’t yet the time to move, so she would let it simmer until they had all the needed proof and struck with another, neatly planned lawsuit.

"Have someone protecting that journalist from afar," Sarah told Sol.

[You think I don’t know that?] the manager scoffed. [I have people in the village managing the crowds for now]

"Oh, as expected of Mr. General Manager," Sarah laughed and thanked Sol before ending the call. The screen immediately returned to another news portal--more casual and catered to lifestyle.

Rather than that, people were more preoccupied with bigger news--especially for those in the art scene and the high society: Mirae had announced an art exhibition to be held in two weeks.

It was a rather short announcement, but a big name like Mirae had that kind of privilege. Branding it as ’uncovering diamonds in the rough’, it garnered attention by pulling people’s sympathy to the struggle of unnamed artists trying to make a name abroad, as stated by Daniel’s mother who spearheaded the advertisment.

"They are even using patriotism," Sarah chuckled. "Big corporations truly have no shame."

"But this is your project, so you’re the shameless one, Princess."

Sarah kicked the giant puppy massaging her legs. They had just finished exercising in their mini gym and took a break by reading some news articles.

And Mirae truly made it big, as if it were an event for idol shows instead of a cultural event. They invited famous artists and professors to give lectures and reviews so people would come and the exhibitions wouldn’t be empty. Of course, the main advertising would be the grand opening gala where the chairman of Mirae Group himself would come to pop the champagne.

"The invitations should be sent right now," Sarah hummed.

"The official invitation would be given to the chairman, right?" Hajin patted Sarah’s legs and stood up to grab electrolyte drinks from the mini fridge. "Then, what about the first wife?"

"There’s a reason why I wanted Daniel’s mother to be the one sending out invites, Puppy," Sarah rolled over her yoga mat. "Not all invitations came through a card."

Hajin narrowed his eyes before snapping his fingers. "The socialites circle."

"Bingo!" Sarah shot the bodyguard with a finger gun. "The madams had their own circle, and I asked Daniel’s mother to invite the first wife. There was no way she wouldn’t come if she wanted to preserve her place in high society."

"Hmm..."

Hajin nodded and returned to Sarah with the electrolyte drink, but his gaze was a bit distant, as if he was deeply thinking about something else. Sarah got up to sit and received her drink, looking at the man keenly as she replenished her liquid.

She reached out and softly tapped the man’s cheek. "Why?"

"Oh, I just thought that Chairman Yoo’s wife would probably be there too," Hajin smiled wryly.

He himself didn’t really care, but his princess was. While Alice Yoo was not a kind or innocent person, she wasn’t evil either. Sarah still thought it wasn’t fair for her to get cheated on, no matter what her personality was. If Hajin’s father weren’t such a coward, he would have divorced her before pursuing Hajin’s mother.

Besides...if Chairman Yoo’s wife were there and recognized Hajin, it might disrupt the real plan.

"Well...we will be there, but we won’t be showing our face, so..." Sarah muttered, as expected looking rather uncomfortable. They would be behind the scenes receiving reports from the staff, and unless something went truly wrong, they would stay hidden. "Still, we should use a disguise just in case."

"Mm," Hajin nodded, wondering what disguise his princess wanted to do this time. It had been a while since they had been doing role play, so he was pleasantly curious.

The need to go in disguise became more apparent when Sarah received a call from her father the next day. Basically, he told her about the invitation to the grand opening event that Mirae was holding and asked her if she was free on that date.

Thankfully, it was a phone call, so Sarah could hide her awkward wince. "Uhh...are you telling me you’re going to take me?"

[Well, it’s a Mirae event] the chairman said. Indeed, Sarah had shown herself to be close to Daniel. Even if the chairman didn’t mind Sarah staying with Chairman Yoo’s son, he would be even more elated if Sarah ended up with Daniel.

And Hajin seemed to understand that, so he was scowling while Sarah received the call. She had to prevent herself from laughing before replying to the chairman.

"Umm, no--I have no interest in art. Besides, shouldn’t you go with Vivian or something?" Sarah said. "You shouldn’t annoy a pregnant woman, you know. She might get stressed and lose her baby..." her voice tapered out as a memory from when she was too small to understand this kind of thing surfaced. "I don’t know if you knew this, but you already lost one before."

The chairman paused at the heavy shift in Sarah’s voice. His reply came softer, almost making Sarah think he was sorry. [Of course, I knew]

"Oh, really? Since you never even asked Mother about it, I thought you didn’t care," Sarah snickered. "But then again, you didn’t even care to see her funeral."

[Sarah...]

"Is that all?" Sarah snapped coldly.

[Yes, well--no...] the chairman changed his answer quickly. [It’s about Mason]

Sarah dropped her voice even more. "What about him?"

[Amber had been asking me to give Mason leniency, like letting him out of the house or something] the chairman said, and then adding in a hesitating tone. [What do you think?]

Sarah curled her lips--it seemed like Amber went right to it, despite feeling hesitant before. She replied in a nonchalant tone. "Why not?"

[...really?]

"From the start, what I wanted was to kick him out of the house to the street," Sarah clicked her tongue. "Why don’t you just send him out to his mother or something? I’m tired of hearing stuff about him, so just let him disappear for all I care."

[I’m just...] the chairman sighed. [I was worried he might do something to you]

"Don’t lie!" Sarah snapped, back straightened tensely as if she was ready to lunge at something. "You were worried about people knowing you were duped."

The chairman only replied with a sigh, followed by a silence that only exacerbated Sarah’s annoyance. What was this old man doing, suddenly acting like a father?

"Whatever--like that man would be able to go against my puppy," Sarah scoffed.

Again, the chairman sighed. His voice grew weaker, reminding Sarah of Chairman Yoo’s tone when he was talking to Hajin. A father’s tone. [Fine] the chairman said as Sarah was battling her irritation. [Will you be coming home if I kick him out of the house?]

"I don’t know," Sarah scowled deeply, sinking herself into the couch. "Maybe a visit..."

[It’s something]

"Is that all?" Sarah snapped again, sounding colder and more agitated than usual.

[Yes, and...] the chairman paused; again with that soft tone that Sarah used to long for but abhorred this time. [I’m sorry...about your mother]

Sarah mashed the red button on the screen before she could hear any more of that bullshit. She wanted to smash the phone against the wall and let it break so she couldn’t be contacted again, but her brain told her it was too childish.

In the end, she only threw the phone at the other couch and muttered harshly under her breath. "Fuck you!"

"Princess," Hajin called out softly, and Sarah took a deep breath.

She sank back to the couch and closed her eyes to calm down. The breathing exercise lessened her anger, but the annoyance persisted. She opened her eyes while sighing, staring at Hajin who was standing in front of her cautiously, waiting.

Sarah pursed her lips and raised her arms, silently staring at Hajin. With a chuckle, the giant puppy enveloped her in his arms and scent, hauling her while placing soft kisses on her face. Each one worked nicely to erase traces of annoyance in her heart.

"What scent do you want for your bath?" Hajin asked, keeping his princess in his arms as he walked to the bathroom.

"You choose," Sarah mumbled contentedly, laying her head on her puppy’s shoulder while inhaling his scent.

She was no longer annoyed, but there was nothing wrong with a little indulgence.