"Old man," he said flatly, "the air's bad here. Go home."
While there was no enmity between them he didn't have any intimate familial bond with his father.
Father Keir, unfazed, crossed his arms. "Dont be rude. I just want to meet the girl. Hong says she's nice."
This son finally graduated from celibacy. Of course, he have to support him.
Butler Hong sensed danger and discreetly shuffled toward the back garden. Every man for himself.
"Son," Father Keir continued, unfazed, "if you like her, I'll support you. If you love her, I'll double it. Just don't scare her off with that mouth of yours."
Shin ignored him and stalked toward his study.
"Stubborn brat, I'm staying here for a while." muttered Father Keir, stomping his foot like a disgruntled landlord.
It was then he spotted Tristan about to slip away.
"Kiddo!" he called out. "Let's have tea and catch up. Talk about that girl!"
Tristan froze. Tea. At night. Great.
This smelled like a trap.
"Uncle," he said politely, "I'm... lactose intolerant."
"That's milk. Not tea."
He wasn't getting out of this, was he?
The next day, ominous clouds gathered above Shin Keir's villa, dark as an unpaid debt.
Inside, the atmosphere was thick enough to chew through. A tense silence clung to the walls like mildew, the kind that screamed, A storm's coming—and not just the weather kind.
Suddenly, the front door burst open, and three women waltzed in uninvited as if they owned the place.
"What is taking them so long?! Have they forgotten how to pay respect to their Elder?!" Elder Madam Keir bellowed, her voice cracking like a whip across the living room.
For the iron-fisted matriarch of the Keir family, waiting was akin to sacrilege.
Butler Hong, who was as composed as a monk on sedatives, bowed politely. "Elder Madam, both Master Allister and Young Master Shin have been informed of your... unexpected arrival."
His words were respectful, but the flicker of distaste in his eyes said, Uninvited people should come with a siren.
Allister Keir, who had only arrived yesterday afternoon, appeared at the top of the stairs wearing a scowl that suggested he had bit into a lemon. "Mother. How did you even know I was here? I didn't exactly informed anyone."
Seated like a queen on the velvet couch, Elder Madam Keir didn't flinch. Next to her was Eleanor Keir, Allister's current wife and Shin's stepmother—the woman with more issues than a magazine stand.
"Husband!" Eleanor squealed, leaping up like a schoolgirl spotting her crush at a concert. "You look younger than ever! I haven't seen you in three years—why didn't you visit me?"
"Eleanor," the matriarch snapped, her expression pinched. "Mind your behavior, or I'll have Allister sign those divorce papers we've been saving for a decade!"
Eleanor stiffened, her arms tightening around Allister's like she was clinging to a life raft.
Allister sighed, brushing her off. "Why are you here so early, Mother? Surely it's not to spread joy and good vibes?"
"Don't play coy!" Elder Madam Keir exploded. "Where is that unfilial brat of yours?! While you were busy playing recluse, he bullied his cousin—humiliated him! Hadi's reputation is ruined! That evil evil bastard!"
Allister rubbed his temples. "Shin must have had his reasons. Besides, personal matters and business should remain separate. Shin's the CEO of a multi-national conglomerate, not a babysitter. You're here, frothing at the mouth, because Hadi ran to you crying?"
Butler Hong subtly nodded behind them, mentally giving Allister a thumbs up.
Elder Madam Keir flushed red, ready to detonate, when the young woman beside her leaned forward to soothe the firestorm.
"Grandmother, please calm down," Calin said sweetly, gently patting the old woman's back. "Getting worked up isn't good for your health."
Calin, daughter of one of Allister's old business allies, had tagged along for reasons more strategic than sentimental.
Years ago, she'd tried to worm her way into Shin's orbit, but the man was more elusive than a tax loophole.
"Uncle Allister," she said now with practiced demureness, "my father sends his regards. He couldn't get away from work, but he insisted I come on his behalf." She smiled shyly, placing a tasteful gift box on the table like a peace offering.
"Tell him I'll call soon," Allister replied with a curt nod.
Calin looked like the perfect socialite: white dress, flawless makeup, and the kind of fragile grace that made men want to hold the door—and if possible the globe—for her.
Elder Madam Keir, however, wasn't done cracking her verbal weapon.
"Allister, am I still your mother or not?! Are you suggesting I'm being unreasonable? That I'm senile? You should be blaming your son! KGG wasn't built by that brat—it was built by us! He's riding on our coattails!"
Allister arched a brow. "Then you should know the company's rapid growth and unmatched success are all Shin's doing."
"Utter nonsense!" she barked. "You handed him everything!"
An hour later, Shin descended the stairs like an indifferent immortal.
He wore a black button-down shirt—two buttons undone—and tailored gray pants. His expression was unreadable, and the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.
Eleanor bolted from her seat like a crazed fangirl. "Son!"
"Eleanor, control yourself!" Elder Madam Keir snapped, aghast.
The irony was sharp—once a wicked stepmother, Eleanor had gone from slapping Shin around to trying to snuggle him like a teddy bear.
The family had long buried the truth: Eleanor's child wasn't Allister's, and Allister's child—Shin—was born of another woman entirely.
Meaning the couple had no child together but instead both have illegitimate sons. But because Shin carried the Keir bloodline and looked like Allister's photocopy, he was chosen to be the family's heir. Better a legitimate bastard than an illegitimate joke.
Years later, Eleanor cracked—attempted suicide, and emerged on the other side as a clingy, deranged mother figure.
The Keir family decided to keep her around for appearances. Elder Madam Keir thought locking her away in an institution would raise eyebrows—and benefit the enemies.
Now, Shin deftly sidestepped her attempted hug like dodging an oncoming train.
"Shin, Mommy missed you so much," Eleanor cooed, her eyes brimming with deranged affection. "Why don't you sit beside Mommy?"
Shin sat alone, unbothered and radiating disdain. Her gaze made his skin crawl like he was covered in invisible spiders.
"Maybe we could all live here—Mommy, Daddy, and you—as a happy family again?"
"Silence, you disgrace!" Elder Madam Keir snarled. Her skin crawled just hearing her daughter-in-law baby-talk a grown man.
"Enough, Eleanor," Allister muttered, massaging his temple.
"But I'm his Mommy!" she pouted, clinging to Allister like a barnacle.
Across the room, Calin stared at Shin like she'd just seen a god emerge from Mount Olympus.
He was even more handsome than she remembered. At nineteen, he was already a powerhouse. At almost twenty-six, he looked like the dictionary definition of danger and desire.
"H-hello, Brother Shin... it's been a while," she managed to say, her voice thinner than she intended.
Shin's eyes flicked in her direction. She blushed furiously. He was the man of her dreams.
This time she won't be timid anymore. Calin was the girl with a seven-year crush and curves approved by the fashion gods. Surely with her stunning appearance, fate was finally on her side.
"Shin! Show some manners!" Elder Madam Keir barked again.
Shin didn't even look at her. "You've been flapping your gums since you arrived. What exactly do you want to hear, old woman?"
Gasps echoed. Elder Madam Keir turned purple.
Eleanor, of all people, suddenly leapt in to defend him. "Mother, don't bully my son!"
Elder Madam Keir looked ready to throw her shoe if not for her upbringing.
Shin didn't need reminding—he hadn't forgotten Eleanor's "maternal affection." She had gone from tormenting him as a child to barging into his room unannounced as a teen, whispering twisted endearments.
The Keirs. High society with high-functioning dysfunction.
Shin's lip curled into a smirk. What a circus of mad dogs.
He glanced—briefly—in Calin's direction. Her heart pounded. She opened her mouth, but her words turned to jelly.
Suddenly, Shin stood.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Elder Madam Keir demanded.
"To work. Someone has to keep this family from collapsing under the weight of its own nonsense," Shin said, deadpan. "Besides, don't you need more money for your next facelift?"
Elder Madam Keir was so angry her breath hitched.
Eleanor scrambled after him. "Son, don't listen to Grandma! Mommy will always be here for you!"
Shin paused, glanced at her, and let his voice drop to a glacial chill. "Do you even remember why you attempted suicide?"
Eleanor froze. Her hands trembled.
The shadow of his towering frame loomed over her like a bad omen.
Shin didn't wait for her answer. He turned and disappeared into his study.
Not long after, the door creaked open. Calin slipped in like a guilty cat.
Shin's gaze lifted, sharp and unwelcoming.
Calin froze, but steadied herself. "I just... it's noisy outside. I didn't mean to intrude. I won't disturb you, I swear."
"Walking into someone's private study uninvited isn't disturbing?"
"I—uh, well—actually, I'm really interested in programming too! I thought maybe we could talk about it?" Her smile was strained. "You're an industry legend, Brother Shin..."
Shin calmly turned on the air purifier.
The implication was louder than any insult.