Families With Complicated Dynamics

The click of the elevator doors closing echoed through the opulent hallway, a sound that seemed to slice through the thick tension that permeated the Ryu family residence. Noelle had just wheeled her grandmother, Halmeoni, out of the living room, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she bid them farewell.

But the moment the elevator ascended, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. The saccharine smiles that had been plastered on Vernon's, his wife's, and Ma-Ri's faces vanished, replaced by expressions of cold calculation.

Vernon, his features hardening, turned to his wife and Ma-Ri, his eyes glinting with avarice. "Well," he said, his voice dripping with undisguised greed. "Now that the little saint is gone, we can talk business."

His wife, a woman whose beauty had long faded, replaced by a permanent scowl of discontent which fought the Botox treatments she religiously go, nodded curtly. "That old woman is too trusting," she sneered. "She actually believes Noelle is some innocent little lamb."

Ma-Ri, who had been silently observing the charade, finally spoke, her voice laced with a venomous sweetness. "She is playing a dangerous game," she said, her eyes narrowed. "And she's about to lose."

Vernon chuckled, a harsh, unpleasant sound. "Indeed she is. I just received some… interesting information." He paused, savoring the moment. "It appears that not only does Noelle inherit Annie's twenty-five percent share of the company when she marries, but her husband also receives an additional five percent."

His wife's eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly. "A whole five percent? Are you serious?"

Vernon nodded grimly. "Dead serious. That little schemer is playing for keeps."

Ma-Ri's lips curled into a predatory smile. "Thirty percent," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "That is a significant chunk of the company."

"Precisely," Vernon said, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Which is why we need to act quickly."

His wife frowned. "Act how? Noelle is being incredibly cautious. She is practically glued to that old woman's side, acting like she cares about her all of a sudden."

"Patience, my dear," Vernon said, raising a hand to silence her. "We need to play this smart. We need to make sure Noelle marries Evan, and soon."

Ma-Ri's smile faltered slightly. "Evan? I love Evan, why should I let Areum have him?" She said, stamping her feet angrily at the thought of Evan and her stupid cousin getting married.

"You have to make sacrifices, dear." Vernon argued. "That girl has always been in love with him, she will do anything that he asks."

"And what about Noelle?" his wife asked, her voice laced with concern. "She is not stupid. She is going to see through our plan."

"We will make it seem like we're supporting her," Vernon said smoothly. "We'll shower her with affection, make her believe we are on her side. She is so desperate for family, she will fall for it hook, line, and sinker."

Ma-Ri's smile returned, wider and more menacing than before. "And once she's married to Evan?"

"Then we will have her sign over everything to him," Vernon said, his voice cold and ruthless. "She's young, naive. She won't suspect a thing."

"And what about me?" she asked, her voice laced with unease. "What do I get out of this?"

"You can continue like you always have." Vernon said, "Areum can be his wife but you will be the mistress, the one he truly loves."

Ma-Ri's eyes gleamed at the thought of getting one over Areum. She remembered how she had accused them of cheating behind her back and she faltered for a minute then she recollected how besotted the orphan was with Evan. All he would need to do was tell her he was sorry and she would come running like the fool she was.

His wife nodded, a cruel smile spreading across her face. "And then?"

Vernon's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Then… we'll get rid of her."

A chuckle escaped Ma-Ri's lips, "how do we get rid of her?"

"Accidents happen," Vernon said vaguely, his voice chillingly calm. "Especially in families with… complicated dynamics such as ours."

Vernon turned to Ma-Ri, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "You will get what you've always wanted, my dear, what you deserve as the true heir of this family." he said, his voice low and confident. "You will get everything that should have been rightfully yours from the start."

He reached out and took her hand, his grip tightening. "After Evan marries Noelle, we will hide our time. And when we get rid of Noelle, everything will be yours."

Ma-Ri's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. She had always desired to be better than Noelle . And now, her father was promising her everything she had ever dreamed of.

"But… what if Noelle suspects something?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"We won't give her a reason to suspect anything," Vernon said smoothly. "We will be the picture of a loving, supportive family. We will be so kind, so generous, she'll never see what's coming."

"And if she does?" Ma-Ri persisted.

Vernon's smile turned cruel. "Then we will have to be… more persuasive."

He squeezed her hand again, his eyes locking with hers. "Are you with me, Ma-Ri?"

Ma-Ri nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with ambition. "Yes, father," she whispered. "I'm with you."

Vernon turned to his wife, his expression happy. "And you?"

His wife nodded quickly, her face a mask of greed. "Of course, Vernon. I'm always with you."

Vernon smiled, a chillingly predatory smile. "Good," he said. "Then we have a plan."

He looked around the room, his gaze sweeping over his wife and daughter. "We are going to have everything we desire," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "And nothing… nothing is going to stand in our way."

The three of them stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the living room lights, their faces illuminated by the darkness in their hearts. They were united by greed, by ambition, by a shared desire for power and wealth. And they were willing to do whatever it took to get what they wanted, even if it meant destroying the life of an innocent young woman.