Chapter Ten: Tides of Betrayal

Chapter Ten: Tides of Betrayal

The evening sky over Seoul was painted in deep hues of indigo and crimson, the city lights flickering like a restless sea of stars. Hana stood on the rooftop of her café, her hands gripping the cool metal railing as she tried to steady her breath. The board meeting had rattled her more than she wanted to admit, and though they had presented a solid case, doubt gnawed at the edges of her confidence.

Footsteps echoed up the stairwell. She turned just as Daniel stepped onto the rooftop. He was still in his suit, though his tie was now loosened, the top buttons undone. His normally controlled expression was troubled.

"I spoke to one of the board members," Daniel said without preamble. "There's division, but my mother is leaning toward rejecting our proposal."

Hana's stomach twisted. "Did she say why?"

Daniel let out a tired sigh. "She sees the community as an investment risk. She doesn't think it fits into the company's long-term vision."

Hana clenched her fists. "That's ridiculous. Our proposal proved otherwise."

"I know," Daniel said. "But she's looking at this from a purely strategic standpoint. Unless we can give her a reason beyond numbers—something that shakes her foundation—she won't budge."

Before Hana could respond, the rooftop door slammed open. Joon burst in, his face flushed with urgency.

"We have a problem," Joon panted. "I just overheard something. Kang Corporation isn't just considering rejecting the proposal—they're planning to expedite the demolition. They could move forward as soon as next week."

Hana's blood ran cold. "That can't be legal. There's still an appeal process—"

"They're pulling strings," Joon cut in. "They want to cut us off before we can rally more support."

Daniel swore under his breath. "She's pushing us into a corner."

Hana took a shaky breath, trying to clear the panic fogging her mind. They needed to act, and fast. "We have to take this public. If they're fast-tracking the demolition, we need to be faster. We go to the media. We make sure everyone knows what's happening."

Joon nodded, already pulling out his phone. "I know a few reporters who might be willing to listen."

Daniel hesitated. "Hana, if we do this, my mother will retaliate. She won't hold back."

Hana met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "Then we don't hold back either."

The next day, Hana, Joon, and Daniel sat in a local news station's waiting area, their hands gripping the printed documents outlining their case. The station had agreed to a last-minute interview after Joon had called in every favor he could.

A producer approached them, giving a quick nod. "You're up in five minutes."

Joon rubbed his palms together. "No pressure, right?"

Hana took a deep breath. "This is our best shot. We stick to the facts, but we make sure they understand what's at stake."

Daniel adjusted his cuffs. "And we make sure my mother understands that we won't go down quietly."

As they walked onto the set, Hana felt the weight of the moment settle over her. The cameras clicked on, the bright lights warming her skin. The host greeted them with a professional smile before launching into the introduction.

"Tonight, we have a special feature on the controversy surrounding the Kang Corporation's redevelopment plans and the fight to preserve a historic neighborhood in the heart of Seoul. With us are Hana Park, owner of the community café at the center of this battle, Joon Seo, a local advocate, and Daniel Kang, an insider with deep ties to the company."

The first questions were straightforward—how the project had started, what the café meant to the community. But then came the harder ones.

"Daniel," the host turned to him, "as the son of Chairwoman Kang, you're in a unique position. What would you say to those who claim you're betraying your own family?"

Daniel didn't flinch. "I'd say that business should never come at the cost of destroying lives. My family built this company, but I refuse to let it be responsible for tearing a community apart."

The host nodded, turning to Hana. "Hana, do you think you can actually win against a corporation as powerful as Kang?"

Hana lifted her chin. "We don't need to 'win' in the traditional sense. We need to show the public the truth. If enough people stand with us, Kang Corporation won't be able to ignore us."

The interview aired that night, and by morning, the fight had gone viral.

Within hours, social media erupted with hashtags supporting the cause. News articles picked up the story, exposing Kang Corporation's fast-tracked demolition plans. Protests were already forming outside the company headquarters, and public figures were weighing in.

Daniel's phone buzzed nonstop—some messages were support, others were warnings. And then, finally, came the call he had been waiting for.

He answered without hesitation. "Mother."

Her voice was cold. "Come to the house. Now."

Daniel hung up and turned to Hana and Joon. "She's calling me in."

Joon let out a low whistle. "This is it, huh? The showdown."

Hana squeezed Daniel's hand. "You don't have to do this alone."

Daniel shook his head. "Yes, I do. If there's a chance to turn this around, it has to come from inside."

Joon clapped him on the back. "Just don't let her eat you alive."

As Daniel left, Hana felt the weight of the moment settle over her. This was the tipping point. Whatever happened next would decide everything.

And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

That evening, Hana and Joon sat in the café, poring over their next move. The protest outside Kang Corporation was growing, with local businesses and residents joining the cause. People were sharing their personal stories, making it clear that this was more than just about one café—it was about a way of life being threatened.

The café's doors swung open suddenly, and a breathless young woman rushed in. She looked vaguely familiar—one of the junior executives from the boardroom meeting.

"You have to listen to me," she said, her voice urgent. "They're planning something bigger. This isn't just about the demolition. There are hidden contracts, offshore accounts... if you expose them, they won't have a choice but to back down."

Hana and Joon exchanged stunned looks. If this was true, they had just found their biggest weapon yet.

And the war was far from over.