Chapter 31 – Family Ties, Fractured Loyalties

Claudia Drake stepped out of the black sedan with a grace that could only come from decades of wielding power in stilettos. Seoul's late autumn air tugged lightly at the hem of her tailored cashmere coat as she surveyed the Drake Industries headquarters. It had been years since she last set foot in the city, and even longer since she'd involved herself directly in company matters. But recent whispers had drawn her back... whispers about a woman. A woman her son was keeping too close.

The elevator ride to the executive lounge was smooth and silent, but Claudia's mind was anything but. The moment the doors slid open, her sharp eyes took in every corner of the room. Her gaze settled on the familiar figure waiting with elegance and purpose.

Genevieve stood as Claudia entered, her expression warm but precise. A delicate porcelain cup rested in her hand, red lipstick staining its rim. "Claudia," she said, offering both hands in greeting. "You look spectacular, as always."

Claudia offered a slight, regal smile. "Genevieve. I hope this isn't purely social."

Genevieve's smile deepened, sharp as cut glass. "Not entirely. I think we share a concern. About Alexander and the company."

They sat across from each other, framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Seoul's skyline. The scent of white peonies floated in from a nearby arrangement. Genevieve leaned forward just enough to signal urgency, her tone dipped in velvet. "It's about Evelyn Hart."

Claudia's eyes didn't flinch. "Lets go to your office."

In the marketing wing, Evelyn was poring over quarterly projections, her desk scattered with color-coded graphs and digital post-its. She moved with the same quiet precision that had earned her the respect of her team, unaware that her name was being uttered in hushed, conspiratorial tones just three floors above.

Hana peeked in, tablet in hand. "Mason's here. Said he brought lunch and someone he wants you to meet."

Evelyn looked up, a little surprised. "A client?"

"His grandmother," Hana replied, a small grin tugging at her lips.

Evelyn blinked, then smiled. "Tell him I'll be right there."

Mason's Halmeoni was a marvel of sharp wit and soft hands, wrapped in a vibrant hanbok that clashed charmingly with her orthopedic sneakers. She greeted Evelyn with a long, assessing look, then a radiant smile. "Pretty and serious. Good. Pretty without brains is useless."

Evelyn laughed awkwardly, but the warmth in Halmeoni's gaze put her instantly at ease. They sat in the staff garden, surrounded by planters and the hum of bees, as Mason opened carefully wrapped bundles of homemade kimbap and thermoses of hot barley tea.

Halmeoni peppered Evelyn with questions about her family, her job, and subtly her heart. When Evelyn admitted she had no family nearby, Halmeoni reached over and patted her hand.

"Then I'll be yours. Family isn't always blood."

The moment softened something in Evelyn, and even Hana, watching from a nearby bench, smiled at the sight. Mason gave Evelyn a warm smile. "Told you you'd like you." Mason said while holding his grandmothers hand.

Back in the executive suite, Genevieve's words grew more pointed.

"She's climbing too fast and too close to Alexander and there's talk. From investors. From press. A little too much spotlight, a little too little experience."

Claudia listened, every so often tilting her head. "You think she's manipulating him?"

"I think she knows exactly what she's doing," Genevieve replied. "And if she's not stopped, she could unbalance the board. The company and a nobody could marry into the family."

Claudia's voice was calm, almost indulgent. "Do you believe she loves him?"

Genevieve paused, thrown off by the shift. "I believe she wants what comes with him. His name. His influence. His future."

Claudia's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Then let's find out if she's the kind who can be… removed."

As dusk crept across the Seoul skyline, two women clinked glasses of white wine in private, sealing a quiet alliance with the elegance of queens and the sharpness of serpents.

Below them, Evelyn laughed over tea with Mason and Halmeoni, her shoulders relaxed, her eyes soft with gratitude. Unaware. Unarmed. But not for long.

Because forces had begun to stir in shadows she hadn't yet learned to fear. And soon, the warmth she felt would be tested against storms she couldn't yet name.