Chapter 7: Enter the Kang Empire
1107 Words
Sophia Hwang had survived chemical spills, late-stage product recalls, a sleep-deprived thesis defense, and a rogue squirrel that got into her old lab’s ventilation.
But nothing—and she meant nothing—could have prepared her for walking through the polished double doors of the Kang Group Executive Headquarters as Mrs. Kang.
Not Sophia the R&D Engineer.
Not Sophia the Environmental & Safety nerd.
No. This was Sophia in shiny kitten heels, a knee-length ivory blouse-dress (pressed, against her will), and her hair twisted into the kind of bun that screamed “I pay taxes and probably own a home.”
She missed her ponytail.
She missed her safety boots.
She missed her emotional support lab coat.
And she definitely missed the twins, who weren’t allowed on the 45th floor after that one incident with the holographic shark.
“Stop fidgeting,” Ethan said from beside her as the elevator dinged open.
“I’m not fidgeting,” she replied, fidgeting.
“You’re poking the hem of your dress like you want it to start a fight.”
“Well, maybe I do,” she whispered. “It betrayed me by not having pockets.”
He smirked.
The hallway stretched out before them like a runway—all pristine white marble, indirect gold lighting, and art that probably cost more than her college education. Every employee they passed bowed, nodded, or outright gawked.
The news of their marriage had spread like lab fire on ethanol.
And here she was, the rumored mystery wife—Sophia “Married the Boss” Hwang—looking like she was on her way to either a corporate gala or a hostage situation.
“Just breathe,” Ethan said as they approached a massive conference room.
“Why does everyone look like they’ve been waiting for a royal audience?” she hissed.
“Because they have,” he said, deadpan. “Technically, you’re now part of the Kang family. That comes with... attention.”
“That’s not attention. That’s laser-level surveillance.”
He gently nudged her shoulder. “Relax. Be yourself.”
“Oh, great. I’ll start by cracking a pun about carbon monoxide and see how fast I get escorted out.”
***
Inside the boardroom sat Kang Group’s elite: board members, department heads, senior managers—and all eyes turned the second they entered.
Sophia recognized a few faces from media profiles. Others she’d only seen on Ethan’s tablet when he was reviewing quarterly performance reports over breakfast.
Her imposter syndrome tap-danced all over her nervous system.
Ethan pulled out a chair for her.
The room watched.
Sophia sat.
The chair didn’t squeak. At least one thing was going right.
A tall man in a grey Armani suit cleared his throat. “Madam Kang. Welcome.”
Sophia resisted the urge to look behind her.
Madam Kang? Who, her?
“Thank you,” she said, voice steady even though her palms were not.
“I’m Director Cho. This meeting was originally scheduled for a strategic expansion update. However, given recent developments...” He glanced briefly at Ethan. “...we thought it appropriate to take this opportunity to formally welcome you.”
Sophia smiled stiffly. “That’s very... considerate.”
Another director, Ms. Yoon from International Marketing, leaned in with a predatory glint. “And we were all wondering if this partnership”—her gaze darted between the newlyweds—“will influence the group’s corporate direction.”
Sophia blinked. “I’m sorry, are you asking if I’m going to start running the company?”
“No,” Ms. Yoon said sweetly. “We’re just curious how involved you’ll be. Ethically. Financially. Publicly.”
“Publicly?” Sophia repeated.
Ethan’s voice was low and precise. “There are no planned structural changes. Sophia will continue her work in the Environmental and Occupational Safety division. She is not joining the board. This is not a merger—it’s a marriage.”
A few people chuckled nervously.
But the undercurrent was clear.
Sophia looked around the room and realized: some were curious, others skeptical... and a few were already calculating how to use her presence to their advantage.
She straightened slightly in her seat, met Ms. Yoon’s eyes, and said with a honeyed smile, “Don’t worry. I have zero intentions of influencing board politics. I’m far too busy trying to figure out why your warehouse team stores lithium-ion batteries next to the kitchen grease supply.”
The silence that followed was glorious.
Ethan blinked. Then coughed into his hand to hide a smirk.
Sophia filed that moment away for future gloating.
***
Later that night, just as Sophia was settling into the guest room she refused to upgrade despite Mrs. Kang’s dramatic sighs, her phone rang.
Unknown Number.
She hesitated, then answered.
“Hello?”
“Sophia-ya. It’s Auntie Yeon.”
Her aunt. From her mother's side. Sweet-smiling, prayer-quoting, inheritance-hinting Auntie Yeon. Jeong Hwa Yeon.
“Hi,” she said cautiously. “It’s late, everything okay?”
“I saw the wedding article. Oh, my dear girl, congratulations! What a surprise! What a joy!”
Sophia didn’t reply. She knew that tone. It meant “I smell money.”
“And I just wanted to ask—was your father’s land included in your marriage dowry? I know he left it for your future security...”
“Nothing was touched,” Sophia said shortly.
“Oh, good! Then perhaps we can meet? Discuss how to best preserve the legacy. You know how much your cousin needs a start-up investment—”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“But Sophia, we’re family—”
Click.
She tossed her phone onto the bed and flopped down beside it.
The walls of the Kang mansion were thick. But not thick enough to drown out blood ties that remembered numbers more than names.
***
A soft knock.
Sophia looked up to see Ethan holding a folded blanket.
“You left this in the media room,” he said. “Also, Mom thinks you’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not avoiding you,” she lied.
He walked in, setting the blanket at the foot of her bed.
She sat up. “Ethan.”
He turned.
“Why did you do it?”
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand.
“Because I didn’t want you to disappear,” he said. “And maybe... because I didn’t want to disappear either.”
She stared.
Then nodded slowly. “Okay.”
A beat of silence.
He walked to the door.
“Goodnight, Sophia.”
“Goodnight, Ethan.”
She didn’t see the way he smiled when the door closed behind him.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD