The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 35: Family Breakfast

Chapter 35: Family Breakfast

The clinking of silverware and the gentle murmur of conversation filled the grand dining room, a soothing symphony of morning rituals. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow across the polished mahogany table, where the Ryu family gathered for breakfast. A delicate array of pastries, fruits, and steaming dishes adorned the table, a testament to the household’s meticulous attention to detail.

Grandmother Jia, her presence radiating a quiet authority, sat at the head of the table, her eyes observing her family with a knowing gaze. The atmosphere was deceptively serene, a carefully constructed facade that masked the undercurrents of tension and unspoken anxieties.

After a little while of everyone trying to eat without letting the curiosity that was eating them up show. Vernon, his expression a mixture of impatience and curiosity, broke the comfortable silence at last. "Mother," he began, his voice laced with a hint of irritation, "why did you insist on this... gathering this early morning? We all have busy schedules, you know."

Grandmother Jia’s eyes, sharp and perceptive, fixed on Vernon. "We are family, Vernon," she said, her voice laced with a gentle reprimand. "Is that not reason enough? Or must I have a more... pressing... reason to ask my progeny to gather around me?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the table, her eyes lingering on each family member. "Besides," she added, her voice laced with a hint of playful melancholy, "I may not have too many more breakfasts left with you all. I thought it would be nice to share one more meal with my loved ones... before I depart this earthly plane."

Areum, her expression alarmed, quickly interjected. "Halmeoni!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a gentle scolding. "Please don’t talk like that! You are not going anywhere anytime soon! You are still young and you are going to live to be at least two hundred!"

Grandmother Jia chuckled, a low, amused sound. She patted Areum’s hand, her eyes filled with a warm affection. "My dear Areum," she said, her voice laced with a gentle amusement, "I appreciate your optimism. But even I cannot defy the inevitable. Although, I have no immediate plans to die, despite what some people might wish."

Alice, her eyes wide with a feigned concern, spoke up. "Who would wish such a terrible thing on you, Mother?" she asked, her voice laced with a delicate tremor. "The family would never be the same without your presence."

Grandmother Jia silenced her with a raised hand, her eyes flashing with a hint of impatience. "That is not important, Alice," she said, her voice sharp and dismissive. "What is important is that I have an announcement to make and I will make it before I die."

A palpable tension settled over the table, the clinking of silverware ceasing, the gentle murmur of conversation fading into silence. All eyes were fixed on Grandmother Jia, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

Grandmother Jia, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous delight, savored the moment, enjoying the palpable anticipation that hung in the air. She reached for her teacup, her movements deliberate, her eyes fixed on her family.

She took a slow, deliberate sip of her tea, her gaze sweeping across the table, her eyes lingering on each family member. She enjoyed the anxious waiting, the unspoken questions that hung heavy in the air. At times like this, she felt alive. It was downright cruel of her, but she deserved to at least torment this family of hers that only saw her as a meal ticket.

She set her teacup down, her eyes gleaming with a quiet amusement. "Now," she began, her voice laced with a dramatic flourish, "where was I?"

She paused, her eyes twinkling with a playful delight. "Ah, yes," she continued, her voice laced with a newfound resolve. "My very important announcement."

She leaned forward, her eyes fixed on her family, her expression serious. "I have decided," she declared, her voice laced with a quiet authority, "to... rearrange the household."

A collective gasp echoed through the dining room, the silence shattered by a chorus of surprised exclamations. "Rearrange the household?" Vernon echoed, his voice laced with confusion. "What do you mean, Mother?"

Grandmother Jia smiled, a knowing, enigmatic smile. "I mean," she said, her voice laced with a hint of playful mystery, "that I am going to make some... changes."

She paused, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous delight. "Changes," she repeated, her voice laced with a dramatic emphasis, "that will benefit us all."

She leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on her family, her expression thoughtful. "I have been observing you all," she said, her voice laced with a quiet intensity, "and I have come to the conclusion that some... adjustments... are necessary."

She paused, her gaze lingering on each family member, her eyes filled with a quiet determination. "And," she added, her voice laced with a hint of playful warning, "I suggest you all prepare yourselves. Because these changes... will be significant."

She took another sip of her tea, her eyes gleaming with a quiet satisfaction. She had their attention. She had them wondering. And she was about to deliver a series of revelations that would shake the very foundations of their carefully constructed world.

"I have decided," she declared, her voice laced with a quiet authority, "to give Flynn five percent of the company."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room, a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Five percent was a significant stake, a substantial share of the Ryu Corporation’s vast empire. It was a gift that spoke volumes, a clear indication of Grandmother Jia’s intentions.

She had mentioned it, but they had not really believed it.

Areum’s eyes widened, her gaze shifting to Flynn, her expression a mixture of surprise and concern. She had expected her grandmother to make some changes, but this... this was unexpected.

Vernon’s eyes narrowed, his expression a mask of carefully concealed anger. He had always been possessive of the company, viewing it as his birthright, his legacy. The thought of a newcomer, a virtual stranger, receiving such a significant share was a bitter pill to swallow.

Alice, her eyes wide with a feigned innocence, spoke up, her voice laced with a delicate tremor. "Mother," she began, her voice barely audible, "are you sure about this? Flynn has only been part of the family for a short time, why even i don’t have any shares in the company."

Grandmother Jia silenced her with a raised hand, her eyes flashing with a hint of impatience. "I am quite certain, Alice," she said, her voice sharp and dismissive. "Flynn is now family. And I am allowed to do what I want with my company. And maybe bring me some life changing tea and i might offer you some shares."

She turned to Flynn, her eyes filled with a warm affection. "Flynn," she said, her voice laced with a gentle encouragement, "I also want you to join the company. I want you to work your way up, to learn the business, to become a valuable asset to the Ryu Corporation."

Flynn, his expression calm and composed, met her gaze, his eyes filled with a quiet gratitude. "Thank you, Grandmother," he said, his voice sincere. "I am honored by your offer and I will do everything I can to make you proud."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Areum, his eyes filled with a silent reassurance. "I will do my best to prove myself worthy of your trust," he added, his voice laced with a quiet determination.

Grandmother Jia smiled, a knowing, enigmatic smile. She had expected Vernon to protest, to voice his objections. But to her surprise, her son remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"Vernon," she said, her voice laced with a hint of playful curiosity, "you have nothing to say? No objections? No... complaints?"

Vernon’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "What would be the point, Mother?" he said, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. "You are going to do whatever you want anyway."

Grandmother Jia chuckled, a low, amused sound. "You are learning, Vernon," she said, her voice laced with a hint of approval. "I want this family to be that way. I want you all to accept my decisions without question."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the table, her eyes lingering on each family member. "I have been observing you all," she said, her voice laced with a quiet intensity, "and I have come to the conclusion that some... adjustments... are necessary."

She paused, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous delight. "And," she added, her voice laced with a hint of playful warning, "I suggest that you all prepare yourselves. Because these changes... will be significant."

She took another sip of her tea, her eyes gleaming with a quiet satisfaction. She had their attention. She had them wondering. And she was about to deliver a series of revelations that would shake the very foundations of their carefully constructed world.

She was going to rearrange the household, to realign the power dynamics, to expose the hidden agendas that lurked beneath the surface. She was going to bring order to the chaos, to restore harmony to the Ryu family and protect Areum.

And she was going to enjoy every minute of it. She wanted to see how each family member would react to her changes. She was certain that some people would be happy and others would be very unhappy. She looked forward to the show.