The Conglomerate Family Became A Villain [EN]: Chapter 26

The Conglomerate Villain – Hilton’s Invitation 03 –

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WASP.

White, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant.

WASP (White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants).

This term refers to the upper class of the United States.

As of 1982.

The only U.S. president who wasn’t from a WASP background was Robert F. Kennedy.

This alone showed how much influence WASPs had in American society.

The Hilton family wasn’t strictly WASP because they originated from a Norwegian-German immigrant family.

However, WASPs broadly include Dutch, German, and French descent, so many considered the Hilton family as WASP.

Of course, the Hilton family denied this. They argued that WASPs were a group of northeastern whites, and they, who had settled in the southwest, had nothing to do with them.

The northeastern white upper class, the main group of WASPs, also regarded the German tycoons of New Mexico or Texas as *nouveau riche* [newly rich].

‘But as various ethnic groups settle in many northeastern regions, the center of WASPs is moving to the South.’

The reason why Jung Hyun-woo was paying attention to WASPs was because they were still the center of American power and influence.

“This way.”

The study, entered with the guidance of a servant, was decorated with carpets and luxury furniture.

“Oh, Sarah!”

The one greeting her with a bright face was her father, Andrew Hilton.

He was tall, over 6’3″.

“Father.”

Sarah hugged him and then introduced Jung Hyun-woo.

“This is my friend, Charlie.”

Jung Hyun-woo greeted him politely.

“I’m Charlie Jung. Please call me Charlie.”

Andrew Hilton tilted his head at her introduction.

“Are you Japanese?”

At this time, Japan was seen as an economic powerhouse poised to overtake the United States. It wasn’t strange to think of Japan first when seeing a well-dressed Asian.

‘Japan’s momentum will soon die down.’

The Plaza Accord [an agreement to depreciate the U.S. dollar] was coming soon.

“No. Charlie is Korean.”

Korea.

In 1982, many Americans didn’t know where Korea was, whether it was a country name or a city name.

‘Especially in the South, like Texas, it’s even less known.’

The West Coast, where LA was located, was better.

“Ah, Korean.”

Andrew Hilton nodded as if he knew Korea well.

“Do you know about it?”

When Sarah asked to confirm, Andrew Hilton nodded.

“I used to be there for two years. A place called Osan.”

He was in Korea for two years.

Was he pro-Korean?

Or was it due to the Hilton Hotel Group’s business?

‘Since he mentioned Osan, that’s probably not it.’

Sarah asked again.

“You never told me about that.”

“It was when I was in the military.”

Jung Hyun-woo nodded at his answer.

‘He’s saying he served as a U.S. soldier at Osan Air Base.’

Many Americans had served as U.S. soldiers in Korea. Peter Lynch, the legendary Wall Street investor whom he had met before, also had experience serving as a U.S. soldier in Korea.

“Ah, you served in Korea.”

When Jung Hyun-woo raised his voice, showing his interest, Andrew Hilton smiled.

“Korea was very poor back then. I heard it’s gotten better now…”

“It has improved a lot.”

“That’s a relief.”

“The Olympics will be held soon.”

Andrew Hilton raised his eyebrows at the word Olympics.

“Korea is hosting the Olympics?”

Until now, the countries that had hosted the Olympics were developed countries or countries on the verge of becoming developed countries.

Moreover, the next Olympics was scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, USA.

Sarah intervened between the two.

“Didn’t you know? They announced it in Baden-Baden [Germany].”

In September 1981, Seoul, South Korea, defeated Nagoya, Japan, to secure the Olympics.

“I must be getting old. I didn’t even know that news.”

He turned to Jung Hyun-woo.

“If you’re hosting the Olympics, it must have gotten really good.”

“I think it’s the result of everyone’s efforts.”

Andrew Hilton seemed like a benevolent father.

‘I thought he was a strict person, but he’s unexpected.’

The reason why he had assumed Andrew Hilton was strict was because Sarah was constantly trying to escape the Hilton family.

The image of Andrew Hilton that was stuck in his head was that of a traditional, perhaps even overbearing, white Southern patriarch.

“But you look younger than Sarah.”

Sarah quickly stepped in, worried that her father might make the same mistake as in Peter Lynch’s case, where he pried too much.

“Don’t get any strange ideas. Charlie is a student I’m teaching.”

“A student?”

“A high school student.”

Jung Hyun-woo had passed the high school equivalency exam, so he couldn’t really say he was a high school student, but this was the simplest explanation.

“Hmm, you’re saying you’re earning living expenses by being a private tutor.”

Jung Hyun-woo interjected in their conversation.

“Sarah is a really great teacher.”

Andrew Hilton turned his gaze to Jung Hyun-woo.

“You don’t seem like an ordinary student either.”

He thought his eyes were different from those of an ordinary high school student.

‘It’s not just a feeling of being smart.’

Sarah took the words.

“You saw right through him. Charlie is a developer who’s getting attention in Silicon Valley.”

“A developer?”

“He’s developing computer software.”

To Andrew Hilton, who was already in his middle age, computers were a new phenomenon.

“Hmm, computers.”

“Computers will dominate the world from now on.”

Andrew Hilton realized that Sarah had a great interest in computers.

“More into computers than finance?”

Sarah’s major was finance.

“If I had to choose one, it would be computers.”

Andrew Hilton calmly accepted his daughter’s story. After his conversation with him, Jung Hyun-woo and Sarah headed to the second floor.

As with Chairman Jung Woo-sun’s mansion, the Hilton family’s mansion also had many bedrooms on the second floor.

“Sarah.”

There was someone waving at them from the second-floor terrace inside the building.

Jung Hyun-woo was surprised when he saw her.

‘Is she an actress?’

The one waving at them was an exceptionally beautiful woman, so much so that the word ‘glamorous’ was an understatement.

She had a look reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe or Charlize Theron in her prime.

‘Could she be Sarah’s stepmother?’

Andrew Hilton was a wealthy man, so it wouldn’t be strange if he married a woman as beautiful as her.

“Laura.”

The woman held out both hands to Sarah.

“Oh, my sister.”

She was Sarah’s older sister, Laura Hilton.

Sarah hadn’t seen her sister in two years, but her expression wasn’t good.

“Where’s Arthur?”

“We broke up.”

Sarah raised her eyebrows.

“What?”

Laura Hilton just shrugged.

“It’s none of your business.”

Jung Hyun-woo could tell that the two didn’t have a very good relationship.

‘Arthur wasn’t just a simple boyfriend, I guess.’

As he thought to himself, Sarah raised her voice.

“It’s your second divorce already!”

Second divorce.

Jung Hyun-woo looked at Laura Hilton again.

‘Is this what she meant by being careful of her sister?’

While explaining her family history, she emphasized twice that she should be careful of her sister, Laura Hilton.

“Don’t hurt Father.”

Laura Hilton hardened her face.

“I’m the one who’s most hurt.”

Sarah walked up the stairs quickly.

“She only thinks about herself!”

Laura Hilton’s gaze moved from Sarah’s back to Jung Hyun-woo.

“Boy, are you Sarah’s friend?”

As Jung Hyun-woo nodded, Sarah answered.

“Charlie is my friend and a guest of our family.”

Laura Hilton’s eyes narrowed. Her narrowed eyes were similar to those of Marilyn Monroe seducing a man.

“What do you like about Sarah, Charlie?”

Jung Hyun-woo was momentarily speechless at her question.

‘This is…’

Sarah raised her voice again.

“Laura!”

Sarah, who had climbed all the stairs, stood in front of her.

“Charlie is my student.”

Laura Hilton turned her gaze to Sarah.

“In a few years, that boy will be a college student, right? He’ll be taller than he is now, too.”

Unexpectedly, she saw through the future, not just the appearance of the person.

Jung Hyun-woo scratched his head.

‘That stings.’

Sarah took her words as a provocation and raised her voice even more.

“Sister!”

“Why are you so serious when it’s just a joke?”

Laura Hilton turned her gaze back to Jung Hyun-woo.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to welcome my sister, but things turned out this way.”

She bowed slightly and turned her body.

Sarah was still standing there, not yet relieved.

“Laura.”

“I said it was a joke.”

“Don’t make any more mistakes.”

“It’s not a mistake.”

“What?”

Laura Hilton said as she moved her steps.

“That kid has clear eyes. Someone like that might be surprisingly good.”

Just as Sarah was about to say another word, Laura Hilton waved her hand.

“Then let’s see each other at dinner.”

After she left, Jung Hyun-woo came up to the second floor.

“Sarah, don’t get too angry.”

Sarah let out a long sigh.

“Hoo, my sister is always like this.”

Anyone could tell that the two didn’t have a very good relationship.

‘An outgoing older sister and an introverted younger sister?’

To exaggerate a bit, water and fire.

No, water and oil might be a better fit.

“She’s a very glamorous person.”

Sarah turned her body and said.

“That’s why men flock to her.”

With her looks, men would be easily infatuated.

‘If I had met her at a party a few years later, I might have had ulterior motives.’

Laura Hilton was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

“I guess so.”

As Jung Hyun-woo agreed, Sarah raised her right index finger.

“You have to be careful of my sister.”

He tilted his head at her words.

“Be careful of Laura?”

“My sister is smart. Very.”

“Yes?”

Smart.

Was she saying she had a lot of tricks?

Or was she saying she had a great talent for seducing men?

“Everyone is deceived by my sister’s appearance and can’t see what’s there.”

“······.”

Jung Hyun-woo had also focused only on her appearance, so he had nothing to say.

‘You can’t find out much from the first meeting anyway.’

Sarah led him to the room and said.

“Don’t be surprised. My sister is a Stanford professor. A physics professor, too.”

“Excuse me?”

How could he not be surprised?

A physics professor at Stanford University.

In short, it meant she was a genius.

‘And with that appearance, that body, and the heiress of the Hilton family?’

If there was a cheat character [overpowered character], it was Laura Hilton.

‘Why hasn’t a cheat character like her been known in history?’

The Hilton family didn’t have much known about them until Paris Hilton appeared in the entertainment industry with the title of heiress.

‘Did she live quietly after her second divorce?’

That was most likely the case.

Sarah looked at Jung Hyun-woo, whose eyes had widened, and sighed lowly.

“Ha, I told you not to be surprised.”

“That’s…. I can’t help but be surprised.”

Jung Hyun-woo thought as he followed her.

‘Could it be that the reason Sarah is more angry at her sister is because of inferiority?’

Sarah couldn’t beat Laura in terms of appearance or academic achievements.

‘But Sarah has her own charm.’

If Laura was a glamorous beauty like Marilyn Monroe, Sarah was an atmospheric beauty like Jodie Foster. And Jung Hyun-woo thought this was better.

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