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“Did you come here to have dinner with your mother?”
“No, it’s not that. Mom came to Seoul after a long time, and my place is too small.”
“A long time? I see.”
Hyun-woo seemed about to ask something but nodded instead.
Why was he hesitating?
It felt odd, but Eun-chae didn’t press further. For now, separating Hyun-woo and her mother was the priority.
“Well then, rest well, ma’am.”
“Oh, how kind of you!”
“Eun-chae, see you tomorrow.”
Eun-chae awkwardly bowed her head as she saw Hyun-woo off.
Once he disappeared from sight, she exhaled deeply. Why did they have to meet here of all places?
She was someone who barely wore makeup and scrimped on meals by bringing lunchboxes to work—what would he think if he mistook her for someone who frequented five-star hotels?
But those worries didn’t last long.
“Hey! Is that manager single?”
Her mother leaned in and whispered excitedly.
“Huh? Yes, I think so.”
“Really? Then get closer to him.”
“What do you mean, ‘get closer’?”
“He’s single, right? Find out if he has a girlfriend and try to develop something!”
“Mom, honestly...”
Eun-chae shook her head and moved forward.
What nonsense. Why would Manager Kang even consider someone like me?
Still, her conscience wouldn’t allow it. And with Seok-kyung already complicating her life, the idea of dating someone else was unthinkable.
Besides, once Seok-kyung got married, this... arrangement would end anyway.
“It’ll fall apart.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Her mother, following behind, echoed Eun-chae’s muttering.
Eun-chae ignored her and headed toward the front desk. After providing the reservation details, the staff handed over the key with a polite smile.
“Here is your key to the semi-suite room, madam. Have a pleasant evening.”
“Thank you.”
She didn’t feel angry at the mention of a semi-suite. Knowing her mother, booking anything less than luxurious would’ve been surprising. In fact, she should be grateful that her mother had chosen the relatively cheaper semi-suite instead of the presidential suite.
“What floor is it?”
“The 21st.”
“City view?”
“Yes.”
“How exciting!”
Her mother snatched the key and dashed toward the elevator, gesturing eagerly for Eun-chae to follow. Her face radiated pure joy.
Even before their family’s bankruptcy, her mother had always been carefree and cheerful. Back then, no matter how extravagantly she spent, her father’s wealth made it inconsequential.
How must it feel for someone born into an affluent family to suddenly lose everything overnight?
Uncle, her half-brother, often remarked that her mother’s mental state seemed unstable.
No matter what, acting so naive wasn’t normal, he’d said.
Amid repaying debts and struggling to survive, Eun-chae had brushed off his words.
“Surely she’ll come around eventually.”
Yet, three years had passed since then, and it still felt surreal.
Should she take her mother to see a doctor?
As they rode the elevator up, watching her mother hum cheerfully, Eun-chae pondered the idea. It might already be too late, but better sooner than later—before her father was released from prison.
Though reluctant to admit it, she owed some gratitude to Seok-kyung for giving her this rare moment of respite.
If only he didn’t have a fiancée...
“Speaking of which, isn’t Baek Seok-kyung getting married?”
Her mother suddenly cut in with sharp curiosity, as if reading her mind.
“While my ex-wife struggles to survive, he doesn’t visit once, and after divorcing me just a few years ago, he’s remarrying?”
“It’s been three years already. Besides, why would he visit after a divorce?”
“I knew something was off when they treated you like a widow. That despicable man. He won’t find happiness marrying anyone.”
“Mom, really...”
Hadn’t she been thrilled when he proposed marriage back then?
Criticizing him wasn’t wrong, but the person who deserved more blame was Cha Yeo-sa—or herself, for falling for her schemes.
The truth weighed heavily on her heart.
After soaking in the bathtub for nearly an hour, her mother emerged, slathering expensive hotel cosmetics onto her face.
“I’m hungry. Can we go to the restaurant?”
Tossing the towel wrapped around her wet hair onto the floor, she began pleading to eat at the hotel restaurant.
Restaurant? The mere cost of staying here had already exceeded her monthly budget.
Such talk was absurd.
“I’ll go out and buy something.”
“What are you going to buy? Another convenience store lunchbox?”
“If you don’t want that, call Uncle and tell him to cancel your credit card.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll settle for bulgogi rice bowl.”
Her mother sprawled across the bed and lazily turned on the TV. When news of Seok-kyung and Joo-eun’s wedding flashed on screen, she cursed loudly and changed the channel.
Before her mother could start lecturing her, Eun-chae hastily grabbed her wallet and phone and left the room.
As the elevator descended leisurely, she braced herself for arrival at the lobby.
When the elevator doors opened…
Eun-chae froze in place.
“Ah...”
What cruel twist of fate was this?
She couldn’t believe her eyes. There stood Seok-kyung—with none other than the stunning Ha Joo-eun by his side.
Recognizing her immediately from the morning news, Eun-chae realized Joo-eun looked even more radiant and elegant in person than in photos. Compared to her former self, Joo-eun was untouchable—a clear victor.
Seeing Eun-chae, Seok-kyung’s eyes widened, but she quickly exited the elevator and walked past him without a glance.
Please, don’t acknowledge me!
She could feel his gaze trailing her, but she refused to turn around.
This… this was the worst.
It had only been a few hours.
Just hours ago, he had told her their marriage was merely a political alliance.
And now, here he was, casually visiting a hotel with his fiancée—a woman he claimed meant nothing to him.
Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.
He had never dated her or spent time alone with her during their marriage. Whenever they met for wedding preparations, he left as soon as business was done, claiming he was busy.
Yet here he was, openly escorting a “mere political alliance partner” to a hotel.
Clearly... clearly there was another reason.
“Expecting something from me? You’re the one who said you’d do anything to keep working at the company. Did you think I’d take you back as my wife?”
His cold voice echoed in her mind.
Yes, did I foolishly hope for that? Snap out of it, Lee Eun-chae.
But the sorrow in her heart refused to fade.
At the very least, she had hoped he might feel something after holding her so intimately.
Isn’t there a saying about physical intimacy creating bonds? Surely sharing skin should leave some trace of closeness—more than when they were legally married.
But now, it was time to let go of any lingering feelings or expectations she had for him.
From the start, all he ever wanted was a transactional relationship.
“I’m just doing what I’m told.”
She whispered softly to herself, wiping away tears pooling in her large eyes before heading toward the convenience store.
---
Lee Eun-chae?
The face that emerged from the elevator was the last person he expected to see here. Especially not while accompanying Joo-eun.
Eun-chae appeared startled upon seeing him, then visibly stiffened upon noticing Joo-eun beside him.
Her pale expression betrayed her thoughts as she hurriedly exited the elevator and passed by without a word.
“What’s wrong?”
Joo-eun questioned, observing Seok-kyung’s alarmed gaze following Eun-chae.
“Do you know her?”
“A colleague.”
He quickly masked his emotions and stepped into the elevator.
“How rude. Employees should greet their CEO, especially when catching him at a hotel with a woman.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She probably panicked seeing her boss in such a situation.”
“Seriously? Everyone knows about us.”
Exactly. That was the problem.
Seok-kyung clenched his teeth.
“I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.”
Joo-eun smirked mischievously.
“Still, impressive that she dared come to this hotel looking like that.”
“What do you mean, ‘looking like that’?”
“Nothing, forget it.”
Joo-eun chuckled lightly, letting the subject drop.
They arrived at the presidential suite, and she opened the door.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I’ll wait out here. Just hand me the item.”
“Hmm. If she knew you were waiting outside, she wouldn’t jump to strange conclusions, would she?”
Amused, Joo-eun grinned and disappeared inside.
Standing by the door, Seok-kyung felt conflicted.
What was Eun-chae doing here?
And what misunderstanding was she harboring now?
Then again, whether she misunderstood or not didn’t matter. They weren’t anything to each other.
Just bodies intertwined... damn it.
“Here.”
Before Seok-kyung impulsively bolted out, Joo-eun returned with a small velvet pouch.
“Tell Mrs. Cha I’m sorry, but this design isn’t my style. Could you change it to something else?”
It was the pearl necklace—his grandmother’s heirloom—that his mother had given to Eun-chae.
Had she left it behind? Or had it been taken from her?
“It’s Grandmother’s heirloom.”
“I know.”
Joo-eun shrugged dismissively.
“It’s mine now, so it doesn’t matter, right? I’m not selling it, just redesigning it.”
Without responding, Seok-kyung pocketed the necklace.
“You’re really not coming in?”
“Is there more to discuss?”
“Actually...”
Joo-eun shyly blushed, tucking her hair behind her ear.
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