II - 22

Her trembling voice conveyed the subtle intensity of her emotions as she turned her gaze back to him. 

For I-ryeong, this single moment, this fleeting emotion, was enough to sustain her for a lifetime—even if she could never truly have his love. 

She had gained more than enough motivation, and for that, she felt grateful. 

“Me too.” 

Her lips quivered as she confessed her current feelings to him, swallowing down the words that this marriage—once an impulsive decision—had now become something genuine. She smiled brightly, trying to mask her inner turmoil. 

“You look amazing. The kind of person anyone would fall for.” 

Even on an ordinary day, he was the kind of man who turned heads. But today, with his deliberate grooming, he was utterly captivating. Though their relationship was fake, the thought that he was hers, even in name, made her heart flutter uncontrollably. 

“Did you fall for me too, I-ryeong?” 

“...Huh? Me? You mean me?” 

Caught off guard, she realized her eyes had been sparkling as they gazed at him. Unconsciously, she began fidgeting with her earlobe, which felt unusually warm. Her fingers brushed against the earrings he had gifted her, subtly adjusting them as if to hide her growing desire and attraction for him. 

But her clumsy attempt to conceal her feelings was quickly exposed. 

“It’s so hot, I can feel it.” 

I-jun smiled nonchalantly, as if brushing off the weight of his words. 

“H-Hot? What do you mean?” 

Trying to play it cool, she shrugged her delicate shoulders and feigned innocence. Despite being caught in her excitement, she desperately hoped her deeper affection for him remained hidden. 

“Don’t fall for me too much. It’ll only make things difficult for you.” 

His cryptic words caused her expression to freeze instantly. Why did he choose today, of all days, to drive a dagger into her heart? She couldn’t hide the sudden chill that washed over her emotions. 

“Things are getting serious, aren’t they?” 

Noticing the shift in her expression, I-jun gently took her hand and intertwined it with his own. 

But even the warmth of his touch couldn’t melt the frost settling over her heart. 

“Today, let’s just focus on the wedding.” 

“I-jun...” 

An indescribable, strange atmosphere hung between them. Unsure how to articulate her discomfort, she nervously chewed on her lower lip. 

“After the honeymoon, we’ll file for marriage registration.” 

“M-Marriage registration?” 

She had been filled with excitement about traveling abroad for the first time, especially since it was for their honeymoon. Lost in her anticipation, she hadn’t even considered the idea of marriage registration. 

“I promised to be your perfect husband, or at least your only companion.” 

Overwhelmed by tension, I-ryeong’s eyes wavered like waves crashing against the shore. Hearing the reason behind the marriage registration only deepened the heaviness in her heart. 

“From today onward, I’ll treat you more comfortably. After all, we’re married now. So, I-ryeong, try to treat me more comfortably too.” 

Upon closer inspection, she noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor—as if he were erecting an invisible wall, drawing a clear line between them. 

Amidst the compliments about her beauty, she had overlooked something crucial. In her frantic attempts to conceal her feelings for him, she had forgotten the most important thing. 

“Thanks to you, I managed to avoid the pressure of marriage. Blind dates were such a hassle, but thankfully, this worked out.” 

The purpose of their marriage—the curtain had risen on this play, initiated by I-jun’s ulterior motives. 

“My parents seem to have accepted you, so I’m relieved.” 

I-ryeong remained silent, beginning to sort through the tangled web of thoughts in her mind. 

Would this endless play ever come to an end? If they became a real couple, what new demands might arise? Anxiety gripped her tightly. 

This was why contracts required caution—but now, it was too late to turn back. 

“As partners, we seem to match quite well. That’s fortunate.” 

Was he implying that at least their physical compatibility was a saving grace? 

Overwhelmed by unease, I-ryeong lowered her head. His words felt like a cruel reminder that he might only be satisfied with sex, leaving her feeling utterly desolate. 

“Do you feel hurt?” 

“...What is there to feel hurt about? No, I’m not hurt at all.” 

Why did his question sound so tender despite its cutting edge?

I-ryeong firmly suppressed her unruly emotions and shook her head. Then, as if the earlier gloom had never existed, she smiled warmly and looked at him.

“Since I’ve become your refuge, please become my refuge too, no matter what.”

She clenched her teeth tightly and forced a gentle smile onto her face, ensuring he understood that this impure marriage wasn’t solely driven by his intentions. 

If she didn’t do this much, her feelings for him would only seem pitiful. 

Forcing her rosy lips into a strained smile, she played the part of the happiest bride in the world, reassuring herself that she wasn’t miserable—not at all. 

Once again, she buried her feelings for him deep inside and waited for the ceremony to begin. 

The wedding hall was adorned with what seemed like every flower in existence, creating an atmosphere both abundant and dazzling. The bridal waiting room was no less extravagant, decorated with so many flowers that it resembled a blooming garden. 

However, each guest who visited the waiting room joked that the flowers had lost their charm compared to the bride’s beauty. 

“The bride is so beautiful, it seems like Seo Saemoo rushed to claim her before anyone else could.” 

“She must take after her father—her standards are definitely high.” 

Especially the relatives from the groom’s side couldn’t help but comment on I-ryeong’s beauty. She responded to their polite compliments with bright, cheerful smiles. 

Even though she was a fake bride, she wanted to appear happy and put on her best performance, squeezing every ounce of effort into her act. 

After a while, the bustling waiting room quieted down as I-ryeong’s family entered. Tension hung heavily on their faces as they approached the bride. 

Ironically, their nervousness somehow calmed her weary heart, giving her a small sense of strength. 

“Honey, look at I-ryeong. I’ve never seen a bride as beautiful as her.” 

Her stepmother, Ji-hyun, dressed in a delicate pink hanbok, teared up as she spoke. 

“Wow, Noona… you’re so beautiful!” 

Jung-min, still in his school uniform, couldn’t stop marveling at her. 

When they had gone shopping together to buy him a suit, he stubbornly refused despite her insistence, so she eventually stopped pushing. 

“If you’re happy, that’s all we could ever ask for.” 

Her father, impeccably dressed in a suit, held back tears as he wished her happiness. 

Though they were an unconventional remarriage family, in that moment, they looked like any ordinary, loving family. 

Seeing their genuine wishes for her happiness, I-ryeong managed an awkward but heartfelt smile. 

“Are you the bride’s family? Please stand beside the bride so we can take a photo.” 

Following the photographer’s instructions, the family gathered around the bride. 

“Please move closer together. It would look much better if the parents and younger sibling sat next to the bride.” 

The awkward atmosphere made the photographer’s requests increasingly difficult. As a result, everyone except I-ryeong exchanged uneasy glances. 

“Would it be okay if Jung-min sat next to you?” 

Sensing the delay, Ji-hyun cautiously asked, careful not to upset the bride. 

“Jung-min, come sit next to your sister.” 

After all, today was supposed to be a joyous occasion. With a faint smile, I-ryeong gestured for her younger brother to sit beside her. 

Jung-min, overwhelmed with emotion, broke into a wide grin. 

“Perfect! Everyone look here. Taking the picture now. One, two, three!” 

Today marked the first time they took a family photo—a historic moment for them as a family. 

I-ryeong, too, felt a strange mix of emotions as she fidgeted with her bouquet, trying to steady her racing heart. 

Just then— 

“Hello?” 

The door to the waiting room opened, and a middle-aged woman dressed in a vivid pink hanbok entered. 

Her striking appearance prompted the family to exchange glances, silently mouthing questions about whose guest she might be. 

“I’m the mother of the eldest daughter-in-law.” 

The unfamiliar visitor was Park Soon-ja, Yoo Jin’s mother, who ran AE Cosmetics’ flagship stores alongside her daughter. 

Due to Yoo Jin’s strong opposition as the store manager, their Gangnam flagship store had never undergone an audit. 

“Since our children are becoming in-laws, I thought I’d drop by to say hello.” 

Her crimson-painted lips curled into a mocking smile. 

I-ryeong was startled by the sight—it sent chills down her spine. The woman exuded an uncomfortable, almost intimidating aura, as if she were asserting dominance. 

But I-ryeong couldn’t let her discomfort show, especially to an elder. 

“Hello, I’m Chae I-ryeong.” 

Still seated in her wedding dress, she bowed politely. 

What should have been a perfectly normal gesture seemed to irritate Soon-ja. Unable to contain her displeasure, the older woman approached the bride. 

“I heard your family’s circumstances aren’t very good?” 

With a sneer, she tilted her lips upward, dripping with condescension. 

“What do you mean by that?”

The overpowering scent of perfume was giving her a headache, and now this unnecessary provocation. 

Her voice grew louder, and the hand holding the bouquet began to tremble with tension. 

“I heard everything from my daughter. Your family peddles substandard food products, or so I’ve been told. Hohoho.” 

At that moment, I-ryeong’s blood boiled. Not only was this woman disrespecting her, but she was also blatantly insulting her family right from their first meeting. 

“Your words are out of line. Please leave.” 

I-ryeong knew her family could feel this uncomfortable and unpleasant atmosphere. Forcing down the anger rising in her throat, she continued speaking as calmly as she could. 

“In fact, our family has unknowingly received significant help from your side.” 

But then Soon-ja dropped another bombshell that left I-ryeong speechless. 

“If your family is struggling financially, I’m worried about how the support funds for our in-laws will be divided. That’s what concerns me.” 

To think they were being looked down upon because of money—it fueled her rage. And given that Yoo Jin was already wary of her, this situation made her even more uneasy. 

“Apologize to my parents. If you don’t apologize immediately—” 

“What exactly are you doing?” 

I-jun’s sharp voice cut through the tension, overshadowing I-ryeong’s anger. 

She hadn’t noticed when he entered the waiting room, but now he strode over to her family with long, purposeful steps. 

“S-Saemoo!” 

“What kind of rudeness is this? Did my brother and sister-in-law agree to this behavior?” 

Caught off guard by I-jun’s fierce demeanor, Soon-ja waved her hands frantically in denial. 

“N-No, it’s not like that! I didn’t mean—” 

“You need to explain why you came here and acted so rudely.” 

I-jun showed no intention of backing down, pressing her relentlessly. 

“I heard you received some form of assistance. It wasn’t from my mother, so who gave it to you?” 

He had overheard the distasteful remarks while approaching the bridal waiting room. 

“After the ceremony, I’ll personally look into the store you run with my sister-in-law and its financial flow. Leave. Now.” 

Whether she was his sister-in-law’s mother or an in-law didn’t matter. 

To I-jun, I-ryeong was someone he absolutely had to protect—no questions asked. He charged forward without hesitation.