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“Oh, I’m so sorry, Auntie. Did I make you wait too long? Please forgive me.”
Yoo-ri’s arrival shifted the conversation’s focus. Despite her flimsy excuse about filming delays, Aeran brushed it off with a cheerful laugh. In a way, Yoo-ri’s tardiness had given her an opportunity to bond with Tae-ha and perhaps even secure a match for Jisoo—making it a net gain for herself.
The two dove into discussions about Yoo-ri’s recent projects, essentially turning it into a one-on-one fan meeting. Meanwhile, the other two sat silently, their faces reflecting sheer boredom as they waited for time to pass.
Every now and then, when Tae-ha tapped his fingers rhythmically, Jisoo forced herself to look away, though her gaze inevitably drifted back to him. Each glance between them carried the weight of a shared secret, deep and intimate.
Feeling like a guilty child, Jisoo turned her flushed face away, breaking free from Tae-ha’s invisible snare.
The conversation eventually shifted to Tae-ha’s good looks. Aeran was increasingly charmed by him. Wealth and intelligence were expected, but kindness paired with his striking appearance made him exceptionally rare. The thought of such a man becoming Jisoo’s partner filled her with delight.
Honestly, how clueless could one be? They attended the same school and worked together for years—how many chances had she missed? She should have pursued him during her student days when their relationship felt more equal. Now, as adults, the gap between them would feel insurmountable.
Still, if the counterpart was someone like Yoo-ri, it was hard to argue against it. Her regret remained, but she tried to console herself.
“I think it’s time for us older folks to leave. You three carry on. Jisoo, I’ll see you at home.”
“Let me drive you. Since I invited you here and kept you waiting late.”
Yoo-ri shot a puzzled look at Tae-ha. It was unusual for him to offer rides or lend out his car. His next words surprised her even more.
“Jisoo, escort your mother to the car and come back.”
He added unnecessarily that she should return afterward. After a brief hesitation, Jisoo bit her lip and took hold of Aeran’s arm. What was this? Right in front of her?
“Thank you for the meal today. And don’t forget what you promised—introducing someone to me. I’m not drunk; I remember everything!”
“What introduction?”
Though irritated by the trio’s scheming behind her back, Yoo-ri feigned generosity and asked.
“Vice President Cha promised to introduce our Jisoo to a good man.”
“Mom, let’s go.”
Jisoo tugged at Aeran’s arm, cutting off her elaborate explanation.
Yoo-ri nearly lost her composure and scoffed. Introduce who to whom? This was getting ridiculous. Whether it was Tae-ha offering introductions, Aeran eagerly accepting, or Jisoo standing by—none of them seemed quite sane.
“Well then, we’ll take our leave.”
Eager to send Aeran off quickly, Yoo-ri smiled sweetly.
“We’ll see each other on opening day, Auntie. Take care.”
As the mother-daughter pair left, Tae-ha’s familiar cold demeanor reemerged. It was hard to believe anyone else had been sitting there just moments ago.
“Mom, why are you saying things like that to Vice President Cha?”
Jisoo spoke as they headed toward the parking lot at the restaurant entrance.
“I’ll handle all the bold moves and excitement. You just sit there elegantly.”
Though Aeran was naturally sociable, her enthusiasm today seemed unusually heightened. Perhaps Tae-ha genuinely impressed her, or maybe the introduction was just a pretext for something else.
“He’s incredibly busy. He doesn’t have time to casually introduce people.”
“You’re acting like you’re stuck in a historical drama. Even during wartime, people managed to fall in love and live their lives. What have you been doing for the past ten years?”
“What?”
Jisoo turned her head sharply at her mother’s unexpected criticism, still distracted by thoughts of Tae-ha’s car pulling up in the parking lot.
“He seems like a great guy. Many women must have pined for him.”
Among them, she herself had suffered the most. Drunk on emotions she hadn’t even indulged in, Jisoo wanted to confess this to her mother. If she unraveled her tightly wrapped heart, perhaps she’d finally understand why being with Tae-ha was impossible—and maybe then, her wounds would heal a little more comfortably.
“Even now, if you followed my advice, he might still come around. But alas, your opponent is Kang Yoo-ri. Honestly, though, isn’t our daughter prettier? Kind, smart, respectful—don’t you agree?”
Tae-ha’s car stopped in front of them. The restaurant staff member seated in the driver’s seat stepped out and opened the door politely.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please take care of my mom.”
“Yes, I’ll ensure she gets home safely. Please get in.”
As Aeran climbed into Tae-ha’s car, she couldn’t help but lament losing Tae-ha as a potential match for Jisoo. Jisoo stood watching until the car disappeared before slowly heading back inside the restaurant.
“Is it fun toying with people?”
Tae-ha broke the silence first, his sharp tone making Yoo-ri instinctively frown. Who was he to talk, after putting on such a show right in front of them?
“I haven’t even started anything remotely fun yet. What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. You’ve been stirring things up plenty.”
Tae-ha glanced at the seat Jisoo would soon return to before locking eyes with Yoo-ri.
“Transfer Ms. Yu Aeran’s contract to our side.”
“That’s company business. I can’t interfere…”
“Lawyers mentioned that loans from headquarters and initial startup costs were deferred under Kang Yoo-ri’s name. Do you think the legal team handling it dared to misuse the CEO’s daughter’s name?”
How amusing. He’d already investigated and now was testing her? The more sincere she appeared, the weaker her position in negotiations became. Though she had no intention of stopping Tae-ha from revealing his own hand prematurely, she wanted him to pay for offending her.
“Do you realize your current actions constitute a breach of contract? Even if this marriage is for business gain, a minimum level of courtesy is expected.”
“I’m showing courtesy by speaking plainly. Or is your slow comprehension due to that mischievous brain of yours?”
Tae-ha changed his mind about waiting for Jisoo. He’d planned to feed her dessert since she hadn’t eaten much, but Yoo-ri’s nosy behavior irked him. Starving her wasn’t an option, so feeding her something was necessary.
“So, what do you plan to do with Han Jisoo?”
Yoo-ri snapped at Tae-ha as he stood up. Though she didn’t want to reveal her intentions, she impulsively felt the need to stop him.
“As per your request, this marriage is purely business. We agreed to maintain privacy and respect each other’s personal lives. That was your first condition.”
That was true—at the time, she hadn’t expected Tae-ha, disinterested in relationships, to get entangled with his employee, Han Jisoo. But now that she knew, she couldn’t let some conniving woman ruin her plans.
“There’s also the clause about maintaining dignity and avoiding damage to each other’s reputations.”
“Does dragging Han Jisoo’s family into pre-engagement gossip and leveraging it to push through a Jinshim Foods contract sound dignified to you?”
“At least Yu Aeran isn’t entering my house tarnished with sordid rumors like some people.”
Tae-ha, already halfway to the door, turned back and approached Yoo-ri. His chilling smile felt particularly menacing tonight, his eyes glinting coldly even as he grinned.
“If you’re so noble, why not call off the engagement? My lawyer’s contact information is probably well-known to your legal team.”
Why should I care? Yoo-ri hadn’t attached much meaning to this marriage beyond elevating her status. Yet, the more she thought about it, the stronger her desire to see it through became.
“So you’re planning to keep Han Jisoo around till the end?”
“Whether I toy with her and discard her later or place her in the room next to our honeymoon suite—it’s my decision. Keep pushing your boundaries, and I’ll make things far more interesting.”
Just then, as Tae-ha reached for the door handle, the door to Room 1 creaked open. Unbeknownst to him, Jisoo, who had been eavesdropping, quickly hid behind a pillar before slipping into the restroom.
“It’s pitiful, really. Watching Han Jisoo manipulated like a puppet, unable to even become a proper mistress.”
Tae-ha mused that those words might suit Kang Yoo-ri better as he exited the room.
Being someone’s plaything or living in the room next to a honeymoon suite—both scenarios sounded absurd and pathetic. Yet, the reflection staring back at Jisoo in the mirror was terrifyingly serious.
She touched her burning cheek with water-soaked hands. How nice it would have been to drink enough to forget everything that had just happened. Then she could dismiss it all as a nightmare and move on.
She hadn’t been ignorant of her role or significance in Tae-ha’s life. Knowing full well, she chose to stay by his side because enduring a broken heart was still better than leaving.
With that thought, her stiff expression softened slightly. A faint smile even graced her lips as she washed her hands and turned around.
Unbeknownst to her, Yoo-ri had entered the restroom, glaring icily at Jisoo.
“I’ve always wondered—why are there so many scripts and screenplays about adultery? What do the faces of women who cheat on their partners look like?”
Only the dripping water from Jisoo’s fingertips betrayed the passage of time.
“So this is what a mistress looks like. Pretending to be innocent, batting her eyelashes demurely while secretly seducing another woman’s man.”
A droplet splashed onto the floor as Yoo-ri dried her hands with a paper towel.
“To be precise, you’re not technically a mistress. Since we’re not officially married yet.”
“What?”
“Though I can’t finalize your engagement, I know I can break it. That’s why you’re acting this way, isn’t it, Kang Yoo-ri?”
Jisoo pulled her phone from her pocket and held it to her ear.
“Are you insane? What are you—”
“Vice President Cha, it’s me. I’m sorry to bother you, but it’s very late. Could you please give me a ride home?”
With that, Jisoo calmly walked out of the restroom, leaving a trembling Yoo-ri behind.
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