MHD - 25

Chapter 25. The Proposal

“Are you awake?”

The voice that greeted her as soon as she opened her eyes made Hee-soo wonder for a moment if she was still dreaming. The feel of the blanket covering her and the unfamiliar scent in the air only added to the surreal sensation.

Surely, I’m still dreaming.

In her dazed state, the familiar voice spoke again.

“Are you going to sleep more?”

Murmuring an affirmative hum, she suddenly jolted awake to see Jaehyuk looking down at her.

Huh…?

She remembered coming home last night, meeting Jaehyuk, and then—

Only now did the memory of collapsing while walking away flash back to her.

“Ah, did I…?”

Before she could finish her hesitant question, Jaehyuk cut in with a flat, emotionless tone.

“Yes, this is my house.”

Hee-soo tried to sit up but winced slightly as her head felt heavy. She had spent the entire night lost in fragmented dreams, and it took her a moment to separate reality from the haze.

“This is bad…”

Finally managing to prop herself up, she noticed Jaehyuk sitting beside the bed on a chair. Dressed impeccably in a sharp navy suit and crisp white shirt, he looked ready to head to work, much like the time she saw him at the hotel. But his expression was as dry and barren as a desert.

“You don’t need to force yourself to get up. Dr. Choi stopped by earlier and said it seems to be stress-induced anemia…”

“I’m sorry.”

Hee-soo blurted out the first thing on her mind.

“This is embarrassing. I’ve been trying so hard not to rely on anyone.”

“…”

Jaehyuk fell silent, simply staring at her without responding. As the silence stretched, Hee-soo pressed a hand to her throbbing forehead.

How could she possibly make a comeback like this?

Sighing, she glanced back at Jaehyuk, who continued to watch her with an impassive face.

“Shouldn’t I start by thanking you?”

“Oh, right. Thank y—”

“That’s enough.”

His cold, clipped voice cut her off mid-sentence. His frosty gaze sent a chill through her. Still staring at her, Jaehyuk continued in a dry tone.

“I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

“How about we use each other?”

Her questioning gaze met his, but his face remained devoid of emotion.

“I’ve been meaning to have some fun lately, and you’re looking for a fair exchange.”

“Ah.”

That wasn’t what she meant by those words.

Only now did fragments of what she had blurted out to him the night before come rushing back.

“Do whatever you want. Just pay me a fair price. You know, I’m really struggling right now.”

He must have thought she was insane. Or maybe he believed her. Either way, he must have been deeply disappointed to see how far she had fallen apart during their time apart.

It had been like self-harm—a plea for him not to hold onto her anymore because she was beyond saving. A cry that she was irredeemable.

And yet, paradoxically, it was also the only way she knew to confirm the depth of his affection.

A twisted, tangled question: “Is this okay with you?” She knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking this way. She didn’t know any other method.

“That was just—”

“It’s not a bad deal for you either. From what I can see, your situation isn’t great.”

Before she could stammer out an explanation, Jaehyuk showed no intention of listening. He gave her no room to interject, continuing in a monotone.

“We’re launching a premium brand under Kangrim Electronics. Your name came up on the list of recommended models. The team leader who compiled the list strongly recommended you. But ultimately, the final decision rests with me.”

There are plenty of others I could choose instead.

Even his muttered aside carried no sense of coercion. His demeanor remained calm and nonchalant. It was simply that Hee-soo’s circumstances left her with little choice.

Given her situation, it seemed only natural to bow her head and accept gratefully. After all, it was a proposal where she stood to lose nothing.

But then, what exactly was Jaehyuk gaining from this?

Hee-soo looked at Jaehyuk and asked clearly:

“What do you want? What exactly does Lee Jaehyuk gain from this?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a faint smirk crossed Jaehyuk’s face. But it wasn’t a smile of affection—it was closer to a sneer of contempt.

“You haven’t changed. I’ll give you credit for being consistent.”

His cold demeanor and indifferent expression cut through her like a blade, leaving her chest aching. She couldn’t control her emotions, but Jaehyuk’s gaze didn’t waver in the slightest.

“I don’t know about you, but I never properly ended things with you. I was only rejected unilaterally.”

His tone was dry, devoid of emotion.

“The reason I held onto feelings for you wasn’t because of who you are—it was because of that stubborn attitude of yours. So, give me the time to let go of you. In return, I’ll help you rebuild your career as an actress.”

Letting go of me? Hee-soo felt a deep crack forming inside her, starting from somewhere deep within. The rest of his words barely registered.

“Hee-soo.”

Jaehyuk called her name softly before continuing:

“Just so you know, I already have someone I’m going to marry.”

The moment his words fell, something inside Hee-soo shattered. It felt as though her entire body was crumbling.

“I want to settle everything between us before then.”

Though his face appeared gentle with a soft smile, his eyes remained as cold as ice. Unable to bear the chill in his gaze, Hee-soo dropped her eyes to the floor.

“I’m just advising you not to get the wrong idea.”

“And if I say no…?”

“There’s no way you’d refuse. Or is it that the terms don’t satisfy you? Should I offer a deposit as well?”

Having said all he wanted, Jaehyuk stood up.

“If you have a specific amount in mind…”

Thud. A strange phone was placed on the bedside table.

“Contact me.”

Soon after, the sound of the door opening and closing echoed through the room.

For a long while, Hee-soo couldn’t move from the bed.

“Give me the time to let go of you.”

Could there be any more heart-wrenching words than these?

Hearing the word “breakup” from Jaehyuk’s lips felt like her heart was being torn apart. It was something she had anticipated, something she knew was inevitable—but it still hurt more than she could bear.

If hatred and affection had truly disappeared long ago—or even if they had faded enough to allow them to face each other without pain—she wouldn’t feel so broken now.

She would’ve gladly grabbed onto this lifeline for survival, just as she always had.

Accepting his proposal would make her look exactly like the money-obsessed woman Jaehyuk described, but she wasn’t sure she could handle the aftermath of this limited-time reunion.

The thought of meeting Jaehyuk, who would soon belong to another woman, was unbearable.

If Jaehyuk wanted revenge, there could be no crueler method than this.

Was he also wearing a mask, wanting to claw at her recklessly, just as she had done to him?

After exhaling a long, shaky breath, Hee-soo finally got up from the bed.

Click.

As she stepped out of the room, the sound of the front door opening caught her attention. Someone entered.

“Oh my.”

The person took off their shoes and, upon noticing Hee-soo, asked in surprise:

“Hee… Hee-soo? Is that you?”

It was Kim Po-dae.

“Oh, um… Hello.”

“My goodness, what brings you here? Have you been well?”

Seeing Kim Po-dae, whose hair had turned white with age, reminded Hee-soo of how much time had passed.

“Young Master—no, Vice President Jaehyuk told me to come early this morning, and I see we have a precious guest.”

Kim Po-dae fussed over Hee-soo, tears welling up in her eyes as she clasped Hee-soo’s hands.

Kim Po-dae had treated Hee-soo like a daughter ever since she arrived at Jaehyuk’s house at the age of nine.

Often lamenting her own misfortunes over bottles of soju, Kim Po-dae had always shown Hee-soo special affection. To Hee-soo, she had been like a mother figure.

“Ah, um…”

Unable to say anything to the chatty Kim Po-dae, Hee-soo felt her own eyes grow moist as she looked at the tearful woman.

Her throat tightened, and she bit her lip, unable to speak. Sensing her discomfort, Kim Po-dae gently pulled Hee-soo to the dining table.

“Wait here. I brought some food from the main house. Have breakfast before you leave, okay?”

“No, I should really get going.”

“Aigoo, don’t say that. I came because Vice President Jaehyuk specifically asked me to prepare breakfast.”

Kim Po-dae hurried into the kitchen and soon returned, bustling about as she set things down with a clatter.

“How have you been? I was so surprised when Young Master—ah, no, the Vice President—called me last night. I thought something big had happened, so I came without even asking why.”

The sound of vegetables being washed. The click of the gas stove igniting. The rustling of rinsed rice being drained—all mingled with Kim Po-dae’s incessant chatter.

“Oh dear, look at me! I shouldn’t be calling him ‘Young Master’ anymore, but this old mouth of mine keeps slipping up. You understand, right? Old age makes you forgetful.”

She laughed heartily and placed a plate piled high with freshly mixed spring greens in front of Hee-soo.

“Try this. These aren’t just any spring greens—I picked them myself during my recent trip to the countryside. You used to love these, didn’t you? What perfect timing, huh?”

Though her mouth never stopped moving, Kim Po-dae didn’t ask about Hee-soo’s life over the past decade.

She didn’t ask about the day Hee-soo was driven away, or why Hee-soo had cut off contact with her afterward, or how it came to be that, after ten long years, Hee-soo was sitting here in the house early in the morning.

Instead of prying into those stories, she simply prepared breakfast for Hee-soo as if it were any other morning from long ago.

“It tastes best when eaten with rice, doesn’t it? Just wait a little longer.”

Seeing Hee-soo hesitate with her chopsticks, perhaps thinking there was no rice yet, Kim Po-dae disappeared back into the kitchen.

Hee-soo’s gaze shifted from Kim Po-dae to the plate of spring greens in front of her. Her chest tightened with emotion.

“I’ll eat well.”

Her quiet words barely made a sound. Her throat felt choked, and she blinked repeatedly to hold back tears.