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After the meeting between the two families, the wedding preparations proceeded without any face-to-face interaction or direct communication between the two sides. Details like the venue and date were conveyed almost as commands, and even the dress designs were shared through a few sample photos.
Perhaps it was fortunate that she didn’t have to awkwardly accompany her mother-in-law or nervously anticipate Chairman Park’s appearance.
A professional coordinator visited Hae-in’s house with the dress chosen from the selected photos.
“You picked this without a fitting, but it suits you perfectly.”
The dress Hae-in had chosen featured intricate lacework that covered her upper body, making it the least revealing design sent by the in-laws.
While the minimal exposure was appreciated, the snug fit accentuated her figure prominently.
“Isn’t this too tight?”
“No, not at all. It fits just right. Your curves make it seem more form-fitting than it actually is.”
The coordinator smiled brightly as she adjusted the dress and pinned it from behind.
If it weren’t for the coordinator’s cheerful demeanor, both Hae-in, wearing the dress, and her mother, watching quietly from the side, would have looked as gloomy as if they were attending a funeral.
“Mom, what do you think?”
“Hmm…”
Hae-in forced a smile, noticing how somber her mother looked.
“It’s… beautiful. My daughter looks lovely.”
Her mother’s eyes glistened as she trailed off, then quickly turned away to address the coordinator.
“Oh dear, look at me. Let me get you something to drink.”
“Oh, thank you so much! I’ve been talking a lot, so my throat is dry. Thank you!”
As her mother walked weakly toward the kitchen, Hae-in felt a pang of sadness.
She already knew what her mother would do in the kitchen without needing to see it. Hae-in shifted her gaze back to the dress she was wearing.
“This dress is stunning, isn’t it? It’s a special custom order. The mother-in-law had it specially imported from abroad. Lucky you.”
Hae-in gave the coordinator, who was oblivious to her inner turmoil, a faint smile.
“I work with dresses, but I’ve never handled such an expensive one before. I’m envious, truly.”
People working at Taesung usually spoke very little, but this coordinator seemed to talk endlessly. Whether her chattiness stemmed from looking down on Hae-in or simply feeling comfortable around her was unclear.
Still, the slightly envious tone in her voice made Hae-in uncomfortable.
From the outside, her situation might appear enviable—a dazzling, radiant life—but inside, it felt hollow, like a bitter fruit wrapped in shiny packaging.
Suddenly, Soo-hyun came to mind.
Had her senior lived happily ever since? Born into a position others admired and envied, had he thrived there?
Lost in thoughts about Soo-hyun, Hae-in absentmindedly allowed herself to be guided by the coordinator’s hands until the fitting was complete.
“Well then, I’ll see you on the wedding day.”
The coordinator swiftly packed up her things, bowed politely, and left. Hae-in’s mother stayed in the kitchen until the coordinator had completely departed.
Since no separate venue was booked and there would be no wedding photo shoot, there wasn’t much left to prepare before the wedding.
For their honeymoon home, Hae-in would move into the house where Soo-hyun had lived alone. For Hae-in, who had dreaded living with a terrifying grandmother-in-law at the main house, this was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
However, knowing that Chairman Park was eager to summon her at every opportunity, Hae-in spent her days with the apprehension of someone awaiting a storm.
“Mom, can I come in?”
“Yes, Hae-in. Just a moment. I’ll be right out.”
Her mother occasionally locked herself in the bedroom and wouldn’t come out.
If only she could confide in her mother and ease her worries openly—it would have been nice. But as the wedding day approached, both her parents avoided Hae-in. Perhaps it was painful for them to face her.
Whenever their eyes did meet, her mother’s red-rimmed gaze pierced Hae-in’s heart, forcing her to look away.
It’ll be okay.
Even repeating those words to herself countless times, seeing her mother’s tear-filled eyes made her feel as though her smiling facade might shatter into pieces.
And so, the wedding day arrived sooner than expected.
________________________________________
The wedding was restricted to immediate family members only.
On Hae-in’s side, only her parents and their closest relatives attended, while Soo-hyun’s side had a considerably larger gathering.
About ten people sat quietly on the bride’s side, while the groom’s side buzzed with activity. There were easily over fifty guests crammed into the space.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect Soo-hyun to invite reporters.”
As Hae-in entered the bridal waiting room, she overheard her father-in-law, Taehoon, apologizing to her father.
There was no need to humiliate her like this.
Sitting in the makeshift bridal room, Hae-in silently resented Soo-hyun.
She thought that even if she appeared pitiful and unhappy, fewer spectators would make it bearable. But having reporters swarm to take pictures—this was unexpected.
Did he want to immortalize their wedding in newspaper articles?
Alone in the deserted bridal waiting room, Hae-in waited like a doll until the ceremony began.
“Hae-in, let’s go.”
Her father extended his hand, and the small outdoor wedding commenced in the garden prepared at the Taesung villa.
“Do you, the bride, promise to love and cherish your husband in joy and sorrow alike…?”
Throughout the ceremony, Hae-in’s mind wandered. Every time she saw flashes of light, she wondered if reporters were taking pictures and diligently maintained a strained smile.
Her mother’s eyes remained red-rimmed throughout, eventually bowing her head and refusing to lift it. Her father hesitated when handing Hae-in’s hand to Soo-hyun, reluctant to let go, prompting Soo-hyun to pull her hand away forcefully.
The ceremony ended quickly.
It was a clear, sunny afternoon in early September, with the oppressive heat of summer gently receding.
________________________________________
“Hae-in, since you’re not moving far away, keep in touch often.”
As she climbed into the waiting car, her father stood by the door, giving her a parting reminder.
“Yes, I’m not going far. Why are you acting so strangely? Right, Mom?”
“Hae-in’s mom, our daughter’s saying goodbye.”
Hiding behind her husband the whole time, Hae-in’s mother reluctantly stepped forward at his urging. Seeing her mother’s red eyes, tears welled up in Hae-in’s own.
“Hae-in, the bride’s walk was too short today.”
“What?”
“It was too short…”
Her mother couldn’t finish her sentence and bowed her head again.
Confused by her mother’s words, Hae-in looked at her father, who glanced around cautiously before speaking softly.
“…She’s upset because we didn’t send her off properly, and the walk was too short. Despite being a chaebol family, she thinks the wedding was rushed and incomplete.”
“What? What’s the point of that?”
“You must understand. She’s upset because she feels unfulfilled.”
Just then, Soo-hyun appeared in the distance.
“Mom, Dad. It looks like it’s time to leave.”
“All right. Take care.”
When Soo-hyun approached, Hae-in’s father grasped his hand firmly.
“Please take good care of our daughter.”
Watching the two men, Hae-in trembled, unsure how Soo-hyun would respond.
“I’ll remember that.”
“And… if you could let her visit her family once in a while, we’d appreciate it…”
Soo-hyun’s expressionless face gave nothing away, leaving Hae-in unable to gauge his feelings toward her father. At least he hadn’t pulled his hand away, which was comforting.
At that moment, her mother, who had been listening silently, suddenly turned and interrupted their conversation.
“No, don’t worry about letting her visit. They’ll find fault if she comes home too often. Just make sure she’s loved by her elders.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Her parents’ requests were likely beyond Soo-hyun’s control. Knowing him, Hae-in was grateful that he accepted them without much fuss.
After bowing respectfully to Hae-in’s parents, Soo-hyun got into the car.
“We’re heading straight home. You know there’s no honeymoon, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Tonight, you’ll sleep alone.”
“Alone?”
Not having a honeymoon or skipping typical activities like wedding photo shoots or dress fittings didn’t bother her. But spending the wedding night alone? That was unexpected.
“Today’s our wedding night, and it’s my first night in the new house.”
“What does it matter?”
His curt reply startled her. For a moment, she had mistaken his polite behavior earlier for genuine warmth. Feeling hurt, she tentatively expressed her disappointment.
“I thought we’d spend tonight together.”
“Why? Did you prepare something? Planning to wear some sexy lingerie and put on a show?”
The way Soo-hyun looked at her lacked any affection expected of a newlywed groom. His gaze slowly roamed downward, lingering on her neckline before returning to her face.
“That’s not it.”
Hae-in responded weakly, unable to meet his eyes.
“…Come home late if you must. I’ll wait for you.”
“Don’t wait. Just sleep.”
Despite it being their first night as a married couple, she couldn’t ask or even know where her husband was going. Hae-in swallowed her sigh.
The wedding day had passed more quietly than she anticipated.
Chairman Park, who had caused such a commotion during the family meeting, quietly observed the wedding and left with the influential figures from politics and business who had come to congratulate them.
“I should be grateful for this.”
Staring blankly at the cityscape passing by outside the car window, she reflected on the day’s events. It had been a long day, starting from dawn and filled with relentless activity.
Exhausted and uncomfortable in her hanbok, drowsiness crept over her as the tension eased.
Her vision blurred and slowed, eyelids growing heavy. Struggling to keep them open, Hae-in began nodding off intermittently.
Leaning against Soo-hyun unconsciously, she drifted into a deep sleep, unaware of her head tilting onto his shoulder.
Each bump in the road caused her head to sway precariously against him. Finally, it settled on his shoulder, rising and falling gently with the car’s motion.
Soo-hyun lightly tapped Hae-in’s forehead, intending to push her away. But her soft hair tickled his chin like puppy fur.
“Yoon Hae-in…”
He whispered her name softly, but only her steady breathing replied.
The faint scent of Hae-in’s unique fragrance reached him.
Closing his eyes tightly, Soo-hyun took a slow, deep breath, then exhaled. After a heavy sigh, he leaned closer to her, ensuring her head wouldn’t wobble by drawing her nearer to his shoulder.
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