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It’s often said that arranged marriages are common in chaebol families, but Taesung seemed to be the epicenter of such arrangements.
Tracing back, except for Soo-hyun’s father, Tae-Hoon, his two younger siblings had both undergone arranged marriages twice. Their children were either preparing for marriage or had already wed recently.
Every match was handpicked and orchestrated by Chairwoman Park.
The only exception was Soo-hyun himself, who refused to bend to Chairwoman Park’s will.
This was partly due to his unfortunate family background and partly because he had been embroiled in scandals since his college days.
Nevertheless, thanks to his exceptional management skills and the increasing number of subsidiaries under his control, numerous matchmaking proposals came his way.
Daughters from high-profile families couldn’t tolerate Soo-hyun’s insults, and most of these meetings ended in failure.
“Jung Tae-Hoon, Jung Jae-Hoon, Jung Jae-Eun, then Jung Dae-Ho and Jung Joon-Ho...”
Hae-in diligently memorized the family tree Director Seok had explained to her, determined not to make a mistake. However, when she finally met the family members, there wasn’t even an opportunity to use it.
They received word that Tae-Hoon and Hye-Yeon were delayed because they had stopped by the hospital. But Hae-in hadn’t heard this directly.
She overheard the second son, Jae-Hoon, and the third child, Jae-Eun, talking.
“Tae-Hoon Oppa is at the hospital again?”
“He collapsed this morning. Weak body but greedy for work.”
“Yeah, he should sell some of his shares and take a break.”
“For whose benefit?”
Though silent in front of Chairwoman Park, in her absence, each of them acted like powerful members of the chaebol family.
On the surface, Jae-Hoon and Jae-Eun smiled warmly while speaking about Tae-Hoon’s health, but their words carried hidden thorns.
Before lunch, everyone gathered in the spacious living room for tea. The room was packed with people waiting for Chairwoman Park.
Including Jae-Hoon and Jae-Eun’s children and their spouses, over a dozen people filled the space. No one paid any attention to Hae-in, sitting at the far end.
The first shot was fired by Tae-Hoon’s younger sister, Jae-Eun.
“This tea needs another brew, don’t you think?”
The cousins of Soo-hyun, lined up next to Jae-Eun, turned to look at her before following her gaze to Hae-in.
“…Ah.”
Hae-in suddenly looked up to meet the eyes of several people staring at her.
Jae-Eun didn’t say anything, but her gaze clearly demanded, “Go get more water.” When she slightly raised her chin arrogantly, Hae-in quickly stood up.
“Just a moment, please.”
There were dozens of employees working at the main house. Even during their tea time, two employees stood by, ready to serve.
Yet as Hae-in got up to fetch water, none of the employees stepped forward. They merely watched Jae-Eun for cues.
No one made a move.
When Hae-in hurriedly returned with freshly boiled water, Jae-Eun’s eldest daughter, Tae-Hee, spoke up.
“How did you get this teaware?”
“I visited the workshop and asked for it personally.”
“It’s quite thoughtful.”
Tae-Hee treated Hae-in as an inferior, using casual language mixed with disrespect.
As Tae-Hee pouted and examined the teacup, Jae-Eun casually added,
“…You have to put effort into something. Considering your position.”
Hae-in’s hand paused mid-pour. Oblivious Tae-Hee continued.
“Why did you prepare this teacup? Did you learn tea ceremony or something?”
“Tea ceremony…”
Hae-in hesitated, trailing off, but Jae-Eun cut her off with a sneer.
“Did you really think she learned it? Asking obvious questions isn’t polite.”
At first glance, it sounded like concern, but upon closer inspection, it was mockery. Understanding the implication, Hae-in’s face flushed red, her heart pounding.
“If you pour boiling water directly onto tea leaves, it smells fishy. You know that much, right?”
With trembling hands, Hae-in lifted the teapot, only for Jae-Eun to snatch it away and sharply criticize her. With others watching, Hae-in broke out in a cold sweat.
No one stood up for her.
“You somewhat resemble Soo-hyun’s mother…”
Unable to hide her reddened face, Hae-in bit her lip tightly as Jae-Eun continued. Every word drew stares towards her.
“Yeonhee didn’t know how to dress herself properly; she always looked shabby.”
“Jae-Eun, that’s enough.”
The sound of water trickling from the teapot could be heard. While Jae-Hoon gently rebuked his sister, Hae-in didn’t know whether to smile or remain expressionless.
These people showed no basic respect for the deceased.
“Who brought up the name of the dead?”
Chairwoman Park appeared, commanding authority. Instantly, everyone in the living room fell silent, lowering their gazes.
“Mother, how are you feeling?”
Trying to shift the mood, Jae-Hoon stood up to support Park. She brushed him off harshly and laughed.
“As if anyone here sincerely cares if I live or die.”
“What makes you talk so hurtfully?”
Jae-Hoon didn’t flinch at Park’s sharp tongue.
Though Park was aging, Jae-Hoon and Jae-Eun, now in their fifties, still held significant social status. Yet, they remained hyper-sensitive to her slightest cough, carefully observing their mother’s mood.
Park wielded that kind of power over her children.
“Everyone’s here? Let’s eat first.”
Led by Park, Jae-Hoon, Jae-Eun, and their children followed suit. Hae-in quietly took her place at the far end of the dining table.
But shortly after sitting down, she found herself constantly getting up.
“The water’s all gone.”
“Chairwoman, shall I bring more steamed abalone?”
“We need new plates.”
Employees bustled around serving, but Jae-Eun, seated near Park, kept glancing at Hae-in at the end of the table.
Consequently, Hae-in didn’t eat a single bite, instead shuttling between the kitchen and dining table, mingling among the employees.
In this uncomfortable setting, eating without a care was impossible. Thus, Hae-in rose dutifully whenever Jae-Eun instructed, showing little complaint.
She moved with a smile, never letting her face redden.
Her steps halted near the restroom next to the kitchen when she overheard Soo-hyun’s cousins chatting outside.
“Auntie was too harsh, wasn’t she?”
“With Soo-hyun absent, she seems determined. It reminds me of the past.”
“True, she used to treat us the same way when we were young. But she moves just like someone who works here.”
“Don’t compare. There’s a difference in class.”
Jae-Eun and Jae-Hoon’s children whispered a few words outside the restroom, entering one by one to relieve themselves. Hae-in waited until they disappeared before slowly walking back to the dining room.
A sudden wave of sorrow threatened to overwhelm her, tears welling up uncontrollably.
Though seated together as family, no one treated her as a person.
In her hands was a bowl of ox bone soup. Hearing someone complain about the lack of soup, she hastily fetched more from the kitchen.
All her efforts to impress amounted to nothing more than being seen as a diligent subordinate.
Countless mornings and nights spent waiting for Soo-hyun flooded her chest with frustration.
If all this effort might be meaningless, why was she struggling so hard?
Tears welled in her eyes, but she had no hands free to wipe them. Taking a deep breath, Hae-in lifted her shoulders.
‘Crying can wait until I’m alone at home. Not here.’
Recalling her earlier promise to herself, she stepped out of the kitchen. As she raised her head, she bumped into someone approaching.
“Ouch!”
Clang.
The soup spilled all over the person she collided with, soaking his white shirt with yellow broth.
“Where have you been looking?”
“I’m sorry.”
Flustered, Hae-in bowed deeply in apology.
Looking up, she recognized Jung Dae-Ho, Soo-hyun’s cousin she had encountered in the courtyard earlier. Grabbing his soaked shirt, Dae-Ho unleashed a barrage of curses without restraint.
“What’s wrong with you, running around like this in the main house? Weren’t you the one in the courtyard earlier?”
Dae-Ho clearly didn’t recognize her. He had just arrived at the dining table, and remembering Hae-in’s face from the brief encounter months ago at the wedding was impossible.
“Damn it. What are you going to do about this shirt?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you while rushing out.”
Panicked, Hae-in pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. Dae-Ho grabbed her wrist tightly, leering.
“Are you new? Not bad-looking at all?”
His lustful gaze swept over her nape, lingering greedily on her chest and abdomen. Even just receiving his gaze made her nauseous.
Realizing he was the married man who had groped another woman mere moments ago made Hae-in swallow hard.
“I’m not a worker.”
“Not a worker? Then what are you doing carrying bowls of soup?”
Dae-Ho tightened his grip on her wrist, laughing mockingly. He mistook her denial as a lie to reject him.
“Let go.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Don’t do this to me.”
“On someone who takes money from this house, spilling soup and acting tough. What’s your name?”
Dae-Ho placed his index finger on Hae-in’s forehead, pushing and prodding rudely.
“Even if you don’t want to tell me your name, I’ll find out. By the way, your figure is quite nice.”
His barbaric behavior left Hae-in momentarily speechless. She wanted to reveal she was his cousin’s wife but couldn’t muster the words.
At that moment, Jae-Eun approached, calling Dae-Ho from the dining table.
“Dae-Ho, where have you been? Come greet Grandmother quickly.”
“Mother, this worker spilled soup on me.”
“Dae-Ho, she’s not a worker.”
But before Jae-Eun could finish, Dae-Ho pressed his body close to Hae-in, whispering.
“Hey, I’ll take care of you later. Wait for me.”
The breath on her ear was repulsive, making her shoulder tense. Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind whistled past her ear.
Thud.
A dull sound rang out, and the next moment, Jung Dae-Ho lay sprawled on the floor.
“…Is filial impiety also hereditary?”
Recognizing the familiar voice, Hae-in turned her head to see Soo-hyun standing there.
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