PSS - 6

Chapter 6: In the Name of Family

The expression he wore as he looked at her was far from friendly. Hae-in quickly realized he hadn’t come to deliver good news.

A few men in black suits stood at a distance, likely Soo-hyun’s entourage. Their presence ensured that the already quiet hospital corridor remained completely deserted, save for the faint sounds of nurses working in the distance.

The silence was so profound it felt as though even the settling of dust could be heard. Hae-in couldn’t meet his gaze for long; his eyes always carried an icy edge that chilled her to the bone. She lowered her eyes, unsure of what to do next.

She waited silently for him to speak, her gaze fixed on his shoes. After a moment, she cautiously raised her head. His face was deeply furrowed, his brows knitted together as he stared silently at the nameplate beside the hospital room door.

“Yoon Jeong-in?”

“He’s my younger brother.”

“I know.”

Another stretch of silence fell between them.

The tip of Soo-hyun’s shoe tapped rhythmically against the floor. Hae-in cautiously lifted her gaze to observe his hands, tucked into the pockets of his suit pants.

“Um… Thank you for lending me the clothes that day.”

After a brief hesitation, she decided to break the ice.

It was absurd, really—thanking the man who had left her standing in the rain, stripped her of her dignity, and humiliated her. But given her current predicament, she had no choice but to play along and try to appease him.

“Hah, seriously… Yoon Hae-in.”

Clicking his tongue at her words, Soo-hyun leaned casually against the hospital corridor wall and studied her. He exhaled deeply, shaking his head before finally speaking.

“I roughly understand why you’re doing this.”

His voice trailed off with a short sigh, and Hae-in’s breath caught at his next words.

“If you’re selling yourself for your brother’s sake, you don’t have to go that far.”

The phrase “selling yourself” hit her like a slap, sending a wave of prickling sensations across her body.

No matter what excuses or justifications she might offer, to Soo-hyun, she was nothing more than a woman willing to degrade herself. 

Rather than focusing on the insult, Hae-in chose to dwell on the latter part of his statement.

“What do you mean by ‘you don’t have to go that far’? Could you explain?”

“It means I’ll pay you to step out of this situation.”

“Payment?”

Confused by his words, Hae-in furrowed her brow slightly.

She knew Soo-hyun had rejected marriage proposals in the past. Perhaps if someone refused to give up, he’d buy them off?

As her thoughts swirled, Soo-hyun added to his explanation.

“Yoon Hae-in, top admission and graduation from Korea University’s Business School. The first and only student to receive scholarships every semester. You were also well-known as a private tutor. Every penny you earned went straight into hospital bills.”

“That’s right. I’ve lived for my brother and family. I still do.”

“…Pathetic, but it’s your life, so whatever.”

The word “pathetic” stung. Hae-in bit her lip, forcing herself to maintain composure.

“There’s a lot more tangled up in this marriage than you think.”

“…”

“It’s a family feud. So, tell Chairman Park you can’t go through with it. Or better yet, tell Secretary Seok you’re not interested. This is advice for your own good.”

Soo-hyun’s tone was soft and earnest, as if he were genuinely concerned for her. It was a stark contrast to the menacing figure who had threatened her days ago.

But the message remained the same.

Stay out of my life.

Hae-in analyzed the fragments of information she’d gleaned from their brief exchange.

She didn’t fully understand, but it seemed Soo-hyun’s marriage wasn’t just about continuing the family line—it was tied to some deeper conflict within the household. Perhaps there was already someone Soo-hyun had in mind, and his grandmother opposed it?

Various hypotheses surfaced and then faded in her mind.

‘No. I don’t need to know all this. What I needed from the start was money.’

Once her thoughts crystallized, her course of action became clear. He hadn’t yet mentioned the scale of the payment. But no matter how powerful Jung Soo-hyun was, he couldn’t surpass Chairman Park’s wealth and influence.

Still, what if… this marriage could be avoided?

Thinking of Chairman Park treating her like a commodity made her chest feel cold.

“You’ll have to earn your keep.”

Park Yoon-hwa’s words still pierced deep within her.

If he viewed her as something to be bought and sold, then Taesung Group was indeed a place she shouldn’t enter.

Hae-in steadied her emotions and asked Soo-hyun as calmly as she could.

“I’d like to know more about the payment you mentioned.”

“I’ll free you from this family. Don’t you want to escape? Isn’t it suffocating?”

“…Freedom?”

“Yes. Complete freedom.”

“Please explain clearly.”

“I’ll send you wherever you want abroad. A job, of course, and enough money to live comfortably for five years.”

“What… do you mean? And what about my family?”

“You cut ties.”

“What?”

Hae-in’s eyes widened in disbelief. His words made no sense to her.

Soo-hyun’s expression after finishing his explanation was smug, as if he couldn’t imagine her rejecting his offer.

“Why would you think I’d accept such a proposal?”

“No need to pretend to be the dutiful older sister in front of me. I’m just voicing what you’re thinking. And conveniently, I have the means to make it happen. So, let me help you leave behind your pathetic family and start over.”

Soo-hyun’s offer was so unexpected that Hae-in struggled to respond.

Her family was her entire world, her life. Though they had caused her immense hardship, she had never once considered abandoning them and leaving.

But what if… she could forget everything and start anew somewhere else, as Soo-hyun suggested?

Her days had been consumed by the relentless burden of hospital bills.

Her father worked tirelessly during the day and drove for a ride-sharing service at night. Her mother, once a housewife, now worked long hours at a restaurant.

Every member of her family was silently screaming under the weight of their changed lives.

There were times when she wished her brother had never been born, or that he had passed away.

It was a terrible thought, but pretending she had never entertained it would be a lie. Life had been so overwhelming that she had occasionally wished for it.

On rainy days, when she fell while rushing between tutoring sessions, or when she handed over every penny she earned without ever keeping any for herself, those thoughts crept in.

“You’ve done enough, haven’t you?”

Soo-hyun’s words seemed to read her wavering heart. Unable to respond, Hae-in glanced toward the slightly ajar hospital room.

While her peers dressed up and went on dates, she had devoted herself entirely to studying and earning money. Throughout university, she managed with just a couple of outfits per season.

Each time she paid hospital bills, it felt as though she was prolonging not just her brother’s life but also the hell her family was living through.

Her dying brother seemed to be dragging the entire family into the abyss of despair.

Soo-hyun was right. It was suffocating, and she had done enough.

Seeing Hae-in hesitate, Soo-hyun’s lips curled into a sly smile. His tempting words dripped with persuasion.

“As long as you stay in Korea, there’s no escaping this. The longer your brother lives, the deeper your family will sink. And when your parents pass away? Then it’s all on you. I’m offering you a way out.”

Soo-hyun pressed her for a decision, dangling the promise of a sweet future.

“Every deal comes with a price. There’s no such thing as free money from Chairman Park’s pocket. If you join the Taesung family, you’ll regret not accepting my offer.”

“I…”

Finally breaking her silence, Hae-in’s voice caused Soo-hyun’s eyes to gleam with anticipation.

“I can’t abandon my family. I’m sorry.”

“Yoon Hae-in!”

His low tone quickened, eventually rising into a shout.

“Do you think your family will appreciate your sacrifice? What’s left after you’ve wasted your youth? Do you think you’ll look back in old age and feel satisfied with your life?”

“…You’re right. But this is my life.”

Hae-in’s eyes, now steady and unwavering, reflected her resolve. This man was like the devil, skilled at prying open wounds buried deep within her heart.

But she wouldn’t be swayed.

“My situation may inconvenience your life, Soo-hyun-sunbae, and for that, I apologize. Still, I can’t give up. If you accept me, I’ll do my best…”

“Hah. Accept what? You don’t know anything.”

“I can’t abandon my family. So, I can’t accept your offer.”

“Offer? This isn’t an offer—it’s a threat.”

Soo-hyun’s eyes burned fiercely, delivering a clear warning not to ignore him.

Even if she were forced into marriage, it would be impossible to give Chairman Park what he wanted if she resisted this much. The road ahead already looked thorny.

But the present crisis outweighed any distant future.

“…If you can offer me something greater than what Chairman Park promised, I’ll step back.”

Even as she spoke, Hae-in knew he couldn’t possibly accept. No matter how powerful Soo-hyun was, he couldn’t surpass Chairman Park’s wealth and influence.

“Hah.”

Soo-hyun clicked his tongue, looking as though he might explode at any moment. A menacing aura radiated from him, as if he were capable of anything.

“Are you seriously thinking of profiting off your brother’s illness?”

“How can you say such things?”

“What else am I supposed to think? How else do you explain bargaining with your family as leverage?”

“…Chairman Park promised me… If I marry, he’ll take care of my brother until he gets better.”

Her voice trembled, her body rigid with tension.

“Do you even know what’s written in the marriage contract? You’re nothing more than property. Taesung Group’s property. Your life will belong to Chairman Park.”

“That’s fine. As long as Chairman Park protects my family.”

“…Hah. Family. Alright, let’s see how long you cling to that excuse.”

Suddenly, Soo-hyun pushed off the wall and strode toward her with long, deliberate steps. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, towering over her.

“If you think I’ll protect you once I become your husband, you’re dreaming.”

“…I don’t expect that.”

“Good. Because the moment you step into Taesung as my wife, I’ll make sure you realize just how meaningless that title truly is.”

The overwhelming presence of the tall man pinning her against the wall made it hard to breathe. The ferocity in his gaze made survival itself feel precarious.

Panic surged within Hae-in. Thinking of the future, she knew she had to say something—anything—to calm him down. She couldn’t let him leave like this, seething with anger.