PSS - 7

Chapter 7: The Marriage Contract

“I’m grateful for your concern, Sunbae. But I genuinely wish for my family’s well-being. I hope you can understand that I can’t accept your offer.”

Hae-in calmly conveyed her intentions, looking up at him with eyes hoping her sincerity would reach him.

“…You’re impossible to reason with.”

Soo-hyun sighed in frustration as he loomed over her, one hand pressed against the wall. With no room to retreat, Hae-in could only stand there, her back against the wall, staring at him.

What had possessed her to touch his face and kiss him that day?

As she gazed at the lips that had spewed so many harsh words, the memory of that moment felt like a distant dream.

She waited anxiously for what he might say next when suddenly, Soo-hyun leaned down.

Ah.

With the wall behind her, she couldn’t step back. Frozen in place, Hae-in swallowed the breath she’d been holding.

His face hovered close enough to brush her lips, his gaze lingering on her mouth. His warm breath grazed her cheek.

Her heart raced so fast she had to lower her eyes and clench her fists tightly.

“I truly hope I never see your face again. Think carefully.”

Soo-hyun’s voice, low and deliberate, vibrated near her ear. The warmth of his breath tickled her cheek.

Stiff with tension, she stood rooted in place until his breath eventually faded away.

When she looked up, Soo-hyun was already gone, his figure disappearing from sight.

“Haa…”

Her legs trembled as she watched him walk briskly down the corridor. Without hesitation, he moved quickly and vanished outside with his entourage.

Vibrate.

Still staring blankly at where Soo-hyun had disappeared, Hae-in felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She finally checked it—there were several missed calls.

As soon as she opened the call log, the phone vibrated again. It was Seok Ji-hyung.

“…Hello?”

“Miss Yoon Hae-in. Are you still with President Jung?”

“No.”

Ji-hyung first asked about Soo-hyun’s whereabouts, then let out a sigh. Regaining composure, he continued in a calm tone.

“What did President Jung say to you?”

Hae-in recounted their conversation. After listening, Ji-hyung exhaled deeply.

“…It may be hard to understand President Jung now, but you’ll come to understand later. To him, family is… that kind of existence.”

“What kind of existence do you mean…?”

“I’d like to explain further, but let’s save it for another time. Right now, there’s something more urgent.”

Without giving her a chance to ask more, Ji-hyung quickly continued.

“We’ve secured the medication your brother Jeong-in needs.”

“What?”

“You heard correctly. The newly approved, high-cost treatment necessary to improve Jeong-in’s condition.”

The medication was prohibitively expensive, requiring special orders for individual patients. While it guaranteed results, its monthly cost rivaled that of luxury imported cars—a miracle drug beyond the reach of Hae-in’s family.

“Chairman Park has taken an interest in you. If you accept his proposal, he will provide the medication without limit. But if you refuse, not only will you lose access to the treatment, you might find yourself in an even worse situation.”

Ji-hyung’s polite tone carried an implicit threat: defy us, and you’ll face a hell worse than before.

Hae-in’s life was already in their hands.

“But President Jung doesn’t want me…”

“That’s something to consider later. What will you do?”

There was no room for hesitation. There was only one choice, and she had no right to refuse.

“Just tell me what I need to do.”

“Understood. I’ll explain in detail when we meet. Come to the location I’ll text you tomorrow.”

After hanging up, Ji-hyung sent a text message shortly after. It instructed her to visit a certain obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Seoul.

---

When Hae-in received the text from Ji-hyung instructing her to go to the obstetrics clinic, she was bewildered. Meeting him on the appointed day left her unsure of how to react or what expression to wear.

Fortunately, Ji-hyung brought along a female secretary to accompany her.

“…I figured you’d be flustered. This is a mandatory procedure per Chairman Park’s orders. It won’t take much time, so please don’t waste unnecessary emotions…”

Though Ji-hyung maintained a professional tone, his voice faltered slightly as he glanced at Hae-in’s expression.

“I know apologies and requests for understanding aren’t comforting. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I’ll go.”

Suppressing a deep sigh, Hae-in left Ji-hyung in the lobby and headed toward the elevator with the accompanying secretary. The woman beside her gently spoke up.

“…This is a process others have gone through too. Some lied about their circumstances, while others had poor health…”

“It’s okay. Just… please don’t say anything.”

Others? Those who had passed this gate, and those who hadn’t. Calling this part of marriage preparation felt no different from the interview process Hae-in had endured at Taesung Group.

The well-meaning words meant to console her only stirred her emotions further.

Hae-in chose instead to think of nothing at all. If this was an unavoidable step, she resolved to heed Ji-hyung’s advice and avoid wasting emotions.

But resolution was easier said than done. When the female doctor began asking questions, Hae-in couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

“Have you had any recent sexual experiences?”

“What?”

“Ah…”

The middle-aged female doctor observed Hae-in’s reaction, then sighed softly.

“This is a routine question we ask those sent by Chairman Park. You can be honest with me. I’ll conduct the examination in a way that avoids discomfort.”

“I… This is actually my first time visiting an OB/GYN…”

Aside from receiving preventive vaccines, Hae-in had never visited a gynecologist, having experienced no menstrual irregularities in her life. Sensing her inexperience, the doctor softened her tone.

“If you haven’t had sexual experiences, we typically perform abdominal or transrectal ultrasounds. For women in their twenties, the latter tends to be more accurate.”

“Tran…srectal?”

The doctor’s words spun dizzyingly in her mind. Overwhelmed, Hae-in lost her ability to respond. Watching her, the doctor sighed briefly.

“Honestly… you seem like a first-timer. I apologize if I startled you. To be frank, even though I’m a doctor, I face repercussions if I don’t follow protocol.”

Whether due to direct or indirect pressure from above, the doctor seemed uneasy. Many people around her were similarly coerced into uncomfortable tasks by Chairman Park.

“For now, I’ll start with an abdominal ultrasound. You’ve had general check-ups before, right? It’s not much different, so there’s no need to be afraid.”

Knock, knock.

No sooner had the doctor finished speaking than a nurse entered. The doctor’s gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by professionalism.

Cold gel dripped onto her skin, and stronger-than-expected pressure pressed against her abdomen.

“Your condition looks good. You’re healthy.”

The doctor spoke dryly, removing the ultrasound device from Hae-in’s stomach. After the nurse assisted with cleanup and left to call the next patient, Hae-in adjusted her clothes and rose from the examination table.

“Miss Yoon Hae-in.”

“Yes?”

Just as she reached for the doorknob, the doctor called out from behind her.

“If… if you ever face difficulties, please come find me.”

“Difficulties?”

“…Am I saying something unnecessary?”

The doctor muttered to herself, then offered Hae-in a weak smile.

“I’ve seen a few people who’ve faced hardships because of Chairman Park. So, please keep this conversation between us.”

“Thank you.”

Hae-in nodded quietly and exited the examination room.

Amidst the unknown challenges ahead, random acts of kindness from strangers confused her further. Their goodwill, extended despite not knowing her personally, unsettled her deeply.

---

After finishing her visit to the OB/GYN, Hae-in met Ji-hyung again in the lobby.

“Within a few days, Chairman Park will summon you. On that day, signing the contract will finalize the pre-marriage procedures.”

The word “marriage” stood out starkly in Ji-hyung’s explanation. Hae-in tried to dismiss the emotional turmoil rising within her, reminding herself not to waste energy on unnecessary feelings.

“The contract will include clauses about property division, custody, and parental rights in case of divorce. Since I’m informing you in advance, feel free to ask any questions now.”

“Please tell me the specifics.”

“…As you know…”

Ji-hyung lowered his voice and stepped closer, preparing to speak.

“In the event of divorce, you’ll relinquish custody and parental rights. Additionally, if the child requires genetic or biological contributions from the mother, you’ll agree to cooperate fully. Furthermore, if pregnancy doesn’t occur within a year of marriage, you’ll consent to all necessary procedures to facilitate conception…”

“…Um, excuse me for a moment.”

Though she had vaguely anticipated such terms, hearing them aloud made them harder to process.

Certain phrases stuck out sharply—particularly the relinquishment of custody and parental rights.

Realizing that even the future of a hypothetical child would belong to Taesung, Hae-in bit her lip.

‘Nothing belongs to you.’

Chairman Park’s words during the interview echoed in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she cautiously asked Ji-hyung:

“…Could I receive a draft of the contract beforehand?”

“Even if you do, you can’t negotiate the terms. You understand, right?”

Hae-in nodded weakly. She knew that regardless of the contract’s contents, she’d ultimately have no choice but to sign.

“Yes, I understand. I just need clarity regarding my brother.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll bring a draft to your home within a few days.”

After Ji-hyung politely excused himself and left, several more days passed. When he returned to Hae-in’s house, he carried a draft of the contract.

Hae-in slowly read through the document he handed her.

‘Upon childbirth, payments will vary depending on whether the child is female or male.’

The first clause alone took her breath away. It felt as though needles had pierced her lungs, leaving her gasping for air.