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Guk stared at Hyun-soo for a moment before silently averting his gaze.
“Mom, what do I do?”
And then it happened—another mishap. This time, Hyun-soo accidentally knocked over her water glass. The spill soaked one side of Guk’s pants, turning what could have been a minor incident into a full-blown disaster.
“I’m so sorry. Really, I’m so sorry...”
“Oh my, are you alright? Here, take this tissue.”
Accepting the tissues offered by Ji-young, Guk calmly wiped away the spilled water without showing any irritation. His composed demeanor only made Hyun-soo feel even guiltier.
“It’s completely soaked. What should I do? I’m so sorry...”
“If someone saw you, they’d think you committed some grave sin. Enough already.”
“Huh?”
“That’s enough apologizing.”
“Oh, okay. Sorry.”
Guk raised an eyebrow as if mocking her apology. At that, Hyun-soo clamped her mouth shut.
“Wipe it.”
“Huh?”
Hyun-soo took the tissues he handed her but remained confused about his intentions. Eventually, when Guk gestured with his eyes, she realized water had also dripped onto her own leg.
“Thank you.”
After wiping up the mess, Hyun-soo quickly returned to her seat. Her eyes briefly met Han’s across the table. His steady gaze felt burdensome, prompting her to look away first.
The brief commotion was soon forgotten as the meal resumed its calm rhythm. Thankfully, the atmosphere recovered within minutes.
“So, Miss Hyun-soo, what did your parents do for a living?”
If only it weren’t for questions like these. Caught off guard by Chairman Yoon’s sudden inquiry, Hyun-soo nearly choked on her food.
“Huh? Oh, um... They ran a small business for a while.”
“A business? What kind? If it’s business-related, we might have plenty to talk about.”
“Just logistics and distribution for a bit...”
“Ah, I see. That sounds fascinating.”
Beads of sweat trickled down Hyun-soo’s spine. Why did such a simple question make her so nervous? It likely stemmed from the awkwardness of discussing her parents in front of Guk and Han.
“And your mother? Was she a homemaker?”
“Yes, a typical housewife.”
“I see. No wonder you turned out to be such a fine young lady.”
Haha, Hyun-soo forced an awkward laugh. Though they barely knew each other, she couldn’t fathom why they found her so agreeable—it must just be polite flattery.
“Let’s have dinner together sometime. How does that sound?”
“Huh?”
“Is it too much to ask? Does it bother you?”
Taken aback by Ji-young’s unexpected invitation, Hyun-soo froze mid-sentence. The suggestion was so abrupt that it left her utterly bewildered.
“Not exactly burdened, but...”
“We’re entrusting our children to you, after all. Wouldn’t it be nice for us adults to get to know each other better? It’d be good for both families to bond.”
Tsk. A faint chuckle echoed nearby. Glancing sideways, she caught Guk smirking slightly as he ate. The mockery in his smile was unmistakable.
“What do you think? Is it too unreasonable a request?”
“No, not at all... It’s just that...”
Honestly, the idea felt burdensome and strange. She no longer had parents to introduce—her mother had passed away, and her father’s whereabouts were unknown. Unable to voice these thoughts, Hyun-soo fell silent, feeling trapped.
Ji-young set down her utensils, clearly intent on hearing an answer. Even Chairman Yoon, pretending to focus on his meal, was clearly paying attention to their exchange.
“Oh, come to think of it, Father, did you check your recent medical report?”
Suddenly, Han interjected into the conversation.
“Huh? Really? I haven’t seen it yet.”
“Secretary Cho said he gave it to you. Dr. Lee mentioned something about suspected fatty liver issues. Your cholesterol levels are way too high, and you need to watch your vascular health. What are you planning to do about it?”
“Enough with the nagging, boy.”
“Mother, please scold Father for me.”
Ji-young glanced at Han before addressing Chairman Yoon.
“You really should start exercising more and watching your diet. I’ll plan a new menu for you, so let’s work on this together.”
“I’m still lively enough—I can eat whatever I want! What’s the point of being chairman if I can’t enjoy life freely?”
“There’s nothing you can do freely, Father. Didn’t you know?”
Han’s words elicited laughter from Ji-young and Chairman Yoon. Only Guk remained quiet, sipping his water.
“Father.”
Suddenly, Guk called out softly to Chairman Yoon. The three family members turned to look at him simultaneously.
“Father, you must treat this friend kindly.”
Hyun-soo froze at his words, unease flooding through her like a rising tide.
“What nonsense is this all of a sudden?”
“I owe Hyun-soo a great deal. Not just me, but Han too—and even our late mother.”
The atmosphere chilled instantly, as though doused with cold water. Ignoring it, Guk turned to meet Hyun-soo’s gaze. Beneath the mounting tension, Hyun-soo clenched her fists tightly under the table.
“What are you talking about?”
“I told you before. Remember? When I lived with the family where my mother worked as a maid.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“The people who took us in back then were Hyun-soo’s parents.”
“My goodness...”
“They were truly grateful people.”
Once again, Guk’s darkened eyes locked onto Hyun-soo. Whether the depths of those eyes held resignation over past events or lingering anger over memories still alive, Hyun-soo couldn’t tell.
Now, everyone’s eyes were fixed on her. She panicked, unsure how to react.
She hadn’t started the fire—they blamed her for it—but two lives had been lost in the tragedy: their mother and hers. With accusations hanging over her head, revealing the truth would only expose everything...
Moreover, Guk believed his mother died because her father stopped him from saving her. To him, her family was unforgivable—worse than enemies. So why bring this up now? Did he intend to expose and punish her parents posthumously?
As these thoughts swirled, Hyun-soo questioned why she was even sitting there. Wasn’t she being shameless? Despite his urging, why had she impulsively accepted his offer?
No, in truth, she sought forgiveness. She yearned for redemption. She didn’t want to keep living as the despicable daughter who killed her own mother.
Hyun-soo felt suffocated. If things continued like this, she might bolt from the table altogether. She couldn’t bear staying a moment longer.
She wished they’d spit on her, hurl filth at her—punish her before she fled herself.
Just then, a warm arm wrapped around her shoulders, snapping her back to reality. Looking up, she saw none other than Guk introducing her to his family.
“Father, if it weren’t for this friend’s family stepping in during the times we failed to notice, who knows what might’ve happened to us.”
The sharp edge in his words was clear to everyone. Chairman Yoon slowly addressed Hyun-soo.
“Then, Miss Hyun-soo’s parents...?”
“...They’ve passed away.”
“The accident that claimed them—is it the same one where our boys lost their birth mother...?”
Unsure how much they knew, Hyun-soo could only nod in response. Lowering her gaze, she avoided eye contact entirely, unable to face anyone.
“Let’s call it a night here.”
“I’ll leave too. Let’s go, Chairman.”
Chairman Yoon pushed Ji-young’s wheelchair as they exited the dining room.
Silence enveloped the space, leaving only Guk, Han, and Hyun-soo behind.
“Driver Park will handle your commute. Take his car.”
Guk withdrew his arm from Hyun-soo’s shoulder as he spoke. Feeling the chill return, Hyun-soo shook her head.
“No, I’ll manage my own commute.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“Yoon Guk, I didn’t mean to impose on you...”
“Go.”
Cutting her off mid-sentence, Guk abruptly stood and strode out of the dining room without looking back. Hyun-soo watched his retreating figure helplessly, while Han observed her from across the table.
“If you have something to say, go after him.”
“What?”
“Don’t just stare—grab him or say something. Do what you can.”
Hyun-soo sighed deeply. Taking a sip of water, she rose from her seat.
“I’ll take Driver Park’s car.”
“...”
“He’s an excellent driver—a veteran, truly.”
“Yoon Han.”
“Trust me—he has 20 years of accident-free driving experience.”
“You sure know how to butter me up.”
Hyun-soo’s subdued tone carried a hint of gloominess.
“What did you say?”
“You’re buttering me up. Despite everything people say I’ve done... Yet you treat me like this. Never mind. I’m leaving.”
“Finish what you wanted to say before you go.”
“Veteran driver, 20 years accident-free. I’ll take his car.”
“Noona.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Hyun-soo turned and left the dining room without looking back. Left alone, Han frowned in dissatisfaction.
“She keeps making me want to ask questions.”
With a deliberate nudge, he knocked over his cup, spilling water across the table. It was a petty act of frustration. Watching the water spread aimlessly for a moment, Han finally stood and left the room as well.
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