Chapter 81. Strictly Self-Defense.

Sehee lay in bed, trying to sleep, but Kang-joon in the living room bothered her. Tossing and turning for 30 minutes, unable to sleep, she finally sprang up from the bed and approached the door. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to open it. She knew why Kang-joon insisted on the sofa; she knew it was his patience and consideration towards her. With just a door between them, Sehee’s thoughts deepened once again. If she hadn’t known, she wouldn’t have cared, but she knew how comfortable Kang-joon’s embrace was. Knowing that she could sleep soundly in his arms tonight, the temptation grew stronger. But unlike her, Kang-joon might stay up all night. Her thoughts went that far, but the final conclusion was always the same: Still, since it’s Seo Kang-joon, wouldn’t it be okay? Sehee chuckled.

“I’m so selfish.”

Because of Seo Kang-joon, who always told her it was okay, she felt herself becoming increasingly ill-behaved. She felt that even if she acted selfishly, he would still smile and say it was fine. She never knew her trust in Kang-joon ran this deep. She had a calculating personality that always paid back what she received; it was the same even with Jinkyung. She gave more than she received, never asking for anything in return. But strangely, with Kang-joon, she constantly let her guard down. This was all due to the cunning magic spell Kang-joon had cast: He wouldn’t ask anything or want anything. For seven months, she could live comfortably without a care, and he would grant her anything she desired. Even when her chest felt heavy and her head ached, just recalling those words brought surprising clarity to her thoughts and peace to her mind. Perhaps that’s why they say you shouldn’t take in a black-haired beast. Justifying her selfish thoughts, Sehee, as she headed to the living room, had no idea that the emotional changes she was experiencing were all part of Kang-joon’s meticulous plan.

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At that moment

In the faint darkness, Kang-joon had been staring at the bedroom door for 30 minutes. But the tightly closed bedroom door showed no sign of opening. They say pregnant women sleep a lot, so is she asleep? His thoughts reached that point, and he was about to give up waiting and try to sleep. When he heard the door open, Kang-joon closed his eyes. He felt he had to. But whether she came out to wake him or just came out, her footsteps were unusually cautious. This will mess up the plan. Don’t go to the kitchen, come to me, Joo Sehee. He found himself ridiculous for getting so worked up over such a small thing. But for Kang-joon, Sehee entering his bed was a desperate wish. It wasn’t because he wanted to do anything indecent. He was fixated on the meaning of Joo Sehee bringing him into her home and even into her bedroom. Because that would be proof that Joo Sehee had opened her heart that much. And once again, the heavens willingly sided with Kang-joon. The sound of footsteps stopped in front of the sofa. Even with his eyes closed, he could imagine Joo Sehee squatting by his head, staring at him. The quiet gaze felt like needles pricking his face, making Kang-joon close his eyes even tighter.

“He must really be asleep.”

He barely suppressed the urge to bolt upright at her small, sigh-like murmur. He could have said he couldn’t sleep because the bed was new, but he just wanted to watch her. If she thought he was asleep, Joo Sehee would become defenseless, and he wondered how she would surprise him this time. He was beyond curious, even expectant. It would be nice to hear a love confession after a long time.

“Mr. Seo Kang-joon, are you really sleeping?”

The voice whispered so close it almost touched his ear, alluringly sweet. But he had to endure a little longer.

“...How cold-hearted.”

This is a bit unfair. Does she not know who the truly cold-hearted one is? After all this patience, consideration, and waiting, she just abandoned me and left. Then she divorced me quickly and appeared shamelessly, yet she didn’t welcome me. She made me happy by saying she was pregnant, then made me despair by saying she couldn’t marry. I’m even pulling childish stunts like this just to lie in Joo Sehee’s bed once. Who made me like this? There was so much he wanted to argue, but this time too, Kang-joon swallowed it down. Because loving more was the sin.

“She couldn’t even wait 30 minutes. She wasn’t a sexy growler, but a sleepy growler.”

However, at Sehee’s last murmur, Kang-joon decided to stop acting. Whatever else, he didn’t want to be misunderstood like that. Kang-joon opened his eyes and grabbed Sehee’s wrist as she draped a thin blanket over his body.

“Who are you calling a sleepy growler?”

Her startled face in the faint darkness was a sight to behold.

“You weren’t sleeping?”

“How could I sleep?”

In Joo Sehee’s house, in this space filled with Joo Sehee’s scent, at a distance where I can hug you just by reaching out. How could I sleep? Kang-joon sat up on the sofa and pulled her slender waist into his arms. He trapped Sehee between his legs and asked, looking up at her gently,

“Did you come out to drink water?”

He asked out of courtesy, to avoid embarrassing her by asking directly.

“No. I came out to ask you to sleep with me in bed if you weren’t sleeping.”

Sehee gave Kang-joon the answer he wanted, directly. She was always a woman of no ambiguity, he constantly felt. That’s why she made people so anxious. Kang-joon picked up Sehee in his arms and walked to the bedroom, his final destination for the day.

“My legs are perfectly fine, do you really have to carry me?”

“Just let me carry you. It’s because this sexy growler can’t control his overflowing strength.”

Thus, they arrived at the bedroom, and Joo Sehee’s bed. As soon as they lay down, Kang-joon pulled Sehee into his embrace, just as he had when they were married. And as if waiting, her body nestled into him, warm and soft as he remembered. Their warmth, steady breathing, and powerful heartbeats communicated through their seamlessly connected bodies. Feeling Joo Sehee’s touch after such a long time, Kang-joon’s resolve solidified even further. He would make her his woman, no matter what. To do that, he had to instill bad habits in Joo Sehee. To make her feel comfortable enough with him not to feel guilty even when acting selfishly. To make her act like an absolute alpha. Only then would she come to him on her own. Just then, Sehee, who had partially sat up, squirming in his arms, cautiously asked,

“Aren’t you curious about the real reason I don’t want to marry you?”

Kang-joon had pondered Sehee’s words carefully after being rejected for marriage. Her excuse that the burden of marriage was too much was just an excuse. He knew that but didn’t press her because it was pointless. He knew Joo Sehee’s stubbornness and her personality of not going back on decisions. That’s why he confessed his love and then left. And even now, Kang-joon vaguely guessed why Joo Sehee had courageously spoken up. Telling the truth was probably an unconscious defensive instinct, stemming from her worry that her guard was dropping too quickly. I am resolute for these reasons, so don’t have any idle thoughts, it was a kind of warning. If that was the reason, he definitely didn’t want to hear it, but what could he do?

“I’m not curious.”

Kang-joon calmly answered Sehee, who looked visibly flustered at having her hard-won courage rejected.

“What’s important to me isn’t the reason why we can’t marry, but your feelings, Sehee.”

That was his true feeling. Whatever the reason, he wanted Joo Sehee’s feelings to change.

“Tomorrow is the shareholders’ meeting, so just focus on that for now. Only good things will happen from now on, so don’t bother yourself thinking about me.”

Of course, he would also find out why Joo Sehee didn’t want to marry him. But Joo Sehee shouldn’t know that he found out. If her vulnerabilities were exposed, people instinctively put up their guard again. He wouldn’t want to see that wall he had painstakingly brought down rise again. Still, to Sehee, who remained lost in thought without lying down, Kang-joon spoke again.

“But there’s something I want from you, Sehee.”

“...What is it?”

“I want you to get annoyed with me, treat me like a servant, and act selfishly. Complain and act spoiled like a pregnant woman would with her husband.”

“I’ve never done anything like that.”

Kang-joon knew that too. That’s why he was struggling now, to change that very good habit of hers.

“Try it with me. I’ll accept anything.”

“...”

“Especially if you really plan to reject me after seven months. I’m afraid I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life if you don’t even do that.”

“I’ll try.”

Only after hearing her answer did Kang-joon pull Sehee back into his arms and embrace her from behind. He placed his large hand on her still-flat stomach and wondered, Is there really a baby in this small belly? Is it being crushed as if suffocated? For Kang-joon, the existence of the baby was both fascinating, terrifying, and wondrous the more he thought about it. Just then, Sehee squirmed in his arms and mumbled,

“Stop giving me bad habits. What will you do if I really only think of myself and act selfishly?”

Kang-joon chuckled softly in the faint darkness. She’s quick-witted, that’s for sure. He desperately hoped Joo Sehee would pick up many bad habits. Joo Sehee, who thought too much and considered everything complicated and difficult, was the kind of woman who would only come to him if she became utterly selfish and ill-behaved.

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Regular Shareholders’ Meeting of Inno Fashion held at Seoul Convention Hall.

Chairwoman Cho, the chairperson of the shareholders’ meeting, clearly didn’t want to just passively endure, so she planned something absurd. Colluding with Inno Fashion executives and legal counsel on her side, she blocked some minor shareholders from entering while simultaneously removing their attending shareholder status. This was to push through several agenda items that were just barely below the quorum for passing. However, as the shareholders’ protests grew fiercer than expected, Chairwoman Cho unilaterally postponed the shareholders’ meeting and walked out. For the first time ever, large men, claiming to be staff, suddenly appeared en masse to drive out the shareholders. But Sehee and Director Kang, following Kang-joon’s advice, had brought along both a court-appointed inspector and a lawyer. The lawyer, quickly assessing the situation, said,

“This is clearly an ‘abandonment of the chairperson’s authority.’ You may proceed with the regular shareholders’ meeting by electing a provisional chairperson.”

Director Kang was elected as the provisional chairperson, and all agenda items were successfully passed in the swiftly conducted shareholders’ meeting. All of Chairwoman Cho’s people, who were existing board members, were dismissed, and new directors were filled by Director Kang’s and Sehee’s people. Immediately after the shareholders’ meeting, a board meeting was held, and at that meeting, Sehee became the CEO of Inno Fashion. After receiving congratulations, Sehee remained alone in the convention hall. She simply wanted to be alone for a moment. Even though she had won overwhelmingly today, why did her heart still feel so empty? She had lived for 29 years, bowing to Chairwoman Cho and living as if dead. For what was this position worth, that she had to humble herself so cowardly? Now that she had achieved what she wanted, what would she do, and how would she live? In that moment of utter uncertainty, Sehee’s hand instinctively went to her belly.

“Because now I have Pré.”

Since she had a more precious and important life goal, she just had to live more diligently now. Sehee left the convention hall without lingering regrets and ran into Alisha in the hallway.

“I never really thought it would happen, but you actually beat Mom. I’ll admit you’re a tough nut.”

...Is that a compliment or an insult? But Sehee answered calmly,

“It’s all thanks to your help, Unnie.”

“I received something, so I have to do my part. I have that much sense, you know?”

A subtle silence fell between Sehee and her half-sister, who had once almost been an enemy but had become an ally. Alisha was the first to break the silence.

“I’m going to Germany today. I’ve been abandoned by my family anyway, so I’ll never come to Korea again. Don’t be sad.”

“I’m not sad at all.”

At Sehee’s reply, Alisha subtly frowned.

“How can you be so utterly devoid of warmth?”

Sehee wanted to retort, And how warm are you, Unnie? but she stopped herself.

“Hey, tough nut, can I contact you sometimes?”

“No.”

“Why!”

“Because you’re the type to do it even if I tell you not to.”

Alisha blinked in disbelief, then chuckled, suddenly screaming.

“Agh! Who is it!”

Alisha, hit on the head by a suddenly flying handbag, gasped in horror as she saw Chairwoman Cho approaching with piercing eyes.

“Oh, Mom?”

“You foolish girl, you dare cause trouble, not knowing the grace of being born?”

Sehee cruelly slapped away Chairwoman Cho’s hand, which was reaching out as if to grab Alisha’s hair as she recoiled.

“What barbaric act are you doing? Say it with words.”

Then Chairwoman Cho’s hand sharply struck Sehee’s cheek.

“How dare you lay your filthy hands on me!”

It was Sehee who was hit, but Alisha was trembling. The fear, long ingrained, had terrified Alisha. But unlike Alisha, Sehee took another step closer to Chairwoman Cho.

“My aunt hit me first, and what I’m doing now is strictly self-defense.”

Sehee’s small hand, full of force, cut through the air towards Chairwoman Cho, who glared as if to say, What nonsense are you talking about? Smack! A satisfying sound echoed through the hallway, as if a long-standing blockage had been cleared.