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A dry wind blew through the square space.
No one could speak properly, and Jinhan’s consciousness drifted away from reality.
The bustling activities stopped in an instant.
Hyun-sung and Minhee quietly left the office and closed the door.
Only Haejoo and Jinhan remained in the room.
“Haejoo-ssi, did I just mishear something?”
To Jinhan, Haejoo was a new opportunity and the fruit of his efforts.
It was true that his feelings for her blurred the lines between personal and professional matters, but there was no doubt that they were inextricably linked.
Without Jinhan, it would have been difficult for Haejoo to reach her current position.
As much as he had lent her a hand when she was struggling, his disappointment grew like a mountain.
“The organizers asked Dojun-ssi to attend as a married couple.”
“Then what about me?”
“Sometimes family members attend movie premieres or award ceremonies, right? How about thinking of it that way?”
Haejoo persuaded Jinhan gently. She needed to clarify their positions without creating animosity.
“Since when has CEO Park Dojun been Haejoo-ssi’s family?”
Jinhan’s cold voice was sharp.
It was hard to believe that this was the same person who had been more enthusiastic than anyone about Haejoo’s work until now.
“Legally, we are family, aren’t we?”
“If you’re going to act like this, get out of that house right now.”
Jinhan walked up to Haejoo.
He too was tall and had a good physique, forcing Haejoo to look up at him.
“People know Dojun-ssi and me as a devoted couple.”
“What about it?”
“Wouldn’t it be problematic if separation rumors arose in the midst of all this?”
“Remember that tomorrow’s event is an extension of work, Haejoo-ssi.”
“I know. But the organizers contacted us, asking us to attend as a married couple.”
Jinhan, whose head was throbbing, pressed his temples. He turned around and dialed a number on the invitation.
To Haejoo, one minute felt like a year.
She hadn’t expected Jinhan to be this angry, and his serious demeanor was even frightening.
“Hello. This is Director Yoo Jinhan from GN Entertainment.”
-Yes, hello. Director Yoo Jinhan.
“Actress Lee Haejoo will be attending tomorrow.”
-We were just about to call you.
“Yes?”
-The L brand was very moved by the love story of Lee Haejoo-ssi and CEO Park Dojun.
“So?”
-The secretary of L brand’s head designer contacted CEO Park Dojun separately, hoping that the two of you could attend together.
An indescribable disappointment washed over Jinhan. As high as his expectations had been, so was his sense of loss.
-We also reorganized the seating arrangement just last night.
“Then I probably don’t need to go.”
-What are you saying? Director Yoo Jinhan not coming!
GN was sponsoring this charity fashion show.
As the largest in the distribution industry, the charity fashion show was one of their major events.
Every year, Jinhan attended with a celebrity representing GN Entertainment. Until last year, he had gone with Yoonji, but this year, Haejoo was naturally expected to be his partner.
However, all his plans had gone awry.
It was all because of this marriage that even Haejoo hadn’t known about.
“I understand. Let’s talk again.”
Bitterness stung Jinhan’s palate.
No words could soothe his hollow insides right now.
“Director.”
“I understand Haejoo-ssi’s intentions. Since the organizers also said so, I have to accept it.”
“I don’t want to do anything that would damage my career.”
“What do you mean?”
“Right now, it’s necessary for me to show the public the image of a married couple with Dojun-ssi.”
Jinhan went to the window.
Unable to cope with the tightness in his chest, he looked up at the blue sky.
“Okay. My thinking was narrow-minded. Let’s do as Haejoo-ssi decides.”
“Thank you for acknowledging it.”
He was speaking while wearing an invisible mask.
He hoped that Haejoo would reverse her decision even now, but he didn’t want to show it.
His pride was too hurt for that.
“What about the outfit?”
“I’m planning to match with Dojun-ssi in black.”
“So you’ve already prepared the outfit.”
“I didn’t do it myself.”
“I know. CEO Park Dojun must have done it.”
“Please don’t be upset.”
“Whatever. See you at the event tomorrow.”
Haejoo left the office.
Jinhan called Hyun-sung and Minhee, who were waiting in the hallway.
“Minhee-ssi, I’ll take care of my own outfit, so send back all the sponsored items.”
“Yes, Director.”
“Hyun-sung, you don’t need to come to the event tomorrow.”
“The car……”
“We’ll all go separately. Go on now.”
Left alone, Jinhan returned to his seat and placed both hands on the desk.
With anger slowly rising, he slammed his fist on the desk.
Bang!
To Jinhan, Haejoo still seemed like a young lady who had just entered society.
And yet, she was married. By her mother’s coercion, no less.
Strangely enough, the husband Haejoo knew three years later was none other than the very much alive Dojun.
“Where do I even begin to sort this out?”
When the marriage scandal broke, Jinhan had been skeptical of Haejoo’s words.
How could she not know she was married for so many years? But when he thought about Haejoo’s situation before becoming an actress, it made sense.
He didn’t want to doubt Haejoo. Her situation was just too dire when he had cast her.
The problem was Dojun.
He couldn’t shake off the dirty feeling of being manipulated by Dojun’s hidden schemes everywhere.
“What kind of trickery is this?”
He also considered the possibility that CEO Park and his brother were working together.
Otherwise, there was no way Dojun would act like this.
All sorts of thoughts chased each other in his mind.
No matter how he thought about it, this was a fraud.
A while later, when his thoughts had cleared, Jinhan called Yoonji.
-Yes?
“I’m going to the L brand fashion show tomorrow, so get ready. Wear something appropriate from what you have.”
-Weren’t you abandoning me?
“Every time I give you a chance, you tell me what you know.”
-Are you talking about CEO Park Dojun and Lee Haejoo?
“Don’t act rashly, be discreet. When you go to the event tomorrow, behave with dignity.”
-I will.
Having ended the call, Jinhan looked in the mirror and wiped away his expression.
When he came out of the office, Haejoo was still there, talking with Hyun-sung.
“Haejoo-ssi, since you’re here, have lunch and go. Minhee-ssi also worked hard, so let’s all go together later.”
Jinhan had already returned to his usual self.
Only then did Haejoo stroke her chest and answer readily.
“I’ll treat everyone to lunch today.”
________________________________________
From Friday morning, Haejoo was on edge.
She was supposed to go to the fashion show with Dojun, but she hadn’t heard from him yet.
He had only sent a message last night saying he would somehow finish his work, making her sigh.
“I can’t call and pester him.”
She hadn’t contacted him at all, worried about interfering with his work.
But as the time drew near, she realized she hadn’t even gotten the contact information for the stylist Secretary Song had arranged.
Only when the outfits arrived could she decide on the matching makeup and accessories. Shop reservations were always made by the company, so she was flustered.
“Secretary Song’s contact number…….”
In a hurry, she left a message for Secretary Song.
An hour later, she received a reply.
[I have contacted the stylist.]
That was it.
She would have preferred to have the contact information so she could call directly, but she wondered what was going on.
He seemed very busy, so she couldn’t ask more.
Time flew by relentlessly even as she barely ate lunch.
Around three in the afternoon, the doorbell rang.
“Who is it?”
Haejoo, who was alone, checked the intercom herself. The face on the small screen was someone who had recently become famous on TV and YouTube.
-Hello. My name is Oh Nayoung, and I’m a stylist.
“Ah, yes!”
-Secretary Song Changwoo asked me to come to your house for a job request.
“Just a moment. I’ll open the door for you.”
-And other people are waiting with me in front of the house.
She didn’t know who the others were, but she opened the door first.
Behind Oh Nayoung, who squinted in the bright sunlight, two more people were standing.
“Actress Lee Haejoo, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Yes, welcome.”
Following Oh Nayoung, a hair designer and a makeup artist had arrived.
Haejoo was dumbfounded, not realizing Secretary Song had prepared this much.
The event was held at a large complex building in Gangnam. The fashion show was scheduled for exactly 6 PM, followed by a party.
“Actress Lee Haejoo, I’m a fan.”
“Thank you so much for saying that.”
“I’ve brought the outfits, accessories, and shoes, so shall we take a look?”
At Oh Nayoung’s call, her team, who had been waiting in the car, carried in the luggage.
There were more than ten black dresses prepared.
Each one was simple yet sophisticated, capturing Haejoo’s attention.
“It seems these are all my sizes?”
“CEO Park Dojun said he would be late, so he took his outfit with him.”
“Ah, I see.”
After some twists and turns, she decided on an outfit and began hair and makeup.
It was 5 PM when she hurriedly finished getting ready, pressed for time.
“By the way, how are you getting to the venue?”
Oh Nayoung had been looking around the house, where no manager was visible.
Haejoo vaguely brushed it off.
“Someone will come to pick me up later.”
“Then I’ll see you later.”
Those who had helped Haejoo left, and she stood in front of the mirror. Her hair, tied up low, suited the black dress that enveloped her whole body.
The miserable 모습 of her childhood was nowhere to be found in the mirror.
“Do I have to drive myself?”
Something felt lacking if she did that.
She still hadn’t heard from Dojun, so she had no choice but to ask Hyun-sung for help.
“Hyun-sung-ah, are you busy?”
-What’s the matter, noona?
“If you have time, could you give me a ride to the venue?”
-What about him?
“He went on a business trip urgently and seems like he’ll be late.”
-Then you should have said so earlier! I’ll be right there.
Fortunately, Hyun-sung said he would come, so Haejoo breathed a sigh of relief.
She fidgeted with her phone while waiting boredly.
By now, Dojun would have had to arrive at the airport to make it to the venue.
[Where are you?]
She sent a message to Dojun without much expectation.
As expected, there was no reply.
A while later, Hyun-sung arrived, and she went out the front door.
Hyun-sung’s admiration burst forth at her ethereal appearance.
“You’ll be the only one anyone sees when you get there, noona.”
“I don’t know about that. By any chance, did you tell the director……?”
“I didn’t say I was coming here. I’m just dropping noona off.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, is he even coming?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t heard from him.”
It seemed Dojun wouldn’t be able to make it after all.
The thought of spending several hours among strangers made her feel despondent.
Hyun-sung drove on the newly opened road. As they quickly crossed into Seoul, he started talking.
“It seems the director has already gone ahead.”
“Really?”
“Don’t feel too out of place, just enjoy yourself.”
“I will.”
“We’ll be there soon.”
The building where the event was held was as grand as any major awards ceremony.
Reporters, editors, and creators trying to photograph the invited celebrities surrounded the red carpet.
Guards in suits controlled the arriving cars. The van Hyun-sung was driving slowly decelerated.
“Noona, is he still not here?”
“……Yeah.”
Cars with heavily tinted windows lined up in front of and behind Haejoo’s car. Just looking at the scale, she could tell how big today’s event was.
Finally, it was Haejoo’s turn.
As Hyun-sung stopped the van in front of the red carpet, the guards opened the door.
“Noona, don’t be nervous!”
Hearing Hyun-sung’s encouragement, Haejoo appeared.
Admiration and cheers erupted from all directions, and camera shutters flashed so brightly it hurt her eyes.
When the event staff saw Haejoo getting out of the car alone, they checked the guest list.
“Lee Haejoo-ssi, excuse me, but did you come alone?”
“Well, that’s…….”
That was the moment.
The van Hyun-sung was driving pulled away, and the car behind it stopped.
Flustered, Haejoo stepped aside and whispered to the event staff.
“My husband is on a business trip, so he’ll be late.”
“He is attending, isn’t he?”
Haejoo’s face hardened.
It seemed better to say even now that Dojun couldn’t come.
“Maybe that person…….”
“Lee Haejoo!”
Even in the midst of the chaotic noise, Haejoo could recognize the voice coming from behind her.
The one who called her name with such composure even in this situation was Dojun.
“Dojun-ssi?”
Dojun, with his hair swept back to reveal his forehead, had features that shone more than ever. His gaze was solely fixed on Haejoo as he stood by her side.
“What happened?”
“Let’s go inside and talk.”
Haejoo naturally walked with Dojun.
With the hand wearing their wedding ring, she linked arms with him, the one who had made her heart race.
“Not even one call, do you know how much I…….”
“You waited for me?”
“The person I made plans with didn’t show up.”
Without any special gestures, the two walked the red carpet and entered the venue.
The lights were already dimmed before the fashion show.
As the murmuring crowd quieted down, Haejoo and Dojun went to their assigned seats.
Just before the fashion show, when it was still possible to recognize faces, Dojun whispered in Haejoo’s ear.
“I’m sorry.”
His lips, which had so cleverly uttered the apology, briefly lingered at the border of Haejoo’s earlobe and cheek.
In that instant, Haejoo’s heart swelled like a water balloon.
Then, the music started, and the lights came on.
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