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Psst! We're moving!
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd like a tsunami.
At the same time, Yoonji’s expression twisted in an instant. Jinhan, who had been watching from a distance, was also overwhelmed by an unspeakable shock.
However, the overall atmosphere was different. People were thrilled by Dojun’s statement that he had been crazy about Haejoo from the beginning.
This one act elevated the party’s mood.
As if it were a challenge, couples who had attended together openly kissed, enjoying the attention.
“You think you’re so great.”
Yoonji sneered and left the scene.
Haejoo was speechless at Dojun’s unexpected impulsive behavior. She wanted to scold him for such a reckless act.
“You’re bad.”
That was all she managed to say with difficulty.
His lips, devoid of any warmth, confused Haejoo.
Dojun had acted impulsively. There was no other reason he would have done that in front of so many people.
What made her even more upset was that even those cold lips made her heart pound painfully.
Two conflicting feelings tormented Haejoo’s ego.
“You haven’t forgotten that we’re married, have you?”
Haejoo’s face was still cupped in Dojun’s large hands.
The more she struggled to escape, the more she felt drawn in.
This man, Park Dojun, was so harmful, yet she couldn’t push him away at all.
“Are you going to do even more than this?”
“If I get the chance.”
“Have you already forgotten? We’re supposed to…… in a year…….”
“I won’t.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I won’t get a divorce.”
Only then did Dojun release Haejoo’s face.
Leaving her bewildered, his gaze turned to Jinhan.
Everyone was caught up in the excitement.
But Jinhan stood apart from the crowd, waging a silent war with Dojun.
Dojun’s expression towards him seemed to say, ‘Did you see that?’
Haejoo also belatedly realized that Jinhan had been watching.
It was already spilled milk, and there was nothing she could do.
He was already upset about her attending the party. She needed to be careful with her actions, whatever happened.
‘Why do I have to be so careful?’
On the other hand, she felt frustrated.
If Jinhan’s true feelings were the same as what Dojun had implied, then this was indeed a difficult situation.
Even in this midst, men were giving Dojun a thumbs-up.
Meanwhile, Haejoo was receiving stinging glares from women filled with envy and jealousy.
“I should go explain things to the director.”
“Leave it.”
No sooner had he spoken than Jinhan put down his champagne glass and left the hall.
Haejoo felt uneasy at his cold retreating figure.
If her relationship with Jinhan at GN Entertainment deteriorated, it would be disadvantageous in many ways.
Just looking at Yoonji’s case, she could see that much.
If Jinhan set his mind to it, Haejoo couldn’t be sure about her future as an actress. Letting go of her naive belief that their relationship was purely business, she saw the reality she faced.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Why are you so anxious?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? And we are!”
“A married couple.”
“I’m not in the mood for jokes right now…… Never mind.”
There were many eyes watching here.
Haejoo had a lot to say, but she kept her mouth shut.
Soon, a charity auction for the outfits worn in the show was scheduled to begin.
Dojun, who had no intention of participating in the auction, donated a large sum of money and returned.
“I think it’s best if we leave now.”
Taking advantage of the commotion, Dojun led Haejoo out of the building.
Secretary Song, who had been contacted and was waiting, had the car ready, so they got in.
________________________________________
Jinhan went to the restroom, washed his face with cold water, and roughly dried it.
However, his flushed complexion didn’t subside.
The surging anger still tightened his heart.
The image of Dojun stealing Haejoo’s lips was vividly etched in his mind.
“Haa, this is so annoying.”
Jinhan had been taking care of Haejoo with the devotion of a mother hen protecting her eggs.
Thanks to his care, the face that had been shadowed was now bright.
He had even believed himself that he didn’t see Haejoo as a woman.
Contrary to that conviction, he had wanted to do everything for her and fill her every need.
Haejoo’s marriage wasn’t normal.
If she had been abused, it would have been difficult for her to make rational judgments, and there had been her mother’s coercion.
But recently, the choices Haejoo was making were surprising.
“What is that bastard doing to Haejoo-ssi?”
Staging a loving couple with Dojun when the marriage scandal broke was the worst choice.
If he had known it would turn out like this, he should have dealt with it honestly, even if it was difficult.
Haejoo also seemed very surprised by what had just happened.
Of course, it was because Yoonji had provoked him, but there was no need to actually kiss her……
“Where are you?”
He immediately called Yoonji.
The area around the call was noisy, and he narrowed his brows fiercely.
-I’m just sitting down for a moment.
“Didn’t I tell you not to act rashly?”
Yoonji sighed. She tried to make an excuse but lowered her head preemptively.
-I’m sorry.
“CEO Park Dojun is not someone you can take lightly. He’s a monster!”
-I understand.
“Because of your actions, only Haejoo-ssi will be in a difficult position.”
-Honestly, it wasn’t even a kiss, and in parties like this, that level of skinship is common.
“Yoonji-ya!”
-You’re just overreacting, Director. Don’t you know that makes you look even more suspicious?
“What?”
-It’s like you’re acting like Lee Haejoo’s husband!
It was Yoonji’s fault for provoking Dojun.
But from a different perspective, Haejoo had kissed the husband she was suspected of having a fake marriage with, so she had actually helped him.
However, Jinhan was being more sensitive than necessary. Yoonji felt utterly disgusted.
“Are you going to talk like that?”
-Do you really think I don’t know that the apartment Haejoo lived in was your personal property?
“So?”
-Director, just be honest now. You like Haejoo!
Jinhan felt like his whole body was shattering into pieces.
Even though he hadn’t shown it, what he had done for Haejoo was far from ordinary.
No one gives a 30-pyeong apartment in Gangnam as a private residence to an aspiring actress who hasn’t even debuted.
He had always put aside everything else for Haejoo’s work, making it impossible for anyone else to interfere.
If Yoonji knew, it meant the managers had already caught on.
“Are you jealous of Haejoo-ssi?”
-Are you even asking that? Tell me if there’s anyone in our agency who isn’t jealous of Haejoo.
“Yoonji, you’re not in a position to say such things, are you?”
-Isn’t that really petty?
“Then you should have been more careful.”
Yoonji had even considered moving to another agency. But if she caught the eye of Jinhan, who had the backing of the large conglomerate GN, it would ultimately be futile.
-I made a mistake today.
“Then make up for it.”
-What do you want me to do?
“Find out everything about Park Dojun. To my satisfaction.”
-Okay.
A migraine hit Jinhan as he put down his phone. It was already the umpteenth time just recently.
Having no other choice, he excused himself to the organizers and left the hall.
He wasn’t in a condition to drive, so he called a chauffeur service.
“This is Gangnam, please come quickly.”
The night air now carried a distinct scent of summer.
While leaning against his car, enjoying the breeze, he saw Dojun and Haejoo coming out.
Not wanting to run into them right now, he got into his car.
Jinhan watched Dojun’s car leaving the parking lot and murmured.
“Wait. I’ll expose everything.”
Haejoo had entered into a fraudulent marriage.
Before Dojun manipulated her further, he intended to put everything back in its place.
Definitely.
________________________________________
Even after getting into the car, the cold atmosphere didn’t improve.
Beside her, who was only looking out the car window, Dojun rubbed his face, looking tired.
“I didn’t sleep well.”
He broke the silence first.
Only then did Haejoo carefully observe Dojun, whose eyes were bloodshot.
“Did you have a lot of work in Hong Kong?”
“I was originally supposed to come back on Saturday, but I came overnight.”
They were also pushing for the establishment of a branch office in Hong Kong.
Unexpectedly, the internal situation in Hong Kong became chaotic, so he had to go urgently.
It was the starting point for becoming an investment destination for big players active not only in Korea but also overseas.
“Because of the party?”
“Yeah. But a large-scale protest broke out near the first hotel I went to, so I had to move.”
“Really?”
“I even lost a bag during the move and barely found it while heading to the airport.”
That bag contained Dojun’s and Secretary Song’s phones.
Somehow, the work was finished, but getting to the airport was also a hassle.
In the end, with the help of the Hong Kong police, they found the bag, but it was all damaged.
“It felt like I came back from the dead.”
“If that was the case, you didn’t have to push yourself to come…….”
“You were waiting for me. And I said I would go.”
Currently, even the airport in Hong Kong was closed.
Luckily, he was able to board the last flight to Korea and return.
“Why are you so inflexible? What if something happens?”
Haejoo rattled off her complaints like a machine gun.
Secretary Song, who was driving, nodded slowly in agreement.
In response, Dojun drooped the corners of his mouth.
“If I hadn’t gotten on that flight, I don’t know when I would have been able to come back.”
“Still, it’s better than putting yourself in danger.”
He glanced sideways at Haejoo with languid eyes.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Just…….”
“Don’t avoid the answer.”
“Never mind.”
“I want to hear it. Tell me.”
Haejoo glared at Dojun with a sulky look.
“A divorcee is better than a widow.”
“What?”
Three years ago, Haejoo couldn’t forget the day CEO Park had come to see her at night.
He had apologized, saying that his eldest son had died and been sent off that day.
That night, Haejoo had returned home and cried. She had cried so much then.
“At first, I was scared of marrying someone who was sick.”
“Hmm.”
“Then, when I heard from the ajussi that he had finally passed away, I was so sad.”
“Was that so?”
“If it hadn’t been for the fifty million won your brother gave me, Dojun-ssi, I probably…….”
Haejoo shook her head vigorously.
Just thinking about Kyung-ae made her skin crawl and filled her with disgust.
“Thank you for coming today. But.”
“Hmm?”
“Never mind. I won’t say it.”
Haejoo felt despondent just thinking about facing Jinhan in the future.
Her relationship with Dojun was so bad that she couldn’t be caught in the middle.
“Lee Haejoo.”
“What?”
“I’ve never broken a promise I made to you. And with someone like Hong Yoonji, if you try to win with words, you’ll only get dragged in.”
“You’re so knowledgeable, as expected of someone who’s been around many women.”
“Don’t you start with the sarcasm. I’m sick of seeing people like her.”
Haejoo, who had been looking out the window, stared intently at him.
Dojun wasn’t just saying things.
“You did break a promise.”
“When?”
“You said you wouldn’t get a divorce.”
“I never gave you a definite answer in the first place.”
“Are you going to keep acting like this?”
“If a better man than me ever appears, tell me.”
“If he appears?”
“Because I’ll kill him.”
Haejoo was dumbfounded.
Since their relationship hadn’t started with a clear contract from the beginning, it was a mess.
“The official skinship I allowed was just holding hands.”
“What’s the reason for that?”
“Because that’s how it should be.”
“So why?”
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t kiss me without permission!”
“It was just a brush of lips.”
“Don’t argue.”
“I liked it.”
“Are you crazy?”
Haejoo’s expression turned serious.
The memory of Dojun’s lips touching hers at the party vividly resurfaced.
Her face flushed again. Even with the air conditioner on in the car, she felt hot and soon started sweating.
“Was it that bad when I did it with you?”
Dojun’s actions were a show, a performance for the public.
The cold touch she had felt when their lips met had instead chilled Haejoo’s soul.
It felt like being consumed in front of people.
The first feeling she had experienced was incredibly painful for Haejoo.
“For my sake, you shouldn’t have done that there.”
“Difficult.”
Haejoo also couldn’t control her own feelings, which kept sinking to the bottom.
It was a world where others did even more with one-night stands.
But she didn’t know why she kept feeling like she was digging into the ground.
“Secretary Song, pull over.”
It was just before they crossed into Seoul.
As the car stopped on the shoulder, Dojun got out from the back seat.
“I’ll drive, so you can go home now.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I didn’t drink.”
“I see.”
“You look very tired. You’ve worked hard. Let’s see each other on Monday.”
Secretary Song took his luggage out of the trunk, got in a taxi, and left first.
As Dojun sat in the driver’s seat, Haejoo also moved to the passenger seat.
The car started driving down the darkened road. His expression, focused straight ahead on the steering wheel, wasn’t good.
‘Was I too harsh?’
She seemed to have touched Dojun’s pride.
Dojun had kissed Haejoo instead of arguing with Yoonji.
A new thought struck her that Dojun was both impressive and frightening. Even in the moment of kissing, his reason was perfectly intact.
“I’m sorry for being upset. I was caught off guard because I wasn’t prepared, so…….”
In the meantime, the car had arrived in front of their house.
Dojun, who hadn’t replied until they entered the garage, lifted his narrowed eyes.
“Give me another chance.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s do this properly this time.”
It wasn’t over yet.
He was just getting started.
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