CHAPTER 17……………………………………..

Geonwoo was sitting at his large desk, reviewing reports on his tablet. Each time he turned a page, his fingertips glided smoothly across the screen.

As he repeated the motions, a request from a few days ago suddenly came to mind.

Although she usually spoke little beyond work matters, and that had left him feeling a twinge of bitterness, the thought that she had tried to lean on him, to rely on him like that, also gave him a quiet sense of pleasure.

Those two emotions overlapped, leaving a subtle flicker across Geonwoo’s expression.

Then.

Knock, knock, knock—

A steady knocking cut through the air.

“Sir, the representative from Jet Hotel is here,”

said his secretary calmly over the intercom. Geonwoo’s hand paused. His gaze naturally lifted from the tablet.

“I didn’t schedule anything.”

“I told them, but they insisted on seeing you briefly,” she replied.

Geonwoo fell silent for a moment. Pressing his lips together, he exhaled slowly.

“…Let them in,” he said.

“Yes, sir.”

A moment later, the door opened.

Serin stepped inside, her heels clicking on the floor. She wore a cream-colored tweed jacket paired with a black skirt—elegant yet sophisticated.

“Busy?”

Serin smiled brightly as she greeted him. Geonwoo lifted his head slightly.

“What brings you here?”

“Eh, why so cold? You’re going to hurt people’s feelings,” she said, pouting playfully as she walked toward the sofa and, without waiting for permission, sat down naturally.

“Isn’t it rude to come without notice?”

“I called. Several times. But you didn’t answer,” Serin said, pulling her phone from her bag and shaking it. Geonwoo’s gaze shifted casually.

“I usually don’t pick up numbers I don’t know.”

“Mine counts as unknown?”

“You hadn’t saved it.”

Her smile froze briefly at his blunt words, but she quickly lifted the corners of her mouth again.

“Well, I’ll save it now. I’ll be contacting you often from now on.”

“What do you want?”

Glancing at his watch, Geonwoo asked.

“There’s a meeting in thirty minutes.”

Serin tilted her head.

“I’ll be quick. I just came by to say hello,” she said, crossing her legs and twirling a strand of hair, looking him straight in the eye.

“I visited your family home over the weekend. The Vice Chairman invited me.”

“I heard,” Geonwoo replied, his expression unchanged.

“Then why didn’t you come?”

Tilting her head slightly, Serin asked again. Geonwoo turned off the tablet screen.

“There was no need to go,” he said coldly.

“Your mother really likes me,” Serin continued lightly, with a deliberate smile.

“We’re going to lunch together tomorrow,” she added.

Geonwoo said nothing. His gaze remained fixed on her, but there was no emotion in it.

Seemingly enjoying the silence, Serin continued slowly.

“She said… how wonderful it would be if I were your daughter-in-law.”

At that moment, Geonwoo’s hand froze.

“I’m just relaying what she said. Not my words,” he said.

Serin shrugged lightly. Her expression was relaxed, but that smile carried a subtle provocation.

“Your mother thinks that I… would be a better match as Geonwoo’s wife,” she said.

Geonwoo’s eyes slowly lifted. He set the tablet aside completely, crossed his arms, and looked at Serin directly.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I’m interested in you. I’ve been for a long time,” she said.

Geonwoo narrowed his eyes and slightly lowered his head.

“I think I’ve told you several times already. I’m married.”

“So what?”

Serin’s smile deepened.

“That was just a formality, wasn’t it?”

Despite her provocative tone, Geonwoo showed no reaction. He picked up a pen instead of the tablet and tapped it twice on the desk.

Serin leaned closer, mistaking his silence for consent.

“You didn’t marry for love. Who in the business world doesn’t know that? Everyone knows, but they pretend not to,” she said.

Geonwoo’s gaze wavered briefly, but he said nothing.

“And I heard, Seohana has someone she likes too,” Serin continued.

At that, Geonwoo’s fingertips stiffened. The pen slipped from his hand and rolled across the desk, leaving the room in tense silence.

“What are you talking about?”

His voice sank low.

“I heard she had a boyfriend before marrying you. And she hasn’t been able to forget him.”

Serin cautiously studied Geonwoo’s expression.

“You knew? That guy’s name was… Yoo Tae-oh, right?”

Geonwoo’s jaw clenched tightly. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to meet Serin’s.

“Who spreads such nonsense?”

“Well, I found out,” Serin shrugged.

“That Seohana dated Yoo Tae-oh. And even after marriage, she couldn’t forget him. In fact…”

She stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“…there are even rumors that she’s still seeing him.”

Geonwoo’s eyes flashed.

“Don’t speak such absurdities,” he said firmly.

Serin continued to smile.

“You know it too. That Seohana doesn’t love you. That she still has another man in her heart.”

Geonwoo didn’t respond. He exhaled deeply and turned his gaze away, but his jaw tightened, and the veins on the back of his hand stood out.

“People never forget their first love,” he said.

“……”

“Jeong Geonwoo,” Serin called softly.

“I truly like you. Your mother likes me, and the Vice Chairman welcomes me. Honestly, don’t you think I would be a much better match for you than Seohana?”

Geonwoo rose from his seat and stepped toward her. His gaze grew cold.

“That’s enough, isn’t it?”

“Why?”

Serin asked quietly.

“I was just stating facts,” he said.

Before she could finish, Geonwoo grabbed her shoulder firmly and pushed her step by step toward the door.

“Whether facts or not,” he said coldly as he opened the door,

“don’t you dare speak my wife’s name with that filthy mouth.”

A cold wind slipped through the crack in the door. Serin stared at him for a moment, then slowly adjusted her bag.

“Understood,” she said, exhaling and forcing a smile.

“I’ll go for now.”

Once she stepped outside, the office returned to silence.