Episode 11
Just as she was lost in her tangled thoughts, Lee Seo’s phone began to ring.
“Mom?”
[Lee Seo, something terrible happened.]
“What’s going on?”
[That bastard Choi Byung-tae, he’s at it again…]
A dull crash and a piercing scream followed her mother’s trembling voice.
[Since the daughter doesn’t care, I guess the mother has to take responsibility, right?]
[I almost died because of that so-called boyfriend of yours. I nearly walked into the afterlife before I even got paid. Do you understand?]
[Lee Seo, you need to get out of there. Don’t stay there, no matter what.]
[That boyfriend of yours looked pretty well-off, didn’t he?]
[Lee Seo…]
“Mom!”
The call abruptly ended. Lee Seo grabbed her bag and rushed outside.
That afternoon.
As expected, the small one-room apartment where Sun-young stayed was a total wreck.
The damp, humid air following the rain filled the tiny space, making it hard to breathe.
“Are you okay?”
“Why did you come all the way here?”
Tears welled up in Sun-young’s eyes as she looked at Lee Seo.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
As Lee Seo checked her mother’s body, she noticed an old yellowed bandage wrapped around her left hand.
“What happened to your hand? I told you not to work anymore. Don’t tell me… did you go back to working at the restaurant again?”
“What else was I supposed to do? You work so hard every day—how could I just sit back and do nothing?”
It had been a year since she last saw her mother, constantly on the run from debt collectors after Choi Byung-tae disappeared.
Seeing her mother’s wrinkled face and frail body, emotions surged in Lee Seo’s chest.
If only it hadn’t been for me.
If only I hadn’t longed for my father so much. We could’ve been happy with just the two of us, even with nothing.
Blaming herself for being the reason her mother met such a man, Lee Seo hadn’t had a peaceful day in her life.
“I’ll stop them somehow, so please quit the restaurant job starting tomorrow. With your leg like that and now your hand too, how do you expect to keep going?”
“It’s not broken or anything. But you—have you lost more weight? You need to eat properly. Why are you so skinny?”
“I’m not skinny. I’m doing just fine.”
“By the way, Lee Seo. Those men who came earlier mentioned your ‘boyfriend.’ Who is he? Is he someone good?”
“…”
Sun-young gently touched Lee Seo’s hand, then cautiously spoke.
“To be honest, I just want you to finally be happy.”
“What do you mean? I am happy.”
“I may be your mom in name, but you’ve been the real head of this household for a long time now. I want to see you live your life not as my daughter, but as someone’s wife, as a beautiful mom with adorable kids.”
Tears shimmered again in Sun-young’s eyes.
“Stop trying to be the family’s pillar. I’ll figure out the debt somehow. It’s time for you to start living your life before it’s too late.”
“Mom…”
“My beautiful daughter, like a flower in full bloom. You know what I mean, don’t you?”
Sun-young’s trembling hand gently wrapped around Lee Seo’s.
“What’s going on with Chairman Kang’s daughter from Cheongsol Group? Did you handle it your way again? Say something.”
Phil-soon’s face twisted with anger as she stared at Taeseok, her brows furrowed, face flushed.
“Even if she’s from Cheongsol, she’s just not my type.”
“What? Type? Are you saying she’s not pretty enough for you?”
“Maybe you didn’t notice, but I prefer natural beauty. The only thing real on her face was probably her pupils… no, wait—she was wearing colored lenses, too. You saw her photo, didn’t you?”
Despite Phil-soon’s exploding rage, Taeseok remained unshaken, his tone indifferent.
“What’s the big deal with some plastic surgery these days? Cut the nonsense.”
“You’ve probably gotten used to faces like that hanging around Madam Min for so long. My standards have gotten a little higher lately.”
A faint smile touched Taeseok’s lips as he thought of Kang Hanna—no, Choi Lee Seo.
“Tell me honestly. What exactly are you planning to do? The shareholders’ meeting is at year’s end, and the next Kanghwa CEO will be chosen then. You know I can’t make that decision on my own.”
“Do you want me to become the CEO of Kanghwa?”
“What are you getting at?”
“Do you really think Madam Min will sit still and let that happen?”
Taeseok stood from his seat.
“Why did you make such an absurd proposal about such an important issue in the first place?”
Since Taeseok had no interest in marriage, Phil-soon had proposed that whoever married and had a child first—Taeseok or Jitae—would become the company’s successor and receive her shares and vote.
Of course, it was a one-sided decision made without Taeseok’s agreement.
That reckless suggestion had given Min Hye-jung and Jitae, who had been eyeing Kanghwa Group, exactly what they needed.
It was also why Hye-jung was so desperate to push Jitae’s marriage while blocking Taeseok’s at any cost.
“You still don’t understand.”
“What are you talking about?”
“How much do you really trust Madam Min as your daughter-in-law?”
“Are you doubting your own stepmother now?”
“I never wanted the CEO seat. But now? I’m thinking maybe I’ll give it a shot.”
Phil-soon’s eyes sharpened.
“Are you saying you’re finally getting married?”
She stared at Taeseok’s silent, retreating figure.
Past 1 AM.
Lee Seo finally arrived outside the small apartment.
Standing beneath the flickering streetlamp, she looked up.
A dark window with the light off.
Thick blackout curtains made it seem even darker.
Since taking on the debt, she had moved twenty-eight times.
No proper furniture, no belongings—only a life on the run from loan sharks and debt collectors.
Looking up at the window, Lee Seo suddenly felt overwhelmed.
Like something was tightening around her throat.
The more she tried to escape, the deeper she sank into a swamp.
Living as someone else, in someone else’s name, pretending to be someone she’s not—it was all too much.
Breathing heavily, Lee Seo slowly pulled her phone from her bag.
A deep voice soon followed.
[So, have you made your decision?]
Taeseok’s voice echoed low under the streetlamp.
Lee Seo’s hand trembled as she held the phone.
Later the next day.
A black sedan stopped at the entrance of Lee Seo’s alleyway.
The man stepping out drew her gaze.
As he slowly approached, her heart began to race with emotions she couldn’t quite name.
They stood face to face.
After a brief silence, Taeseok spoke first.
“This isn’t the place for this talk. Let’s get in the car.”
She got in as he suggested. Though it wasn’t her first time in his car, the confined space felt awkward with him beside her.
She was the one who had called him, but now that they were together, the words were stuck in her throat.
“I asked if you’ve made your decision.”
From the side, his profile was like a perfectly sculpted statue.
His looks drew attention everywhere he went, exuding a strange mix of charisma and dangerous allure.
An intimidating presence.
Looking at him again, it was still hard to believe someone this perfect stood in front of her.
Her gaze fell to the blue veins rising on the back of his hand.
“Actually, I have a question first.”
“Go ahead.”
“I want you to answer honestly.”
Biting her lip, Lee Seo finally spoke.
“Why did you make me that offer? What’s the real reason?”
“Why…? Well, like I said—you need someone to marry if you want to get married.”
“And I’m that someone?”
“I think you’re the most suitable person to be my wife.”
“Why? Why me?”
“The biggest reason? You’ve never been in a real relationship.”
Taeseok’s teasing tone made one of Lee Seo’s eyebrows arch upward.
