Episode 14
“I just got back from going out, so I’m dressed like this—is that okay?”
“……”
Amid the cold tension between the two, Pilsun asked,
“Is this something you two need to talk about alone?”
“You’ll find out soon anyway.”
“Fine, then.”
At Pilsun’s words, Hyejeong naturally took a seat.
As she sat down, a heavy and rich scent of wine drifted from her.
“What is it you wanted to talk about? Coming at this hour means it must be important.”
“I’m getting married.”
A brief silence followed.
Taeseok’s heavy statement was shockingly unexpected—almost hard to believe.
The two women fixed their eyes on him, stunned.
“What? Married?”
Eyes wide with disbelief.
Pilsun, who had barely gathered her senses as if possessed, asked again,
“Say that again. Did you just say you’re getting married?”
“As you heard.”
At that moment, Hyejeong’s brow twitched as she held her glass.
“To whom? Who are you marrying?”
“The marriage you’ve always wished for, Chairman—I’ll do it.”
The housekeeper quickly handed Pilsun a glass of water as she coughed repeatedly, almost choking.
“Mother, are you alright?”
Hyejeong gently rubbed Pilsun’s back.
“You heard him just now, right?”
“Yes, Mother. CEO Han says he’s getting married.”
Though smiling, Hyejeong was scanning Taeseok’s face as if trying to read his thoughts.
“You didn’t even mention marriage when I begged you for it, and now you suddenly say you’re getting married? Alright, let’s hear it. Whose daughter is she?”
“She’s someone who’s been raised well.”
“Still, marriage is a serious matter. Isn’t this all too sudden?”
Taeseok’s cold gaze fixed on Hyejeong’s face.
“Since when have you been so interested in my marriage?”
“Don’t say such hurtful things. You’re the eldest son of the Han family. Of course I’d be interested.”
Taeseok let out a faint laugh at the word “son” that flowed so naturally from her lips.
There’s only one real mother in the world.
He bit down hard on his lower lip, holding back the words that rose to his throat—Not even in a dream have I considered you my mother.
“I came here today because I thought it’d be better for you to hear it directly than through an article. I’m not here to ask for permission. So you don’t need to know whose daughter she is or what kind of woman she is.”
Pilsun’s face turned red instantly.
“What? You think we don’t need to know? Is that something to say right now?”
“Mother, please calm down. Your blood pressure—this kind of stress isn’t good for your health. Don’t you remember what Dr. Song said?”
Despite her supposedly caring words, a low, ambiguous laugh escaped from Hyejeong’s mouth.
“Just listen to yourself. Why wouldn’t we need to know who she is? Do you know what kind of family we are? What’s more important than that? Don’t tell me she’s some orphan girl.”
“She’s not an orphan, but even if she were—she’s someone I chose.”
A thick tension hung between Pilsun and Taeseok.
“Don’t tell me this is because of the proposal I made? Are you rushing into marriage with some woman we don’t even know because of that proposal—because of marriage and a child?”
“I’ve been seeing her for over a year. I just never told you.”
“You may be right, but still—we’re not strangers. We’re going to be family. How can you just ignore us?”
“Weren’t we strangers? Don’t tell me you’re planning to act like a mother-in-law now.”
Taeseok stood up abruptly.
Pilsun, sitting on the sofa, began to tremble.
“Sit down.”
“Shouldn’t this be a happy moment? You were the one who wanted me to get married more than anyone else.”
“You said you came to talk, but all you’ve done is announce it.”
Hot breath slipped between her tightly pressed lips as she touched her temples.
Thick veins bulged on Pilsun’s forehead as she struggled to hold back her emotions.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
“Fine. Then I’ll meet this woman you’re marrying. Don’t tell me that’s off-limits too?”
Pilsun’s bloodshot eyes bore into Taeseok.
“I’ll contact you with a time and place.”
“No need. Bring her here to the house.”
Taeseok knew her better than anyone.
If he walked away now, she’d tear apart every detail of Iseo’s life—down to her soul—just to find out who she was.
Knowing this, he decided to pretend to comply, for the sake of marrying Iseo.
After Taeseok left, Hyejeong watched Pilsun carefully.
Sitting blankly on the sofa as if in a daze, Pilsun stared straight ahead.
She had wanted Taeseok to get married more than anyone, but the sudden appearance of a woman—someone who might become the new mistress of Kanghwa Group—was unsettling.
Knowing how Taeseok had only ever thrown himself into work to rise to his position, never even dating, Pilsun couldn’t easily accept this sudden declaration of marriage.
“Mother, you’re alright, aren’t you?”
A faint smile crossed Hyejeong’s lips.
“You think I don’t know him? That boy never batted an eye at even the most refined women, brushing them off like dust—and now he suddenly wants to marry? It’s ridiculous.”
Hyejeong, who knew Taeseok well, also found this situation suspicious.
“He’s always been the independent type. You think he’d choose some unremarkable woman to marry?”
Even Taeseok’s birth mother came from a background with nothing to boast about, especially compared to Kanghwa Group.
Pilsun’s first son had insisted on marrying her despite strong opposition.
Was this son also following in his father’s footsteps?
As she bit her lip, Pilsun felt her insides twist.
Noticing this, Hyejeong continued gently,
“He said it’s already been a year. I’m also curious what kind of woman could win over someone like CEO Han.”
Pilsun stared intently at Hyejeong’s smiling face.
“You’re just going to stay so passive? If this is true, then the Kanghwa CEO position naturally goes to Taeseok. Honestly, are you really okay with that?”
“Oh Mother, even without your proposal, that was bound to happen, wasn’t it? There are procedures and rules for group succession. Honestly, I think this is a relief. Didn’t you want CEO Han to take over Kanghwa anyway?”
“……”
Pilsun’s eyes stayed fixed on Hyejeong’s composed face.
“He’s been all alone, even in the U.S., and I’ve always felt bad about that. But now he’ll have a new family. It’s a good thing for someone who’s been so lonely. And if they have a child, isn’t that great for you too—you’ve wanted a grandchild for so long.”
She spoke as if she’d forgotten it was she who once tore apart Taeseok’s happy home and left him feeling so alone. Her cheeks were faintly flushed.
“It’s not too late to decide after you meet the girl.”
“What on earth is he thinking…”
Pilsun’s expression hardened as she suspected an ulterior motive behind this sudden announcement.
“Either way, it’s good news. It’s something you’ve always wished for.”
A deep wine scent wafted from Hyejeong’s mouth as she spoke.
“I only had a light glass of wine, but maybe it’s the happy news—it’s really getting to me. I’ll head up now. You should rest too, Mother.”
Once back in her room, Hyejeong’s face turned ice-cold.
Marriage… So it’s marriage.
The corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she held her glass.
The next day.
The moment Iseo and Sunyoung signed the contract marriage agreement, all their personal loans and bank debts were wiped clean, and even their frozen bank accounts were suddenly resolved—like magic.
It felt like running through endless darkness.
If they could just escape the ever-growing debt and harassment from loan sharks…
Iseo had wondered whether that day would ever come in her lifetime.
A bitter smile crept onto her lips.
Along with a sense of emptiness, a strange anxiety began to rise.
Just as she tried to get up from her seat, her phone rang.
“Mom? Did something happen again?”
[No, it’s not that…]
“What is it then?”
[Someone came here.]
That couldn’t be…
Iseo’s heart began to pound rapidly again.
“Don’t tell me debt collectors came to the house again?”
[No, it’s not that… It’s the man you’re going to marry.]
“What do you mean, marry?”
[He said his name is Han Taeseok.]
Before Sunyoung could finish her sentence, a horn honked outside the window.
“Who are you?”
“I’ve come to pick you up.”
“What?”
“The CEO is waiting.”
Because of the contract—not only had their enormous debts disappeared…
Iseo’s life was now about to change forever.
