Chapter : 08
Jotaeseo, who lacked nothing, was not someone so easygoing that he would accept a fiancée just because his family asked.
Before meeting him, Eunyoo had already received several pieces of information about Jotaeseo. But the details were nothing special, so she didn’t even look at the materials prepared by his secretary.
However, when she glanced at a few photos, she noticed something strange.
In Jotaeseo’s personal photos, there was one woman who appeared frequently. Of course, she was also present in family gatherings, so she had to be a family member.
Judging by her age, she was not his mother. The young woman looked very elegant and beautiful.
Even to Eunyoo, who knew nothing about fashion, the jewelry and clothing the woman wore were clearly expensive. Yet the style was tasteful, showing beauty without excess.
But Eunyoo knew that appearances weren’t everything. Even in her adoptive family in the U.S., her foster mother had been that type of person.
Outwardly kind and elegant, but behind the scenes, she had been utterly cruel. Eunyoo had felt it with her whole body. That was why she instinctively sensed that the woman in the photos was hiding something.
“Everyone has at least one secret they can’t tell anyone.”
She didn’t know what that secret was, but she suspected there was some untold matter between the woman and Jotaeseo. As expected, when she threw out her words like bait, Jotaeseo showed no reaction. That made her suspicion even stronger.
“I don’t understand what you mean. Do I look like someone who can be threatened?”
He spoke as if her words were ridiculous, but Eunyoo carefully observed his slightly changed reactions.
A man full of confidence would normally scoff or frown if someone mentioned an impossible threat. But his calm reaction made her suspect something else.
“I suppose you can refuse, even if the chairman insists. So there must be a reason why you need this marriage too.”
She didn’t know what that reason was. She could try to provoke him into revealing it, but there was a limit. She thought entering the hotel room was already pushing it. Anything beyond that could provoke him too much; it would be useless unless he spoke first.
“Whatever the reason, if this marriage helps us both achieve our goals, wouldn’t I be better than anyone else?”
Whether she could truly help or not, she could find a way if needed. She had been willing to go as far as getting pregnant. If she could become someone necessary to him and make the marriage happen, she was ready to do anything.
“Use me as your justification. I will be your shield.”
There was no need for clumsy seduction. He wasn’t the type who would respond to that. Instead, he valued efficiency, so helping him was the wise choice.
“You mean you will be my shield knowing the situation I’m in.”
Jotaeseo had no intention of telling Eunyoo about his circumstances. Doing so would hurt not only him but his family as well.
He had even thought the marriage discussion with Eunyoo was convenient—it would buy him time before leaving abroad. Of course, he had no real intention of marrying her.
Still, as Eunyoo said, he needed a reason. If he disappeared, everything would settle. So he needed time to prepare.
He kept meaningless meetings with Eunyoo for that reason. No one knew, but Eunyoo seemed to know something and told him to use her as a shield.
“You asked what I would gain from this marriage, right?”
Eunyoo began to explain her hidden reason. She had no intention of speaking about Eunu. Sometimes, not knowing is a blessing. Secrets didn’t need to be revealed, and the same went for Jotaeseo. Even if she guessed, only he could solve them.
“You know, I couldn’t escape Chairman Jung’s grip for a long time.”
Eunyoo, pretending to be Eunu, revealed the life she had endured.
“But now, I want to break free.”
“Marrying me won’t make you escape Chairman Jung’s hands.”
She knew that. Jotaeseo might even call the marriage meaningless, but he didn’t know the real Eunu she was portraying.
“After marrying you, I plan to bring down Hyeonjin Construction.”
The marriage would act as a protective shield. Once Chairman Jung let his guard down, she would find a way to destroy Hyeonjin Construction.
“It might be foolish to think marriage alone could destroy Hyeonjin Construction.”
“Perhaps, but you never know where the rain will fall.”
Eunyoo had chosen to act as Eunu to avenge her twin’s life, not to become Chairman Jung’s puppet.
“I don’t know what you plan to do, but I might be useful to you.”
She wanted him to take her hand. She knew it was risky, but she had no other way.
Since Chairman Jung wanted the marriage, she would do everything to secure him.
Eunyoo adjusted her disheveled clothes. She tried to put on her torn underwear, but it was beyond repair. She threw it in the trash.
“If you need time to think, contact me later.”
The emptiness below made her uneasy. She didn’t want to stay longer but also couldn’t linger.
She thought taking a taxi after leaving the hotel would be fine. She just needed to reach the front desk to get one.
But as she stepped out, she froze—Jotaeseo had stopped her.
“Are you in your right mind?”
His gaze went under her skirt. Then, recalling the flesh he had forced apart earlier, he frowned.
“Where do you think you’re going in that state?”
He had torn her underwear to scare her but hadn’t touched her skin. That only fueled imagination. She thought of what would show if she lifted her skirt, and her mind went into chaos.
Her torn underwear was already in the trash. If she went out like this…
“Damn.”
Hearing an expletive from the usually polite Jotaeseo shocked her. She couldn’t understand why he cursed.
“Just go out and get a taxi.”
She had no choice but to go. No one could bring her clothing. She just needed to be careful until she got in the taxi.
But oddly, Jotaeseo didn’t let go of her hand.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
She thought he had already made up his mind, but he remained silent.
If he was annoyed enough to curse, she wished he would at least release her hand. But then Jotaeseo did something unexpected: he grabbed her coat and wrapped it around her waist.
“Come with me.”
Jotaeseo, who showed no gentleness, suddenly changed. He still frowned but led the way out of the hotel room.
Eunyoo followed him, wondering where he was taking her. In the elevator, the answer became clear.
He pressed the button for the underground floor. She realized he was taking her to the parking lot.
There was no conversation between them. Only awkward silence. Before the elevator reached the underground parking, it stopped at a middle floor.
To be continued ▶
