Chapter 64
The first course arrived.
For the first time, Sara’s politely folded hands rose from her lap to the table.
Jung-hwa’s gaze drifted to Sara’s fourth finger.
Even though she clearly saw the ring, no visible change appeared on Jung-hwa’s composed face.
“So, I heard you’ve been seeing my son. How long has it been?”
“A little over a month, I think? Right, Miss Sara?”
“Yes. We’ve known each other a bit longer than that, but officially, it’s been about that long.”
“But you’ve only been dating for a month, and you’re already introducing her to your parents?”
Jung-hwa delicately dabbed her lips with a napkin.
“Sara’s special.”
Seung-tae placed an affectionate hand on Sara’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze before letting go.
“It’s my first time meeting my partner’s parents like this too,” Sara said brightly, her smile radiant as she clasped his hand.
The ring on her finger gleamed even more brightly under the warm light.
“I see. And what do your parents do, Miss Seo?”
It was the first time Seok-hoon, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.
Sara blinked, a little flustered, then answered,
“My mother’s a homemaker… and my father, well… my parents divorced when I was young, so we haven’t been in contact. I don’t really know much about him.”
“So your mother doesn’t work, meaning you’re the head of the household, Miss Seo?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“When did you debut?”
“When I was seventeen.”
Ordinarily, a line like “You must have had a hard time since you were young” would follow in a conversation like this.
But instead, Seok-hoon said in an even tone,
“So your mother sat back while her young daughter worked?”
“Father.”
Seung-tae, who had been quietly eating, lifted his head and looked at his father.
Sara’s face flushed a deep red.
“Oh, um… but, she’s always been supportive, really. My mother acted sort of like a manager, helping with my career.”
That was a lie.
When Sara first debuted as an actress, her mother hadn’t cared in the slightest.
It was only after realizing how much money was involved that she seized every cent of Sara’s signing bonuses and ad revenue.
Until she turned twenty, Sara wore nothing but her school uniform or sponsored clothes.
She couldn’t even afford a piece of bread, and the meals served on set were often her only food for the day.
“She still supports my acting now,” Sara added, bowing her head slightly.
“How did the two of you meet? Seung-tae doesn’t usually attend social events. Did someone introduce you?”
Trying to shift the heavy atmosphere, Jung-hwa posed another question.
“We met by chance at a New Year’s party. I was the one who reached out first.”
“Oh my, Seung-tae, you did?”
“Yes. It was love at first sight.”
“Whoa, you’re the one who made the first move? That’s shocking.”
Min-tae expressed his surprise between bites of grilled fish.
The brother he’d known his whole life had never shown much interest in anything—people or possessions alike.
“I mean, sure, she’s pretty. That happens. You’re a man after all—any man might fall for a beautiful actress,” Seok-hoon said dryly.
“Just pretty…”
“Let me finish.”
Seok-hoon finally turned his gaze away from Sara and fixed it firmly on his eldest son.
“Do you think marriage is child’s play? Are you treating this like some casual thing, like an ordinary person marrying whoever they want just because they feel like it?”
“Marriage?”
Min-tae blinked, glancing between his father and brother, completely lost.
“I’m serious about Sara. Serious enough to be thinking about marriage,” said Seung-tae calmly.
“Oh, you’re serious, all right. Stealing the ring your mother waited over a year for just to slip it onto her finger—that says enough.”
Seok-hoon gave a cold laugh and tossed his napkin onto his knee before abruptly standing up.
Startled, Jung-hwa lightly caught his arm.
“Honey—”
Sara clenched her fists, then mustered the courage to speak to him.
“I… I may not be much, but I truly believe I can make Seung-tae happy.”
“Happiness?” Seok-hoon’s voice dropped low. “Miss Seo, I know it’s rude to say this the first time we meet, but you can’t fulfill a single thing my son needs.”
“But I truly love him, sir.”
Tears that had been trembling in Sara’s eyes finally rolled down her cheeks.
The sight only deepened Seok-hoon’s scowl.
“Unbelievable. Let’s not see each other again, Miss Seo.”
Leaving only those words behind, he stormed out of the room.
Jung-hwa hesitated, then quickly followed him.
The room was now left with a quietly sobbing Sara, a grim Seung-tae, and a completely bewildered Min-tae.
“Um, Miss Seo… are you all right?”
“Hh… y-yes. I’m sorry, but… I need to go to the restroom for a moment.”
“Oh, sure—just head straight down the hall and to the right.”
Pressing her reddened eyes with her fingertips, Sara stood up from her chair.
Min-tae watched her go with concern, then turned sharply toward his brother once she was gone.
“Hyung, what the hell was that? Why was Dad so angry?”
“I think he found out I proposed to her.”
“Pro-posed!?”
Min-tae nearly jumped out of his seat.
“Hyung! I mean, come on—no matter how much you like her, you’ve only been dating a month! Shouldn’t you think this through?”
“A month is long enough.”
“Why are you in such a rush? It’s like someone’s chasing you.”
“I just want to start a family soon. Wouldn’t you like to be an uncle?”
“Being an uncle isn’t the point! Can’t you see Mom and Dad are both ready to have heart attacks? They’ll never approve.”
“If they don’t, we’ll just get married on our own.”
“Wow… I never thought I’d hear you say something like that.”
Min-tae shook his head, amazed.
Someone who’d never been stubborn before was now immovable—and that kind of obstinacy was definitely inherited from their father.
Just then, Sara returned.
She looked calmer than before, but her eyes were still puffy.
“Let’s go,” said Seung-tae gently, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll take you home.”
“…All right.”
“We’re heading out first. See you later.”
“Oh, uh—sure. Miss Seo, take care.”
Sara gave a faint bow to Min-tae before following Seung-tae out.
He watched the couple leave, awkward and uneasy.
Sara’s steps were heavy until she climbed into the car.
Her face, her voice, even her posture—all of it looked like she might collapse at any moment.
Seung-tae almost asked if she was all right, even though he knew perfectly well it was all an act.
Once the car pulled away and they were far from the hotel, she leaned back in her seat with a groan.
“God, I thought I was going to die from nerves.”
“You were nervous? You didn’t look it at all.”
“When the director doesn’t yell ‘cut,’ you’ve got to stay on edge. It felt like being filmed 24/7. I kept thinking one of your family members might pop up in the hallway or elevator.”
“For that, you were incredibly natural.”
“Well, good. But… are you all right, Seung-tae?”
“What do you mean?”
He turned slightly toward her, brow raised.
Sara’s face had grown serious.
“I mean… your mother didn’t seem too angry. But your father—he was furious.”
“Haha. That’s what you’re worried about? Trust me, the moment my mother saw that ring on your finger, she was fuming. She’s just good at hiding it.”
“Really? She should try acting—she fooled me completely.”
Sara meant it.
During their conversation, she hadn’t sensed a single hint of hostility.
Jung-hwa had been gracious, calm, even tried to soothe her husband when he lost his temper.
“You should suggest she give acting a try sometime,” Sara teased. “She’s got talent. But I am curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you bother pretending to be someone else? You said yourself you didn’t care about impressing them.”
“Oh, that.”
“‘That’?”
“Your mom hates people without social awareness, and your dad despises anyone who cries for no reason. You told me that yourself, remember?”
At her words, Seung-tae recalled the conversation they’d had over the phone not long ago.
