Chapter 67
“Ah, thank you, Mother!”
“It’s my fault. I should’ve explained things in a way someone of your level could understand, Sarah.”
“If you explain, I’ll listen carefully.”
Sarah responded to every bit of Jeonghwa’s sarcasm with pure sincerity.
That only made Jeonghwa’s lips tremble in fury.
“You’re quite popular these days, Sarah, but wouldn’t it be… fatal if people found out about your gambling-addict mother and all that debt?”
“Hmm? Well, yes, I suppose it would.”
“If you don’t break up with Seungtae, an article about your mother will go up. I can make the headline very catchy. All it takes is one flick of my finger.”
Jeonghwa waved her phone slightly in the air.
“Excuse me?”
“Still not getting it?”
“No, I get it. I’m just… sorry, but could you give me a little time?”
Sarah’s face grew serious.
Jeonghwa shook her head firmly.
What was the point of stalling? The outcome wouldn’t change.
“No. Decide here and now.”
“Oh, I have to decide here? Okay then. I’ll do as you say, Mother.”
“Now we’re finally speaking the same language.”
“Then please go ahead and post the article first. I’ll issue a statement through my agency saying I’ve cut ties with my gambling-addict mom.”
“……”
This time, Jeonghwa was truly speechless.
In all her years, she’d encountered many kinds of people—but never anyone this impossible.
It was like talking to a wall.
“Oh, and since you’ll be posting the article anyway, can I add something about my engagement to Seungtae? I’ve been dying to show off this ring to my friends but had to hold back. My fingers are literally itching to post about it.”
Sarah didn’t stop there.
She raised her left hand and began showing off the ring.
“Isn’t it gorgeous? I’ve been dying to post a picture on SNS, but I’ve been holding myself back. Can I, though? Please?”
Jeonghwa’s eyes darted across the table.
No drinks—nothing she could throw in that annoyingly shiny face.
Her anger finally boiled over. She stood up abruptly.
“Mother, you’re leaving already?”
“……”
“Have you eaten? There’s a great Japanese place nearby. How about lunch together?”
“You’re in my way. Move.”
Sarah kept smiling sweetly, chattering beside her, and Jeonghwa snapped.
But Sarah wasn’t the least bit fazed.
“Next time, if you let me know in advance, I’ll make sure we can have a meal toget—”
Jeonghwa slammed the café door shut without even looking back.
Had her timing been off by a second, Sarah might’ve walked straight into the door.
The loud thud that followed seemed to echo Jeonghwa’s fury.
“Our dear mother-in-law sure has a nasty temper,” Sarah muttered.
The bright smile disappeared from her face. She slipped the ring off her fourth finger and tucked it neatly back into its case.
Before leaving, she took a pair of sunglasses from her bag and put them on.
Then she lifted her phone.
“Hey, Jooyoung. I’m done here. Yeah, told you it’d be quick. Can you come pick me up where you dropped me off?”
* * *
[What did you do?]
“What do you mean?”
Seungtae’s voice was louder than she’d ever heard before.
Sarah hung her coat in the dressing room, holding the phone between her shoulder and ear.
[Mother came home and broke four flower vases.]
“Oh my. Really?”
[She even called me, asking what kind of woman I was dating.]
“Guess I left quite the impression on her.”
[Honestly, I didn’t expect much, but… wow. You’re good.]
“Why wouldn’t you expect much? I mean, come on, it’s me. Me. From Atre.”
Sarah smirked, switching clothes as she spoke.
On the other end, Seungtae let out a half-laugh, half-sigh of disbelief.
[You really do have a talent for driving people crazy, don’t you?]
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
[In this case, yes.]
“Good. Then that’s all that matters.”
[But… she said something weird. About gambling?]
He sounded hesitant now—careful.
He must have heard everything from his mother.
“Oh, that. Yeah, my mom’s a gambling addict. Always finds an excuse to borrow money from me and blow it at the house. She’s lost… what, billions of won by now?”
Her tone was dry and bitter, almost bored.
[Ah… I see.]
“I was too embarrassed to tell you before.”
[That’s understandable. But… hmm.]
He trailed off.
Sarah took that pause as concern.
“You don’t have to worry. I explained everything to your mother.”
[That’s not what I’m worried about… Never mind. Where are you? Can we meet?]
For Seungtae, that was unusually impulsive—but Sarah, exhausted, didn’t notice.
“No, I’m tired. I had an early schedule and then met your mother. Haven’t even eaten all day.”
[Oh dear. You have to eat while you work.]
Maybe it was just her imagination, but his voice sounded softer than usual.
[Should I order you something?]
“Hmm… That lunchbox we had together before was really good.”
[Give me a few minutes.]
By the time she finished showering, she got a text saying the food was hanging on her door.
Sarah sent a short thank-you message and settled down on the sofa, opening the lunchbox.
It was her first meal of the day—at 4 p.m.
She picked up the remote, flipped to a random channel, and began eating happily.
[Now, let’s bring out our fifth guest! This one’s the real deal. The so-called golden spoons from earlier? Just bronze compared to him!]
[That’s right! The rookie of the summer, the youngest member of Roxna, Seo Minhyuk!]
[Hello! I’m Seo Minhyuk, the youngest and main dancer of Roxna. Thank you so much for inviting me today.]
[No, no, thank you! It’s an honor for commoners like us to share the stage with someone of your status.]
The hosts burst into exaggerated laughter, bowing dramatically.
Minhyuk, flustered, bowed back.
[Oh, not at all! It’s my first time on a variety show, so I really don’t know anything. Please take care of me.]
[First show and it’s the “Golden Spoon Idol” special. Feeling any pressure?]
Sarah finally glanced at the corner of the screen.
<All About My Idol — Golden Spoon Edition>
[Minhyuk was already famous for his background even before debut, right?]
[That’s right. Fans say he’s just a rich heir doing idol work as a hobby!]
[But honestly, I was a bit surprised when you agreed to appear.]
[Why’s that? Thought he’s too good for this show?]
[No, no. It’s just that… I’ve never really thought of myself as a golden spoon. I lived like any other kid. Hung out after school at PC cafés, bought tteokbokki… Of course, since I started training young, I didn’t have much of a school life, but still.]
The host teased him playfully, and Minhyuk waved his hands in denial.
Sarah stared blankly at the screen.
Her food had long gone cold.
[I mean, wealth isn’t something I earned myself, so I don’t think much of it. But if I had to brag about my family, there’s one thing I can say.]
[What’s that? You get gold bars for pocket money?]
[Ha! If that’s true, I wanna be your little brother. Adoption possible?]
[I don’t even get an allowance. Just ask my mom for a bit when I need something, like school supplies.]
Sarah clenched the remote so tightly it nearly cracked.
The expression on her face was utterly blank, devoid of any emotion.
A memory surfaced.
She’d once asked her father for money for school supplies.
What had he said again?
Ah, right. He’d thrown a soju bottle and called her a parasite sucking his blood dry.
Said every grain of rice that went down her throat was a waste.
[So, if it’s not gold bars, what’s the family brag?]
[My family’s just really close. We used to go hiking or on picnics every weekend. Even now, we have meals and travel together whenever we can. I’m grateful to my parents more for that emotional bond than for money.]
[Ah, so you’re “rich at heart.” Hahaha! That’s important too. Now, shall we take a look at the family behind our “heart-rich” Minhyuk?]
