Episode 3
After returning from the U.S., Bae Taeyoon was on his way home in a car.
He had just successfully completed the second phase of development at the TK Shipping Lab in the U.S. and wrapped up four years of overseas work, including completing his MBA and an overseas branch assignment.
This return should’ve felt freeing—but even on the plane and now in the car, his mind remained heavy.
> “What on earth is going on?”
Lately, his communication with Eun Seorin had nearly stopped.
He had already heard that her family was going through hard times,
but in that case, shouldn’t she have reached out for help?
He believed he could’ve found a way to save Dongyoung Foods.
> “Could something else have happened too?”
Arriving home, Taeyoon picked up his pace.
After unpacking, he was planning to go see Seorin right away.
He had so many questions—about her company, why she didn’t respond to his messages, and more.
As he entered the living room, his eyes met with Youngsook, his mother.
> “You’re here, Taeyoon.”
> “Just got in,” he replied.
Their greeting was cold for a reunion after months apart.
As Taeyoon was about to move on, he suddenly stopped.
Next to Youngsook stood a woman he didn’t recognize at first.
She had neatly tied long hair, long eyelashes, a defined jawline—something about her looked familiar.
As he slowly approached, his breath caught.
> “Eun Seorin?”
Her skin was pale and clear like freshly fallen snow, her big eyes calm, her nose sharp, lips delicate.
She seemed more mature now, more composed,
but there was no way Taeyoon wouldn’t recognize her.
The girl he had fallen for at first sight and loved for so long—it was her.
He stared at Seorin, who stood with her eyes lowered, not meeting his gaze.
Taeyoon felt a rush of emotions—joy, confusion, longing, and frustration.
Seorin hadn’t answered a single call in recent weeks.
Why was she here? He couldn’t make sense of it.
Even as his gaze clung to her, she didn’t look at him or say a word.
She stood there like she didn’t even exist.
> “Eun Seorin, why are you here?”
At his words, Seorin wanted to cry—but she couldn’t.
She had to take care of Dongyoung Foods in her sick father’s place.
Youngsook had agreed to lift the seizure on the company under one condition:
that Seorin stay in her house and obey her orders,
until Taeyoon got married to another woman.
Call her whatever—maid, helper, servant—none of it mattered.
While Seorin stayed here, she was Youngsook’s person.
Instead of Seorin, Youngsook calmly answered:
> “I’ve been taking care of Seorin.”
She sipped tea and smiled gently.
At last, Taeyoon looked away from Seorin and to his mother.
> “You did?”
> “Yes. You already knew her family was struggling, didn’t you?
If I hadn’t found her first, you would’ve gone looking after arriving anyway.
Why waste time?”
Youngsook chuckled. Seorin still said nothing.
That silence irritated Taeyoon to no end.
> “Still, why you, Mom? Why take her in like this?”
His voice grew tense, but Youngsook remained refined.
> “Well, we already know each other. I thought she could help around the house.”
She added:
> “Our butler’s mother is ill, so he’s been away,
and Seorin is someone I feel comfortable with.”
Hearing this, Taeyoon gave a dry laugh.
> “So, she’s replacing our butler now?”
He pressed each word with strength, clearly angered.
> “Yes. Is there a problem?”
Youngsook met his glare head-on, and the room filled with tense silence.
> “Eun Seorin, is what I heard just now true?”
His sharp eyes turned back to her.
She kept her gaze on the floor, her face unreadable.
But when he asked, she finally opened her mouth—her voice heavy.
> “Yes. Everything Madam said is true.”
> Madam?
She had never used such a formal tone before.
Calling his mother “Madam,” acting so distant—it shocked Taeyoon.
He scoffed in disbelief.
> “Eun Seorin, so this is what you’ve become?”
It was as if she was some servant, and Youngsook had intentionally placed her there to humiliate her.
> “May I borrow your maid, Mother?”
He deliberately used the word maid to sting.
But Seorin didn’t even blink.
Youngsook, sensing the rising tension, waved her hand.
> “You two haven’t seen each other in a while. Go talk.
Looks like Taeyoon has a lot to say.”
Only then did Seorin move, like a maid obeying a command.
Taeyoon, even angrier, grabbed her wrist and pulled her outside.
She followed him, nearly running.
They walked a long way past the garden.
Taeyoon’s face was full of emotions, but he said nothing.
Seorin only followed his steps, silent.
They finally stopped beneath a wisteria tree in full bloom.
It was near the servants’ quarters—where they used to hide as kids.
Despite the fragrance of the flowers, neither of them noticed.
Taeyoon still hadn’t let go of her wrist.
Only when his grip loosened did Seorin pull her hand away.
His face looked even more defined after the long flight.
His sharp jawline, high nose, everything still stunning.
But now wasn’t the time for admiration.
Taeyoon’s tall, firm figure gave off a heavy, suffocating aura.
It was him—the one who knew her best.
She couldn’t lie to him.
Seorin turned her head, unable to meet his gaze.
> “What happened?”
His voice was unexpectedly calm.
> “Where have you been? Why didn’t you return my calls?”
He kept asking—but she couldn’t answer.
She knew if she spoke, she’d cry.
She had imagined this moment—meeting him again someday.
But now that it was here, it was unbearable.
Showing him this side of her—how broken she had become—was too painful.
He had been with her since she was five.
He was part of every memory she had.
Yet now, for the first time in over 20 years,
she stood in front of him looking so weak and small.
She couldn’t bear it.
> So what if I can’t bear it? Then what?
She smiled bitterly to herself.
As long as Youngsook controlled the money for Dongyoung Foods,
Seorin had no other choice.
She had to endure it all.
This house, Youngsook… and Taeyoon.
