Chapter 8
Serein took a deep breath and carefully pulled her hand away from Taeyoon’s grasp. Only then did Taeyoon’s gaze, fixed in the distance, finally settle on her.
“Let’s stop this now.”
Unable to meet his quiet eyes, Serein averted her gaze.
“This… all of this… is difficult, uncomfortable, and I hate it. Please don’t suddenly drag me out like you did earlier… I really don’t want things like that anymore.”
Taeyoon’s eyes narrowed, his expression one of pure confusion, like he couldn’t understand what she was saying.
“You’re saying I’m difficult, uncomfortable, and you hate me?”
Serein nodded.
“Yes, I don’t like it. I mean it.”
Her words were partially true—she did find Taeyoon uncomfortable and hard to deal with. That one kiss, something she never even wanted, had haunted her the entire day. With someone like him always close by, who knows what else could happen?
But the one truly pulling the strings wasn’t Taeyoon—it was Youngsook. Like it or not, Serein had no choice but to obey Youngsook.
“Yesterday, you asked me what had changed,” she said quietly.
Taeyoon, focused now, waited for her next words. Serein continued, her heart heavy.
“At first… I really thought I might marry you. We’ve known each other for so long, been together so long. I thought, vaguely, that marrying you wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Then why? Why not now? Just bring that heart of yours to me. That’s all I want.”
Taeyoon’s naive reply made Serein’s chest tighten painfully. She felt like the emotions buried inside were about to burst out.
“It’s not the same anymore. You and I… we’re not the same as before. We shouldn’t keep pretending like nothing has changed.”
Serein’s pleading words twisted Taeyoon’s delicate features. His eyes still looked as if he didn’t understand.
What on earth had changed between them?
Serein bit her lip. This conversation was going nowhere. It only confirmed once again that he didn’t understand her at all.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to see you anymore. Being around you just makes things harder for me.”
With a weary look, Serein stepped down to the ground. Her feet ached from walking for hours in uncomfortable heels, and after running into her enemy, Chaehee, her entire body and mind felt exhausted.
She limped away, picking up the shoes that had been flung aside.
The rough texture of sand touched her bare feet, but she didn’t care. It was nothing compared to her heart that had been torn to shreds.
As she walked away without looking back, Taeyoon approached her.
“Wear these.”
He held out the black shoes he had been wearing.
“No thanks. Why would I wear your shoes?”
“Put them on. Unless you want to drive me crazy.”
Despite her refusal, Taeyoon crouched down and helped her into the shoes, then turned and walked away without another word. His own feet were now stained with dirt and mud, but he didn’t hesitate.
Serein let out a sigh and looked down at the shiny black shoes on her feet. They were clearly too big for her, flopping loosely as she walked.
They felt like Taeyoon’s feelings—something that didn’t fit her.
Eventually, she bought some cheap slippers and wandered around the area for a long time. As the sun began to set, she had no choice but to return to Hyunmoo House where Taeyoon lived.
It was a place she didn’t want to go back to, but she had no other option. She was bound to this place.
After taking a taxi back to Seongbuk-dong, Serein entered through the side gate of the mansion, only to be greeted by Mrs. Suwon who ran over in concern.
“Serein, why are you back so suddenly?”
“Did something happen?” Serein asked, noticing the worried look on the woman’s face.
Mrs. Suwon looked troubled as she furrowed her brows.
“Well… you’ll see. Just go inside. Madam is waiting for you.”
Serein walked past her with a deep sigh and headed toward the main house where Youngsook was.
Inside, she found the housekeeper, Mrs. Kang, sweeping the floor with a long broom.
Just as she was about to step forward, Serein froze at the sight of shattered glass and ceramic pieces scattered all over the floor.
The house was a mess.
Seeing her alarm, Mrs. Kang hurried over with indoor slippers.
“Serein, please wear these. It’s dangerous.”
The broken glass was clearly from a large number of expensive-looking dishes.
“What happened here…?”
Serein looked around, overwhelmed, and Mrs. Kang shook her head.
“Don’t even ask. While you were gone, it was like a typhoon hit this place.”
“Wait… did Taeyoon do this?” Serein asked hesitantly.
Mrs. Kang shook her head firmly.
“No, no. It wasn’t the young master. It was Madam—she lost her temper. Anyway, go on in. She’s waiting for you.”
She gestured toward the terrace visible across the drawing room. There, beyond the glass doors, was a wooden deck, and at the far end sat Youngsook, her head resting on one hand.
Serein stepped through the small door and approached her.
Hearing someone approach, Youngsook turned slightly. When she saw Serein, she turned back to the sunset without a word.
The scene was like a painting—the red glow of the setting sun fading between the skyscrapers.
“You have to convince him now.”
The sudden remark from Youngsook caught Serein off guard.
“Me? Convince him?”
“What else can I do? He’s so stubborn, once he sets his mind on something, he won’t budge. But I can’t force him. Still, he listens to you better than me.”
Youngsook rubbed her temples, clearly exhausted.
“So you try convincing him.”
Her voice, filled with a mix of threat and command, made Serein’s chest burn.
How could she convince someone who wouldn’t even listen to his own mother?
And Youngsook was wrong—Taeyoon didn’t listen to her. He only used her when it suited him. He clung to her when it was convenient and threw her aside just as easily.
Whether Youngsook knew how hopeless Serein felt or not, she continued.
“You have to bring him back to the company. We can’t just let him waste away outside forever.”
Eventually, overwhelmed by a headache, Youngsook waved her hand and stood up, telling Serein that Taeyoon was probably in the basement gym.
Despite being called a basement, it was actually built on a slope, with large windows allowing plenty of light. There was a full gym and even a squash court.
From that direction, a rhythmic thud echoed—it was the sound of a ball hitting the wall. It had to be Taeyoon.
Serein went toward the glass-walled court and saw Taeyoon in his workout clothes, playing squash alone.
Each time he swung the racket with all his strength, the ball hit the wall with a loud smack.
Serein didn’t want to interrupt his focused training, so she waited quietly outside.
Eventually, Taeyoon noticed her and stopped mid-movement.
“Come in.”
He nodded toward her, calling her in. Serein opened the door and stepped inside.
The court was hot from the heat of his workout. As she approached, Taeyoon wiped his sweaty forehead with a towel and gulped down water. She watched his throat move as he swallowed.
Watching him, Serein felt her own throat go dry.
How on earth was she supposed to convince this man?
Even after more than twenty years of knowing him, despite her feelings for him, Taeyoon still felt like someone she couldn’t understand—distant and difficult.
