Episode 10
Cheonghyun was walking down the gray stone stairs of the Hyeonmu residence while on the phone.
“Yes. Don’t worry, ma’am. Seorin seems to be doing well.”
— That’s good. I feel a bit more at ease now that you’ve checked on her. Seorin always says she’s fine, but still…
“I’ll keep checking in on her from time to time.”
His voice was gentle, reassuring the person on the other end — Seomin’s aunt, Eun Aeseon. Hearing that Seorin was staying at Taeyoon’s house made her worry, so she had asked Cheonghyun to check on her.
Cheonghyun, like his father before him, served as the personal doctor for the TK Group family and accepted the request without hesitation.
— That house… what kind of place even is it? What is Seorin thinking?
“What do you mean, ma’am? Is something wrong?”
— No, it’s nothing, Jeonghyun.
Though she tried to hide her concern, Aeseon continued to vent about Seorin. While listening quietly, Cheonghyun noticed a shadow standing near the front gate and ended the call quickly.
“I’ll call you if anything else comes up.”
As he ended the call, Cheonghyun approached Taeyoon, who had been standing nearby with a stiff expression.
“It’s been a while.”
As if he had known Cheonghyun was coming, Taeyoon slowly stood up from where he had been leaning against the wall, his expression unchanged.
“Are you leaving now? I thought your mother’s check-up ended a while ago.”
“Yeah, I had something to take care of.”
With a faint smirk, Taeyoon asked, “That ‘something’ — is it Seorin?”
Cheonghyun stared at him silently, knowing Taeyoon’s overly sensitive reactions whenever it came to Seorin. The reason Cheonghyun stopped tutoring her back in the day was also because of Taeyoon’s interference — though Seorin still thought it was due to Cheonghyun’s tough med school schedule.
Staying calm, Cheonghyun replied, “Yes, I saw Seorin. Just said hello while I was here.”
“Why?”
“Why not? We’re not strangers. And it’s been a while since I saw her — not as long as you were in the U.S., but still.”
By purposely mentioning Taeyoon’s four-year absence, Cheonghyun was clearly trying to provoke him. Taeyoon knew this, yet couldn’t help but feel stirred.
The image of Seorin smiling beside Cheonghyun earlier kept flashing in his mind. It was a face he hadn’t seen before — not like this.
In the time he had been gone, Cheonghyun had seen sides of Seorin that Taeyoon hadn’t. And despite not changing himself in over 20 years, it seemed Seorin had changed easily.
An unbearable jealousy surged within him — soon boiling into rage.
To him, Seorin had always been his since childhood.
She had never belonged to anyone else.
If he couldn’t have her, no one could.
Only then would things be fair.
That twisted thought calmed him. When you want something, you should just take it — no matter what it takes.
Suppressing his smirk, Taeyoon muttered, “It doesn’t matter, hyung. Seorin won’t be going anywhere away from me now.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
Reading the disturbing aura around Taeyoon, Cheonghyun urgently asked, but Taeyoon didn’t answer and simply walked away.
As he climbed the stairs and passed the lush garden, Taeyoon’s face looked unnervingly serene — like someone who had made a firm decision. His eyes, emotionless, held a determined fire.
He glanced briefly toward the servant quarters behind the blooming wisteria and then entered the house.
Inside was Seorin — likely ending her long day, still unaware of what was coming.
With a sneer, Taeyoon disappeared into the main house.
A while later, a joyful shriek came from Youngsook’s room: “He’s here!”
—
That morning, like usual, Seorin got up and put on her black uniform to get ready for work.
At first, the tight uniform had been uncomfortable, but now she was used to it.
She had also become friendly with the kitchen staff, cleaners, and drivers. She even chatted easily with the head maid, Myung-sook.
While walking toward the main building, she spotted Taeyoon coming out. He looked amazing in a deep navy suit — clearly heading somewhere.
Her heart skipped a beat. She stopped walking as her gaze followed him.
Seeing her, Taeyoon paused but didn’t speak. Seorin bit her lip, unsure of what to say.
He had told her to bring him something that would make him truly accept her feelings — but she still hadn’t figured out what that was.
He briefly looked at her before turning away with an indifferent expression — the coldest she had ever seen from him.
He used to burn with passion when looking at her — a fire that was sometimes too much. But now, the chill in his eyes was worse.
Confused, she wondered — Did something happen overnight? Where is he going dressed like that?
She stared blankly at his retreating figure, but quickly came to her senses. Today was busy.
She had to visit the flower market in the morning and accompany Youngsook in the afternoon.
Youngsook was very picky and hated tardiness, especially when choosing her outfit for the day — she always wanted Seorin nearby to help.
Ever since Seorin helped her pick an outfit that got her compliments, she had relied on her even more.
To make it in time, Seorin headed into the house through the back door — used only by staff.
Inside the kitchen, Mrs. Kang was brewing coffee.
“Good morning, Seorin?”
Despite working there for a while, Mrs. Kang still called her “Miss Seorin” like when she was younger. Even when asked to be more casual, she refused.
Seorin smiled and greeted her politely. “Did you sleep well? Where’s madam?”
“In her room. She was asking for you.”
Seorin felt rushed. She turned to leave, but Mrs. Kang stopped her.
“Wait — Seorin.”
“Yes?”
“Did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
Looking confused, Seorin tilted her head.
“You must not have heard yet. Master Taeyoon is officially starting work today — as a director at TK Energy Solutions. Madam is in a great mood.”
“Really?”
Seorin’s eyes widened.
She didn’t understand.
Taeyoon had told her to make him change his mind by giving him a reason — and she never said anything.
So what made him change?
As she bowed to Mrs. Kang and walked to Youngsook’s room, only one question filled her mind:
What made Taeyoon change his mind?
