Chapter 7
Chansook stepped outside with Eunha. ‘Seolhyang’ was structured with rooms built in a circle around a central pavilion, a pine tree, and a small pond.
Chansook, who had been stomping along, unable to contain her anger, spotted Eunha lounging near the pavilion and turned to approach her. Then she hissed in a low voice.
“Are you insane? Are you really hell-bent on ruining this marriage?”
Her eyes were filled with a fury that suggested she wouldn’t let Eunha off the hook. But by now, Eunha was unfazed by that level of intensity.
“I have no desire to cater to that man’s whims.”
“What?”
“I’m not going to marry him.”
“Have you truly lost your mind!”
Chansook stared at Eunha with an incredulous expression.
“Just when was all that fuss about being a devoted daughter? Do you really intend to let your father die like this?”
“I will cover Dad’s hospital bills and your living expenses. So, please let me handle my own marriage.”
“Wha…!”
Chansook was flabbergasted, left speechless, her mouth just opening and closing.
Whatever those words meant, Eunha felt a weight lift from her chest. It had been a constant source of stress, and she had felt trapped, unable to say anything, like a fool.
Even though the contract marriage with Dohun would have its own hurdles to overcome, it was, at least, a decision she had made of her own will, and she was glad she wouldn’t be dragged around by Chansook anymore.
If only she weren’t her father’s beloved… she wouldn’t have had to deal with such a money-grubbing, two-faced person.
While Eunha’s heart felt a little lighter, Chansook, unable to contain her boiling rage, fumed.
“Are you looking down on me because I’m just your stepmother?”
“Huh?”
“If I were your birth mother, would you have so openly disregarded a match I found for you like this?”
If she were her birth mother, she probably wouldn’t have put her in this situation in the first place.
But Eunha swallowed those words. After all, her stepmother was still her mother, her father’s beloved woman, and this was a public place.
“That’s not it.”
“What do you mean, ‘not it’? You’ve always been like this. Even when you were little, you always acted so high and mighty, relying on your father’s backing.”
Chansook had never liked Eunha from the start. Perhaps because she grew up showered with Eunpyo’s love, Eunha carried herself with confidence in everything.
She had never once acted cowed or inferior just because Chansook was her stepmother. That made Chansook want to get Eunha out of her sight even sooner.
“Mother…?”
Hearing Chansook’s true feelings, Eunha felt hollow and utterly deflated. She knew Chansook disliked her, but she hadn’t realized the depth of the hatred buried deep in her bones.
At least after she got married, she wouldn’t have to see her often. I guess that’s something to be thankful for.
“I heard someone offered you money just for your body, but that’s utterly useless. If you live like that, you’ll only bring shame to your father. And to me as well. You need to marry a decent man and show everyone you’re living well, so I can at least get some credit for trying as your stepmother. That’s why I picked him so carefully.”
Chansook was making excuses as if she hadn’t chosen him for money. If that man hadn’t offered money, she wouldn’t have pushed him on her. And would she be catering to him like this otherwise?
Eunha felt increasingly disillusioned but quickly cleared her mind.
“Don’t worry. At the very least, he has better conditions than the man inside.”
“What?”
“His social standing is better, he has more money, and he’s younger. So, your reputation shouldn’t suffer, right?”
“How did you meet someone like that?”
As Eunha listed the comparisons point by point with Byeongtae, Chansook looked at her as if it were unbelievable.
It was unclear if she meant ‘Why didn’t you mention such a person before?’ or ‘How could someone like you meet such a man?’, but it was clear she had managed to fluster Chansook.
“However and wherever I met him, the important thing is that I’ve promised to marry him. I’ll continue to send you living expenses, and your reputation won’t suffer, so please drop this marriage arrangement. I don’t want to have to cater to that man anymore either.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
Eunha asked back, puzzled. She had explained everything clearly, so she didn’t understand the refusal. But Chansook, without batting an eye, pressed her again.
“How can I believe you?”
“…”
“How do I know you aren’t just making this up to get out of this situation? If we let this man go, it will be hard to find someone with his qualifications again. I can’t make such a reckless move based solely on your word.”
“Mother…!”
“So, you serve him until the very end. And as for this man you mentioned, we’ll talk again after I’ve met him myself.”
Chansook coldly spat out the words and sneered at Eunha. Just as Eunha, flabbergasted, was about to protest,
“I don’t think there’s any need to postpone it.”
A soft, yet somehow cool, baritone voice came from behind them.
“Since that man is me.”
Eunha recognized him instantly just by the voice. It was Dohun.
Sure enough, Dohun stepped out of the shadows and into the light.
‘Why is Mr. Dohun here? Did he hear everything?’
Eunha stood still, both embarrassed and surprised. Chansook seemed equally startled, looking back and forth between the approaching Dohun and Eunha, highly wary.
“What’s this? Did you bring a man here? Without my permission?”
Then, as she took in the man’s features and the cut of his clothes, Chansook was left speechless. Even the dim lighting couldn’t hide his innate elegance; he seemed to glow from within.
Moreover, he looked familiar. She’d definitely seen him somewhere… Where was it…?
“You seem to be misunderstanding. I’m not someone with that much free time. I stopped by for a personal appointment, saw Eunha, and came into the garden to say hello. I only overheard the rest of the conversation by chance.”
Dohun calmly explained the situation. His expression was unreadable, making it hard to gauge his mood.
Chansook was still trying to remember where she had seen him.
“I was planning to formally visit you soon, but it seems we’ve met like this. I’m Choi Dohun.”
“Choi Dohun? Not from Jaegil Group?”
“Yes. Choi Dohun, Head of the Strategic Planning Office at Jaegil Group.”
As Dohun finished introducing himself, Chansook felt as if she’d been hit on the head with a hammer.
No wonder he looked familiar—it was Choi Dohun, the crown prince of Jaegil Group.
Chansook knew of Choi Dohun well. He was the eldest grandson of Jaegil Group, one of the country’s top conglomerates, and the primary successor. She’d heard there was no shortage of women from powerful families lining up to marry him, as he was known for his exceptional ability and looks, matching his innate pedigree.
And this Choi Dohun was dating—no, marrying—Eunha?
“Then, the person our Eunha mentioned is… you, Director?”
“Yes. If you’re talking about the person she promised to marry, then that’s probably correct.”
Dohun answered Chansook and then met Eunha’s eyes, as if seeking her confirmation. Eunha gave a small nod.
Even seeing the two of them exchanging glances right before her eyes, Chansook simply couldn’t believe it.
“So, you’re saying you’ll marry our Eunha, even knowing our family’s circumstances?”
Hoping against hope, Chansook checked Dohun’s intentions once more. It suddenly occurred to her that perhaps Eunha had deceived him.
Otherwise, it made no sense that a man like Dohun would marry a woman from such a ruined family.
“Would it make sense for someone who has decided to marry not to know about their partner’s family situation? I was actually planning to tell Eunha—starting tomorrow, her father will be moved to a VIP room at Jaegil Hospital, where he will receive treatment from the best medical team with the best equipment. And I will provide financial support to her mother to ensure she lacks nothing in her daily life.”
At Dohun’s words, Chansook’s jaw dropped. He truly knew everything and was still going through with the marriage, and the treatment of the bride’s family was unprecedented.
“What do you think? Are these conditions better than the man inside?”
Dohun asked bluntly, not hiding his displeasure.
Chansook’s face instantly flushed red with embarrassment. It felt like she’d been caught being a snob who only cared about conditions.
“Of course. There’s no comparison with the successor of Jaegil Group.”
Since her materialistic nature was already exposed, Chansook decided to be honest.
As Eunha had said, in terms of looks, wealth, and ability—by any measure—Dohun was the overwhelming winner.
Frankly, even if it grated on her to see Eunha marry well and live happily, becoming in-laws with a chaebol family would bring her immense benefits she couldn’t refuse.
“Then, could you please wrap things up with the gentleman inside as soon as possible? The thought of my future wife serving another man is quite unpleasant.”
Dohun’s expression turned cold in an instant as he spoke to Chansook.
Seeing this, Chansook realized her mistake. Of course, even he would be displeased.
“Ah, it’s nothing serious! It was just a meeting over a meal. If your feelings were hurt, please forgive me. I acted without knowing… Anyway, I’ll handle this meeting, so Eunha, don’t you worry either.”
Suddenly pretending to be considerate of Eunha, Chansook returned to the room by herself.
Eunha, exhausted from the argument with Chansook and having been tense at the thought of having to serve that man again, finally let out a short sigh.
Noticing Eunha’s expression soften, Dohun asked.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
