As Oh Chae Won elegantly sipped her cold coffee and made a light gesture, the man at the table behind stood up. It was Team Leader Kim Byung Hoon. He came over and sat at Oh Chae Won’s table as if they had a prior appointment. Oh Chae Won narrowed her eyes.

“Team Leader.”

“Yes.”

“Did you see Lee Jae Ho’s watch?”

“What? Oh, no, no.”

Oh Chae Won smirked. In fact, the team leader’s answer meant nothing. The question was closer to a soliloquy.

“He’s wearing a 200 million won watch.”

She knew he had just come from the countryside. That meant he had been wearing that watch all along from the countryside, a man whose daily casual watch was worth 200 million, not caring if it got scratched or dented.

She let out a hollow laugh. It seemed more intense than any show-off.

“Anyway, did you take some photos? Let me see.”

She thought she wouldn’t be too tempted by wealth since she had enough money herself, but the moment she saw the watch, she swallowed hard. Moreover, why did he seem to get more handsome every time she saw him? Throughout the interview, she simply couldn’t take her eyes off him. His deepened voice, mesmerizing gaze, and chiseled jawline – the man was breathtakingly handsome.

Oh Chae Won took the tablet from Team Leader Kim.

“Hmm… Oh? This one turned out well. But it looks artificial, so pass. Hmm. This one looks natural. It seems like it was taken somewhat hurriedly. Ah, this one too. Shall we choose about five?”

After selecting a few photos and handing the tablet back, Oh Chae Won smiled meaningfully.

“Send those photos to this phone. Now I should start my activities in Lee Jae Ho’s fan cafe. Of course, not under my own name. It’ll be fun. You created an ID, right?”

“Here it is.”

Team Leader Kim maintained a businesslike expression as he handed over a piece of paper. Oh Chae Won took out an unfamiliar phone and logged into the cafe app with that ID.

“You’re sure there won’t be any problems? I know you do your job well, Team Leader, but just in case.”

“Of course. Both the phone and the cafe account were registered under a foreigner’s name. Still, don’t use it for more than a month. The longer the tail, the easier it is to step on.”

“Got it.”

Oh Chae Won leaned back on the sofa and fiddled with the phone. Her mood, which had been dampened by the man’s cold rejection earlier, was gradually recovering.

“Good work. You can go ahead.”

Why would acting not matter anymore?

To Oh Chae Won’s ears, those words sounded like Lee Jae Ho would soon be declared the heir to the Taemyung Group. If that happens, he wouldn’t need to continue his acting activities. Her heart raced for no reason.

In the end, it was just a matter of getting rid of that one girl.

“He must have checked the documents by now?”

She could approach Jae Ho again after dealing with the girl. There were many ways. After all, she had a very good friend called the media by her side.

Oh Chae Won had no way of knowing Lee Jae Ho’s purpose in buying that pension. The important thing was that Yoon Da Jung was also involved without knowing. From her investigation, it seemed Lee Jae Ho didn’t want to tell Yoon Da Jung. Oh Chae Won used this as her weapon.

No matter how Lee Jae Ho answered, their relationship would crack. Trust is like a glass cup; once broken, it can’t be overcome. After that, they would naturally drift apart.

“She won’t stick around after feeling like she’s been treated as a plaything.”

Oh Chae Won started writing a post on Lee Jae Ho’s fan cafe while humming.

As she wrote with excitement like a fan who had accidentally met Lee Jae Ho, she felt her own tension rising. Yes. How thrilling must this moment be for a real fan?

She was certain this post would instantly become popular on Lee Jae Ho’s fan cafe, and would inevitably reach Yoon Da Jung’s ears one way or another.

**

Walking across the long lawn boasting perfect landscaping, Jae Ho stood in front of the front door.

Whenever he stood here, he invariably remembered the first day. The large mansion he first visited, led by his mother’s hand, looked as grand as a castle to Jae Ho’s eyes. It was an enormous house that seemed like it could house over a hundred people. He was shocked once again when he learned that the actual number of family members living there was less than ten.

The space given to Jae Ho on the right side of the second floor was wide enough to play soccer. It was literally another house, complete with a room, living room, study, terrace, and bathroom.

A space more than enough for a family of four was given entirely as Jae Ho’s personal space. It took quite a long time to get used to it.

“I’m home.”

The mansion was busy. The staff were preoccupied with food preparation and house cleaning. Although it was a family gathering, it was a birthday celebration, so there seemed to be a lot to prepare. Mi Jung, who was coming down with a flower vase, spotted her son and ran over with a broad smile.

“Son! You’re earlier than I expected! My goodness. What’s the occasion?”

Mi Jung hugged Jae Ho tightly. As mothers typically do, she briefly nagged about why he had gotten so thin.

“What are you talking about, Mom? I’ve gained weight recently. I’m eating well.”

“Eating well? What is there to eat in that countryside?”

Still holding Jae Ho’s hand, Mi Jung sat down on the living room sofa. She touched his face, hair, and arms haphazardly, repeating how long it had been.

“Are you hungry? I’ll give you some snacks for now. Some fruit or…”

“It’s okay.”

“I told you I’d bring some side dishes, but you wouldn’t let me come even once! I worry about you day and night.”

“Really. I’m eating well.”

Jae Ho patted his mother’s hand.

Time had settled on her once smooth and pretty hands, creating wrinkles, but they were still beautiful mother’s hands. Jae Ho now understood his mother quite well.

Despite poor circumstances, Mi Jung had done her best to raise Jae Ho. She could have found a similar job using her experience as an executive secretary at a large corporation, but to avoid the possible eyes of Taemyung, she lived doing jobs she had never done before.

They were jobs like working in restaurants and cleaning. Nevertheless, she tried every moment not to make him feel the absence of his father.

“Don’t worry.”

The heir to a large corporation and a poor secretary. Regardless of whether their love was sincere, the strategic marriage was decided between the families. Jin Woo tried to find a solution somehow, but couldn’t break his father’s frost-like determination.

In the meantime, Mi Jung found out she was pregnant. Afraid that the child might tie down the man, she secretly ran away and chose to raise the child alone.

He was the fruit of that love. Jae Ho knew his significance better than anyone.

“I’ll go see Grandfather first.”

**

Lee Hun Tae closed his eyes deeply at the first words of his grandson, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“I have a woman I love, Grandfather.”

There was a boy who stood in the same place and said the same words. It was already more than 30 years ago, but the memory repeated as vividly as if it were yesterday. In his younger days, Lee Hun Tae was an autocrat.

He yelled not to say such nonsense and threw whatever objects he could grab in the study. Then came the reply.

‘I want to get married, Father.’

“I want to marry that woman.”

The voices overlapped, making him wonder if Jin Woo had briefly visited. Lee Hun Tae opened his eyes, which he had kept closed, and looked at his grandson. He had eyes exactly like his son’s. Solid and flawless. Men with such eyes did not know the meaning of giving up.

“I called you early to hear my story, but you’re telling your story as soon as you arrive.”

“I thought this was more important.”

His demeanor was quite confident for someone who came to make a request. Lee Hun Tae narrowed his eyes.

“Are you saying you want to get married right away?”

“That’s not it. But I was wondering if you had any plans for my marriage… I’d like to marry the person I love when I want to.”

Lee Hun Tae tightened his lips and put on a solemn expression.

“Marriage…”

He was a grandson who never opened up. He came into this house at seventeen, only clashing with him in everything and never blending into the family. So there were many worries. Whether he would forever remain an outsider like that.

Recently, he had thought it would be nice if there was a woman who could embrace that boy’s pain. He felt like introducing a woman even if he had to create one, but now that he said he already had someone he shared his heart with, it was rather fortunate.

He was sick and tired of strategic marriages now. Lee Hun Tae had already made one mistake with his son. He had no intention of repeating the same mistake.

But he responded coldly, as if displeased. There were still many things he needed to extract from his grandson.

“From which family is she?”

“If I were to explain by your standards, Grandfather.”

Jae Ho chose his words carefully for a moment. There was a glimpse of his determination not to speak carelessly, even a single word.

“…She would be below average in every aspect. But that woman is my everything.”

It was a plain confession.

There was strength in his voice. He was a child who knew how to captivate an audience without raising his voice or making grand gestures. Such things couldn’t be created through practice; they came from innate nature. It was the biggest reason why Lee Hun Tae couldn’t give up on Jae Ho.

He’s a boy with great capacity. More than his father, more than his grandfather.

He had given him a name to command the world according to that capacity, so all he had to do was fulfill his potential.

When Lee Hun Tae didn’t answer, Jae Ho added one more word.

“Perhaps, did you have my strategic marriage in mind?”

“I can’t say I didn’t think about it.”

“I don’t want that.”

“It seems so.”

“Are you going to scold me?”

“Well.”

Jae Ho’s head tilted slightly as if trying to gauge his intention. Lee Hun Tae spoke solemnly.

“That depends on you.”

Ah. Jae Ho nodded briefly and then opened his mouth. He seemed to think of this as a negotiation as well. If so, he must have prepared his own cards. Lee Hun Tae became very curious about what package Jae Ho would present.

“I will participate in management as you wish, Grandfather. Whether it’s Taemyung Insurance or Food, assign me wherever you want, and I’ll do my best. I’m already in the process of clearing my schedule.”

“What else?”

“I’ll move into the Pyeongchang-dong house. I’ll play Go with you once a week and spend time with uncle as well. And as for my acting career…”

Jae Ho took a brief breath.

“I plan to follow a path of tentative retirement. I’ll strive to focus solely on company work.”

“It sounds like you’re clipping your own wings. What do you gain by giving up the freedom you so desired?”

“Love.”

The young version of himself who used to shout, “Do you think love puts food on the table?” and “Get out if you’re going to talk nonsense!” flashed through his mind. He didn’t forget to mention that the benefits Taemyung would gain from the marriage talks with KL Group were worth several trillion won.

He couldn’t even remember clearly what expression Jin Woo had back then. Lee Hun Tae’s brow deepened.