There was no one in the family to protect Hee Won.

In a life of endless abuse and no freedom, her self-esteem hit rock bottom and she always shrunk away.

“Aren’t you wearing an apron? We need to prepare food before the chairman comes out.”

Mrs. Seon Won, who had worked at the LS main house for a long time, was just an employee. It should never have happened that she frowned and rushed her with such a sharp reaction.

It was because she thought her reputation would affect Kang Woo.

However, even though she knew Mrs. Seon Won was openly disrespecting her, the words wouldn’t easily come out.

But what can I do?

I’m just a contract wife.

I’m not Kang Woo’s real wife… What can I say?

Just as she felt frustrated and pathetic for only being on the receiving end, Kang Woo’s words flashed through her mind.

[No matter what anyone says, Hee Won is my wife. So don’t bow your head. Even if it’s me.]

Kang Woo’s words suddenly popped into Hee Won’s head.

Then it felt like the brakes in her mind were released, as if by magic.

“Ma’am.”

Hee Won clenched her fists tightly and looked at Mrs. Seon Won.

Her clasped hands were trembling slightly, but her face showed a resolute expression without a hint of emotion.

“I didn’t come to this house to work under you. I appreciate your help, but I’d like you to change your attitude towards me.”

Mrs. Seon Won was taken aback by Hee Won’s words. This was because Madam So had told her that Hee Won was weak and couldn’t speak up for herself.

[Doesn’t Mrs. Seon Won know more about housework than that girl? It’s that girl who needs to learn. I’ll trust you, Mrs. Seon Won. Educate her well.]

Madam So’s words flashed through her mind.

Mrs. Seon Won tried to hide her bewilderment as she looked at Hee Won.

“What do you mean by that?”

Hee Won spoke even more firmly in response to Mrs. Seon Won’s words.

“I mean exactly what I said. I’m the daughter-in-law of this family, not a housekeeper. If you want to teach me, I’ll learn, but I’m saying it’s not appropriate to tell me to do as I’m told.”

She tried her best to explain calmly.

Her voice trembled occasionally, but it was so slight that neither Mrs. Seon Won nor anyone else noticed Hee Won’s fear.

It wasn’t just Mrs. Seon Won who was surprised by her unexpected response.

Madam So looked back and forth between Mrs. Seon Won and Hee Won with a face that couldn’t hide her agitation. Knowing Mrs. Seon Won’s usual temperament, she thought it would be easy to handle Hee Won.

Madam So glared at Mrs. Seon Won. Then Mrs. Seon Won approached Hee Won with a frightening momentum.

After watching this, Madam So left the kitchen.

As soon as Madam So’s order was given, Mrs. Seon Won gritted her teeth.

She spoke to Hee Won as if addressing an inferior, not hiding her irritated expression and upset mood.

“What? Are you correcting me on how to speak properly? The saying goes, ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss,’ but here we are.”

Mrs. Seon Won snorted and continued.

“I was just trying to teach you as the Madam instructed. We were being kind because you don’t know anything. But if you say my expression offends you, take it up with the Madam. I’m really dumbfounded.”

As Mrs. Seon Won crossed her arms and huffed, the gazes of the other housekeepers around also turned cold.

Hee Won sighed inwardly. As expected, this wasn’t someone she could reason with from the start.

Perhaps it was an inevitable result, since they were people who had no intention of viewing her favorably from the beginning, like Madam So.

She was debating whether to just ignore it and leave or what to do when it happened.

“What are you doing?”

A familiar voice was heard behind Hee Won’s back.

“…Kang Woo?”

He approached with heavy steps, gripped her hand tightly, and glared at Mrs. Seon Won.

Surprised by Kang Woo’s appearance, Mrs. Seon Won cut off her words.

“D-Director.”

The housekeepers, including Mrs. Seon Won, also shrank back in surprise at Kang Woo’s appearance.

In fact, Hee Won was the most surprised.

Kang Woo nodded at Hee Won as if to say it was okay and put his arm around her shoulder.

The gentle smile that had been directed at her instantly turned sharp as he faced Mrs. Seon Won’s group.

He spoke in a cold, low voice that seemed to scrape the floor.

“What are you doing right now?”

“W-well, we, we were just.”

“This person is my wife. Do I have to explain even this to you?”

Mrs. Seon Won and the other housekeepers bowed at Kang Woo’s piercing gaze.

“We’re, we’re sorry.”

The attitude of Mrs. Seon Won and the housekeepers, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, had lowered as if it had never happened.

“We got carried away…”

Kang Woo pulled Hee Won’s shoulder close and said.

“This person is my wife. Don’t try to teach her, and don’t think about ordering her around. If I see something like this again, it won’t end with just words. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes. We understand.”

Hee Won felt strange seeing Mrs. Seon Won and the housekeepers kowtowing in front of Kang Woo.

“Let’s go. We’ll eat later.”

As Hee Won left the kitchen holding Kang Woo’s hand, she met eyes with Madam So, who was glaring with her arms crossed and a displeased look on her face in the living room.

The sharp gaze directed at Hee Won softened as it turned to Kang Woo.

“Son, what are you doing?”

But it was a forced smile, not a sincere one. Also, although her voice pretended to be affectionate, her lips were trembling because she too had not expected Kang Woo to intervene.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

Kang Woo looked down coldly at Madam So and continued speaking.

“Do you think you deserve to be treated as a mother-in-law?”

“…What?”

“I hope you have at least a minimum of conscience. I’m tired of even talking about it now.”

As Kang Woo looked at Madam So with a look of disdain, her face filled with humiliation and her body began to tremble.

As the commotion outside grew louder, Chairman Cha came out of his study.

“Why are you out here?”

Kang Woo bowed once to Chairman Cha and said.

“We’ll be going now. It doesn’t seem like the right atmosphere for a meal today.”

Chairman Cha looked back and forth between Hee Won and Madam So. And Chairman Cha’s gaze reached the housekeeper who was watching nervously from the kitchen.

“Ahem.”

Chairman Cha cleared his throat.

A moment later, words different from Hee Won’s expectation that a stern reprimand would fall were heard above her head.

“Alright. Go ahead. You must be tired on the day of your arrival, and I thoughtlessly called you over. I was short-sighted.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

When Kang Woo replied briefly, Chairman Cha spoke to Hee Won.

“I’m sorry.”

“…It’s okay.”

At that moment, Madam So, unable to hold back, said to Chairman Cha.

“Dear, we’ve prepared food because the kids are coming, and it’s their first greeting after getting married. How can they just show their faces at the in-laws’ house and leave?”

Chairman Cha’s eyes grew cold at Madam So’s words.

“If that’s the case, you should have welcomed them properly.”

“Dear!”

“We’ll talk later. Don’t make me say it twice.”

Chairman Cha did not listen to Madam So. As he cut off her words, dissatisfaction quickly filled Madam So’s face.

Kang Woo held Hee Won’s hand tightly and said.

“Then we’ll be going.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After leaving the main house, Kang Woo and Hee Won got into Director Kang’s car that was waiting.

“Let’s go home.”

“Understood.”

The car headed towards the penthouse in Hannam-dong.

After getting in the car, Kang Woo didn’t let go of Hee Won’s hand, but there was no conversation, so a heavy silence settled in the car as it drove across Hangang Bridge.

She felt uncomfortable.

This was because she thought that her words might have made the situation worse.

As she even started to think that she should have endured for Kang Woo’s sake, she felt the need to apologize.

Just then, the car stopped at a red light, and Hee Won, thinking this was her chance, turned her head and called out to Kang Woo.

“Um, Kang Woo.”

As she turned her head, her eyes met Kang Woo’s, who was looking at her.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Pardon?”

Hee Won was a bit taken aback when Kang Woo apologized first, before she could.

“I’m sorry for making you hear things you shouldn’t have because of me.”

At Kang Woo’s apology, Hee Won shook her hands vigorously and spoke hurriedly.

“No, that’s not it at all. I should have done better. So please don’t think that way, Kang Woo.”

“No. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have heard such things.”

Guilt was evident on Kang Woo’s face as he looked at Hee Won.

“Actually, I should have just stayed quiet, but I talked back, so it’s not your fault, Kang Woo. I hope you won’t feel sorry.”

Somehow, she disliked the guilt apparent on his face. She just wished he wouldn’t feel sorry to her for reasons like this.

“No. You did well, Hee Won.”

“Pardon?”

Kang Woo’s response was unexpected. As she stared blankly at him, a smile had already appeared on his face.

“Keep doing that in the future. If there are people who disrespect you or act out without knowing their place, just do as you did now.”

“…”

“One thing I’ll say is that you speak too kindly. There’s no need for that.”

“But if I do that…”

Hee Won felt strange. It wasn’t a situation to smile, but the corners of her mouth kept rising and her heart tickled.

“What if rumors spread that I’m throwing my weight around? What if it makes people speak ill of you?”

He chuckled at her words, then cupped her cheek and said in a firm voice.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

At his words, her heart started beating rapidly like an unbridled colt.

“So Hee Won, you can do as you please.”