Despite lacking maternal love to the point of not even naming her daughter before registering her birth, there was only one reason why Hee Won gave birth.

It was to win the heart of her husband, President Seong.

It wasn’t because she had any love for her daughter.

At that time, the civil servant in charge of birth registration was named ‘Hee Won’, and that’s how Hee Won’s name was decided.

Every time someone called her name, emotions of not being loved in the past resurfaced together.

Because she truly loved the mother who gave birth to her, one corner of her heart felt lonely and desolate.

But now it wasn’t like that anymore.

After meeting Kang Woo, when he called her name, she no longer felt lonely or desolate.

Every time he called her name, her heart tingled, and she even felt happy just for existing.

“Yes, Kang Woo.”

So she thought it would be nice if he felt the same way when she called his name.

His thin eyes curved like a crescent moon.

“Yes. I’ll buy you whatever you want, so tell me. Anything.”

As Kang Woo rubbed his face against her small hand on his cheek, Hee Won’s face flushed like a ripe red apple.

[This is the timeline separator]

Time passed, and it had been a week since the announcement of the welfare foundation’s establishment.

Kang Woo told her to do what she wanted, and Hee Won took charge of the welfare foundation of her own will.

At the same time, she also said that her desire to graduate remained unchanged.

There were gradual changes in Hee Won’s daily life.

“Take your time and come out. I’ll wait outside.”

One of those changes was going to work with Kang Woo. It happened as she wanted to focus on stabilizing the welfare foundation until she returned to school.

Of course, Secretary Ha was by her side, but Kang Woo dropped her off in front of the LS Welfare Foundation building every day.

“I’m done. Let’s go together.”

As she stood up with her bag, Kang Woo approached and took her bag instead.

“I’ll carry it.”

“No. I’ll carry the bag, so will you hold my hand instead, Hee Won?”

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won’s cheeks turned red. She handed over the bag and held his hand, and he smiled.

Another change was that he started doing things he hadn’t done before.

“I have some documents to review for a moment.”

“Okay, that’s fine. Go ahead.”

“Then excuse me for a moment.”

Even after getting in the car, he didn’t let go of her hand.

It would be more comfortable to let go of her hand when working like now, but he crossed his legs, placed the documents on top, and flipped through them with his left hand.

Hee Won glanced at Kang Woo like this and thought. Whoever’s husband he was.

‘He’s really too handsome. Perfect.’

He was a perfect creation without any flaws.

As soon as she had that thought, she recalled a conversation with her close friend, Joo Ah.

[Kang Woo is tall, handsome, rich, and has good manners. Plus, he’s affectionate. How can such a person exist?] [Seong Hee Won. I didn’t know you’d say such things. Don’t tell me you’re… saying such cheesy things.] [Why? I’m just saying it as it is. Kang Woo has no flaws. I thought they only existed in dramas, but they actually exist in real life.] [Wow, we have a husband-obsessed person here. Later, you’ll just follow your husband around?]

If she could be with him, she wanted to be together for life.

But she couldn’t. After all, their relationship had a predetermined end.

But now she decided not to be afraid and shrink back because there was an end.

Until then, she wanted to create more memories with him and enjoy their time together.

“You can let go of my hand and look.”

At those words, he turned his head and said.

“I want to hold Hee Won’s hand. Is it uncomfortable?”

When Kang Woo spoke, Hee Won’s face flushed.

“What? Oh, no. Not at all.”

As Hee Won turned her head away in embarrassment, she heard his voice tinged with laughter in her ear.

Thump thump, Hee Won’s heart beat rapidly.

When Kang Woo asked Hee Won to take charge of the welfare foundation, everything was already prepared.

And surprisingly, the welfare foundation building was not too far from the LS headquarters building where he worked.

“We’ve arrived.”

After finishing his words, Kang Woo got out before Hee Won and opened the door for her.

“Thank you again today, Kang Woo. Have a good day at work too.”

Hee Won said, facing Kang Woo after getting out of the car.

“Don’t overwork yourself.”

Lately, Kang Woo seemed even more affectionate. Moreover, there were times when he looked at her with a somewhat choked-up expression.

Just like now.

Hee Won looked at Kang Woo with a worried face.

It was such a small change in expression that others might not have noticed, but Hee Won immediately noticed Kang Woo’s change.

“Yes. You too, don’t overwork yourself.”

Kang Woo said.

“I’ll watch you go in before I leave. Go inside.”

And every day, Kang Woo watched her go to work in full.

At first, she refused, not wanting to show her back, but at some point, she began to like him watching over her.

And now, she habitually turned back once or twice before going inside. Each time, Kang Woo was waving his hand.

When she waved back at him, he smiled.

Her heart fluttered, and somehow she felt strange.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Hello.”

As Hee Won entered the welfare foundation office, the employees stood up.

But since he had said he would leave the operation of the welfare foundation entirely to her, it was both gratifying and burdensome.

But she wanted to do well.

She hoped that when she left this place someday, whether in two years or three years, he would think she did a good job.

“Shall we start the meeting first?”

The first support project Hee Won was carrying out was for children who had been abused and separated from their parents.

Because she too had grown up under parental abuse, she wanted to help children in the same situation more.

Although it might be fulfilling her own desires, she wanted to provide not only economic help but also comfort their wounded hearts.

And rather than doing this alone, she wanted to solve it together with many people.

“Then let’s talk again at the next meeting.”

As soon as the meeting ended, an employee entered the conference room with a dark expression.

“Director, a guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. They came without an appointment and said they would check, but they forcefully entered your office saying they’re family. I’m sorry.”

“…I understand.”

After comforting the employee, Hee Won left the conference room and entered the office.

“Huh, nice office?”

As soon as she entered the office, she heard a sarcastic voice.

“…You came?”

President Seong was there.

Hee Won’s mood sank at her father’s appearance.

“Money is good, isn’t it? But when I asked Chairman Cha to let Jinseong use that Bundang building I barely use, he flatly refused, yet he gives you such a nice building?”

Seeing President Seong, the fear engraved in her heart from constant abuse raised its head first.

Her heart started beating abnormally fast.

Her breath caught. Her body trembled and she couldn’t breathe properly.

The sound of her heartbeat disturbed her ears.

As President Seong’s gaze scanned her body, Hee Won unconsciously shrank back.

At that moment, when she lowered her head, her eyes fell on the wedding ring she had matched with Kang Woo.

Strangely, she began to breathe again.

It’s different from then when I couldn’t do anything and was just pushed around.

It’s okay, you’re not alone anymore. So I won’t be helplessly victimized.

Although she had no intention of completely relying on Kang Woo, having someone by her side was a great strength.

There was still a long way to go, but she vowed not to be victimized like back then when powerlessness led to weakness.

As her clenched fist trembled, Hee Won continuously took deep breaths to calm herself.

President Seong’s existence was something she had to overcome at least once.

Moving her feet that wouldn’t move, Hee Won walked to where President Seong was.

“What brings you here?”

“Do I need a reason to come?”

For some reason his temper was twisted, President Seong responded more irritably than usual.

“Yes, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know in advance from now on.”

“What?”

President Seong’s face contorted at Hee Won’s words.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t completely hide her trembling voice, but she was overcoming her fear towards her father while fiddling with the ring on her left ring finger.

“This isn’t just my place. It’s practically my workplace, so it’s troublesome if you come like this without warning. And please don’t treat the employees rudely.”

“You, insolent girl, where do you get off talking to me like that?”

President Seong stood up abruptly and started pointing at Hee Won.

“Who do you think made you the daughter-in-law of the LS Group! Do you really think that position is yours?”

President Seong’s chest heaved roughly.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door, and it opened.

“I’ve brought tea.”

An employee came in with coffee and citron tea. The employee nervously set down the citron tea in front of President Seong.

“You said you wanted citron tea, so I bought it quickly. Please enjoy.”

She said to President Seong with a slightly trembling voice.

President Seong seemed to have calmed down a bit, perhaps because he got what he wanted.

“You do your job well.”

After gulping down the citron tea, President Seong spoke as soon as the employee left.

“You know, when you got married, the LS Media building in Bundang was empty, so I asked Chairman Cha to let me use it for a while.”

“…”

“But do you know what Chairman Cha said? He said that even though I’m his father-in-law, we should separate business and personal matters. Does that make any sense? I wasn’t even asking him to give it to me, just to lend it, and he refused?”

Although she already knew, the reason President Seong’s temper was twisted was because of the company building.