Kang Woo’s expression as he looked at Hee Won appeared complicated.

“……Speak.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not asking you to do something you shouldn’t.”

She continued speaking while deliberately avoiding his face.

“But Father seemed to think differently. Kang Woo, I don’t think we should set any bad precedents. I don’t want LS Group to become the subject of people’s gossip.”

Would she be a bad daughter if she cared more about him than the father who raised her?

[Do you really think that position is yours? Don’t be ridiculous. That position was given to you for Jin Seong’s sake. So, in any case, you must prioritize Jin Seong above all else. Remember this, remember it well.]

President Seong’s words echoed in her mind.

Would she be bad if she cared more about LS Group’s reputation than Jin Seong Foods’ reputation now?

“If Father makes an unreasonable request, I hope you won’t comply. If because of that, my father asks for a divorce……”

Just thinking about parting with Kang Woo made Hee Won’s heart surge with emotion.

But she had to do it.

At the very least, she didn’t want to leave him feeling like she was being chased away.

“If he demands a divorce, please let me know before the adults make a decision.”

As soon as Hee Won finished speaking, Kang Woo grasped her hand tightly.

“Hee Won.”

“Yes.”

“There will be no divorce.”

“……What? What do you mean?”

It was Hee Won who was rather flustered by Kang Woo’s words.

It’s a contract, so what does he mean there won’t be a divorce?

As Hee Won looked up, Kang Woo said.

“I know you’re thinking it will end anyway because it’s a contract.”

Hee Won, stung by Kang Woo’s words, rolled her eyes.

“You know what? Contracts can be renewed.”

“What?”

“I think you know from reading the contract. On the second page, third line, it states that the contract can be extended depending on the situation when the renewal period approaches.”

“……”

Hee Won tried to recall.

She hadn’t properly read the contract in the first place, so there was no way it would remain in her memory.

Kang Woo smiled slightly, as if he found Hee Won’s flustered appearance cute. However, he quickly composed his expression and continued speaking.

“Listen carefully, Seong Hee Won.”

Kang Woo firmly held both of Hee Won’s cheeks, preventing her from turning her gaze away.

“No one knows if the end of this contract will be in 2 years, 10 years, or for a lifetime.”

“……”

Hee Won was confused.

She had naturally thought the contract would end after 2 years. And Kang Woo’s following words dropped a huge bomb in Hee Won’s heart.

“Unless, of course, Hee Won falls in love with another man.”

Hee Won asked back with a surprised expression at Kang Woo’s words.

“Another man? For me?”

“Yes. Because Hee Won is still young and pretty.”

“No, no!”

Hee Won unconsciously raised her voice.

“There’s no way that could happen.”

He was the first man she had liked, the first she had desired like this.

“There’s no way I could have another man……”

“Unlike me, Hee Won might meet someone better in the future, don’t you think?”

“That’s impossible. There’s no way I could meet a better man than Kang Woo.”

“……”

Despite Kang Woo’s expression becoming strangely distorted, Hee Won was too flustered to think about how her words might be affecting him.

“How could I meet a better man than Kang Woo? Kang Woo is the most perfect person I’ve ever met. Handsome, kind, and also good at work.”

“……Hee Won.”

She didn’t even notice how Kang Woo’s expression was changing.

“I know we can’t be certain about the future. But I can say this for sure. I won’t like anyone else.”

“……”

“Because I like you, Kang Woo.”

Hee Won confessed as if shouting.

Belatedly, she realized what she had said. She tried to cover her mouth, but he had already heard everything.

“That, that……”

Kang Woo’s eyes were shaking violently.

“What……did you just say?”

His voice trembled.

Hee Won was flustered. She had no intention of confessing to Kang Woo.

She had never planned to speak her feelings of liking him out loud.

Because she thought Kang Woo would never like her.

So her unspoken goal was to quietly swallow her feelings and end the divorce well.

“Kang Woo, that’s… I mean……”

“Hee Won.”

“……Yes, go ahead.”

“If what I just heard is correct.”

“……”

“Are you saying that you like me?”

It’s ruined.

Everything’s ruined!

Hee Won felt like she was sinking into a quagmire.

What should I do?

Should I say I like him as an acquaintance?

No, that’s too obvious.

Kang Woo already seems to know… what I meant.

Hee Won glanced at Kang Woo nervously.

“I don’t mean to burden you. It’s just……”

“Wait a moment, Hee Won. Don’t say anything.”

“……Okay.”

“Hah.”

Kang Woo let out a deep sigh. Hee Won misunderstood his attitude.

She didn’t know that her actions, meant with good intentions, would lead to such… worst-case results.

As Hee Won was fidgeting with her fingers in distress, it happened.

He enveloped her in his arms.

“……Kang Woo?”

As she asked in surprise, he spoke.

“I’m sorry. My heart is too full right now.”

“Full…… What?”

“I never imagined this, so I’m at a loss for words.”

“Kang Woo?”

He hugged her tighter and said.

“Say it one more time.”

Kang Woo bit the soft flesh inside his mouth hard. A bitter taste of blood filled his mouth, accompanied by a stinging pain.

“I like you, Kang Woo.”

Hee Won’s sweet voice echoed in his ears.

It wasn’t a dream. Her face, bright red, was too vivid.

Kang Woo felt overwhelmed with emotion.

The words she had just said, she was saying she liked him.

As he embraced her, a faint scent of freesia lingered on his nose.

“Kang, Kang Woo.”

As her soft voice echoed in his ears, a deep desire suddenly reared its head.

He couldn’t tell if the rapid heartbeat he felt through the fabric was hers or his own.

He had realized his feelings for her, but had given up.

She was like a chick that had just come out into the world. So she would experience more things in the future, meet more people.

In the process, she might meet a better man in a better environment and fall in love.

Perhaps later, she might say she regretted this marriage.

So he thought he had no right to hold onto her. All he could do was make sure she wouldn’t regret her married life with him when she looked back on it. That’s why he wanted to treat her even better.

He didn’t dare hope for her heart. Because it was a contract marriage from the start, and there was a big age difference, he didn’t dare think of it.

But now, she said she liked him.

With cheeks as pink as ripe peaches, she said in a voice as sweet as a siren’s song that she liked Cha Kang Woo.

“Hee Won.”

The truth was, he wanted to keep her by his side. He didn’t want to give her up to anyone.

He wanted to make sure no one else would ever see that pure face looking at him, that those sparkling eyes would only be directed at him for a lifetime.

The dark desire he had been forcibly suppressing in his heart burst out.

Now, thinking that he would never let her go to anyone else, Kang Woo pulled Hee Won away from his embrace.

She looked up at him with shaking eyes, as if bewildered.

“Kang Woo?”

“I’ll give you one last chance.”

“……”

“I’m a very possessive person. If you take my hand now, Hee Won, you won’t be able to run away. So if you want to push me away, now is the time. If you don’t like it, push me away now.”

It seemed like he was asking her, but the answer was already decided.

No matter what answer came back, he had no intention of letting Hee Won go.

“You’re telling me to push you away?”

Hee Won couldn’t understand Kang Woo’s words.

He had already caught her,

How could he tell her to push him away when he was looking at her with that face?

“Do you really want me to push you away?”

Hee Won said with a pout.

“……”

When Kang Woo didn’t answer, Hee Won hugged him back and said.

“Do you think I could push you away?”

“……No.”

“It’s cruel of you to say that when I just told you I like you a moment ago.”

Then Hee Won held Kang Woo’s cheeks with both hands, making sure his gaze couldn’t leave her.

“If I could have pushed you away, I wouldn’t be here right now. You know that.”

Kang Woo smiled as if satisfied with Hee Won’s words.

With his lips curled up in a long smile, he pressed his face close to Hee Won’s, and the distance closed in an instant.

Kang Woo’s lips touched and parted. The warm, soft thing that touched felt as hot as if it had been burned.

Thump thump, her heart started beating faster.

“I love you too.”

Hee Won couldn’t believe it.

“Cha Kang Woo is confessing that he loves Seong Hee Won.”

They say when something too good happens, it doesn’t feel real.

Not like, but love?

Hearing that he felt the same way as her made her heart swell.

Her eyes felt hot. It felt like tears would fall at any moment.