A luxurious Chinese restaurant with elegant interior decorations.

The private room with simple decor featured a stunning night view through the full-length windows, but none of those seated around the large round table seemed interested in the scenery outside.

Even thinking back to childhood memories, family wasn’t supposed to have this kind of atmosphere. Facing her in-laws for the first time after marriage, Da Hae had forgotten her appetite, having swallowed too much of the heavy air.

Kang Chul Won, her father-in-law and Kang Jae Kyung’s father, looked familiar, probably from seeing him often in the news.

He had been featured in an article as ‘Asia’s Most Influential CEO’ selected by Forbes, though that was already several years ago.

Her mother-in-law, Bang Mi Mi, wore an outfit that easily cost more than a mid-size foreign car. Perhaps that’s why she exuded the aura of a wealthy person.

Arriving late, Kang Pil Seung brought along a young woman he introduced as his girlfriend.

Both her name and face seemed familiar – it turned out to be Yoon Si A, currently the most popular actress.

Wearing a crop top that revealed her navel and low-rise hot pants that barely covered what needed to be covered, she was also the exclusive model for Young Son Corporation’s fashion division, so even Da Hae, who was ignorant about celebrities, recognized her immediately.

At the table where six people sat, Bang Mi Mi was the only one talking.

Yoon Si A, responding coquettishly, also contributed to the non-stop audio.

The eldest son’s couple was thoroughly isolated among them, to the point where it was unclear why Kang Jae Kyung had been called.

The man seemed used to it, calmly continuing his meal. Yet he attentively moved served dishes to her plate and checked if she needed anything.

A shadow fell over Da Hae’s face as she forced a smile.

While Bang Mi Mi might be excused for doting on Kang Pil Seung, who came from her own body, shouldn’t Chairman Kang Chul Won behave differently?

He didn’t even glance their way once. It was upsetting even for her to see.

Now she understood. Why Kang Jae Kyung had that expression in the parking lot. And why he said to treat it as if sharing a table with strangers.

He knew from countless past experiences that this gathering was intentional ostracism.

As if to say, know your place. As if to imprint your place on your new person as well.

A kind of power struggle.

Guessing that the cynical and quite arrogant Kang Jae Kyung’s reason for attending such gatherings despite knowing all this wasn’t for family affection, she suspected it was related to his proposal of a contract marriage.

Da Hae tormented the sticky mushroom on her plate with her chopsticks.

Then she shifted her gaze in response to a high-pitched voice calling her.

To be precise, it wasn’t her name that was called, but ‘hey’, yet the tone and intonation seemed clearly directed at her, so she instinctively noticed.

“Do you have plans for children?”

“We’re thinking about it slowly. We’re just enjoying newlywed life for now.”

Kang Jae Kyung intercepted the question and answered instead.

“Does Da Hae not have a mouth? Why don’t you speak for yourself?”

Displeased, Bang Mi Mi visibly furrowed her brow.

“So, you’re living together at Kang’s house?”

Averting her gaze from the momentary eye contact with Pil Seung, Da Hae smiled faintly.

“Yes. The house is spa-”

“That Chairman Bae, with all his money, sent his granddaughter off to marry empty-handed. It’s not like he has to carry everything across the Jordan River.”

Bang Mi Mi clicked her tongue loudly and ostentatiously offered food to Yoon Si A. Da Hae wanted to stick out her tongue at such childish behavior. But it didn’t bother her.

Only the man’s face, which had cooled ominously, looked like it could cause trouble at any moment. Da Hae felt she needed to do something before that happened.

For some reason, Kang Jae Kyung seemed to have been making constant efforts to mingle with his family members, and she couldn’t let him fall for such obvious tactics.

“You don’t-”

“You must not know Chairman Bae well.”

A cheerful voice cut in by a hair’s breadth.

“He’s the type to run a big business even at the Jordan River ferry. It’s not for nothing he’s called a big shot in the logistics industry.”

Her hand, which had moved under the table, tapped Kang Jae Kyung’s thigh briefly.

He questioned her meaning with his eyes. Da Hae communicated her intention by winking one eye. You stay out of it, it’s my turn now.

The daughter-in-law, who had only been smiling kindly until now, dared to speak up at the Kang family dinner table.

At last, even Kang Chul Won, who hadn’t spared a glance until then, turned his gaze toward Da Hae.

Facing a face that bore little resemblance to Kang Jae Kyung, Da Hae smiled brightly.

“Father, the weather is too nice for golfing these days. Grandmother asked me to set up an appointment on a day when you’re free. Shall I go ahead with it?”

In both political and business circles, Chairman Bae Jung Soon was an all-powerful cheat key. Even Kang Chul Won, selected by Forbes, was no exception.

“Uh, oh? Um… Yes, that would be fine.”

You fool! Bang Mi Mi glared fiercely.

Even she, afraid of Chairman Bae Jung Soon, couldn’t recklessly discipline that fox-like Kye Da Hae.

The woman, who had been scrutinizing the daughter-in-law who seemed no ordinary person, gave up on trying to subdue her and changed her objective.

To elicit a definitive answer about the matter she was most concerned about.

After rinsing her mouth with warmly brewed tea, Mi Mi changed her tone of voice. Gentle and sweet.

“Since you say newlywed life is good, do you really need to have children? Wouldn’t it be nice to travel together and live freely, just the two of you?”

For a moment, Da Hae’s pupils flickered.

If her hunch about why she was so concerned about the second generation of the eldest son she didn’t care about was correct, it was obvious. Kang Pil Seung. To protect the position of Kang Pil Seung, born from her own body.

If her intuition was right, Bang Mi Mi’s wish would be for her and Kang Jae Kyung to divorce.

If they were to have a child, parting wouldn’t be so smooth.

“Hmm… You think so?”

Seeing Da Hae nodding in agreement, Mi Mi’s face brightened. She seemed to expect things to work out easily.

“These days, children aren’t a must for young couples. They’re tiring and troublesome.”

“Oh my, it seems Young Master Pil Seung must have been very tiring and troublesome. Kang Jae Kyung doesn’t seem like he would have been, given his quiet style. He’s just so- boring as a person. Isn’t that right?”

The strange mother-in-law adamantly refusing grandchildren and the extraordinary daughter-in-law smiled at each other.

“Still, I’d like to have children. I’m an only child, so I feel quite deprived.”

“How about trying to raise a dog?”

“I’ve thought about it.”

“And?”

“The problem is, I have far too much wealth to pass on for that.”

Bang Mi Mi, gritting her teeth while maintaining her smile. A laugh like a breath flowed into Da Hae’s ear as she stood her ground.

Glancing to the side, she saw Kang Jae Kyung staring at her intently, unable to hide his laughter behind the back of his hand.

Kang Jae Kyung must have found it funny too, it was about time to throw a counter punch.

After scanning Kang Pil Seung’s strange face directly in front of her and turning back to Bang Mi Mi with a fresh smile, Da Hae suddenly clapped her hands together.

“Since we’re on the subject, why don’t we stay here for the night? What do you think, Jae Kyung?”

Jae Kyung’s gaze immediately sought Da Hae’s eyes. That expression, how should I put it. An incredible method, perhaps.

The corners of his mouth raised slightly, his brow smoothly unfurrowed. Sparkling eyes.

Though he was clearly acting, his face conveyed a stronger sincerity than ever before.

Da Hae, breaking eye contact first, raised her wrist to check her watch.

“Mother, Father. May we take our leave now? We’ll take care of the bill.”

“Child,”

“Then have a peaceful night.”

It was an unusual occurrence.

Kang Jae Kyung, the unofficial Cinderella of the Kang family, had never gone against them despite his dark inner thoughts.

Even Kang Cha Dol, who adored his eldest grandson, didn’t take his side, probably because he had his own agenda, but anyway, for 23 years, Kang Chul Won’s eldest son had been a pushover.

He was supposed to continue being so.

The daughter-in-law, after lightly bowing to her stunned in-laws, tightly wrapped her arm around his burly one.

Expectant eyes met hers. Da Hae’s eyes curved like crescents.

“Let’s stay up late, shall we?”

The point was to whisper loudly enough for them to hear.

While it was meant to upset Bang Mi Mi, someone else was excited.

For instance, her husband who hadn’t been able to sleep the night before.

*

As soon as they left the restaurant, the woman coldly withdrew her arm and walked ahead down the long corridor.

Her stomping gait suggested she was thoroughly angry. Though he could easily catch up if he wanted to, Jae Kyung walked a step behind.

The angry footsteps in heels alternated between suddenly speeding up, slowing down dramatically, and stopping in place. The footsteps following behind adjusted their pace accordingly.

When the woman’s steps headed straight for the emergency exit, Jae Kyung, who had been just watching, finally caught her arm.

Whether she passed by the elevator because she didn’t want to face others or because she wanted to avoid seeing his face when standing side by side. He couldn’t let her walk the stairs in high heels.

“Kye-”

The delicate heeled feet stopped just short of the stairs.

Da Hae, with her arm awkwardly raised where it had been caught, whipped her head around.

Face to face with her, Jae Kyung couldn’t bring himself to finish her name.

The chicken-poop-like tears of the chaebol family’s Candy, who claimed she wouldn’t cry even when lonely or sad, stopped Kang Jae Kyung’s thought processes.