“You, what are you guys doing?”

Jin Young Cheol, a fourth-term congressman of the Republic of Korea, couldn’t hide his shock at the sight of his son and daughter-in-law before him.

He had barged in early in the morning, but he didn’t expect his son Sun Woo to appear with his broad shoulders and muscular upper body fully exposed, barely managing to put on pants.

Han Moon Taek, the CEO of the online news outlet ‘Wide Current Affairs’, was equally flustered.

He had rushed over after eating an early breakfast to get his daughter Green to sign the divorce papers, but Green was standing there embarrassed, wearing what was clearly her husband Sun Woo’s large T-shirt like a mini dress.

A situation impossible to ignore even if they wanted to, the two had clearly spent the night together. And quite passionately too, on the eve of their divorce!

A clear crease appeared between Sun Woo’s brows, seemingly displeased by the sudden visit of his father and father-in-law without notice to their newlywed home.

“Is it such a big deal for a married couple to sleep together? It’s not like we’re having an affair.”

At Sun Woo’s curt response, Jin Young Cheol gritted his teeth.

“Are you in your right mind? Didn’t I tell you that you two were going to file for divorce as soon as the court opens?”

He roughly waved the divorce papers in front of Sun Woo’s face. It was maddening that his son and daughter-in-law, who had been living separately for a whole year, would choose this time of all times to do such a thing.

On the other hand, a sly smile flashed across the face of Green’s father, Han Moon Taek. The calculator in his head had already finished crunching the numbers.

“We married when it was necessary, and it would be right to part ways cleanly now that the need is over, but things seem to have changed now, Congressman.”

“What do you mean changed? What kind of scam are you trying to pull this time?”

“It hurts me to hear you say that. If he took Green’s first time when divorce was imminent, shouldn’t Jin take responsibility?”

Han Moon Taek’s words surprised not only his daughter Green, but also Sun Woo and Jin Young Cheol. How could he, who was more eager than anyone for his daughter’s divorce, now tell his son-in-law to take responsibility?

Sun Woo, who was the first to come to his senses, opened his mouth.

“Are you saying we shouldn’t get divorced?”

“Jin, is that the only way to take responsibility? There’s a simple way to compensate financially. It’s commonly called alimony!”

“Father, please stop!”

Green trembled with shame. She felt so foolish for momentarily hoping that he was opposing the divorce for her sake.

Sun Woo’s father, Jin Young Cheol, also turned red with anger.

“You swindler! Do you expect me to believe it was her first time?”

“Do you know how strictly I raised Green? She’s never even held hands with a man until now. If he touched such an innocent girl, he should at least compensate her with money!”

“Is your daughter the only virgin? My son is a virgin too! He’s been so focused on work that he’s ignored women like they were stones. Your daughter touched my son too, so pay Sun Woo alimony as well.”

“Talk sense. A man at thirty-two, with that body, that face, that ability, and my daughter was his first? Even a passing dog would laugh.”

The low-quality conversation between Jin Young Cheol and Han Moon Taek crossed the line more and more, and Sun Woo watched his father and father-in-law with cold eyes.

While gauging how to get revenge to satisfy himself.

“I have something to say!”

At that moment, Green raised her hand and cut into the trashy conversation between Jin Young Cheol and Han Moon Taek.

“Father, I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not a virgin.”

“W-What? Han Green, what are you saying right now?”

“I slept with both men I met for marriage meetings before getting married, and I also had three or four one-night stands at clubs when I was too stressed during my second try at college entrance exams and job hunting.”

“What?”

At Green’s bombshell declaration, Han Moon Taek’s face turned ashen, while contempt and triumph spread across Jin Young Cheol’s face.

On the other hand, admiration and respect flashed across Sun Woo’s face as he looked at Green.

“Hearing Green speak, I feel I should gather courage too.”

“Jin Sun Woo. Shut your mouth.”

Jin Young Cheol, instinctively sensing something ominous, tried to stop his son from speaking. But Sun Woo smirked and said what he had to say.

“During the year I was in France, I didn’t just stay celibate. Being curious and open-minded, I didn’t discriminate based on nationality, skin color, religion, or even gender…”

“Shut up, Jin Sun Woo!”

Extremely agitated, Jin Young Cheol couldn’t contain his anger and flipped over the living room table.

As the loud noise and objects from the table flew in all directions creating a hostile atmosphere, Green flinched as if frightened. Sun Woo quickly moved to block her.

Seeing the panting Jin Young Cheol, Han Moon Taek realized there was nothing more to gain from this household and hurriedly pulled out the divorce papers.

“Come on, the longer we talk, the uglier it gets for everyone, so let’s end this quickly. Green, sign here.”

“Who are you to say that! Sun Woo, you sign too. I’ll have Secretary Kim submit it to the court.”

At that moment, Sun Woo grabbed Green’s hand.

“Father, Father-in-law. We’re not getting divorced.”

“What nonsense is this now?”

“After spending the night together, we found we’re very compatible.”

Sun Woo intertwined his fingers with Green’s slender ones. Then he smiled sweetly at her.

“From now on, we want to get to know each other slowly.”

Too shocked by his son’s absurd words, Jin Young Cheol stood with his mouth open, unable to respond.

Han Moon Taek also turned to his daughter Green in disbelief and asked.

“Green! Surely not?”

“Today is our first day as a couple.”

Though she answered Han Moon Taek, Green’s eyes were on Sun Woo. A look of perfect understanding between them.

To give their fathers another big ‘screw you’, this couple who had lived apart for a year decided to start dating from today.

*****

Han Green first met Jin Sun Woo a year ago.

If it weren’t for her father Han Moon Taek, they wouldn’t have even crossed paths on the street. That’s how different their worlds were.

“Father, do you know what day it is today?”

Green glared coldly at Han Moon Taek, who came home late at night drunk.

“Today? It’s Tuesday, why?”

“Never mind that, why did you default on Mom’s hospital bill again last month?”

The father-daughter relationship had been seriously strained for almost 5 years now.

Though her father was inherently selfish and obsessed with work, their relationship hadn’t always been this bad.

“You know how important a job being a reporter is, right? Daddy’s just busy doing important work, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t love us at all.”

Whenever young Green complained about her dad, it was her mom who defended him.

Thanks to that, Green’s attitude towards her father was indifferent at worst, but not hatred. At least until her mom fell into a coma after a hit-and-run accident.

‘How could you do this to Mom! How can you not visit her even once in 5 years?’

Oblivious to his daughter’s resentful thoughts, a triumphant smile bloomed on the heavily drunk Han Moon Taek’s face.

“Hospital bills, I’ll solve that soon. I just finished talking with Congressman Jin Young Cheol and Vice Chairwoman Park In Young. Those high and mighty people finally agreed to your marriage with Jin Sun Woo!”

Han Moon Taek put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest. Expecting grateful thanks from an impressed Green.

But Green’s eyes, full of contempt, only grew colder.

“A father-in-law who’s a four-term congressman and a mother-in-law who’s a vice chairwoman of a major construction company, how did I manage to catch their precious only son?”

“It’s all thanks to having a capable father.”

Han Moon Taek answered proudly, but Green wasn’t fooled.

“You caught Congressman Jin Young Cheol’s corruption and blackmailed him, right?”

Han Moon Taek, who worked as a political reporter for 20 years at the conservative daily Goryeo Ilbo and is now the CEO of the online news outlet ‘Wide Current Affairs’.

Politicians from both parties once called him ‘Mama Han’. It meant he was as fearsome and troublesome as a tiger, because he knew the dirty secrets of politicians better than anyone.

“The formal meeting is next week. Go to the beauty salon, get a massage too. It’s better to look pretty for your in-laws, right?”

The drunken Han Moon Taek burst into a pleased laugh. Once this marriage was settled, Wide Current Affairs, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, could make a comeback.

As soon as word spread that he would become in-laws with K1 Construction, people lined up with bags of money wanting to invest.

Not only that, construction-related companies suddenly flooded them with calls inquiring about advertising in Wide Current Affairs. Getting ads from K1 Construction’s side was also practically guaranteed.

Expecting all the problems that had been plaguing him to be resolved with this marriage, a smile kept escaping Han Moon Taek’s lips.

“Once your wedding is settled, let’s move your mom to a VIP room. Sounds good, right?”

Certain that Green could never refuse, Han Moon Taek whistled as he disappeared into the master bedroom. Left alone in the living room, Green’s face twisted infinitely.

Biting her lip so hard it almost bled, Green seemed to have made up her mind as she went up to her room on the second floor. She pushed the bookshelf full of books with difficulty.

When a gap barely big enough for a hand appeared between the wall and the bookshelf, Green reached into the gap and pulled out a yellowed envelope.

“Stupid father, today was Mom’s birthday.”

Green muttered expressionlessly as she dusted off the envelope.

“I’m sorry, but I will never act according to your wishes.”

*****

The next morning, Green was standing in front of K1 Construction’s headquarters, which boasted its majesty in the heart of Jongno. Standing in front of the state-of-the-art skyscraper made her feel so insignificant.

The heavy camera bag on her shoulder was also very bothersome. It was because a job to take profile photos of aspiring models suddenly came in last night.

She should have refused considering what was right in front of her, but it was hard to turn down the request from the head of the modeling academy she had been associated with since her college entrance exam retake days.

It was also true that she needed every penny after her father defaulted on her mom’s hospital bills again last month.

In the end, she had no choice but to bring the bag packed with a DSLR camera, telephoto lens, and spare charger all the way here.

It was a bag she always carried when working, but today it felt especially out of place.

‘Damn it.’

She kept feeling intimidated by her reflection in the glass, but there was no time to hesitate. Wasn’t the formal meeting next week?

Green, who had decided to definitely break off the marriage today, took a deep breath.

‘Let’s not expect anything from father anymore. I can work harder and earn money for Mom’s hospital bills myself.’

Burning with determination, Green stepped into the revolving door of the high-tech building. A guide greeted Green with a friendly smile.

“How may I help you?”

“I’m here to see Development Business Division Director Jin Sun Woo.”

When Green stated her business, the receptionist still smiled her mechanical friendly smile.

“I see. Do you have an appointment?”

“Ye…No.”

“Pardon?”

As the receptionist asked again in confusion, Green quickly composed herself and said confidently.

“Please tell Director Jin Sun Woo that Han Green is here. He will surely meet me.”

“I’m sorry, but you need an appointment in advance to meet the director.”

“If he says he won’t meet me, I’ll leave without a word. Please just let him know I’m here.”

The receptionist who had been responding skillfully hesitated for a moment. From her experience, the woman before her did not look like she would leave easily.

Rather than wasting energy on a tick from the morning, it seemed better to just make one phone call to the director’s office.

She quickly picked up the receiver and pressed a button. She didn’t forget to glance at Green with mocking eyes.

“Assistant An, there’s a Ms. Han Green here without an appointment insisting on seeing Director Jin Sun Woo. Yes, Han Green. …What? I understand.”

After finishing the call, she turned to Green with a slightly reddened face from embarrassment.

“Director Jin has a meeting in 20 minutes. If you can finish your business within 15 minutes, he says you can go up.”

“Of course.”

At the fact that she could finally meet him, a bright smile like a peach blossom spread across Green’s face that had been stiff the whole time.