The person glaring at the camera with a face full of rage at the first-floor entrance was none other than Green’s father, Han Moon Taek.

It was the first time in over a year since their marriage that Han Moon Taek had visited his daughter’s newlywed home. Initially, it was because she had never told him where she lived.

Green pressed the intercom button and asked.

“Father, how did you know to come here?”

“Is Jin, I mean Jin Sun Woo home right now?”

Seeing Han Moon Taek angrily looking for Sun Woo first without any preamble, Green had a bad feeling.

Pushing Sun Woo, who was trying to come closer, into a corner, Green shook her head and answered.

“He left early in the morning. He’s not home right now.”

“Damn it! That family of con artists, I could drink their blood and it wouldn’t be enough. Han Green, get out of that house right now.”

“What? Why?”

“What do you mean why? Don’t you understand the situation? Now that it’s been revealed that Jin Sun Woo is all flash and no substance, what reason is there for you to stay in that house? Huh?”

Seeing Han Moon Taek getting more and more agitated, Green felt she should try to calm him down first. Above all, she had to avoid a confrontation between Sun Woo and her father.

“Just go home for now. I’ll be there within an hour.”

“Why wait an hour? Come down right now. Let’s go together.”

“I haven’t even washed my face yet. I’ll get ready as quickly as possible and come, so please go home first. Okay?”

Han Moon Taek’s eyes moved rapidly as he fell silent for a moment. It meant he was calculating something in his head for a while. Finally, he nodded.

“Don’t dawdle and come as quickly as possible. If not, I’ll storm into Jin Sun Woo’s office.”

“I understand, so please go back quickly.”

As Han Moon Taek’s figure disappeared from the intercom screen, Green let out a big sigh of relief.

At that moment, Sun Woo’s large hand touched her shoulder from behind. It felt careful but concerned for her.

“Do you really have to go?”

“Don’t worry. I can handle my father well.”

Sun Woo nodded reluctantly, as if he didn’t like it.

Just then, Sun Woo’s personal phone rang. The caller was Ahn Yong Gi, his chief secretary and friend.

“Oh, Yong Gi. How’s the atmosphere at the company?”

“What about the reporters?”

When Sun Woo remained silent, Ahn Yong Gi continued, deliberately cheerful as if trying to encourage him.

“Okay, thanks.”

At Ahn Yong Gi’s incongruous quip, Sun Woo also answered seriously.

“I know. But Yong Gi, don’t try too hard.”

“I’m hanging up.”

After ending the call with Yong Gi, Sun Woo turned around to find Green standing like a statue with her eyes wide open.

Sun Woo looked at her curiously.

“Weren’t you going to meet your father?”

“…Was that Chief Secretary Ahn?”

“Yes.”

“You even speak informally with Secretary Ahn?”

Seeing Green’s strange curiosity activated even in this situation, Sun Woo found it a bit absurd and cute at the same time.

“After spending a long time together, an implicit rule developed.”

“An implicit rule?”

“When we talk as director and chief secretary, we use formal speech, but when we talk as friends, informal speech naturally comes out.”

Green nodded as if finding it interesting.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen Sun Woo speak informally to someone else.”

“Is that so? Well, I don’t easily speak informally to anyone except Yong Gi.”

“Why?”

“In case I make a mistake. Yong Gi is the only person I can make mistakes with.”

“I see. Sun Woo must be really comfortable with Secretary Ahn.”

Seeing Sun Woo not speaking informally to her, Green realized that she was not yet a comfortable person for him.

She suddenly felt envious of Ahn Yong Gi, who was Sun Woo’s only person. But being jealous of her husband’s male chief secretary was also unseemly.

“What am I thinking! I need to hurry and get ready to go out. Before my father causes a scene.”

Green rushed to the bathroom and washed her face with cold water.

‘This is not the time to be distracted, Han Green. Let’s deal with father first.’

*****

When Green arrived at her parents’ house, he was waiting for her in the living room, sitting formally.

He looked ready to rush to K1 Group and cause a commotion if she arrived even a minute later than promised.

Even though it was the house she had lived in until a year ago, Green felt very unfamiliar with the place.

“Green, you!”

As soon as he saw her, Han Moon Taek shouted, pointing his finger at her, but then he took a deep breath and stood up.

“Follow me.”

He strode ahead and went to Green’s old room on the second floor. Although it was strange that he chose to go to that room instead of the spacious living room, Green followed him anyway.

“Sit here.”

As instructed by Han Moon Taek, Green sat on the edge of her old bed.

Han Moon Taek pulled up a chair, sat in front of Green, and opened his mouth carefully, lowering his voice.

“What happened to what I told you before? Did you really do it?”

“What did you tell me before?”

“What else? To have Jin’s child first!”

Green really couldn’t understand Han Moon Taek for bringing up such an embarrassing topic in this situation.

“I didn’t.”

“Really? You really didn’t?”

“No. We’re not yet that emotionally intimate…”

Normally, Han Moon Taek should have been furious that Green didn’t listen to him, but his face was filled with joy and excitement.

“Well done, Green. Yes, that’s right. I really raised my daughter properly! Well done, well done.”

Green’s face involuntarily frowned at the unexpected storm of praise and ridiculous self-congratulation.

Han Moon Taek hurriedly went out and came back with an envelope, which he held out to Green.

“What is this?”

“The photos inside, take them out quickly.”

When Green took out the contents of the envelope, she found photos and profiles of handsome-looking men.

As she looked at her father in confusion, Han Moon Taek explained with a satisfied face.

“The eldest son of Juno Tires and the third son of Shine Electronics. What do you think? They’re all quite handsome, aren’t they?”

“Why are these people…”

“It seems they have quite a good reputation among the children in your circles. They must have seen you at your mother-in-law’s gathering. They showed interest first.”

The more she heard the explanation, the more unpleasant Green felt. What were they trying to do by showing interest in a married woman?

She couldn’t understand what Han Moon Taek was thinking, bringing such photos and showing them to her.

“Why did you bring these?”

“Let’s get you divorced this time.”

“What?”

“There’s nothing more to gain from that Jin Sun Woo. Since you haven’t slept with him yet, your value in the remarriage market will double.”

“Father!”

“Now you can choose the position you want and get married.”

Green was thoroughly disgusted with Han Moon Taek, who treated his daughter like an object from beginning to end.

She had given up expecting anything from her father since the moment her mother had the accident five years ago, but now Green was beyond disappointment and felt despair.

Green stood up abruptly.

“I’m not getting divorced.”

“What?”

“I don’t want anyone but Sun Woo.”

“No. You will definitely get divorced! Because I’ll make it happen.”

After uttering these coercive words, Han Moon Taek suddenly pushed Green back with tremendous force. Caught off guard, Green fell back onto the bed.

Taking advantage of the moment, Han Moon Taek quickly left the room. She hurriedly got up and ran to the door, but it was already firmly locked.

“Father, don’t do this. I have to go see mom today too. Open the door quickly!”

“Wait quietly. I’ll open it wide after filing for divorce.”

“Father!”

Despite Green’s desperate cries, Han Moon Taek’s footsteps gradually faded away. A moment later, the sound of the front door slamming shut was heard.

Green, who had been twisting the doorknob with all her might, quickly turned around to check the windows. Every window had a lock that couldn’t be opened from the inside.

‘My phone, where’s my phone?’

She searched around the bed thoroughly, but the phone was nowhere to be seen. Realizing that Han Moon Taek had taken it, Green despaired. Try as she might, tears flowed involuntarily.

‘Sun Woo, I’m so scared right now. Please come quickly and hold me.’

*******

For Sun Woo, this day also passed in a blur.

To accurately assess the current situation, he had to move secretly, avoiding the eyes of reporters.

First, he moved to the residence hotel prepared by Secretary Ahn and handled urgent business. Deputy Na Mi Ran assisted him.

In the evening, he went to Seongbuk-dong to meet Jin Young Cheol and Park In Young.

“Since it has come to this, what can we do? Sun Woo, leave K1 Construction as soon as possible.”

Jin Young Cheol, who had been frowning the whole time, spoke as if he felt rather relieved.

“There are still many things to handle.”

“You foolish boy, don’t you understand yet? The only people who know your secret are me, your mother, your father-in-law, and you. Four of us. It’s definitely not you or me who leaked this to the press.”

“…”

“Then who could it be? It’s your mother and father-in-law! They’ve finally made a move to remove you from K1 Construction!”

Jin Young Cheol turned to his wife Park In Young and asked fiercely.

“Am I wrong? If I’m wrong, try to refute it.”

Despite Jin Young Cheol’s agitated badgering, In Young calmly picked up her teacup and drank her tea.

“Could it be that you leaked it to send Sun Woo into politics quickly?”

“W-What?”

Ignoring Jin Young Cheol, whose face had turned red with anger, she turned to Sun Woo.

“Sun Woo, does this incident affect your choice?”

“…”

Unlike before, Sun Woo couldn’t answer In Young’s question. It wasn’t that he had suddenly developed an interest in politics.

Although he had never told anyone, his ambition to be acknowledged by In Young and help her grow K1 into a world-class construction company remained unchanged.

The only variable for him was Green.

Although they hadn’t spent a long time together, she was currently the only person Sun Woo could relax with and open up to without tension.

Looking back, Sun Woo seemed to have noticed from their first meeting that she was of the same kind as him. A lonely frog with a dry desert in the center of his heart.

As soon as Han Moon Taek learned that Sun Woo was not related by blood to K1 Construction’s representative Park Chan Wook, he had already reacted violently.

In this situation, Sun Woo had no choice but to weigh staying at K1 Construction to keep Green against entering politics. He didn’t want to lose her at all.

Seeing Sun Woo unable to give any answer, In Young looked at him with slightly disappointed eyes.

When Sun Woo returned home quite late without finding a clear solution, Green was not at home. He kept calling her, but it always went to voicemail.

Just in case, he called the hospital where his mother-in-law was, but they said she hadn’t come today.

That night, Sun Woo stayed up all night waiting for Green, who did not return.