As Green followed In Young to the parking lot, two luxury cars were waiting for them.

In Young turned to her husband Jin Young Cheol and asked.

“I’ll be riding with this child. What do you want to do? Want to come with us?”

“I have a drinking appointment with the members. They all wanted to be in-laws with me, but since things turned out this way, shouldn’t I at least buy them drinks?”

“Alright. Drink moderately, and I’ll see you at home later.”

Jin Young Cheol, who had been glaring at Green with displeasure, got in his car and left first. In Young also turned to Green and said.

“Let’s get going too.”

As she got into the car first, Green, who had been standing hesitantly, quickly went to the opposite side, opened the door, and sat next to In Young.

As the car, driven by a skilled chauffeur, sped along the Gangbyeon Expressway, Green cautiously asked.

“Where are we going?”

“Didn’t Sun Woo tell you about the house?”

“No.”

In Young clicked her tongue lightly and handed Green a small bag. The bag she received was quite heavy.

“It contains the access card to the apartment where Sun Woo lived and the car keys. It’ll be empty for about 2 years anyway, so you should use it.”

“What about my belongings?”

“I’ve sent people to your home, so they’ll bring most of your things. If anything’s missed, just buy new ones.”

“I see.”

“I’ve also included a new mobile phone. I’d like you to cancel the one you’re using now and use this one.”

For a moment, Green felt a chill. Aside from the house and car, there was only one reason to insist on changing her phone.

“Do I only need to cut off contact with my father? Or do I have to sever all my relationships?”

In Young’s lips tightened. She was a bit taken aback that Green had directly pointed out the reason for giving her a new phone.

“Of course you can contact the people you absolutely need to. Your father will eventually find out your new number, but I’d like you to avoid him for the time being.”

“I understand.”

In Young, who had been quietly observing Green, let out a small sigh.

“Sun Woo’s father is someone who can’t hide his thoughts and is excessively emotional. You’ll often get hurt because of that.”

“…I see.”

“I’m not exactly a warm and affectionate person either. It won’t be easy, but I hope you can endure well.”

“I understand why you’re displeased with me. I know I’m a very inadequate daughter-in-law. I’ll try to stay quiet and not draw attention to myself.”

Park In Young silently looked at Green, who had thoroughly humbled herself.

Green also looked at her, but couldn’t read anything in Park In Young’s eyes.

“We’re not trying to imprison you.”

“Pardon?”

At the word ‘imprison’, Green was genuinely surprised. She hadn’t taken In Young’s words that way either.

Park In Young moved her lips as if she had something to say, but then turned her head and sighed.

“Although we held the wedding privately, it will eventually be known through the media. We have no intention of hiding you.”

“Ah, I see.”

“There will be quite a few gatherings related to Sun Woo’s father in the future, and you’ll often need to show your face at events related to K1 Construction.”

In fact, when In Young had decided to hold Sun Woo and Green’s wedding privately, she had no intention of publicly introducing Green as her daughter-in-law.

But seeing Han Moon Taek who had gathered numerous reporters in front of the wedding venue, her thoughts changed.

Now that the fact that Han Moon Taek had become in-laws with In Young and her husband Jin Young Cheol was known to the world, she judged that image management was necessary not only for herself but also for her daughter-in-law Green, and had already made plans accordingly.

Green, unable to read In Young’s mind, was devastated by the fact that daughter-in-law duties were unavoidable even with her husband not in Korea.

She also realized the fact that she was now the daughter-in-law of Park In Young, Vice Chairman of K1 Construction, and Congressman Jin Young Cheol.

Green’s mouth already felt parched at the thought of being called to her in-laws’ events from time to time, but In Young continued speaking without any concern.

“I’ve put some pocket money in the bag. That much will be deposited every month. Think of it as a kind of dignity maintenance fee, and when you have a meeting to attend, Na Mi Ran will contact you by email or phone.”

“Um, Sun Woo said he would give me living expenses…”

“That’s separate from this. Use this when you have meetings related to me or the congressman. You need to come prepared without any mistakes in terms of hair, makeup, and clothing appropriate for the T.P.O. Understand?”

“I understand.”

In Young handed Green a small ring box.

“What’s this?”

“Your wedding ring. You don’t have to wear it normally, but make sure to wear it at public events.”

“I see.”

Green quickly opened the ring box. A brilliant diamond ring was flaunting its beautiful form, but Green had no time to admire it.

In Young nodded as she confirmed Green putting the ring on her finger.

“Sun Woo seemed to have roughly estimated your ring size, but I’m glad it fits well. Do you have any other questions?”

Green was curious about how he knew her finger size, but now wasn’t the time to ask about that. She asked what she was most curious about.

“Um, if I need to contact Sun Woo, how should I do it? Can I call him directly?”

“Contact Sun Woo?”

In Young frowned for a moment, then answered coldly.

“If you tell me or Na Mi Ran, it will be passed on to Sun Woo. Secretary Na will be regularly reporting Korean news to Sun Woo.”

“I understand. Then, could you give me your number, Vice Chairman?”

Green quickly took out the new phone from the bag, turned it on, and looked at Park In Young. It was a desperate gaze, as if In Young’s phone number was the thread connecting her to the world.

“010…”

Seeing Green’s eyes, In Young unconsciously gave her personal number instead of her work number.

A moment later, Park In Young’s phone rang. As she was about to answer, Green quickly said.

“That’s my number. Please save it.”

“Alright.”

“What are you going to save it as?”

“Han Green.”

“Isn’t that too impersonal?”

At Green’s comment, In Young quietly held out her hand.

Green, not understanding at first, looked at In Young’s hand quietly, but soon realized her intention and obediently handed over her phone to In Young.

She checked her name saved in Green’s phone and looked at Green accusingly.

“K1 Construction Vice Chairman?”

“No, that… I thought you might be displeased if I saved it as ‘mother’.”

“I suppose it would look strange if someone happened to see what we’ve saved each other as.”

In the end, they agreed to save it as ‘daughter-in-law’ in In Young’s phone and ‘mother-in-law’ in Green’s phone. After saving each other’s numbers, Green cautiously said.

“You mentioned earlier that others might accidentally see our phones, right?”

“Yes.”

“Just in case, how about we add this?”

In Young frowned with a displeased expression at Green’s suggestion. But Green’s words seemed to make sense.

“How do you add something like that?”

“I’ll do it for you.”

With Green’s help, the same special symbol was added to the names saved in both of their contact lists.

In the car returning to K1 Construction headquarters after dropping Green off at Sun Woo’s apartment, In Young unnecessarily took out her phone that hadn’t even rung.

‘Daughter-in-law♡’

It was truly ironic that among the numerous people saved in her contact list, the only one with a heart was her fake daughter-in-law, Green.

*****

After parting with her mother-in-law, Green went up to the apartment where Sun Woo had lived until this morning.

As she carefully tapped the key card, the front door smoothly opened.

“Oh, you must be Mr. Jin’s wife. Welcome!”

Thinking the house would be empty, Green was greeted warmly by a middle-aged woman wearing an apron.

“Who are you…?”

“Ah, I’m the housekeeper. Call me Mrs. An. I come three times a week to clean, do laundry, and prepare side dishes.”

As Mrs. An with her friendly demeanor warmly welcomed Green, she also felt at ease.

“Hello, I’m Han Green.”

“Oh my, please speak comfortably. Our Director Jin has found such a nice bride. Leaving such a pretty wife for a long business trip, how reluctant he must have been to go.”

In front of Mrs. An, who was indulging in romantic fantasies on her own, Green could only manage an awkward smile.

“Oh, look at me! Ma’am, you must be tired? I’ll leave right away, please rest.”

Mrs. An explained the house layout to Green, taught her how to operate the boiler and use the security screen, then hurriedly left.

Left alone, Green carefully looked around the house. Everything was so spacious, luxurious, and neat that it felt like she shouldn’t touch anything carelessly.

Sighing, Green went into the master bedroom, hugging tightly the bag In Young had given her.

The large bed in the middle of the room looked like it had never been used.

‘Maybe they changed the bedding.’

The master bedroom was connected to a quite spacious dressing room, and beyond that was the bathroom.

Seeing Sun Woo’s clothes occupying half the closet and his accessories like ties, it felt a bit more real that he had lived here until this morning.

The empty space in the closet seemed to be for Green, but she grimaced, wondering if she even had enough to fill even a quarter of it.

‘Ah, Jenny and Hannah!’

Green suddenly thought of her friends who must be anxiously waiting for her call.

Green first called her mother’s hospital to give them her new number. Then she sat comfortably on the bed and called Hannah, as Jenny was busy with an advertisement shoot.

“Hannah, it’s me, Green.”

“Ah, I changed my phone. Contact me on this number from now on.”

“Um, Hannah, calm down for a moment…”

Green waved her arm in the air as if trying to calm down the excited Hannah. In the process, the bag In Young had given her, which was placed at the edge of the bed, fell to the floor with a thud.

As Green bent down to grab the edge of the fallen bag, its contents spilled out.

As she picked up a rather thick envelope with her fingertips, its contents scattered onto the floor. In an instant, the bedroom floor was covered with numerous images of Lady Shin Saimdang looking up at her with a benevolent expression.

“Oh my goodness!”

“Hannah, when does your work finish?”

“I’ll send you the address. Please come here as soon as you’re done, please!”

Hannah, sensing that something was not right with Green’s voice, agreed without any objection.