“Well, let’s start eating.”

Chairman Cha picked up his chopsticks first, followed by Do Joon, Hae Joon, and Tae Yeon who also began eating.

While observing the still chilly atmosphere between Hae Joon and Do Joon, Tae Yeon wondered:

‘Are elder brother and Do Joon not on good terms?’

Unable to ask, she kept that question to herself.

As they were eating, Chairman Cha looked at Tae Yeon with a kind smile.

“Now that Do Joon is back in Korea, we’ll be able to see our daughter-in-law often.”

“Yes, father.”

Tae Yeon answered with a bright smile without hesitation. Chairman Cha laughed heartily, clearly pleased.

“Now that Do Joon is back, I suppose we can expect grandchildren soon.”

Tae Yeon looked up in surprise. Do Joon seemed equally startled, his chopsticks freezing mid-air.

“Our new daughter must have been so lonely all this time. Aren’t you happy Do Joon is back in Korea?”

Tae Yeon smiled along with the beaming Chairman Cha.

“Yes, it’s nice to see Do Joon after so long.”

Tae Yeon’s affectionate gaze fell on Do Joon. He seemed taken aback, as if not expecting such words from her.

“Ho ho ho. Our daughter-in-law must take good care of her health too.”

“Yes, father.”

Tae Yeon laughed shyly, covering her mouth with her hand.

“A child that takes after you both would be truly adorable.”

Chairman Cha seemed to already be imagining Do Joon and Tae Yeon’s future child.

As they were finishing the meal, Chairman Cha’s secretary, Director Tae, entered.

“Chairman, I believe you need to step out for a moment.”

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes, it’s a call from Director Park.”

“My, my. They seek me out even on weekends.”

Chairman Cha rose from his chair and looked at Do Joon.

“It seems I’ll have to step down from the chairman position to play with my grandchild.”

At those words, not only Do Joon but Hae Joon’s head whipped around. Chairman Cha spoke as if wondering why they were so surprised.

“I can’t be in charge of KK Group forever, can I? I think changing my grandchild’s diapers would be happier than listening to the constant phone calls from the directors.”

As Chairman Cha rambled on, Director Tae called out to him once more.

“Chairman.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll be there soon, you all continue with your meal.”

After Chairman Cha left.

Do Joon wiped his mouth with a napkin. Glancing at Tae Yeon, who had barely eaten, he asked:

“Was the food not to your liking?”

“No, it’s delicious.”

“Then why did you leave so much…”

Hae Joon abruptly cut into the couple’s conversation.

“Sister-in-law, how have you been while Do Joon was away?”

“Pardon?”

It was an unexpected question. Hae Joon’s face wore a kind smile, but there was an undercurrent of coldness.

‘I must be imagining things.’

As Tae Yeon was about to answer, Do Joon interjected.

“Why are you curious about that, elder brother?”

Hearing Do Joon’s sharp tone, Hae Joon laughed as if embarrassed.

“While you were gone, I should have at least looked after sister-in-law. I feel bad that I couldn’t.”

“Why would you need to look after my wife?”

His tone was clearly drawing a line. Once again, the atmosphere in the room turned cold.

The relationship between the two was so strained that Tae Yeon couldn’t even intervene.

Hae Joon persistently questioned Tae Yeon again.

“You must have felt quite free when Do Joon wasn’t around.”

“No, not particularly.”

“It must be awkward now. Suddenly having a husband who wasn’t there before. Isn’t that right?”

‘Why is he asking these questions?’

As Tae Yeon carefully chose her words, unsure how to answer Hae Joon.

Do Joon suddenly grabbed Tae Yeon’s hand under the table. Tae Yeon’s eyes widened noticeably.

But that was only for a moment.

She felt a warm comfort from his hand holding hers.

Her hand, which had been trembling slightly under the table without her realizing, started to calm down after being held by Do Joon.

When Tae Yeon didn’t answer, Hae Joon threw out another unexpected comment.

“Let’s meet often from now on.”

“I doubt it. I think this might be the last time we have a meal face to face like this, elder brother.”

Though Do Joon clearly drew a line, Hae Joon crossed it all too easily.

“Haha. Why are you being so prickly, kid?”

Not wanting to stay any longer in this atmosphere that had frozen over like an ice rink, Tae Yeon gently pulled her hand from Do Joon’s grasp and smiled awkwardly.

“Do Joon, I’ll just pop to the restroom for a moment.”

“Alright.”

After Tae Yeon left.

Hae Joon quickly discarded the mask of friendliness he had been wearing.

“So you take her side just because you’re married.”

“You’re butting into matters that don’t concern you. Who would take that well?”

Do Joon’s eyes turned cold.

Hae Joon had always been like this. Since childhood, he had coveted everything related to Do Joon without a second thought.

Do Joon’s cherished toys would mysteriously disappear or be broken, all Hae Joon’s doing.

As they grew older, Hae Joon would somehow find out about the girls who confessed to Do Joon and make them his own.

Such petty acts didn’t really impact Do Joon. He didn’t even remember the names of those girls anyway.

Do Joon’s consistently indifferent reactions only served to provoke Hae Joon further.

If Do Joon had ever confronted him about such incidents, Hae Joon might not have tormented him to this extent.

But Do Joon never once asked why Hae Joon was doing this to him.

After Hae Joon’s birth mother died, Chairman Cha remarried Do Joon’s mother not long after.

After Do Joon came to this house, the love Chairman Cha had showered solely on Hae Joon was halved.

In fact, it was hard to even call it half. Most of the attention was focused on Do Joon.

So everything about Do Joon displeased Hae Joon.

Having suddenly lost his mother and then his father’s love.

Hae Joon looked at Do Joon with sharp eyes.

“Do Joon, you’re not under the delusion that KK Group will be yours, are you?”

At those words, Do Joon raised an eyebrow and smiled slyly.

“Of course not. Why would I have such a delusion?”

As Hae Joon was about to sigh in relief.

Do Joon’s deep voice flowed out softly.

“It’s a certain fact.”

“You…”

As Hae Joon trembled, this time it was Do Joon who warned:

“That’s enough of your misplaced interest in my wife.”

Hae Joon snickered.

“Anyone would think you married for love.”

Do Joon slowly raised his eyes.

“For someone who entered a political marriage to gain something. Your acting is quite perfect.”

Their conversation was cut short by Tae Yeon’s return from the restroom.

Tae Yeon sat down next to Do Joon with an awkward smile and took his hand again.

This time, she placed it on top of the table for everyone to see.

Now it was Do Joon who was surprised.

Without even looking at Hae Joon, Tae Yeon spoke to Do Joon:

“Do Joon, shall we go shopping together after lunch today?”

They had already finished this conversation yesterday. Do Joon was curious why Tae Yeon suddenly brought this up.

Tae Yeon spoke in a gentle voice, her eyes curved sweetly:

“I saw an outfit that would suit you well. I’d like to have you try it on and buy it for you.”

Her tone was so affectionate that anyone would think she truly cared for her husband. Do Joon quickly hid his surprise and answered readily:

“Sounds good. I also had something I wanted to buy you for your birthday.”

After waiting for a while with no sign of Chairman Cha returning, Do Joon stood up first. Tae Yeon followed suit.

“We’ll be going first. We keep cutting into our date time, which is a shame.”

Watching the two leave, Hae Joon threw his head back and laughed in disbelief.

“Hahaha.”

Then Hae Joon made a phone call to someone.

After getting into Do Joon’s car, Tae Yeon glanced at him nervously.

She was still worried about suddenly taking Do Joon’s hand earlier without discussing it.

As he smoothly started the car, Do Joon brought it up first.

“Thank you for earlier, Jin Tae Yeon.”

“Pardon?”

“For pretending to be affectionate in front of my elder brother.”

“Oh. It was only natural.”

She had only gone to wash her hands in the restroom, but hearing the brothers’ chilly conversation, she couldn’t bring herself to go back in right away.

Quietly listening to their conversation from outside, she instinctively approached Do Joon after hearing Hae Joon’s words.

“Anyone would think you married for love.”

Of course, what Hae Joon said wasn’t wrong.

But she panicked at the thought that if those words reached Chairman Cha’s ears, it might cause problems for Do Joon inheriting KK Group.

Chairman Cha believed they were living as an affectionate couple even during the time they were apart.

After all, it was Tae Yeon’s role to maintain her place by Do Joon’s side while they were married.

So without thinking deeply, she went in and took Do Joon’s hand.

As she was thinking about the situation earlier.

The car arrived at the department store. Do Joon asked as he got out of the car:

“A personal shopper is on standby.”

Then he offered Tae Yeon another option, as if letting her choose:

“If you’d prefer to browse and shop on our own, that’s fine with me too.”

After pondering for a moment, Tae Yeon chose the latter.

“I’d like to look around slowly, as if taking a stroll.”

“Alright then.”

The first place the couple arrived at was the luxury jewelry store that Tae Jin had visited a few days ago.

Do Joon walked straight to the corner with watches and rings without hesitation.

Pointing to a watch he had seen in a photo, he asked for Tae Yeon’s opinion:

“What do you think of this watch?”

The employee took out the watch and placed it in front of Tae Yeon for a better view.

Tae Yeon carefully examined the watch Do Joon had chosen. Studded with flashy jewels, it wasn’t to her taste.

“Not really…”

As Tae Yeon was about to express her dislike, the employee quickly continued explaining about the watch.

“Only three of these watches were brought into the country.”

That wasn’t particularly important to Tae Yeon. Do Joon casually asked:

“Is this the last one?”

“Yes. Someone bought one last week.”

Despite asking, Do Joon closely observed Tae Yeon. She remained unimpressed even after looking at the watch.