His eyes, sunk in contemplation, occasionally showed subtle movements.

“Huh? Is it okay?”

“…”

“Oppa[Dash].”

Smiling warmly, Serin asked while playfully bumping fists with him.
If it were the usual Jaehan, he would have been taken aback by her audacious behavior. After a moment of contemplation, he loosened Serin’s clinging arms.

“Do as you please.”

Finally granted permission, Serin brightened with a smile. The question from her colleague, who she had talked to before entering his house, came to her mind.

It was a question that hinted at doubts about marrying Jaehan. The nuance seemed to imply, “Are you really becoming the daughter-in-law of the Ga family?” Serin felt her blood boiling at the implications.

However, when she received permission from Jaehan to live together, the feeling of falling into a pit quickly returned. With triumphant eyes as if to say, “Who else would marry Oppa if not me?” Serin’s mocking words flowed endlessly.

Time passed, and the wedding day arrived. From early in the morning, Serin was alone in the makeup shop, receiving makeup.

“Please close your eyes, bride.”

Following the employee’s words, she closed her eyes. Alone in the quiet space, memories of when she visited Chairman Seo came to mind.

Entering his office, filled with an air of sophistication, the first thing she noticed was the bookshelf filled with books.

It was a space that resembled Chairman Seo’s dignified demeanor.

Chairman Seo, sitting at the desk as if reviewing documents, looked up with papers in hand when she entered.

“Did you come? Sit on the sofa; I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes. Take your time. I’m sorry for bothering you when you’re busy.”

In fact, she came prepared for criticism regarding my arbitrary decision to marry Jaehan.

When I unilaterally decided to break up with Jaehan, Chairman Seo didn’t say anything about that matter. He just seemed to understand and accept my decision.

But now, informing him of the wedding schedule without any regard made it unavoidable for him to be upset.

Chairman Seo approached after finishing the document review, covering the papers in his hand.

“So, why did you come to see me, dear?”

“…”

“You didn’t come all the way here just to show me your face, right? Is there something you want to ask?”

Despite the friendly question, his sharp gaze seemed to probe my intentions.

It was unusual for him since I had never come to him personally like this before. Chairman Seo had every reason to be curious.

“I wanted to express my gratitude.”

In response to my honest answer, Chairman Seo smiled quietly.

“I know that you think highly of me. I’ve trusted and followed you like a grandfather since the moment you took the first step.”

“Indeed. Time has passed so quickly. You’ve grown up like this.”
Chairman Seo seemed to recall old memories, lowering his head with a contemplative expression.

Chairman Seo often visited the ancestral home in Seongbuk-dong where my grandfather lived. Being the only son in the family, he treated me kindly, calling my home, which only had boys, austere.

“I apologize for arbitrarily canceling the family agreement.”

“It’s done. Don’t harbor any regrets about the past.”

As if telling me not to worry, Chairman Seo nodded his head.

Knowing it was a comforting remark, my heart became heavier. While looking at him like that, I brought up the words I had kept in my heart.

“And I feel there will be more things to apologize for in the future.”

“…In the future? Is there more left to apologize for?”

With this much said, Chairman Seo looked at me with an amazed expression.

While preparing plans related to Intech, the one I was most concerned about was Chairman Seo. He was planning to destroy the Hojin Group, which he had devoted his life to building, in an instant. Moreover, it was going to happen at the hands of me and Jaeha, his most painful fingers.

Thinking about the plans I had set in motion, my heart naturally became heavier.

“I can’t tell you everything, but there will be surprising events. At that time, please trust Mr. Jaeha. Mr. Jaeha cherishes Hojin deeply. I’m sure it won’t bring any harm to Hojin.”

“Na Won, really. I can’t figure out what you and Jaeha are thinking. Did you come to say this?”

While Chairman Seo scolded me, his eyes were affectionate.

“Yes. And I came to deliver the wedding invitation as well.”

I pushed a white envelope toward Chairman Seo, who was sitting at the table.

“Why are you giving me something like this?”

Just as I was about to leave after saying goodbye to Chairman Seo like that,

Chairman Seo called me with a quiet voice.

“Hey, Yeojin.”

Turning around to face him, Chairman Seo smiled faintly and added,

“When you enter the wedding venue, let’s go in together.”

Once again, memories from that time welled up, and my heart felt sentimental.

I didn’t expect Chairman Seo to offer to walk with me on Virgin Road first.

With gratitude and the plan to destroy Hojin coming to mind, my heart felt heavy with guilt.

Then, the lively voices of the makeup shop staff reached my ears.

“Bride, you’re so beautiful.”

“That’s right. It’s the first time the bride’s makeup suits someone so well.”

I thought my reflection beyond the mirror looked decent.

Just as I was about to smile awkwardly and express my gratitude to the staff,

“Yes, you were beautiful even before.”

A familiar voice echoed in the room, and I turned towards it.

There, leaning against the entrance, was Jaeha, looking at me.

“Thinking that you’ll be my wife makes you even more beautiful. Almost to the point of losing your composure.”

As he added those words, Jaeha smiled gently.