The dream-like honeymoon has passed, and we returned home.

Facing Jaeha in the honeymoon destination didn’t feel strange at all. However, upon returning home, a belated sense of embarrassment overwhelmed me.

‘It feels like I’m the only one conscious of it…’

Is it because we now truly feel like a married couple?

After finishing breakfast, I stared blankly at Jaeha, who was getting ready to go out in a typical Busan fashion.

Jaeha, whom I thought was going out alone, gestured for me to join him as he left.

“…Why me?”

“Because. It’s the weekend, and for once, let’s go get some fresh air.”

Jaeha, leading the way, entered the department store lounge.

There were more people recognizing us than I thought, making it challenging to stroll around and shop freely.

“I deliberately wore a hat, but does it stand out a lot?”

“Well… It’s not that it stands out, but it does look a bit suspicious, don’t you think?”

As I put down the shopping basket, Jaeha smiled at me.

Looking suspicious, he said.

I tried to refute, but by then, he was already engaged in a conversation with the lounge staff.

Only after the staff left did Jaeha turn his head to look at me.

“What’s with that look? I told you not to wear that hat.”

It felt like we attracted more attention because we were conscious of people around us.

“If there’s nothing else to see, shall we have this and go back?”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

It was supposed to be a mood-changer, coming to the department store.

However, the thought of our private lives becoming news again made the stares of people uncomfortable.

Thinking of standing up and leaving the seat, the entrance suddenly became noisy.

The lounge, where only we were present, echoed with chaotic voices.

“No available PSRs? Then, there’s no reason for me to come all the way here!”

“Sorry, sir. We’re fully booked for today.”

The lounge staff repeated apologies to the customer who was angrily questioning them.

His voice grew louder, and involuntarily, my impression became stern.

Did even a real VIP customer come out?

Jaeha, who seemed to share the same thought, frowned as he looked towards the entrance.

“It’s noisy outside, so I came in, but it’s not much better here.”

“That’s right. You can hear every word of the conversation.”

Despite a considerable distance from the table near the entrance, the conversation was clearly audible.

“Madam, I’ll try to coordinate with other customers. We apologize for not informing you in advance. It was our oversight.”

“Ugh, when did I contact the department store and come… Is it my fault for not contacting in advance?”

“No, no. I misspoke.”

Despite the continuous apologies from the staff, the woman’s annoyed voice didn’t diminish.

Moreover, the sharp tone of her questioning sounded familiar.

“I spend so much money at this department store annually. If this is the case, why create the top-tier grade?”

“Mom, should we come back on another day? The staff’s service isn’t that great.”
Especially. The husky voice of the young woman who calls her ‘mother’ reminds someone of a certain person.

Jaeha, too, seemed to recognize the owner of that voice, and his face stiffened.

‘No way… are those two together?’

“No! If you’re waiting in the inner lounge, we’ll guide you.”

The uneasy premonition, why has it never been wrong before?

O Yeosa and Serin walked into the lounge where we were.

“Is this the place?”

Jaeha, who had silently moved to the seat next to me, asked.

It was a question whether the two people far away would come to the table we were sitting at.

“No way.”

The thought of sitting together with those two was terrifying, and I shook my head nervously.

“Madam and I aren’t even recognized as family by the lounge staff. They won’t deliberately seat us separately to gossip.”

“Hmm. That makes sense.”

As the two entered the lounge, they also noticed us and furrowed their brows.

Then, O Yeosa, who was heading towards an empty seat, turned her steps towards the table we were sitting at.

“You just returned from your honeymoon?”

“Yes. We arrived yesterday. You’re making quite an entrance with all this noise outside.”

As expected.

Although I hoped they would sit at another table, O Yeosa sat down in the empty seat facing us.

“Ahem. Can we sit here together? Everyone knows we’re from the same family anyway.”

O Yeosa, making a reasonably good excuse, seemed to have some hidden intentions.

Serin also had an unwilling expression, but she reluctantly followed to sit down.

“Madam, I was worried you didn’t come to the wedding. You don’t look very pale, though?”

Jaeha asked O Yeosa with a gaze that seemed uninterested in this situation.

O Yeosa made an excuse not to attend the wedding due to health reasons.

However, the problem was that she looked healthier than expected for someone who was supposedly unwell.

Even if it was undoubtedly an excuse not to come because of illness.

“I wasn’t feeling well. Instead, I sent Jihan and… this child.”

O Yeosa glanced at Serin and replied.

She didn’t refer to Serin as her daughter-in-law.

Serin seemed to sense the subtle nuance and had an unpleasant expression.

She only played with the hem of her dress, not lifting her gaze.

“Jaeha, if you look closely, it’s confusing whether you belong to Hojin’s people or W Group’s people.”

“…”

“You had a meeting with Intec, right? Don’t forget that you’re Hojin’s eldest son, or else?”

O Yeosa openly expressed her discomfort to Jaeha.

Even with O Yeosa’s sharp remarks, Jaeha laughed nonchalantly.

“Haha. Yes, Madam, you’re right.”

“…”

“I have many ambitions, so I wanted to catch two birds with one stone. It would be nice if Jihan could make concessions for the sake of his brother.”

When Jaeha revealed his dedication to Intec, O Yeosa glared at him with a sharp gaze.

However, he continued with his story without showing any signs of yielding.
“Talking too much about household matters seems to make Miss Serin uncomfortable. Is your nephew doing well?”

“Yes?”

“I mean, my nephew.”

Unexpectedly, Jaeha’s question struck Serin, causing her to overturn the glass she was holding. Ice spilled onto the table.

“Oh! I’m sorry.”

“Oh dear, be careful.”

As Serin hurriedly stood up to clean up the spilled ice, no one offered to help her. O Yeosa’s forehead creased deeply at the mention of the nephew, as if she had doubts.

However, she didn’t say anything, perhaps thinking it wasn’t the right time to question.

“You’re not careful. Tsk.”

Looking at the mess that happened late, O Yeosa clicked her tongue. The arrow of blame seemed to shift towards Serin.

“I’m sorry. And Hojin is, well, growing up well.”

“Hmm. Hojin? Is that your child’s nickname?”

I burst into laughter at the unheard nickname. Serin, without responding to my laughter, bit her lips without saying anything.

Jaeha, who had been silently observing the situation, suddenly stood up from his seat.

“We’ll leave now. We want to be alone as newlyweds.”

“Must be nice, being newlyweds. Intercepting my younger sister’s man.”

Although O Yeosa sneered at Jaeha, he seemed indifferent to her mockery. Rather, Serin, who was beside him, suddenly froze.

“Shall we go?”

Jaeha, who stood up first, extended his hand to me. Seemingly burning inside, Serin chugged another drink.

Her flushed face seemed to represent her burning emotions.

Taking my hand, Jaeha turned back to face O Yeosa.

“Oh, and Madam.”

O Yeosa, in response to Jaeha’s call, looked at him with a disdainful gaze. If there’s an unpleasant task, it seemed she wanted him to finish it quickly and leave.

“In the future, please contact us when you come to the department store. Everyone does that.”

“What?”

Unexpectedly, O Yeosa’s rigid mouth was due to Jaeha’s criticism.

“With all the recent controversy and talk about coercion, you should consider Hojin’s image. I’d appreciate it if you could keep that in mind.”

With these final words, Jaeha, holding my hand, turned away from O Yeosa.