Yong Hee, who had come out after a private meeting with Myung Il in the representative’s office, kicked the trash can.

“Yong Hee, you should let go of your greed a bit. You haven’t changed since you were young.”

When she was young, if she threw a tantrum and screamed, Myung Il would eventually listen to her words. She thought that if only her elder brother disappeared, her father would take her side again. However, her turn never came.

Yong Hee hated this situation where she had to be jealous and angry towards her nephew to the point of grinding her teeth.

“Ugh, how annoying!”

Secretary Oh was the one who couldn’t stay still at Yong Hee’s irritation. Fortunately, the elevator doors opened just then. She quickly ushered Yong Hee into the elevator.

The elevator stopped on the 2nd floor where the cafeteria was located. With this mood, eating the tasteless cafeteria food made her irritation surge. However, since Myung Il wanted his children to eat at the cafeteria twice a week to communicate with employees, it was unavoidable.

As Yong Hee was walking, she stopped to check her shoes.

“I think the heel of my shoe has come off. Are there shoes upstairs?”

“Yes, if you sit for a moment, I’ll bring them right away.”

“Okay, don’t run.”

Yong Hee didn’t enter the cafeteria but sat on the terrace of the cafe next door to wait for Secretary Oh. She thought it was a good chance as she needed time to think alone.

Why was Myung Il so generous to Cha Yu Kwon, willing to give him Myung Il Foods just for getting married.

Yu Kwon would definitely not miss that opportunity. Even if it meant a fake marriage.

It was then.

“Hello, Executive Director.”

Someone put down a cup of tea on the table where Yong Hee was sitting.

Yong Hee frowned at the female employee who couldn’t sit in front of her and was standing awkwardly. Looking at the employee ID around her neck, her name was Yang Ju Ri.

“It’s caffeine-free hojicha. I like tea.”

Yong Hee, who was about to refuse, let her guard down and gave her attention. Ju Ri didn’t miss this moment and opened her mouth.

“I’ve read a lot of your books during breaks in the cafeteria. You don’t drink caffeinated beverages because you have insomnia.”

Ju Ri answered with a smile.

“You must have time to rest and be relaxed.”

“That’s not it… I’m sorry.”

Ju Ri, flustered and blushing, bowed her head. Yong Hee looked at her as if testing her.

“I didn’t write that book. Someone else wrote it for me.”

“Even if a ghostwriter wrote it, it doesn’t mean the things you’ve done didn’t happen.”

Ju Ri answered with sparkling eyes. Yong Hee stared at Ju Ri for a while and then chuckled. Usually, when she snapped at someone, they would be at a loss and avoid her, but this one seemed to have quite some courage.

But, she looks somewhat familiar.

“Take the tea away.”

“Yes, I’ve been very rude.”

Ju Ri picked up the teacup, bowed her head again in greeting, and retreated.

Just then, Secretary Oh approached with Yong Hee’s shoes. The secretary bent down and put the shoes on Yong Hee’s feet.

“Secretary Oh.”

“Yes?”

Yong Hee jerked her chin towards Ju Ri’s retreating back.

“Isn’t she the one who sang at the Myung Il Festival?”

The Myung Il Group held a festival every year in May when spring flowers were in full bloom. Last year at the festival’s talent show, Ju Ri sang.

The executives were shocked, but Myung Il laughed heartily and liked it.

Yong Hee also thought at that time that Ju Ri was not ordinary.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Find out about her. As soon as possible.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Cha Yu Kwon, if you’re going to act, I should find a suitable actor to respond.

It won’t go as you want. I absolutely won’t let that happen.

For several days, Young Hoon had been unable to eat or sleep properly while nursing Hyang Mi.

Sung Bok, her father, who had come to Seoul, said he would go see some relatives and left Hyang Mi in Young Hoon’s care without returning. Hyang Mi was truly bothersome.

Even though one might stop asking their child to do things for fear of tiring them out, she kept saying she wanted to eat this, eat that, raise the bed, lower it, go for a walk, read her a book… He even had to feed her.

Just a moment ago, she suddenly said she thought she had developed a lot of wrinkles and asked him to buy her a nourishing cream.

Unable to even eat a proper meal, trying to choose a nourishing cream at the cosmetics store, his irritation surged. When Young Hoon couldn’t choose quickly, an employee who came to help smelled the odor coming from him, coughed awkwardly, and moved away.

Young Hoon, who used to love dressing up, now couldn’t even wash himself for days, let alone dress up. Wiping his oily forehead roughly with the back of his hand, he paid for the product Hyang Mi had mentioned.

“Does Young Hoon also wear makeup?”

When they had stopped by the cosmetics store to choose foundation, Da Eun had asked with round, surprised eyes. Young Hoon regularly got eyebrow tattoos and Botox injections. Moreover, he diligently applied sunscreen and foundation, and put on colored lip balm to add vitality to his face.

On the other hand, Da Eun’s skin was white and soft even though she only applied lotion. Her lips, which didn’t even have lip balm on them, were red and moist.

It wasn’t just her skin. She was good at cooking, kind, and diligent. Except for her not-so-good environment, she was a perfect 100-point bride candidate.

Young Hoon tried to erase these thoughts as he returned to the hospital room. Hyang Mi, who had acted as if he needed to buy it right away, was sleeping peacefully.

Now with no more vacation days left, he had to go to work, but he couldn’t leave Hyang Mi, who had her arm and leg in casts due to fractures. He couldn’t think of any solution.

As he looked down at the sleeping Hyang Mi, sighing deeply, Ju Ri’s words came to mind.

“Or you could ask Da Eun. Da Eun is docile and quite capable, right?”

Even though he had broken up with Ju Ri, he felt relieved rather than lingering feelings. The unsettled feeling in his heart seemed to be because of Da Eun. Because of Ju Ri’s words that Da Eun was meeting Cha Yu Kwon.

Since then, he regretted losing Da Eun so much. If only he could turn back time, he would never have looked elsewhere.

Then Hyang Mi would have been fine too.

Young Hoon was a man full of inferiority complexes. Da Eun, with her pretty face, kind nature, and politeness to adults, was just the right prey. Even her unfortunate family background was perfect. She would obey without rebelling and worship him like a god.

Thinking that far, he felt even more desperate for Da Eun. Young Hoon immediately drove his car towards Da Eun’s house.

Please, let it not be too late. Let Da Eun still have some lingering feelings.

Da Eun, who had finished her grueling work and even stopped by Lumière before going home, was completely exhausted.

There was no one at home, they must have gone out. Before taking off her jacket, Da Eun took out a small box from her pocket.

After measuring the dress size, she had found a silver bracelet that would suit Yu Kwon and bought it. Da Eun, who was about to put it in the drawer, left it in her pocket. She remembered what happened when she lost the ring.

Just as she was about to undress and wash up, she received a call from Geum Suk.

“Mom, what is it?”

—Have you finished work?

“I’ve finished. I’m home.”

—You haven’t had dinner yet, right? There’s nothing to eat at home, want to eat with mom just in front of here and then come home?

“Just the two of us?”

—I’m with Hee Ju. We’re going to the chicken place at the intersection.

“Okay, I’ll come.”

Although she was tired, she couldn’t resist chicken.

Da Eun put on the clothes she had taken off and left the house.

She had to tell mom and Hee Ju soon too. Da Eun shook her head as she imagined their reactions in advance.

The wedding that had only felt vague was gradually progressing. Although there were still many mountains to climb.

As she looked up after checking her phone to see if there were any messages, someone blocked Da Eun’s path. It was Young Hoon.

Da Eun frowned as soon as she recognized him.

“What are you doing?”

“…Da Eun.”

Young Hoon called out to Da Eun with a gaunt appearance. His chin was dark as if he hadn’t shaved for days. The appearance of the man who used to care about his looks was a complete mess.

In the past, she would have been worried, but not now. His presence was not just irritating, it was almost frightening.

At one point, she had wanted revenge and wished he would regret it deeply, but now even those feelings were gone. All Da Eun wanted was for him to disappear from her life.

“I told you not to come to my house.”

Da Eun said with a sigh.

“I’ve thought about it a lot, and I can’t live without you…”

Young Hoon knelt down and sobbed.

“Da Eun, please…”

Young Hoon begged desperately, rubbing his hands together.

Seeing this, Da Eun sensed it. That something had happened between Young Hoon and Ju Ri. That’s why he was kneeling in front of her. It was detestable.

Young Hoon pretended to wipe his tears with the back of his hand and then opened his mouth.

“My mother fell down the stairs and was in a coma for days, and when she woke up, her mind wasn’t right…”

Young Hoon spoke sorrowfully, as if wanting her to understand his difficult situation. For a moment, Da Eun’s eyes wavered.

She had wished for his unhappiness, but she hadn’t wanted to see him like this. However, she had no intention of comforting him. Whatever had happened, it was his own doing.

Da Eun stared at him for a while and then slowly spoke.

“Don’t tell me you want me to take care of your mother?”

Young Hoon, who had been trying to evoke sympathy, looked flustered as if caught off guard.

Of course. A sigh escaped between Da Eun’s lips.

“Not, not exactly… But if you could help, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Ask Ju Ri. Don’t come to me talking nonsense.”

Da Eun retorted, frowning as if she didn’t want to hear anymore.

“Actually, I broke up with Ju Ri. She said she had a miscarriage…”

Ju Ri had a miscarriage? Da Eun blinked blankly and then narrowed her eyes.

“Are you sure she was pregnant?”

Da Eun narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Young Hoon’s face. Young Hoon, who had been blinking in confusion, scratched his head.

“Well, I never saw it with my own eyes…”