The date for the family meeting was quickly set. It was thanks to Myung Il’s initiative.

The day after Myung Il’s birthday, Yu Kwon had dinner together at Da Eun’s house. Geum Suk called him son-in-law even before he asked for permission.

And so today, the day of the family meeting.

The venue for the family meeting was a traditional Korean restaurant.

Myung Il and Yu Kwon arrived early, and Da Eun and Geum Suk also arrived early.

“You have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Yu Kwon whispered sweetly to Da Eun. Still, Da Eun was worried. She thought that Yong Hee and Yong Ju might hurt Geum Suk.

Before the meal was served, Yu Kwon stood up with his phone.

“I need to make a quick call for work.”

His steps were heavy as he left Da Eun fidgeting between Myung Il and Geum Suk, but he had no choice.

After leaving the building, Yu Kwon called Yong Hee.

“Yes, aunt. I was wondering where you were.”

—There’s a lot of traffic.

“Ah, it’s congested.”

Yu Kwon glanced at his wristwatch and replied calmly.

Coincidentally today, Secretary Oh and Driver Kim had taken a day off, and the newly hired Driver Park was planning to take only congested roads. And there was bound to be an accident right in front of them.

It was all part of Yu Kwon’s plan.

—Are you calling because you’re worried we’ll be late?

“I have something to tell you.”

—Go ahead.

Yu Kwon opened his mouth with an even colder expression.

“You won’t be coming today, aunt. Due to sudden circumstances.”

—What?

“You were curious about why grandfather favors me, weren’t you?”

A mocking voice came through the receiver.

—Yes, what is it? Is it because you’re the eldest grandson?

“No. He wanted me to stop investigating my parents’ accident. He already knew who did it.”

Yong Hee fell silent for a moment. Yu Kwon sighed deeply and continued.

“I got my current position on the condition that I stay quiet.”

—What are you trying to say?

“Don’t interfere, whatever it may be.”

—…….

“If you keep interfering, I might want to know again. About that day.”

That day, about his parents’ accident.

He meant not to interfere with his marriage to Da Eun or his future actions.

—Turn the car around.

With those final words, the call ended. Yu Kwon entered the building with a relieved expression.

A month had passed since the day of the family meeting.

Since then, Ju Ri had not received any contact from Yong Hee. It was because she had failed to prove her usefulness. It was too late to regret now. Yong Hee seemed greatly disappointed and refused to meet Ju Ri.

Dress 3.5 million won, necklace 4.4 million won, bag 7.5 million won. A total of 15.4 million won. That was the amount Ju Ri had spent for that one day.

Due to throwing the clothes around in anger when she got home that day, they were already scratched or stained and couldn’t be returned. She had no choice but to list them on a second-hand site.

As things got worse, she remembered Da Eun’s curse.

“No one who has made me cry has ever done well, you know? I’ve seen it happen.”

How would she pay this month’s credit card bill?

“Ju Ri, aren’t you going home?”

While she was racking her brain over this month’s credit card bill in the cafeteria, a manager from her team asked with an oily smile. He was a married man with two children.

At every company dinner, he would take the seat next to Ju Ri and breathe heavily. He would openly look her up and down and persistently stalk her SNS.

“No, I’m working overtime.”

“Then shall we have dinner together?”

“No. I’m not eating dinner.”

Ju Ri declined with a smile. He was a man who always worked overtime, ate dinner at the company, and took a taxi home using company expenses, probably because things weren’t good with his wife.

When Ju Ri refused, he left an awkward smile and passed by her.

Now everything’s going wrong. Until she met Young Hoon, decent men used to contact her in droves, but it suddenly stopped as if they had made an agreement.

As she was about to leave the cafeteria, Da Eun walking from afar came into her view.

She used to look so shabby, but now she had quite an air of nobility.

She used to wear only cheap clothes, but now she was wearing luxury brands. They were expensive and hard-to-get luxury items that couldn’t be compared to the ones Ju Ri had put up for sale second-hand.

Strangely enough, Da Eun looked natural and precious, as if she had been born into a rich family. It was exactly the image Ju Ri had wanted for herself.

Ju Ri stared at Da Eun with her lips tightly pressed in displeasure.

But somehow, it seemed like she was coming in her direction.

“Take it.”

Da Eun, who had come close, held out a white envelope.

“What is it?”

“I’m getting married. I wanted to give it to you first this time too.”

There was no need to open it. It seems she’s really marrying Yu Kwon after all.

Ju Ri took the wedding invitation and crumpled it in one go.

“…Are you here to brag to me now?”

Ju Ri’s voice gradually grew louder.

“I wanted to make sure to say thank you.”

“What?”

“Thanks to you breaking off my marriage, I’m now marrying my first love, Yu Kwon senior.”

Da Eun whispered like a devil with an angelic face. At least, that’s how it looked to Ju Ri.

“You think you’ve won?”

Ju Ri asked, furrowing her brow. Da Eun looked at Ju Ri with a relaxed expression.

“Why? Do you feel like you’ve lost?”

“You shouldn’t treat me like this.”

Da Eun tilted her head at Ju Ri’s words.

“I know where your father is.”

Cracks began to form in Da Eun’s relaxed expression.

In truth, Ju Ri didn’t want to go this far. But she couldn’t bear to watch Da Eun marry Yu Kwon.

“What did you just say?”

“I said I know where your father is.”

“……”

“Aren’t you curious?”

A shadow fell over Da Eun’s face. On the other hand, Ju Ri was very satisfied.

“Where is my dad?”

“Curious? Give up on that marriage. Then I’ll tell you.”

“…Please tell me. I’ll do whatever you say!”

In the end, you’re like this.

Ju Ri openly mocked Da Eun.

She could understand Da Eun’s feelings to some extent. After finding out that Jun Il wasn’t her biological father, Ju Ri had lived thinking she had no father.

“…Is that what you thought I’d say?”

But Da Eun, who had looked like she was about to cry, smiled as if nothing had happened. She sighed and opened her mouth again.

“Why would I be curious about someone who hasn’t even tried to find me all this time? If you’re going to fish, use proper bait.”

“What if he didn’t even know you were born?”

“…What?”

Da Eun’s eyes wavered for a moment. She had always thought her biological father had abandoned her knowing of her existence. But he didn’t even know I existed…?

“If he found out now, he might cherish you. Aren’t you curious? How he would react?”

Da Eun blinked slowly.

“I’m not curious. Not even about how you know this.”

This isn’t right…

Ju Ri was flustered.

Has she changed on the inside as much as her appearance? The woman before her was no longer the foolish and kind-hearted Song Da Eun.

“Yang Ju Ri, please, I beg you, don’t waste time hating me and live your own life.”

“Who are you to give advice, you idiot? You don’t even know you’re just a substitute.”

In the end, Ju Ri relayed what she had heard from Yong Hee.

“What?”

“You’re just going to be thrown away when that woman comes back, don’t act so high and mighty.”

“What woman? What are you talking about?”

“Don’t tell me you think Cha Yu Kwon only longed for you in America? Are you naive or just stupid?”

“What are you saying?”

“Who knows, maybe he even lived with that woman.”

“Who is this woman you keep talking about?”

Ju Ri hadn’t properly heard who the woman was either. But it probably wasn’t a lie since it came from Yong Hee.

This level of doubt should be okay to plant. Ju Ri smiled and opened her mouth.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

The wedding was just a day away.

Like the family meeting, the wedding preparations proceeded quickly. It was possible because it was a contract marriage.

Yu Kwon respected Da Eun’s wishes, and Da Eun made all decisions quickly without much deliberation. The venue, photos, dress, and such weren’t important to Da Eun.

But there was one thing she was particular about. It was the honeymoon. She was determined to go to Jeju Island this time.

“Is there anything you want to do?”

Da Eun, who was planning their honeymoon at Yu Kwon’s house after work, asked him.

“There is. I’ll do it the whole time we’re there.”

“Ah, I don’t want to know what that is…”

Da Eun shook her head. Yu Kwon approached her as she was sketching out plans on a tablet on the sofa and whispered.

“Da Eun, it’s Saturday today.”

Da Eun desperately tried to ignore the sweet voice ringing in her ear.

They had agreed to be intimate every Saturday, but she had been avoiding it using wedding preparations as an excuse. Fortunately, Yu Kwon didn’t force her.

“No, I have to plan the trip.”

“Why don’t we have someone else plan it?”

Yu Kwon put down the tablet in Da Eun’s hand on the table and made her look at him.

“You said it was your first time. How have you been holding back until now?”

“They say late learners are the most fearsome, don’t they?”

Yu Kwon’s hand touched Da Eun’s waist. Da Eun deliberately twisted her body.

“Bad hand again.”

“Don’t you want to do it with me?”

“Well… What about you…”

Do you want to do it with me, or do you just want to do it?

She wanted to ask but somehow felt she shouldn’t.

As Da Eun swallowed her words, Yu Kwon pulled her waist closer, narrowing the distance even more.

“I always want to.”

Before she could open her mouth again, Yu Kwon covered Da Eun’s lips. At the all too natural skinship, she closed her eyes without putting up any resistance.

Their lips locked deeply, and soon hot breaths intertwined. Da Eun’s shoulders trembled at the sensation of him exploring inside her mouth.

Cha Yu Kwon, you’re really too good at this.

A hand suddenly slipped inside her T-shirt.