Yu Kwon laughed incredulously. Da Eun maintained her expression, unconcerned.

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you seem overflowing with lingering attachment.”

Yu Kwon raised one corner of his mouth. His red lips formed a pleasing curve. It felt like the exquisite sensation those lips had created was reviving all over her body. Da Eun bit her lower lip hard.

“I quite like that shamelessness.”

Da Eun always moved shrewdly to avoid offending Yu Kwon’s sensitive mood, and she didn’t miss a single subtle expression to discern the intentions of the man of few words.

However, today she couldn’t understand no matter how much she focused. Why on earth was he pursuing her so persistently?

“Still, eating and running isn’t right.”

Eat and run? Such a crude phrase came from his refined and elegant mouth.

This really isn’t an ordinary situation. Da Eun felt like everything was going dark before her eyes.

“…Sir, about that day, I…”

“Take responsibility, Secretary Song.”

At his languidly penetrating voice, Da Eun’s heart began to beat ominously.

“It was my first time, you know.”

Ju Ri departed for Jeju Island with Young Hoon in place of Da Eun.

She barely managed to coax and soothe Young Hoon, who was irritated that the wedding was ruined because of Ju Ri, onto the plane.

It wasn’t her fault that Young Hoon and Da Eun’s wedding was called off. It was his fault for not quickly resolving things with Da Eun and wasting time being indecisive.

Young Hoon didn’t want to break off the engagement with Da Eun. She knew that well.

“Anyway, I’ll only be with you during the honeymoon. I’ll get you a room next door, so eat delicious food and go swimming. I’ll put Da Eun to bed at night and definitely come to you.”

That’s how Young Hoon appeased Ju Ri. But she wasn’t one to be satisfied with that. A honeymoon for three? It was the worst.

Moreover, he’d spend the day with Da Eun and only sneak over at night? What nonsense was that? She didn’t want to see Young Hoon and Da Eun getting along well together.

So Ju Ri made a plan on her own. She bought an ultrasound image and lied about being pregnant.

As a result, Da Eun cleanly broke away. Ju Ri felt no guilt. Young Hoon was too good for Da Eun, with her crippled single mother and troublemaking brother who was always causing accidents.

Though the process wasn’t smooth, Ju Ri was having a good time now that Da Eun had exited.

She couldn’t drink because of the lie, but it was nice that Young Hoon treated her even more preciously after learning about the pregnancy. Ju Ri posted photos on social media every 30 minutes while receiving super-special treatment.

However, Ju Ri’s happiness didn’t last long.

Hyang Mi called Young Hoon early in the morning. She said Da Eun had called about money. Asked if he was really breaking up.

Hyang Mi’s loud voice reached even Ju Ri’s ears as she slept a little distance away.

Young Hoon, who was concerned about leaving his mother who had apparently fallen ill from the shock and embarrassment, fidgeted saying he needed to go home right away.

“I think I should hurry back. Can you find the earliest flight for me?”

After instructing Ju Ri, Young Hoon quickly packed his bags. Ju Ri just blinked blankly. She had planned to enjoy herself fully before leaving, but she couldn’t return like this.

“You’re going to leave like this? On our honeymoon?”

“Mother is sick. And if we’re being technical, this isn’t our honeymoon.”

Ju Ri was at a loss for words. She wondered if he was already treating her like a fish he’d caught.

“You said she often falls ill. Shouldn’t you be by my side now? I’m not alone anymore.”

“Right, you’re pregnant. Is it okay for you to fly? Do you want to take a boat?”

“What? I flew here too.”

“Is that okay? They say you have to be careful with everything in early pregnancy. You’ve been swimming and running on the beach for photos. Are you really pregnant?”

Ju Ri let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“I showed you the ultrasound. Don’t you believe me?”

“…No, it’s not that. I’m just amazed it happened despite using protection. Getting pregnant isn’t that easy.”

“I guess you’re that impressive.”

Ju Ri said, hugging Young Hoon’s side. Young Hoon stroked her head as if she was adorable.

“I guess so. Song Da Eun didn’t know how amazing I am, tsk.”

Ju Ri, who had been listening quietly, narrowed her eyes.

“Are you saying you regret it?”

“No, it’s not me who should regret it, but Song Da Eun. Did you find a flight?”

Ju Ri glared at Young Hoon before picking up her phone.

The two ended up returning without completing their planned two-week trip. They had planned to buy wallets and perfume at the duty-free shop, but had to board the plane without even getting to look around.

“Mother seems to be feeling a bit better.”

Young Hoon said with relief after calling his mother as soon as they got off the plane. Was he always such a filial son…? Song Da Eun never said anything like that.

“…Really? She recovered quite quickly.”

“Mother wants me to bring you. She’s curious. Let’s go together.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Should we buy some Korean beef to score points? It’ll help replenish Mother’s strength too.”

“…Is it really about scoring points?”

Something felt off. Both her sudden collapse and sudden recovery.

Still, Ju Ri followed Young Hoon’s wishes without complaint. She was curious about the grand house in the photos, and also wanted to meet his parents who were said to be so virtuous.

They arrived at Young Hoon’s house after driving for two and a half hours from the airport.

Instead of the grand villa Ju Ri had imagined, a shabby cabin greeted her.

Weren’t they supposed to be well-off? Didn’t they own tens of thousands of pyeong of land? She barely held back from asking.

“Why aren’t you going in?”

“I’m just a bit shocked… It’s very different from the photos.”

“Ah, that was my uncle’s house. Didn’t I mention that before?”

“No, you didn’t!”

Young Hoon was taken aback when Ju Ri raised her voice uncharacteristically.

“Really? Let’s go in quickly.”

Young Hoon went in first, carrying the Korean beef gift set Ju Ri had bought. Soon, an elderly couple in shabby clothes came out of a room to greet Ju Ri.

“Ah, hello.”

“So you’re Ju Ri? At least you look decent.”

Young Hoon’s mother, Hyang Mi, gave Ju Ri a disapproving look as she barely suppressed the urge to run away.

“Oh, Mother, are you still not feeling well? Look, Ju Ri brought this.”

Young Hoon tried to break the icy atmosphere by showing the Korean beef gift set.

“You seduced someone else’s fine son and ruined a wedding, and this is all?”

However, it was impossible to dampen his mother’s spirit.

Ju Ri was dumbfounded. Seeing the state of the house, even pork leg seemed too good for them, let alone Korean beef.

But she endured for now. If the cunning Da Eun had chosen Young Hoon, there must have been another reason. Maybe they had hidden assets.

And her real goal was the newlywed home in Seoul. If she could just get that house in her name, she could endure this humiliation, or even worse.

Young Hoon’s mother Hyang Mi had called it ‘just’ beef, but she ate the meat Ju Ri grilled with relish.

“Is it delicious, Mother?”

“Aish, how could you burn the meat like this! Da Eun had such deft hands.”

Ju Ri was stunned by the unexpected criticism. Song Da Eun, so you acted like a maid despite all that pretense? While Da Eun seemed laughable, Ju Ri’s pride was also hurt by the comparison.

When the meal ended, Hyang Mi brought out some fruit. She roughly pushed some mushy apple pieces towards Ju Ri while picking out only pretty and fresh pieces to pop into Young Hoon’s mouth.

“It’s delicious, Mother should eat some too.”

They were quite the close mother and son. Hyang Mi put a strawberry in Ju Ri’s mouth, saying they should quickly eat and clear away these ugly ones.

What an ill-mannered old woman. Ju Ri clicked her tongue.

“So, are you planning to have the baby? If you do, we’ll raise it.”

“…You’ll raise it?”

Ju Ri’s eyes widened at Hyang Mi’s words. She wondered if she had heard correctly.

“Yes, since you’re planning to get married as scheduled, just stay quiet and don’t bother Da Eun until she calms down.”

Ju Ri left Young Hoon’s house right then. Young Hoon hurriedly followed her out.

“How can you leave like that? You should at least say goodbye.”

“Didn’t you hear what your mother said to me? I’m just supposed to have the baby and that’s it? You were planning to marry Song Da Eun?”

“No, that’s just Mother’s thinking… But Da Eun is quite capable, isn’t she? She’s good at kimchi-making too, and Mother thought of her like a daughter all this time, so she’s attached. Our mother is a bit weak for emotions.”

“It’s already over, what attachment? And what’s so great about Song Da Eun? It was all an act!”

Young Hoon hugged Ju Ri and comforted her.

“Mother just doesn’t know you well yet. She’ll come to understand after meeting you a few more times. So let’s go back inside.”

“…I don’t want to.”

Ju Ri didn’t want to go back to Young Hoon’s house. Even the thought of seeing Hyang Mi felt terrible.

“Why is our princess so upset? Mother just likes having Da Eun to order around because there’s a lot of work since they started farming. You should understand.”

Young Hoon hugged Ju Ri tightly. Ju Ri, who had been docilely nestled in his arms, took the car key from Young Hoon’s pocket and pressed the button.

“I’ll take the car. You can take a taxi or bus, whatever you like.”

Ju Ri left only those vicious words before driving off in the car.

Young Hoon, who had been staring blankly at his car disappearing into the distance, sighed and went back inside.

“How can you be so blind when it comes to women?”

For the first time in her life, Hyang Mi slapped her son’s back.

“Mother, did you just hit me?”

Young Hoon asked with round eyes in surprise. Even when he was caught smoking as a child, or when he hung out with delinquent older boys, Hyang Mi had never hit him, only pleaded with tears and persuasion.

“Oh, you fool! How could you be with a girl like that when you had someone like Da Eun!”