That evening, when Chairman Kwon Kang Ho of Chaeun Group returned home, Heo Young Joo seemed reluctant to invite Min Seol Won for dinner.
Contrary to her worries, the Chairman only asked a few basic questions and said little else.
Even though he did not appear to like me, it was clear that he respected his son’s decision.
On the other hand, Heo Young Joo displayed a distinct disliking.
She didn’t utter a word to Seol Won, thoroughly treating her as if she didn’t exist.
While this treatment was a familiar experience, it felt quite different when the person doing it was your motherinlaw.
As a result, the meal time flowed with an uncertainty of whether the food was going into the mouth or nose.
When she returned to her room, it was so dim due to the blackout curtains that one couldn’t even guess the time.
Seol Won liked to have potted plants in the room and always preferred sunlight, but it seemed Chae Ha was just the opposite.
“Phew….”
She turned on the light with a ‘click,’ and Seol Won exhaled a breath she had been holding in all at once.
Chae Ha had subtly suggested that she refrain from working, in case she drew unwanted criticism.
If it were about money, it would be a nobrainer, but there was no need to worry.
However, staying at home all day felt as if she were in a prison even without seeing it.
Even if it’s not a formal job, she thought she would have to look for something once she got used to the situation, and picked up the shopping bag she had placed in the corner.
Even though they had vaguely mentioned that it was not a congratulatory wedding, Lora and James eventually handed her a wedding gift.
They were the ones who had recognized her solely for her abilities, not considering her educational background or connections.
She could endure the harsh situation because the two of them were there.
If it hadn’t been for that, they would have been good people she would want to work with for a long time…
Trying hard to suppress her saddened feelings, Seol Won slowly unwrapped the package.
“Uh….”
Seol Won’s hand, tearing the wrapping paper, stopped in surprise.
Her cheeks flushed bright as she recognized the item inside the pretty bag.
Something that exuded a newlywed vibe.
A conspicuously sexy lace slip with a substantial cutout in a significant place.
“Th, the CEO is really….!”
It wasn’t even bought by me, and Seol Won quickly crumpled the slip in embarrassment and stuffed it back into the bag.
Then, there was a knock on the door.
“…..!”
Had Chae Ha already returned?
In a panic, Seol Won hurriedly shoved the slip, packaging and all, into the drawer.
While it was true that it was the first night for the two, there was no such ‘marital’ thing between them.
If she got caught with this, it would be hard to face his icy countenance.
After virtually throwing the item away, Seol Won responded with feigned calmness.
“Co, come in.”
“You sure are hard to get a response from.”
Unexpectedly, the person who opened the door and entered was not her husband Kwon Chae Ha, but Lady Heo Young Joo.
In the face of an unexpected oneonone situation with her motherinlaw, Seol Won tensed up completely.
“Hmm……”
She opened her eyes and surveyed the room, then directed an outright displeased expression towards Seol Won.
Her gaze seemed as if she was looking at an intruder, causing Seol Won to falter awkwardly.
Then, she started to grumble loudly.
“Despite the brazen initiation, there’s no newlywed feeling at all. No special newlywed room decoration, was it your idea?”
“Ah. Yes. I think it’s enough to share this room.”
The words were modest in her own way, but they provoked Huh Yeong Joo further.
“This room? Chae Ha’s room? Do you truly believe you deserve to be in this room?”
“…Yes?”
“Listen well. I don’t know what spell you put on Chae Ha to marry him, but I never approved of this marriage.”
“…….”
“I have another daughterinlaw in mind. No matter how much you occupy this room, there will never be a day when I acknowledge you.”
Seol Won simply listened quietly, having nothing in particular to reply.
She had expected this kind of treatment anyway.
However, the fact that another daughterinlaw was preferred stung her heart a bit.
Would Kwon Chae Ha have originally planned to marry that woman?
Unsatisfied with Seol Won’s silent demeanor, Huh Yeong Joo approached and squinted her eyes.
Then, she spat out a curselike statement towards the bride on her wedding night.
“Listen closely. You, stay as invisible as possible and live as if you’re dead.”
“……I will keep that in mind.”
“And absolutely make sure you use contraception. Pregnancy is absolutely forbidden!”
“Excuse me?”
Thinking she had heard wrong, Seol Won unwittingly questioned her.
With an even more piercing hostility, Huh Yeong Joo spat out sharply.
“If you ever dare to bear Chae Ha’s child, then you’ll see a sight you truly can’t bear!”
“……Yes. I understand.”
There was obviously no need to worry about something like pregnancy.
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
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Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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