“Is there such a thing?”

“At my house, yes. I’m someone who observes legal work hours. Song Eun Seo, go in.”

Bewildered by the odd instruction, Jung Woo raised both hands in a gesture of disbelief. As Eun Seo hesitated, looking back and forth between the two men,

“Hurry up.”

At the firm voice, Eun Seo hastily slung over her shoulder the bag she had placed on the bar. In her rush, a pale object poked out from the top of the bag.

“What’s this?”

Eun Seo turned her head to see where Jung Woo’s eyes had landed and barely managed to answer.

“It’s sausage.”

“Looks delicious. If you have extra, can I have one?”

Sausage was a food that the grandmother with damaged gums had enjoyed eating, saying it was soft. She especially liked the ones with cheese.

Eun Seo, thinking she’d have to buy more anyway, took out a sausage and handed it to Jung Woo. She then carefully offered one to Tae Ha, who was staring blankly at her bag.

“This…”

“No, it’s fine. Looks like a snack for soju.”

Only then did Eun Seo notice the green soju bottle and the tip of the dried pollack package poking out from her bag.

Although Tae Ha had no way of knowing about her grandmother’s 49th-day memorial, Eun Seo suddenly felt self-conscious and hurriedly covered the dried fish, worried he might misunderstand that she was performing a ritual here.

“Well then, I’ll go in. I enjoyed the piano performance. Good night.”

Eun Seo went up the skip floor.

* * *

As soon as Eun Seo disappeared from view, Jung Woo filled an on-the-rocks glass with ice.

“That woman, where did she come from? Where’s she from that she’s even living here? Doesn’t she have a home? Family?”

Jung Woo’s questions were natural. The only live-in employees at Tae Ha’s house were the security guards in the security office, bodyguards, nurses, Mrs. An who handled kitchen duties, and Woo Young, the secretary who followed Tae Ha like a shadow.

And of course, only Woo Young stayed in the main house.

The people in charge of laundry and cleaning, the gardener, and the driver always commuted. So from Jung Woo’s perspective, this situation was quite interesting.

“She’ll be leaving soon. It’s rude to pry.”

“Leaving soon? Why, can’t she do the job?”

“It’s not that. Shall we go in too?”

“Oh right, I was planning to stay here for a while, is that okay?”

“Here? What about your aunt?”

The question was meaningless. Jung Woo stayed here more often than at home.

“I told my mother. I’m thinking of living independently. Just stay together until I find a place. Otherwise, I’ll have to listen to nagging every day about coming back to Mirae Bio.”

Worried Jung Woo would get suspicious if he refused, Tae Ha reluctantly agreed.

“Alright then. Stay here for a while. Use the room on the second floor.”

“What about the guest room? It’s bigger. And it’s on the first floor, so it’s easier to come and go.”

“That woman from earlier is using it.”

“Ah, I see. You gave her a nice room.”

Jung Woo carefully observed Tae Ha’s back as he turned to get ice from the dispenser.

Something felt off. As if he wasn’t Kwon Tae Ha.

* * *

Knock knock knock.

Near the end of dawn, Eun Seo opened her eyes. The rhythmic knocking sound came at intervals. Since it was too early for breakfast, Eun Seo was certain it must be Tae Ha, not Mrs. An.

When she opened the door, there indeed stood Tae Ha in a neat dark gray three-piece suit. A black coat was draped over one arm.

“I’ll have breakfast with Jung Woo at Seotaek. Don’t bother coming out to the kitchen. I said you were a worker, so you might be worried.”

Kitchen? Ah, because of yesterday.

He must have told Jung Woo she was a worker, so she’d have to do something in the morning, whether it was cooking or cleaning. That way Jung Woo wouldn’t get suspicious.

Kwon Tae Ha was certainly thorough. If someone like him were to commit fraud, he’d be really good at it.

For a moment, just a brief moment, Eun Seo wondered if Kwon Tae Ha might have committed fraud, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

What reason would he have to commit fraud? He’s a man who has everything.

Unless his life has been too smooth sailing and his dream is to try pulling off a scam just once? Thinking that, she couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Hmm, ahem.”

Clearing her throat, Eun Seo searched for an answer. She couldn’t say she’d thought he might have committed fraud because he had too much.

“Just because. I just felt like laughing.”

“You seem to laugh easily.”

“I laugh when I see handsome people.”

At her nonchalant response, Tae Ha slowly wiped his lips and ran his hand through his hair.

“Don’t tease me.”

Eun Seo pressed her lips together and shifted her gaze to the wood grain pattern on the floor.

“Get some more sleep. It’ll be tiring if you’re out all day.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you… I hear it’s a nice thing to say, but why do I dislike it?”

“That’s probably because I’m the one saying it.”

Somehow, Tae Ha’s gaze seemed to grow even more intense.

“Don’t worry. I think I’ll be able to leave here soon.”

“Have you found a place to live?”

“Yes.”

“And have you appointed a lawyer?”

“Not yet. But I will soon. I feel bad about inconveniencing you further.”

“Don’t bother trying to earn your keep by cleaning or doing dishes or anything like that.”

“…”

“I mean don’t let me see you.”

There were no further words.

She understood. Tae Ha didn’t even want to see her.

Not only had she tarnished what should have been a beautiful spouse column, but now she was imposing on him like this.

Though he had no choice but to bring her, it must still bother him.

In his eyes, she would always be a con artist. Yet she had stubbornly insisted on listening to his piano performance.

Though she was just as bewildered, Eun Seo felt self-loathing at having to bow her head in this situation just because her grandmother was involved.

As Eun Seo was about to close the door after such thoughts, he reappeared in the hallway.

“I meant don’t disturb the staff. You can eat meals and take walks, things like that. And.”

Tae Ha took a shallow breath, then said to Eun Seo.

“I heard people use aromatic candles when bathing these days. If you want to light candles too, go ahead.”

Tae Ha’s gaze was fixed on the table. Pears and apples, soju and dried fish, and incense.

She had taken them out so the fruit wouldn’t spoil, and he must have seen it.

A combination of items unmistakable to someone performing ancestral rites.

He finished speaking and disappeared. A heavy fragrance lingered in the empty space.

* * *

“All done, miss.”

Ha Eun looked beautiful in the mirror. A hairstyle that accentuated the advantages of voluminous brown curls and subtle makeup that made her look refined.

Simple earrings gave her a sophisticated impression without being excessive.

“Oh my! How can you be so pretty? You’re the prettiest person I’ve seen so far.”

“I heard idols and actors come here too.”

“Oh my, oh my, I’m not lying, you really are prettier. Maybe it’s because you take after your mother, you’re so elegant. Look at your skin, your skin. You must hear a lot that you have good skin? It’s just like a baby’s skin.”

The employee piled on compliments to an almost excessive degree. This kind of flattery probably wasn’t new, but there was something the employee had overlooked.

Should I tell her we’re not biological mother and daughter? Her face would turn red then.

Ha Eun found the employee’s attitude amusing.

“The color on my cheeks seems a bit pale. Could you make it look more lively? I prefer a vibrant image.”

The employee carefully examined Ha Eun’s cheeks before picking up a brush.

“You must have something good happening today. Are you going on a blind date?”

“It’s not that.”

Ha Eun finished speaking with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

* * *

GK Seoul Hotel.

Though it was the top date spot for middle-class people due to its stunning view of the flowing Han River, the river didn’t catch Ha Eun’s eye.

She hadn’t felt this nervous when getting her hair done.

Today was finally the day she would meet her benefactor and fiancé who had been supporting her so generously. Butler Jang said he hadn’t told her in advance because he wanted her to be truly surprised.

The benefactor had asked not to reveal his identity, and if Ha Eun showed any signs of knowing beforehand, he would be disappointed.

Butler Jang was that meticulous.

At Butler Jang’s insistence, Ha Eun had taken a bath early in the morning, received a massage, and neatly trimmed her nails in a color similar to her skin tone. Then she spent two hours getting her hair and makeup done at a shop in Cheongdam-dong before putting on the clothes she had bought in advance.

A black knit dress densely covered in luxury brand logos and a camel coat that emphasized her waist.

[You absolutely must not ruin this meeting. Even now, the benefactor is hesitating. Make a good impression. Since first impressions are all about appearance and voice, show neatness to the benefactor and appeal sexiness to your marriage partner.]

The clothes had a purpose.

[Let’s go with this.]

The outfit chosen at the H store was a knit dress. Butler Jang calculated that the tight-fitting knit dress would accentuate her chest. They even put thick pads in her bra.

[This isn’t an easy opponent. Don’t let your guard down just because he has good manners. He’s a difficult and picky person. No one knows what style he likes. But even so, he’s a man. Appeal to your femininity as much as possible. Don’t look cheap. And don’t laugh frivolously.]

“Ha Eun, keep your coat on. The chairman won’t stay long due to his meeting schedule today, so it won’t be stuffy. And when you’re alone with the young master after the chairman leaves, naturally take off your coat saying you’re a bit warm. You must do it elegantly. Slowly, with grace.”

“What’s with ‘young master’? We’re not in the Joseon era. It sounds weird.”

Butler Jang clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

“Class distinctions always remain the same. Only the words change with the times, but like water flowing up and down, there will always be upper and lower classes. That’s why I’m trying to elevate you. To the very top of the food chain. I call him ‘young master’, but I’ll let you call him by name.”

“I understand, Mom.”

Ha Eun answered obediently, but sometimes she couldn’t understand Butler Jang. After all, Ha Eun wasn’t Butler Jang’s biological daughter.

Unless the goal was to become family through Ha Eun’s marriage to the ‘young master’ and call him ‘husband’, it was impossible to understand why she would say such things for Ha Eun’s sake.

They weren’t even a mother and daughter who had lived under the same roof, eating the same food and sharing a close bond.

Didn’t the time they spent apart account for 99 percent compared to the time they lived together?

Click, the sound of the doorknob turning was heard and the door opened. Ha Eun unconsciously tensed and swallowed hard.

“The chairman has arrived.”