Secret Cohabitation Love (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13

“Is there even such a thing?”

“At my house, there is. I’m someone who sticks to legal working hours. Song Eun Seo, go inside.”

At this absurd instruction, Jung Woo raised both hands above his head in a gesture of disbelief. Eun Seo, still unsure how to react, looked back and forth between the two men, conflicted,

“Hurry up.”

At the firm voice, Eun Seo hastily slung the bag she’d been holding onto her shoulder. In her haste, a pale object poked out from the top of the bag.

“What’s this?”

Eun Seo turned to see where Jung Woo’s eyes were fixed and barely managed to reply.

“Sausages.”

“They look delicious. If you have any extras, could you give me one?”

Sausages were something her grandmother, whose gums were worn down, enjoyed eating because of how soft they were. She especially liked the ones with cheese.

Thinking she’d probably need to buy more anyway, Eun Seo took one out and handed it to Jung Woo. She then cautiously offered another to Tae Ha, who was staring blankly at her bag.

“This one…”

“No, thanks. It seems like anju for soju.”

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

Though Tae Ha couldn’t possibly know about her grandmother’s 49-day memorial rites, Eun Seo suddenly felt self-conscious and quickly covered the package, worried he might misunderstand and think she was holding a ceremony here.

“Then I’ll go inside. I enjoyed your piano playing. Sleep well.”

Eun Seo headed upstairs to the skip floor.

***

The moment Eun Seo disappeared from view, Jung Woo filled his on-the-rocks glass with ice.

“Where did that woman come from? How did she end up moving in? Doesn’t she have a home? Any family?”

Jung Woo’s questions were reasonable. The only staff members living in Tae Ha’s house were the security guards at the guardhouse, bodyguards, nurses, Housekeeper Ahn who handled kitchen duties, and Secretary Woo Young, who followed Tae Ha like a shadow.

And naturally, Woo Young was the only one staying in the main house.

Everyone else—the laundry and cleaning staff, the gardener, and the drivers—commuted daily. So from Jung Woo’s perspective, this situation was quite intriguing.

“She’ll be leaving soon. It’s rude to pry into her private affairs.”

“Leaving soon? Why, isn’t she doing her job well?”

“It’s not that. Should we head in ourselves?”

“Oh, by the way, I plan to stay here for a while. Is that alright?”

“Here? What about Aunt?”

The question was pointless. Jung Woo actually spent more time here than at home.

“I already told Mother. I’m thinking of becoming independent. She said we could stay together until I find a place of my own, otherwise I’d have to endure her nagging every day about going back to Miraebio.”

Afraid Jung Woo would suspect something if he refused, Tae Ha reluctantly agreed.

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

“What about the guest room? It’s bigger, and being on the first floor makes it more convenient for coming and going.”

“That room’s already being used by that woman just now.”

“Oh, I see. You gave her the best room.”

Jung Woo stared intently at Tae Ha’s back as he turned to take ice from the dispenser.

Something felt off. As if he weren’t the usual Kwon Tae Ha.

***

Knock knock knock.

Just before dawn broke, Eun Seo opened her eyes. A steady, rhythmic knocking echoed at regular intervals. It was too early for breakfast, so Eun Seo was certain it wasn’t Housekeeper Ahn—it had to be Tae Ha.

Sure enough, when she opened the door, there stood Tae Ha, impeccably dressed in a charcoal gray three-piece suit, a black coat draped over one arm.

“We’ll be having breakfast with Jung Woo at Seo Taek’s. Don’t bother going to the kitchen unnecessarily. I told him you were staff, so I figured you’d be worrying a lot about it.”

The kitchen? Ah, it’s because of yesterday.

Since she’d told Jung Woo she was “staff,” she’d be expected to do something—cooking, cleaning, whatever—to prove it, so Jung Woo wouldn’t grow suspicious.

Kwon Tae Ha really was thorough. If someone like him ever committed fraud, he’d probably do it extremely well.

For just a fleeting second, Eun Seo wondered whether Tae Ha might actually be a fraudster—but immediately dismissed the thought.

What would he possibly have to gain by scamming anyone? He already had everything.

Unless, of course, his life had been so absurdly smooth that causing a little trouble was his secret dream? The absurdity of that idea made an involuntary chuckle slip out.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Hmm… ahem.”

Clearing her throat, Eun Seo scrambled for an answer. She certainly couldn’t say she’d just wondered if he was scamming people because he had too much.

“It’s nothing. I just felt like laughing.”

“You must laugh easily.”

“I tend to laugh when I see good-looking people.”

At her perfectly natural reply, Tae Ha slowly ran a hand through his hair, his lips twitching faintly.

“Don’t tease me.”

Eun Seo clamped her mouth shut and lowered her gaze to the wood grain of the floor.

“Go back to sleep. You’ll need your energy if you’re going to be running around all day.”

“Thank you.”

“‘Thank you’… People say it’s such a nice phrase, so why do I dislike it so much?”

“Maybe… because it’s coming from me?”

Somehow, Tae Ha’s eyes seemed to darken further.

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

“Have you found a place to stay?”

“Yes.”

“Have you hired a lawyer yet?”

“Not yet, but I’ll decide soon. I also feel bad about imposing on you any longer.”

“Don’t go cleaning or doing dishes just to pay for the meals you’ve eaten here.”

“…”

“Just stay out of my sight.”

He said no more.

She understood. Even being seen was unacceptable to him.

Not only had she stained the spouse column meant for someone beautiful with disgrace, but now she was also burdening him by staying under his roof.

He’d had no choice but to bring her here, but of course it bothered him.

After all, in his eyes, she’d always be a fraudster—yet she’d stubbornly insisted on listening to his piano performance.

Eun Seo felt a pang of self-loathing, ashamed that just because her grandmother was involved in this mess, she had to bow her head like this.

Just as she was about to close the door, he reappeared in the hallway.

“I just meant don’t unnecessarily bother the staff. You can still eat, take walks, things like that. And.”

Tae Ha took a shallow breath before continuing.

“I heard you’ve been using aromatic candles while bathing lately—if you’d like to light some here, go ahead.”

His gaze was fixed on the table—apple, pear, soju, dried pollack, and scent.

She’d taken the fruit out so it wouldn’t spoil, and he must have noticed.

Only someone familiar with ancestral rites would recognize that combination of items.

Having finished speaking, he vanished instantly. A heavy fragrance lingered in the empty space he’d left behind.

***

“It’s all done, ma’am.”

Ha Eun looked beautiful in the mirror. Her hairstyle highlighted the volume of her rich brown curls, and her light makeup gave her a pure, sincere look.

Simple earrings added a refined, understated elegance.

“Oh my! How can you be this pretty? You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen!”

“I heard idols and actresses also come here.”

“Oh goodness, I’m not lying—it’s true! You’re even more beautiful. Maybe it’s because you look just like your mother—so incredibly elegant. Look at your skin! You must hear all the time how great your skin is. It’s like a baby’s!”

The staff member gushed with excessive flattery. Such over-the-top praise surely wasn’t new to her—but she’d overlooked one detail.

Should she mention they weren’t biological mother and daughter? That would surely make the employee blush.

Ha Eun found the staffer’s attitude amusing.

“Here, my cheeks look a bit pale—could you add some livelier color? I prefer a more cheerful image.”

The staffer examined Ha Eun’s cheeks carefully, then picked up a brush.

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

“Not exactly.”

Ha Eun finished her sentence with a lifted corner of her lips.

***

GK Seoul Hotel.

Though renowned among the middle class as the top choice for dates thanks to its panoramic view of the gracefully flowing Han River, Ha Eun’s eyes didn’t register the river at all.

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

Today was finally the day she’d meet both her generous benefactor and her fiancé. Butler Jang had explained he hadn’t told her in advance because her benefactor wanted her to be genuinely surprised.

The benefactor had expressly forbidden revealing his identity and warned that if Ha Eun showed even the slightest hint of prior knowledge, he’d be deeply disappointed.

Butler Jang was just that meticulous.

Because of Butler Jang’s insistence, Ha Eun had bathed early that morning, received a massage, neatly manicured her nails in a shade matching her skin tone, spent two full hours at a salon in Cheongdam-dong getting her hair and makeup done, and changed into clothes she’d bought ahead of time.

A black knit dress densely embroidered with luxury brand logos, paired with a camel coat that cinched at the waist.

[You absolutely cannot ruin this meeting. Your benefactor is still uncertain. Make a good impression. First impressions depend entirely on appearance and voice—so show him poise, and show your fiancé sexiness.]

Clothing always had a purpose.

[Let’s go with this one.]

The outfit chosen at H Boutique was a knit dress. Butler Jang calculated that its tight fit would accentuate her bust. Padded inserts had even been placed inside her bra.

[He’s not an easy target. Don’t let your guard down just because he’s polite. He’s demanding and difficult. No one knows his taste. But remember—he’s still a man. Emphasize femininity as much as possible. Don’t look cheap. And don’t laugh awkwardly.]

“Ha Eun, keep your coat on. The Chairman won’t stay long today due to a meeting schedule, so you won’t feel stifled. But once the Chairman leaves and you’re alone with the young master, say it’s a bit warm and take off your coat naturally. Do it gracefully—slowly and with dignity.”

“What’s with ‘young master’? It’s not the Joseon Dynasty. It sounds weird.”

Butler Jang clicked her tongue and shot Ha Eun a sidelong glance.

“Hierarchy never changes. Only the words shift with the times. Just as water always flows downhill, there will always be upper and lower classes. That’s why I’m lifting you up—to the very top of the food chain. I’ll call him ‘young master,’ but I’ll let you call him by his name.”

“Alright, Mom.”

Ha Eun complied readily, though she sometimes couldn’t understand Butler Jang. After all, Ha Eun wasn’t her biological daughter.

Unless the goal was for Ha Eun to marry the “young master,” become family, and eventually call him “husband,” it was utterly incomprehensible why Butler Jang would go to such lengths purely for Ha Eun’s sake.

They hadn’t grown up together under one roof, sharing heartfelt meals like a typical mother-daughter pair, nor did they share a uniquely deep bond.

Hadn’t they spent 99% of their lives apart?

Click—the sound of a doorknob turning. The door opened. Unconsciously, Ha Eun tensed and swallowed hard.

“The Chairman has arrived.”