“Ha… Yes, I knew your feelings that day when we had drinks with our schoolmates. But that was such a long time ago. I said no, and you definitely apologized to me. I thought that settled the complicated feelings between us. Wasn’t it?”
“When I confessed, you already had another man. Or, had you broken up? Anyway, you gave birth to that man’s child alone. It was strange when you said you were taking a break from school, but everything clicked when you publicly announced you had a child. I’ve never given up on you, and I still haven’t. But a conclusion? How could someone like me come to a conclusion!”
So Yeon vanished into thin air after submitting a leave of absence form, one semester short of graduation. After skipping a year, she reappeared and dedicated herself to her studies and acting, just like before.
He had watched Eom So Yeon from a step behind during those times. It was too long a period for him to easily let go.
Yet, even now, Eom So Yeon is looking at another man. Just the thought of it made In Ha’s blood boil. He diluted his bitter feelings with a self-deprecating chuckle and continued talking.
“I’ve always waited. I waited for you to like me as a man, to look only at me. But am I really not the one?”
In Ha scoffed and leaned back against the sofa, burying himself in the backrest. His posture felt threatening to So Yeon, who slightly retreated backward as she sat on the floor.
“…….”
As noon arrived, the intensifying fragrance of flowers reached So Yeon’s nose. It was the scent of acacia seeping through the slightly opened window.
In winter, she tightly closes the windows against the cold wind, but in summer, she opens them to escape the scorching sun. Such actions, seemingly consistent, change with the seasons. And with people, it’s even more so.
What can I do about it? I can’t even figure out my own heart, so how can I ask Jo In Ha to let go of his feelings?
What should I say to convey my heart?
Thirst driven by possessiveness doesn’t disappear even after drinking water. Like a weed that grows back wider and more vigorous after being pulled out or cut, his stubborn affection won’t soften unless he gets what he wants.
Understanding Jo In Ha’s feelings, So Yeon didn’t want to trivialize their connection.
That’s why, even though she knew he hadn’t given up on her, she pretended not to notice. But now, this day had come. A day that wasn’t supposed to be the end, yet inevitably was.
“I always thought of you as a colleague walking the same path, a good friend with much to learn from. But if you expect more than that from me, I don’t think I can treat you the same as before.”
“Ha… That’s really harsh.”
Jo In Ha, who had been quiet for a while, got up from the sofa and approached So Yeon. In response, she also stood up from the floor.
“You’ve gone through so much pain, still walking through that hell.”
Jo In Ha concluded that Eom So Yeon had been abandoned by her child’s father. He couldn’t understand why, after being treated like that by a man, she would publicly expose herself to difficulties by having that man’s child.
“And now you’re blinded by Tae Seo Jun? So, I get pushed aside again? What are you thinking, how much more do you want to regret!”
“Don’t say that. I’ve never thought of it as hell, and I have no regrets! I have nothing to do with Director Tae!”
Jo In Ha’s intense gaze poured down on her as he took another step closer. Feeling threatened, So Yeon tried to move aside, but Jo In Ha’s movements were quicker. With a dull sound, he pushed So Yeon against the wall.
“Then, think about me now! Maybe? Your thoughts might change.”
“What, what are you doing!”
The smooth conversation was now over. Jo In Ha forcefully pressed on, trapping So Yeon within his arms. So Yeon, raising her voice, pushed against Jo In Ha’s chest, but he gripped her slender wrist tightly. Her body trembled uncontrollably, deprived of the freedom of her arms.
“Please stop this! Let me go right now!”
“Why can’t it be me! Some unknown first man? That so-called Tae Seo Jun? Those guys just played with you! Everyone makes mistakes. It’s not a flaw to have a past in today’s world!”
“So what are you suggesting! Why should I listen to this from you!”
So Yeon’s eyes, filled with horror, glared fiercely at In Ha.
“If you’re hesitant to live with me because of the child, I can resolve that. It’s simple to enroll him in a good private school. Since you don’t live with him and leave him with your parents, it seems you don’t really adore him that much! Then, wouldn’t it be enough to just visit him occasionally?”
“What, what did you say?”
So Yeon’s expression turned serious, visibly hurt by the nonsensical talk.
Yes.
Her heart ached unbearably.
Above all, the time she couldn’t spend with her child pained her immensely.
“Why does my child even come up in your mouth! I’d rather die than be with you!”
“You liked the man but didn’t want the child, right? Pretending to be innocent while being picky about men, you ended up clinging to Tae Seo Jun, ignoring someone like me!”
“Ugh…!”
Suddenly, In Ha, who had grabbed So Yeon’s shoulders with both hands, said,
“I like you! I like you to death! But how do you think I feel when you keep pushing me away like this? You infuriate me!”
In Ha’s eyes turned red.
“…..!”
This man, he’s not sane!
Clearly out of his mind!
So Yeon swung her hand hard and slapped In Ha’s cheek.
Slap!
The sound was loud and crisp.
“People can hit too. Eom So Yeon, you’ve become quite sharp…”
In Ha, running his tongue over the inside of his cheek, smiled bitterly.
“Now that it’s come to this, shall we go all the way?”
“You’re insane! Try touching me, I’ll kill you!”
Despite hearing So Yeon’s enraged warning, In Ha forcefully grabbed her shoulders with his powerful hands.
“You like men, don’t you? Or do you enjoy it more? I’m saying let’s try it together, what’s the problem?”
Grinding her teeth, So Yeon sharply admonished him.
“Do you want to break me and have me? If you can’t have me alive, you’d rather take me dead? Don’t be ridiculous! You can’t do that! If you can’t control your desires, you’ll lose everything you’ve built up in an instant! There will be no more the shining actor Jo In Ha, only a destroyer, a criminal!”
“That’s your opinion. I’m going to have you now. And I won’t lose anything. All you have to do is accept me. I’ll make sure of it.”
“…….”
It was a moment. The man’s hand pulled her hair as if to rip it out. Despite the disadvantageous situation, So Yeon fiercely glared at In Ha without backing down.
Without shedding a tear or screaming.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be gentler than my dirty mood.”
In Ha whispered into So Yeon’s ear in a sinister voice.
“!”
The realization that the disrespectful lips coming down her earlobe were inevitable made So Yeon flutter her eyelashes. She stretched her arm out, searching on top of the cabinet. Soon, a heavy gold trophy was in her hand.
Thud!
The dreadful moment happened in an instant.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
