Jung Hwa moved towards the sofa placed in the center of the Di* store and lowered her bottom onto the plush cushion of the stool, arrogantly crossing one of her slender legs. Her cold gaze was still fixed on that female employee.

With just a nod of her chin and a flick of her red shoe’s toe, it was not with her hand but her foot that she was calling the person over.

Due to Jung Hwa’s cold and vicious attitude, the atmosphere in the store instantly froze. Because of this, all the employees were tense, just rolling their eyes to alternately look at Yoo Jung Hwa and Kim Mi Ho.

Feeling like she’d been struck by lightning but unable to refuse a customer’s call, Kim Mi Ho had no choice but to awkwardly approach Yoo Jung Hwa.

But what kind of whim was this now? As if to cut through the chilled atmosphere, Jung Hwa asked with a gentle smile.

“The oil used in this hotel’s therapy shop was quite nice. It’s one of your products, right?”

Whew, saved!

At Yoo Jung Hwa’s unexpected smile and ordinary question, the employees let out small sighs of relief, releasing the breath that had been held in tension. Even Kim Mi Ho, who had been the most frightened, relaxed her stiff expression and quickly answered.

“Ah… You seem to be referring to the jojoba oil serum. Shall I bring it?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, certainly!”

Trying to smile kindly with a face that had just thawed after being frozen stiff was somewhat awkward, but the employee swiftly brought the product Yoo Jung Hwa had requested with her ingrained friendly attitude.

“Is this the right product?”

“Well, let’s hear an explanation.”

As Jung Hwa, who had only glanced at the serum with her eyes, uncrossed her legs and assumed a posture of listening intently as if it was the right one, the employee began to speak earnestly.

“It’s the highest quality product among serums, and because it’s not produced in large quantities, it’s supplied exclusively to this hotel.”

“Is that so? Go on.”

Jung Hwa’s gentle response still had sharp thorns protruding somewhere in her expression.

“It has excellent moisturizing properties that keep the skin hydrated for a long time, and it’s 100% plant-based natural ingredients, so there’s no aversion to eating it. That’s why as soon as you open it, you should refrigerate…”

“Wait.”

Jung Hwa’s eyes suddenly sparkled as she was listening intently to the employee’s words. It was because she had caught the hook she had been hoping for.

“You just said it’s okay to eat, right?”

“Yes.”

“Is it really okay to eat without any problems?”

“Of course. As I mentioned…”

“Eat it.”

The employee, not immediately understanding what Jung Hwa’s interrupting command meant, asked back.

“Pardon?”

“Try eating it.”

“What…”

“You said it’s edible. So eat it in front of me. As a luxury department store sales employee, you should take responsibility for the words you’ve uttered.”

“Th-that’s…”

This was too much, even for her. The employee just stared blankly at Jung Hwa, utterly dumbfounded.

“What, you don’t want to?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that.”

Although Jung Hwa’s demand was rude, the employee had no choice but to accept it, if only because of her own words. She opened the serum lid and took a sip of the liquid.

“Drink more.”

However, Jung Hwa seemed unsatisfied and demanded more.

The employees and the manager were shocked, unable to make a sound. Even in a luxury department store where power trips were rampant, this was the first time they had encountered a customer who openly insulted like this.

“…Urgh!”

Finally, when the whole bottle was emptied, Jung Hwa asked.

“You’re feeling nauseous? It doesn’t taste good?”

“It’s, it’s fine.”

“Oh my, I didn’t think you’d really eat it…”

Remember this well. It’s the price for carelessly wagging your tongue about me.

“Huh…”

Jung Hwa stretched her bright red lips into a long smile.

It was as if she had seen Eom So Yeon slowly dying after drinking poison in the image of the employee suffering after drinking the ampoule.

You dare to stand as a witness?

Well. I wonder if Eom So Yeon, who will lose everything before that, will even be able to do so.

“This is for the serum. Kim Mi Ho can keep the rest.”

Jung Hwa, rising from the stool, casually threw a wad of 50,000 won bills she had taken out of her bag.

The bills scattered on the store floor like pieces of tissue were consolation money for the regrettable incident and a tip for her own amusement.

It was a peaceful morning.

So Yeon opened her eyes to greet another day that was about to begin.

A week had already passed since the engagement ceremony, but what So Yeon found even more unbelievable than that fact was the face of the excessively handsome man she now encountered in the same bed every day.

It was a breathless realm that simply couldn’t be adapted to. Especially when it came to enduring him having to sleep holding her tightly every night, her stamina was woefully insufficient.

Fearing she might get caught again like yesterday if she wasn’t careful, So Yeon wriggled slightly, trying to gently extract her body from the muscular arms encircling her.

That’s when it happened.

“Eep!”

“…”

As if operating a radar even while asleep, Seo Jun, feeling even the slightest emptiness, immediately reached out his arm to So Yeon and pulled her back into his embrace. That wasn’t the end of it. He even used his long legs to restrain her body.

Moreover, the more So Yeon wriggled, the more Seo Jun, far from loosening his body, only burrowed deeper, planting kisses on her soft skin.

“W-wait a moment… What if we’re late like this?”

As So Yeon raised her gaze upwards and protested, Seo Jun grinned while looking at the large eyes gazing clearly at him.

“Good morning, Eom So Yeon…”

As their eyes met, the low voice delivering the morning greeting melted softly between So Yeon’s lips once again.

“Ah…”

What to do with this man…

What else could be done? She would have to embrace him as much as her strength allowed.

A short while later, Seo Jun, after planting a deep kiss on the lips moistened with lukewarm warmth, lifted So Yeon in a princess carry. So Yeon, most embarrassed at this moment, clung to Seo Jun’s neck in resignation, her face turning bright red.

Walking towards the bathroom, Seo Jun said,

“You’re beautiful.”

“I don’t know…”

“Then I’ll have to keep telling you until you do know.”

“I don’t know…”

Held in his arms, So Yeon continued to mumble that she didn’t know.

It was embarrassing, but she wanted to keep hearing that she was beautiful.

Seo Jun and So Yeon, who had an early morning meeting with Director Yoon due to the upcoming film shooting, left the house side by side. Then, around lunchtime, they returned to Nonhyeon-dong and happily greeted Hyun Woo, who had returned from kindergarten, as the meal was ending.

And at 5 o’clock, just before dinner, So Yeon and Jessica, who had returned from the sports center for Hyun Woo’s swimming lesson, chatted in the kitchen.

Seo Jun, who had been in the study adjusting the filming schedule and dealing with company matters, sent Manager Bong home and entered the home training room. Hyun Woo, who had been peeking into the exercise room with just his eyes visible from the threshold, quietly approached his dad.

Completely unaware that Hyun Woo had come, Seo Jun continued his upper body workout using the equipment, drenched in sweat. Perhaps the child’s eyes found his father’s tightly toned, well-sculpted muscles impressive. Hyun Woo, his large round eyes twinkling, stretched out one finger.

Poke.

“!”

Perhaps the touch on his side was cute rather than startling. Seo Jun, getting down from the training equipment, quickly lifted Hyun Woo up and sat him on his thigh.

“You rascal! When did you come to the exercise room?”

“Just now.”

“Did you learn a lot of swimming?”

“Yeah! The swimming teacher said that Hyun Woo is the best swimmer in the kindergarten class.”

The boy’s expression, with his cheeks puffing out as he boasted, looked very spirited. He seemed excited by the swimming coach’s praise.

“That’s because you take after your dad.”

“No, that’s not it. Mom said Hyun Woo swims well because he takes after her. But. Mom is really, really good at driving. It was super fun when we came home earlier on the winding road.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. When Jessica said someone was following us, Mom suddenly increased the speed. It was even more fun than riding an amusement park ride.”

As he listened to Hyun Woo’s story, Seo Jun’s face hardened. He seemed worried about something. However, his expression softened again as he focused on the child’s words.

“Dad, when did your muscles get so big and strong?”

“Why, are you curious?”

“Yeah! Hyun Woo’s tummy is soft like this, but Dad’s tummy is super hard.”

As Hyun Woo patted his own belly with both hands while speaking, a warm fatherly smile naturally spread across Seo Jun’s face. His actions and clear-eyed gaze were incredibly cute.

Gently pinching the child’s chewy cheek, Seo Jun said with a look of utter adoration,

“That’s because you’re still young. When you grow up, you can be like Dad. But, regular sleep and exercise are what make a healthy body.”

“Then what should Hyun Woo do until then?”

“Eat well. Sleep well. Play well. Keep smiling like you do now. Then you’ll become a handsome man like Dad.”

“Oh no! Grandpa from Gahoe-dong said that. He said to take after Mom, not Dad.”

“Kuk…”

Father always disliked my cold personality.

Seo Jun, who couldn’t help but know that was what his father meant, laughed lightly and said,

“I think so too. I’d like you to take after your mom a lot. But what can we do? You already take after your dad so much.”

“I know. Hehe…”

Hyun Woo put his small hand to Seo Jun’s ear and whispered,

“Hyun Woo likes taking after Dad. Because we’re men. But what Hyun Woo said is a secret! Mom might be sad if she knows.”

The child already seemed to know what sadness was. And the reason was undoubtedly not unrelated to himself. Hyun Woo’s deep feelings made Seo Jun’s heart ache.

“Alright, let’s keep it a secret.”

“Pinky promise.”

“Promise.”

Seo Jun’s lips curved into a gentle smile as he linked his finger with the child’s small hand.

Eom So Yeon and Tae Hyun Woo.

Just thinking about these two made him indescribably happy and proud.

As if he had the whole world.

“Let’s go to Suran Pavilion.”

As soon as he got into the sedan, Tae Seok Ho stated the next destination.

“Chairman Han has already arrived at the meeting place, Chairman.”

“He came early.”

“They asked what food you like to eat, so I told them you probably wouldn’t eat.”

As Secretary Kang reported, Seok Ho nodded slightly as if to say he did well, then continued,

“It must be something fishy because of my son.”

“It seems Chairman Han is very tense because of the Rian Group shareholders’ meeting.”

“Of course he should be. That’s why I set this up.”

Although Han Seung Jae had meticulously helped Yoo Jung Hwa, it was all within the palm of Buddha’s hand. Even so, not immediately grasping what was in his own hand was Tae Seok Ho’s long-standing habit and shrewdness.

Even when striking, he had to wait until the black water gathered more. If it was dirty water that would pollute here and there, it shouldn’t be touched hastily. It had to be pulled together as much as possible and sucked up at once to be dealt with cleanly.

“Cancel the shareholders’ meeting.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“By now, he should know my words aren’t a joke, and I intend to crush Chairman Han and make him bow down flat this time. That vixen Yoo Jung Hwa will surely plot something dangerous, so throw more bait to that rat. In ample quantity.”

“I will keep that in mind and carry it out, Chairman.”

“Ah, what happened with the commotion at our hotel’s luxury department store?”

Secretary Kang, who had witnessed the altercation between Eom So Yeon and Yoo Jung Hwa in front of the hotel main building on the day of the engagement ceremony, had shown Chairman Tae the closed-circuit video containing the detailed circumstances. He had also reported about Yoo Jung Hwa’s rampage at the luxury department store the day before yesterday. That’s why Chairman Tae was asking.

“As it happens, that store employee was expressing her grievances on her SNS, so the hotel management team took appropriate measures.”

Secretary Kang’s “appropriate measures” meant initiating legal proceedings to demand physical compensation for the mental damage to the store employee and the resulting damage to the hotel’s reputation in the name of Elstella Hotel.

Moreover, what Yoo Jung Hwa did at the Di* store was fully captured on another employee’s phone who was present at the scene. Along with that video, all sorts of criticisms from netizens towards Yoo Jung Hwa were heating up the internet forums.

In the end, Yoo Jung Hwa, unable to control her temper, had turned the fire that fell on her own foot into an even bigger fireball.

“My, what a troublesome vixen. Tsk tsk…”

What more words were needed for such a foolish human?

Clicking his tongue and wearing a bitter smile, Chairman Tae just cast a lingering gaze out the car window.