‘How did things turn out like this.’

Even up until entering the main gate, I never imagined I would meet this person.

The person I least wanted to encounter in the world. Last time, they came to find me so I had no choice but to meet them… But at the very least, I didn’t want to run into them like this.

‘I was just looking at the haberdashery counter on the first floor to buy candles and choose a scarf as a birthday gift for Lady Seo.’

Why did I have to go there of all places?

Someone tapped my shoulder, and the eyes I met when I turned my head belonged to a close aide of the person I least wanted to see in the world.

When told to follow, I refused, but my eyes met Lady Jung’s.

In the past, when Lady Jung entered my space, my body didn’t tense up as much as it does now.

Is it because we met in an unfamiliar place this time?

The moment A-rin’s eyes met Lady Jung’s, her body froze.

In the private lounge she had followed Lady Jung to, it felt like she was choking.

“In the end, you make me meet you again.”

“……”

Her throat closed up.

“Why did you call for me?”

She took a deep breath and barely managed to utter a word.

As A-rin’s hoarse voice escaped her dry lips, the corner of Lady Jung’s mouth curved up crookedly.

“Do you find what I said last time amusing?”

At the sharp words, A-rin’s body flinched.

“Are you that tempted by another woman’s man? You’re embarrassing me to death in front of Yu-jin.”

Strictly speaking, Jae-hyuk was currently her husband.

And if she had to say, the one who wasn’t getting a divorce wasn’t herself.

Both A-rin herself and Lady Jung knew that.

‘If you know that, then why are you…’

But Lady Jung criticized A-rin, not her own son.

Lady Jung crossed her legs and glared at A-rin with eyes full of contempt.

That gaze sent chills down her entire body. The fear ingrained in her cells wouldn’t go away no matter how hard she tried.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“What do you mean by that?”

The gaze and look in Lady Jung’s eyes that she had faced countless times over the past three years still made her feel terror, but A-rin took several deep breaths to compose herself.

‘That person can’t hurt you anymore. Things won’t be like before, so don’t be too afraid. It’s okay. It’s okay, Choi A-rin.’

Lady Jung, who had been watching such A-rin with a dissatisfied gaze, spoke in a sharp voice.

“Mean? Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

At Lady Jung’s cutting remark, A-rin’s shoulders flinched. Seeing her reaction, Lady Jung clicked her tongue, clearly expressing her displeasure.

“Ha. You have no manners. Well, I guess you need to see it to learn how to act like a human being. Tsk.”

“……”

“I told you, didn’t I? Don’t misunderstand why Jae-hyuk isn’t divorcing you.”

Lady Jung relentlessly poured out hurtful words like before, scarring her heart.

“Do you not know who the woman Jae-hyuk loves is?”

Lady Jung kept pressuring A-rin without giving her a chance to breathe. A-rin grasped her trembling fingertips tightly, trying to hide the shaking.

“Didn’t you know Jae-hyuk is doing well? Did you not like seeing him meet a woman far better than the likes of you and trying to get his act together?”

‘Right. This is the kind of person she is.’

“What will the LW Group think? They were going to send their precious daughter, but he’s not getting a divorce. Why wouldn’t someone who seemed like he would divorce soon not do it? Yu-jin understands this situation because it’s her. Didn’t I tell you? Our Jae-hyuk and Yu-jin have had feelings for each other for a long time.”

She couldn’t forget even if she tried.

Because those were the words Lady Jung had said countless times during their married life.

A-rin bit her lower lip hard. Droplets of bright red blood formed on her moistened lips.

“There’s a reason I went all the way to Jeju Island. And honestly, it’s only because it’s our Yu-jin that she’s just watching someone like you.”

‘Someone like me… In front of this person, I am still a being worse than an insect. She never spoke kindly to me from the beginning and really hasn’t changed at all.’

A-rin clenched her fists tightly.

“Your marriage with Jae-hyuk, you think I allowed it because you were pretty? Ha. If it weren’t for that crazy shaman’s words, someone like you…”

Even a worm will squirm if you keep stepping on it.

‘I made up my mind. There’s no reason for me to just take it from Madam like before. Don’t get swayed. Don’t let them look down on you anymore.’

A-rin felt like her head was getting colder and colder.

“Did you seduce him with your body? What’s the reason for acting like this so late? What do you lack? Do you lack money? Is that why?”

Lady Jung’s cold and biting words pierced A-rin’s heart sharply.

“Ha. So wretched. This is why I said not to take in black-haired beasts.”

Lady Jung clicked her tongue. She took out her wallet from her bag and pulled out money.

“Take it.”

10,000 won and 100,000 won bills were scattered before her eyes.

“You need more, right?”

Money that seemed like mere scraps of paper was strewn across the table and floor.

A-rin’s gaze trembled slightly. She couldn’t take her eyes off the floor.

The valuable money now looked like garbage. Something surged up from deep within her heart.

‘This isn’t right…’

This little money, it wasn’t pocket change, but she didn’t want to sell her pride for money.

A-rin clenched her hands tightly and raised her head. As soon as their eyes met, Lady Jung spoke.

“Just divorce him. Then I’ll give you the money you want.”

“……”

Hurt and anger rose in A-rin’s reddened eyes.

“Choi A-rin, can’t you hear me?”

Perhaps frustrated by A-rin’s lack of response, Lady Jung shouted loudly.

“Madam.”

The heart that had been warm for a moment after meeting Jae-hyuk turned cold. Her confused mind became crystal clear.

‘Ha. Right. She was this kind of person. And that man is the son of this woman.’

After meeting Lady Jung, A-rin realized how stupid and foolish her heart had been to waver even for a moment towards Jae-hyuk.

“I don’t need Madam’s money.”

“What?”

Venom rose in A-rin’s eyes.

“If you want to force a marriage, persuade your son, not me.”

“What?”

“I clearly said let’s get a divorce. The one who isn’t divorcing isn’t me, it’s Mr. Ban Jae-hyuk.”

The wounds and pain of the past were still vivid, and her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest from the fear that rushed in just from Lady Jung’s presence.

‘Don’t get shaken. It’s all in the past. It’s just the past. Everything has passed.’

A-rin clenched her fists so tightly that the veins bulged.

“You’re still the same. Trying to control people with money. And you’re still stingy with spending money compared to what you have.”

Lady Jung, provoked by A-rin’s words, shouted loudly.

“How dare you lecture me, you insolent thing! Have you really gone crazy?”

“Lady Jung.”

Lady Jung was taken aback by A-rin’s bold response, as she had always been the weaker one in front of her.

To Lady Jung, A-rin was no more than an easy to manipulate livestock, an easily controlled and discarded card.

It was like being bitten by the dog she had been raising.

“You, right now to me, Lady Jung…”

Cracks appeared on Lady Jung’s face.

‘It’s strange.’

Just as her parents were loyal to the VAN Group, A-rin thought it was natural for her to belong to Jae-hyuk’s family from birth. Lady Jung’s words were like law to A-rin.

There was not a shred of doubt about that.

However, after leaving Jae-hyuk, she began to question those things she had taken for granted. She soon realized how foolish those thoughts had been.

A-rin’s heart lurched at Lady Jung’s expression, which she was seeing for the first time.

“I’ll ask a favor of you too. Please make sure Jae-hyuk doesn’t appear in front of me. I have no intention of getting involved with the VAN Group. So, next time, I won’t comply with Madam’s forced requests either. I’ll take my leave first.”

A-rin stood up and walked towards the door.

“Have you really gone crazy?”

She heard Lady Jung’s shrill voice from behind.

Just as she reached for the doorknob.

“Sit down, I’m not finished talking.”

“……”

“Hey, Choi A-rin, you really… Director Chun.”

At Lady Jung’s order, a large man blocked A-rin’s path. An immense pressure overwhelmed her entire body.

A-rin glared at the man with all her might and said,

“Please move aside.”

“Madam is not finished speaking. Please sit down.”

“Should I tell Mr. Jae-hyuk?”

“…What?”

For the first time, cracks appeared on Lady Jung’s face.

“Will you move if I tell Mr. Jae-hyuk what Madam is doing right now?”

“Choi A-rin!”

“I clearly finished writing and handed over the divorce agreement three years ago. The one who didn’t file it was Mr. Jae-hyuk. But Madam, why have you been pressuring me to get a divorce since last time?”

Something felt off.

Lady Jung knew that she had handed over the divorce agreement. So she must have been aware that the reason the divorce wasn’t finalized was because of her own son.

But why?

As she pondered this, A-rin could see through the relationship between Lady Jung and Jae-hyuk.

‘Madam is also in a situation where she can’t handle Jae-hyuk. Since she can’t do it directly, she’s trying to move Jae-hyuk through me.’

It occurred to her that Jae-hyuk might be Lady Jung’s weakness.

‘Their relationship as mother and son wasn’t affectionate before either. But it’s not like they had a bad relationship. Oppa was a son who listened well to Madam’s words.’

In proportion to her high expectations for the son she had back after 7 years, Lady Jung controlled Jae-hyuk and he seemed to have no problem moving according to her wishes.

At least that’s what A-rin thought, having watched Jae-hyuk since childhood.

But.

‘Now, it’s clear that their relationship has completely soured.’

And A-rin became convinced by Lady Jung’s ensuing reaction.

“You, you, just you try. You think Jae-hyuk will believe your words? You think he’ll believe my words as his mother?”

Because the face of Lady Jung, who always looked imposing and composed, had completely crumbled.

‘I’m right. That’s why… That’s why you’re begging me like this.’

A strange sense of pleasure rushed through A-rin’s heart.

Somehow, she even felt more at ease looking at Lady Jung compared to a moment ago.

A-rin took out her cell phone.

‘It might be a risky move, but it’s worth a try. This is the only way to get out of here.’

Lady Jung would not let her go easily. So there was no other way but this.

She was certain this method was the best way to escape this situation.

“Then let’s find out by calling him.”

In fact, A-rin didn’t have Jae-hyuk’s number on her phone.

After leaving that house, she had deleted his number and gotten rid of the phone she used.

“You wicked girl.”

Lady Jung glared at A-rin, gritting her teeth.

‘Don’t avoid it. You can’t avoid it.’

To avoid averting her gaze from Lady Jung’s eyes, A-rin clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

For a brief moment, a battle of wills continued between the two women.

And after a while.

“Director Chun, let her go.”

At Lady Jung’s words, her close aide Director Chun asked back.

“Madam.”

“Move aside.”

A-rin, with the obstacle blocking her path now gone, slightly nodded her head towards Lady Jung and left the room.

Lady Jung glared at the door A-rin had exited as if she wanted to kill it. The red nail polish on her fingernails snapped off with a click.