Madam Jung wasn’t one to make idle threats. Kyung-sook knew better than anyone how cruel she could be.
“Are you not going to answer?”
Kyung-sook nodded her head as hard as she could.
Finally satisfied, Madam Jung let go of Kyung-sook’s chin.
Rubbing her still-painful chin, Kyung-sook thought to herself.
‘I can’t just follow Madam’s lead like before. I might be used and thrown away again.’
Kyung-sook knew she needed someone to counterbalance Madam Jung.
‘That’s right. Mr. Ban. Mr. Ban is there.’
She recalled her son-in-law, Jae-hyuk, who hadn’t divorced Arin yet.
‘Arin has been in Jeju for a while, but they haven’t divorced yet. That means he doesn’t want to.’
Feeling like a rat who had found an escape route, Kyung-sook’s lips stretched into a long smile.
The next day, she went to see Jae-hyuk.
Though Jae-hyuk’s look was unwelcoming, Kyung-sook didn’t care.
She wasn’t expecting a warm reception.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s get straight to the point. I’ll help you reconcile with Arin.”
“…….”
“I’ll promise lifelong support for your husband’s treatment and living expenses.”
She thought Jae-hyuk would readily agree.
However, Jae-hyuk’s gaze turned even colder and more distant.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“……What?”
“I said I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your earlier words.”
“Why? I’m saying I’ll make things right with Arin. You know Arin listens to me.”
Frustrated. Kyung-sook cursed silently.
But Jae-hyuk calmly said,
“I don’t want to win Arin’s heart like that. Love should be given freely. If you love her even a bit, don’t come to me like this, trying to trade her feelings.”
Kyung-sook was flabbergasted.
“You’ll regret it. If I speak, Arin will definitely…”
“Please leave.”
Jae-hyuk’s unexpected reaction was a stumbling block. Against her expectations, he firmly rejected her offer.
‘Moron, can’t you even take a hint?’
Kyung-sook grinded her teeth as she left his office.
“What now?”
She bit her nails aimlessly, trapped again in Madam Jung’s palm.
That evening, Madam Jung summoned Kyung-sook.
“Did you call me?”
“Why did you go to Jae-hyuk?”
“……Well.”
“Don’t make trouble, didn’t I say?”
“No, I just, I told him to divorce.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I told him to hurry with the divorce.”
Kyung-sook glanced at Madam Jung, who didn’t seem convinced. Survival was more important than pride.
“Don’t do anything that causes misunderstandings again.”
Finally, Madam Jung relaxed and sat on the sofa.
“……I’m sorry.”
Kyung-sook, filled with humiliation and anger, clenched her teeth and bowed her head.
“Look up.”
“…….”
“Use this card from now on.”
Madam Jung extended a card towards her.
Quickly checking the cardholder, Kyung-sook’s eyes widened.
“……This is.”
“Yes. It’s Jae-hyuk’s card.”
Madam Jung’s lips curled up.
“From now on, everything your family wears and eats, and all of Mr. Choi’s hospital bills aren’t my responsibility. They’re Jae-hyuk’s. You understand?”
‘Fine, take it. I have to save my husband.’
The devil’s whisper echoed in Kyung-sook’s ears.
“From the beginning, you and I were in the same boat. If you mess around, I’ll kill you without anyone knowing, so don’t try to outsmart me with your schemes.”
Kyung-sook rationalized her actions and shook hands with the devil, oblivious to someone watching her.
Jae-hyuk had people watching Kyung-sook and Madam Jung, who hadn’t been in contact for several years.
“Vice President, Mrs. Yoon Kyung-sook and Madam Jung have met.”
Kyung-sook had opened a shop with Jae-hyuk’s help and had been spreading rumors about using his card.
Realizing that Madam Jung was behind it, Jae-hyuk confronted Kyung-sook.
“I’ll be straightforward. Hand over the card. Even if my mother does this, you shouldn’t. Don’t exploit Arin’s feelings. If you return the card today, I’ll overlook its previous use.”
“I can’t give it to you.”
Jae-hyuk’s eyes turned cold. Kyung-sook was equally unyielding.
She had crossed a point of no return and had no intention of being a good person anymore.
“I’ll tell you since I know everything. This card was given to me by Madam. So, talk to her about it. If she tells me to return it, I will.”
Kyung-sook was confident. Madam Jung would never take the card from her.
“If you think this will make me separate from Arin, you’re greatly mistaken. Arin and my relationship is our matter. It’s not something a third party can interfere in.”
Kyung-sook shrank under Jae-hyuk’s intense gaze but knew backing down would mean losing all her financial comforts.
“Arin is my daughter. How can a mother not…”
Jae-hyuk’s face grew colder.
“A mother? Someone like that would hurt Arin? Don’t hurt her. You know what she’s done for this family.”
“…….”
“I will protect Arin and won’t let anyone hurt her, even if it’s her family.”
“…….”
“If you continue to resist, I will have to take legal action. Remember, using someone else’s credit card without their consent can lead to up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.”
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
