True Marriage After Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14

One week later.

Time had flown by, and Yu Jung’s wedding day had finally arrived.

Afraid of being late, Ah Rin boarded the earliest morning flight to Seoul.

“Ji Yoon.”

As soon as she landed at Gimpo Airport, Ah Rin called Ji Yoon. Before her departure from Jeju, she’d received a message from Ji Yoon saying there was an issue with today’s event and that she’d gone to the venue urgently for work, but Ah Rin hadn’t been able to speak with her due to her immediate boarding.

[“Ah Rin, did you arrive?”]

“Yeah, just now. Is everything okay?”

[“Sigh…”]

Ji Yoon let out a brief sigh at Ah Rin’s words.

[“It’s not great. We’ll probably still manage to stick to the ceremony schedule, but it feels weird just waiting around, and who knows what else might happen? You should go in first.”]

“Okay, got it.”

[“Sorry for making you go alone. I’ll wrap things up quickly and join you soon.”]

“It’s fine. Do I look like a kid to you?”

[“Still…”]

“Call me when you get there.”

[“Okay.”]

“See you in a bit.”

Just as Ah Rin was about to end the call—

[“Ah Rin.”]

Ji Yoon called out to her.

[“Be careful, and I heard the Vice Chairman will be attending today. If you see him, just avoid him.”]

“Oh, right. My sister mentioned that too—she said her husband has some connection with him.”

[“Exactly, so try your best not to run into him.”]

“Got it.”

Wanting to ease Ji Yoon’s worried tone, Ah Rin spoke as cheerfully as she could.

“Don’t worry. I already told my sister I wouldn’t eat anything—just come to see the ceremony. See you soon.”

After hanging up, Ah Rin tucked her phone back into her bag.

[This is the timeline separator]

Bride’s waiting room at TS Hotel.

Ah Rin opened the door and stepped into Yu Jung’s waiting room.

“Unnie.”

When her eyes met those of the most beautiful bride in the world, dressed in a pure white ballgown, Ah Rin felt something surge painfully in her chest.

“Ah Rin.”

Yu Jung also stood up, her eyes brimming with tears as their gazes locked.

“Unnie.”

Ah Rin quickly walked over and clasped her hands firmly.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Tears welled up in Ah Rin’s eyes as she looked at Yu Jung.

“You look absolutely stunning today, Unnie.”

Ah Rin always felt she’d been a burden to Yu Jung. Even though Yu Jung always insisted, “That’s absolutely not true,” Ah Rin knew better—especially after parting ways with Jae Hyuk, she’d realized deeply just how much Yu Jung had endured to protect her in that household.

Now, overwhelmed with both guilt and gratitude, she’d wished with all her heart for Yu Jung’s happiness.

And seeing Yu Jung’s joyful face today, marrying the man she loved, Ah Rin felt a surge of emotion swell within her.

“Thank you, Ah Rin. Let’s sit down for a bit.”

Yu Jung took Ah Rin’s hand firmly and sat down.

“I thought you wouldn’t make it.”

For some reason, Yu Jung’s voice sounded slightly hoarse.

“It’s your wedding—of course I’d come. Who else would be here if not me?”

Yu Jung’s heart ached at Ah Rin’s visibly thinner face.

“Are you feeling okay?”

She was already so slim, and with her recent illness, she’d lost even more weight.

Yu Jung gently stroked Ah Rin’s cheek.

She reached out and carefully smoothed Ah Rin’s face.

“You’ve got quite a few marks.”

Yu Jung’s expression darkened as she carefully examined Ah Rin’s face and body.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to visit, but I just couldn’t find a single moment.”

“You were busy with your own wedding preparations—how could you possibly come?”

Ah Rin said with a smile, but Yu Jung’s expression only grew heavier.

Ah Rin had always been grateful for Yu Jung’s constant care, but today of all days, she didn’t want to cause her any worry.

“I’m really okay. Ji Yoon stayed with me, and Mom cooked lots of delicious food for me too.”

“…Well, that’s good, then.”

Ah Rin forced a wide smile, lifting the corners of her lips to change the subject.

“Your fiancé is really handsome.”

“…Ah.”

Yu Jung blushed at Ah Rin’s words.

“He’s someone I’ve never met before.”

“Yeah, back then he was just a regular employee, so you probably never crossed paths.”

“He’s quite an impressive person.”

Yu Jung’s husband, Min Se Jun, was the second son of Chairman Min of TS Group. He’d joined the company as an ordinary staff member, hiding his identity as the chairman’s son, and had worked his way up to the position of team manager through his own efforts.

“He worked hard for it. Oh, and he said he’d be coming today.”

Although the subject was omitted, Ah Rin knew exactly who Yu Jung was referring to.

“…Ah, yeah. I heard. I’m really okay now, so please don’t worry about it.”

Ah Rin felt guilty that even on her own wedding day, Yu Jung was still worrying about her.

“But still—”

“I mean it, Unnie. It’s your wedding day—you don’t have to think about stuff like that. Are you feeling okay yourself? I heard wedding prep was really tough.”

Ah Rin quickly shifted the topic again.

“Se Jun helped out a lot, so it wasn’t too bad.”

“Sounds like your soon-to-be husband is really considerate.”

“…Yeah.”

Fortunately, Yu Jung once again followed Ah Rin’s lead.

“Unnie, it feels so strange now that you’re getting married.”

They hadn’t always called each other “Unnie” and “Dongsaeng.” Even after Ah Rin left VAN Group, Yu Jung had still addressed her as “Samo-nim” for a while.

[“Team Leader, I’m not ‘Samo-nim’ anymore.”] [“Ah, right.”] [“Please call me by my name. I’d like us to be sisters now.”] [“…Alright.”]

Since she wasn’t “Samo-nim” anymore and the formality felt awkward, Ah Rin had asked to be called by name.

[“Let’s talk casually. Sisters don’t use honorifics with each other, right?”] [“…Okay. Ah Rin.”]

Yu Jung answered with a bright smile at Ah Rin’s words.

“Unnie, I’m really happy for you—congratulations on your wedding.”

At the sincerity in Ah Rin’s voice, Yu Jung beamed.

In the three years since leaving Jae Hyuk, Ah Rin and Yu Jung had become closer than anyone else. Ji Yoon too.

Yu Jung was warm-hearted and considerate—a person who made Ah Rin want to become more like her.

“Alright, now that the bride’s friend is here, we need to take some photos.”

At that moment, the photographer waiting in the room spoke up. Ah Rin squeezed Yu Jung’s hand and smiled at the camera.

When a hotel staff member announced the ceremony would begin in five minutes, Ah Rin said goodbye to Yu Jung and left the waiting room.

A beautifully delicate smile spread across Ah Rin’s face. Being with Yu Jung always lifted her spirits.

“Unnie, you really are so beautiful.”

Though it wasn’t her own wedding, Ah Rin suddenly felt tears welling up, her heart swelling with emotion.

But it didn’t take long before that smile vanished from her face.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Oh? Look who it is.”

Just as she was walking down the corridor toward the ceremony hall, a man approached from the opposite direction.

Ah Rin was stopped by a stranger she’d never seen before. His unpleasant grip on her wrist made her expression harden instantly.

“Who are you to grab me like this?”

Her face twisted in discomfort as she coldly snapped, trying to wrench her wrist free.

“You don’t recognize me?”

The man clicked his tongue, looking utterly incredulous.

“You’re not pretending, are you?”

“I really don’t know you.”

“You seriously don’t know who I am? Why wouldn’t you? We’ve even exchanged greetings before.”

Ah Rin struggled to pull away, but she couldn’t break free from the grip of a grown man.

“Wow, what a little actress. We’ve met several times already.”

A strange glint flickered in his eyes as he sneered, his gaze crawling lewdly from Ah Rin’s head to her toes.

“Well, fine. I don’t mind a woman playing coy.”

Ah Rin was frightened—this man towered over her by a full head, with a large, imposing build. His serpent-like, deceitful eyes sent chills down her spine, giving her the awful sensation of insects crawling all over her skin.

“Let go of my hand. Now.”

Ah Rin used the firmest, coldest tone she could muster. But the man only sneered, as if her reaction amused him.

“Came alone?”

He abruptly slapped his forehead as if just remembering something.

“Of course you did. You’re not still hurt over what I said, are you?”

Legally, they weren’t divorced yet. But since she’d left VAN Group’s main house and cut off contact with Jae Hyuk, their long separation had led many to assume they were already divorced.

Still, this was the first time someone had so brazenly mentioned divorce to her face.

“Don’t you realize this hurts you more than me?”

“Me? At a loss? Do I look like an idiot to you? I heard everything—Ban Jae Hyuk’s getting married, right?”

At the mention of Jae Hyuk’s name, Ah Rin’s expression visibly trembled. The man tightened his grip on her wrist and continued.

“That means there’s no reason I can’t have you now, Choi Ah Rin.”

Seeing Ah Rin, once fierce, now stunned into submission like a docile lamb, the man satisfiedly curled the corners of his lips.

“That’s right. Be good.”

He had every reason to feel confident.

‘Well, I was a bit skeptical at first, but everything that bastard said turned out to be true.’

After all, the man who’d tipped him off was none other than Madam Jeong’s—Jae Hyuk’s mother—lover.

[“Rumor has it Ban Jae Hyuk and that woman aren’t legally divorced yet, right?”] [“Well, technically they haven’t filed the paperwork, so you could say that—but honestly, it’s all but final. It’s just a technicality they haven’t stamped yet.”] [“Really?”] [“Of course. Would I lie to someone like you? You know who’s backing me, don’t you?”]

In a discreet place known only to insiders,

the man had whispered to him there.

[“If you’re lying to me, I’ll kill you.”] [“Of course, of course. But surely you know—our Vice Chairman is getting married now.”] [“Ah, right. I heard. It’s ridiculous he hasn’t even filed for divorce yet.”] [“I know you had feelings for Choi Ah Rin. So stop hesitating. She’ll want this too. After living lavishly as a chaebol wife, how lonely must she be now? She’ll welcome KK Group with open arms.”] [“Hahaha. That’s true enough.”]

Blind to the devil’s whisper, the man had stoked his long-suppressed lust for Ah Rin.

Arrogant and rude by nature, and now convinced Ah Rin was no longer affiliated with VAN Group, he grew even more aggressive.

Ah Rin’s slender shoulders trembled faintly.

“I’m going to call someone.”

The man let out a mocking snort.

“Go ahead. Even if someone comes, they’ll probably just walk right past.”

Ah Rin was stunned by his arrogance. Who on earth was this man to behave so rudely and confidently?

“Let go.”

“Oh? Your feisty look is pretty too?”

With his free hand, the man rubbed his chin.

Ah Rin was deeply offended by his vulgar remarks. She didn’t know who he was—and didn’t want to know.

“I heard you left that house three years ago. Even if you haven’t filed paperwork, you and Ban Jae Hyuk are already done, right?”

Ah Rin couldn’t fathom how this complete stranger—who she’d never seen before—knew so much about her relationship with Jae Hyuk.

He acted as though he knew her intimately.

“It’s fine. You couldn’t look at me before because of Jae Hyuk, but that’s over now. I know the truth—you’ve been giving me those sultry looks.”

At the repeated mention of Jae Hyuk’s name, Ah Rin’s body stiffened completely.