Chapter 23
When Dohoon arrived home, he led Chansook and Eunha to the dining area in the garden.
There, a table and chairs were already set up, and the servants were busy going back and forth, diligently preparing a delicious meal.
Chansook eagerly looked around. There were several buildings, and the garden was at least as large as a school playground.
The thought that Eunha was marrying into such a house made her stomach twist with envy once again.
But what could she do? Even if she didn’t like it, it was better to get it over with quickly and make sure she got what she could out of it.
While Chansook was admiring the surroundings and calculating in her head, Dohoon quietly stepped closer to Eunha.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
It would’ve been a lie to say she wasn’t.
And yet, Dohoon acted so naturally—like a real lover—that it was almost frightening.
Every time he looked at her affectionately, Eunha’s heart thudded in her chest, and she would momentarily forget that it was all just an act.
On top of that, hearing him call her pretty even in front of Chansook made her chest feel like it was going to burst; she kept swallowing dryly.
“Just hang in there a bit. I’ll make it end as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.”
It wasn’t the kind of meeting either of them wanted to drag out anyway.
So when he said he’d end it quickly, Eunha heard it as if he were trying to take care of her, and her heart started pounding again.
After a short while, Ihak, Iljun, and Sunju appeared.
Apparently, they hadn’t bothered to invite Sehun and Hari, thinking there was no need for them to attend.
“Thank you for coming.”
Ihak greeted them first. His tone was polite, but his eyes were sharp.
Chansook felt as if her whole body froze, but she forced a smile.
“Oh, no, Chairman. I should be the one thanking you for inviting us like this.”
Then she turned to Eunha, who was standing behind her.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and say hello.”
“Hello. I’m Yeo Eunha.”
“Sit down.”
Once Ihak took his seat, the others followed.
It was a long rectangular table—Iljun and Sunju sat to Ihak’s right, and opposite them sat Chansook.
Dohoon and Eunha took their seats next to Chansook, so that the six of them faced each other.
Eunha felt as though she were walking on thin ice—the atmosphere was so tense.
Ihak, as the head of a major company, had an imposing charisma. Iljun, unlike the sharply defined Dohoon, had a softer, almost delicate kind of good looks.
“You know Dohoon’s father is quite the womanizer, right?”
Maybe people really were different from how they appeared on the outside.
As Eunha recalled Sunju’s words, she faced the man who seemed so kind and harmless.
Meanwhile, Sunju was still looking at her with a cold, disapproving gaze.
The tension was suffocating; there wasn’t a single person she could feel at ease with.
“I’d like to have the wedding as soon as possible,” Dohoon said, putting his earlier words into action.
“Since we’ve brought it up, it’s best for both sides if we don’t drag things out.”
“I agree,” Ihak nodded.
“For the newlywed home, I plan for us to live in my current place. It’s fully furnished already, so we can skip the dowry.”
“But Father, isn’t skipping the dowry entirely a bit much?”
It was Sunju who interjected.
“It’s still a wedding. Even if her family’s fallen on hard times, it’s not right for her to marry into a chaebol family empty-handed. When Sehun got married, we replaced all the furniture at least. If we treat them too differently, it won’t look good for the new bride either.”
Sunju glanced at Chansook and Eunha as she continued.
“People will talk. I think we should keep up appearances, Father.”
“This isn’t some political marriage where we’re trading assets. It’s not like we’re gaining anything from her family either,” Dohoon replied calmly but firmly.
Sunju’s eyes narrowed.
“Still, marriage is a serious matter—it’s the union of two families. Everyone should do their part.”
“I don’t want to put conditions or obligations on a marriage I’m choosing out of love, Mother.”
Even without sounding rude, his voice carried a stubborn resolve.
“Just do as Dohoon says. Wouldn’t it be awkward to accept anything from a struggling in-law family?” Ihak cut in.
“But still, Father…”
“I said that’s enough.”
At his sharp tone, Sunju had no choice but to fall silent.
She glanced at Iljun, hoping for some support, but he sat there detached, as though none of this concerned him.
Even after living in this house for twenty years, moments like this always made Sunju feel like an outsider. It stung her pride.
Meanwhile, Chansook had been quietly watching every twist of Sunju’s expression with great interest.
Sunju excused herself to go to the bathroom, but instead went to the kitchen and gulped down a glass of cold water. She simply couldn’t keep her expression in check.
“Ugh. I can’t stand this family. Not a single one of them.”
She muttered to herself, slamming the cup down.
“Excuse me, Madam.”
“Oh, heavens!”
She turned around to see Chansook standing in the doorway. Sunju clutched her chest, scowling.
“What are you doing? You scared me.”
“Oh dear, sorry for startling you. I just wanted to have a private word with you, Madam.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
Chansook smiled slyly, and Sunju’s frown deepened. What on earth was this about? Still, she couldn’t just walk away.
“Follow me.”
Eventually, Sunju led Chansook to the guesthouse. It had several unused guest rooms and was quiet—perfect for private conversation.
“So, what is it you want to say?” Sunju asked warily.
Chansook looked every bit the vain, money-obsessed woman she appeared to be, and the idea of being friendly with her just because they were soon to be in-laws irritated Sunju. Still, she decided to hear her out.
“Madam, I’ve been watching you since earlier… You don’t like my daughter, do you?”
“What?”
What kind of nonsense was this? Was she trying to pick a fight?
Sunju frowned and raised her voice. “Excuse me?”
“There’s no need to be defensive. I don’t like her either.”
Chansook shook her head as if even thinking about Eunha disgusted her.
Sunju blinked, taken aback. What was this woman getting at?
“She’s not my real daughter, you see. Ever since she was little, she’s relied on my father’s influence and treated me like dirt.”
“…”
The bitterness in her tone sounded sincere.
Sunju, remembering her own struggles living as Dohoon’s stepmother, felt a flicker of empathy and relaxed slightly.
But as the conversation dragged on, she grew impatient.
“So what are you getting at?”
“I’d like you to… straighten her out for me.”
“Pardon?”
“She’s going there without a dowry, empty-handed. She should at least make herself useful. Put her to work—she needs to learn some humility.”
At that, Sunju finally understood her intent.
So this woman wanted her to act like a cruel mother-in-law and make Eunha’s life miserable.
Chansook clearly couldn’t stand the idea of Eunha being loved or treated well after marriage—she wanted her to suffer.
Maybe it was the same kind of resentment she herself felt toward Dohoon.
But still—what nerve.
Sunju had no intention of being kind to Eunha either, but the way Chansook ordered her around grated on her.
Was she being looked down on so much that even this woman dared talk to her like this? Her blood boiled.
“How I treat your daughter is my business. It’s not for you to tell me. Watch your tone.”
“Of course. I’m sure you’ll handle it however you see fit. But still—our elegant, refined Madam can’t exactly show her claws in public, can she? I’m just letting you know I’m all for a bit of tough love, so you don’t have to hold back.”
“What…”
Was she mocking her?
Sunju narrowed her eyes, glaring sharply.
“Well, that’s all I wanted to say. I’ll be going now, Madam.”
Chansook smiled sweetly, leaving the speechless Sunju behind, and walked out.
As she stepped out of the guesthouse, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
From the look of things, Eunha wouldn’t last long in that house.
After all, who would want to live with a ticking time bomb?
The thought of Eunha’s inevitable misery delighted her—and putting that haughty Sunju in her place felt even better.
Her earlier resentment about Eunha marrying into a rich family was gone; she even found herself humming as she walked away.
