Chapter 25
“Even if that weren’t the case, the fact that we’re in a passionate relationship will reach my family anyway. I think this is a very good plan.”
“…Right.”
What more could she say? Eunha could only go along with whatever Dohun wanted. Even now, she couldn’t move an inch under his gaze.
“Of course, I’m talking about after we get married. If we did that right now, you’d feel pressured and wouldn’t even come into this house.”
Ah…
Eunha let out a soft sigh—she couldn’t tell whether it was from disappointment or relief.
He was right, so why did she suddenly feel disappointed? Even she couldn’t understand her own heart.
“I’ve been so busy that I rarely come home. And if I’m getting married soon, I’ll be even busier.”
Eunha could easily imagine it. For someone like him, who was always working, coming home regularly would actually be strange.
“So for the time being, I plan to stay at a hotel closer to the company. You should stay here and get used to the house comfortably.”
Eunha was grateful for his consideration, but she was still torn. She didn’t want to inconvenience him because of herself.
But at the same time, she genuinely wanted to be with him now.
Eunha gathered her courage and called out to him.
“Um, Dohun…”
“Yeah?”
“I… I don’t feel pressured.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… I’d be okay living together from now on.”
Eunha said it with her face burning red, wondering why such a simple statement felt so embarrassing.
Dohun looked slightly surprised—but then a pleased smile spread across his lips.
“We’re going to get married anyway, and it’s not uncomfortable being with you. I was actually more worried that you might feel uncomfortable with me living here…”
“You will be uncomfortable.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? That I’d hold you whenever I wanted in this house.”
“…”
“So, are you still okay with that?”
“…Yes.”
Eunha’s cheeks flushed an even deeper red. No matter how many times they had these conversations, she never got used to them.
Seeing her shyly nod, Dohun’s chest tightened with affection.
“In that case, I can’t disappoint you.”
“Huh?”
Before she could even blink in surprise, Dohun had already lifted her into his arms and laid her down on the sofa.
“Dohun…”
“I’m going to start now.”
“Right now?”
Pinned beneath him, Eunha stared up into his dark eyes, her throat going dry. Her face was even hotter than before.
“I wanted to do it again this morning, but I held back.”
“Still… right now might be a bit…”
“Why?”
“It’s too… bright outside.”
Embarrassed, Eunha averted her eyes toward the large glass window and bit her lip.
It was still afternoon, and the wide floor-to-ceiling windows let the sunlight flood in.
Even though it was a private garden, she couldn’t help feeling embarrassed. The servants came and went freely, and it almost felt like the trees and flowers in the garden were watching them with curiosity.
“That’s exactly why I like it more. It’s even more exciting.”
“Please, can we at least close the curtains?”
Dohun shook his head with a teasing grin.
Seeing her almost tear up, he felt a surge of excitement.
“Don’t make that face yet. I’ll make sure you’re really crying soon.”
He pressed his lips to hers and began undressing her swiftly.
In moments, both of them were naked, their bodies entwined under the warm afternoon sunlight streaming through the window.
By Monday morning, Dohun was already buried in work.
They had decided to move up the wedding date, and the company’s founding anniversary was also approaching. Every minute counted.
Yet every time he thought of Eunha, a smile crept across his lips.
“I don’t feel pressured. I’d be okay living together from now on.”
Cute, wasn’t it? How could she say something like that?
He had been planning to give her the house so she wouldn’t feel burdened, but somehow they ended up living together almost immediately.
At first, he’d said those teasing words—about holding her anytime—just to fluster her. But now, it had turned into reality.
Living with her, Dohun had completely lost control. But strangely, he didn’t feel tired at all. In fact, the more he held her, the more he wanted her—it was insane.
And yet, every time he did, unease crept into his heart.
He still hadn’t found concrete evidence linking Sehun and Haneul Foods.
There were rumors and a few tips, but no proof that Haneul Foods had leaked any technical data, and not even a credible witness.
Without solid evidence, there was no way to confirm whether Sehun had really copied Haneul’s products.
He could only hope that his suspicions were wrong—that it was all just needless worry.
“Director Choi, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
He was just clearing his head after thinking about Sehun when his secretary, Yang, entered the office.
“It’s your mother-in-law.”
“My mother-in-law?”
Dohun frowned, thinking of Chansook.
He’d already been planning to meet her separately after things settled down—he didn’t like the way she treated Eunha every time they met.
But he hadn’t expected her to just show up unannounced.
People who barged in without considering others were exactly the kind he disliked most.
“…Let her in.”
Still, she was Eunha’s stepmother, and now his mother-in-law. And he did have a few things to say to her anyway.
He had a feeling he knew what she’d come for.
“Yes, sir.”
After Yang left, Dohun stood and straightened his jacket, making sure there wasn’t a wrinkle out of place.
Knock knock.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
With his permission, Secretary Yang returned—this time leading in Chansook.
“Mr. Choi.”
She greeted him brightly as she entered the office, her eyes naturally scanning the wide, luxurious room.
Just moments ago, when she’d arrived at the building, she’d once again realized how powerful a family she’d become connected to through this marriage.
Of course, as a mother-in-law, she didn’t want to show her delight too openly, so she kept her expression as composed as possible.
“What brings you here without notice?”
“Now, really—does a mother-in-law need a reason to visit her son-in-law? I was in the area, thought I’d stop by. I wanted to see the company and how my son-in-law works.”
She sat down on the sofa with a polite smile. In truth, she was here to gauge just how much power Dohun really had. Hearing about it was one thing—seeing it for herself was another.
And she was also curious whether he knew about what Sunjoo and Sehun had done.
Lately, watching the turmoil in the Jeil family had become her guilty pleasure.
As she settled down, Dohun took the seat across from her and spoke calmly.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Green tea, please. I’ve been stressed out over wedding plans lately, and my skin’s been suffering.”
At that, Dohun’s lips curved slightly.
He’d seen plenty of people like her—those who brought up their “efforts” to fish for acknowledgment—and he knew exactly how to handle them.
“Secretary Yang, I’ll have the same, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
The secretary bowed, then soon returned with two cups of tea before quietly leaving the room.
Once they were alone again, Dohun spoke first.
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to meet with you myself.”
“Oh? About what?”
“Yes.”
He opened a desk drawer and took out a single sheet of paper, setting it face-down on the table.
So she couldn’t see the contents.
“What’s that?”
Curiosity sparked in Chansook’s eyes as she reached for the paper—but Dohun’s fingers landed on it first. He tapped it twice lightly with his thumb.
“It’s a sort of contract. A promise to send you an allowance.”
At that, color returned to her face.
“Oh my, our Mr. Choi is so decisive! I was wondering how that allowance would work—Eunha hasn’t said a word about it.”
Delighted, she reached for the paper again, but Dohun smoothly pulled it back toward himself and smiled faintly.
“There’s just one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes.”
Leaning back leisurely on the sofa, Dohun’s gaze sharpened.
“What condition?”
Suddenly, Chansook felt a twinge of anxiety—something about the balance of power in the room had shifted.
“From now on, treat Eunha with respect.”
“…What?”
Chansook stared at him, speechless.
“I saw how you acted at Seolhyang, and again in front of our gate the day of the family meeting. From now on, I won’t tolerate you insulting or speaking rudely to her like that.”
Truthfully, Dohun had been waiting for this moment.
He’d already known from what he’d heard at Seolhyang that the relationship between Eunha and her stepmother was strained—but he hadn’t realized just how bad it was until that day.
At the family meeting, Chansook had made her dislike for Eunha blatantly clear—as if she’d forgotten where she was. Eunha had sensed it but pretended nothing was wrong.
That had bothered Dohun even more. How many times had she gone through that to have become so numb to it?
The only reason she endured it, he guessed, was probably because of Eunpyo.
He could understand that—but now, Eunha was his person.
And he couldn’t just sit by and watch anyone, even her mother, treat her that way anymore.
