CHAPTER 24…………………………..
“Ah… really?”
Hana replied briefly. Her face was smiling, but the smile stiffened at the corners almost immediately.
Nayeon seemed oblivious to this subtle change and continued speaking casually.
“But it’s strange.”
“Strange how?”
“I mean Jung Gun-woo. He seems really interested in you, but then… look at what he does.”
Nayeon tilted her head and swirled her wine glass.
“Anyway, he’s just completely unpredictable.”
Hana fell silent for a moment. That word—unpredictable—felt like a small prick somewhere deep inside her.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the wine glass. The light reflected in the red liquid shimmered and spread.
As the red light rippled, memories of earlier that day suddenly came back to her.
Yoo Tae-oh.
Even hotter than the warmth left on her lips was the name he had spoken and left behind. The memory made her fingertips tremble.
Hana stayed still, holding the glass, for a long moment.
“Hey!”
Nayeon’s voice abruptly snapped her out of her thoughts. Hana lifted her head, startled.
“Huh?”
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Nothing… just…”
Hana forced a smile and raised the wine glass. The red light reflected on its surface.
She took a sip of the slightly bitter liquid, letting it slowly slide down her throat. The taste lingered, sharp on her tongue, and a bitter smile escaped.
Yeah… it’s strange… he really is unpredictable.
He acts like he hates her, yet can’t refuse her requests, and even protects her to the very end.
Hana raised the glass again and drained the remaining wine in one go. Shadows shimmered at the bottom of the glass.
After finishing dinner with Nayeon and returning home, the living room was quiet. The lights were off, and only a soft glow cast shadows on the walls.
Hana carefully took off her shoes and stepped into the hallway. She moved cautiously, as if even her footsteps had to avoid someone’s notice.
At that moment, the bedroom door at the end of the hall opened. Gun-woo appeared, dressed casually, sleeves rolled up, a wristwatch catching the dim light.
Their eyes met briefly.
“You’re late.”
His voice was calm, devoid of emotion, as if nothing had happened.
“…Yes.”
Hana replied softly. Gun-woo’s gaze briefly swept over her face.
“Did you drink?”
“…A little.”
Hana answered honestly. There was no reason to make excuses or hide anything.
A short silence fell. Only the faint sounds of everyday life filled the space.
Gun-woo nodded and added in a casual tone:
“The meeting about the Southeast Asia distribution network will be next Monday. Tell Chairman Seo that.”
Hana blinked, momentarily not understanding what he meant.
“…Yes?”
Gun-woo spoke without shifting his gaze.
“You’ve probably been pushing for it. Don’t make things worse—just tell them that.”
His tone was neither kind nor cold. It was simply the matter-of-fact delivery of a work directive.
“…Understood. Thank you.”
Gun-woo said no more. He turned and walked back into his room.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the living room, unusually long.
Hana stopped unconsciously. She let out a long sigh, one of relief.
The past few days, she had been constantly hassled by Gi-hoon’s repeated urging.
Every time, Hana swallowed her words. Each day was a struggle, inventing reasons and excuses.
So the words Gun-woo had just left her felt like a breath of fresh air entering her suffocating lungs.
But that relief didn’t last. She suddenly remembered Gun-woo’s figure disappearing into the room.
The closing door, and the silence beyond.
Between them remained an invisible distance, unbridgeable by words.
Hana quietly turned off the living room light. Her shadow stretched long in the darkness.
The next morning.
As soon as she arrived at work, Hana went straight to the chairman’s office.
She exchanged brief greetings at the secretary’s desk, then opened the door to see Gi-hoon just removing his coat and adjusting his glasses.
“What is it?”
His voice was still blunt and heavy. That single word instantly made the room feel tense.
“There’s a meeting next Monday with the Ilju Group, regarding the Southeast Asia distribution network.”
Hana spoke calmly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
He walked over to the sofa, sat down, and picked up a coffee cup.
“Well done. Make sure it succeeds.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Gi-hoon’s eyes rose from the cup to meet hers.
“This Southeast Asia expansion is extremely important for our company. If it succeeds, the distribution line will be firmly established, and the company will double in size.”
Hana nodded.
“I’m aware.”
“If you know that, then do it properly. Persuade President Jung Gun-woo to bring it to us under favorable terms.”
Though a simple work directive, the pressure it carried felt unusually heavy. The fact that Gun-woo was both her husband and a business counterpart always weighed on Hana.
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
Gi-hoon put down his coffee cup and continued.
“And…”
His voice lowered.
“I’ve been hearing strange rumors about President Jung and the Jet Group recently.”
Hana flinched.
“…Yes?”
“It’s probably nothing. There are always a lot of baseless rumors on that side.”
Gi-hoon leaned back in his chair.
“You don’t need to worry about it, right?”
That was essentially a warning: don’t let it distract you. Hana looked down and answered briefly.
“…Yes, of course.”
Gi-hoon studied her for a moment, then curled the corner of his mouth into a smirk.
“You’re impressive. Married for over two years, and you still haven’t broken through that wall.”
Hana clenched the hem of her skirt tightly.
“…I’m trying.”
“Trying?”
His voice carried a hint of sarcasm.
“Do you know how many times I’ve heard that? Two years, same words, no results—what effort are you talking about?”
Hana bit her lip, feeling something inside her chest slowly shrink.
“Make President Jung Gun-woo fall in love with you. That’s how it will be to our advantage.”
“……”
“Pay attention to your clothes, your makeup, your tone. Cater to your husband’s mood, prepare meals yourself. Those little things build affection.”
Hana lowered her head. Every word weighed heavily on her neck, as if pressing down on her.
“If President Jung rejects you, our deal with the Ilju Group is over. You know what that means, right?”
“…Yes.”
Gi-hoon’s gaze briefly swept over her stomach.
“When will you have a child?”
Hana’s hand twitched.
“…That’s… I don’t know how to…”
“How many times must I tell you? President Jung must have a child with you. Only then can they not treat us lightly. Once a child exists, everything is fixed. Contracts, relationships—everything.”
Hana could say nothing. The words were too cold, too real, leaving her breathless.
Gi-hoon leaned back casually, as if nothing had been said.
“Still, today you did well. You arranged the meeting about Southeast Asia.”
His tone softened slightly.
“…Thank you.”
Hana’s voice was barely audible.
“Make sure the meeting goes smoothly.”
Gi-hoon spoke firmly again. Though controlled, his tone carried an unmistakable command.
“Improve your relationship with President Jung. Don’t just try verbally—make it visible.”
Hana swallowed. His words were always like this: soft in tone, but like a blade at their core.
No chance to escape, no room to make excuses.
Gi-hoon’s gaze slowly swept over Hana’s face, then down her shoulders, her hands, and finally to the floor.
