I’ll Make Her My Woman
“You’re not even married yet. Should I already call her sister-in-law?”
Jeho lifted one corner of his lips while keeping his eyes fixed on Yulri.
Sister-in-law?
The word alone made Yulri frown. It wasn’t technically wrong, but it felt so awkward that it gave her goosebumps.
If she married Minwoo, she and Jeho would become brother- and sister-in-law. It wasn’t new information… so why did it suddenly feel strange?
As if he noticed the subtle change in her expression, Jeho’s gaze deepened. Feeling like her thoughts had been exposed, Yulri lowered her eyes slightly.
“No, hyung.”
Minwoo suddenly spoke with a crooked smile.
“She used to be your fiancée. It’s not that easy to call her sister-in-law.”
It sounded like he was deliberately provoking Jeho. But Jeho only smiled faintly, showing no reaction to the obvious challenge. Instead, Minwoo looked like the one being ignored. His expression twisted.
Yulri quietly watched the two men compete without giving an inch.
Ten years ago and now, it was still a loveless arranged marriage. So why were they acting like rivals in a romantic drama? The two of them were fighting, yet she—the third person—felt the most uncomfortable. She silently filled her empty glass.
“By the way… I’m curious about something.”
Again, Jeho kept his eyes on Yulri while speaking to Minwoo.
“Why Yulri? You knew she was supposed to marry me. So why go out of your way?”
“Cough—!”
The direct question caught Yulri off guard. She quickly set down her glass and covered her mouth with a napkin, staring at Jeho in shock.
But Minwoo didn’t seem shaken. As if he had expected this, he smiled and wrapped an arm around Yulri’s shoulders, pulling her close. Before she could resist, she was in his arms.
“It’s not like they got married and divorced. What’s the problem?”
His tone was sarcastic, and he tightened his grip around her arm. It hurt. Yulri frowned slightly but endured it, aware that Jeho was watching carefully.
Even if Minwoo’s possessive behavior annoyed her, she couldn’t push him away in front of Jeho. After all, she was marrying Minwoo—not Jeho.
Jeho’s eyes stayed fixed on Minwoo’s hand gripping her arm. His gaze burned with anger, as if he might tear Minwoo’s hand away at any moment.
Unable to bear it, Yulri gave Jeho a small smile, pretending she was fine. Even if their marriage would be only in name, she had to protect Minwoo’s dignity.
At her smile, something flickered in Jeho’s eyes. He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg casually, as if watching a play.
“I heard your original match was the eldest daughter of Taemin Group. But you insisted on Yulri instead.”
“Ha. And who told you that?”
Minwoo raised his voice, irritated that Jeho knew so much.
Taking advantage of his loosened grip, Yulri quickly slipped out of his arms. Her arm throbbed where he had held her too tightly. She rubbed it lightly. There would probably be red marks again.
The argument continued.
“It’s not about who told me. The fact that I heard it at all is what matters.”
“Let them gossip. I don’t care. If I have to marry for business anyway, I’d rather marry Yulri—who I’ve known for over ten years—than some stranger from Taemin Group.”
“You’ve known Yulri for over ten years?”
Jeho frowned slightly.
“I met her before you did. We’ve known each other since high school. Your engagement came after that.”
Technically, that was true. But back then, Yulri hadn’t known Minwoo well. They had only briefly crossed paths at a charity party hosted by Cheonga Group. They became friends much later, after Jeho had already left for the United States.
“Maybe you were engaged once, but that was only for a short time. Yulri and I have been together for ten years.”
Minwoo tried to hug her again. Yulri avoided him and shot him a subtle glare. Noticing her discomfort, he instead rested his hand on the back of her chair.
“Yulri, remember when we traveled to Malawi together?”
He clearly wanted to show Jeho how close they were. Yulri nodded silently. It was true—but Hyunkyung had been with them, and it was volunteer work.
“We stayed in the same room. The night sky we saw together… I still remember it. The stars shone like diamonds.”
It sounded like a romantic honeymoon story. Yulri didn’t argue.
“Yeah. I remember.”
As she drank her wine, her eyes met Jeho’s. Beneath his slowly blinking eyelids was a cold glint—almost as if he were questioning whether she truly had a deep relationship with Minwoo.
Her heart dropped.
Why did it bother her that he might misunderstand?
“I thought it was only an arranged marriage.”
Jeho finally spoke.
“But it seems like you two have feelings for each other.”
“Of course I have—”
Minwoo stopped himself abruptly, realizing his mistake. Their marriage was supposed to be practical, not emotional.
“Whether we have feelings or not, does it matter in an arranged marriage?”
“Is that so?”
Knowing well how much Minwoo liked Yulri, Jeho turned his gaze to her.
“Marriage isn’t a corporate merger.”
“Honestly, it’s not that different, is it?”
Yulri frowned.
“Minwoo and I are marrying because our conditions match. I believe we’ll be good partners.”
She wasn’t defending Minwoo. She just couldn’t stand the faint mockery in Jeho’s tone.
“Did you just say ‘conditions’? Not love?”
“Yes. Conditions.”
She emphasized the word. Her voice trembled slightly.
“I don’t believe in fleeting emotions like love. A marriage built on mutual need is much stronger.”
Jeho didn’t argue. He only looked at her quietly. His gaze was calm, yet she felt something like contempt hidden inside it. She turned her head away.
Anger slowly rose within her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jeho smiled faintly.
“I was just wondering if the Yulri who once argued passionately against arranged marriage ten years ago is the same person sitting here now.”
Her eyes turned cold.
“Ten years can change everything. Of course people change. So do their views on marriage.”
She had dated before, but none of the relationships lasted. The men were more interested in her background—Assemblyman Chae’s power—than in her. Eventually, she stopped believing in love.
An arranged marriage felt easier. At least there would be no betrayal.
“What about you, hyung?”
Minwoo cut in.
“Are you still the same? Are you absolutely against arranged marriage?”
“Of course.”
Jeho finally shifted his gaze from Yulri to Minwoo.
“At least when it comes to marriage, I believe it should be with someone I love. Marriage isn’t business.”
“Oh? Then do you have someone you’re seeing?”
“…Well.”
Jeho paused, thoughtful.
“There is a woman I keep looking at… someone I can’t help but worry about.”
Yulri pretended not to care, but her ears sharpened.
A woman he kept looking at?
Who?
A strange feeling pricked her chest.
She had just said she didn’t believe in love—yet the thought of an unknown woman made her chest feel heavy.
It must be the alcohol.
“Is she in Korea? Or in the U.S.?”
“Where she is now doesn’t matter.”
Jeho slowly turned his gaze toward Yulri.
“Because soon… she’ll become my woman.”
He whispered it softly, a faint smile touching his lips.
“Though it won’t be easy.”
