ARHS 04

Chapter 4

Chris stood by the study window, watching the approaching car with a sharp gaze.

Along with the news that the woman had arrived, the secretary continued his report.

“She’s Lee Da-hee, twenty-seven. She’s majoring in robotics engineering at Korea University’s graduate school. Both of her parents are teachers. She was born at Jeil OB-GYN Clinic in Seoul and is the youngest of three siblings—one son and two daughters.”

“Nothing else?”

“No. She was a model student, born into an entirely ordinary family.”

It was a report without any distinctive points.

“Possibility of adoption?”

“None.”

Junho’s voice was firm with certainty.

Ordinarily, Chris would have appreciated his secretary’s thoroughness. Today, however, it irritated him. Uncharacteristically, he pressed further.

“And the reason for that certainty?”

“Coincidentally, her birthday is the same as her eldest sister’s. Since she was born on her sister’s birthday, she was especially cherished. Their parents as well. It’s rare for the eldest and youngest to share a birthday. And there’s a twelve-year age gap between them. If the youngest had been adopted, it would have been impossible not to know at that age.”

The car, steadily drawing closer, had now arrived in front of the mansion.

“True… the age gap alone….”

Why had he thought she might be that child?

The woman who had knelt before him had been trembling violently. When her hoodie shifted aside, her slender nape had been exposed. Following the sharp line of her protruding spine, he had seen a scar hidden beneath her clothes.

The moment he saw the long crescent-shaped scar, he had almost reached out without thinking.

“Disappointed she’s not the child you were looking for?”

Setting aside his role as secretary for a moment, Junho spoke as a friend. His expression, however, remained impassive.

“Chris… they said no one survived the orphanage fire.”

It was an accident he had confirmed dozens of times.

And yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the pesky little girl who used to trail after him was still alive somewhere.

“What if this causes trouble later? Why bring her here?”

It had been an impulsive decision.

The moment he checked his evening schedule, something the brat could do had come to mind.

“She didn’t seem like someone with a loose tongue. And I’m the one holding the knife. She’s not stupid enough not to know that.”

The brat was quick-witted, too.

You could tell just by how completely she prostrated herself before someone she had to bow to.

“She’s just an ordinary student. After scaring her this much, she’ll have understood. Let it go at that and send her back.”

Normally, Chris would have listened to Junho.

“I don’t want to.”

The longer Junho sighed, the slower Chris’s lips curved upward.

“She said herself she’d do anything I asked. I want to see just how far she’s willing to go.”

As soon as the car stopped in front of the mansion, the woman opened the door herself and stepped out. The flustered driver hurriedly ran over and awkwardly held the rear door.

“With a temper that quick… she’ll never be a proper lady.”

Chris’s smile widened in a graceful arc.

Whether that hot-tempered brat could pull off today’s task—

That was the only reason for his smile.

Somin stared at the massive mansion before her. The two-story building stretched long to either side from the front entrance.

Perhaps because the tension was even tighter than during the ride over, she muttered under her breath.

“Hoo…”

Looking at the heavy door before her, Somin took a deep breath.

“Even a predator is still human. He’s not going to eat me. I’m not scared.”

She hypnotized herself and strode toward the door.

Pressing the button beneath the lion-head carving—identical to the one on the iron gate—she heard a classic chime ring out again.

Ding-dong.

The door opened, and a man in a neat suit greeted her.

“Welcome. He’s been waiting for you.”

“…Yes.”

The man, his hair streaked with gray, stepped aside with a posture so precise it was hard to guess his age.

As she cautiously stepped inside, Somin’s mouth fell open.

“Wow…”

The high ceiling and painted murals, along with the lavish interior, made her feel as though she had stepped into a European castle.

“This way, please.”

“Yes.”

Though she had come to beg forgiveness from the mansion’s owner, the luxurious surroundings made Somin shrink further and further.

The man walking ahead of her maintained perfect posture without making the slightest sound. Walking across the carpeted floor, Somin found her own steps growing careful.

When they reached a door engraved with elaborate patterns, she bit her lip and struggled to breathe evenly.

Knock, knock.

The sound echoed through the spacious interior.

A moment later, the man stepped aside and opened the door.

“Please, go in.”

Will I make it out of here alive?

Taking a deep breath, Somin stepped inside.

The mad predator stood behind a desk as massive as the mansion itself. Framed by the large window behind him, the man looked enormous once again.

He slowly lifted his left hand to check his watch, and his lips curved.

“You arrived an hour early.”

“Please tell me why you called me here.”

Somin wanted to finish whatever this was and leave as quickly as possible. Even if her own home felt like hell, it was better than standing before this wickedly smiling man.

“You look like you’re about to faint.”

It sounded like he wanted her to hear it, but she had no intention of responding.

“The reason… Didn’t you say you’d do anything?”

“Yes. If there’s something you need done, please just tell me.”

“For today only—be my woman.”

“…What?”

What is this man even saying?

“You heard me. Why do you keep asking again?”

Should she have asked what “my woman” actually meant?

Surely he didn’t mean something that would take place in a bed?

Her gaze wavered anxiously.

“There’s an important party tonight. The host is the type who values things like love and family above all else.”

“So?”

Somin asked slowly.

“You’ll attend that party as my partner.”

“Ah…”

His eyes traveled slowly up and down her body.

Following his gaze, Somin looked down at herself. It was obvious that a checkered shirt and jeans weren’t appropriate attire for such a party.

She didn’t know who would be attending, but as his partner, she would undoubtedly draw attention. Taking a plain girl in jeans made no sense.

Besides, a man known as the nation’s heartthrob surely wouldn’t lack a real girlfriend to bring. The fact that he was assigning that role to her made her suspicious.

And if someone who knew Assemblyman Ryu In-ho recognized her, it would be more than troublesome—it would be dangerous. Even if she had said she’d do anything, this was something she had to refuse.

“The dress code doesn’t seem to match me… Is there something else I can do?”

“Secretary Kim.”

Ignoring her words entirely, the man called for his secretary.

“Yes, sir.”

“Take her.”

Her task had been decided regardless of her opinion.

“W-wait.”

Somin quickly raised both hands.

“Question?”

“If I’m your partner…”

“My girlfriend.”

“Your real girlfriend might not like that.”

She spoke hurriedly, whatever came to mind spilling out.

“You don’t have to worry about that. I don’t create bothersome relationships like girlfriends in the first place.”

“Even so… this isn’t right.”

His eyes turned cold.

“Didn’t you say you’d do anything?”

“That doesn’t mean I can deceive people. I’m not a con artist. I can’t tell that kind of lie.”

At her words, Chris let out a faint laugh.

His mocking smile snapped Somin’s lips shut like a clam.

“You say you’re not a con artist, but what about what you did yesterday?”

“That was…”

She had no excuse.

There had been some trickery in yesterday’s play.

“Do you, perhaps, like me?”

“What? What kind of ridiculous—”

She admitted he was handsome when she first saw him yesterday. But like him? That was absurd.

After everything she had experienced with him, “like” was the last word that applied.

“Ridiculous… Should I take that to mean you have no reason to like me?”

“Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”

Somin answered firmly.

Surely he wouldn’t take a woman who disliked him to a party as his partner.

“Good. That’s exactly what I want.”

Every word he spoke defied her expectations.

“…What?”

“Don’t like me. Not now, not ever.”

Things were taking a strange turn.

“The kind of partner who won’t start expecting something special just because she stands beside me—that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

“….”

“Why are you standing there looking so stupid? Go get ready.”

With a tilt of Chris’s head, the conversation ended. Somin had no choice. Struggling and refusing would only waste time. For now, this was something she had to do.

She shot the man a glare as he turned away, then followed the secretary like someone being led off.