Chapter 20
It seemed that Sua had done something reckless and ended up in the hospital, but that wasn’t Ichan’s concern.
Only Hyunah knew about Sua and his relationship, which was a huge relief. If Sua’s father, CEO Jeong Chansu, found out that this happened because of him, he could only imagine how miserable it would make him.
Hyunah, that little brat, must be doting on her younger sister, so she wouldn’t go around spreading stories that could tarnish Sua’s reputation.
CEO Baek Woosik’s family had a long-standing connection with him. Ever since Hyunah suddenly appeared eight years ago and was designated as his fiancée, Ichan had paid her a certain amount of attention.
He already knew that Hyunah was weak when it came to family matters.
“Then come to the penthouse after work.”
“See you later.”
Having arranged with the front desk, Ichan whistled as he headed for the elevator.
The chances of Hyunah coming back to his penthouse after just leaving were almost zero. The thought of enjoying himself with a woman after a long time made his body flush with heat.
At that moment, Ichan froze when he saw a man’s silhouette exiting the elevator.
It was Jeong Yoonkyum, whom he utterly despised.
Wait… didn’t Hyunah also take the VIP elevator?
It was right next to the regular elevator leading to Ichan’s penthouse.
Could it be that they had stayed overnight at the hotel for work? The timing with Baek Hyunah leaving was too coincidental to be mere chance.
No… could I be thinking…?
Even if the world flipped upside down, there was no way Baek Hyunah would do that.
Ichan shook his head, scolding himself for overthinking.
Yet, as he made his way home, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
“Damn… no, wait. Am I turning into a jealous husband? Imagining Baek Hyunah with that bastard…”
Disgusting thoughts churned in his mind.
“Maybe I’ve stayed away from women too long. All kinds of ridiculous thoughts are coming up.”
Ichan crossed the living room and headed for his study.
If Hyunah had come, she would have likely gone to the study he had designated as her workspace.
She seemed to measure the space and consider the interior design when visiting his home…
He tapped the memo on his desk with his fingers. Looking at the numbers Hyunah had written down, he couldn’t help but smile.
She came to work secretly while he wasn’t around—so shy.
He wanted to believe that Hyunah had stayed here until the early hours. He had to believe it.
Eight years of knowing Hyunah… She was a dull, unflirty girl, never seen talking privately with a man.
Even during their time studying abroad, she wandered around in thick glasses, a frumpy hairstyle, baggy plaid shirts, and jeans. She showed no signs of feminine charm.
In contrast, the woman often seen with Jeong Yoonkyum was dazzling. If she weren’t Yoonkyum’s, Ichan would have wanted her for himself. But… Hyunah, of all people? Impossible.
Even if he slept with every other woman in the world, his future wife, Hyunah, had to be different.
As the daughter-in-law of the Hwamyeong Group, she had to maintain her virtues. So, Baek Hyunah, only you…
“Damn it. If you’re not a virgin, what makes you different from Baek Sua?”
Angry, filthy images kept rising in his head, and Ichan crumpled the memo on his desk, cursing.
He had dealt with other women because of someone…
And now, that someone was the orphan Yoonkyum. It made his stomach twist.
The old man constantly compared Ichan with Yoonkyum, so he was wary.
Unlike him, Yoonkyum had solidified the Hwamyeong Group’s system, increasing overall profits, earning Chairman Jeong Yeongwoong’s trust.
Hearing about Yoonkyum’s success always stressed Ichan to the point of near hair loss.
“You go bring someone like your father once. If he’s that kind of man, I’ll approve it.”
The old man’s words at a meal were a warning to Ichan.
Someone else could take the successor spot if he didn’t focus and properly secure Hyunah…
“Ha. Damn it. This isn’t the time to be doing nothing.”
Whether the two shared a hotel room or not could be checked at Ichan’s discretion.
Swallowing his irritation, he picked up his phone.
“Just wait. Baek Hyunah, I won’t let this slide.”
Veins bulged on the back of Ichan’s hand as he held his phone.
Hyunah collapsed onto her bed as soon as she got home, sleeping as if dead. Her whole body ached, like she had been beaten.
She had only let the man touch her, yet it hurt this much… How could Ichan do this every day?
Thinking of his flashy, promiscuous exploits made her shudder.
When she finally opened her eyes, it was almost lunchtime. She hadn’t even noticed her phone ringing incessantly.
The accumulated alarms made her frown.
[12 missed calls / Jeong Ichan]
What could it be? Seeing Ichan’s name alone made her feel exhausted.
When he had been angry about Sua and wanted to meet her, he had coldly hung up, saying it was none of her business.
Hyunah didn’t even want to hear Sua’s name after that.
If she reported her relationship with Yoonkyum to the chairman, how would Ichan react?
Before telling the chairman, she decided to inform Ichan about the breakup first.
Since her family supported the marriage, Ichan would have no choice but to comply, so she assumed he would accept it.
As long as the fiancé wasn’t Sua, she no longer cared who it was.
[Answer the phone, Baek Hyunah. I have something to say.]
Hyunah hesitated for a moment upon seeing Ichan’s message, then her phone vibrated.
She swallowed nervously at the name on the screen.
What was going on?
“…Yes, Mother.”
It was a call from Jieun at the hospital.
-Your father and younger brother are sick, and you haven’t even visited once? Aren’t you heartless?
“…I’m sorry. I had work at night…”
-Work or not, am I supposed to watch over the sick all day alone? You get everything and act all sly.
Jieun’s voice rang in Hyunah’s half-asleep mind. She furrowed her brows and rubbed her forehead.
“I’m sorry.”
Jieun received financial support from Chansu instead of personally caring for Woosik. With Woosik’s inheritance in limbo, the Hwamyeong Group was covering hospital and living expenses.
Still, thinking about Jieun struggling alone made Hyunah feel guilty.
“I’ll be there now.”
Hyunah got up, frowning at the lingering discomfort in her body. She wanted to rest, but she couldn’t leave all the burden to Jieun.
-You’re not being asked to nurse him. Just give me a little breathing room. You have nothing else to do… Stop by the hospital. I want to go home for a bit.
Jieun wanted Hyunah to help pack Sua’s things for her discharge tomorrow.
-The girl regained consciousness but is still dazed… I’m worried something might happen. You know what I mean? I have nothing left but Sua now…
Hyunah felt guilty. What she had done for her collapsed father was nothing more than spending the night with Jeong Yoonkyum.
She wondered if it was selfish.
She wanted that cold man…
And then…
“Oh my… what is this?”
Hyunah looked in the mirror to prepare to go out and was shocked.
Red marks had appeared on her neck. No one at home had been around, so it was lucky no one saw.
“Good thing it’s not summer.”
She opened a drawer, took out a sweater to cover her neck, and put it on.
The marks extended down to her chest, vividly revealing bite marks. She touched her flat stomach with her fingers, still feeling a faint heat at her toes.
Jeong Yoonkyum…
She thought of him again. The moment he held her, his face, so tense and unrestrained, made her even more aroused.
For a brief moment, she felt as if she owned Yoonkyum.
<It felt good.>
His indifferent expression as he muttered those words lingered in her ears.
“Maybe I should have said it felt good too…”
Hyunah regretted that she had made a childish response, getting swept up in Yoonkyum’s presence.
“Baek Hyunah. Focus. This is just the beginning.”
Biting her swollen lips, she picked up her bag.
