- Episode 31
A sigh escaped Taeyoon’s lips, followed by a voice tinged with irritation.
“That’s enough.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s not even the wedding—just an engagement announcement. Do we really have to go all out like this?”
Jaehee, who had been smiling, flinched at his words. Youngsook, sitting beside them, quickly tried to pinch Taeyoon’s thigh. But his firm leg was impossible to grab properly, and she failed.
“If you dragged a busy man here, be reasonable, Yoo Jaehee.”
It wasn’t Jaehee who turned pale at his sharp rebuke—it was Youngsook. Her eyes darted in panic to check on Jaehee.
Jaehee bit her lip hard, trembling from the hurt.
“Taeyoon, don’t say such things and embarrass Jaehee.”
Youngsook tried pinching his leg again and sent him a warning look. But Taeyoon wasn’t even listening to her. He kept staring coldly at Jaehee as he said:
“You were the one who begged for this time. At least follow through. That much you can manage, right?”
His tone was icy and ruthless. Jaehee, her eyes twitching from the sting, forced a smile.
“You’re right. I dragged it out too long. Oppa must be busy adjusting to his new post… I’ll just go with this one. I think it’s the best. Don’t you think so, Mother?”
Trying to smooth things over, Youngsook raised her voice with a forced laugh.
“Yes, yes, I was thinking the same. That’s the prettiest one yet.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Taeyoon stood up like he had been waiting for the moment.
“Then if the selection’s done, I’ll get going.”
“Alright. You shouldn’t be away from work too long. I’ll stay here with Jaehee a bit longer—maybe go to the spa. Right, Jaehee?”
“Yes, okay, Mother…”
Jaehee’s voice was faint, but Taeyoon didn’t even glance at her. Just as he turned to leave and bowed lightly to Youngsook, his eyes suddenly flicked to the quiet corner where Seorin had been sitting the whole time.
“What are you doing over there?”
Startled, Seorin finally raised her eyes.
“Come with me.”
He gestured like it was the most natural thing in the world. Youngsook stopped him, alarmed.
“Why are you taking Seorin?”
“You’re going to the spa, right? Wouldn’t a dull tag-along like her just be a bother?”
“But still…”
Ignoring Youngsook’s flustered face, Taeyoon repeated himself firmly.
“What are you doing? I said, let’s go.”
Seorin’s face turned pale as she looked between Jaehee and Youngsook. Today’s main character wasn’t her, yet all eyes were suddenly on her.
When she didn’t respond, Taeyoon strode over and wordlessly grabbed her wrist.
“H-Hey! Seorin—wait! Taeyoon!”
Youngsook shouted from behind, but he had already pulled Seorin out of the boutique.
“Ugh… that boy, seriously!”
Youngsook stomped her feet in frustration at the door he disappeared through.
Meanwhile, Jaehee’s expression had transformed into something fierce. Her tightly clenched hand crushed the delicate pink silk of her dress.
“…Eun Seorin.”
She muttered the name venomously.
She already knew Taeyoon hadn’t looked at her even once during the dress fitting. She knew exactly where his gaze had been fixated.
But she had been trying to ignore it. Now that the truth stared her in the face, it only fueled her rage.
Seo Taeyoon still loved Eun Seorin—not her.
“Jaehee…”
Youngsook awkwardly called out, but Jaehee responded coldly.
“I won’t be going to the spa today, ma’am.”
“Huh?”
“What spa, in this heat?”
She turned sharply, and the boutique manager quickly closed the curtain behind her.
Jaehee slumped onto the waiting room sofa, grinding her teeth. The manager hesitantly came over to remove her hair accessories and jewelry.
As they removed the headpiece, Jaehee scrolled through her phone. Notifications kept pouring in.
The engagement announcement she had just posted with her dress photo and Taeyoon’s name had gone viral.
> “Wow, Yoo Jaehee finally landed Taeyoon?”
“Congrats, Jaehee—you look like a princess!”
“Wishing you a beautiful journey, Jaehee 💕💕💕”
Jaehee scrolled through dozens of comments with a twisted expression. Today should have been the happiest day—Taeyoon should’ve been hers.
But everything was ruined. Because of Eun Seorin.
With a sharp glint in her eye, she swiftly messaged someone.
[Director, please assign someone to keep tabs on Eun Seorin. Right now.]
As soon as she sent the message, she angrily threw her phone. It hit the armrest and bounced to the floor, the screen shattering.
“Ugh! So annoying!!”
Jaehee screamed and grabbed her hair in frustration. The staff around her carefully backed away, leaving her alone as she breathed heavily, trembling with rage.
—
Outside, Seorin was dragged all the way to Taeyoon’s car. When she saw he was heading for the driver’s side, she yanked her arm away.
“Let go!”
She glared at him.
“What are you doing? What’s your plan here?”
“What?”
“Weren’t we here for Jaehee’s dress fitting? How could you leave her like that?!”
But Taeyoon remained calm.
“So?”
“What do you mean, ‘so’? You said you’d marry her. Why are you—”
“I said I’d marry Yoo Jaehee. I never said I’d love her.”
Seorin was struck speechless. He had said that before. It wasn’t consent, but still…
“Once you decide to marry, you should love her.”
“At the very least, you should try. That’s what being a couple means.”
“You’re pushing it now. What, you want to control even my feelings?”
Taeyoon’s lips curled faintly.
“Plenty of couples live without love. She gets my name, and I get to keep what I really want.”
“…Director Seo!”
“Get in the car. You said you’d listen to me—so listen all the way.”
He opened the passenger door and gestured. Seorin glared at him, resisting, but eventually climbed in.
Their car crossed the road and drove off to somewhere unknown.
—
The phone sitting on the console vibrated loudly. Taeyoon slowly reached over and answered.
“Hello—”
> “Seo Taeyoon! So you’re marrying Ohseong Group’s daughter?”
Before the greeting was even over, the person on the other end blurted it out. Taeyoon frowned.
“News travels fast. The article hasn’t even been published yet.”
> “It’s blowing up on social media, man. Yoo Jaehee’s Insta is on fire today.”
Taeyoon glanced down. In his peripheral vision, he could see Seorin, still crying softly, curled up and biting the back of her hand. Her wet, glistening eyes made him feel a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Like metal drawn to a magnet, he couldn’t help but be drawn to Seorin. But the more she pulled away, the more it infuriated him.
He wanted to crush her, yet also protect her more than anyone else. The contradictions in his emotions were confusing, even to himself—but he couldn’t help it.
“Yeah, Jaehee…”
Taeyoon replied lazily and slowly resumed what he was doing. Seorin shook her head, unable to escape. Her long hair spilled over the sheets, her trembling chest rising and falling with every breath—irresistibly sensual.
