CHAPTER 23………………………………..
“Then, Yeran, shall we see just how sincere you are?”
As the night deepened, glasses were emptied repeatedly, and the distance between the two grew ever closer.
Yeran, who needed the courage of alcohol for the night with him, drank freely and spent a passionate night by his side.
By morning, Minhyung, lying at the edge of the bed, looked down at her with a smile.
“Last night was amazing, Yeran. Things will only get more fun from here, right?”
His behavior—acting as if he had already “won” her after just one night—was somewhat amusing, but Yeran smiled faintly and nodded, keeping her true purpose in mind.
With a ding, the elevator doors opened.
Once again, she walked across the first-floor lobby, attracting everyone’s gaze.
Thinking about Hyeon Seoyoung, who would soon be kicked out of the hotel despite Cha Hyukjin’s potential claim, her mood brightened immediately.
‘I’ll make sure your marriage ends quickly too, Hyeon Seoyoung.’
It didn’t matter who Hyukjin married. In the end, he would belong to her.
She had already erased the night with Minhyung from her memory; her mind still belonged entirely to Hyukjin.
With a haughty expression, Yeran lifted her chin, donned sunglasses, and walked confidently, enjoying the attention of the men around her as if it were completely natural.
At a luxury wedding shop in Cheongdam-dong, Hyukjin looked up at the jingling sound.
“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”
Seoyoung hurried over, her face full of apologies.
Hyukjin’s lips curved slightly as he quickly took in her appearance, seeing her for the first time in days.
“I haven’t been here long either.”
He rose slowly from the sofa where he had been sitting comfortably, legs crossed. Although they had arrived 30 minutes early, Hyukjin welcomed her with an easy smile, as if she had just arrived.
“Is everything going well with the preparations?”
Knowing that Seoyoung had been struggling due to recent information leaks, Hyukjin prioritized her over even his precious time.
She was already slim, and the stress seemed to have taken more from her figure.
“No, it’s taking longer than I expected.”
Hearing her response, Hyukjin handed her a glass of water brought by the wedding shop staff.
“We have time, so take a moment to breathe.”
Seoyoung gratefully accepted the glass and drank deeply, realizing only now that she hadn’t had time to drink properly amidst her busy schedule.
“Shall we get started now?”
The wedding shop manager, hearing that the bride-to-be had arrived, came down immediately.
“Yes, let’s.”
“Then, we’ll escort you to the VIP room.”
Knowing Seoyoung would be late, Hyukjin had deliberately waited at the shop’s entrance. Unaware of this, Seoyoung followed the manager upstairs to the second floor, attracting envious glances from the female staff along the way.
In Hyukjin’s car on the way back to the villa, Seoyoung, glancing at Minwoo, who had switched from secretary to driver, recalled the wedding dress she had just chosen.
Because the wedding was rushed, she had no intention of designing a new one.
After all, it was a contractual marriage, and she had little time to think deeply.
‘I’ll only wear it once anyway, so there’s no need to spend extra money.’
Her friends would have been shocked by this attitude, but Seoyoung actually had little interest in the wedding itself. Her only current concern was whether she could rise to become a hotel president.
Seeing her pursed lips, Hyukjin chuckled softly and took her hand.
“Even if you wear it just once, it’s a wedding that unites the Hanho Group and the Sinhwa Group. Don’t forget that nothing about this can be neglected.”
Seoyoung’s gaze shifted from his hand to his face.
“The same goes for the ring you’re choosing now. Pick the most expensive and beautiful one. We can afford it.”
Even if we divorce two years later.
Hyukjin conveyed the last part silently with his lips. Minwoo, driving, knew the truth but didn’t want to say it aloud and make Seoyoung uncomfortable.
‘Who knows? You might want to keep living together.’
Hyukjin found himself increasingly drawn to Seoyoung’s simple nature and behavior. She didn’t fuss over appearances and was practical, yet also generous—something evident in her treatment of subordinates and those around her.
“Do you know the saying, ‘The darkest place is under the lamp’?”
Seoyoung’s eyes widened at the sudden topic shift. Before she could ask what he meant, Hyukjin continued.
“Even when you search carefully, sometimes what you’re looking for is right under the light.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, you’ll manage, but don’t trust people too much. There are many who would take advantage of kind people like you.”
Seoyoung nodded faintly. It was true, and she already knew, but she didn’t want to doubt those close to her.
But now, she couldn’t avoid it.
‘Please, let it be someone else.’
Thinking of the suspicious information Jinho had cautiously given her earlier, Seoyoung swallowed a sigh, careful not to show her emotions on her face. She had always hidden her nature, but she couldn’t hide it completely. Having spent so long with her close circle, she wanted to trust them absolutely.
‘The more I trust, the more I need to be sure.’
Seoyoung pulled out her phone and sent a message to Jinho:
[Proceed with the matter.]
Hyukjin glanced at her text and smiled faintly. Watching her change into her wedding dress and herself into a tuxedo, he noticed the small sighs she let out—he sensed she had concerns about the matter under investigation.
He was right.
“Let’s just focus on our work today. After picking the ring, we can have dinner together—it’s been a while.”
Seeing her face lighten after sending the message, Hyukjin tapped the back of her hand.
“Sounds good. Today, let’s even have a glass of wine.”
Seoyoung rarely drank alcohol. Seeing her relax, Hyukjin chuckled softly.
Their laughter caught Minwoo’s eye in the rearview mirror, but Seoyoung didn’t care this time. Whatever the relationship between the two men, she was exercising her rightful position as Hyukjin’s fiancée.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the wedding day.
They hadn’t yet discovered the internal spy, but the report would come after the honeymoon.
Sitting side by side in business class, both looked visibly tired.
“Honestly, this wedding seems more exhausting than work.”
“I agree.”
Seoyoung’s comment made Hyukjin click his tongue.
“At least it ended sooner than expected, thankfully.”
“Thanks to Grandpa, who longs for a great-grandchild.”
Hyukjin smirked and winked playfully. The unexpected, mischievous gesture made Seoyoung laugh, though the laughter didn’t last long. She recalled Chairman Cha’s kind eyes, holding her hand and saying to have a good trip, which brought a belated sense of guilt.
“But… are you sure it’s okay? It seemed like he truly wants a grandchild. If things go well, I might… even within two years.”
Hyukjin placed his finger over her lips, stopping her from speaking further.
“Don’t you know the saying, ‘Birds hear what’s said during the day’? I’ll handle everything, so don’t worry. This is your long-awaited vacation—just relax.”
“That’s a good idea. But you…”
Seoyoung nodded subtly toward the back seat.
