CHAPTER 48……………………………………
“Yes. There isn’t much time left until the shareholders’ meeting, so there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to secure solid evidence by then. Intentionally leaking information would also be risky, timing-wise.”
“That’s true. Let’s handle the spy issue quietly for now. This is the time to focus on improving our performance.”
Thinking about how little time remained until the shareholders’ meeting, Seoyoung frowned slightly and let out a small sigh.
“That reminds me—I should probably go to Jeju soon and check on the situation there as well.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare the Jeju-related report shortly.”
After Jinho finished his report and left, Seoyoung sighed again and thought about everything she still needed to do.
She considered how to move forward with the MOU with Hanho Construction and how to present it externally.
She couldn’t let her guard down until the shareholders’ meeting was over. There was no telling what Minhyung might try in the meantime.
That meant she needed to show at least one more flashy achievement.
But time was painfully short.
There were too many things to discuss, and the two companies’ interests still differed slightly, so a proper plan hadn’t even been finalized yet.
No matter what, I need to show some kind of positive gesture.
Perhaps because her mind was so crowded with thoughts, her head throbbed. Seoyoung pressed her fingers to her forehead and closed her eyes.
Thinking about Hanho Construction naturally led her thoughts to Hyukjin.
Work was a problem, but the awkwardness between her and Hyukjin kept bothering her too.
Since the night Mrs. Kim had come by, a crack had formed in her emotions.
She’d begun spending more nights in the study.
After realizing that her feelings toward him had changed, lying in the same bed with him became uncomfortable.
She didn’t have the confidence to sleep while holding him with feelings like these.
Every time he came close, her heart raced uncontrollably.
She even felt foolish for being flustered by emotions she’d never felt before.
Whenever she avoided his gaze out of fear he might notice, Hyukjin’s expression inevitably hardened.
“Why am I suddenly like this?”
Seoyoung spun her chair around and stared out the floor-to-ceiling window.
She placed a hand over her pounding chest.
The way her heart raced whenever she thought of Hyukjin made it feel like some kind of illness.
She was afraid that pretending to be a loving couple might turn into truly loving him.
It was a feeling that should never exist in a relationship with a predetermined end.
The same should apply to Hyukjin—but with Minwoo still by his side, she couldn’t understand why he reacted the way he did.
She was only trying to hide her emotions as her heart raced whenever he approached, but Hyukjin seemed to misunderstand. He would narrow his eyes and stare straight through her.
Even that gaze made her heart flutter, pushing her to put even more distance between them.
Mrs. Kim’s presence no longer mattered. What mattered more was not letting anyone notice her change.
Sinking deeper into her chair, she let out a long sigh.
If Lee Minwoo didn’t exist—if she didn’t know that Hyukjin loved another man—
I probably wouldn’t be agonizing like this.
In an ordinary situation, even a marriage that started as a contract might have made her consider turning it into something real, at least once.
Thinking back, it felt ridiculous that she’d once been relieved, even happy, knowing he had someone else.
“Ha…”
Sighs kept escaping her lips.
Ever since the night Mrs. Kim first came to the annex, his kisses and that burning gaze kept resurfacing in her mind.
Even now, it was the same.
She slapped her cheeks lightly and shook her head hard.
Another sigh slipped out.
I can’t keep living like this.
She had to act affectionate in front of Mrs. Kim, but whenever Hyukjin wrapped an arm around her shoulders or smiled gently, her heart raced.
Trying not to show it only resulted in awkward smiles, which was another problem.
As she flinched and avoided him whenever he touched her, Hyukjin eventually stopped being affectionate altogether.
The way he looked down at her, brows furrowed, seemed complicated and unreadable.
For several days after that, they were mindful of Mrs. Kim but only exchanged brief, everyday conversation before heading upstairs to spend time apart.
Then, last night—Hyukjin, who usually came home no matter what, even bringing paperwork if he had work to do, said he had to work late and didn’t return until dawn.
He must have been just as uncomfortable as she was.
Something might’ve happened with Minwoo.
Without realizing it, Seoyoung bit down on her thumbnail.
Thanks to that, she’d been able to sleep comfortably—but her heart wasn’t at ease, feeling as though she’d pushed him out.
Falling for a man who loves another man…
She let out a bitter chuckle just as a text message arrived.
[There’s a high school alumni gathering this weekend. It’s for couples, so keep your schedule open.]
For a message that came after so long, it was blunt and straight to the point.
Staring quietly at the text, Seoyoung tilted her head.
Does Hyukjin even attend high school reunions?
It was unexpected, considering he’d lived in the U.S. ever since leaving Korea.
She’d heard he hadn’t planned on returning to Korea at all and had only come back because of Chairman Cha and the elders’ strong insistence.
Is he planning to stay in Korea after all?
Her eyes widened at the sudden thought, then she shook her head.
Just because he’s in the U.S. doesn’t mean he doesn’t need Korean connections.
Even without knowing the details, one thing was clear—once the marriage contract with her ended, he would return to the U.S.
At first, she couldn’t understand why he would leave a perfectly good group behind to go overseas.
But now that she clearly understood his relationship with Minwoo, she understood perfectly.
I should at least make things easier for him.
Loving someone of the same sex in Korea was a truly difficult and painful path.
For that, she needed to establish herself quickly—enough that she wouldn’t need his help.
“Anyway, we agreed to live separately after one year. Hyukjin just needs to hold out until then.”
Deceiving the elders and smiling affectionately every time was exhausting, but sharing a bedroom with Hyukjin was even harder.
It bothered her that he might be working late on purpose because of her, and she couldn’t keep hiding in the study forever under the excuse of work.
She hadn’t married for love, but meeting people who treated her like family had made her grow attached.
Hyukjin, with his playful yet sometimes cold personality, took pretty good care of her too.
She was deeply grateful for that—but at the same time, it felt like a burden.
If she grew too attached, she’d be the one who suffered.
She’d lived for nearly ten years forgetting what familial affection felt like, and now, faced with this belated tenderness, her heart had grown weak.
Just because it was the second time didn’t mean severing emotional bonds would be any easier.
In fact, tasting that warmth again might only leave her more starved for it.
“I must’ve been starving for affection.”
Scolding herself, Seoyoung lightly slapped her cheeks with both hands.
Let’s not give my heart any more room. We’re people who are going to part anyway. It’ll only hurt both of us.
Suddenly, she thought of Mihyun, who cared for her warmly like a birth mother.
“I’ll be your mother from your own family too, Seoyoung. So if things ever get hard, lean on me anytime.”
It was what Mihyun had said as she patted Seoyoung’s hand when she visited the bridal waiting room on the wedding day.
Just remembering that moment made her chest tighten.
Her eyes stung as she bit her lip hard, her face twisting slightly as she fought back tears.
Clenching her fists, Seoyoung took a deep breath and slowly gathered her emotions.
“It’s okay, Hyun Seoyoung. You’re fine on your own.”
Forcing a smile, she calmed her wavering heart.
A few days later, on a weekend afternoon.
As usual, Seoyoung finished getting ready to go out, dressed neatly.
Hyukjin, tying his tie, glanced sideways at her. Then, as if displeased by something, he cocked an eyebrow.
“Are you going to sign a contract today? You look like you’re heading to a business meeting.”
At his comment, Seoyoung looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror.
Since it was a high school alumni gathering, she’d thought it would be a more casual event than the last one.
She’d dressed up more than she would for work, but the white blouse and knee-length skirt still looked rather professional.
Do I really look that stiff?
Thinking he had a point, she immediately loosened her hair tie.
Most of her clothes were similar in style, so changing her hairstyle was the best adjustment she could make.
“Is this better?”
After lightly brushing out her wavy hair that fell to her waist, she turned back toward Hyukjin.
His gaze slowly traveled up and down her.
His narrowed eyes curved gently, forming a smile.
That small smile alone made Seoyoung’s heart leap.
When his gaze lingered on her lips, she unconsciously swallowed hard.
