Chapter 67. As Expected, I Can’t Without You

Up close, Haeyoung noticed the man and woman were both draped in luxury brand clothes and accessories from head to toe.

Like some nouveau riche wannabes.

From experience, she knew picking a fight with this type would only cause trouble.

Forcing a smile, she quickly tried to clear their table. But she moved too fast—one of the cups tilted, and the drink spilled all over the woman’s skirt.

The rich brown coffee left a large stain on her pure white knit skirt and ivory knit top.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

Startled, Haeyoung set the tray back down and bowed deeply.

But despite her sincere apology, the man shot up from his seat and jabbed his finger at her.

“Hey! Do you have any idea how much these clothes cost?”

“I’m sorry,”

she repeated, bowing again.

It was hard to even offer compensation, let alone mention paying for dry cleaning. She had heard that cleaning fees for designer clothes weren’t cheap.

It was pathetic, but bowing her head felt like the only option.

“I’m really sorry,”

she said again.

“Sorry? Sorry won’t fix it! What about our baby—she’s upset now!”

“…I sincerely apologize.”

“If you’re really sorry, get on your knees! You clearly can’t afford to pay for the damage anyway. Oh, and just so you know, the top and skirt together cost 8 million won—and I bought them today.”

The man smirked as he demanded submission.

The price was four times her monthly salary. Haeyoung hesitated, humiliated, but ultimately made up her mind.

As much as it crushed her pride, she couldn’t end up in debt and struggling for months just for the sake of her dignity.

She was about to kneel down when a hand reached out from behind and stopped her by the shoulder.

Just from the feel of that touch through her clothes, goosebumps broke out all over her body. She knew exactly who it was.

“I’m sorry. It seems my baby here made a mistake. I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

The voice calling her “my baby” sent a shiver down her spine. Haeyoung turned her head—it was Taeseong.

As always, he was in a suit, smiling lightly as he spoke.

Though his expression appeared friendly, it couldn’t hide the heavy, intimidating aura he carried. He carried himself like someone who was used to being above others—a predator who had never once bowed his head in true apology.

Stepping naturally to Haeyoung’s side, Taeseong released one hand and wrapped the other around her shoulder. He scanned the man and woman slowly before speaking in a soft voice.

“I heard from the back that the outfit costs 8 million won. Since it seems you’re also demanding compensation for emotional damages, why don’t I make it clean and offer 10 million won?”

Haeyoung blinked.

Since when was Joo Taeseong’s voice this elegant?

That foolish thought evaporated the moment she saw him pull out his checkbook.

“W-wait… you’re really offering 10 million won?”

The man thought Taeseong was bluffing like he would have. But when he counted the zeros on the check, his eyes widened.

Still, he puffed himself up, feigning composure.

“You should teach your girlfriend better manners. She’s clumsy—she’s going to cost you a lot of money, huh?”

At the man’s cheap jab, the polite smile faded from Taeseong’s face.

Too caught up in the thought of receiving 10 million won, the man didn’t sense the dangerous energy now radiating from Taeseong and continued running his mouth.

“I mean, seriously, what does she even have? Why would a good-looking, rich guy like you be hung up on a woman like this?”

Taeseong didn’t respond. Instead, he extended the check toward the man, as if to say, take it.

The man eagerly grabbed for it—

But the check never left Taeseong’s fingers.

“W-what the hell? Let go.”

As the man tried to yank it free, Taeseong gave a cold, crooked smile and offered another deal.

“Money. Want me to double it?”

Even Haeyoung, who had been about to stop him, was overwhelmed by the force of his presence.

This was a completely different man—someone she didn’t know.

It was the first time she’d ever seen such a chilling expression on his face. It made her knees go weak.

She suddenly realized what his life must have been like after giving up his dream of becoming a film director—how many harsh battles he must have fought with that very expression to claim his place as an heir.

“Kneel.”

The word dropped from Taeseong’s lips like a blade.

Simple, sharp, and mercilessly crushing the man’s pride.

“W-what?”

“You think money can make others kneel, but your own knees are too precious, huh?”

Taeseong pulled out another check, his expression laced with venom.

“What do you think? 30 million won. That’s enough for you to kneel, isn’t it? You seem to like money.”

“Y-you! Do you think having money makes you untouchable? You can’t humiliate people like this!”

“Oh, I can.”

When the man exploded, Taeseong cut him off immediately, his sharp gaze pinning him in place.

“Why is it that when you flaunt money it’s fine, but when someone richer does it, it’s suddenly an insult?”

The man opened and closed his mouth like a fish, unable to respond.

Taeseong shoved the three checks in front of his eyes.

“I’m barely restraining myself from hitting you and making you pay me compensation. So kneel, and take the money. Got it?”

“…Tch.”

“I’m buying your apology at a premium.”

Taeseong left the man no room to escape.

Haeyoung realized she was watching the kind of cold, ruthless corporate leader you only ever saw in dramas or books.

It was unsettling.

She didn’t like this.

Reaching out, she tugged at the hem of Taeseong’s suit jacket.

“Stop it… please, stop, okay?”

At the fragile, pleading tone in her voice, Taeseong turned to look at her.

Seeing the fear on her face snapped him out of it.

The blood that had run cold in anger began to warm again.

If Haeyoung was making that expression, there was no point in demanding an apology anymore.

He crumpled the checks and shoved them back into his pocket.

“Fine.”

He held onto her hand tightly as he spoke.

The way he said it, it felt like he was promising not to do things she hated.

Haeyoung’s heart skipped a beat.

Still holding her hand, Taeseong turned to the couple.

“Get out. My baby is telling me to let it go, so I’ll let it slide this once.”

Sensing the danger had passed, the man grabbed his girlfriend and quickly left the café.

As soon as they were gone, Haeyoung yanked her hand free.

“L-let go. Why are you even holding my hand?”

She pouted, grumbling like a bird pecking at seeds.

“And another thing… why am I your ‘baby’?”

“They kept calling each other ‘baby.’ We couldn’t let them have the upper hand, could we?”

“…Are you a child? You’re competitive over that?”

“All men are kids, no matter how old they get.”

Taeseong leaned his face in closer as he said it, and Haeyoung shoved him in the chest.

“Hey, back up!”

“I was kind of cool back there, right?”

“No. Not at all.”

Their exchange was as silly as when they were nineteen.

“You weren’t cool at all. It wasn’t even like you.”

When Haeyoung shook her head, Taeseong’s eyes suddenly darkened.

“Cha Haeyoung.”

“Huh?”

Before she could react, Taeseong pulled her into his arms.

Unlike their unexpected reunion on January 1st, this time he was the one holding her tightly, like a puppy that had finally found its owner after a long wait.

Cramming himself into her small embrace, he poured all of his emotions into the hug.

“As expected, I can’t live without you.”