Chapter : 21
“What is this?”
“Did you call me just to say something like that?”
A strong contempt flashed in Juhye’s eyes at Daehyun’s mocking gaze.
“Just go back. There’s nothing more to say.”
Daehyun snapped coldly and turned away, and Juhye followed suit, still leaning against him.
Her heart trembled automatically as his firm arm brushed against her side.
As she wondered if being this close was really okay, Woohyun shouted from behind without pause.
“Do you think you can get away with this? After betraying my father and me?”
“Betrayal?”
Daehyun sneered coldly and looked back at him.
Juhye deliberately didn’t look at Daehyun’s face.
She could already guess from his voice how icy his expression had become.
“Betrayal only applies to a relationship built on trust. When has my father ever truly trusted me?”
“Of course not. Why would he trust a half-baked son?”
Half-baked…?
The words were so harsh that she doubted if she had heard them correctly.
Unlike Juhye, Daehyun didn’t react much.
It seemed as if he had endured countless insults like this before.
“Wouldn’t it be a huge loss if someone were to stab you in the back later? Like right now.”
“…….”
“You’ll regret what happened today, mark my words.”
Woohyun left the hill after giving that warning-like advice.
Juhye waited until he was completely out of sight before quietly lifting her head.
Daehyun met her gaze and smiled faintly, letting go of her hand.
“Sorry for showing you something unpleasant. And for pretending to be your boyfriend all of a sudden.”
She felt oddly disappointed as his hand moved away from her shoulder.
Staring blankly at his hand, she quickly shook her head.
“N-no! I was startled, but… it’s fine.”
“Thank you. Your name?”
It was probably a polite question, but it was enough to make Juhye’s heart leap.
She clasped her hands in front of her and timidly opened her lips.
“Juhye. Jin Juhye.”
As she spoke each syllable clearly, her eyes sparkled beautifully.
They unconsciously revealed a hint of anticipation.
Daehyun looked at her eyes intently and muttered in a low voice:
“Jin Juhye…”
The small hope she had that he might remember her crumbled like sand.
“That’s a pretty name. I find it interesting that it includes ‘Jin’ (pearl).”
It was clear he had never heard her name before.
Juhye couldn’t hide her disappointment and bit her lower lip, but he didn’t even notice, checking his wristwatch instead.
His glance showed a sense of urgency.
“I need to head back. I have another appointment.”
The hike had been a last-minute decision, prompted by a message from Woohyun in the middle of a busy day.
Since he had finished his errands, there was no reason to stay longer.
“Thank you for guiding me today, Juhye.”
Daehyun gazed at her face silently, smiling as if he hadn’t noticed her subtle disappointment at all.
“Ah, um…”
“Be careful going up.”
He clenched his fist to encourage her and then turned away down the mountain path without a trace of hesitation.
He went in the same direction Woohyun had taken.
At the same time, Juhye’s phone buzzed briefly.
[Senior, where are you? Did you reach the summit?]
Juhye stayed frozen in place even after reading the message.
It was only after receiving an impatient call from Junhui that she could finally move.
‘This is probably the last time.’
She would replay her regrets over not telling the truth, over not asking if he remembered her… for a long time.
“Even though you’re divorcing, are you going to keep the fact that you saw me before a secret until the end?”
Junhui’s calm question snapped her back to reality.
Seeing her hesitate, he sighed.
“Without any explanation, just asking for a divorce… he seems like someone who would ignore that.”
“Junhui, you… you understand my husband pretty well.”
“I mean, you glared at me like you wanted to kill me back then.”
Junhui clicked his tongue lowly, still in disbelief.
Lost in thought, Juhye fiddled with her phone.
She wondered what would happen to Jinju Construction if she ended up divorcing.
‘Sukyung oppa wouldn’t have to worry. But…’
Seowoo Hyun.
He was Daehyun’s older brother, and as far as Juhye knew, he had served time for capital gains tax issues before being released.
At the time, his case drew public attention due to internal reporting by company employees, and rumors said Daehyun was behind it.
This was during the time when Chairman Seonamjae publicly announced his eldest son as successor.
‘Do you think you can get away with this? After betraying my father and me?’
No wonder Woohyun looked at Daehyun with such hatred on Inwang Mountain.
Daehyun’s cold attitude was essentially no different.
‘Betrayal only applies to a relationship built on trust.’
No one from Daehyun’s family had attended their wedding.
Back then, Chairman Seonamjae collapsed due to a scandal, causing Woohnam Construction to lose strength, and when he passed away, the company faced bankruptcy.
“My husband… he’s the type to get things done. Once he has a goal, he must achieve it.”
Juhye muttered seriously, and Junhui smiled faintly.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re similar in some ways. You pushed through even though many opposed the arboretum. In the end, you succeeded in running it.”
“Well… it was my dream since childhood.”
Juhye smiled bitterly. Back then she thought passion alone would be enough, but reality in management was harsh.
Thinking that way, her husband seemed even more impressive.
“I kept running deficits… Daehyun handled the merger perfectly. I guess he’s more impressive.”
“Yes, it was a huge deal back then.”
“No one expected Woohnam Construction to end up like that. It had been a solid company.”
Though Woohyun tried to rebuild it, it was futile.
However, just before bankruptcy, Daehyun married Juhye and acquired Woohnam Construction.
He successfully merged it into Jinju Construction, becoming the new major shareholder.
As a result, Chairman Jin officially recognized him as a proper son-in-law. This was all Juhye knew.
‘What happened to him?’
She was curious about Seowoo Hyun’s fate, but he had disappeared quickly, leaving no trace.
Daehyun didn’t seem to care much either.
Judging by circumstances, there didn’t seem to be much of a bond between the two brothers.
“Why did you dream of running an arboretum?”
Junhui asked thoughtfully.
Smiling, Juhye rummaged through her bag and took out a family photo from her wallet.
It was a photo taken when her mother was pregnant with her, along with Sukyung and Suha.
“My mother wanted to see the arboretum when she was pregnant with me. But my father was too busy at the time to go.”
Juhye looked at the photo with longing in her eyes.
“Later, I thought… if people have souls after death, I hope my mother’s spirit will someday visit the arboretum I run.”
“That’s a deeper meaning than I expected.”
“Is it? My brothers said it was a simple dream.”
Compared to her brothers, who had become president and vice president, it was a modest dream.
But to Juhye, it was the most precious and urgent dream.
“My husband helped me in many ways, so I could make it happen.”
She was still deeply grateful for that.
That was why she was so worried about whether Daehyun would still have a place in the Jinju affiliates after the divorce.
Judging by Sukyung’s attitude, if they divorced, he might be immediately ousted.
“Sigh… this is such a dilemma.”
“Focus only on the ceremony for now. Even just that will keep you busy.”
Junhui waved his hand, signaling it was time to leave.
They still had a lot to take care of together.
“Right. Let’s go.”
“I’ll catch the elevator.”
Junhui went out into the hallway first, and Juhye followed, gathering her bag.
Before she could even cross the threshold, her phone vibrated loudly.
Hastily checking it, she saw the long-awaited message.
[Madam, this is attorney Choi Taeuk. I’ve scheduled your consultation for 2 PM on your preferred date. Please confirm.]
Two days after the ceremony, the lawyer consultation was finally set.
By then, Juhye thought, she had to find any clues that could decisively help with the divorce.
