Chapter : 43
The wedding reception was held at a famous hotel banquet hall in Gangnam.
As previously agreed, Juhye attended the reception after the wedding with Suha.
The reception took place on the top floor of the hotel, and despite the late hour, there were quite a few guests.
The rooftop, connected to the enormous hotel terrace, featured a swimming pool and a champagne fountain.
Many people moved back and forth between inside and outside, busy enjoying themselves.
But Juhye didn’t mingle with anyone; she quietly stayed in a corner.
Dressed in a neat, pale blue dress, she occasionally caught the glances of those around her.
“Juhye, wait a moment.”
“I’m fine, so go ahead, oppa.”
Suha, who had stayed by her side the whole time, soon left to greet other guests.
Left alone, Juhye glanced at her phone in her handbag to soothe her anxious heart.
Though she had spent the night safely, she felt frustrated not knowing Daehyun’s situation.
Even Jooyoung had cut off contact after last night, so she had no idea what he was doing.
“I hope nothing happened to unni…”
As she wandered anxiously, a few people nearby greeted her.
Standing with Suha had apparently drawn attention, as more people seemed interested in her.
Juhye offered only an awkward smile before quickly hiding behind a pillar.
As she looked around for Suha, who could return at any moment, a voice suddenly spoke.
“Why are you looking around so nervously?”
Someone on her left extended a glass toward her.
Startled, she turned, and a familiar face filled her view.
“Oppa!”
It was her second older brother, Sookyung.
Wearing a deep navy suit, he slightly curled his lips in a smile.
“When did you get here?”
“Had some work, just now.”
Sookyung answered, handing her the glass.
A sweet aroma rose from the opaque drink inside.
“Hmm, maybe because there are so many people, it feels a bit chaotic.”
While Juhye cautiously sipped the drink, Sookyung looked around and spoke.
True to his usual self, avoiding crowded places, sweat had already formed on his forehead.
“I have something to talk about. Shall we move somewhere quieter?”
“That’d be good. I was feeling a little uncomfortable too…”
She didn’t think she could keep enduring the attention of the guests.
Juhye followed Sookyung to a more secluded spot.
Hiding behind the curtains near the terrace brought a welcome sense of calm.
“Sigh… now I can breathe. It was so noisy.”
Knowing how sensitive he was to noise, Juhye nodded silently.
“How are the bride and groom?”
He seemed curious, having arrived late and not seen the couple closely.
Juhye recalled the couple she had seen sticking together at the reception.
“Hmm… they seem like a good match.”
On the surface, they appeared affectionate and happy together.
So she was surprised by what Sookyung said next.
“It’s the groom’s second marriage.”
“What? Really?”
“He divorced due to problems on the bride’s side, but fortunately it was settled cleanly, so he remarried without major issues.”
When Juhye showed surprise, Sookyung, as if expecting it, explained further.
Even their parents had shown no visible concern, making it all the more shocking.
“What kind of problem?”
“Apparently, the ex-wife had been involved with another man for a long time.”
She found it hard to keep her expression neutral at the word lover, as it didn’t feel like someone else’s story.
Her stiff expression turned into an awkward smile.
Observing her closely, Sookyung whispered something significant.
“If anything happens to you, tell oppa immediately.”
Startled, Juhye looked up sharply.
There was something unsettling in Sookyung’s tone that suggested this wasn’t casual advice.
“Oppa, why all of a sudden…”
Then she instinctively realized he had figured something out.
“You went to the law firm recently, right?”
Her breath caught at the unexpected question.
Frozen and unable to answer, her reaction itself served as her reply.
Sookyung’s face briefly showed disapproval but quickly shifted to understanding.
“I won’t ask about the details of the consultation. It’s family matters, so even I would have to respect your privacy.”
“…”
“But as your brother, I can at least give advice, right?”
Though his hand on her shoulder was warm, it did little to calm her trembling.
Hunched over, Juhye listened intently to his calm explanation.
“Seo’s movements were suspicious; I couldn’t ignore them. Suddenly, he assigned people to follow you, maybe to find something out, and he probably did the same with us.”
“Us” seemed to refer to Suha and Sookyung.
Apparently, Daehyun had been trying to track Juhye and had gotten caught in the process.
Still, she hadn’t expected Sookyung to hear about it so soon, and her heart sank.
“No matter what decision you make, I’ll support you. Don’t feel burdened.”
Seeing Juhye tense, Sookyung patted her shoulder, reassuring her.
Instead of scolding her, he seemed to approve of her thinking, which felt strange to her.
Especially when she realized Suha had likely guessed some of the situation too.
Both seemed aware of what was going on, yet appeared to support the divorce.
“I don’t think you intentionally hid anything. You must have been trying to protect your family as best you could.”
“Oppa, I…”
“I just wish you had consulted me sooner. Then I could have helped earlier. A little disappointing.”
Hearing his kind words, Juhye’s head naturally dropped.
Divorce was a matter between a couple, but she felt as if she had committed a grave sin.
“Don’t worry about anything that might happen in the divorce. Jinju Construction has always belonged to our company, and the foundation was built by our father. We can handle it.”
Sookyung, noticing her darkening expression, gently reassured her.
It was comforting, yet part of it went against what she felt.
“But it’s basically Daehyun’s company too.”
She spoke cautiously, retreating a step.
Sookyung’s gaze briefly showed discomfort, as if expecting her objection.
“If it weren’t for Daehyun, you wouldn’t have gained Wonam Construction without loss. You know that, right?”
“The company had almost collapsed due to a succession fight among brothers. For us, taking it or leaving it didn’t matter.”
His voice carried strong disdain.
“If there hadn’t been such stakes, how could that man have earned the right to marry you?”
Hearing him speak coldly of Daehyun, Juhye could no longer contain herself and shook her head.
“No! Don’t talk like that, oppa.”
It felt strange. Sookyung wasn’t blaming her or angry; he was just criticizing Daehyun.
He was showing that Daehyun had never been on the same level as her.
Even in the impending divorce, Sookyung’s actions were purely protective of her.
“But that company… to him…”
Yet, the more she listened, the sadder it felt rather than relieving.
It was clear that no one acknowledged the effort Daehyun had put in, despite his hard work.
She recalled how Daehyun had reacted indifferently even when hearing employees gossip, which made it sting more.
Perhaps his indifference had been shaped by observing Sookyung and Suha—a method to get used to constant belittlement.
“Probably that was all there was.”
The only thing that preserved Daehyun’s pride was the social position of Jinju Construction, which he had built alone.
His contribution undeniably existed there.
Even if no one else recognized it, Juhye had to acknowledge it.
She had witnessed Daehyun’s efforts up close.
“But remember, this is our family’s business before it’s yours.”
Sookyung whispered coldly, sensing her wavering mind.
“You’re kind and soft-hearted, I know, but sometimes you need to be ruthless.”
“…”
“Don’t focus only on the immediate; look further ahead.”
The warning hit her hard.
Until now, her love for Daehyun had kept her going, but she couldn’t continue loving him knowing about a mistress.
“The person my brother invited will be here soon. Talk to them when they arrive.”
Sookyung, observing her silence, suddenly turned his head to the right.
The glance he gave carried a subtle, unusual expression.
