Chapter 05
The hotel disappeared completely from the rearview mirror.
The situation was so absurd that Sua almost laughed. Not long ago, she had been on a blind date. Now she was leaving a hotel with a man who had been there with another woman.
As the car picked up speed, the cold winter wind whipped through her hair. She tried smoothing it down with one hand before giving up.
“Are you cold?”
Taking advantage of a red light, she asked. The man turned to look at her.
She gestured toward the open sky.
“I know I’m in no position to complain since you’re giving me a ride…”
She hesitated before adding,
“But it looks like you’re not wearing much either.”
“Ah.”
A grin tugged at his lips.
“I want as many people as possible to admire this handsome face. It’s what I make a living with.”
As he casually rubbed his chin, Sua couldn’t deny it.
He really was handsome.
The kind of face that made anyone look twice without realizing it.
Maybe he’s an aspiring actor or model?
Though… he didn’t look that young.
“…I see.”
She simply nodded and turned her gaze forward.
“What kind of reaction is that?”
“No, I agree. You really are handsome.”
She calmly looked around for a nearby bus stop.
“And you can just drop me off anywhere.”
Then he suddenly asked,
“Have we really never met before?”
Her fingers froze halfway through brushing back her hair.
Her guard immediately went up.
“I thought you said you weren’t hitting on me.”
“You’ve got quite the ego.”
He chuckled.
“Or do you just not trust what people tell you?”
Embarrassed, Sua hurriedly shook her head.
“…No. I’ve never seen you before.”
“Really? What’s your name?”
“Do we really need to introduce ourselves?”
“Fair enough.”
Without hesitation, he steered the car toward the shoulder and stopped.
“Take care, then.”
He smiled lazily.
“See you again, Ms. No-Name.”
Sua’s lips twitched.
See me again?
I thought you said you weren’t flirting.
Will I ever actually see this man again?
“It’s just a feeling.”
As if reading her mind, he added,
“I think we’ll meet again.”
Without answering, Sua got out of the car and bowed politely.
“Thank you for helping me today.”
She smiled faintly.
“I actually had a pretty interesting time because of you.”
“My pleasure.”
He shrugged indifferently.
“Take care.”
The moment she closed the door, the car sped away.
Maybe he really wasn’t flirting after all.
Watching the red taillights disappear into the distance, Sua let out a small laugh.
“It really was like a storm swept through.”
There was no better way to describe the mysterious man she’d met by chance.
There really are all kinds of people in this world.
With that idle thought, she flagged down a passing taxi.
Now it was time to deal with the aftermath.
The one who had caused the trouble was that storm-like man.
But she had been the one who poured fuel on the fire.
After getting out of the taxi, Sua stared at the gray walls surrounding the house and tightened her grip on her tote bag.
Her short nails dug painfully into her palm.
Every time one of her blind dates ended badly, her father would fly into a violent rage.
And the more failed blind dates there were, the worse his behavior became.
Should I just not go in?
If I don’t… then what?
In the end, she had to face him.
Because if she ran away, someone else would end up paying the price.
The blind dates would continue.
She had no intention of obeying her father’s wishes.
This cycle would simply repeat itself.
Crossing the garden beyond the front gate, Sua felt as though she were walking willingly toward an execution ground without even being dragged there.
She held her breath and reached for the front door.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist.
“…Mom.”
“Sua.”
Mihyang’s hands trembled violently.
“What were you thinking? Your father’s furious right now.”
Apparently, Byeon Ginam had already reported everything.
Feeling her mother’s shaking hand, Sua recalled the man’s furious face.
Twenty years older than me, yet petty as can be.
Cursing inwardly, she quickly examined Mihyang.
Fortunately, there were no signs that she’d been hit.
“Where is he?”
“In the study…”
Her mother hesitated.
“Sua…”
“It’s okay.”
Sua gently moved her behind her.
“Please stay in the living room.”
With someone she needed to protect standing behind her, her steps became steadier.
“It’s me.”
After announcing herself, she opened the study door.
A crystal ashtray came flying toward her.
Crash!
It slammed into the wall beside her before shattering across the floor.
Her heart pounded violently.
He probably wasn’t actually trying to hit me.
I’m too valuable a commodity for him to damage.
“What?”
His voice dripped with fury.
“Saving your virginity until marriage? You’ve gone beyond being insolent. You’ve completely lost your mind.”
Wow.
He really told Father every single detail.
“I was simply playing along.”
She met his glare without flinching.
“I heard you’re the one who first claimed to believe in chastity before marriage.”
Hakseon’s face had turned beyond red—it was almost blue with rage.
His expression resembled that of a demon.
Sua stared back calmly.
She knew exactly why he’d lied.
His own reputation had already been stained by countless sexual scandals.
He couldn’t allow his most valuable product to become damaged as well.
“So you did it on purpose?”
His voice grew colder.
“Just to make me look like a fool?”
Don’t back down.
She lifted her chin slightly.
“You want a powerful financial backer, don’t you?”
Her lips curled into a mocking smile.
“And all you could find was Byeongjin Distribution?”
“You’re really planning to sell me off to a family like that?”
“Isn’t that undervaluing me?”
She smirked.
“I’m actually quite a premium product.”
The sarcasm was obvious.
But it was precisely the sort of language that got under Hakseon’s skin.
“How dare you…”
He strode toward her like an enraged bull, raising his hand.
“So this is what happens after you keep ruining every blind date…”
Is he really going to hit me today?
Better that than letting him keep hurting Mihyang.
Just as Sua glared back without fear—
“Don’t!”
A frail body threw itself in front of her.
“Move.”
Hakseon tried to shake Mihyang off, but she clung desperately to his arm.
“Please…”
She begged.
“Just this once…”
She looked ready to fall to her knees.
“Sua.”
Mihyang turned toward her.
“Another blind date has already been arranged.”
Only then did Hakseon slowly lower his hand.
Of course.
There was no such thing as fatherly affection inside that man.
The only reason he restrained himself was because he didn’t want to damage his prized merchandise.
“How exactly did you raise this daughter of yours?”
“I’m sorry.”
Mihyang bowed deeply.
“I’ll make sure she understands.”
Watching her mother apologize made Sua’s stomach burn with rage.
“Stop it, Mom.”
Just then, Hakseon’s eyes met hers.
The corner of his eye twitched.
“Kang Sua.”
“…”
“Watch carefully.”
His voice turned eerily calm.
Then his massive hand swung without hesitation.
Smack!
A sharp slap echoed through the room.
Mihyang collapsed onto the floor.
“Mom!”
Sua immediately knelt beside her.
“A-Are you okay?”
“I’m…”
Mihyang weakly waved her away.
“I’m fine.”
She pushed Sua back with trembling hands.
“Remember this.”
Hakseon looked down at them coldly.
“The only reason you and your daughter live comfortably in this house is because of me.”
He sneered.
“I made a woman who came from who-knows-where the mistress of this household.”
“So act like you deserve it.”
“…Yes, dear.”
Blood stained Mihyang’s lips as she answered obediently.
“Kang Sua.”
Hakseon’s voice was merciless.
“Every time you act like this…”
“The one who suffers…”
“…is your mother.”
He knew perfectly well where Sua’s weakness lay.
This was a deliberate warning.
He would never tolerate her defying him.
“…”
Tears welled in Sua’s eyes as she glared at him.
Cruel.
Savage.
She could hardly believe someone like him was human.
Just knowing that his blood flowed through her veins made her want to drain every last drop from her body.
“How can you…”
She trembled.
“How can you do something like this…”
“Sua.”
Mihyang hurriedly wrapped both arms around her waist before she could charge forward.
“You can’t speak to your father like that.”
“This is all my fault.”
Hakseon laughed mockingly at the sight.
“Get out.”
“I don’t even want to look at you.”
As though nothing had happened, he returned to his desk, sat down, and unfolded his newspaper.
“I’m sorry.”
Still bowing deeply, Mihyang took Sua’s hand.
“I’ll prepare your herbal medicine for this evening.”
Holding her daughter, she quietly led her out of the study.
Sua struggled to steady her ragged breathing.
Her chest felt tight with fury.
They say every father dotes on his daughter?
What a ridiculous lie.
Ever since she was little, Hakseon had looked at her with nothing but coldness.
Not once had he offered warmth.
Not once had he spoken kindly.
Only indifference.
Only contempt.
“Watch your behavior. Don’t go outside and disgrace me.”
Yet despite treating her that way, he constantly demanded that she fulfill her duty simply because they shared the same blood.
And now…
He was ordering her to sacrifice her entire life for his sake.
Why should I clean up the mess you made?
Why me?
“Sua.”
Her mother’s weak voice pulled her out of her anger.
“Look.”
Sua immediately examined Mihyang’s face.
The cheek that had been struck was already badly swollen.
“I’ll get some ice.”
“I’ll do it.”
Mihyang gently caught her arm.
“You go upstairs first.”
“Don’t let your father see you again.”
As Mihyang led her toward the stairs to the second floor, hurried footsteps echoed somewhere nearby.
A door slammed shut.
Bang.
“Those kids…”
Mihyang’s expression darkened.
“They probably came out because they heard all the shouting.”
Sua gently tugged at her mother’s arm, steering her attention elsewhere.
She already knew who the spectators were.
There were two more children living in this house.
Her half-siblings.
And both of them were much younger than she was.
