Chapter 11

The two people froze in shock.

‘Damn it, Seon Haejoo! I’ll deal with you later!’

Soon after, Manchul swiftly turned around and exited through the emergency exit.
He even made sure to take the cardigan he had forcibly taken off his niece’s shoulders.

As the man left, the woman collapsed, curling her slender body and weeping.

‘Mom…’

She had no idea that Seungjo was still watching.

Seungjo, keeping his eyes on Haejoo, began descending the stairs one step at a time.
It was an uncharacteristic move for someone like him, who had intended only to kick the door and walk away indifferently.

‘If you go all the way down to the basement, there’s a VIP passage. Exit through there.’
‘…What?’

The young woman finally lifted her head. Though she claimed to be twenty, her plain appearance made her look like a high school student.

At first, she glared at Seungjo, shrinking away at the sight of an unfamiliar man. Seungjo couldn’t help but let out a faint chuckle at her fierce, suspicious look.

‘Just walk past. It’s nothing.’

Her attempt to hide herself by wrapping her arms tightly around her body looked both pitiful and amusing to Seungjo, who smirked briefly.

‘If I say I’m Tae Seungjo from the Taehwa Group, would I be allowed to stay here then?’

‘…!’

Though the hostility had faded from her gaze, her will remained strong. Haejoo, who had been frozen in shock, stood up on shaky legs and bowed her head.

Her frame was like a handful. Though thin and small, her chest was full, and her features were striking—no wonder Gwak Manchul’s eyes had gleamed with lust.

It was easy to imagine her being preyed on by the wealthy old men who came to the concert that night.

An unpleasant thought crossed Seungjo’s mind, and his voice turned cold.

‘Do you prefer the arms of old men? Or maybe married men with kids at the concert are more your taste?’

‘N-no, it’s not like that!’

‘Then leave. Unless you want something worse to happen. I’m sure your mother in the hospital would be thrilled.’

Tears spilled from the woman’s clear eyes. Her mother seemed to be her emotional trigger.

As she trembled, lips pressed tightly together, Seungjo looked down at her, took off his jacket, and tossed it over her shoulders.

He also pulled out some cash from his wallet and held it out.

‘W-why are you giving me this…?’

Flustered, Haejoo waved her hand and tried to return the money. Her fingers accidentally brushed against Seungjo’s—just a coincidence.

Her tear-dampened skin felt soft and tender, and Seungjo frowned. Frightened, the woman immediately lowered her head. Seungjo gave a dry laugh as he looked down at the heat rising in his lower body.

‘Cigarette money.’
‘…Huh?’
‘You helped kill my boredom, so it’s only fair I pay you for it.’

Seungjo flicked the unlit cigarette in his fingers. Then, he turned to look down the stairs.
After hesitating, Haejoo deeply bowed her head.

‘Thank you. Truly, thank you.’

She quickly descended the stairs. Seungjo lit the cigarette as he stared at her small, retreating figure.

For some reason, it tasted particularly dull today.

Even the hour-long concert was boring.

In the grand concert hall, Seungjo sat staring intently at the stage where the girl who had disappeared now stood again in his memory.

‘Executive Director, this is Seon Haejoo, a new recruit in our strategy planning department. Say hello.’

He saw Haejoo again at the company.
The once thin, young girl had returned as a mature woman, now standing before Seungjo.

Remembering these unbelievable events, Seungjo laughed.
Back then, he’d wanted nothing more than to pull the flustered, panicked girl into a tight embrace.

Seungjo laughed again, frowning slightly.
Ahem. Jichan’s dry cough snapped Seungjo out of his thoughts.

“That day must’ve been quite nice. You remember clearly that it was spring.”
“It was nice—the weather, I mean.”
“Hmph, even Serin really wanted to go to the memorial hall yesterday. She had something urgent at work and was so upset she couldn’t make it.”

Seungjo uncrossed his legs and spread them lazily.
Remembering Haejoo had caused his briefs to grow tight.

Jichan noticed the physical reaction and, satisfied that Seungjo was healthy, continued speaking.

“So I was thinking—how about dinner tonight with old Mr. Hong and Serin? I’d love to treat you to a nice meal.”

“The Elder loves the rice cakes from this place. I couldn’t resist buying some!”

Haejoo was in Naae’s room, surrounded by peony flowers. As expected from the Taehwa Group’s Madam Hong Naae, even her teaspoons were adorned with peony designs.

“Rice cakes tasted best when eaten with Seungjo. That boy—so aloof, but he always cared. Even when he was studying abroad, he never forgot my birthday. He’d always send these rice cakes.”
“Yes, I remember. Sometimes you’d give me some too.”

Haejoo skillfully found the oil Naae liked from the mother-of-pearl box and applied it to her pale legs.

“You looked beautiful at the memorial. You would’ve been proud.”
“I’ve raised my niece well.”

Haejoo clenched her lips as she felt a creepy gaze on her hand.
It was from her uncle, Manchul, kneeling in front of Naae’s small table.

Wearing a navy suit that didn’t suit him and slicking back his hair with wax, Manchul grinned slyly.

“She’s so thoughtful—buys me little things with her first paycheck.”

“…”

“Haejoo, all this uncle needs is a pair of warm red long johns, not fancy watches.”

When had that ever happened? Haejoo’s expression hardened at the made-up story.
Just days ago, he’d tried to extort a million won from her, claiming he had to attend a friend’s wedding.

Now he acted like none of it happened, smirking and smoothing his lips.

Rubbing his wrist now was a silent demand for a luxury watch.

His eyes gleamed with lust once more. Haejoo pulled her slender shoulders inward tightly.

Ever since her mother had been hospitalized, he had taken to opening Haejoo’s bedroom door late at night to leer at her.

A gambling addict and a shallow man, Manchul’s attention slowly shifted from her sick mother to Haejoo.

Even in summer, when she wore long sleeves and pants to hide her body, Manchul would hit her while spewing vulgar insults.

As Haejoo turned twenty, he began pushing her into blind dates and arranged meetings.

‘Men would die just from brushing that big chest of yours—stop pretending to be so modest!’
‘Do you even know how much your mother’s hospital bills are? Use that pretty face for once, you useless girl!’

Despite the constant verbal abuse and beatings, Haejoo endured.

She always wore oversized clothes that hid her figure.

At night, sitting beside her sleeping mother—exhausted from chemotherapy—holding her hand was Haejoo’s only solace.

Those were her most peaceful, happiest moments.

“It’s been quite a while since you got involved with the Gwaks, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, I truly can’t imagine where I’d be now if not for Madam Hong Naae’s grace.”
“So I’m not a burden to you yet?”
“Oh no, please don’t say that! When I was swindled by those crooks while trying to start my first business, it was you who saved me!”

Manchul bowed low and laid it on thick.

Shameless, he scanned Haejoo with greedy eyes.

It was he who had first brought eighteen-year-old Haejoo—who only knew school and her mother’s hospital—to Madam Hong Naae of the Taehwa Group.

‘Young Master Taesangyun is busy with his business, and splendid Young Master Taeseungjo is working abroad—surely you must get lonely, Madam.’

‘My niece is good with her hands, speaks charmingly, and even has a sweet voice. You won’t be bored with her around.’