Chapter – 70
Speaking calmly and quietly, with a serious tone, Jeongwook truly spoke from his heart.
It was completely different from how he acted around any other woman.
“I’ll take care of you. I’ll always be by your side, silently supporting you whenever things are hard for you.”
When you were hurt by being left out, when you had no one to eat lunch with and had to be alone—he had been there.
“You know… I’ve always been like that.”
By the time his confession ended, Jeongwook’s expression had become almost desperate.
Even the sly, playful Jeongwook had no pride or composure in front of unrequited love.
All that remained was a heartfelt wish for his feelings to be accepted.
But after a brief pause, Seora finally spoke, and her words crushed Jeongwook.
“Jeongwook… I’m sorry. I’m dating the team leader. We’re already in a serious relationship.”
“……!”
Jeongwook’s heart dropped.
A serious relationship? A serious relationship?!
Being a man, his mind immediately jumped to the most primal interpretations of the phrase.
Did she sleep with my brother? Were they intimate?
He desperately wanted to ask, but it would be too rude, so he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Seora continued, almost cruelly, toward Jeongwook.
“Since the team leader might feel uneasy, I’m trying to avoid being alone with other men. My boyfriend wouldn’t like that. As you know, the team leader can be a little jealous…”
“Are you really seriously dating him?”
“Huh?”
“Did your brother tell you he trusts you now? That he’s stopped testing you?”
Jeongwook quickly changed tactics and dug into another angle.
When he touched on the real issues between Taewook and Seora, she flinched and paused for a moment.
“Brother has trauma, so he can’t trust women. He couldn’t trust you either, so he’s been watching and testing you all this time, right? Seeing if you’d fall for Choi Jeongwook or not. He’s usually so jealous…”
Jeongwook understood Taewook’s psychology well.
Being identical twins, having experienced the Joo Mijin incident together, and sharing the same taste in women to an almost irritating degree, Jeongwook knew Taewook’s mental state intimately.
“You didn’t trust him at first either, confused me with him, even called me ‘team leader’ once. You didn’t trust him either.”
So he approached by touching Seora’s deeper emotions.
“Maybe your brother is still testing you. He wandered for years because of his trauma. The first time anyone gave perfect Choi Taewook humiliation and betrayal was me—and a woman. Could you really be with a man who can’t trust you, who’s jealous, who constantly tests you?”
Could she embrace a man with past wounds and pain?
“There’s also a man like me who would fully support you, trust you, and stay by your side no matter what. Why would you choose a brother like him?”
There’s a man who, from the start, gives trust without trauma—Jeongwook was trying to persuade her with that.
“…….”
Seora, silently listening to Jeongwook, fell into thought.
As he said, Taewook had indeed been watching her. He himself admitted it.
“I’ve been observing Seora for a long time. I couldn’t trust women, so I’ve been cautious all this time.”
Because of past trauma caused by women, he had been uncertain whether she would be the same.
“I didn’t want a relationship where emotions flared too quickly, where progress was rushed, or where things burned out fast. Some might think I’m foolish or slow in love.”
But so what? That could happen.
Being cautious to love one woman deeply and sincerely could result in that.
“I think I’m in love… with you. A lot. Marry me.”
Not flitting from woman to woman, but careful and perfect in approach—this could happen.
It might be a problem for others, but if I don’t see it as a problem, it’s fine.
He loves her a lot. He understands him.
“…….”
In Seora’s gaze, she saw Taewook in the smoking room, talking with other team leaders.
Even just seeing him sip coffee without smoking, she could tell.
He trusts her. After deciding, he proposed, and he would stay by her side for life.
The fact that he had dealt with employees who had bullied her so they couldn’t come near her, the fact that he confidently sent her to have a private conversation with Jeongwook despite likely feeling jealousy and anxiety—she knew it all.
Taewook fully trusts her. She knows.
“Yes, I will be with Taewook. At first, maybe not, but now he trusts me more than anyone and stays by my side.”
Seora said this with confident eyes and a strong voice.
“At first, I couldn’t distinguish between the team leader and Jeongwook, but now I can tell just by seeing them walk from afar. Even if someone struggles at first, they can grow and improve. That’s our relationship. We can overcome trauma or hardships together.”
“…….”
Seora’s eyes sparkled, full of spirited energy and resolve.
By now, Jeongwook should have understood.
“Jeongwook, I truly appreciate your feelings, but I’m sorry. I hope you meet a wonderful person too.”
It was a complete rejection.
She bowed politely and left, leaving the coffee he had bought untouched on the table.
Jeongwook watched her walk out, staring blankly, and let out a low sigh.
“This is bad.”
Being fully rejected only made him want her more.
“I truly like Seora… I can’t give up.”
What should he do about this?
Jeongwook muttered to himself and took a cigarette pack from his suit pocket.
After confessing sincerely and being coldly rejected, he rose and walked leisurely into the smoking room.
Inside, Taewook was still talking with team leaders from other departments, standing on the balcony and looking out.
Jeongwook slipped beside one of the other team leaders.
It was early summer, yet the sky was still bright, with no hint of sunset. Jeongwook lit a cigarette, staring at the city forest.
Taewook, quietly watching him frown at the flame, shifted his gaze.
He just came from having an important conversation with my woman… and now he’s smoking?
Taewook, guessing what kind of conversation had taken place, raised one corner of his mouth slightly.
I trust Seora. We’re solid enough that you can’t interfere.
The trust between Taewook and Seora was now unshakable. No one could come between them.
Hearing that Taewook was coming home, Buhyeon and Hoechan had been waiting after dinner.
He requested Jeongwook’s presence too, saying there would be an important announcement. Buhyeon and Hoechan sensed something unusual.
The eldest son had never called the family together like this; if he asked them all to gather, it must be serious.
The door opened, and Taewook arrived in a suit.
“Taewook?”
Hoechan, sitting on the sofa, acknowledged his son, and Taewook bowed.
“Yes, father, mother. I’ve arrived.”
“So, why are you asking us to gather? Life has its surprises, I see.”
Hoechan chuckled, watching Taewook sit on the sofa.
Jeongwook, sitting crookedly at the edge of the sofa, rested his fist on his head as he saw Taewook take a seat across from him.
“I asked everyone to gather today because I have an important announcement.”
At Taewook’s calm tone, Buhyeon’s eyes blinked rapidly.
“Father, mother, I will retract my statement about not marrying.”
Buhyeon’s face lit up.
So, the woman he had been watching? It seems things had gone well.
“That’s wonderful news. Ever since you declared you wouldn’t marry, it felt like a heavy stone on my chest. Now there’s nothing more to hope for. Just bring a good woman and have the wedding.”
Only then did Jeongwook realize why his brother had gathered the family.
“So, he called us here for such nonsense…”
Jeongwook snorted, mocking, and Hoechan frowned.
“Choi Jeongwook. Can’t stay quiet?”
Jeongwook blinked rapidly and shut his mouth.
Hoechan turned back to Taewook.
“Why the change of heart about marriage? Have you met someone?”
Taewook’s eyes were calm, his voice firm.
“Yes. I have. That woman is…”
