Chapter 3
The Reason for Marriage
“Are you serious?”
Jeong-hye’s gaze sank deeply, her voice low and grave.
Yeoul’s faint smile faded instantly.
“Yes. I’m serious.”
“Why so suddenly? Did you two fight last night?”
“No. We didn’t fight.”
“Then why this sudden decision not to get married?”
“Because I love the cello more.”
At that, Jeong-hye opened her mouth as if to say something—then stopped.
She realized there was no longer any point in trying to persuade her daughter.
She knew better than anyone what the cello meant to Yeoul.
“You won’t regret it?” she asked quietly.
“No. I won’t.”
“Alright.”
Jeong-hye nodded slowly.
“What about the meeting, then? We should still attend, shouldn’t we?”
“There’s no point in a family meeting when there’s no wedding. I’ll cancel it.”
“The gifts won’t be refundable, though.”
“Then we’ll just eat them. They were expensive anyway. You and Dad can enjoy them.”
“Let’s do that. I’ll talk to your father.”
“Thanks, Mom. And… I’m sorry.”
Jeong-hye smiled gently and reached out to stroke Yeoul’s hair with a tender hand.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. My daughter knows what she’s doing. I trust your decision.”
Hearing those words made Yeoul’s throat tighten painfully.
Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill. She quickly lowered her head and blinked them back.
She didn’t want to cry—not anymore.
She didn’t want her mother to see her tears again.
“Then you’re going out now to sort things out?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Finish it cleanly. If anything happens, call me.”
Yeoul only nodded in response. Seeing that, Jeong-hye turned and left the room, closing the door gently behind her.
Yeoul sat back down at her desk and exhaled.
I’ve told Mom, so that’s one thing done.
Thankfully, Jeong-hye hadn’t opposed her. Just as always, she had respected her daughter’s choice.
It’s decided, then. I won’t marry him.
Now, only one thing remained—ending it with Seung-tae.
There were four hours left until the scheduled family meeting.
She wanted to end it well.
Not with smiles or pleasantries—just without trouble.
But no matter how she imagined it, it didn’t seem like it would end peacefully.
“I’ve already died once. What could possibly scare me now?”
Right. Let him rage if he wants.
Whatever Seung-tae did, she wasn’t afraid anymore.
With a grim expression, Yeoul began to get ready to leave.
“I’m in front of your house.”
—“…What?”
The voice on the other end sounded dazed and sleepy, as if he’d just woken up.
Yeoul glanced at her watch. It was already past 10 a.m.
So that’s why you showed up after one last time.
She almost laughed out loud.
Their family meeting had been set for noon.
Back then, Seung-tae and his parents had arrived more than an hour late.
And not only had they failed to apologize—they’d strutted in arrogantly, acting superior and openly belittling her parents.
She hadn’t said a word in protest then, too naive and scared to speak.
I really was pathetic.
Now, she realized how right she was to cancel this wedding—a hundred, no, a thousand times over.
—“In front of my house?”
“Yes. Please come out for a minute.”
—“What for? The meeting’s soon anyway. Why come here?”
His tone was curt and irritated.
The old her would’ve been intimidated, scrambling to explain herself.
Not this time.
“I canceled the restaurant reservation. It’ll only take a minute. Please come out.”
She wasn’t backing down.
No more letting herself be dragged around.
He said nothing in reply.
Yeoul knew why.
He must be fuming. How dare someone like me tell him what to do.
To Seung-tae, she was beneath him—someone he could step on.
Six years of marriage had taught her that cruel truth every single day.
“I’ll take your silence as a yes, then.”
Click.
She ended the call before he could respond.
“Wow. That feels amazing.”
For the first time, she’d said exactly what she wanted to say—and it felt as if a decade’s worth of frustration had lifted off her chest.
She almost felt light enough to fly.
The relief was so exhilarating that she couldn’t wait to see how good it would feel to finally break up.
To be fully prepared, she took out the diamond ring case she’d brought from home.
Even after everything was ready, it still took another five minutes before the grand iron gate creaked open.
Finally.
A man stepped out, his hair a messy bird’s nest.
The same face she’d once called husband—now just boyfriend, at this point in time.
Her expression twisted automatically at the sight.
How familiar.
That scowling, annoyed face.
She used to see it every morning after they got married.
“What are you doing here? We’ll be seeing each other soon anyway.”
Right, they would’ve seen each other soon.
So why did he look like this when the family meeting was just hours away?
She bit back the words rising in her throat and instead held out her hand.
“I came to return this.”
Seung-tae’s eyes dropped to the small ring case she held out—and his face darkened.
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
“I’m not getting married.”
“…What?”
His brow furrowed so tightly that deep lines appeared between his eyes.
“I mean it. The wedding’s off.”
His eyes sharpened, anger flashing in them.
Yeoul noticed but ignored it, extending the ring case toward him once more.
He didn’t even glance at it. Instead, he glared straight at her, his eyes burning.
“Is this because of Ha Gun-woo?”
The unexpected name made Yeoul blink.
Why is he bringing him up now?
She had no idea why Gun-woo’s name was even in this conversation.
All she had said was that she didn’t want to marry.
“Answer me! You’re calling off the wedding because of Ha Gun-woo, right?”
When she stayed silent, too bewildered to respond, he must have taken it as confirmation.
His voice rose, veins bulging on his neck.
“I just don’t want to get married anymore.”
“You think I’ll believe that crap?”
“Believe it or not, that’s the truth.”
Yeoul shoved the ring case into his hand.
“I’d prefer if we never saw each other again.”
Yes. Not even by chance on the street.
She didn’t want to see even his shadow again.
“I’ll go now.”
But as she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist hard.
“You think I’ll believe this has nothing to do with Ha Gun-woo?”
“Why do you keep mentioning him?”
“Because that bastard likes you.”
“…What?”
She froze.
What was he even talking about?
“That bastard must’ve confessed, right? That’s why you’re calling off the wedding!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You’re swayed because he’s rich—because he’s better than me! Of course you’d be! That guy’s a chaebol’s son, and you’re just—”
“Stop it.”
But he didn’t.
“He’s the third son of the Seodo Group, isn’t he? I bet he told you that, huh? Promised to make you one of those pampered rich wives? Told you how much he’s been in love with you all this time?”
“Ha…”
A bitter laugh slipped from her lips.
She knew Seung-tae had always been jealous of Gun-woo.
Every time Gun-woo’s name appeared in the news, he’d throw a tantrum for days.
But she never imagined that same jealousy would erupt now—when she was simply trying to end things.
“You think I’ll let you go to him? Never. I didn’t agree to marry you so that bastard could be happy!”
“…!”
It was like lightning struck her mind.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“So that’s why…”
Her voice trembled.
“You married me because of Ha Gun-woo?”
His eyes widened. His composure wavered.
That was all the answer she needed.
He didn’t deny it—but she didn’t need him to.
Her heart went cold.
“No. I married you because I loved you,” he said hastily.
“Let go.”
She jerked her arm free from his grasp and turned away.
“Yeoul! Kang Yeoul! I love you, okay? You’ll still marry me, right?”
His tone softened suddenly, desperate and sweet—but it only made her skin crawl.
Because now she knew.
Every word, every gesture of affection—none of it had ever been real.
