Chapter 51. Rejection

The declaration of war — threatening to strip away even what she had if she dared to want more — drained the color from Juhui’s face.

“No wonder the day felt cursed from the start,” she muttered, shooting a glare at Lee Jun. She tapped a photo scattered beside a teacup with her index finger and asked:

“What’s this supposed to be?”

Crossing her legs, Juhui leaned forward over them.

“It’s not like I don’t have money or connections. I’ll block her if I have to.”

When Lee Jun bared his teeth in frustration, Juhui sneered mockingly.

“Chasing after some woman like a fool. Are you even doing your job properly?”

As he stared directly at his aunt, who had dragged Yua into this, Juhui met his eyes boldly, showing not a hint of guilt or embarrassment for what she’d done.

She didn’t seem to feel even the slightest remorse. To her, coercing Yua into leaving was something necessary and therefore justified.

“Wake up, Kang Ijun.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you know how many people are watching you? One wrong move, and you’re done.”

Though he would’ve preferred to end this with a warning, Lee Jun knew Juhui wasn’t someone who would stop there. If she had been, this wouldn’t have happened to begin with. He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

Maybe that laugh provoked her, because her eyes widened with a sly grin as she said:

“Yoon Yua? You think she’ll always be safe? Are you going to stick to her side all day?”

“You’d better watch your words, Aunt.”

“Oh, how bold. That cheekiness was cute when you were a kid. Now it’s just disgusting.”

The way Juhui kept charging forward, refusing to give up, made Lee Jun’s face go cold. It hit him again—she was someone capable of anything.

“If you still want to keep that fancy title of art gallery director—something Grandpa gave you—then stay far away from Yua.”

Lee Jun told her that he had already investigated the gallery. If even one piece of that evidence was leaked to the press, she wouldn’t escape prison.

But Juhui saw his words as nothing more than a threat, responding not with compliance but explosive fury.

She ranted about how families should protect and cover for one another—a total contradiction to her own actions.

Lee Jun had no interest in hearing any more. He turned his head away and stood up, adjusting his jacket to leave. But from behind, Juhui sneered:

“Kang Ijun. If you bite me—”

“……”

“Then I’ll rip out Yoon Yua’s throat.”

Lee Jun turned his head over his shoulder. At some point, she had stood up, and now she was shredding the photo into thin vertical strips. She crushed the now unrecognizable pieces in her fist and threw them at his back, yelling:

“If you pull a crazy stunt, I’ll go further. You know how your aunt is.”

When she asked him to help her live with elegance and grace, Lee Jun tilted his head with a sarcastic smile.

“I’ll find a good psychiatric hospital, Aunt. Preferably with two beds.”

“You lunatic.”

Lee Jun simply stared at her in silence. The more he spoke, the worse he felt.

*

After the incident at the campsite, Lee Jun brought Yua back to his home.

He’d originally said she could leave after dinner, but even after they finished eating, he didn’t let her go.

The next morning, before sunrise, he had already placed two Boston bags under the bed.

“I went to get your things. Let me know if anything’s missing.”

He could’ve sent someone else, but worried that it would make Yua uncomfortable, he went himself.

“You want me… to stay here?”

Taking off his black cap, he gave her a bright smile but didn’t answer. Even if they were soon to be married, Yua still felt awkward facing Chairman Kang. She thought Lee Jun had respected her wish to stay in the camper for now.

She let out a half-laugh as she unpacked underwear, cosmetics, and her laptop from the bag.

“Just hang in there for a week.”

“And then?”

“As soon as the interior’s done, we’ll move into the penthouse near the office.”

“What…?”

Running his long fingers through her hair, Lee Jun took her hand and sat her down beside him.

Perched on the edge of the bed, they stared at each other with uneasy eyes.

Yua was upset that he had moved her belongings without asking.

Lately, he had made an effort to communicate and involve her in decisions, but now he was going silent again. That made her anxious.

“There’s no need to worry about Grandpa. We’ll live somewhere safer, more secure than now.”

“That’s not the point…”

Lee Jun hoped she wouldn’t ask anything. Nothing good would come from her knowing.

How could he tell her that his own aunt, someone bound to him by blood, had targeted him—and indirectly hurt her?

“But for me, that is the point.”

He should’ve been more careful. He regretted showing his emotions so easily.

In the end, it was his fault Yua had been endangered. The guilt weighed heavy on him.

“Your safety is the most important thing.”

“Lee Jun…”

He spoke calmly, but Yua felt like he was on the verge of tears. She didn’t want to burden him further when he had work ahead.

Ever since sharing a life with him, Yua had found herself wanting things. After the camping trip, she kept hearing the children’s laughter when she closed her eyes.

And she couldn’t stop thinking about Sejin — with cheeks like soft mochi. She wanted to see that little one again.

“Can you just listen to me, okay?”

At his pleading voice, Yua nodded. The camper was nearby and always there if she needed it. She didn’t want to waste time fighting over something so small.

Seeing that she had yielded, Lee Jun smiled brightly, pleased.

Just then, they heard a message notification, and Yua instinctively reached for her phone. She leaned forward to grab it off the bedside table, barely brushing it with her fingertips.

Too far. So she adjusted her position, practically climbing into his lap.

“Ah!”

As she wobbled on the mattress, Lee Jun’s strong arms wrapped around her waist to steady her.

“Careful now.”

His gentle, soothing tone reminded her of little Sejin playing grown-up. It almost made her cry.

‘Mommy, don’t run. Sejin walks. You have to be careful!’

Would Sejin come back to them someday?

Yua wanted to believe that. No — she was sure of it. This was all part of finding their way back to that innocent child who’d done nothing wrong.

The message was from the housekeeper in Pyeongchang. Not wanting to wake her, the lady had sent a simple text saying breakfast was ready. Sometimes she asked Yua to pick the menu, and today was one of those days.

“Hm…”

Feeling an unexpected desire to have a child with Lee Jun, Yua casually stayed on his lap while composing her reply.

He tilted his head in confusion, as if wondering why she wasn’t moving.

Then Yua boldly wrapped her arms around his neck and began tapping away at her phone.

“Between a sandwich and something nutritious like rice porridge… I think porridge sounds good, don’t you?”

Whispering directly into his ear — even though no one else was around — made her intentions a little hard to read.

With no reply from him, Yua bit her lip and gently placed both hands on his shoulders, breathing warm air into his ear.

“Lee Jun.”

At that, he grabbed her by the waist. As she drew in a breath and smiled, he lifted her up and gently placed her beside him.

“I’m not in the mood.”

Yua blinked wide-eyed, staring at the bathroom door he had firmly shut.

The firm rejection turned her mind blank.

He’s not like that… Did I do something wrong?

Letting out a hollow sigh, she mumbled,

“…Did I just get rejected?”