CHAPTER 27………………………………….
Hana gave a small smile. But it wasn’t sincere. It was the kind of smile she had long grown used to wearing to suit the situation.
The scene from just moments ago still lingered in her mind.
Mi-sook’s cold gaze, Se-rin’s smile, and the sight of the two of them standing arm in arm.
They had looked like a family of long standing—affectionate and at ease. To Hana, it had felt cruel.
Before long, the food began to arrive. The salad served as an appetizer was fresh, the subtle scent of balsamic dressing drifting lightly through the air. The two of them began eating in silence.
Hana speared a forkful of salad and put it in her mouth. She could sense the freshness of the vegetables, but she couldn’t taste anything at all. She simply chewed and swallowed.
“Why are you barely eating? Is it not to your taste?”
Watching her, Geon-woo asked. Hana shook her head and forced a smile.
“No. It’s delicious.”
“Is it?”
He asked briefly, but said nothing more. He knew she was lying, but he didn’t press her.
They continued their meal in silence.
Soft sunlight streamed in through the window, and distant laughter drifted over from another table.
But the space between the two of them felt quiet, isolated, as if cut off from everything else.
Time moved slowly, and in that stretch, no words and no emotions passed between them.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, a cold breeze brushed against their faces.
Still linking arms with Mi-sook, Se-rin slowly walked on, but she turned her head slightly to glance back inside the restaurant.
Through the glass window, she could faintly make out the silhouettes of the two of them.
Se-rin’s lips trembled faintly.
“It seems like the two of them… dine together often.”
Her voice was quiet. She tried to sound calm, but there was a subtle quiver at the end of her words.
“They seem much closer than the rumors say.”
Mi-sook paused for a moment at Se-rin’s remark. Then she lightly patted Se-rin’s hand and shook her head.
“No, Se-rin.”
Her voice was gentle.
“It just happened that their schedules matched today. It’s better to eat with someone than alone.”
Se-rin nodded, but her face still showed clear dejection. Watching her, Mi-sook swallowed a sigh.
That sly little fox.
Hana’s face from earlier rose in Mi-sook’s mind—the way she had quietly lowered her head in greeting. How pretentious and detestable she had seemed.
Mi-sook ground her teeth inwardly. Outwardly, however, she maintained her soft smile and clasped Se-rin’s hand tightly.
“Se-rin, don’t worry too much. It’s just… a formality. You understand, right?”
Se-rin couldn’t answer. Her eyes were faintly damp, and her fingertips trembled.
“Still… Mother, I…”
Her voice trailed off weakly. She bit her lip and lowered her head, letting out a small sigh.
“I really like Mr. Geon-woo, but it feels like he isn’t interested in me at all… It makes me sad.”
Her voice shook.
“Even earlier… I greeted him, and he didn’t even glance at me…”
Hearing that, Mi-sook gripped Se-rin’s hand more firmly, her fingers slowly rubbing over the back of Se-rin’s hand.
“Se-rin, that’s just because Geon-woo is naturally blunt. You’re so pretty that he’s probably avoiding you because he doesn’t want his feelings to show.”
“Is that so…?”
Se-rin asked carefully, hope and doubt mingling in her eyes.
Mi-sook drew in a breath and squeezed her hand again.
“Of course. I know my son best. He only married because he couldn’t withstand his grandfather’s pressure. It wasn’t a marriage of love. Geon-woo doesn’t have any feelings for her at all.”
“Really…?”
“I’m telling you. Geon-woo belongs with someone like you—pretty, elegant, well-mannered.”
Se-rin nodded quietly, though anxiety and hope were still mixed in her gaze. Seeing that expression, Mi-sook became even more certain.
I can’t let this girl slip away. She’s the only one suited for Geon-woo.
“Se-rin.”
Mi-sook spoke again, her voice even softer this time.
“Don’t be too impatient. Men are all the same. In the end, they go where their hearts lead them.”
She gently brushed Se-rin’s hair back and smiled.
“With a little more time, Geon-woo will come to understand your sincerity. Until then, I’ll be right beside you to help.”
Only then did Se-rin smile faintly.
“Trust me. As long as you don’t give up, Geon-woo will eventually come to your side.”
Squeezing Se-rin’s hand once more, Mi-sook made a vow inwardly.
I’ll make sure of it. I’ll make you my daughter-in-law no matter what.
“Se-rin, shall we go have some tea? There’s a nice café nearby.”
Mi-sook suggested brightly.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Se-rin nodded readily, as if she had been waiting for the invitation.
The two walked side by side, looking affectionate like mother and daughter.
As they walked, Mi-sook’s gaze drifted back toward the restaurant.
Through the wide glass window, she could see them—Geon-woo and Hana—sitting across from each other, eating.
The smile slowly faded from Mi-sook’s face, and her eyes turned cold as she watched them.
After a moment, she quietly looked away.
The car stopped in front of the company building.
“Go on in.”
At Geon-woo’s short remark, Hana nodded and stepped out of the car. As she closed the door and was about to turn away, Geon-woo rolled down the window.
“I’ll be late tonight.”
“Yes, I understand.”
When Hana answered, he said nothing more and rolled the window back up. The car pulled away smoothly and disappeared down the road.
Hana stood there for a moment, watching the car grow distant. Only after quite some time did she slowly turn and head into the building.
As she rode the elevator up, she felt a tightness constricting one side of her chest. It was as if something heavy was pressing down near the pit of her stomach. She took a deep breath, but the discomfort didn’t fade.
Did I get indigestion…?
She thought to herself. She had eaten lunch, but it hadn’t felt like it went down properly. In truth, she hadn’t really eaten at all. She had put the food in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed—but she couldn’t taste anything, and even swallowing had felt difficult.
When she reached the office, Mi-joo looked up at her.
“Did you have a nice lunch?”
“Yes.”
Hana replied briefly as she took hold of the doorknob. Then she gently rubbed the area below her chest and turned back to Mi-joo.
“Mi-joo, do you happen to have… any digestive medicine?”
“Digestive medicine?”
“Yes, my stomach feels a little off.”
“Is it bad?”
Mi-joo approached and examined her. Hana gave a small smile and waved her hand.
“No. I think I just have indigestion.”
“Just a moment.”
Mi-joo hurriedly rummaged through her desk drawer. But no matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find any medicine. She shook her head apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Director. I don’t have any. What should we do…?”
“Oh, it’s fine. If you don’t have any, that’s okay.”
Hana said, waving her hand. But Mi-joo had already grabbed her bag.
“I’ll run out and buy some! There’s a pharmacy right in front—five minutes, tops.”
“No, Mi-joo, it’s really okay—!”
Before she could finish her sentence, Mi-joo was already dashing off. The sound of her footsteps faded down the hallway.
“I’ll be right back, Director!”
In an instant, Mi-joo was gone. Hana slowly turned and walked inside.
The moment she sat down in her chair, it felt as though all the strength drained from her body.
