Chapter 15
Ever since Eunha said she was going to the hospital, Dohun had been thinking that today would be a good day to meet his father-in-law, Eunpyo.
Since the man was bedridden, there had been no opportunity to meet him properly at the formal introduction, and setting another day for greetings would only be inconvenient for both sides.
So he figured that while dropping Eunha off, he might as well greet her father briefly.
Fortunately, Eunha didn’t argue any further and followed behind him quietly.
Even though it was late, the moment Dohun walked through the hospital, everyone’s eyes turned toward him.
Patients, guardians, and even medical staff—all were captivated, watching him as if spellbound. Even from Eunha’s point of view, his face was as perfectly sculpted as marble, and his proportions were flawless.
But Dohun didn’t pay the slightest attention to the people around him and headed straight for the VIP ward.
“Director, you’re here.”
“Dr. Kim, thank you for your hard work as always.”
As soon as he entered the VIP ward, Dohun met the attending medical team. Their conversation flowed naturally, suggesting they already knew each other.
“How is Mr. Yoon Eunpyo’s condition?”
“The surgical area is healing well, but we still can’t say when he’ll regain consciousness. We’ll have to wait and see. We’re doing everything we can.”
“Thank you. I’ll continue to count on you.”
They said Eunpyo had been unconscious ever since he was brought in from the accident, suffering severe bleeding. He’d received an emergency transfusion, and surgery had been performed for suspected organ rupture and brain hemorrhage—but he had yet to wake up.
Eunha had heard the news two months ago while in the U.S. When she returned to Korea and saw him, his condition hadn’t changed at all.
“It was a hit-and-run, right?”
As they walked toward the room, Dohun asked.
“Yes. That’s what I was told.”
No CCTV. A deserted two-lane road. The site wasn’t near their home or any factory—just an unfamiliar area. And it was past midnight.
No one knew why, but Eunpyo had briefly stopped his car there—and at that moment, another vehicle coming from the opposite direction had collided with him.
Judging from the fragments left on the road, they could only guess it was a cargo truck. Nothing else was known.
Why at that hour, in that place…
Maybe it was just fate, but Eunha couldn’t help resenting everything.
If only she could turn back time, she would have begged her father to come home early and rest.
“I shouldn’t have asked.”
Seeing Eunha’s eyes glisten, Dohun muttered briefly.
“I’m sorry, I… This way.”
Realizing she’d been lost in thought about her father and had forgotten about Dohun, Eunha quickly led him to the room.
Click.
The wide VIP room came into view as the door opened. The large windows made it bright during the day.
The bed was to the right. Lying there with an oxygen mask, Eunpyo looked almost lifeless.
Eunha, already used to the sight, greeted him cheerfully as she entered.
“Dad, I’m here.”
Following behind, Dohun stepped into the room slowly.
“Did you wait long? Sorry I’m late—I went to see a friend for a bit.”
Eunha busied herself checking her father’s condition, chatting as if talking to a healthy man. Dohun watched her with a hint of surprise.
He had never seen her smile before, and seeing such a bright side of her felt unexpected.
“Right, there’s someone I’d like you to meet today. Don’t be too surprised—he’s the man I’m going to marry.”
Eunha gestured toward Dohun beside her, her voice trembling slightly.
If her father had been conscious, she knew she could never have lied to him. Even now, talking to him while he lay unconscious made her voice shake—if he were awake, she wouldn’t be able to say a word.
Of course, if he were healthy, she wouldn’t have proposed a contract marriage to Dohun in the first place.
“Please say hello, Mr. Dohun. This is my father.”
Dohun nodded politely and stepped closer to the bed.
Then, as though meeting a healthy father-in-law, he bowed deeply and introduced himself formally.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Father. My name is Choi Dohun.”
When the word Father rolled naturally off his tongue, Eunha’s chest stirred with unfamiliar emotion.
He looked genuinely respectful as he greeted her unconscious father. That, and the idea that she would actually be marrying this handsome man, felt unreal.
“I’m sure you’ve heard from Eunha already. We decided to get married rather suddenly, and I apologize for that.”
He continued calmly, then glanced at Eunha as he spoke again.
“Even if you can’t attend the wedding, I’ll make sure to cherish her and make her the most beautiful bride.”
At that moment, Eunha’s heart dropped with a heavy thud.
She knew he was only being polite—but it sounded so sincere, as if he were truly speaking to her father.
And those words—the most beautiful bride—tickled her heart in the sweetest way.
“Thank you for today,” Eunha said after they left the room, accompanying him down to the underground parking lot.
“Are you always this stubborn?”
Dohun turned to her with a teasing tone. Eunha blinked, not catching his meaning.
“Sorry?”
“You keep saying thank you even when I tell you it’s unnecessary. Seems like you’re pretty stubborn.”
“Oh…”
She had never thought of herself that way, but now that he pointed it out, it did seem true.
Following him all the way to the parking lot just to thank him—that was stubbornness too.
But it only happened with Dohun. She hated the feeling of being indebted to him.
Even though their relationship was contractual and money was involved, for some reason she felt differently toward him.
Was it an inferiority complex? Or something else…
Whatever it was, realizing how differently she reacted to him made her cheeks flush red.
“Stubborn women are my type, actually.”
His sudden remark made her heart pound wildly again.
He kept openly saying things like that—how was her heart supposed to survive it?
“But still, let’s stop with the thank-yous. I’d prefer if we just maintain proper respect toward each other. That’s what I want.”
“…Okay.”
Respect and decorum—those were the values between people about to be married.
Eunha knew that’s why he had greeted her father.
Still, she couldn’t help feeling grateful. Maybe that bothered him.
But why did he keep saying things that made her heart waver like this?
He probably meant nothing by it, but Eunha could barely breathe.
“And I don’t like saying things I don’t mean—it feels empty.”
Eunha flinched and lowered her head. To be honest, whenever she thanked him, she deliberately tried not to sound emotional—afraid he might sense her growing feelings.
Now she wondered if her words had seemed insincere, even fake. She suddenly felt like she had unintentionally deceived him.
Too embarrassed to apologize, she just stood there in silence. Dohun walked toward his car and said casually,
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
Just then, the loud roar of a motorcycle echoed—and a bike sped straight toward Eunha.
Startled, Dohun grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his arms.
It all happened in an instant.
With one arm around her waist and the other shielding her head, he turned his body to block the oncoming motorcycle.
The bike barely missed them and zoomed past—it was just a food delivery rider.
Suppressing a wave of nausea from the adrenaline, Dohun looked down at the woman in his arms.
Eunha’s head was lowered, her eyes tightly shut in fear.
She must have been terrified…
Honestly, his own heart was still pounding from the scare.
As he moved slightly to check her face, she flinched—and burrowed even closer into his chest.
The motorcycle was already gone, yet she clung to him tightly, arms wrapped firmly around his waist.
The sensation reminded him of the night they’d spent together—it made his head spin.
Even now, he couldn’t believe how his body reacted to her so easily.
Perhaps sensing his change in posture, Eunha suddenly pulled away, startled.
She looked even more shocked than when the bike had almost hit them. Watching her retreat from his arms made his mouth taste bitter.
Did she really have to look that flustered?
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now. Thank you.”
Her face flushed bright red. She had indeed been frightened, but now embarrassment flooded her.
Her heart thumped so hard she was sure he could hear it.
“You must’ve been shaken. Don’t overexert yourself at the hospital.”
“…Okay.”
Earlier, when they left the ward, Dohun had offered to drive her home.
But Eunha had insisted on staying by her father’s side a little longer.
Knowing he couldn’t change her mind, he hadn’t pressed further—but now, after this scare, he couldn’t help worrying.
Still, there was nothing more he could do. Finally, Dohun pushed away his concern and drove out of the parking lot.
