WD36

Episode 36 

One hour ago.

The café was bathed in warm sunlight. The serene space, with its white walls and wooden tables, gave off a calm atmosphere. It was early in the afternoon, and the place was nearly empty.

Seo-eun pushed open the glass door and stepped inside.

“So I ended up coming after all.”

Her heart pounded at the thought of this meeting, but she quickly composed her expression. Her mind was already made up.

“I have to say no.”

She was here out of concern for Jaehyun—this meeting was to deliver her refusal.

“Ma’am.”

A middle-aged man seated by the window stood up as he spotted her.

“Manager Kim.”

He had been President Cha Jeong-do’s closest aide for over 30 years. Once considered a major figure within Seowon Group, his influence had diminished as he continued to follow Cha Jeong-do’s fall from grace.

Even so, his loyalty remained unmatched—he was still devoted to Cha Jeong-do.

“Thank you for coming,” he said, bowing deeply. The weight of responsibility showed in his gesture.

As Seo-eun took a seat, she recalled the unexpected phone call she had received from him a week ago.

“Ma’am, may I ask for a bit of your time?”

It had caught her off guard, but it wasn’t entirely surprising. Rumors had been spreading that the tension between President Cha and the Chairman had worsened recently. She had heard that even the president’s wife was deeply distressed.

“Even if he’s a disappointment of a son, a father’s heart still leans inward. That’s why the Chairman gave him a small subsidiary to lead.”

There was quiet sorrow in Manager Kim’s voice.

“But the President… he was never satisfied with just that.”

Years of struggle lingered in his sigh.

Seo-eun hadn’t told Jaehyun about today’s meeting. She knew how sensitive he was when it came to his father. And she had believed she could handle this on her own—by turning it down herself.

“The Madam is also deeply concerned about the President. We fear both of them might fall ill at this rate.”

“I understand your position, but I’m not sure what I could possibly…”

“We need the young master’s help. The Chairman trusts him more than anyone else.”

Seo-eun looked at him silently. Manager Kim continued.

“The Chairman is a strict man, not easily swayed. But he’s always cherished the young master—as his eldest grandson and successor. If he could mediate between the Chairman and the President, perhaps things could improve.”

After a moment of hesitation, Seo-eun carefully opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m in any position to do that.”

“Ma’am…”

“Jaehyun… He wouldn’t listen to me.”

There was bitterness in her voice. To Jaehyun, she was nothing more than a wife in name only.

“But it seems the young master cares for you quite a bit.”

Seo-eun didn’t answer. Instead, she clenched her hands tightly.

“I’ve known him since he was just a boy. I know what kind of man he is.”

“…”

“The President also holds you in high regard. He’s mentioned more than once how much he regrets how that last dinner ended.”

“Please tell him I’m sorry about that day.”

“I’ve heard the story—and I know it wasn’t your fault.”

“Still…”

Seo-eun bit her lip.

Regardless of how Jaehyun felt about them, they were still her in-laws. She wanted to show at least the basic courtesy.

That was the only reason she had agreed to this meeting.

“I came here today to tell you directly. I’m sorry, but I can’t agree to this.”

Manager Kim’s expression darkened at her refusal. She understood his disappointment, but no matter how she thought about it, this wasn’t her place to step in.

“I apologize, then…”

“Allow me to see you out.”

“No, that’s all right.”

“Then at least let me walk you to the door.”

As they stood to leave, Seo-eun had no idea what was about to happen next.

“Young Master…”

Jaehyun was suddenly there, his hand gripping Seo-eun’s arm as he stared coldly at Manager Kim. His gaze held a frigid fury unlike anything they had seen in him before. Gone was the restrained, composed man they were used to—in his place stood someone fiercely protective.

He felt like a completely different person.

And yet, that presence—those eyes—reminded Manager Kim of something from decades ago.

“So this is the future of Seowon Group…”

The first day he’d met the Chairman in his youth, that man had possessed the same eyes. An unshakable gaze that allowed no one to intrude. A will forged from steel, unwavering in its purpose to protect.

With those very eyes, the Chairman had built Seowon Group from the ground up.

Manager Kim had served Cha Jeong-do for over thirty years, but he had never once felt such a presence from him.

Now he understood why the Chairman had chosen Jaehyun—not his son—as his successor. It wasn’t just because of Cha Jeong-do’s affairs.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Manager Kim began to speak.

“Young Master, I only wished to speak briefly with the Madam—”

“That’s enough.”

“…”

“I don’t want you calling her out like this again.”

It was a warning—out of respect for the past, he would let it go this time. But there would not be a next.

Manager Kim could say no more. Under Jaehyun’s piercing gaze, he lowered his head deeply and backed away in silence.

“Jaehyun, I can explain…”

“Not now.”

Before she could finish, Jaehyun turned away. His back felt colder than ever. Seo-eun couldn’t read the emotions behind it.

It didn’t feel like just anger.

“President, Madam.”

The black sedan parked along the road came into view. As Jang Tae-soo hurriedly opened the door, Jaehyun stepped aside to let Seo-eun enter first.

With a heavy heart, she climbed into the car.

She had no idea how to explain why she had met with someone from his father’s side again.

Clack—

The door shut.

She dreaded the conversation that was to come, but she knew she couldn’t avoid it.

Silence filled the slowly moving car. Rows of trees along the road passed by outside the window.

Seo-eun clutched at her clothes tightly. Jaehyun hadn’t once looked her way.

“I thought he’d yell…”

But he said nothing. He was silent.

She knew he was sensitive about his family, but seeing him unwilling to even listen to her explanation made her feel even worse.

As he gazed out the window, Jaehyun loosened his tie with a sigh.

Family. The one thing he had sworn never to get involved with again. After his mother left, he had drawn a line—and now, all of it had come back to him.

Then he noticed Seo-eun’s pale face reflected in the rearview mirror.

He remembered the dream—the tears in her eyes. He had assumed it was because of Han Kang-sik.

But now, it hit him differently.

“It was because of me.”

From this angle, the pieces started to make sense.

Why he couldn’t stop her from crying in that dream.

Why rumors had spread of their distant relationship over the past three years.

His family had used her. It wasn’t the first time, either. He knew what his stepmother was capable of. Even without Manager Kim, they would’ve found another way to pressure her—perhaps something more underhanded.

His jaw clenched.

Had he known, yet chosen to ignore it these past three years? His mind was in turmoil. Was it helplessness, or just self-preservation?

Either way, one thing was clear:

Not anymore.

This had to stop.

“Jaehyun…”

Her soft voice stirred his fingers, just slightly. But he still didn’t turn to face her.

“I only met with Manager Kim today because…”

“You don’t need to explain.”

His cold response cut her off. Seo-eun bit her lip again.

His eyes were still fixed outside, but all of his focus was on her. This time—it was different from his mother’s case. This time, he had a choice.

Seo-eun had no idea how much time passed in his silence, only that she could feel something stirring beneath it. Something more than just anger—something deeper, heavier.

A quiet determination.

Outside, the cold wind brushed against the windows.