🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 14
‘Maybe it’s not that he prefers slim women… maybe that’s why he keeps feeding me like this.’
She could see him watching her with an expression like he was feeding an animal. And even then, that overly handsome face somehow got on her nerves.
Suddenly, the warmth she’d felt last night over a simple bowl of ox bone soup melted away like snow.
‘This man isn’t taking care of me out of concern.’
She began to think it was simply because her thin body didn’t suit his taste, that she didn’t look like a “happy wife.” The thought made her chest tighten, her breath catch.
Yeonseo almost choked as she forced down the ribs and rice he had given her.
Her trembling hand grabbed the glass of cold water nearby and she downed it in one gulp, soothing her burning stomach while pretending nothing was wrong.
In contrast, Doheon sat with his chin propped on his hand, simply watching her eat.
“Daughter-in-law. I have something to say.”
Chairman Seo set down his spoon and chopsticks, calling for Yeonseo. His tone carried the weight of something serious.
“Yes, Grandfather. Please go ahead.”
She swallowed the food in her mouth and answered.
“As you know, I plan to hand over Seoguk to Doheon. For that, you, too, shouldn’t just stay at home. You need to learn some work!”
“Work…?”
“Yes. I can’t just seat someone with no experience in a high position. There would be too much internal backlash, and it wouldn’t be good for the company either. For now, I want you to work alongside Doheon as his secretary and learn.”
‘Then I’ll lose time I could use to find out more about Geum Sun-ae…’
Her heart clenched with unease. She couldn’t give the Chairman a proper answer right away. At the same time, she wondered if Sun-ae had avoided this meal precisely because of this topic.
“You did well in school, didn’t you? I’ve heard it plenty from Yoon-seon. Whenever I asked, she’d brag about you with the happiest face….”
He chuckled, recalling Yeonseo’s grandmother.
“As long as you do well and work diligently, I’ll give you a good position. Think about what role would suit you best, alright?”
But this wasn’t something she could refuse, even if she disliked it. Yeonseo quietly nodded.
“Yes.”
“Doheon, make sure you teach her well. Don’t go easy on her just because she’s your wife—learn to separate public and private matters.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Doheon didn’t argue either. He shifted his gaze to Yeonseo and said, almost like giving her an order:
“Start going to work next week. I’ll have clothes suitable for the office sent over through the shopper.”
Yeonseo only nodded silently.
The Chairman raised his hand again, as if there was something more.
“And Kangjae will be arriving today. He left last night.”
The name caught her off guard. When she had studied the Seo family, she had only found two short lines about Seo Kang-jae.
Doheon’s indifferent tone from before resurfaced in her mind:
‘Seo Kang-jae. My only half-brother. He’s learning the ropes in America. He’s also the reason Madam Geum is wary of me.’
“I see.”
Though Doheon’s voice remained flat, a subtle shift crossed his face.
“I’ll be taking my leave now, Grandfather.”
He set down his chopsticks and rose to his feet.
As expected, the meal had been anything but comfortable. Yeonseo bowed slightly and followed him out.
Dawn was breaking outside.
The clock had already passed noon.
‘I guess I won’t be able to stay at Myungseonjae during weekdays… since the family members will all be out. That would’ve been the best time to snoop around.’
Yeonseo paced in the garden of Myungseonjae.
‘Should I tell him I can’t do it now?’
The Chairman was kind to her, not without affection—maybe he’d understand.
‘No. I have to do as the contract says.’
In this contractual relationship, she was clearly the subordinate. She had the duty to play her role until his goals were achieved.
She didn’t even want to imagine how he’d react if she were the one to break the deal.
‘But what if, in the end, I don’t discover anything at all?’
That familiar unease welled up again. She needed to uncover something about Geum Sun-ae before actually starting work at the company.
“Mm, I’m heading out now. Let’s meet at the usual place.”
It was Sun-ae’s voice.
Panicked, Yeonseo quickly ducked toward the backyard. Tilting her head slightly, she caught a glimpse of Sun-ae, hair pinned up, dressed in a white coat, walking out the gate.
“I really love it. Your taste is just unmatched. Should I get an oil massage today?”
Her sharp, clear voice rang out. Yeonseo thought she looked happier than she had ever seen her before.
‘This is it.’
Her heart thumped wildly.
She had a strong feeling that following Sun-ae would finally get her some answers.
Without a plan, Yeonseo trailed after her. Contrary to her expectation that a driver would bring the car around, Sun-ae simply walked past the entrance.
Soon, a taxi pulled up, and Sun-ae slid into the back seat. Yeonseo grew restless, fearing she’d lose her.
She stamped her feet, searching frantically for another cab. Luckily, one approached from a distance.
The car looked far too expensive to be a regular taxi, but she didn’t care—she flagged it down. Normally, she’d never have wasted money like this.
“Please, follow that taxi closely!”
The driver said nothing, but sped after Sun-ae’s cab. Within moments, they were right behind it, keeping pace in a heated pursuit.
Yeonseo’s eyes never left the taxi ahead.
‘Where on earth is she going?’
She couldn’t tell. But as they left Seoul and drifted toward the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province, a sense of dread washed over her.
She began to regret her choice—maybe she had acted recklessly, following blindly out of anxiety without even knowing the destination.
Just as she was about to check her phone for their exact location, the driver spoke:
“She’s stopping here.”
The taxi carrying Sun-ae had vanished from view, but Yeonseo spotted her walking toward a building.
“Thank you. Could you wait here for me? I’ll be quick.”
“Of course.”
She hurriedly paid and stepped out.
Above the building’s upper floors, a sign read LAESERIN HOTEL. Its shabby exterior and low profile didn’t match Sun-ae at all. The garden out front was barren, making Yeonseo wonder if the place was even operating.
‘Why would she come somewhere like this?’
Still glancing around nervously, she slipped quickly through the entrance.
Sun-ae was already gone. Looking around, Yeonseo noticed the elevator was stopping at the 12th floor. If she had vanished from the lobby so suddenly, she must have gotten in there.
Yeonseo pressed the button quickly. Her chest pounded as the elevator rose. If Sun-ae was still in the hallway, they could run into each other. Her cover would be blown.
She squeezed her eyes shut, stamping her feet anxiously.
‘Please….’
A chime announced the 12th floor, and the heavy doors opened.
The hallway stretched out, carpeted with a worn geometric pattern. Dust floated in the air with every step. Red-tinted walls and brass lighting hinted at the hotel’s age.
Thankfully, Sun-ae was nowhere in sight. Yeonseo stood alone.
There were twelve rooms in total. Could she really figure out which one Sun-ae had gone into? For a moment, she considered leaving—but it felt like too good an opportunity to waste.
‘I might never get another chance like this.’
She paced the hallway, then pulled out her phone.
‘If it’s Geum Sun-ae, she’d pick the biggest, best room in a place like this.’
She searched the hotel on a booking site.
“Laeserin Hotel.” The same name she’d seen at the entrance popped up, along with the barren garden and run-down photos.
She tapped on today’s date to check the bookings.
‘…Every other floor is empty, but this one is fully booked?’
Curious, she checked dates months ahead. Then she noticed something strange.
‘The 12th floor is fully booked for the next three months….’
Even on days when the rest of the hotel was practically vacant, the 12th floor was completely taken.
Could it be that the entire 12th floor was reserved by Geum Sun-ae? But why? For what purpose?
An unshakable intuition stabbed at her mind.
