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chapter 33
“What the…”
At the sound of Yeon-seo approaching, Kang-jae, who had been lying down with his wrist pressed to his forehead, furrowed his brows deeply.
The odds were fifty-fifty.
If Seo Kang-jae didn’t take the bait, Yeon-seo would have to give up on getting into Geum Seon-ae’s room. No matter what happened later, what mattered most right now was throwing out a convincing lure.
“I got a message from Do-heon. It seems like he has something important to discuss with you, brother-in-law.”
Hiding her trembling fingertips, she spoke to Kang-jae. Her heart was pounding violently after telling the lie.
“With me? Why not just talk at home?”
“There are a lot of eyes here. He’s probably trying to be careful.”
“What would that bastard have to say to me?”
Kang-jae sounded indifferent—so much so that he barely resembled the man who had tried to strangle her earlier.
“I don’t know for sure. Maybe it’s an apology?”
Yeon-seo invented words out of impatience.
“An apology?”
“You two have never gotten along. I’m sure it’s been weighing on Do-heon’s mind.”
“Really?”
She could see his eyes waver. Just a little more—she needed to say something even more tempting.
“Maybe he wants to share the credit on the BXK business agreement. Or maybe it’s an apology for what happened at the arrival party.”
It was a reckless lie. Even she knew she had crossed a line, but she had no choice.
If one compared the weight of their wrongdoings, Yeon-seo’s were far lighter. What he had done to her bordered on conspiracy to commit a crime.
Besides, Kang-jae’s words never had any real credibility. She could simply deny it if the lie came out. Finding evidence was far more urgent than worrying about being caught in a lie.
“That bastard? Guess he’s finally come to his senses. He must’ve realized there’s nothing to gain from trampling on me.”
Yeon-seo bit the soft flesh inside her cheek. He was almost hooked.
“Where? Location.”
“Seoguk Hotel, Executive Lounge.”
Kang-jae got up slowly, brushing his hair back with his hand.
“How’s your body?”
“Sorry?”
“You were acting like you were about to die just a while ago.”
“I think I’ll be okay after some rest.”
“Really? You sure rest will fix it?”
Kang-jae licked his lips with his tongue, tilting his head. His gaze dropped to Yeon-seo’s lower abdomen—an unreadable look.
“Yes. I already feel much better.”
“Get plenty of rest. Eat a good dinner too. I can’t stand seeing you moping around this house. Don’t make me have to deal with a corpse, bad luck like that.”
“…Right. You don’t have to worry about me.”
This was not something a man who had just tried to harm her should be saying. Yeon-seo watched as Kang-jae ambled out of the living room.
When she heard the door close, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. She quickly made her way to the room used by Geum Seon-ae and Seo Jin-bae.
Someone like Seon-ae or a servant could come in at any moment, so she couldn’t linger.
She started with the vanity near the bathroom. Opening the top, she found neatly partitioned drawers. Nothing unusual—only Seon-ae’s luxury cosmetics. The drawer next to it was the same.
‘Well, if there’s anything secretive like evidence, it wouldn’t be left somewhere this obvious anyway.’
She searched the dressing room, under the bed, inside pillows—every secluded spot she could think of. No evidence.
Time was slipping by. Anxiety prickled at the thought that Chairman Seo and Seon-ae could return any moment.
There were an unusually large number of orchid pots in the room. Yeon-seo suddenly remembered her grandmother hiding house keys in flowerpots when she was a child.
Could it be? She moved to the pots and began digging through the pebbles in one of the orchid planters. Nothing.
She was about to turn away when one particular pot caught her eye. A cymbidium orchid. The pot seemed far too big for the plant.
She lifted the pot and checked inside the base.
‘Found it.’
Inside the stand was a keycard for the La Serine Hotel. Yeon-seo quickly hid the card in her hand and hurried out of the room.
Her body already felt unwell, but now she was drenched in cold sweat from her palms to her back.
That was when—
“What are you doing here?”
It was a voice she liked, but not one she wanted to hear right now. Yeon-seo looked up at the man standing before her.
“…I got a little lost.”
Do-heon stared at her without blinking. She’d thought he’d be at the office, but it looked like he’d come straight after his press conference.
“Lost? What were you looking for?”
Yeon-seo squeezed the hidden keycard tightly in her hand.
“I was in the living room and went looking for the bathroom. My stomach’s upset.”
“Is that why you left during the press conference?”
He looked faintly disappointed—like he had wanted her congratulations.
“Well, it happens. If you’re sick, get some rest.”
Then he touched his forehead lightly with his finger.
She wanted to tell him congratulations as he turned away. But if she stayed and talked any longer, he might notice the hotel keycard.
And part of her wasn’t even sure if she truly felt like congratulating him….
Shoving aside her thoughts, Yeon-seo moved quickly to the bedroom. Only after hiding the keycard inside a gray bag in the dressing room could she relax.
When could she go to the La Serine Hotel? She had to return the keycard before Seon-ae noticed it was missing.
Tonight’s dinner was a must-attend affair. She’d be with Do-heon in the evening, so the only option was to take the morning off tomorrow.
Right then Do-heon opened the door and stepped in. She flinched like a thief caught red-handed.
Why had he suddenly come here after turning away so easily just a moment ago? Did he somehow see the keycard in her hand? If so…
“You seem sick. You look different from usual.”
But his words were unexpected.
“…I feel better now. It’s just, today was so important I skipped breakfast from nerves. My stomach’s upset.”
“Really?”
Do-heon’s eyes studied her face carefully.
“Go to the hospital tomorrow morning. Cho Internal Medicine at Hakdong Intersection. My personal doctor’s there—I’ll call ahead.”
It was a relief he wasn’t suspicious. But tomorrow she absolutely had to go to the La Serine Hotel. She had to turn down his offer.
“I don’t think I can go to the office tomorrow anyway. And… I’ll just go to a nearby clinic. I think I’ll be fine after a day of rest. I don’t want to go far.”
He exhaled softly and nodded.
“Alright. Should I drive you?”
“Oh, I feel like walking. I’ll go by myself.”
“…Alright then.”
Do-heon rubbed the back of his neck, looking regretful—a far cry from his usual cold, meticulous demeanor.
Yeon-seo couldn’t help but feel pity for him.
He had once been affectionate even toward Kang-jae as a child, and after losing his mother, he had had to stand alone. She kept wanting to comfort him.
No matter what her own feelings were.
She took a step closer to him, looking up.
“And… congratulations. On your success.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
“Did I play my role well? Did I help you get what you wanted?”
Do-heon’s eyes flickered with some strange confusion. Normally he’d have evaluated her coldly, without a moment’s hesitation. Why now…
“If you hadn’t? Would you show more enthusiasm even now?”
But then he smiled softly as if nothing had happened.
“Tell me in what way you fell short.”
His large hand came to rest gently on top of her head. Time seemed to slow in that moment.
“You’ve done well, Woo Yeon-seo.”
At the sudden compliment, her gaze darted about. She’d never imagined he would praise her. It felt strange.
“Sometimes… even knowing it was just for the contract, I still found myself drawn in.”
His fingers slowly traced her lips.
The words were loaded with meaning. She knew she shouldn’t hope—but just once she wanted to ask. Had he ever, even once, longed for her too…?
