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Chapter 19
Lost in thought while endlessly gazing at the flowers, Eun-se wondered.
It’s unlikely to happen, but what if she and Tae-heon parted ways?
If they broke up and never saw each other again… she would miss him. She would be sad. It would hurt so much she’d feel like dying. She’d wish he would appear in her dreams, just to see him.
The Hepatica nobilis. She had only thought it was beautiful, but perhaps because of its flower language, it somehow looked sorrowful.
“In a way, that’s kind of enviable. I’m afraid my husband will appear in my dreams, kiddo.”
Suddenly, Deok-shim’s joke made Eun-se burst out laughing.
“Still, you two look so good together. I hope you live long and healthy.”
“Thanks, even if it’s just words,” Deok-shim said, clasping Eun-se’s hands and smiling broadly.
Look at me, getting all sentimental over nothing. It’s not like anything will happen.
Eun-se quickly brushed away the unnecessary thoughts.
When Eun-se and Deok-shim returned, Min-young was waiting to greet them.
“Eun-se, can I have a word with you?”
Exchanging a glance with Deok-shim, Min-young called Eun-se over.
Following Min-young, Eun-se headed to the second floor, deep into the house where Min-young and her husband’s bedroom was located.
Though called a bedroom, it was a huge space, including a living room, study, and a dress room reminiscent of a luxury store.
Min-young seated Eun-se on the sofa in the center of the dress room and disappeared inside. She reappeared holding a large box.
“Eun-se, want to see this?”
Smiling brightly, Min-young opened the box, and Eun-se’s eyes widened with curiosity.
Inside, colorful jewelry was neatly displayed—rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches. Each piece seemed to echo the vibrant flowers she had seen in the greenhouse earlier.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
“Yes. They’re really beautiful.”
Min-young picked one up and gently slipped it onto Eun-se’s hand.
“Hmm, the band’s a bit loose. But the gem is perfect, kiddo.”
Then she tilted her head and selected a necklace.
“This one should be fine. The fun is in seeing the stone up close.”
The necklace had a pendant with a subtle, intriguing color.
“Want to try it on?”
“No, it’s fun just to look at them.”
Min-young smiled cutely and held out the necklace again.
“Come on, try it. I think it will look really good on you.”
Eun-se shook her head, eyes wide.
“You don’t have to.”
“Don’t feel pressured. It’s just a stone, not a jewel.”
After a lighthearted tussle, Eun-se wore the necklace around her neck.
“See? I knew it would suit your fair skin. Wear it with pride.”
Eun-se bowed her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it and wear it carefully.”
She thought she could at least accept one piece without being too greedy.
Min-young closed the box with a satisfied look.
“I’ll give you the rest all at once. We’ll need to adjust the sizes and update the settings since they’re a bit old-fashioned.”
“Huh?”
Eun-se’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
“Y-you mean all of these?”
“Yes. Your mother and I stayed up late picking them out yesterday. They’re from when we were young.”
“One would have been enough. Giving me all of this is too much.”
“These are perfect for your age. We’re too old now to wear anything bigger.”
Eun-se’s eyes filled with tears of gratitude. She knew Min-young and Deok-shim liked her, but she hadn’t imagined they would go this far.
More than anything, the fact that she inherited pieces from her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law touched her deeply. It felt like inheriting the family’s history, a silent permission to put down roots in this home.
As she followed Min-young downstairs, she found Tae-heon standing on the landing.
Looking up, his gaze was sharp.
“Stop.”
His voice had an edge to it.
Min-young and Deok-shim accompanied her to the car.
“By the way, Eun-se, do you like musicals? We got some tickets. Do you want to go with Tae-heon?”
Eun-se glanced at Tae-heon, who was already at the car, opening the passenger door.
Dancing and singing didn’t seem like something that would suit Tae-heon at all.
Hesitant, Eun-se asked bravely:
“Would it be alright if I went with you and… with your mother and grandmother?”
“Really? You want to go with us?”
“Yes. I’d like to go together.”
They agreed to set a date later, and Eun-se bowed politely.
As they left the house, Eun-se saw Deok-shim and Min-young waving from the driveway in the rearview mirror.
Having lived with their in-laws after marriage, Min-young seemed close to them. Eun-se thought she could feel a mother-daughter-like bond between them.
I want to have a relationship like that with my mother-in-law too.
Feeling a tender longing, Eun-se let out a thin sigh.
“No need to force yourself,” Tae-heon said coldly, glancing back.
“Huh?”
“I mean you don’t have to worry about the elders. Do what you want.”
His words were firm, though somewhat enigmatic.
“From now on, we’ll only greet them on holidays. If that’s a burden, you can just call.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you don’t need to carry unnecessary burdens just because you’re marrying me.”
Eun-se looked at Tae-heon, puzzled.
“Burden? Is this about going to see the musical?”
“It’s always been this way. Walks, conversations—you don’t need to follow every little thing.”
His voice dripped with coldness.
“From now on, there’s no need to visit often. Once the meal’s done, we leave.”
“No, I truly enjoy it. I like your mother and grandmother so much.”
Tae-heon, eyes fixed ahead, frowned slightly.
“You liked it so much you came down with red eyes, huh?”
Ah. Now Eun-se understood why Tae-heon had been on edge. The tears were from being touched by all the jewelry, but he thought she’d been scolded.
Pouting, Eun-se muttered:
“You tend to overprotect me too much.”
“I’m just keeping priorities straight. To prevent your heart from being hurt.”
“What priorities exist among family?”
“Don’t get it twisted. Once we’re married, our family is just you and me. When you become independent, it’s natural to step away.”
A wave of frustration rose in her chest.
She’d sometimes overheard things at the secretary office—one newly married secretary would shudder at the word “in-laws.” One even complained all day about spinach being on the cafeteria menu.
But every case is different, isn’t it?
Moreover, Deok-shim and Min-young had welcomed her unconditionally.
So of course respect and affection had grown. She didn’t understand why Tae-heon was so determined to keep a distance from his in-laws.
“Were you just dropped from the sky or something?”
“No, that’s why we’re having meals together.”
“Wow, impressive filial devotion.”
Even when teasing him, Tae-heon didn’t react.
Still, a faint smile appeared on his lips. When they first met, Eun-se had been timid and couldn’t answer properly.
Now, seeing her speak confidently without holding back made his heart melt.
“Sometimes you treat me like a little kid, and I don’t like that,” she admitted.
Clearly, she was upset. From then on, she sank into her seat, staring out the window.
A long silence followed. Tae-heon remained focused on driving.
Soon, they neared a department store.
“If you want ice cream, we can stop by,” Tae-heon said.
Eun-se eagerly perked up.
“Gelato?”
A while back, Director Ki had brought ice cream from a popup store at a department store. Eun-se, liking sweets, had casually mentioned wanting to try it.
“You said you wanted to go before the event ended.”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Eun-se hesitated.
“You don’t like ice cream, do you?”
Without a word, Tae-heon turned the wheel and replied softly:
“I like it.”
