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Chapter: 6
Marriage Contract (1)
Bora stepped into the lobby of Kangsan Construction’s headquarters with slightly nervous steps.
“Wow… it’s really huge.”
Even from the outside, the building radiated overwhelming scale, but once she stepped inside, the luxurious and spacious interior made her gasp in admiration.
“I—I have an appointment with the CEO.”
When she spoke to the front desk staff on the left side of the lobby, the employee smiled kindly and immediately made a phone call.
Then the staff stood up and personally escorted Bora to the elevator leading directly to the CEO’s office.
“This elevator goes straight up to the CEO’s office on the 28th floor.”
“Oh, thank you.”
The desk staff, who bowed politely as they left, wore a perfectly wrinkle-free suit.
“Is this what big corporations are like…? Everyone looks perfect.”
Bora exhaled in awe at everything and stepped into the elevator.
“Is my makeup too much?”
She had always worn nude-toned makeup, so the tiny glitter under her eyes felt a bit excessive today.
Looking at the large mirrors on both sides of the elevator, she quickly adjusted her clothes one last time.
Ding.
As the heavy doors slid open, a luxurious marble hallway came into view at a glance.
Click, click—her heels echoed every time she stepped forward.
“I’m here to see CEO Han Kangyoon.”
After walking down the hallway and entering through the glass automatic doors, a secretary seated at the entrance stood up and greeted her.
“Hello. The CEO has been waiting for you.”
Then the secretary immediately knocked on the closed office door.
“Sir, your guest has arrived.”
“Tell them to come in.”
“Please go in. What would you like to drink? Coffee, tea, juice, or if you prefer a specific brand, I can go get it.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. Just cold water is enough.”
“Yes, understood.”
The secretary bowed respectfully and opened the office door for her.
Bora also bowed in return and stepped inside.
As soon as she entered the office, she heard a familiar low voice.
“You made it here. Good job.”
“It’s nothing. It’s still within Seoul.”
She said that, but in truth she had transferred subway lines twice, and her throat was slightly dry.
Gas prices had skyrocketed, so she had been leaving her car at home for months now.
Her growing financial deficit was suffocating her so much that she might even have to sell it, but it was the first car she had ever bought with her own money, so she had left it parked safely without the heart to sell it.
“Let’s sit first.”
Han Kangyoon, who had been sitting at a mahogany desk facing a large window, stood up and walked toward the sofa.
‘Why does he walk like that?’
It was just a normal walk, but sunlight pouring through the window framed him perfectly from behind.
He looked like a model walking a runway, and Bora’s lips parted slightly in a daze.
“Why are you staring? Is something on my face?”
Startled by her expression, Kangyoon awkwardly touched his chin.
“Huh? No, not at all.”
At that moment, the secretary entered and placed a glass of cold water with lemon in front of Bora, and a cup filled with a pitch-black liquid in front of Kangyoon.
“What is that? Coffee?”
It looked too dark—almost like poison—for coffee, so Bora stared at it curiously.
“I’m not sure what it is, but they say it’s medicinal.”
“You’re drinking something you don’t even know?”
“I assume it’s not something meant to kill me.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“My aunt made it for my older brother and me.”
“…Ah.”
He said a housekeeper delivered herbal medicine packets every morning to be heated and brought to him.
Bora recalled how she used to have weak bronchial tubes as a child and had taken herbal medicine for years.
It had been so bitter she used to throw a fit every time she had to take it.
She glanced at Kangyoon, who drank the herbal medicine in one go without even changing his expression, then took a sip of cold water herself.
The cool liquid slid down her throat, finally easing her dryness.
“Then shall we start drafting the contract?”
“Ah, yes.”
Right. The reason Bora came to Kangyoon’s company was to draw up a marriage contract.
It was difficult to talk privately outside due to too many watching eyes, so his office was the most suitable place.
“I’ve drafted a rough framework. Read it and let’s revise anything you want to change or add.”
“Okay.”
Bora took the paper he handed her.
〈Marriage Contract〉
This contract concerns the marital relationship and is executed by mutual agreement between Han Kangyoon and Yoon Bora.
Article 1 (Contract Period)
The contract period is three years from the date of signing. If it is terminated before three years due to unavoidable reasons, the party responsible for termination shall bear the damages.
Article 2 (Contract Details)
A. During the contract period, Han Kangyoon will take over all of Yoon Bora’s debt under his own name and ensure there are no obstacles to her business operations.
B. Yoon Bora will do her best as a daughter-in-law to Han Taesoo (grandfather) and Jin Hyunsook (aunt). She will also gather as much information as possible regarding Han Kangyoon’s biological mother and his entire life history from birth to the present.
C. Han Kangyoon and Yoon Bora must not allow anyone to discover that this marriage is contractual. Therefore, they must maintain a perfectly happy married life that appears completely real.
D. Both parties will act as partners to the best of their ability and respect each other.
Article 3 (Consultation and Adjustment)
This contract must be strictly observed to maintain the marriage. It may be added to, deleted, or amended through mutual agreement as needed.
Article 4 (Contract Termination)
This contract ends after three years. If both parties wish to continue, they will renegotiate based on this document.
Bora scanned the cleanly written document several times.
“Hmm… everything looks good, but shouldn’t the exact amount of financial support you’ll provide be written more clearly?”
“Good point. We’ll calculate that precisely and add it later.”
“And my role feels a bit too vague. Compared to what you’re paying, it kind of feels like I’m getting off easy…”
Bora’s eyebrows drooped slightly.
Kangyoon quietly watched her profile as she read the contract.
Her long eyelashes fluttered, the glitter under her eyes sparkling like tears. Her straight nose and refined profile made her face look strikingly three-dimensional.
‘No wonder Han Kangmun is obsessed with her.’
Jin Hyunsook hadn’t told Han Kangmun yet. Every time Kangyoon appeared, Kangmun jokingly asked, “How’s it going with that blind date girl?”
If he knew Kangyoon had actually gone on that blind date with Bora, he would’ve lost his mind. The fact that he hadn’t reacted at all meant he likely didn’t know anything yet.
‘I wonder what kind of chaos he’ll cause when he finds out I’m marrying her.’
Unlike Kangmun, who always got whatever he wanted since childhood, Kangyoon would give up even something he wanted if Kangmun asked for it.
He had learned early that provoking Kangmun meant disrupting his place in the family.
And now, for the first time, he was about to take something Kangmun wanted.
Just that fact alone made his heart race.
How satisfying it would be to see Kangmun explode in anger.
And if he found out that Jin Hyunsook arranged this blind date, it would be even worse.
A faint smile curled on Kangyoon’s lips.
“Also… hey, are you listening?”
Bora waved her hand in front of his face.
“Oh—yes. Sorry, I was just thinking about work.”
It was a lie, but Bora simply nodded as if to say, “That happens.”
“Then let’s proceed like that and sign the contract?”
“Ah. I didn’t write everything yet. There’s something we need to discuss.”
“What is it?”
Bora pressed a hand lightly against her stomach.
She had skipped breakfast due to nerves about coming here, and her stomach was starting to growl.
She spoke louder on purpose, hoping he didn’t hear it.
“Even if this is a contract marriage, we’ll be living in the family home. There will be dozens of eyes and ears there.”
“Right… I’ll make sure no one finds out it’s a contract marriage. Then should we decide how we address each other? We can’t keep calling each other Mr. Han Kangyoon and Ms. Yoon Bora forever.”
“Good idea. Honey, darling… things like that?”
“Yeah… honey, darling… it’s embarrassing, but we probably should call each other that after marriage.”
“Right. We’ll think about that. But more importantly… even if this is a contract and we’re just fulfilling mutual needs, there’s one major part of married life we should take care of.”
“A major part of married life?”
For a moment, Bora’s face turned completely pale.
“Don’t tell me… you mean that… that thing?”
