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Chapter 24
“…Fine. To you, it might look like I’ve only ever walked an easy, straight path. You might arrogantly assume that I’ve never known lack or hardship.”
Ju-young suppressed her emotions as much as she could. She spoke with her jaw clenched, fists tightened so hard her nails dug into her palms.
But controlling the emotions that were violently seesawing inside her was no easy task.
“You know, though? I’ve spent my entire life having everything taken from me by people like you.”
Family, childhood, youth, life—and…
My mother.
“So all I have left are a few paltry memories, just that one thing. And you’re trying to take even that away from me.”
“……”
“I’m selfish?”
A scoff slipped through her teeth.
The surging emotions gradually settled, and Ju-young looked at Hye-na with flat eyes, devoid even of anger.
“You’re the greedy one.”
Not knowing your place.
How dare you.
“Let’s meet again next time, CEO Bae. Get home safely—and you too, Ju-young.”
Behind the lowered window, Choi Kwon-yong smiled warmly.
Go Hye-na, seated beside him, was smiling as well, but she couldn’t completely hide her irritation.
Soon, the sedan carrying Choi Kwon-yong and Go Hye-na pulled away.
Ju-young waited until it exited the underground parking lot, then lightly kicked Seong-hun’s ankle.
Seong-hun let out a flat, emotionless cry.
“Ah.”
It was ridiculous. If this was how it was going to be, he shouldn’t have opened his mouth at all.
“Follow me.”
“No. Let’s take my car today.”
“…Suit yourself.”
Ju-young followed Seong-hun to his car.
Once the two of them got into the back seat, Secretary Yoon—who had been waiting in the car—stepped outside and stood at a distance.
“Why did you come to the department store? Did you know Chairman Arden was coming and came because of that? No—whether you knew or not doesn’t matter anymore. If you were going to come, isn’t it basic courtesy to contact me in advance?”
“As I said, I went to buy a gift for you, Ms. Choi Ju-young. I didn’t know Chairman Arden would be there, and if I contacted you in advance, wouldn’t that make it not a surprise anymore?”
Despite the rapid-fire questions, Seong-hun answered calmly, without panic.
“But the gift was just something extra. The real reason I went was because I had a favor to ask.”
…See? I knew there was a reason.
“If you had a favor, you could’ve called or made an appointment. How could you just show up at the department store unannounced?”
“I did raise your sales, didn’t I?”
“……”
“I spent quite a bit of money at your department store today. Much more than you’re probably imagining.”
“That’s…”
Ju-young couldn’t argue with that.
According to Secretary Shin’s report, Seong-hun had purchased a high-jewelry necklace and earring set from a French luxury brand.
The total ran into the hundreds of millions—enough to easily buy an apartment in the provinces.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“So what’s the favor? If you showed this much sincerity, there must be a reason to match.”
“Go to Jeju with me next week.”
Seong-hun took out a tablet from the pocket behind the front seat and handed it to Ju-young.
On the screen was an event proposal titled Private Art & Wine, headlined by painter Kim Sae-rok.
The venue was the Jeju Seong-un Hotel, the duration—
“A one-night, two-day schedule.”
A one-night, two-day luxury event for VIPs at the Jeju Seong-un Hotel.
Which meant Chairman Bae Seong-won and his wife Min Yu-young would be attending—and also meant individual rooms couldn’t be booked.
“So… you’re asking me to share a room with you?”
If an active couple used separate rooms, people would find it strange.
Especially for a famously affectionate couple like Bae Seong-won and Min Yu-young.
“To be precise—one room, one bed.”
Seong-hun curled his lips into a smile. It was the classic ‘you can’t spit at a smiling face’ strategy.
But Ju-young was the type who could spit even at a smiling face, depending on the situation.
“I’ll refund you. Where are the items you bought and the receipt?”
“The items were sent to my family home, and I tore up the receipt.”
“Normally, refunds without receipts aren’t allowed, but just this once, I’ll use my authority as the owner to process it.”
“Isn’t that what people usually call an abuse of power?”
“…Fine. I’ll go with you.”
Kim Sae-rok is a master of Korean abstract art who holds the record for the highest auction price in the country, and it’s been ten years since his last work was unveiled.
With many speculating that he’d retired, the mere fact that a new piece would be revealed was already a huge issue in the art world.
And at the Seong-un Hotel? That meant the Seong-un Group was fully backing this as a VIP event.
In other words, as the girlfriend of Bae Seong-hun—the representative of Seong-un Hotel—Choi Ju-young had to attend.
“On one condition. Your sleeping spot is the sofa. If you don’t like it, get a refund.”
“No, let’s agree on that.”
Seong-hun seemed to realize it was an unreasonable request and didn’t push further.
Instead, he exchanged a look with Secretary Yoon standing at a distance, silently giving instructions.
Secretary Yoon opened the trunk and brought over a paper shopping bag.
“I’m not a baby bird. If you’re feeding me—”
“It’s not food. It’s a gift.”
“……”
“I told you—I bought something for you as well, while I was at it. Open it.”
Seong-hun gestured toward the brand logo printed on the bag.
It was the logo of the luxury brand he’d visited last with Chairman Arden.
So he really did buy a gift?
Ju-young eyed him suspiciously, then opened the bag and took out the box inside.
Inside were low-heeled shoes.
Ju-young immediately understood why he’d chosen low heels.
It was the same reasoning as what he’d said during dinner.
“It’s cute how you’re not honest with your feelings. Like a drenched kitten.”
Bae Seong-hun, you really are…
Without realizing it, Ju-young bit down hard on her lower lip. A surge of uncontrollable emotion made her body tremble.
She opened the back door and threw the box—with the shoes still inside—out of the car.
Seong-hun shouted.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“You think you’ve got all my weaknesses in the palm of your hand right now? Sorry, but compared to your weaknesses, mine are nothing. Got that?”
“What weakness? What do you even know about me?”
“Bae Seong-hun, you—”
Emotion overpowered reason.
Neither anger nor anxiety, but some nameless feeling drove Ju-young to act impulsively.
“You’re adopted.”
“……”
“You’re not the biological child of Chairman Bae Seong-won and Madam Min Yu-young.”
Silence fell.
Inside the narrow car, not even the faintest sound of breathing could be heard.
“…Ha. So you finally opened the box.”
Seong-hun let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair. The carefully styled hair, shaped by professionals, fell into disarray.
“Didn’t I tell you not to cross the line? Or no—weren’t you the one who brought it up first, Ms. Choi Ju-young?”
“That’s right. I told you not to cross the line over and over, yet you cross it every single time, Mr. Bae Seong-hun.”
“What line? I look out for your health, and you get all worked up on your own, bristling like that, and wrap it up vaguely as ‘crossing a line’?”
“Watch your choice of words!”
“I’ve always been this kind of bastard.”
At close range, Seong-hun’s pitch-black eyes stared straight at Ju-young, gradually clouding over.
As if veiled by thick cigarette smoke, the light drained from his eyes.
“You didn’t not know.”
“That’s right. I knew. I chose Bae Seong-hun knowing exactly what kind of person you are.”
“No. You don’t know. You don’t know who I am, how far I can go, or exactly where you stand.”
“Bae Seong—kya!”
Her body twisted.
It all happened in an instant.
