MBWI 09

Chapter : 09

The word wasn’t “request” but “proposal,” and somehow it felt heavy.

“What proposal?”

“Before you arrived, I discussed the situation thoroughly with Secretary Tak and considered the best way to handle it moving forward.”

“So, what’s the solution?”

“Even if we deny it here, people won’t believe us. Our scandal is exactly the kind of Cinderella story they love the most.”

“Since it’s not true, why do you care what others think?”

“I have no choice but to care about others’ opinions. If it’s alright with you, how about you becoming my bride, Ms. Oh Ga-eun?”

What nonsense is this?

Surprised, Ga-eun covered her mouth with her hands and shook her head vigorously to show it was impossible.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. And right now! Publish an article saying that Mr. Joo Seok-jin and I are nothing to each other.”

Annoyed, Ga-eun slammed the door loudly on purpose and returned to her room. She was angry that someone could suggest marriage just to cover a petty scandal.

Checking her phone, which had been left on silent, Ga-eun sighed at the flood of messages and calls.

She hesitated when seeing a call from her mother, deciding not to answer for now. The internet came first—she needed to see what was being said online.

Even though Secretary Tak had shown her some information, Ga-eun wanted to see it for herself to understand the situation accurately.

Looking at the real-time search keywords, she buried her head in her hands.

Joo Seok-jin, Joo Shin Retail, Joo Seok-jin fiancée, T Hotel, Bangkok trip, Joo Shin Hotel…

All the trending searches were related to her and Seok-jin.

Unfortunately, the scandal broke when the country was unusually quiet.

Articles kept appearing, making it seem as if their marriage was already decided.

“What? A speed wedding? Unbelievable!”

Reading an article suggesting she might marry because of pregnancy, Ga-eun angrily gulped her coffee. Not enough, she even chewed the remaining ice noisily.

“At this rate, my face will be ruined, and I won’t be able to live in Korea. Seriously, this is driving me crazy.”

• Hey! Oh Ga-eun!

Startled by the voice on the phone, Ga-eun trembled. She had accidentally answered a call from Jeong Han-gyeong.

• How can you do this to me? Marriage?

“What are you talking about?”

• You’re kidding, right? How could you become a daughter-in-law of Joo Shin Group? This joke is too much.

“I see, really long nonsense. Excuse me, Jeong Han-gyeong?”

• How can you travel with another guy while being angry at me? What kind of woman has no integrity?

Ga-eun’s frustration reached its limit. She couldn’t believe he had forgotten that he had cheated with another woman while saying such nonsense.

“Integrity, huh? You don’t have even a tiny bit! Who would you marry with Joo Seok-jin and that Han-gyeong guy around? There’s no contest—it’s not even a game.”

• Did you just say everything?

“What?”

• Class? I didn’t think you were such a snob. Pretending innocent while dating me, then acting crazy when you like Seok-jin?

“You bastard! Spread your legs? If I return to Korea, I’ll sew your filthy mouth shut with a needle! How dare you say such disgusting words to me?”

Ga-eun felt utterly disappointed in Han-gyeong, someone she had trusted most for seven years. She had never imagined he would stab her with words like that.

“Listen carefully. My late father must have sent a man like Seok-jin to protect me from lowlifes like you. He never even showed up at the funeral, so I’ll never get involved with such rotten people.”

• Hey, that’s…

“I’m now the daughter-in-law of Joo Shin Group. I’m not on the same level as someone like you, so shut your mouth.”

• You, you…!

“Try contacting me again, and I’ll make sure your life goes straight to hell. Don’t forget that!”

After hanging up, Ga-eun collapsed onto her bed and cried.

When her father passed away suddenly two years ago, Han-gyeong hadn’t attended the funeral. At the time, he said their relationship wasn’t ready to involve family matters. Ga-eun understood but the resentment from that moment remained as a wound.

After crying for a long time, Ga-eun remembered what she had said earlier:

Our Seok-jin, daughter-in-law of Joo Shin Group.

Why had she said it so carelessly?

“This is driving me crazy.”

If Han-gyeong hadn’t said things to hurt her pride, she wouldn’t have reacted so strongly.

Thinking carefully, Ga-eun realized Seok-jin needed to marry a woman urgently, perhaps even through an arranged interview. In contrast, she held the advantage now.

She remembered telling him to deny the scandal immediately. Without hesitation, she went to Seok-jin’s room and knocked.

Seok-jin appeared, and she asked breathlessly:

“About what you said earlier…”

“Come in first.”

Inside, Secretary Tak was nowhere to be seen.

“Mr. Joo Seok-jin.”
“Yes, Ms. Oh Ga-eun.”
“I’ll be the woman who marries you.”

Seok-jin didn’t show any reaction.

“May I ask why you changed your mind?”

“…I’m getting a job. As you can see, I urgently need a job.”

“Job?”

“I assume you’ll pay a salary or compensation, right? I’m not volunteering as a wife?”

“Of course not. Please, have a seat.”

Ga-eun sat, and Seok-jin went to the fridge, pulling an ice pack from the freezer.

“Did you cry?”
“Yes?”
“Your eyes are red and puffy.”

She pressed the ice pack around her eyes.

“Secretary Tak, don’t publish a correction yet. Contact the airport so we can leave for Korea immediately.”

Luckily, no corrections had been posted yet.

Seok-jin offered his hand:

“We’ll discuss details on the plane. Pack your things; we leave immediately.”

Ga-eun packed her luggage. She shook her head when thinking about calling her mother—better to explain in person in Korea.

Following Secretary Tak, they headed to the airport.

“Is this… a private jet?”

Seeing the interior like a Hollywood reality show, Ga-eun was shocked.

“I appreciate your decision to think of this as a job first, Ms. Oh Ga-eun.”
“Ah, no need to thank me. It’s mostly because I had no other choice.”

Seok-jin assured her she would receive proper payment, deposited monthly.

“My father is unique and difficult to handle. That’s also why I decided on this marriage.”
“As long as he’s not violent, it’s fine.”

“He might hurt with words and make strange demands often. Only for the sons, though.”
“Then I’ll demand hazard pay.”

Ga-eun decided to secure as much as she could for herself while being Seok-jin’s wife.

“Yes, I will do that.”
“Anything else?”
“Secretary Tak will give you detailed instructions later.”
“Then I’ll give a few points as well.”
“If it’s about pay…”
“I trust you’ll be reasonable. And if your family interferes, I can defend myself, right?”

“If your family gives trouble, then…”
“I won’t stay quiet.”