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~Chapter 98~
Mari felt a pleasant curiosity as she curtsied to the man greeting her politely.
‘Isn’t this the man I saw at the debutante ball?’
He was probably the second son of a viscount’s family.
Among the many young men trying to show interest and ask her to dance, he was one of the few who kept a cool, indifferent expression.
She remembered watching him from the moment their eyes met, wondering when he would ask her to dance.
He had danced with a few young ladies—mainly those standing along the wall, the unpopular ones.
‘Is he the type with more compassion than ambition?’
Mari lifted her head, tightening her lips.
“Lady Mari Hern of Baron Hern’s family. I’m glad to meet you, Sir Damian.”
Ding—
An in-flight announcement sounded.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing turbulence. Please check your seat belts once again. Service will resume when the air stabilizes. Ladies and gentlemen—”
The peaceful flight suddenly shook violently.
Mrs. Kim Si-eom’s face turned pale as they hit turbulence.
Though she had flown many times, she had never experienced such shaking.
Her eldest son, Hwang Byung-min, read her expression and gently patted her tense hand.
“Mom, it’s okay. Planes hit turbulence all the time. Accidents won’t happen, really.”
But her ears were deaf to reason.
“Byung-min, you have your belt on? And Sung-min? Did you fasten your belt?”
Their seating order was Mrs. Kim, eldest son Byung-min, second son Hwang Sung-min, and the manager.
From his seat, eyes half-closed, Sung-min replied lazily,
“It’s on, don’t worry.”
From beside him, the manager’s energetic voice followed.
“Ma’am! I put mine on too, just so you wouldn’t worry!”
“Oh, oh, good job.”
‘She answered even though I didn’t ask her.’
Mrs. Kim momentarily forgot about the turbulence, glancing slyly at the manager sitting next to her younger son.
Sensing her gaze, the manager smiled warmly—full of gratitude for being brought on the trip.
‘Did I make a mistake?’
She wasn’t sure if seating the manager next to her son had been right.
After all, she had been the one to invite the manager on this trip.
Sung-min had desperately wanted to travel with Da-in.
Even when Da-in had refused, saying she was too busy, he booked four seats anyway, thinking maybe she’d finish her work in time—or that the high cancellation fee would push her to join.
“If she doesn’t want to go, why force it? We can just go without her!”
“……”
His flushed face had avoided answering.
Unable to easily handle his wife—how pathetic.
She thought bitterly: After all I’ve done raising Byung-min and Sung-min, that girl without parents dares to treat my son like this!
“I told you I didn’t like her! Without parents, she grew up ignorant—what could she possibly know? That’s why she treats her husband and in-laws so lightly!”
“Mom.”
“Come on, Sung-min. Tell me, what should I do? This time, I’ll—”
“Please, just stay out of it. Da-in and I will handle it ourselves. We’re a married couple.”
“……”
Though she didn’t speak, she had no intention of staying out of it.
What could he handle? I’ve lived decades longer—when I get involved, things move smoothly.
Her idea: invite the manager—who always looked at her son with longing eyes—instead of Da-in.
At the airport, her gentle son had been aghast when he realized this.
“Boss, ma’am said this was a gift for my hard work. But… should I just go home? Don’t you think I work hard? I’ve always admired you… I just wanted to help…”
“Why are you making the young lady cry? You’re terrible, aren’t you, Yoon-ji?”
“If you don’t want me here, I’ll go home, it’s fine…”
“Where are you going? Sung-min, what are you doing? Yoon-ji’s tearing up.”
“……”
And so, here they were on the plane.
The second son answered briefly when spoken to, otherwise staying silent.
“Boss! How about here? Isn’t it amazing? I couldn’t sleep last night, I was so excited. Let’s go!”
“We have to plan around my mother’s schedule.”
“Oh, right. But I’d be happy anywhere. Oh? Boss, your belt’s too loose—let me fix it.”
“I’ll do it. Leave it.”
“…Okay.”
Her sweet voice and his curt tone alternated beside her.
Mrs. Kim peeked and saw her son’s face stiffly turned forward.
‘He’s just too kind…’
She believed he was like this out of guilt toward Da-in.
Whether Da-in was there or not, she made people uncomfortable—and Mrs. Kim had never liked her.
If a man is too good-looking, and the woman doesn’t try, he’ll eventually look elsewhere.
And if the friendly manager kept showing affection, he’d realize—
—that Da-in was lacking, and that he had other choices.
‘Sometimes, a wife needs to see her husband look at another woman to wake up.’
She stifled a chuckle at the thought of Da-in panicking over the threat of divorce.
But she never truly intended for them to divorce—just to teach Da-in a lesson.
Casting her eyes to the end seat, she saw Yoon-ji still glued to her son’s side, smiling brightly since the airport.
What university was it again?
Not like Da-in’s prestigious Seoul alma mater.
Her income was nothing compared to Da-in’s either.
Aside from being young and somewhat pretty, Yoon-ji had nothing—and likely never would.
So a shock treatment was the only way to “fix” Da-in.
Mrs. Kim smiled again, imagining a docile daughter-in-law upon their return.
“Mom, why do you keep smiling to yourself? Share it with me.”
“Oh~ Only my son cares how I feel. I’m smiling because I’m happy. I hope this year brings you happiness too.”
She meant marriage for her eldest son—nearly forty now.
Byung-min turned sharply.
“Yoon-ji, don’t you have any pretty friends?”
The manager looked briefly startled, then smiled.
“Pretty friends? How pretty? I need a standard.”
“If she’s as pretty as you, that’s good. Fair-skinned, a little plump… you know?”
“Oh… yes… I think my older sister might—”
“Not your sister. A friend.”
“Haha, alright.”
Mrs. Kim remembered Da-in’s reaction to this same question from her eldest.
“Brother-in-law, you’re almost 40.”
‘This manager may have nothing, but she’s at least sweet.’
Still, far from daughter-in-law material.
By now, Da-in must be regretting not coming along.
Just then—
Whoosh!
The plane suddenly dropped.
“Kyaaah!”
Someone screamed.
The plane began falling endlessly.
“Byung-min! Sung-min!”
In that moment, Mrs. Kim thought of Da-in—her guarded eyes whenever she was forced to answer shortly.
‘If we all die here, my wealth will go to her! No way! I won’t die! My sons won’t be taken!’
“Not my sons!”
Bang!
Red flames rose before her unclosing eyes.
‘I was right.’
Riden confirmed her suspicions as she saw Mari’s bright expression at Damian.
While they exchanged greetings, footsteps approached outside.
Another newcomer peeked in but didn’t enter.
‘I’ve seen him somewhere…’
“Lady Hern?”
“Oh! Sorry, did you wait?”
Peeking through the door, he greeted everyone awkwardly.
Only then did Riden recall his name from the debutante ball.
‘Isn’t that the man Adele likes?’
She blinked repeatedly, unable to believe the situation.
Mari glanced back reluctantly, then approached him.
“I just stopped by for something I forgot. I hope to see you again.”
Hadn’t Mari promised Adele she’d help and stick with her?
Now she was on a date with the man Adele liked?
