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Chapter 11
Dressed in an elegant beige skirt suit—the kind one would wear to a blind date—Sinhye’s entire body ached after sitting on a plane for so many hours.
She felt like she was dying from the discomfort, but she had endured it all for this very moment.
Hajun had never once paid attention to her no matter how beautifully she dressed.
Yet now he was marrying a woman he’d met only once through a matchmaking meeting.
It had been a tremendous shock.
So she guessed that the woman must have a completely different image from hers, and even copied her style of clothing before chasing after him.
At first, Hajun didn’t recognize her.
Only after a moment did he reply,
“Ah, right. Hamin’s friend.”
Seeing him finally react to her, Sinhye beamed.
“Yes! Oppa. I used to visit your house sometimes. Do you remember me?”
“I do.”
As he nodded, her mood brightened even further.
“I heard your company will be going public soon. Please congratulate your father for me.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Lately, everyone she met tried to flatter her by bringing up her company’s IPO.
Normally she found it tiresome since it had little to do with her personally, but hearing those words from Hajun filled her with joy.
At this point, isn’t my status almost on par with that heiress from Taeon Hotel?
“I’m here on vacation. Are you here on a business trip, Oppa?”
“Yes.”
He lifted his wrist to check his watch.
Even that simple gesture looked unbelievably attractive.
I’ve never seen a man in the world who looks this good in a suit.
The more I look at him, the more I want him.
“So… which hotel are you staying at? This trip was very spontaneous, so I haven’t booked a place yet. It’s my first time in this city.”
Naturally, she asked where he was staying.
She had managed to learn the dates of his business trip and flight schedule through Hamin, but finding out his hotel had been much harder.
“I’d like to stay somewhere nice. Could you help me? Please, Oppa.”
No matter what, she intended to stay in the same hotel.
She would make Hajun fall for her.
Hamin had told her that Hajun was so indifferent to his fiancée that he hadn’t even helped her choose a wedding dress.
If that was true, it wouldn’t take much for cracks to appear in their relationship.
After all, it was nothing more than a marriage of convenience.
Eventually, he’ll become completely obsessed with me.
Thinking that, she looked at him with the innocent eyes of a younger sister.
Hajun turned to the secretary beside him.
“Please make a hotel reservation for Hamin’s friend.”
Inside, Sinhye rejoiced.
People always say you never know what will happen until the moment the bride and groom walk into the wedding hall.
She bit her lip lightly to hide the smile that threatened to spread across her face.
***
Eunjae arrived at a famous restaurant with Migyeong and Hamin.
It was a Michelin two-star restaurant run by a chef who had appeared on a popular cooking competition show.
Migyeong had been eager to dine there, and Eunjae had finally managed to secure a reservation.
She was relieved that she could treat her future in-laws—who had helped with everything from her dowry preparations to choosing her wedding dress—to a wonderful meal.
After shopping for furniture with Migyeong, Hamin had joined them to help pick out the wedding dress.
Truthfully, Eunjae had wanted Hajun to choose the dress himself.
Unfortunately, his prearranged business trip overlapped with the rushed wedding preparations.
Of course, they could have waited until he returned to Korea.
But she’d heard he was already swamped with work because of the hastily arranged wedding.
She didn’t want to burden someone who already had so much on his plate.
Even so…
She had hoped he would at least see her wearing the dress.
Fortunately, Hamin had volunteered to take pictures and send them to him.
Trying on dress after dress at her future family’s request had been far more exhausting than she’d expected.
Still, just imagining Hajun seeing them and reacting made her secretly excited.
Before dinner, while washing her hands in the restroom, Eunjae cautiously spoke to Hamin, who was beside her.
“Did… Hajun happen to reply?”
“Huh?”
“I mean… you said you were going to send him pictures of the wedding dresses…”
“Oh.”
Hamin answered casually.
“I never sent them. I was already exhausted enough taking care of you all day. Did you seriously expect me to? We already picked the dress anyway.”
“Oh… I-I’m sorry. I was just wondering which dress Mr. Hajun would think looked the prettiest…”
“Listen, Sister-in-law.”
Seeing Eunjae looking at her with innocent eyes, Hamin let out an exasperated sigh.
Her parents had repeatedly told her to address Eunjae as “Sister-in-law,” so she did.
But she had never liked the fact that her sister-in-law was actually younger than she was.
Part of it was because her close friend was in love with Hajun.
But there was more.
She hated the way Eunjae always wore such graceful expressions, as though she were somehow more mature than everyone else.
She also couldn’t stand the way she innocently said and did things like this.
“My brother hates being bothered while he’s working. And if he’d wanted to see your wedding dress that badly, he would’ve texted you himself. The fact that he hasn’t contacted you and you’re asking me instead? Doesn’t that just mean he isn’t interested?”
It was obvious Eunjae had feelings for Hajun.
Watching her expression change with every word was strangely entertaining.
“It’s an arranged marriage, so stop acting like it’s a love marriage. Don’t bother someone who’s busy working. Mom would say the same thing.”
“…”
“Didn’t my brother tell you? He doesn’t like clingy people. Even if there’s no love, at least be considerate during your marriage. I’m giving you advice as someone who’s lived a little longer than you. I’m the older one, after all.”
“…Yes.”
Still washing her hands under the cold water, Eunjae quietly turned off the faucet.
Watching Hamin click her tongue and leave the restroom, Eunjae pressed a hand against her tight chest.
Was I being thoughtless?
She felt as though she’d made a mistake in front of the very people whose approval she desperately wanted.
They hadn’t even started dinner yet, but her chest already felt painfully heavy.
I’ll just have to try harder from now on.
If I do, maybe Hamin and I will become closer… and my future family will come to like me more.
After drying her hands, Eunjae took out her phone and reread the messages her father had sent.
Wow! It’s finally sinking in that my daughter is really getting married.
Every one of those dresses suits you beautifully. You look just like an angel.
I think Dress No. 3 suits you best. It shows your graceful shoulders without revealing too much, and your waist looks especially elegant.
How about we practice your walk down the aisle tonight? Seeing you in that beautiful wedding dress must’ve improved my health—I’m feeling especially great today!
Eunjae rubbed the bridge of her nose.
Her father seemed to understand how disappointed she was that Hajun couldn’t be there.
It felt as though he was deliberately saying kind things to cheer her up.
The thought made her eyes sting.
Suddenly…
She wanted to hear even a few words from Hajun as well.
Would he hate it if I contacted him?
Was Hamin right? Was I just bothering him?
Still… he’s going to be my husband.
Surely this much is okay.
After hesitating with her phone in hand, she carefully called Hajun.
Beep… Beep…
The longer the ringing continued, the drier her mouth became.
He won’t be angry that I called out of nowhere… will he?
Or… maybe he was waiting for me to contact him too?
Remembering the intense way he’d looked at her when they kissed inside the car, she found herself hoping to hear that deep, warm voice again.
Her anticipation grew with every passing second.
But when the ringing finally stopped…
It wasn’t Hajun’s pleasant voice that answered.
Instead, an automated message informed her that he was unavailable.
Naturally, her tense shoulders slumped.
“Ah…”
A disappointed sigh escaped her lips, crushing the fluttering excitement she’d been carrying all day.
That’s right.
He’s busy.
I called him on impulse.
She wanted so badly to hear his voice.
But perhaps it was better that the call hadn’t connected.
Along with the photos of her wedding dresses, Eunjae sent him a brief message telling him about everything she’d done that day.
Just as she was about to put her phone back into her purse—
Her ringtone suddenly rang.
