Chapter 3

Kang Dasom toyed with the credit card Yoon Sunghoon had given her.

“Can I really use this?”

“Of course. Buy anything you want. You’re not a VIP at our department store yet, right? I’ll tell Manager Min to take care of you. You’re about to be Cheonmyeong Group’s daughter-in-law. You shouldn’t act poor and worried when you spend.”

“Thank you.”

When she smiled, Sunghoon’s chest swelled with pride. He glanced at the nearby employees and raised his voice.

“This is my woman. Remember her face, and treat her properly from now on.”

“Yes, sir.”

An older man bowed politely.

Then, a voice rang out.
“Oh my, Young Master! Shopping? Without telling me?”

A woman appeared, followed by a group of personal shoppers. She wore luxury brands from head to toe, her hair and makeup styled to perfection. It was Jung Hana.

‘Still the same as ever.’

The moment Dasom saw the look Jung Hana and Sunghoon exchanged, she knew.

“Their eyes… definitely not normal.”

Why hadn’t she noticed before?
They didn’t even try to hide it.

Jung Hana had fun with Sunghoon. She treated Jinwoo—her “official” partner—as a convenient husband. To Dasom, she had always pretended to be a kind sister-in-law.

The one meant to inherit Cheonmyeong Group was the eldest son, Yoon Jihwan.
Her husband Jinwoo had stepped away from management to pursue acting, while Sunghoon constantly fought for power.

Hana, meanwhile, often “comforted” Dasom. But remembering it now made her stomach turn.

‘She must have been laughing at me inside the whole time.’

“You? What are you doing here?” Dasom asked coolly.

“I shop every weekend. Ah, hello!”

Despite her heavy makeup and flashy appearance, Hana greeted politely. That was her charm—everyone thought she was “such a good girl.”

But Dasom knew better. She knew how many people that fake smile had deceived.

Back before her return, Dasom had first met Hana about a month after dating Sunghoon.

“Hello, I’m Kang Dasom, Sunghoon’s girlfriend. I think you know each other? Please take care of me.”

She had spoken warmly. Hana only glanced at Sunghoon. He looked awkward, unsure how to answer.

“Oh my, then you must be my sister-in-law.”

“What?”

“We’re not just acquaintances. I’m Jinwoo’s girlfriend. Jung Hana.”

“His younger brother?”

“Yes. We’ve been together for quite some time.”

Sunghoon quickly stepped in to explain. Dasom lowered her eyes politely.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

“No, no. I’m technically the younger one here. It’s nice to meet you.”

Hana bowed gracefully. No wonder the elders liked her.

“Wait here a bit, okay? I need to talk with Hana.”

“Alright.”

Sunghoon left with Hana. Dasom didn’t care—she already knew what kind of “talk” it would be.

Left alone, she sat in the center of the MVIP lounge, classical music softly playing. Manager Kang brought her handmade chocolates and coffee.

The lounge was almost empty. Soon, a man in a semi-formal suit walked in. Dasom recognized him immediately.

It was Yoon Jinwoo. Sunghoon’s younger brother. Hana’s secret lover.

‘Tell me, sister-in-law. How did it feel when you stole my husband?’

She had already planned to approach him someday. Meeting him this early? Lucky.

‘Perfect. This time, I’ll be the one to steal.’

It wouldn’t erase her pain, but it would bring some comfort.

Jinwoo sighed, staring at his silent phone. Dasom stood and approached him.

“Hana went out with Sunghoon. They said they had something to talk about.”

“…”

Jinwoo lifted his head. The youngest son of Cheonmyeong Group. The one who had run away from business to become an actor.

But Dasom remembered his fate. He ended up as a mediocre actor, appearing once in a while in dramas or family variety shows—famous more for his background than his talent.

Still, his face was handsome. Even in simple clothes, he looked elegant.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I’m Sunghoon’s girlfriend.”

“Is that so.”

His tone was flat. Everyone knew Sunghoon was trash, changing women weekly. Dasom wasn’t the first “girlfriend” Jinwoo had met.

He didn’t even look at her. But she stared boldly, so openly that he sighed.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Sorry. I’m a fan. I couldn’t help it.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear, turned her eyes away, pretending shy. It was deliberate.

At the word fan, Jinwoo frowned.

“A fan? Do you even know what I do?”

“You’re an actor.”

“…”

“You’re an actor, Yoon Jinwoo. Am I wrong?”

Her wide eyes left him speechless. Then he gave a bitter laugh.

“How do you even know that?”

“I watched Finding My Dream.”

“That flop? The one with one percent ratings?”

“Then I’m one of the one percent.”

Dasom answered firmly. His eyes flickered as he finally looked at her properly.

Sunghoon’s women were usually shallow, flashy. But this one… was different.

‘My idiot brother is dating her? Why?’

“It was just a short drama,” he muttered.

He should have thanked her, but his pride twisted his words. He hated that drama. Hana had forced him into it, ignoring his opinion completely.

But Dasom only smiled.
“I watched all of it.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“I watched it more than five times.”

“…Are you mocking me?”

He turned as if to walk away—when Dasom’s voice stopped him.

“Is that really what you wanted? Did you think running away would change anything? You know better. There’s no paradise in the places we run to.”

Jinwoo froze.

She had recited one of the drama’s key lines, word for word. Her tone, her presence—it felt even stronger than the original actress.

Her eyes glowed with confidence, then softened. Her cheeks flushed pink as she lowered her gaze.

“See? I really did watch it.”

Her bare lips glistened faintly in the lounge light.

And for the first time, Yoon Jinwoo really looked at her.