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Chapter 11
“Are you asking me to believe that right now?”
Jang Jubin let out a scoff of disbelief, her sharp eyes narrowing. She still didn’t look pleased.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“Forget it. If it weren’t for Sunghoon, you wouldn’t have even gotten in.”
“I really didn’t mean to be late.”
“I said forget it, didn’t I?”
“But since Sunghoon oppa invited me, I couldn’t come empty-handed. I brought a gift. My flight was delayed, so I had to rush here.”
Dasom kept explaining herself politely. Jubin’s eyes, full of disapproval, fell on the shopping bag in Dasom’s hand.
Her expression changed slightly when she saw the golden logo on the white bag.
“I know Sunghoon oppa has caused a lot of trouble before.”
“Hey! Do you even know who you’re speaking to right now?!”
“A few days ago, we had a huge fight because of that. He promised me he won’t do it again. I want to give him a chance. I believe in him.”
Dasom openly defended Sunghoon.
That made Jang Jubin flinch.
She might have been the power behind Cheonmyeong, raising Yoon Junseok to his position—but when it came to her son, she was vulnerable.
Especially whenever she thought about Sunghoon’s marriage, her chest would tighten with stress.
Even if she pretended otherwise, Sunghoon knew that his mother avoided mentioning him and always brought up his older brother instead.
She swallowed her anger and studied Dasom quietly. At least her looks and attire weren’t too bad.
“Hah… so you’re saying I should let Kang chairman’s illegitimate child into Cheonmyeong? Is Cheonmyeong a joke to you? Or do you think Sunghoon is that easy?”
“Mom, how can you talk like that?”
“Shut your mouth! Do you even know how many scandals you’ve caused with women?”
“…I-I won’t anymore. I’m almost thirty. I should stop messing around.”
“Then meet the woman I introduce to you!”
“What’s wrong with Dasom?”
“Yoon Sunghoon! Listen to me! How dare you bring such a low-born girl here?!”
Their voices rose, arguing right in front of Dasom as if she wasn’t even there.
She lowered her head, her face flushing red. Her eyes stung, and Sunghoon noticed. He grew furious.
“So what if she’s illegitimate? Is that a crime? Did she ask to be born that way?! Damn it, Jinwoo does whatever he wants, but I can’t even date one girl?!”
“How many women have you dated however you wanted, and now you say this?!”
“Dasom is already registered in Chairman Kang’s family registry!”
At that, Jubin froze. She ordered a maid to bring cold water and sat on the sofa. Sunghoon nudged Dasom to sit as well.
“Is that true? If you’re lying…”
“It’s true.”
Even as a powerful family, they didn’t know every detail about others’ households. Especially things like whether an illegitimate child had been added to the registry.
“…I spoke too harshly.”
“It’s fine. I understand. I’d probably react the same way.”
“You said you and Sunghoon fought over his woman problems?”
“Yes.”
“And if it happens again?”
The question took a while to come out. Sunghoon grumbled but quickly shut up at his mother’s warning glance.
Though Sunghoon caused trouble, he was still a mama’s boy.
“It’s not really his fault. Isn’t it the fault of those who try to use his loneliness? But I’m not the kind of person who lets that happen.”
Dasom leaned forward slightly, brushing her hair back, her gaze bold and sharp.
“Do you know what kind of man he really is? Right, oppa?”
“Uh… y-yeah! That’s right!”
Sunghoon stammered, begging for his mother’s trust, but Jubin didn’t answer right away. She was already calculating things in her head.
Dasom then pulled out a box from the bag, deliberately showing it to her.
“It’s nothing much, but this is a gift.”
“Put it away. Why bring something like this…”
But Jubin’s eyes widened when she saw the Delphinus logo on the certificate inside the leather case.
Not long ago, she had thrown a fit at the department store because Madam Choi had bragged at their social club about buying a Delphinus emerald pendant.
“…At least you put some thought into it.”
“Would you like to try it on? I thought it would suit you well, Mother.”
Dasom naturally called her “Mother.” Jubin didn’t object. Dasom nudged Sunghoon with her foot, and he quickly stood up.
“Wait, Mom! I’ll put it on for you.”
Excited, Sunghoon fastened the necklace around her neck. Dasom brought over the full-length mirror from the wall.
“See? It’s perfect for you, Mom!”
“What are you saying… It’s nothing special.”
“How can you say that in front of the one who gave it?”
“It’s fine, oppa. Honestly, I think so too. Even if it’s a limited edition by the chief designer, maybe it doesn’t really match someone as graceful as Mother.”
At her subtle flattery, Sunghoon tilted his head, unsure.
But Dasom clearly saw the slight upward curl at Jubin’s lips.
She remembered: In her previous life, that necklace had gone to Jung Hana.
At a family gathering, Hana had worn it carelessly and offended Jubin, who hated it ever since.
This time, things were different.
“Next time, I’ll bring something that truly suits you, Mother.”
“Forget it. A gift doesn’t matter—the thought is what counts. I’ll need to think about this more.”
“Yes.”
“Come by for tea next time.”
“I will.”
“Since you’re here, greet the chairman before you leave. Sunghoon, speak properly in front of your grandfather. Understood?”
Sunghoon nodded furiously. Jubin left, likely eager to show off her new necklace.
Dasom and Sunghoon then went to the study to greet Chairman Yoon Hyuktae. Yoon Junseok was surprised to see Dasom with Sunghoon.
“Mother told us to come greet you with Dasom.”
Junseok glanced at her, then only gave a small nod. Whatever this was, now wasn’t the time to discuss it.
After the short greeting, they stepped outside.
The air was awkward between them. Sunghoon sighed several times. He had far too much on his mind.
“When did you even prepare that gift?”
“I’d already planned to give it.”
“Oh… r-really?”
“Oppa. You made a promise to Mother just now.”
“Ah… right, that…”
“You’ll keep it, won’t you?”
“……”
“There’s something I didn’t tell you before.”
Dasom slowly turned toward a giant painting worth hundreds of billions hanging on the wall.
“I know you don’t really like me that much.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If I had been better, you wouldn’t have played around with so many women. It’s my fault.”
“No, no… I’m sorry. I have no excuse. I won’t do it again.”
“But I’m a little greedy, oppa. For example…”
She looked at the massive painting with a faint smile.
“I want this painting to be mine.”
