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Chapter 23
In the living room, only the women were seated—except for Jang Joo-bin. Naturally, Jung Ha-na placed Kang Da-som right beside her.
Ever since then, anyone could see the two of them sticking together, and Lee Soo-ha didn’t like it one bit. But since she wasn’t married yet, she couldn’t openly complain.
“By the way, about the Aria Club premium membership… I was thinking of giving one to Soo-ha unni as well. Would that be alright?”
“Huh? Oh…”
Lee Soo-ha, who had been ready to dismiss the conversation as background chatter, flinched. She hadn’t expected Ha-na to bring it up the moment Da-som arrived.
Jung Ha-na toyed with the rim of a teacup as she lifted her head. It was the very cup Soo-ha had once gifted Joo-bin.
“After all, the three of us will soon become the future mistresses of the Cheonmyeong family, won’t we? You’ll be the first to marry, unni. But if we keep excluding one another like this… how would that look to others?”
Just as Da-som had done before, Ha-na deliberately trailed her words, letting them hang in the air.
“We’ll be seeing each other often. Surely we can’t keep this up forever, can we?”
“…Right.”
“They’ll be accepting new recommendations soon. Let’s go together.”
“…Fine.”
Though Soo-ha’s expression soured, she didn’t reject the offer. She already knew that many inside the club had been reluctant to sponsor her because of Ha-na’s influence. Whatever Ha-na’s motive was, if she extended an invitation, Soo-ha had nothing to lose.
As the atmosphere grew warmer, the gathering naturally shifted into a drinking session. A touch of alcohol flushed Da-som’s cheeks.
Claiming she needed fresh air, she slipped outside. Standing still, gazing absentmindedly at the garden, she soon heard approaching footsteps—Yoon Jin-woo.
“What are you, a ghost? How do you always find me?”
“Could ask the same, noona.”
This was a corner of the house few would know unless they had lived there for years. Jin-woo found it oddly fascinating how Da-som navigated the place like it was her own.
“How did you know this spot existed?”
“I just wandered. When I’m drunk, I prefer quiet corners.”
Jin-woo stepped closer, words unspoken. Earlier, before coming to Seonam-dong, he’d had a quarrel with Jung Ha-na.
For someone who always bent to her, it was unusual.
‘You changed your manager from Sang-tae oppa? Why would you do that?’
‘Because he lied to me.’
‘He only ever did things for your sake!’
‘Do you believe that too, noona? That everything he did was for me?’
‘…’
‘Because I don’t.’
He couldn’t even remember the last time they fought. Their argument had ended only when they arrived here.
Jin-woo had begun to suspect that Yoon Sung-hoon’s sudden shift in attitude was Da-som’s doing. No matter how badly Sung-hoon wanted to beat Yoon Ji-hwan and take the vice-president’s seat, there were limits to what he could achieve alone. Ji-hwan must have sensed the same. Still, Jin-woo had stayed silent.
He didn’t care about Cheonmyeong Group anyway. What he did care about was something else entirely.
“Noona, do you… really have feelings for my second brother—”
Before he could finish, Da-som suddenly pressed her hand over his mouth and pushed him against the wall. Jin-woo’s eyes widened.
“What are you—”
“Shhh.”
She lifted her finger to her lips. Just then, lights flickered on above them. From the balcony, the sound of footsteps and the faint scent of cigarettes drifted down.
“Haa… damn it, this is exhausting.”
It was Jung Ha-na’s voice. Jin-woo never smoked, but the citrusy tang of her cigarettes was all too familiar.
A door slid open. Male footsteps followed.
“Seriously, quit swearing the moment the elders are gone. That habit’s trashy.”
“So what? Nobody’s around. If no one catches me, who cares?”
“Whatever. Hand me a cigarette.”
Snap. Flick.
The flame lit. Above, Ha-na and Sung-hoon shared a cigarette, chatting in low voices.
Da-som’s finger still rested against Jin-woo’s lips. His eyes flickered, but he fought to keep calm.
He already knew they were close. Smoking together wasn’t exactly shocking. But then—
“Mm—hey! Quit it! Just because the elders are gone doesn’t mean you can touch me however you want.”
“Who told you to wear that outfit, huh?”
“You think I dressed for you? It was for Jin-woo.”
“Bullshit.”
“Don’t touch me. What if Jin-woo notices? He’s clueless enough already.”
A smack rang out as she slapped his hand away. The two of them bickered, then retreated inside the terrace.
From where Jin-woo stood, he couldn’t hear the rest. But the silhouettes cast against the light told him everything—the way their shadows leaned together, too close to deny.
When the voices finally faded, Da-som lowered her hand.
“Ha…”
“You knew?”
“You sound surprised. Of course I knew.”
“…Then why—”
Why would she be with that trash of a brother? Jin-woo couldn’t bring himself to finish the thought.
“I’m an illegitimate child.”
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
“….”
“You have no idea what it’s like—the way I was treated in that house, the life I lived, the thoughts I carried. I don’t expect you to understand. But for me, there were never choices.”
She explained that it was Yoon Sung-hoon’s friend—her own older brother, Kang Young-jun—who had introduced them.
“If someone feeds and shelters you… shouldn’t you at least repay the debt?”
She brushed her hair back with a faint smile. She had already repaid that debt, over and over, before she turned back time.
“You knew, Jin-woo. Deep down. You just didn’t want to face it, did you?”
“You don’t know me!”
“And you don’t know me either.”
She sighed.
Ha-na had once been the first to offer her hand when Jin-woo left home to chase his dream of acting. Back then, he thought it was fate.
But if he had ever believed in destiny, he had been a fool.
There is no destiny in this world. Only inevitability disguised as fate.
“How you choose to accept it—that’s up to you.”
Leaving Jin-woo behind, Da-som returned to the main hall.
“Oppa, I drank too much. I’ll be going now.”
“So soon? Stay a little longer.”
“My head hurts.”
“…Alright. I’ll take you to the car.”
Sung-hoon supported her unsteady steps and helped her into the back seat. Baek Sung-tae sat at the wheel.
“Message me once you’re home.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you.”
And he meant it. It had been ages since his father last praised him. Now, having won the business over his older brother, Sung-hoon couldn’t help but feel exhilarated.
“Goodnight.”
As the door shut, Da-som disappeared behind the tinted glass. The car rolled out of Seonam-dong. From the front seat, Sung-tae passed something back to her.
A convenience store hangover cure.
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
She downed two bottles at once. In her other hand, along with the empty vials, lay a business card.
“He’s Secretary Seo. Twenty-eight years old. Married young, has one kid.”
“Poor man.”
“He said he’ll help whenever needed. If you tell me, I’ll relay it and keep you updated.”
“Thank you.”
