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Chapter 46
The large study, reminiscent of a small library, was the place where Chairman Ha Tae-won spent the most time each day.
Except for the days he went to the office, he was always here—either working, reading, or meeting people.
Therefore, Yoon-jae also had to come to this study at the main house whenever the chairman needed him. It wasn’t every time, but after major events, he would report here.
“That’s all.”
Though the location changed, the atmosphere between the chairman and Yoon-jae was as if they were neither more nor less than the chairman and executive. Yoon-jae’s report, concise and flawless, prompted Chairman Ha to set aside the papers he had been reading. He then addressed Yoon-jae, who was waiting.
“I heard the project you mentioned before was bid on under very favorable conditions.”
“I was lucky.”
“Luck is also skill. Grasping it is skill too.”
Having heard this countless times, Yoon-jae didn’t respond.
“Well done.”
However, the unexpected praise made him slightly curious. Chairman Ha slid the papers aside, intertwined his fingers, and asked,
“What do you think of Eun-se? Does she have potential?”
With this change of gesture, the topic shifted from business to personal matters. Yoon-jae answered honestly.
“She’s trying.”
“How much?”
“Probably giving her best, as much as she can.”
Tsk.
Chairman Ha clicked his tongue so Yoon-jae could hear and then got up, heading toward the densely packed bookshelves.
“Find someone suitable, not too different in age, someone she can get along with.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t understand. Before the time passes, I’ll do what I can. It’s not something you can carry forever.”
“Chairman—”
“Isn’t this a good thing for you?”
A faint expression, somewhere between a smirk and a smile, lingered on the chairman’s face as he looked at Yoon-jae. If Hyewon had been there, it might have caused a big commotion. She would have felt uneasy in such a situation.
For Ha Tae-won, a man who lived only thinking of Young-do, to push his own daughter aside was entirely unsurprising. Expecting morality or affection from someone who had lived like this was a luxury.
It had already been over ten years since Yoon-jae had entered Young-do’s world. It seemed the chairman had proven his point.
“And that child…”
The unexpected topic shifted once more. Chairman Ha, completely turned away, scanning the books, continued nonchalantly.
“How long are you going to keep her by your side?”
This time, the arrow seemed aimed at his wife. Yoon-jae’s eyes shifted, but the chairman still faced the bookshelves.
“She’s already served her purpose, and some noise is starting to arise, so handle it before it becomes bothersome.”
The “noise” referred to the invitation from the Eunyang Foundation. Even sending two invitations for couples was part of it.
“Han Myeong-sook’s old. She has nothing to do, so she’s just making young people entertainment.”
As the chairman said, this invitation was simply curiosity about Young-do’s illegitimate child and the fiancé who had been withdrawn, and the match he had chosen. A base curiosity about a woman who was nothing of consequence. The chairman wouldn’t tolerate unnecessary attention turning into gossip.
“Think carefully and settle it before it’s too late.”
After selecting a book, he returned to his desk. Picking up a book meant the conversation was over. Leaving this uncomfortable space was all that was required.
But Yoon-jae stayed a moment, lost in thought.
“……”
Chairman Ha looked at him curiously for not leaving. Seeing his pale, emotionless gaze, someone naturally came to mind: a face once beautiful but now skeletal, as if it could melt away at any moment.
Thus, Yoon-jae’s closed lips opened.
“Not much time left.”
“……”
“Mental state isn’t stable either.”
Though speaking without subject, Chairman Ha didn’t ask anything. Calmly flipping through the books, he responded leisurely.
“You’ve kept your promise.”
“……”
“Now that you’re here, I don’t have anything more to do.”
Though spoken calmly, it carried firm resolve. It was not wrong. The person had chosen to disappear from the world to ensure Yoon-jae could carry the “Ha” surname.
[Stay there. Protect your place by that person’s side. That’s my will.]
A last will before death, no more than that. Yoon-jae bowed silently, without further words.
AM 02:34
Back at the company, Yoon-jae faced the towering pile of work and exhaled without realizing it. Endless tasks piled up even if he missed home for days or reduced sleep.
“……Huh.”
He released his grip on the documents, loosening his tie as if to relieve tension. The office’s wide front window, without any bars, felt unusually stifling today.
Ten years living like this, perhaps forever. “For life.”
He had never considered it unfair or uncomfortable. Duty was just that—something to do. Leaving home for long periods was nothing.
Yet…
“……”
He shifted his gaze from the documents under the desk lamp and opened a small box tucked in the deepest drawer.
It was palm-sized, purchased through Director Hong, and had been opened only once.
Click.
Inside was a ring in its empty space. A wedding ring. He had thought he would wear it only at the ceremony, but it had remained in this drawer ever since.
[The ring’s too… big.]
The faint voice of affection who gave it without a box lingered in his mind. He muttered idly.
[Do you want me to buy it again?]
[Ah, no! That’s not it! I-I’m sorry, Executive! That’s not what I meant. I just…]
Flustered, she hesitated. Watching Yoon-jae close the box with her ring inside, she asked for the first time:
[Are you not going to wear it, Executive?]
A timid question. But he, tired of the dark and gloomy expressions, drew a firm line.
[Why should I?]
And he turned away, unconcerned. Whether the ring was worn or not didn’t matter.
Yet, unlike before…
[I’ll wear it.]
This time, he crossed the line he had drawn to ensure the ring remained on his hand.
[Ha Yoon-jae.]
[Even if you can’t be a husband, at least pretend to be one.]
Her boisterous laugh and relaxed smile appeared vividly in his mind. For some reason, her face, suddenly coming to mind, made him look at the ring he had never worn. Why did emotions he didn’t feel then come now?
AM 02:47
There was no time for this. He had an early morning meeting with an overseas buyer in a different time zone. Then three department meetings, plus piles of documents to approve. No matter how he divided his time, it was tight. Yoon-jae stood up.
Time was too precious to hesitate. He headed home directly. Though late and she was probably asleep, Yoon-jae drove along the empty road.
A man who normally planned everything perfectly and moved rationally now led with emotion. Even knowing it was meaningless, he ran, carrying an unusual restlessness in his body.
Arriving quickly, he opened the firmly locked door.
“……?”
Instead of a cold, dark house, he was met by warm light and comfort. In the usually quiet house, voices could be heard.
“……Are you there?”
The living room provided this light in the early dawn. He hurried to it and saw his wife sprawled on the sofa, the television talking to itself.
Her free-spirited posture, lying as if the sofa were a bed, seemed the most comfortable sight in the world.
“……Ha.”
Next to her were empty beer cans and leftover snacks. Watching her scratch her neck in a half-asleep daze, Yoon-jae felt his long-held frustration dissolve in an instant.
“Ugh… really.”
Her lips moved softly in some dream.
“I… damn it.”
“……”
“What…?”
Yoon-jae approached quietly. She, unaware, continued her sleep-talking. He observed her messy, unkempt sleeping form, crouching close without doing anything.
Slowly, her sleep-talking subsided. She lay peacefully again. The moment was silent, yet precious.
He lifted his hand and brought it to her face. First fingertips, then knuckles, then palm over her white cheek.
Warm. Soft and delicate. The tension of the day melted away.
“……Mm.”
Her fingers twitched at the touch. Even with drooping eyelids on the verge of waking, he didn’t move his hand. Instead, he opened his lips as if to command her to stay asleep.
“Show me.”
“……Mm.”
“I want to see.”
Knowing it was selfish, Yoon-jae leaned closer and whispered.
“Your eyes.”
The clear eyes he had never properly seen behind sunglasses, the eyes that always moved him. He gently caressed her cheeks and, in a tender voice even he barely noticed, called her:
“Joo Ae-jung.”
Her eyes opened in that moment. Half-asleep and blurry, Yoon-jae stepped back slightly. She clutched his tie.
Snap.
“……!”
“No.”
She pulled him closer.
“I…”
As if still sleep-talking, she said:
“I’m not Joo Ae-jung.”
