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Chapter 14
After Suyeon left.
Sohye’s parlor had turned into a disaster, filled with shattered glass and wine stains scattered like blood spatters.
On the sofa sat Kim Sohye, her lips savagely bitten, her reddened eyes trembling as her shoulders shook.
“How dare she. Who does she think she is, running her mouth in front of me.”
“Madam, please calm yourself. If this continues, something terrible might happen.”
Even as her secretary tried to soothe her, Sohye’s fury refused to cool.
“Calm down? Do I look like someone who can calm down?”
“Then perhaps you don’t know who truly needs to calm down.”
A low, icy voice cut through the room.
At the sudden arrival of Yoonjae, the secretary and maids scattered in an instant. His cold gaze swept across the still-ruined parlor.
For a fleeting moment, an image of Suyeon’s disheveled state flashed through Yoonjae’s mind, and with it, rage boiled up once more.
“Well, well, look who it is.”
“Don’t tell me you no longer recognize me.”
“Impossible. It’s just—after so long with no visits, I was startled, that’s all.”
“I had no intention of ever coming here again. But you gave me reason.”
His expression remained unreadable, but his lips curved into a sharp smile.
“Surely not… no, it can’t be what I’m thinking, is it?”
Sohye leaned back deep into the sofa, crossing her legs as a sly smirk tugged at her lips.
“So, you went running off to tattle already? I thought that Chae Hayoon was just slow on the uptake, but turns out she’s cheeky too—knows how to snitch.”
“Enough.”
His eyes were steady, unwavering.
“So let me understand this. The executive director of a major conglomerate comes all the way here over… what, a mere secretary?”
“That mere secretary… is my person.”
The chill radiating from Yoonjae’s eyes was unmistakable, filled only with icy hatred.
This woman—who had waited for his mother to die, then slipped seamlessly into her place—and the man who had once been his father, bewitched by her, unable to think clearly.
Back when Yoonjae was just a boy, bleeding from grief, needing his father’s care, only Chairman Jung and Chief Han had filled that void.
Grinding his teeth, Yoonjae’s gaze shifted to the mantel above the fireplace.
The family portrait of him and his mother was gone. In its place hung a photo of Sohye with her son, Jung Yugeon—smiling radiantly as though they belonged.
The sight churned Yoonjae’s stomach.
The home that had once been heaven with his mother had become suffocating hell under this woman. She had erased every trace of his mother and boldly taken her place.
Even seeing her was enough to ignite that unextinguished fury inside him.
“That mere secretary… is my person.”
Sohye repeated his words slowly, her lips curling upward. A mocking laugh slipped out, her shoulders trembling.
“Well, I can see how it happens. See that face every day and you’re bound to feel something. She’s the type to make plenty of men cry. That innocent look, that figure hiding beneath… but you know what they say—women who look all sweet and naive are usually anything but. They’re not the same on the inside.”
“You never fail to prove the limits of your imagination.”
“You’re in your prime, Jung Yoonjae. To say you’ve never dated? Absurd. Perhaps it’s time I found you a nice young lady myself.”
“Judging by the secretaries you’ve picked so far, your taste leaves much to be desired. I’ll handle my love life on my own. Better you focus that energy on finding a proper match for your son.”
As he turned to leave, Yoonjae fixed her with one last look.
“Do not ever lay a hand on my people again. If today’s disgrace repeats, I cannot say how I’ll respond.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Perhaps. Until now, I’ve chosen to ignore what I knew. From this moment, however, all authority over the secretariat lies solely with Chief Han. Consider yourself warned.”
“So, you’re telling me to step away from the company?”
“If the position of Do-Won Group’s mistress was what you clawed your way into, then fulfill only that role. I am not my father. One fool dancing in your palm is enough.”
With that, Yoonjae left.
For a long while, Sohye could not take her eyes off his retreating figure. Slowly, a peculiar smile spread across her face.
Until now, the only thing that had ever drawn a reaction from Yoonjae was the memory of his late mother. He had lived with walls so high that even Chairman Jung and Chief Han rarely glimpsed his smile.
And yet here he was—coming to her of his own will, over a woman.
It was enough to pique Sohye’s curiosity.
Perhaps this game would prove far easier than she had expected.
She was still savoring the thought when the front door opened, and President Jung returned from his business trip.
“Honey!”
“You doing well?”
As if nothing had happened, Sohye rushed into his arms, looping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.
“You said tomorrow—what happened?”
“Business wrapped up sooner than expected. But why does the house look so chaotic?”
“Oh, I had the maids rearrange the furniture a bit while you were away. Honestly, you travel too much as president. I missed you so much, I thought I’d go blind from waiting.”
Joking, she slipped her hand into his shirt.
“Go shower first. We’ve been apart for a week.”
“Impatient, aren’t you? By the way, I thought I saw Yoonjae’s car outside earlier.”
“What? Impossible. He hasn’t set foot in this house in ages.”
“Maybe I imagined it, then.”
“If he had come, do you think I’d be standing here calmly? I’d have thrown a feast on the spot. You’re lucky—you at least see him at the office. Me? I’m invisible. This so-called mistress of Do-Won Group? More like a second wife no one acknowledges.”
“Second wife? That’s too harsh. Surely he won’t stay like this forever. One day, he’ll recognize your heart.”
“I wonder if that day will ever come.”
“You and your dramatics.”
The president pulled out a small box.
“What’s this?”
“A gift—for you.”
“Oh my, how sweet. With all your work, when did you find time for this?”
“No matter how busy I am, you come first. They said this was the newest release. Wear it well.”
“Of course. You and Yugeon are my everything.”
Inside the box lay a dazzling necklace set with crimson rubies.
That evening, Suyeon returned home.
All she wanted was to peel off the ruined clothes clinging to her body. Even after stepping into the shower, the stench of wine clung stubbornly to her skin. She scrubbed, washed her hair, but the humiliating memory refused to wash away.
When she emerged, towel drying her hair, her gaze landed on the shirt draped over the chair—Yoonjae’s shirt.
She hadn’t wanted him to see her like that. Yet he had.
Her heart felt as stained as the soiled shirt.
The next morning.
Suyeon arrived early, finishing her duties before Chief Han or Secretary Kwon arrived. She slipped the shopping bag containing Yoonjae’s shirt under his desk.
“Good morning, Secretary Chae.”
With Kwon’s cheerful greeting and Chief Han’s arrival, the office came alive.
“You look tired, Secretary Chae. Did you not sleep well?”
“Do I?”
“Well, these sweltering nights make it hard for anyone to rest. Oh, by the way, have you heard about the break room?”
At Kwon’s eager chatter, Chief Han’s gaze sharpened.
“What about the break room?”
“You don’t know? They started remodeling it this morning. Used to be just coffee and cookies, but now they’re bringing in barley tea, ginseng tea, green tea, herbal teas, even nurungji powder for porridge. People say it’s turning into a whole café. Something about blending the modern and the traditional…”
“The director gave no such instructions.”
Now that she thought about it, boxes had been stacked in the lobby since dawn.
Their conversation halted when Yoonjae entered the office.
“Good morning, Director.”
“Director, did you order the break room remodeling?”
“I did. Is there a problem?”
“But it was already remodeled just last year.”
“Seemed… shortsighted, in hindsight.”
“How so?”
“The break room is for employees’ rest, is it not?”
“Well, yes, naturally.”
“But every employee is different—their faces, their tastes, their habits. Do-Won’s break room didn’t reflect that. Espresso and cookies are fine, but perhaps someone prefers traditional teas, rice cakes, or nurungji. Shouldn’t we consider them too?”
“Remarkable, Director. Truly.”
Yoonjae’s lips tilted at Kwon’s praise.
“Who knows? Maybe there’s someone here with the palate of an old man.”
“Now that you say it… yes, I hadn’t thought of that.”
As they exchanged words, Yoonjae’s gaze remained fixed on only one person.
