Chapter 8

Seongchan covered his nose and mouth with his hand, looking like someone who was extremely uncomfortable.

But the nausea wouldn’t stop.

His face turned bright red as he kept lowering his head repeatedly.

“Dad!”

Startled, Eunjae quickly stood up and supported Seongchan.

Perhaps they had heard the commotion inside the room.

A brief knock sounded, and Secretary Han soon entered to check the situation.

“Secretary Han, Dad, Dad is…”

Seongchan, sitting in his wheelchair, relied on Secretary Han’s support as he left the room.

Even then, he looked at Eunjae as if telling her he was fine and that she shouldn’t follow.

Eunjae had no choice but to stay because she worried that following him would only make Seongchan more concerned, and Hajun still hadn’t returned.

She remained seated, but her mind was completely focused outside.

“What is this? The food is coming…”

Hamin glanced at Eunjae, who sat there blankly with her gaze lowered, and muttered quietly enough that only her mother Mikyung could hear.

Then she put down the fork she was holding and frowned as if she had completely lost her appetite.

“They said he was on the verge of death. I guess it was true. He did secure the inheritance, right?”

After confirming that Eunjae’s attention was elsewhere, Mikyung whispered back.

“You know the rumors say he’s a daughter fool. They say he adores her so much that he’ll probably give her even more than his eldest son.”

“Who said that?”

“Her father.”

If her husband Taeguk had said it, it was probably true.

At that moment, Eunjae suddenly seemed to regain her senses and bowed her head to Mikyung and Hamin.

“I-I was so surprised… I’m sorry.”

Mikyung liked her.

The girl was so innocent that she seemed easy to shape however she wanted.

She smiled at Eunjae as if she had never felt uncomfortable.

“Shouldn’t you go check on your father? We’re fine, so go out for a moment.”

Mikyung’s mind was already filled with thoughts of the inheritance Eunjae would receive and Taeon’s hotel shares.

Her daughter-in-law’s money would become her son’s money.

And that meant it would eventually become this family’s money.

Thinking about how proudly she would be able to act among the wives of other chaebol families, Mikyung could pretend to be a good mother-in-law no matter how unpleasant it was.

“I’m really okay.”

Eunjae, who had been watching everyone’s reactions with wet eyes, stood up after hearing Mikyung’s reassuring words and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry, Father-in-law. Mother-in-law. I’ll be back soon.”

Watching Eunjae hurriedly leave, Hamin threw herself back against the chair with an annoyed expression.

“She didn’t even greet me. Ah, this is so annoying. I have plans today too. Her family didn’t even all show up, and now her father got sick and left, so she followed him. How is this even a formal family meeting?”

A close friend who had been studying abroad was returning to Korea today, so Hamin already had plans.

She had even planned a party at the hotel, but the sudden family meeting made her late.

When Hamin complained while crossing her arms, Taeguk immediately scolded her.

“Seo Hamin! Don’t act like an uneducated child!”

“…”

When Mikyung poked Hamin’s side and told her to sit properly, Hamin reluctantly straightened herself.

“Even if she seems beneath us, don’t show it. She’ll benefit us in the end.”

Hamin’s face twisted.

“Dad, she’s seven years younger than me.”

“Whether she’s seven years younger or seventeen years younger, I already told you that the younger she is, the better it is for Hajun too.”

Hamin pouted at Taeguk’s words.

* * *

After leaving the room, Eunjae looked around the empty restaurant.

She ran around searching for where her father might be.

Then suddenly, she faintly heard Seongchan’s voice.

Another room nearby was slightly open.

Inside, she could hear not only Seongchan’s voice but also Hajun’s.

“…I’m asking you. Please… take good care of our Eunjae…”

“I’ll make sure you don’t have to worry.”

“…Having someone reliable like you… become my son-in-law makes me very happy.”

Eunjae pressed herself against the door and quietly looked inside.

She could immediately see Hajun kneeling on one knee in front of Seongchan, who was sitting in a wheelchair.

As if trying to reassure Seongchan, he gently patted his thin, bony hand.

Just seeing that was enough to move Eunjae to tears again.

“I’ll finish the formal family meeting and contact you, so please go to the hospital as Secretary Han advised.”

“…Still, that doesn’t feel right… It’s not polite…”

“Eunjae will want you to return to the hospital and rest as well, Father-in-law.”

“Then… please explain things well to the in-laws. And Eunjae…”

“I’ll finish the meeting with Eunjae and then go to the hospital with you.”

“Can you do that?”

“Yes. So please don’t push yourself too hard.”

Eunjae listened quietly from outside the room.

Unable to hold back her tears, she ran to the restroom.

Her affection and guilt toward her father, along with her gratitude toward Hajun, all mixed together and overwhelmed her.

Only after crying until her makeup was ruined and wiping away every trace of tears could she finally return to the meeting.

Hajun had returned as well, apparently after seeing Seongchan off.

His face was still cold and impossible to read.

But Eunjae felt her heart leaning toward him even more.

Unable to raise her head in front of her future in-laws, Eunjae bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. You were worried about your father… Isn’t that right, dear?”

At Mikyung’s gentle words, Taeguk nodded.

“Of course, my daughter-in-law. Even though your father wasn’t feeling well, we’re grateful that he still came all this way to meet us.”

“I’ll do my best to make this marriage work.”

Her voice trembled with emotion.

Taeguk and Mikyung smiled with satisfaction.

Then, as if they had just remembered something, they asked.

“Right, where did you decide to hold the wedding?”

“It will be at Taeon Hotel’s outdoor wedding venue. My father-in-law said he reserved the entire place for that day.”

While Taeguk and Mikyung nodded, seeming satisfied, Hajun continued.

“We’ll discuss the wedding gifts with Secretary Han.”

“Good. Your father-in-law should rest. We could handle everything ourselves anyway. What do you think?”

Mikyung quietly looked at Eunjae and moved to sit beside her.

“I’ll think of you as having gained another mother, so you should think of me as your mother too.”

Mikyung’s warm hand gently rubbed her back.

Eunjae felt tears well up again.

Where in the world could there be such a kind mother-in-law?

She truly felt like a real mother.

* * *

Just as he had told Seongchan, Hajun took Eunjae directly to the hospital.

Since Seongchan had received strong pain medication and fallen asleep, they only exchanged brief greetings through Secretary Han before leaving.

Even that alone made Eunjae feel much more at ease.

Since they had just left the hospital, she should thank him now…

“Ah.”

Unable to find the right moment, Eunjae walked with her head lowered while only fidgeting with her bag strap.

Then she suddenly bumped into Hajun’s back with a thud.

“S-Sorry.”

Eunjae only raised her eyes slightly and looked at him.

A faint sigh escaped between his lips as he stared at her.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Had he already noticed what she was worrying about?

Eunjae bit her lips before speaking quietly.

“Today… thank you.”

Even though she knew that everything he did for her was simply because he was treating her as his wife.

Her heart still pounded.

Trying not to let him see her flushed face, she quickly bowed and lifted her head.

But perhaps because her tension had finally eased, dizziness suddenly washed over her.