Chapter 33
by Gideon“Don’t mention it.”
Hyewan smiled gently.
“It must be hard for you to keep up with Yundo… Isn’t it?”
“Actually, Yundo is the one who’s been accommodating me. I have a strong individualistic streak and can be selfish at times, but Yundo finds that side of me cute and understanding. So when he’s being difficult, I try my best to understand him, knowing there’s always a reason for it.”
“I see.”
Min Sena forced a smile. A sense of frustration seeped through her stubbornness and anger as she tried to find a way to break Hyewan’s composure.
“Did you manage to resolve that whole mess before the wedding?”
“Stop it.”
Hyewan grabbed his hand as he started to stand up in anger. Min Sena’s gaze fell on their joined hands.
“The noise always dies down with time. Hasn’t that been your experience, Min Sena?”
Min Sena bit her lip, the question turned back on her.
“How rude.”
Finally, she was the one to back down. As if claiming victory, Yundo tightened his grip on Hyewan’s hand.
Everyone knew Hyewan because of the so-called ‘Kim Jin-myeong Incident.’ Being educated people, they didn’t ask aloud, but they couldn’t hide the curiosity in their eyes. Beside Yundo, Hyewan smiled and greeted the endless stream of people who approached them.
I’ve been introduced to so many people that I forget them the moment they turn away. And here I am, Ko Hyewan, known for my memory!
How does Yundo even handle this kind of thing?
Eventually, the muscles in her face began to twitch faintly.
Hyewan spoke in a low voice.
“Yundo, I’m going to wash my hands. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t follow anyone who offers to buy you tteokbokki.”
Hyewan shot him a playful glare, and he laughed. It was a bright, refreshing smile, as if he’d never been annoyed in his life. Strangely, whenever he smiled, her heart felt at ease.
“And don’t smile at just anyone,” she warned before heading to the restroom.
Yundo started to follow her, wondering if it was okay to let her go alone, when Min Sena suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Can’t you stay away from your wife for even a moment?”
He wanted to shove Min Sena aside and follow Hyewan, but there were too many eyes on them. The unwritten rule of this social circle was to act cool, even with an ex-fiancée. Damn this rule…!
I was disgusted. From a distance, Dong-yeong gestured for me to stop making a scene.
I know that much, you idiot!
“Seeing you now, it looks like you’re actually cut out for married life.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“If you’re going to be this good at it, why did you treat me the way you did?”
Min Sena complained, her expression bright and innocent. She was definitely playing to the crowd.
“Don’t you think you’re partly to blame, Cha Yundo? There were more days in a week when I couldn’t see you even once. The worst part was that you didn’t even make an effort to meet me. What could I have expected from a fiancé like that?”
What good does this talk do now?
“If you were that unhappy, you should have broken off the engagement. You should have ended things with me before meeting anyone else.”
“That’s… you’re right. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I never should have done that…”
Min Sena’s voice trailed off.
“And I’m sorry for what my family did to you. It was petty and shameless. I know I’ll never be forgiven. But I still wanted to apologize to you in person, just once.”
Yundo let out a disbelieving scoff. Min Sena was as selfish as ever.
“I don’t accept apologies that are only meant to make you feel better.”
“Why are you so restless? Afraid your wife will see us? You’ve really changed, Cha Yundo. You were never like this with me…”
“Cut the bullshit and never show your face to me again. This is a warning.”
Leaving her with a cold warning, Yundo turned and walked away.
The air was completely different once she stepped out of the crowded party hall. The cool breeze seemed to soothe her flushed skin.
I want to go home.
Yundo would leave this place without a second thought if she just said the word. That was why she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Ko Hyewan, a real adult knows how to be patient. You’re not staying here all night, are you? You can endure this.
Hyewan soothed herself as she headed to the restroom.
After using the stall, she went to the sink. As she washed her hands and turned off the faucet, the muffled voices from the powder room echoed through the connecting hallway. Hyewan absentmindedly listened to the conversation while drying her hands with a paper towel.
“Did you hear? Cha Yundo’s wife is a shaman’s granddaughter! And yet she acts so damn arrogant.”
“Oh my god, so the rumors were true? I thought it was just gossip.”
Hyewan felt as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over her, jolting her awake. Before she could stop it, a fierce blush crept up her face.
“But why would the Sewon Family let him marry a woman like that? This is way worse than what happened with Min Sena! Did she get so traumatized by Sena’s betrayal that she just gave up?”
“Chairwoman Kang Ok-seon is completely wrapped around Cha Yundo’s finger. Everyone knows how precious he is to that family. After the Min Sena incident, she probably just gave in to him.”
“No way. The more precious the child, the higher the expectations. If anything, she would have opposed it more fiercely. There’s no way she would have just let it happen.”
“Exactly. That’s why they got married abroad. Especially since it’s an open marriage for the Sewon Family—why would they want to send him off to a secret wedding?”
“I heard she’s the granddaughter of a shaman. Is she a powerful one? Is that why they let her marry into the family?”
“Pffft, if she were actually powerful, wouldn’t we have heard about it? She’s probably just some hack who can only handle minor spirits. That’s why the Sewon Family is trying to keep it all hush-hush.”
“What a waste. If I’d known anyone could get in, I would’ve made a move myself.”
“Tell me about it. They’re just handing her over to someone else on a silver platter.”
Fury, far beyond mere humiliation, consumed Hyewan’s reason.
“That woman… maybe it’s the shaman blood in her, but doesn’t she have a strange, seductive aura?”
“Right? I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed! There are plenty of women as pretty as her, but she’s strangely captivating. She must have some kind of charm that bewitches people.”
“Don’t even get me started. My husband was staring at her so intently I practically tore his side apart. It’s infuriating!”
“Seeing things like that, you just have to be born with a certain fate. What else can girls like that do when their lives fall apart? Sell their smiles and bodies in a bar.”
“Exactly!”
The women giggled. Hyewan’s clenched fist trembled uncontrollably at her side. Why am I just standing here listening to insults more vicious than a curse? I should be storming in there and ripping their hair out by the roots.
But Hyewan couldn’t move, as if her feet had taken root in the ground.
“If you ask me, Cha Yundo didn’t marry her for love either. There was so much gossip before the wedding, right? He obviously married that woman just to cover up the scandal.”
“Why wouldn’t he? I heard she dated her ex for three years, breaking up and getting back together the whole time. That means she’s already seen everything he has to offer. No man would want to marry a woman like that.”
“Men, I swear. They’ll throw their lives away the moment they see a pretty face. Cha Yundo must be suffering because of that woman.”
“Who knows? Maybe he’s just bewitched by a little demon and thinks he’s happy.”
The women burst into laughter.
Hyewan snapped out of her daze. She couldn’t just ignore them and walk out of the restroom while they were mocking Yundo. She would make them apologize, even if she had to rip their faces off instead of their hair. Just as she braced herself and took a step forward—
Someone rushed past her into the powder room.
Surprisingly, the once-noisy room fell silent.
“Oh, sorry for interrupting your conversation.”
The clear, melodic voice belonged to Min Sena.
“Oh, Sena! We were wondering who it was. Hello!”
“Yes, hello. You were in the middle of an interesting conversation. Please, continue.”
“Not at all.”
Following the voice of the woman who had been the loudest, a series of clicks rang out. It was the sound of compact powder cases being snapped shut.
“You’re saying Ko Hyewan is the prettiest new face today, right? The wife of Sewon Group’s vice president.”
“Excuse me?”
“Weren’t you talking about Ko Hyewan?”
At Min Sena’s question, the Queen Bee snapped.
“I didn’t know you had a hobby of eavesdropping on other people’s conversations, Sena.”
“Oh, was this a secret?”
Min Sena’s voice rose an octave.
“The hallway was echoing so loudly, I thought you were talking just for me to hear. Everyone passing by the restroom must have heard it all.”
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