A Marriage with A Reason - Chapter 54

“So, you’re going back home today?”

The next morning after Jaehoon left. Sojin and Dayun were having breakfast together.

“Yeah, I have to go back. I can’t stay here forever.”

“Did you make up?”

Hearing that she was going home, Sojin thought, “Did Ahn Jaehoon come again and make things better?” Because she knew Dayun was crazy about Jaehoon. But Dayun said something unexpected.

“Well… I don’t know if we made up, but at least we understood each other’s feelings.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

It was a hard sentence to understand.

“You told me to do what I want.”

“I did. I was frustrated watching you love him alone, but I knew you were more frustrated than I was.”

“Yeah, you did say that.” Dayun whispered, then looked Sojin in the eyes. Her face looked like she had made up her mind.

“So now, I’m going to do what I want, just like you said.”

“Do what? How?”

“Hmm… just whatever I feel like?”

“Ooh~ Choi Dayun~”

“I’m going to push a little now. I’ve been pulling too much all this time.”

At that, Sojin smiled brightly, as if she finally felt relieved as a friend.

“Yeah, you did. Anyway, go for it. Since you’ve decided, make Ahn Jaehoon completely yours, like how Daon became mine. Fighting!!”

Seeing Sojin’s encouraging smile made Dayun feel better too.

“I’m done with my presentation.”

As the staff member ended the presentation, there was a short applause in the meeting room. The one clapping the hardest with the brightest smile was Jaehoon.

“That’s a good idea. Alright, we’ll end the meeting here.”

Unlike the gloomy mood from the day before, today Jaehoon looked soft like fluffy clouds and fresh like new sprouts. The employees whispered to each other.

“Doesn’t he look really happy today?”

“Right? Did something good happen?”

“Whatever it is, I’m glad. He was so scary last time. I got scolded just for bringing in documents.”

“Seriously? Same here.”

They chatted quietly and began to leave the meeting room. But Hyeyun couldn’t leave. She kept watching Jaehoon with a confused expression.

‘He shouldn’t be in a good mood… right?’

She couldn’t understand. What made him so happy? He should’ve had a fight with Dayun because of her. But he didn’t look like someone who had a fight at all. Did something happen over the weekend? Hyeyun suddenly felt nervous.

‘Could it be…’

She hated the thought, but maybe they had already made up.

At that moment, Jaehoon noticed Hyeyun’s gaze. It must’ve made him uncomfortable. He stopped organizing his papers, and his smiling face turned cold.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Huh? Oh, no.”

“If not, please stop staring. It’s very unpleasant.”

At his cold words, Hyeyun bit her lip without realizing it. Even if he was upset, hearing him say she was unpleasant hurt her. But Jaehoon didn’t care how she felt. He finished organizing the papers and stood up. Just as he was about to leave, Hyeyun shouted,

“Wait! You seem happy. Did you… make up?”

“That’s none of your business, Ms. Song.”

“But I like you, so I care. Did you make up already? Did she take you back?”

Seeing how Hyeyun only said what she wanted, ignoring Jaehoon’s feelings, made him more annoyed.

“So what if I did?”

“Huh.”

Jaehoon’s words came out like a sharp knife.

“Whether we made up or not, it’s none of your business. You’re crossing the line.”

But Hyeyun didn’t say anything nice either.

“You really have no pride, do you? I thought Choi Dayun had some self-respect. If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed. Oh, I guess she’s too crazy about men to think straight. Or is it the money behind you?”

She lost control seeing Jaehoon defend Dayun. Jaehoon looked at her with disgust.

“Watch your mouth.”

“I’m not wrong though.”

Hyeyun flinched at his angry eyes but tried to act strong. Jaehoon slowly stepped closer to her until he was right in front of her and looked down on her like she was pathetic.

“Ms. Song Hyeyun.”

“…”

“Are you not going to answer?”

“…Yes.”

His voice sounded soft but sharp. Hyeyun suddenly felt scared. It was the first time she had felt fear while being with him. She felt small, like standing naked in front of a crowd—scared and embarrassed.

Then, cold words came from his mouth, and she couldn’t say anything back.

“Who calls their boss’s wife that way? Did you forget? The Choi Dayun you mentioned is my woman, Ahn Jaehoon’s woman, the team leader’s wife. Even if you have no manners, show some respect to your boss’s wife.”

“…”

“And like you said, I do have money behind me. Sending you far away wouldn’t be hard. So be careful—unless you want to get fired.”

Done speaking, Jaehoon left the meeting room coldly. There was no kindness or pity in him.

“Haa…”

Hyeyun sat down right where she stood, as if all her strength had left her. This felt worse, even more miserable, than when he broke up with her.

“Everyone can leave work on their own today. I’ll finish my outside work and go straight home.”

“Yes. See you, Team Leader.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Even though it was work outside the office, Jaehoon left the company with a light step. There was a reason he felt so good. He had texted Dayun earlier, wondering when she’d come home, and she had replied right away.

[I left Sojin’s house. I’ll write a bit and be home before 6.]

Even though they made up yesterday morning, something still felt unfinished. But her fast reply made him feel sure she was no longer upset. That made him happy. His good mood even affected his work.

“Alright, let’s go with that.”

“Thank you. I’ll work hard so you won’t regret this.”

“Haha, good. Team Leader Ahn, you’re really good at your job. You’re young but talented.”

“You flatter me.”

Even the contract problem that gave him headaches had ended well.

“Let’s meet again next time.”

“Yes, take care.”

Jaehoon quickly walked to his car. He wanted to go home and see Dayun as soon as possible. But more than that, he had a special plan for her.

“Guess I should stop by the store on the way?”

It wasn’t really a big event. He just wanted to make dinner for her. Today was special. They cleared up the misunderstanding, she was back home, and more than anything, today felt like their real first day. The day they confirmed each other’s hearts and started fresh. That’s why, unlike the old Jaehoon, today he truly wanted to celebrate.

When he got to the store and looked around, he got a bit confused.

“What should I buy?”

He had never gone grocery shopping alone before. He had followed Dayun a few times, like a puppy, but always let her lead. He knew how to cook, but only using ingredients the housekeeper had already prepared in the fridge. He didn’t know what or how to buy.

“Uh… I guess I should decide what to cook first? Korean? Chinese?”

He stood in the middle of the store, thinking. Dayun would probably eat anything he made and say it was good. But today, he wanted her words to come from her heart. He wanted to impress her. So, he pushed his cart toward the meat section.

“To set the mood, steak sounds better, right?”

Whatever mood he wanted to set, Jaehoon even bought a cake before heading home, hoping she would like his clumsy but sweet surprise.

Meanwhile, after work, Hyeyun didn’t go home. She walked into a restaurant with heavy steps.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“Ah… Shin Miyoung.”

“Yes, please follow me.”

It seemed she had an appointment with Jaehoon’s biological mother, Miyoung. Hyeyun followed the staff into the restaurant. When the door opened, Miyoung was already inside, eating.

“You’re here? Sit.”

“Yes.”

Miyoung didn’t even glance at Hyeyun until she sat down. She ate elegantly, but there was something cold in her manner. Hyeyun felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She was scared, even though she didn’t know why. Miyoung’s calm face made it hard to breathe.

The silence continued for a while. Miyoung ate without a word, and Hyeyun sat quietly, staring at the floor. This meeting felt very different from before.

“Ha…”

Hyeyun’s legs started to feel numb from kneeling for so long. A small sound escaped her mouth. At the same time, Miyoung placed her spoon down with a sharp sound. Hyeyun jumped in surprise and looked up. Miyoung had finished her meal.

“Did I underestimate you?”

Her cold voice finally broke the silence.

“You said you’d take him, but you ended up handing him over.”

“…”

“What now? It looks like he won’t even talk to you anymore.”

Hyeyun couldn’t argue. Everything Miyoung said was true. She just lowered her head in shame.

“… I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. That girl, who’s full of tricks like her mother, is the one who’s wrong.”

“… I have no excuse.”

Hyeyun felt miserable. Miyoung’s words sounded like she was defending her, but they also sounded like, “You’re not attractive as a woman.” Judging from Miyoung’s face, it probably wasn’t wrong.

‘She has nothing, and now not even charm as a woman… how terrible.’

Miyoung regretted ever thinking she was like herself. Hyeyun tried to hold back her humiliation and asked carefully.

“What will you do now? I’ll help however you say.”

Her eyes seemed to beg Miyoung not to abandon her. Miyoung smirked, almost mockingly. She knew Hyeyun didn’t care about helping her. What she wanted was the sweet reward after.

“Fine, help me. Even if she’s an ex, she’s perfect as a problem between them.”

“So you want me to keep getting in their way?”

“Yes, that’s what you’re best at.”

“What about you, ma’am?”

“I’ll make my move too. I’ll use the son’s pity for his real mother.”

And more than that, she planned to use the guilt he felt toward the woman he loved. After all, Dayun’s mother played a big role in her divorce from Jaehoon’s father.

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