A Marriage with A Reason - Chapter 62

“Thank you for today’s discussion. As expected, since it was your opinion, Team Leader Ahn, it was excellent.”

“Not at all, it’s all thanks to my team’s hard work.”

“Haha, you’re even humble. Anyway, today’s matter was truly the best.”

“You flatter me.”

It was nearing 6 PM. Due to the unexpectedly long meeting, it ended much later than anticipated, but everyone seemed satisfied. For some, it was a favorable outcome; for others, it was a relief that the results had been achieved.

“Then, please have a safe trip back.”

“Yes, see you next time. Goodbye.”

After exchanging farewells, Jaehoon and Hyeyun got into the car they had parked nearby.

“Great job today, Team Leader. The results were amazing.”

“Indeed. You worked hard too, Song Hyeyun.”

“No, I didn’t do much. It was all thanks to you, Team Leader. Ah, you were really cool today. They say men look the best when they work, and you were exactly that today.”

“…”

“Haha… Anyway, you were impressive. Ah, Team Leader, shall we grab a quick dinner on the way back? Since we got good results thanks to you, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Maybe it was because Jaehoon, whom she thought would ignore her, actually responded. Hyeyun felt unexpectedly excited, and perhaps she overreacted. But despite her praise, calling him cool, Jaehoon remained expressionless and silent, making her feel awkward. Maybe she got too excited just because he interacted with her after a long time.

“Song Hyeyun.”

“Yes?”

At that moment, Jaehoon called her name. His voice was as cold as his expression.

“If you say it like that, what about the other team members who worked just as hard? This outcome isn’t solely my achievement but the result of everyone’s effort, including yours. Saying it as if all the credit belongs to me makes me uncomfortable and very displeased.”

“Ah…”

“And let’s just head back quietly and quickly. If you’ve decided to treat me only as your superior, then apply that not just in words but in actions too. Normally, a regular employee wouldn’t suggest dinner first to their team leader.”

It was understandable. Every single word she said had rubbed him the wrong way. Even though she was his former lover, even though she now acted recklessly and frustratingly, she was still his subordinate. He tried to maintain the boundaries between a superior and an employee. But Hyeyun’s attitude, seemingly disregarding the efforts of other team members just to gain favor with the man she liked, made him feel both annoyed and displeased. Realizing this, Hyeyun lowered her head and spoke in a much smaller voice than before.

“…I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

Unseen by Jaehoon, she bit her lip hard. Of course, she knew she had said the wrong thing, but did he really have to rebuke her this harshly? It wasn’t just upsetting—it was downright humiliating. She had been careful, addressing him formally and treating him as a superior, yet even though they had broken up and were now just colleagues, she wondered if he really needed to be this cold to her.

As she was lost in thought, the car came to a stop, and Jaehoon spoke.

“Forget it. Let’s take a short break. If we get stuck in traffic, we won’t be able to move.”

With that, he quickly got out of the car, leaving Hyeyun alone inside.

“This is too much. He’s being way too harsh.”

That thought crossed her mind. His coldness felt unbearable. And yet, deep in her mind, she felt the urge to hold onto him no matter what. She had no choice but to.

“Hyeyun, help me! Just this once! If you help me this time, I won’t ask for anything again!”

Her mother’s pleading voice and her father’s angry demands for money echoed in her mind. At first, her feelings for Jaehoon weren’t like this. It was love. He had cherished her and approached her sincerely, and she had been grateful and happy. But somewhere along the way, her feelings changed.

“When did my feelings start to change?”

As she watched Jaehoon walking toward her, she asked herself. When did her love transform into something else? Then, with a faint, bittersweet smile filled with obsession, she muttered to herself.

“Probably from the moment I learned about your background.”

Jaehoon’s prestigious and glamorous family. That was it. It had started as simple curiosity and a tinge of jealousy. The day she secretly followed him, suspecting he was hiding something, she discovered that he lived in a completely different world from hers. From that moment on, her love turned into a calculated search for someone who could change her life.

“So I can’t let you go easily. I will keep holding on.”

Watching Jaehoon approach, she slowly raised a hand to her head and closed her eyes.

Meanwhile, it was past 9 PM. Dayun checked her phone, then glanced at the entrance and out the window, wondering where Jaehoon was.

“Did he go far? Is he stuck in traffic? Could something have happened?”

She knew it wasn’t easy to call while driving, but the fact that he hadn’t arrived yet despite saying he’d be there soon made her increasingly worried.

“No, that’s impossible.”

Shaking off her concerns, she reminded herself that if anything had happened, she would have heard by now. Still, thinking about him, she suddenly recalled a conversation she had with his biological mother, Miyoung.

Miyoung had once confessed to Dayun that Jaehoon’s father had a first love he never forgot, even after marrying her. Their marriage was arranged, and even after having a child, Miyoung was never truly loved. Eventually, overwhelmed by loneliness, she left, leaving even her son behind.

Dayun had understood Miyoung’s pain, though she didn’t think abandoning Jaehoon was the right choice. But remembering Miyoung’s final request, she decided to help.

“Please, help me get closer to Jaehoon. It’s too late, but I still want to be his mother.”

Meanwhile, Jaehoon hurriedly bought porridge and got into his car.

“Ha… What is even happening?”

Hyeyun had suddenly clutched her head in pain, leaving Jaehoon baffled. He had wanted to just drop her off at the office, but in the end, he took her home, concerned despite himself.

Meanwhile, after he left, Hyeyun smirked and lay back down, perfectly reenacting her earlier act. Looking out the window, she spotted Jaehoon returning.

“Of course, he wouldn’t be so cold.”

Watching him, she smiled, thinking about how to keep him close. Unaware of her schemes, Jaehoon glanced up at the dark sky, murmuring,

“Is it going to rain?”

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