Chapter 30: Shall We… Marry?

He didn’t release the hand he’d been holding until after we got into the car. Even though he must have overheard everything with Seo-Rin, Jae-Ha remained silent.

Why did things keep happening around him? I turned the fountain pen between my fingers.

“So where are we heading now?”

I realized we weren’t going home.

“You’ll know when we get there.”

It was nearly midnight, and I tilted my head in confusion. He glanced at me with a slow smile and continued driving without a word.

“Let’s get off.”

We pulled up at the Han River. That late at night—what was he planning?

He must have read my mind, because he spoke first.

“We both need some fresh air.”

He disappeared briefly, then returned with two cans of beer, handing one to me with a cool clink that sent relief through me.

“Want a drink?”

He opened a can of beer and handed it to me. The refreshing feeling on my fingertips already made my body shiver.

When I looked down at the coffee in his hand, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Am I ‘drinking alone’ again today?”

“My secretary left early today.”

He must have driven himself, then.

The cold beer soothed the heat that had clung to me all night, cooling me slowly.

“It’s hard to control myself when I drink at this hour…”

He murmured while gazing across the river.

Startled, he watched me down a full can.

“Wait—who downs beer in one go?”

“Ah… refreshing.”

I emptied my can in one swallow.

When I stood up, Jaeha stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“Beer can’t be enough for me tonight.”

He said nothing and simply looked at me with steady eyes.

“The food today was too stimulating.”

Seo-Rin’s pregnancy announcement haunted my mind.

All I wanted was oblivion.

—-

“You’re drinking well by yourself.”

He leaned on the bench, watching me mix drinks. I swirled the one in my glass, and he chuckled.

“Want some?”

“If we both get drunk, it’ll be quite a scene.”

He took my glass away just as I lifted it to my lips.

“Stop drinking. You’re drunk.”

I was already well past drunk—my tolerance wasn’t low, but I mixed too much. I tried to stand up. The world wavered, and Jae-Ha’s face blurred and then refocused.

“Huff…”

“See? You’re drunk.”

I staggered and clutched Jae-Ha to stay upright. His gentle gaze held mine—calm and unguarded.

Why did I feel like he was happier than I was? He stayed still, leaning on the bench, eyes on me.

This man—his birthday is coming up; I remembered he’d be turning thirty-three soon.

Since the rebirth, I’ve learned so much about him—things I never knew.

Tonight’s events with Seo-Rin, her pregnancy… Wasn’t it proof of things I’ve felt?

“If… I said I know the future—would you believe me?”

Drunk but serious—I watched his face pinch in concern.

He laughed softly, as if thinking the question absurd in this state.

“The future? Like you’re not Yeo-Jin, but… a secret sister?”

“A secret sister? That’s… amusing. Ha.”

It was a more realistic and believable story than a story about someone dying and coming back to life.

Who would believe that? That she was killed by her husband and returned to the past. That her junior, who had an affair with her ex-husband, had another child. This absurd story.

I rubbed my throbbing temple as the headache deepened.

“Truly… I hate… your brother. I despise him. And hating him isn’t enough—I loathe him.”

I hated Ji-Han for driving me to this edge, making everything about revenge.

The day I’d lost my normal life and flown across time… His cold, intent gaze haunted me every day I awoke.

“You’re suffering more than you let on…” He gently approached and wrapped me in his arms.

“Of course I know it’s still hard. I also know that my brother did something terrible to you.”

He brushed my hair, awkwardly but sincerely giving the comfort he could.

“When my mother died… I woke up and there was no one by my side.”

“…”

“Because of that, I’ve never truly received comfort, and I’ve never learned how to…”

He shared something I’d never heard before.

Buried in his arms, I could only sense the depth in his lowered voice—it trembled just enough to show its truth.

“I guess it’s because I live a life where I have to show my actions rather than my words. Honestly, I don’t know what to do in times like this.”

Jae-Ha’s soft voice as he continued to speak warmed my heart. It wasn’t comfort, but I felt my heart slowly calming down in his warm arms.

“So I figured I’d offer the kind of comfort I know best. Want me to really get under Seo Ji-Han’s skin?”

“…?”

I looked up from his chest, caught off guard by his sudden words.

Jae-Ha’s gaze met mine, unwavering and direct.

“You said we should get married.”

His voice slipped into my ears, softer than ever, like a sweet whisper brushing past.

“Let’s do it, Yoon Yeo-Jin. Let’s get married.”

“But the Seo Jae-Ha I know—he’d hate the idea of marriage.”

That had been something I said to him once, in passing.

Apparently, he hadn’t forgotten.

“Shall we, then?”

It felt like fireworks exploded in my head. Did I hear that right? This couldn’t be a dream.

“I can’t think of a better revenge.”

His deep black eyes looked straight into mine, unreadable yet sincere.

His relaxed smile tugged at my chest. My mouth had gone dry.

What am I supposed to do with this now…?

I drank to forget tonight, to forget everything. So why was his gaze sobering me up more than the alcohol ever could?

“No, I shouldn’t…”

Before I realized it, my hand had gripped the cuff of his shirt tightly.

“Why am I like this? I think the alcohol’s wearing off… ha…”

I let go of his sleeve, but my heart pounded uncontrollably. Staring at Jae-Ha, afraid that tomorrow he might pretend none of this happened, I covered my face with my hands.

My steps faltered. Even though my mind was clear, my body had yet to catch up.

“You’re going to fall like that.”

He caught me, his arm firm around my waist. Even without looking, I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin.

If I opened my eyes now, there’d be no going back.

“Seo Jae-Ha, normally when I get drunk, I forget everything the next day.”

But tonight was different. It was like I could remember everything—every word, every look—with alarming clarity.

“But I think I’ll remember this one.” I lowered the hand covering my face.

Jae-Ha was standing right there, close enough that the tips of our noses almost touched.

“Did you mean it?”

And soon, in another room, I heard the answer.

* * *

With a steadying breath, I pushed open the heavy wooden door.

“You’re here?”

A luxurious private room. Late Saturday afternoon.

Seated across the elegant low table was Seo Min-Guk—the vice president of Hojin Group and father of Seo Ji-Han.

He’d contacted me shortly after the shareholders’ meeting, asking for a private meeting.

Strange, considering how indifferent he used to be toward me.

“Yes, Vice President. It’s been a while since we’ve spoken like this.”

I’d called him father for five years. But meeting one-on-one like this? I couldn’t recall a single instance.

“I heard about the broken engagement.”

His voice—deep and familiar—brought me out of my thoughts.

“Are you truly planning to end things with Ji-Han?”

He sounded like he was asking about the breakup, but what he really cared about… was the W Group merger.

I took a sip from the glass he offered me.

“If you’re asking about Ji-Han, yes. It’s over. We’ve called off the engagement.”

“I see. Breaking an engagement is that easy, huh? Ji-Han seemed to think otherwise.”

I’m sure what really worried him was the impact on the merger, not the broken relationship.
He traded his empty glass for cold water, irritation flickering in his face.

Maybe the fact that I had initiated the breakup annoyed him.

“You know, it’s not unusual for men to stray a little. Especially before marriage.”

“…”

“Aside from that, Ji-Han isn’t lacking in any way.”

He made it sound like I was ending the engagement over something trivial.

He looked at me with disapproval and shook his head.

“Daughter-in-law, can’t you just overlook it? Let it pass. If you forgive him, there’s still a future.”

He was already calling me “daughter-in-law” again, acting like nothing had changed.

Pretending to care, but all he wanted was to keep the merger intact.

This hypocrisy made me sick.

I turned away and took another sip of water.

“I’ve made my decision. I’m ending the engagement. And W Group will proceed under Jae-Ha.”

“Yeo-Jin, having your husband run the company versus bringing in a professional CEO—those are completely different! I’m saying this for your sake!”

He raised his voice as I stayed firm.

“You’re right. There’s nothing stronger than family ties when it comes to trust.”

“Exactly!”

Thinking he was finally getting through to me, a small smile crept across his face.

That’s when I spoke.

“That’s why he should be my husband. The man who’ll lead W Group.”

“…What?”

His hand, clutching his glass, trembled.

His expression twisted into one of confusion and disbelief.

A sudden knock interrupted us, and he turned toward the door.

Through the opening stepped Jae-Ha, dressed sharply in a tailored suit.

“Jae-Ha… What are you doing here?”