Chapter 4
Maybe it was because life had become so hard lately—
She had a really beautiful dream.
A dream about her high school days in America.
That time had been one of the rarest, happiest chapters of Soyu’s life.
But for some reason, tears were in her eyes when she woke up.
“Hazel doesn’t exist anymore. I’m Jung Soyu now.”
She muttered to herself bitterly as she sat up in bed.
Her head throbbed like it might crack open. A hangover.
She must’ve fallen asleep just like that last night.
Thankfully, Taeoh wasn’t in the room. Seeing his face first thing in the morning would’ve been mortifying.
Then she spotted the small note left on the table.
[The deal is sealed. Like you said—my marriage needs you.]
So he had agreed to her request about her father.
At the very least, Soyu felt like she could believe him on this.
He was someone trained to take over a massive conglomerate; he had to understand the weight of a word like “deal.” And more than that… last night, he’d come to her with wine, and comforted her—not quite as a husband, not quite as a stranger.
Compared to her stepmother, she was starting to believe he might actually be trustworthy.
[So you keep your promise too. Even if you don’t like me, be my wife.]
His handwriting matched him—neat and clean.
Almost obsessively perfect, right down to spacing and grammar.
It made her smile weakly. It was so him.
And then her eyes reached the last line.
[The wedding night was great.]
Startled, Soyu immediately checked her clothes.
Aside from the torn buttons—courtesy of Dahae—everything was intact.
Not a thing out of place.
And most importantly, her body didn’t feel like anything had happened.
Without a doubt—nothing had happened.
“…Was that a joke?”
If it was, she was definitely going to need time to get used to that kind of dry humor.
She let out a hollow chuckle when a polite knock came from the door.
Placing the note gently back on the table, Soyu walked over to answer it.
“Miss Jung Soyu?”
It was a hotel staff member.
“The Vice President asked me to bring this to you.”
He handed her a brand-new outfit, price tags still attached.
“You didn’t have to bring it yourself…”
Feeling bad for turning him into an errand boy, Soyu bowed her head as she accepted the gift.
“It’s my job. Also… he said not to be too shocked by the article.”
So the article’s out now.
Given the public stature of the Kanghwa Group, it would probably get the kind of attention a celebrity wedding might receive.
Soyu didn’t even want to think about what the online reactions might be.
She smiled awkwardly.
“Yes. Thank you… and sorry.”
“Not at all. Please treat this as your home. Let us know when you’d prefer housekeeping.”
With a polite bow, the staff member left.
Soyu unfolded the dress—a high-end piece that looked straight out of a luxury department store.
Only someone truly wealthy would think nothing of giving away a dress like this.
She stripped off her ruined clothes and slipped into the new dress.
It fit perfectly. Uncannily so.
Staring at her reflection, she chuckled to herself.
Wearing something that matched his taste… somehow made her feel more radiant.
Should I text him a thank-you?
She hesitated, phone in hand, when an unwelcome call appeared on screen.
[Seok Jaehyun]
Soyu sighed.
“I asked you not to contact me personally, didn’t I?”
— What’s this article about? Are you seriously marrying the Kanghwa Group heir?
Jaehyun had been Soyu’s very first friend.
“Did you make up with my sister?”
And now… he was Dahae’s boyfriend—the same guy she was obsessed with.
After years of Dahae’s relentless pursuit, the two had been dating for quite some time.
“If you two are fighting again, don’t drag me into it. I’m tired of being caught in the crossfire.”
— Just answer me. Are you really marrying that guy or not?
His tone was firm—something Soyu had never heard from him before.
— Forget it. Let’s meet. We need to talk face-to-face.
“You know I can’t.”
— I’ll be at your favorite café. Same table. If you don’t show, I’ll never speak to Dahae again.
He hung up.
One trial ends, and another one begins.
And once that one ends, something worse will be waiting.
She was exhausted.
When does it stop?
Soyu rubbed her tired eyes.
In the end, she never got around to texting Taeoh her thanks.
Jaehyun sat at Soyu’s favorite café—at her favorite table.
She sat down across from him, face drawn and tense.
Even with a childhood friend, the awkwardness between them was undeniable.
“This is new.”
He glanced at her dress.
It wasn’t that it didn’t suit her—it just didn’t feel familiar.
“Did Vice President Kang buy that for you?”
What scared him most was the thought that Taeoh’s world might start erasing Soyu.
When light-colored fabric sits too long next to something dark, it starts to stain.
“What do you want?”
Soyu didn’t care for his concern. All she wanted was to get this over with.
“I’ll go first,” Jaehyun said. “Make up with your sister. Unless you’re actually planning to break them up for good.”
Dahae had fallen for Jaehyun at first sight.
Though younger than her, he’d been mature, gentle—everything Dahae wanted.
Which is why she had always been irrationally jealous of Soyu.
It was around then that Soyu began distancing herself from him.
Jaehyun had tried, again and again, to reconnect—but it had never worked.
“Jaehyun… stop using my sister to guilt me into things. Please.”
Her voice trembled.
“If even you start doing this to me, I don’t think I can take it anymore. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Friend?”
Jaehyun let out a bitter laugh.
“Have you treated me like one recently?”
“I… that’s because…”
Soyu’s voice faded.
She had always kept her distance—because even just being near Jaehyun was enough to make Dahae bristle with suspicion.
As unfair as it was, pulling back made life slightly more bearable.
“I don’t love Dahae. I never did.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Soyu’s brows knit together.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know. You did.”
Jaehyun didn’t care how startled Soyu looked. He pressed forward.
Her head began to throb.
“Then why did you accept her confession?” she asked, dumbfounded.
“Because it’s what you wanted.”
“…What?”
Soyu ran a hand roughly through her hair, flustered by the strange direction his words were taking.
Jaehyun, the one who had just dropped that bombshell, continued with disarming calm.
“I thought if I did, Dahae would stop tormenting you.”
“Jaehyun…”
“And I didn’t want to grow further apart from you.”
“You can’t be serious…”
She had a dozen things she wanted to say—but none of them made it past her lips.
“I did it all for you.”
And just like that, Jaehyun pinned the failure of a relationship he’d chosen to start… on her.
Soyu bit her lip, overwhelmed.
Now, Jaehyun was starting to feel just as uncomfortable to her as Dahae had always been.
“Then why didn’t you talk to me before deciding to get married?”
His voice had grown louder.
The sudden sharpness made Soyu flinch. Raised voices always triggered something inside her.
“You can’t do this to me, Soyu. I’ve been stuck in this disgusting relationship—because of you!”
“Jaehyun… I’m sorry, but I don’t understand a single thing you’re saying.”
All she wanted now was to get up and leave.
More than anything, she wanted to be back in the hotel, the one place that had come to feel safer than home.
“I’m not letting you marry that guy. No way. Let’s just run away. Together.”
“…What are you saying? The wedding is in a few weeks.”
“You’re not marrying him because you love him, right? Let’s go to America. You love it there.”
“Seok Jaehyun.”
Soyu rarely used his full name.
He froze.
In that moment, two images burned clearly in her mind:
Her father lying unconscious in the hospital bed…
And Taeoh—so commanding, so maddening, but the only one who had truly seen her pain.
“I never wanted you to date my sister. You chose to accept her feelings. That was your decision—not mine.”
His words had felt invasive—almost violent.
“And now, it’s not even about Dahae anymore. You, as a person, are starting to make me uncomfortable.”
“Soyu…”
“If you want to break up with my sister, then break up with her.”
The coffee in her cup had long gone cold.
Just like her voice.
“Stop making me feel like a fool.”
She grabbed her bag and stood.
“And yes—I’m going to marry him.”
Maybe it had started because of Yeonok’s pressure.
But now, Soyu was the one making that choice.
Looking back, Taeoh was the only one who had taken her pain seriously.
The only one who gave her real answers.
The only one who gave her a promise she could rely on.
She couldn’t say for sure if he was a good person, but she believed he wasn’t a bad one. Not to her.
“So don’t treat him like a joke.”
“Jung Soyu!”
Jaehyun had followed her silently all the way to the front of the Kanghwa Hotel—but now, he called out loudly.
“No matter how I look at it, you’re just… tired.”
Soyu sighed and stopped walking.
“That’s why you can’t make a clear decision. You’re not thinking straight.”
“…”
“You’ll change your mind once you come back to your senses. Call me when you do. I’ll be waiting.”
She turned as if to respond, but Jaehyun had already hailed a cab and disappeared.
“…Was I the unwelcome guest, then?”
She let out a bitter, almost amused breath—then paused.
Because standing not far away, watching her in silence, were a pair of cold, unreadable eyes.
“Ah… Taeoh.”
He had mentioned an off-site meeting today.
Behind him, his assistants quickly disappeared, reading the atmosphere perfectly.
“If you had a hidden lover, you should’ve told me. Makes me feel like I just interrupted something.”
“N-no, it’s not like that…”
He’s my sister’s boyfriend.
She wanted to explain that right away—but Taeoh, clearly irritated, cut her off.
“So I’m just here to be used for a while? Until you’re done with me?”
Something about his tone was strange.
Like jealousy.
Like someone who’d just discovered a secret affair involving the person they truly cared about.
“Mr. Kang Taeoh.”
Soyu tilted her head, confused by his unusually reactive attitude.
“Why are you… this angry?”
“What?”
“I mean, seriously. If anyone heard you right now, they’d think you actually like me.”
Even as she said it, she realized how provoking that sounded.
It was rude. Insensitive.
She braced herself for an outburst.
But Taeoh said nothing.
His silence was even more unsettling than anger.
Soyu quickly backtracked.
“…I’m sorry. That came out wrong.”
Without a word, Taeoh walked past her.
She turned, staring after him—his rigid shoulders, the tension in his step.
Soyu bit her lip.
“…You’re crazy, Jung Soyu.”
As if you’re in any position to be teasing or joking with him right now.
You should be doing everything you can to stay on his good side.
And yet… here you are, pushing him away.
