Chapter 03
“Ah…….”
It didn’t seem like he was simply suggesting they take care of each other as husband and wife.
Bringing up their honeymoon from three years ago…
The deep look in his eyes…
No matter how she thought about it, it felt like he meant something more intimate.
……How could he say something like that?
So-eun’s face turned red, from the tips of her ears to her scalp.
Memories of their honeymoon, when they had spent a week together as husband and wife, flashed through her mind like lightning.
The man who had held her tightly, moving against her body with intensity.
Back then, she had just graduated high school and married him at twenty. She had only learned about such things in school, but now she was experiencing them.
How terrifying, nerve-wracking, and confusing it had been.
Most twenty-year-old girls would have been excited about starting college, not walking down the aisle.
Thinking back on that week of their honeymoon, she felt a strange mix of emotions.
The unfamiliarity of it had scared her, made her tremble…
And yet, somehow, her body had adjusted to him, surrendering to the new sensations of pleasure.
Those nights had left her with conflicting emotions.
“What’s your assignment?”
“Huh?”
Lost in memories of her husband, So-eun looked up at his sudden question.
“I asked what your assignment is. I’ll help you. Bring it to me later.”
Oh. That’s right.
She had momentarily forgotten—he was working toward becoming a business professor in the U.S.
Looking at her, a business major, he must see her as a future student he would one day teach.
Even though he was the heir to the GH Group, he had chosen to become a professor instead of going straight into managing the family business.
That, So-eun thought, was truly admirable.
“Okay. I’ll show you later.”
“Good. But for now, we have somewhere to go.”
“Where?”
“My family’s house.”
Hearing that, So-eun’s heart dropped.
Whenever she visited her in-laws alone during the holidays, she was overwhelmed with nerves.
She tried so hard not to make any mistakes that by the time she got home, her shoulders would be sore from all the tension.
Thankfully, her parents-in-law were kind people.
Since she was much younger than her husband, they made an effort to make her feel comfortable.
She understood their kindness, but still, the thought of visiting them always filled her with anxiety.
“Wait… so you came straight here instead of seeing your parents first after returning to Korea?”
“Why? Am I not allowed to come see my wife first?”
“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant…”
So-eun lowered her head.
Now, all she could think about was changing clothes and preparing herself to formally visit his family.
At their house…
She would have to put on a happy face as his wife, celebrating his return. She couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.
But soon, he would realize the truth—she had grown up without parents, a girl without family ties.
How could someone like her ever fit in with his wealthy, close-knit family?
Their marriage had been arranged by the elders. He had probably gone along with it because he had no choice.
What if he started to resent her even more, realizing that she wasn’t worthy of him?
How was she supposed to navigate this marriage?
After three years apart, their relationship was practically starting over.
If she had parents, maybe they could have guided her on how to be a good wife.
So-eun’s mind was a whirlwind of worries.
These thoughts had haunted her even before she got married.
Then, she heard his deep voice.
“Yang So-eun.”
“Y-yes?”
“Even if you don’t like me as your husband, you don’t have to look that miserable.”
“Ah…!”
So-eun’s head shot up in shock.
She had been so lost in thought that her face must have looked sad, and he had misunderstood.
“N-no! I was just thinking about something else.”
“While talking to me?”
“Well… um…”
The more they talked, the more she felt lost.
She bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
Hearing her struggle, Hyun-jun let out a small sigh and turned toward his study, his footsteps heavy.
“I’m going to take a shower. Change into something appropriate for visiting my family and wait for me.”
“…Okay.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she watched his broad back disappear into his study.
Even after he was out of sight, the only thing that lingered in the air was the faint scent of citrus.
Looking at his study, memories from long ago began to surface…
“So-eun.”
“Yes, Grandpa!”
Little So-eun always ran to her grandfather, Byung-hwe, and threw herself into his arms.
Her parents had died in a tragic car accident when she was just two years old.
Left as an orphan, she was raised by her grandfather, who cherished her dearly.
Their relatives, however, treated her differently—whispering behind her back, calling her bad luck for surviving while her parents didn’t.
But Byung-hwe ignored them all.
Whenever he stroked her hair gently, So-eun closed her eyes, savoring the warmth.
He had filled the role of the father she never had.
Byung-hwe was the owner of a mid-sized company called Jusan Foods.
Despite his busy schedule, he always made time to tell her stories.
One day, he said, “So-eun, long before you were born, I fought in a war.”
“A war? Like the ones in books?”
“Yes. I had two close friends there. We fought side by side and survived together.”
He opened an old drawer and pulled out a faded photograph.
In it, three young men stood proudly in military uniforms.
So-eun pointed at one of them.
“Wow! Is this you, Grandpa?”
“That’s right.”
“You look so cool holding a gun!”
She listened, eyes shining with excitement.
Then, he told her something surprising.
“My friends and I once made a promise—to have our first grandchildren marry each other.”
“What? Marriage?”
He had chuckled, bouncing her on his knee.
“But don’t worry. I love my precious granddaughter too much to just give her away.”
“Hehe. Grandpa~”
“Besides, it wouldn’t work anyway. There are two grandsons and only one granddaughter. Someone would be left out!”
At the time, young So-eun didn’t think much of it.
But as the years passed, some people in their family grew resentful.
Her grandfather’s second son and his wife, in particular.
“Why does Father only care about So-eun?”
They were jealous that their children—Hye-in, Mi-in, and the youngest, Cheol-in—were not treated the same.
Then, when So-eun was in high school, disaster struck.
Byung-hwe had a stroke and never fully recovered.
She cared for him for two years, but in the end, he passed away when she was eighteen.
At the funeral, she couldn’t stop crying.
“Grandpa… I did well on my exams, just like you wanted. You have to hear about it… You can’t leave me like this…”
Through her tears, she suddenly noticed the room growing quiet.
An elderly man entered, leaning on a cane.
Behind him, a distinguished middle-aged couple followed.
They exuded dignity, refinement, and authority.
Even in her grief, So-eun recognized them.
GH Group’s honorary chairman, Jeon Soonchul… and his eldest son and daughter-in-law.
