Chapter- 20
“Darling, you came,” the elegant voice of her mother-in-law made Heeju instinctively sit up straight.
Her in-laws were seated like a picture-perfect couple with an intimidating air. They were currently at the restaurant occupying the top floor.
Heeju unconsciously gulped.
“But what brings you here, of all things?”
Her mother-in-law’s gaze traveled upward to the tall figure of Baek Sa-eon.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be here?”
“It’s not like you’re one to talk. You never come even when you’re called.”
“I came for dinner, that’s all.”
The atmosphere, as usual, was chilly. With Baek Sa-eon present, it felt even worse.
In moments like this, there was only one rule to follow. That is to eat without a word.
‘Coincidentally, this is also what I excel at…!’
As soon as they sat down, her husband and father-in-law dove into political discussions.
Her father-in-law, Baek Ui-Yong, didn’t spare a glance at Heeju.
To him, she was merely a token of collaboration from ‘Sangyeong Daily’. And he wasn’t the type to concern himself with such details.
Her mother-in-law rested her cutlery.
“Looks like you’ve picked up a bad habit due to my negligence.”
Feeling inexplicably guilty, Heeju lifted her gaze, only to find her mother-in-law’s stern eyes fixed on someone.
“Fiddling with your phone at the table— what kind of manners are those?”
Thankfully, the rebuke wasn’t directed at Heeju.
“I’m waiting for a call.”
“…!”
The one who responded was her husband. Throughout the meal, Baek Sa-eon had been silently preoccupied with his silent phone.
Every time a call came in, he checked the number and rejected it repeatedly. Even in the rare setting of a family meal, his attention was more on his phone than his parents.
There was no way his mother, seated across from him, hadn’t noticed.
‘Could the call he’s waiting for be mine…?’
Heeju’s mouth went dry, and she reached for her water.
“Is it really that important?”
“Yes.”
Baek Sa-eon’s reply was curt.
His mother studied his cold expression briefly before picking up her chopsticks again.
As Baek Sa-eon swiped his phone to reject another call, his mother sighed in resignation.
“You’re still so immature.”
“…”
At last, Baek Sa-eon’s gaze shifted toward her.
“It seems you’ve completely forgotten what I taught you. Your desperation is bound to make you fail. Tell me, am I wrong?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Not like that? Look at yourself. On the podium, I teach that impatience is the greatest obstacle to communication.”
“…”
“Honestly, with your temper… On top of that, empathy has never been your strength. If you weren’t my son, you would have failed negotiations a long time ago.”
With an utterly detached expression, Baek Sa-eon tilted his head slightly, as if silently agreeing.
“Even persuading a serial killer to talk comes down to building rapport.”
Heeju pricked up her ears.
Coming from her mother-in-law, a former negotiation expert, the remark carried weight.
“And yet, you treat this awaited call as if…”
Her mother-in-law paused, choosing her words carefully, and then continued.
“As if you want to shred the person to pieces.”
“…!”
Heeju clutched her napkin tightly in surprise.
“You might think that’s a powerful strategy, but it’s not. It’s nothing but a reckless move that invites retaliation. I can’t fathom why someone who knows better would act so foolishly.”
Suddenly, she recalled the time Baek Sa-eon abruptly ended a call. That incident had enraged her and almost pushed Heeju into posting an exposé online.
“In negotiation, the belief that being tough guarantees victory and showing weakness leads to loss is a complete misconception. My life’s work has been teaching that, yet my own son ignores it.”
Her mother-in-law shook her head dramatically.
“There’s no winning a negotiation without trust.”
“…”
“Do you even understand the person on the other end?”
“It’s not as simple as you make it sound.”
“There’s a professional sitting right here.”
Her sharp gaze briefly flicked to Heeju before returning to Baek Sa-eon.
“If Father had a mistress, would you be able to understand her? Could you form a rapport with her?”
Her mother-in-law let out a short laugh.
“Dear, I’ve spent half my life with your father and even gave birth to you. There’s no one in this world I can’t understand.”
Her resolute declaration made Heeju bite her lip.
It felt like a veiled statement that no one could be more difficult than the men of the Baek family.
Oddly enough, the thought lightened her mood slightly.
“Well… it might be hard for you. Sometimes, this job feels like marriage counseling.”
Her mother-in-law cut a piece of meat and placed it on Baek Ui-Yong’s plate.
“I will say it until I get tired. Approach problems through conversation, clearly define your goals and avoid criticism. Show respect, preserve relationships, consult before making decisions, and never overlook small signals…”
“…”
“At its core, negotiating is no different from a marital relationship. So of course, my son struggles with it.”
“Why are you giving a lecture even here…!”
Her father-in-law interjected gruffly. Her mother-in-law seemed to pout at him.
To Heeju, her in-laws were always difficult to deal with, yet at moments like this, they seemed no different from any ordinary couple.
For so long, their conversations had been limited to formalities, but now she could fully grasp just how unwelcome she was in their world.
She was familiar with alienation, whether at her family home or here with her in-laws. No place ever gave her a sense of belonging.
Almost unconsciously, her eyes flicked to the clock again.
“Neither Sa-eon nor you are ready to listen. Ignorant fools, the both of you. And yet, I’m supposed to make this man president…”
Her mother-in-law shook her head, half in jest.
At that moment, her father-in-law, who had been exuding nothing but frosty silence, suddenly spoke up.
“But seriously, how long have you been married, and there’s still no news from you two?”
“……”
“Maybe I should have included a clause about grandchildren in the contract.”
“……!”
The cold, calculating gaze directed at her felt like she was nothing more than a tool. That sharp look was one of the many traits Baek Sa-eon had inherited from his father.
Heeju quietly lowered her head. It was then that the man, who had been fixated on his phone, suddenly shifted his gaze.
“Are you just going to keep stalling like this, waiting for In-ah to return?”
“……!”
The unexpected mention of that name pierced her like a blade.
‘Hong In-ah.’
She hadn’t anticipated her stepsister’s name being brought up here.
“Even if you’re just an extra, you should do your bit. I prefer someone who’s cunning enough to secure their own future over a brainless fool.”
The father-in-law clicked his tongue and downed his drink in one gulp.
“Well… even if it’s not us, I’m sure you’ll find another good family to marry into.”
“……”
“After all, Chairman Hong probably only took in his stepdaughter for utility purposes. Businessmen all think the same way.”
“……”
“You’re a convenient pawn, and now he understands the benefits of keeping you as such. Heeju will likely continue to be used in this way in the future.”
The words were like poison. Heeju knew her situation far too well, she had grown up painfully aware of her position. But that didn’t mean hearing it aloud wasn’t excruciating. Shame welled up inside her.
“Still, I appreciate that you’re simple-minded. It makes you a perfect asset for my campaign truck.”
“……!”
Her throat tightened as if she couldn’t breathe. It was the first time in a while she felt this kind of suffocating helplessness.
In this world, nobody could save her. Only she could pull her out of this quagmire.
Heeju exhaled slowly, a growing determination was taking hold within.
“I’ll share the details of the national campaign tour later. You might have to spend extended periods in the car, so if you have any plans for pregnancy, avoid my election period. Campaigning isn’t for the faint of heart.”
At that moment, the screech of a chair being pushed back cut through the room. The father-in-law and mother-in-law’s faces instantly darkened at the lack of decorum.
Turning their heads, they saw Baek Sa-eon rising from his seat.
“Why are you standing up? You haven’t even finished eating.”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
“What?”
“I have work to do.”
Even Heeju stared at him with wide eyes.
“If my father insists on treating me like a stallion, there’s no reason for me to stay here out of obligation.”
“Excuse me?”
“Where does a stallion find time to eat when it’s expected to perform effortlessly?”
“……!”
Sa-eon’s father slammed his hand on the table, his face was red with rage.
“Baek Sa-eon!”
At the same time, Heeju felt herself being abruptly pulled.
Baek Sa-eon had grabbed her chair, dragging it forcefully away from the table. Her body curled into a defensive posture, was suddenly distanced from the suffocating dining arrangement.
“Get up.”
Heeju looked at him in shock.
“Are you going to stay seated?”
She was paralyzed, her expression vacant and bewildered. Baek Sa-eon frowned at her hesitation.
Finally, he grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet with enough force to leave no room for protest.
Even then, Heeju remained dazed, unable to comprehend what was happening.
“Heeju,” he announced coldly, “you’re not riding in my father’s campaign truck.”
“What?”
“You’ll stay by my side, not his.”
TL/N:
I’m not sure if this is common in other countries. But in Korea, there are publicity campaigns where the candidate is seen promoting himself in different parts of the cities. It’s like a van, decorated with tons of posters and party logo-ish stuff and there’s sufficient space where you can see the leader. It’s like a mobile podium. They use a megaphone to give speeches or shout slogans.
And Heeju’s father-in-law wants her to accompany him then. It’s common for relatives to accompany the candidate on these publicity stunts.
