Ch#59
59. Trying to Marry Her to Your Brother
From a young age, Ha-young had a personality where she had to get whatever she set her mind on to feel satisfied. It was the same now. She was persistently demanding it to the point where Na-eun was sick of it.
"Even if it's a dingy semi-basement with cockroaches, I don't care. It's not my house anyway."
"Why do you keep insisting on coming over?"
Na-eun's voice mixed wariness and anxiety. Ha-young's eyes sparkled as she smiled.
"Just because. The CEO seems so fond of his nephew? Then I should get close to Ji-ho too. That should do it, right? Next time, I'm taking Ji-ho to the broadcasting station."
Na-eun's face hardened at Ha-young's words.
"I won't allow it."
Na-eun said firmly, gritting her teeth. Ha-young replied leisurely.
"You'll allow it eventually. Ji-ho would prefer the broadcasting station over a boring amusement park."
A cold silence filled the car once more.
Ha-young sneered and continued slowly.
"You're really going all out. If we fight like this, what happens to our Ji-ho? Well, I even tried to dump him at a daycare once, so I don't care much. But you're different. You've raised him with such devotion."
Na-eun was dumbfounded. Was she threatening to ruin her own child?
"Are you threatening me with Ji-ho right now? Using the fact that I love him?"
Ha-young smiled slyly.
"Threatening? If that's what you call it... Just do what I say from now on. When I say I'm taking Ji-ho to the broadcasting station, just agree."
"No. That won't happen. Even if it hurts Ji-ho, if it's for his sake, I'll do anything."
At Na-eun's words, Ha-young sneered and handed her the shopping bag she was holding.
"Give this to Ji-ho. Say it's from Aunt."
"No thanks. If you want to give it, take it back yourself."
When Na-eun refused to take it, Ha-young stared straight at her and said.
"Should I go in and give it to him myself? If a pretty aunt visits the kindergarten and gives him a gift, he'd love it. The other kids would be jealous too."
"Give it here."
Na-eun took the shopping bag, now hating even the thought of Ha-young meeting Ji-ho. Ha-young said it as if to prove a point.
"See? In the end, you'll do as I say. Let's get along from now on. Raising the family is up to you and me. My success is your success too."
With that, Ha-young got out of Na-eun's car and drove off in her red sports car.
Kyung-hye visited Kang-woo's office. She rarely came to the office, but today she was dressed up more than usual. A diamond necklace she seldom wore sparkled brightly. Kyung-hye sat in the chair with a dignified elegance and a poised smile.
"Where did you go out to?"
When Kang-woo asked, Kyung-hye smiled faintly and replied.
"Yes, I went out. The foundation school directors gathered to talk."
She lightly brushed her hair back with her fingertips and said.
"Must have been at a nice place."
Kang-woo responded to Kyung-hye's words.
"We met at a gallery."
Kyung-hye nodded and replied in a deep voice. Kang-woo nodded as if lost in thought for a moment.
"The one in Yongsan?"
Kang-woo asked again, looking at Kyung-hye. Her eyes sparkled as she answered.
"Yeah."
Kyung-hye smiled faintly, recalling that day's meeting.
"Having a gallery makes it feel classy. Should we make one too?"
At Kyung-hye's suggestion, Kang-woo crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.
"Who would you entrust it to? You can't handle everything yourself. Galleries are usually run by families because there are too many people playing around with art."
Kyung-hye thought for a moment, then nodded.
"True. So why don't you meet someone suitable and get married?"
Kang-woo leaned back in his chair with a short laugh at Kyung-hye's words.
"I was planning to anyway."
His voice carried ease.
Kyung-hye smiled brightly at him and opened her handbag.
"Really? Good. That's why I'm here to help. Look at this."
Excited, she placed a document envelope on the desk.
Kang-woo picked it up, narrowing his brow.
"What's this?"
Kang-woo opened the envelope and examined the contents. There were about ten resumes inside. Kyung-hye smiled triumphantly.
"The daughter from Madam Shin's family I met today is in there too."
Kyung-hye tapped the documents with her fingertips.
"Candidates to run the gallery?"
Kang-woo asked sarcastically as he slowly flipped through them. Kyung-hye relaxed her face and shook her head.
"Something like that. Once you get married."
At her words, Kang-woo smiled in disbelief and lowered his head. Seeing his silence, Kyung-hye continued, her face full of confidence.
"If you want to meet them, see all ten."
Kyung-hye raised an eyebrow playfully.
Kang-woo could no longer focus on work and tossed the documents back on the desk.
"No need."
Kyung-hye's eyes sharpened. She pressed her lips together, then spoke again.
"Why not? You said you'd marry someone suitable."
Kang-woo shrugged and replied.
"I'll find her myself."
Kyung-hye sighed at his answer and crossed her arms. Her voice lowered, turning firm.
"Where? If you marry someone you just met on the street out of attachment, it won't last. We have a duty to protect our family's power."
Kang-woo met Kyung-hye's eyes directly, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Tell that to hyung."
Kyung-hye's expression twisted slightly for a moment. Tension emanated from her cold, hardened eyes.
"Your brother is already ruined."
Kang-woo blinked and paused at her words.
"Mother. Does one divorce ruin a person?"
A tremor of restraint filled Kang-woo's voice.
Kyung-hye leaned deeply into the chair with a weary face. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she feigned composure.
"No. There's a problem. It's not just Min-ho. Your brother isn't the same anymore."
Kang-woo took a quiet breath and said.
"He's hurt. We have to wait."
Kyung-hye narrowed her eyes and retorted.
"How long? It's already been years."
Impatience and anxiety mixed in Kyung-hye's voice.
Kang-woo sighed and said.
"Not even three years."
Kyung-hye clamped her mouth shut and stared piercingly at Kang-woo. She turned her head and said coldly.
"Anyway, go on some dates."
Kang-woo looked out the window frustratedly, then gathered the resumes back into the envelope and handed it to Kyung-hye.
"Take it. I don't even want it in my office."
But Kyung-hye pushed the envelope back toward him and said.
"Even if you're not interested now, look when you're bored. They're fine. And I have something else to discuss." Kyung-hye set down her teacup and looked at Kang-woo. The sound of the cold cup clinking echoed in the quiet office.
"What is it?"
Kang-woo leaned forward slightly from his seated position and asked.
His eyes held wary curiosity.
Kyung-hye slowly spoke with a subtle smile on her lips.
"I really like Teacher Han Na-eun."
Kang-woo's heart began to race at that moment.
Why bring up Teacher Han all of a sudden?
He waited for Kyung-hye to continue.
"And?"
Instead of answering, Kyung-hye picked up her teacup again. The tea wetting the rim slightly moistened her fingertips.
"The more I see her, the better she seems. Her background is poor, but she's smart and kind-hearted. Just from how well she treats Min-ho, I'm thinking of pairing her with Kang-hyeok."
The moment those words left Kyung-hye's mouth, Kang-woo's face hardened. His mind grew complicated, deepening the furrow between his brows.
"What did you just say?"
Kang-woo stared straight at Kyung-hye and asked clearly in a low voice.
Kyung-hye nodded as if it were the most natural thing.
"Yeah, pairing Teacher Han Na-eun with Kang-hyeok. He doesn't seem opposed either."
Kang-woo's body stiffened as if struck by cold wind. His throat dried, struggling to swallow.
"Hyung doesn't seem opposed?"
Kang-woo's voice was low but clearly suppressing emotion.
Kyung-hye continued confidently.
"Yes. She's not the kind anyone would dislike. She seems pretty good in your eyes too, right? Her looks, her heart. Especially how she handles kids—if only Ji-ho's dad took him, it'd be perfect. Even as an unwed mother, she must have the child's father somewhere."
Kang-woo's eyes gleamed coldly.
