Chapter 43
Villain in Love
“I’ll be back soon.”
It hadn’t been that long since she’d left, but Seoul felt remarkably unfamiliar upon her arrival.
As the car wound through the forest of skyscrapers, Yeonwoo gazed at the streets like a stranger arriving in a completely unknown country or city.
…She was reminded of the first time she had set foot on Seoul soil.
Yeonwoo closed and opened her eyes quietly. Her twenty-year-old self, who had just been accepted into a university on the outskirts of the city, leaving behind Moksan County where she was born and raised to begin her life in Seoul.
Back then, she had left her mother’s arms to stand on her own, filled to the brim with bursting dreams and baseless hope. Everything felt new and grand. Even the stingy, cramped alleys—where a wide, open plain was nowhere to be found—felt like a Silk Road to her.
There was never a time she missed the hometown she’d left behind. She adapted to the city faster than anyone, and by the time she graduated, she had almost entirely forgotten about Moksan County. She thought she would never have a reason to return, vaguely imagining that while she might not lead a remarkably successful life, she would at least settle down here with a modest home of her own.
However, the Seoul she encountered today was nothing short of bleak in her eyes. Between the buildings that soared without end, the greyish-white cigarette smoke seemed to pile up like clouds.
The origin of her misfortune. The beginning.
She had thought she was somewhat accustomed to protecting herself, but she had been a complete novice, unable to do anything about a superior’s obsession when it actually confronted her. Her self-esteem had hit rock bottom, and for the first time, the fact that she was alone felt overwhelming.
A small front door lock with only a four-digit password had not made her feel safe even inside her home. Her pupils would shrink at the mere sound of the wind, and her heart would wither at the echoing sound of dripping rain.
To Yeonwoo, Seoul was that kind of city. A place where being alone was no longer welcome. A place that made her tremble with fear.
Even if Cha Yunseok went to prison, even if he paid the proper price for his crimes, it didn’t feel as though her youthful wounds would ever truly heal.
As she grew more somber with those thoughts, Yeonwoo turned her head at the feeling of Seongheon touching her hand. Seongheon raised his eyebrows as if asking what she was thinking.
Yeonwoo gave a small smile to let him know she wasn’t thinking of much. They had been holding hands for over two hours now, and the sensation in her hand had long since grown dull.
Yet, whenever Seongheon stroked her hand as he did now, a tumultuous energy surged up from her toes. It wasn’t just the act of holding hands; it felt as though he was saying he was pouring all his attention into her, which was both fluttering and overwhelming.
“Aren’t we almost there?”
Unable to hide her embarrassment, Yeonwoo asked a question unrelated to the atmosphere, and Seongheon turned his gaze outside. After scanning the surroundings, Seongheon nodded in agreement with her words.
“We should arrive right on time.”
“Yes. Am I meeting the lawyer right away?”
“He’s likely waiting for you by now, Ms. Ji Yeonwoo.”
“I see.”
Seongheon glanced at Yeonwoo.
“He is a highly capable lawyer with a great winning streak. Trust him and rely on him.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Yeonwoo’s voice carried a steady strength, as if she were gathering courage. When Seongheon let out a short chuckle, Yeonwoo took a long, deep breath to steady herself.
Before long, the Seolyang logo came into view, and the vehicle pulled smoothly up to the lobby. Sensing it was finally time to get out, Yeonwoo slowly withdrew her hand.
As she pulled away, Seongheon looked down at his now empty hand.
Despite being the one to pull away, Yeonwoo wore a face of feigned innocence. Her face, so determinedly looking away, appeared brazen for the first time; if they had the time, he felt like grabbing her cheeks and stretching her lips just to see her expression.
“Ms. Ji Yeonwoo.”
The car came to a stop shortly after.
“Yes?”
“Do a good job and come back.”
The employees waiting for Seongheon approached the vehicle.
Having received unexpected encouragement, Yeonwoo fidgeted with her fingers before nodding. Then, with a flushed face, she spoke up firmly.
“Yes. I’ll be back soon.”
The phrase ‘I’ll be back’ pleased Seongheon more than ‘I’ll do a good job,’ and he responded simply by raising and lowering his brows.
The door opened.
*
Keep a close eye on Seongheon. He’s different from your soft-hearted brother-in-law.
Nam Yunyoung, the chairwoman of Seolyang Group, paused in the middle of signing documents.
’He’s a tiger cub. How long do you think he’ll stay like that at Seolyang Construction? Be careful.’
The words her husband had shared over breakfast a few days ago weighed heavily on her mind.
Yunyoung put down her fountain pen and massaged her forehead. Spending hours buried in piles of documents seemed to be bringing on a headache.
Born as the eldest daughter of the family, Yunyoung had been a child whose cleverness and meticulous attitude were second to none from a young age. She had endured the strict education and conservative ideologies of Domyeongjae without a word of complaint, never once letting titles like ‘prodigy’ or ‘genius’ slip from her grasp.
Anything less than the top rank was meaningless to her. She had spent her student years more fiercely than anyone else and proved it with her results.
She had married into a suitable family, and though she had a child, it was a girl. Fearing she would fall behind in the company, she refused proper postpartum care and returned to work immediately, yet her younger brother, Tae-young, rose to the position of President.
Though she pretended otherwise, Yunyoung hated being constantly pushed aside by her younger brother. She loathed the rotten judgment of the Nam family, where being born a woman meant being excluded from the lead.
Her husband had preyed on those feelings, constantly whispering in her ear. ’Your brother will swallow the company soon, and then he’ll cast you out…’
’Your brother’s son will inherit the company without effort. Our daughter will be pushed aside just like you, simply because she’s a woman.’
After hearing that her daughter would inherit her frustrations and unfair treatment, her life changed completely.
’You want the company. You want to sit in the highest seat. You are more than qualified for it.’
Ultimately, Yunyoung turned a blind eye to her husband’s plot to harm her brother and his wife. She could have stopped it, but she ignored their deaths.
Yunyoung took the position in place of her deceased brother, had her abilities recognized, and aggressively grew the company.
It was a complete success. Yunyoung rose to her current position as Chairwoman by unanimous decision. Taking in her nephew, Seongheon, as if he were her own child was a form of penance to wash away her gnawing guilt.
They should have died together back then. He’s a nuisance regardless.
“……Phew.”
Recalling her husband’s sneering voice, Yunyoung let out a long sigh. She pressed her temples as if to organize her thoughts, then opened the documents related to Namsong Industrial Development.
However, the words didn’t register; Yunyoung’s mind kept drifting back to Seongheon.
It would have been better if Seongheon had grown up to be mediocre like her own daughter, but he had grown up to be chillingly capable.
He found out the things she didn’t want him to know, and he pursued the things she wanted him to know less about until the very end.
Whenever she looked at her nephew, who hovered somewhere between a prodigy and a genius, a cold wind blew through Yunyoung’s heart. Every time she faced Seongheon’s dry, unsmiling face, it felt as though her brother’s resentment was being reflected right back at her.
Yunyoung did not truly love Seongheon. She wasn’t in a position to. Her husband’s sneers weren’t baseless taunts, and she loathed herself for being unable to either deny or admit it.
But what could be done now? The dead are silent, and she had achieved her dream by stepping over her brother’s corpse.
“Focus, focus.”
Scolding herself under her breath, Yunyoung returned her gaze to the documents. But before long, her phone rang, and she slowly shifted her eyes to the screen.
It was an unsaved number, but the last four digits were familiar.
Feeling the hair on her body stand on end, Yunyoung stared at the ringing phone for a long time before finally touching it. She took a heavy breath and answered.
“I believe I told you never to call again.”
Yunyoung’s first words were cold.
— My, my, Chairwoman Nam Yunyoung. Have you been well? It’s Im Su-kwon, Chairwoman.
“……”
— Ah. You already know who I am, don’t you? It’s been a long time, Chairwoman.
The voice on the other end, indifferent to her sharp greeting, pressed against Yunyoung’s ear. Her heart raced, but she feigned composure.
“What do you want?”
— Well, it’s not that I want something specific. I just saw you’re doing quite well lately. The company seems to be thriving too. The stock prices are soaring.
“……”
— As expected, you are very capable. Is your husband doing well too? Ah, he’s the Vice Chairman now, isn’t he? It’s nice to see a couple running a company so harmoniously.
Yunyoung unconsciously bit her nail. Chewing on it, she focused on deciphering the other person’s intent.
It felt as though her blood were drying up.
“State your business.”
— You’re as impatient as ever. I suppose that’s why you handle things so quickly and urgently.
“Your business.”
— Yes, yes. It’s actually nothing much. I just thought I’d like to see your face.
Yunyoung swallowed hard. When was the last time she had seen this man? Ten years ago? No, fifteen?
— It seems our Chairwoman has more drive than the Vice Chairman, and you’re more generous in heart, so I thought it would be easier to talk to you.
“What on earth are you—”
— I think it would be best to meet and talk in person, Chairwoman. Please make some time. As soon as possible.
Yunyoung couldn’t bring herself to refuse or agree readily. Was he asking for money? She recalled giving him a substantial amount in the past.
Had he squandered all that money already?
“Listen to me clearly. Don’t call me every so often like this to try and shake me. Our deal is already over.”
— Chairwoman. For the one who gives, there’s an end, but for the one who receives, it’s not like that. To put it bluntly, it wasn’t you who got blood on your hands, was it? If an end is to be decided, the one who shed the blood should decide it.
Decades ago.
Yunyoung’s husband had instigated Im Su-kwon, who was their driver at the time, to cause the accidental death of her brother and his wife.
Im Su-kwon had handled the matter perfectly, leaving no loose ends. In exchange, he demanded a massive sum of money, and the couple paid the price.
— By the way, how is your nephew doing? Executive Director Nam Seongheon. I see him in the news a lot lately. He’s quite handsome. Does he take after his father?
Yunyoung grit her teeth.
— Our Executive Director isn’t married yet, is he?
— My niece just returned from studying abroad. She’s twenty-eight this year, and she’s a kind, beautiful, and steady girl. I think she’d be perfect as your nephew’s wife.
Unable to take it any longer, Yunyoung slammed her hand on the desk. She stood up abruptly, her eyes blazing.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!”
— Oh, Chairwoman. Don’t just get angry, listen. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Do you really think I’d push my niece into your family to plot something later? It’s a safe arrangement for you too, so don’t just be angry.
Im Su-kwon’s petty hand was transparent.
It was a ridiculous demand to make his niece the daughter-in-law of a chaebol family.
— Think of it as securing a hostage and set a date. My niece is well-educated and smart. You’ll like her once you see her.
Yunyoung couldn’t find the words and could only tremble.
— I’ll be waiting for your call then. If it’s too late, I might have to go see Executive Director Nam Seongheon myself. Call me before then, Chairwoman.
They should have died together back then. He’s a nuisance regardless.
Yunyoung could only let out heavy, ragged breaths.
