Chapter 12
Since the cherry blossom festival, Kang Moon and Kang Yoon hadn’t even acknowledged each other when they ran into one another at home.
During that time, Kang Moon had attended a company dinner with the interns, gotten drunk, and harassed several female interns. He ended up breaking out in a cold sweat negotiating a settlement with the victims, who had threatened to expose the incident to the media.
Meanwhile, Kang Yoon successfully secured a major construction contract in the Middle East—one he had staked everything on—and Han Tae-soo went around bragging about him everywhere he went.
Watching the two of them, Jin Hyun-sook felt like her chest was going to burst from frustration.
“What on earth were you thinking?”
Unless there was a special occasion, Jin Hyun-sook rarely left the house, but today she visited the family grave for the first time in a long while.
As she stared at the grave of her husband, Han Woo-jin—the man who had mercilessly shattered her newlywed dreams—sighs escaped her lips again and again.
“Kang Moon just can’t seem to get his act together. I don’t know who he takes after… He looks exactly like you, but when it comes to business sense, he’s hopeless. Well, I guess there is one thing he takes after you—his love for women.”
Her voice hardened on the last words.
Jin Hyun-sook was endlessly frustrated with Kang Moon, who caused nothing but trouble and never showed any real ability. No matter how much she had carried him in her own womb, it bruised her pride that he wasn’t any better than the child her husband had brought home from outside the marriage.
On top of that, her father-in-law Han Tae-soo had been extremely pleased lately with Kang Yoon’s performance.
“Father’s the same way. No matter how capable Kang Yoon is… he’s still not the legitimate son. Yet he’s doted on him since he was little. Honestly, I feel hurt. Hurt by you, hurt by Father, and hurt by that useless Kang Moon.”
The joy of becoming the daughter-in-law of one of the country’s leading conglomerates, and the joy of giving birth to a son, hadn’t even lasted two years.
At just twenty-six, Jin Hyun-sook lost her husband and was forced to take in the son born to his mistress.
After Han Woo-jin’s death, she lived like a widow who had chosen lifelong chastity. She abandoned her own life entirely and lived solely for Kang Moon’s flawless succession of the group.
And yet, somehow, Kang Moon only disappointed her more as time went on.
In contrast, Kang Yoon excelled in every way. Growing up, he had never once disappointed the adults or given them reason to scold him.
Perhaps that was why Han Tae-soo cherished Kang Yoon so deeply.
She understood that people naturally favor the capable one—but she couldn’t hide how hurt she felt.
“Anyway, look after Kang Moon from up there. Why do you think I’ve endured this family all this time? If it weren’t for Kang Moon, I would’ve quit and left long ago.”
Because he had once been the man she loved—and the father of her child—Jin Hyun-sook gently brushed her hand over the gravestone for a long moment before standing up.
“Tomorrow is Kang Yoon’s formal family meeting. Please help make sure Kang Moon doesn’t do anything stupid again. And please… help him find a good match, too.”
She didn’t really believe her husband could hear her, but after pouring out the complaints she couldn’t share with anyone else, her heart felt a little lighter.
As Jin Hyun-sook walked back from afar, the driver who had been smoking hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette and opened the back door.
The faint smell of smoke irritated her, but she said nothing and simply rolled down the window, pretending to watch the scenery outside.
Her habit of never voicing displeasure was proof of the life she had lived—carefully avoiding any misstep as a woman who had lost her husband and raised his illegitimate child.
Perhaps the rare outing tired her out. Jin Hyun-sook leaned back against the seat and soon fell asleep.
In her dream, she cradled a loudly crying newborn in her arms.
She smiled happily as she soothed a baby who looked exactly like her husband—and herself.
It was the happiest moment she could remember in her life.
The next day, Bora arrived at a famous high-end Korean restaurant and straightened her clothes as she whispered to her mother.
“Mom. Please—don’t make a fuss. And don’t say anything weird, okay?”
“Oh, come on. Do you really think I’d say something strange at a meeting like this? Don’t worry.”
“I am worried. Don’t talk too much. And Dad—no business talk, absolutely.”
“Haha, fine. Let’s go in.”
At the end of a long wooden hall with gleaming floors, they entered a private room where Kang Yoon’s family was already waiting.
“Good to meet you. I’m Han Tae-soo, Kang Yoon’s grandfather.”
“Hello. I’m Yoon Seo-woong, Bora’s father. And this is her mother.”
“Hello, I’m Lee Se-hwa, Bora’s mother. It’s an honor to meet you, Chairman.”
“Haha. No need for honor between future in-laws. Sit down—let’s talk.”
Bora smiled softly as she looked at Kang Yoon, who looked especially refined today in a formal three-piece suit.
Kang Yoon, in turn, gazed at Bora with satisfaction—she wore a neat two-piece outfit, her long hair flowing naturally, topped with a pearl headband.
“This is my daughter-in-law, and this is the eldest son of our family. Please greet them.”
“Hello. I’m Jin Hyun-sook.”
“…Han Kang-moon.”
With an annoyed expression, Kang Moon spoke his name, his gaze landing on Bora’s flushed cheeks.
“As you may know, Kang Yoon has been doing an excellent job running the company as CEO of Kangsan Construction lately.”
“Oh, of course. I saw on the news that he signed a Middle Eastern construction contract just the other day. I was so happy to see it.”
Han Tae-soo nodded with a satisfied smile.
“He’s been smart since he was young—good at studying, good at sports, never once caused trouble.”
“So he got his good looks from you, Chairman. Our Bora was told all the time to run for Miss Korea when she was young, but she didn’t grow quite tall enough… haha.”
“Mom, please…”
Bora lightly poked her mother’s side, but her mother continued undeterred.
“Honestly, Bora doesn’t fall short anywhere either—she’s pretty, kind, and good at business. But whenever blind dates come along, they’re always missing something. As parents, wouldn’t we want to marry our daughter off to the best possible man?”
“Haha. Of course.”
“But Chairman Han’s grandson lacks nothing at all. Just looking at them, they’re a perfect visual match, don’t you think?”
“…Lacks nothing? His birth is lacking.”
Kang Moon abruptly poured cold water on the warm atmosphere.
“You brat! What nonsense are you spouting on such an important day?!”
“To be honest, I oppose this marriage. I’d like to ask why Yoon Bora’s matchmaking proposal was given to Kang Yoon instead of me.”
“Kang Moon. Please.”
Jin Hyun-sook whispered through clenched teeth, but Kang Moon seized the moment and turned to Bora’s shocked parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Yoon, I, too, am interested in Yoon Bora.”
“What? Excuse me?”
“What on earth is this…?”
Bora’s parents stared at each other, unable to hide their confusion.
“Please choose. Between Kang Yoon and me, who do you think is more suitable as Yoon Bora’s husband?”
“Hey! Han Kang-moon! What do you think you’re doing—!”
“Didn’t you just say it’s better for your daughter to marry a man with better conditions? Someone who lacks nothing. Well, then—here’s the problem. I’m the legitimate eldest son of Kangsan Group, while Kang Yoon is the second son and illegitimate. Is this even a decision worth weighing?”
Bora let out a deep sigh at Kang Moon’s sharp words.
So this pathetic man really is going to drag mud through my life…
Bora’s mother opened her mouth without thinking.
“Well, of course the legit—”
“Mom.”
Bora cut her off. She knew all too well what her kind but oblivious mother was about to say.
As her mother fell silent, Kang Yoon—who had been quietly observing—finally spoke.
“I also have something to say to Bora’s parents.”
Han Tae-soo, his face tightly drawn, waved a hand for him to continue.
“My brother may say he likes Bora, but that’s his feelings alone. Bora and I developed mutual affection from the day we met and confirmed our feelings for each other. Regardless of legitimacy or bloodline, shouldn’t you choose a son-in-law who will live his entire life devoted to Bora—without messy issues with women?”
“Hey, are you trying to screw me over? Are you insane?”
“Han Kang-moon, that’s enough. I don’t understand why you’re behaving this way on such an important day. Say one more word, and I won’t stay silent either.”
At Han Tae-soo’s warning, Kang Moon clenched his lips tightly, his face twisted in anger.
“Bora, tell us how you feel.”
Kang Yoon said gently, looking straight into her eyes.
Still stunned by Kang Moon’s outrageous remarks, Bora snapped back to her senses at Kang Yoon’s voice.
“I… I want to marry CEO Han Kang-yoon. That was the purpose of today from the beginning. And I really like him. Grandfather, I’ll support him wholeheartedly so he can focus on his work.”
Han Tae-soo’s tightly creased face immediately relaxed.
“Ha! I like that very much. Our new daughter-in-law isn’t just pretty—she has a beautiful heart, too.”
“Then… it’s okay for me to get married, right? I can live with him, right?”
At Bora’s sweet, playful question, Kang Moon squeezed his eyes shut, while a smile spread across Kang Yoon’s face.
Bora winked at Kang Yoon.
Watching the honey-sweet scene between the two of them, Kang Moon ground his teeth.
