TC 16

Chapter 16

“Alright. Be honest with me. How did you meet Tae-ha? Are you really marrying him because you love him?”

Love.

The word lingered, unfamiliar.

After a moment of hesitation, Sorim gave the kind of model answer Tae-ha would want.

“Tae-ha has many things I don’t. I respect him. …And of course, I like him.”

“Respect, hm…”

Oh Hui-ok smiled faintly, a smile difficult to read, and continued.

“Tae-ha has always been a child who must have whatever he wants. Whether it’s an object—or a person. I wonder how long you’ll be able to satisfy his curiosity.”

The words carried hidden barbs.

Sorim tightened her grip around her teacup.

“I’ll do my best. I won’t disappoint him.”

“Good. The restroom is at the end of that hallway. Feel free to use it.”

With a light smile and a nod, Oh Hui-ok ended the conversation.

Sorim stood and headed down the hallway.

Only then did it feel like she could breathe again.

Walking past corridors decorated with priceless artworks, she let out a deep sigh.

Two years… pretending to be a wife in a place like this.

Feeling uneasy, she headed toward the terrace for some air.

That was when she sensed someone behind her.

“Wait.”

“…!”

At the low, heavy voice, Sorim flinched and turned around.

It was Chairman Song Ilsang.

Leaning on his cane, he approached slowly—but with overwhelming pressure.

“C-Chairman…”

“Lost your way?”

His voice was flat, emotionless.

He stopped directly in front of her.

Up close, his eyes gleamed like a tiger’s, and despite his age, his frame was tall and solid.

“That brat Tae-ha is quite protective of you. Even lying to me.”

“……”

“Pregnant? Hmph. Just an excuse so no one could touch you, I suppose.”

As expected—this old man saw straight through everything.

Sorim didn’t bother denying it.

The chairman tapped the floor lightly with the tip of his cane.

“That boy doesn’t understand consideration. What he has is nothing but possessiveness—he hates others interfering with what’s his. Don’t make the mistake of calling that love.”

“…I know.”

At Sorim’s calm reply with her eyes lowered, the chairman’s brow twitched.

“Hah. You know?”

“I know that Tae-ha didn’t bring me here because he loves me deeply.”

It was a bold statement.

But Sorim didn’t back down. She met his gaze directly.

“We’re together because we each have something the other needs.”

For a moment, the chairman looked stunned—then let out a short, hollow laugh.

He stepped closer and stared deeply into Sorim’s mismatched eyes.

“Your eyes.”

“……”

“Just by looking at them, I understand why you caught Tae-ha’s attention.”

The wrinkles around his mouth twisted into a bitter smile.

“You pretend to be a gentle lamb, but inside, you’re carrying blue flames.”

“…!”

Sorim’s pupils shook.

She felt as if she had been stripped bare.

The resentment, anger, and ambition she had hidden deep within—locked away so no one would ever notice—

He had recognized that dangerous spark instantly.

“Be careful,”

the chairman warned quietly.

“If you fail to control that flame, it won’t end with just you burning. Yoonsan—and my son—are not opponents you can take lightly.”

With that, Chairman Song turned away without hesitation.

Sorim stood frozen, staring at his retreating back.

She had a feeling that this marriage might become the fuse that would turn her inner flame into a massive inferno.

* * *

The car ride back was drowned in heavy silence.

Sorim stared out the window, but nothing registered.

Only the chairman’s final words echoed in her head, tightening around her heart.

“You’re carrying blue flames inside.”

They felt like a curse—or a prophecy.

Her fingertips had grown cold from anxiety when the car entered Hannam-dong.

“……”

Suddenly, she thought of the restaurant. It was closing time.

Leaving during the busiest hours still weighed on her mind.

After thinking quietly for a while, Sorim broke the silence.

“…Song Tae-ha. Could we stop by the restaurant?”

Tae-ha’s brow furrowed slightly as he held the steering wheel.

“At this hour? They should be closed.”

“I know. I just… left something behind.”

“….”

Tae-ha glanced at her, then turned the wheel.

“Not for long.”

“…Thank you.”

The car smoothly changed direction toward the alley where the restaurant was located.

As expected, the restaurant was already closed.

But—

“…The lights are on.”

Tae-ha muttered, resting his arm on the steering wheel.

He was right.

Bright lights spilled out from the display window that should’ve been dark.

And it wasn’t just cleaning—loud crashing sounds echoed from inside.

A sense of dread crawled up Sorim’s spine.

Something was wrong.

An instinctive warning rang in her ears.

“I’ll be right back.”

She grabbed the door handle before the car even fully stopped.

“Wait. I’ll come with you.”

“No. I’ll just check quickly. If you come, it might cause trouble.”

Without waiting for his reply, Sorim opened the door and jumped out.

The cold wind slapped her cheeks, but she didn’t feel it.

The closer she got to the entrance, the clearer the shouting became.

“Yoon Sorim! Come out! I know you’re hiding in there!”

A voice she knew all too well.

Her cousin—Minseo.

Sorim’s heart dropped.

She’d come all this way…

With hands chilled stiff from tension, Sorim opened the restaurant door.

Ding—

The clear bell rang—and a scene of chaos filled her vision.

Chairs and tables were overturned, white tablecloths dragged across the dirty floor.

Staff members struggled to restrain a woman in the middle of it all—

Minseo, hair disheveled and eyes wild.

Standing firmly in front of her was Chef Nam Taeyoung, his expression rigid.

“We’re closed. Please leave peacefully before I call the police.”

“Call them! Go ahead! Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? I could burn this dump to the ground if I wanted!”

Just as Minseo screamed and tried to shove him—

“…Minseo.”

At Sorim’s voice, Minseo froze.

Everyone in the hall turned toward the entrance.

Biting her lip, Sorim slowly walked inside.

“…Yoon Sorim?”

Minseo’s drunken, staggering gaze scanned Sorim from head to toe in disbelief.

Then her eyes landed on Sorim’s outfit—

The luxury-brand dress Tae-ha had chosen.

Glossy silk fabric, impeccable tailoring—far more expensive than the two-piece Minseo was wearing.

The accessories and heels worn to maintain the dignity of a future Yoonsan daughter-in-law.

The shabby cousin who always wore worn T-shirts and sagging jeans was nowhere to be found.

“Y-You… what is that? What’s with how you look?”

Minseo’s voice trembled.

Jealousy, rage, and inferiority tangled together.

“That dress, those earrings—what are they? Where did you get them? You stole them, didn’t you? You did, didn’t you?!”

“Go home. It’s late. Stop causing trouble here.”

Sorim spoke calmly.

But Minseo had already lost all reason.

What Minseo couldn’t tolerate wasn’t just being rejected by Song Tae-ha—

It was the fact that the Sorim she had always looked down on had taken the place she wanted.