Chapter 3
An awkward silence hung over the dining table.
The tension made it impossible to savor the meal. Rather than appreciating the food, Yeoreul found herself simply chewing and swallowing as quickly as she could.
The problem was…
She seemed to be the only one who felt uncomfortable.
Ahan moved his cutlery with calm, practiced elegance, completely indifferent to the atmosphere. He neither spoke nor showed much expression. His face was so impassive that she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“It’s delicious.”
Yeoreul’s timid voice finally broke the silence.
Ahan looked up.
“…Mm.”
She waited, hoping he would say something more.
“It is.”
After a brief pause, he added the words as if remembering conversation required an extra step. His handsome face barely changed, almost as though expressions were something he rarely bothered with.
Having answered in his usual calm, detached tone, he quietly resumed eating.
He really doesn’t care how awkward this is…
Or perhaps…
He simply didn’t want to keep talking.
Regretting that she’d spoken first, Yeoreul frowned slightly and slipped another small piece of steak into her mouth.
Ahan raised his eyes to look at her.
Her light brown eyes, clear as polished walnut glass, were so transparent that even her gaze looked pure.
She was being careful about everything.
Walking carefully.
Looking at him carefully.
Even swallowing carefully.
The girl in her summer school uniform had skin as pale as porcelain.
Her clear eyes hadn’t changed since then.
And yet…
Something about her was different.
Ahan thought he knew what it was.
He quietly set down his knife and took a sip of water to moisten his suddenly dry throat.
“What about school?”
The unexpected question startled Yeoreul.
She instinctively straightened her back.
“Ah… I don’t have classes today.”
She barely managed to swallow the food in her mouth before answering cautiously.
“You aren’t even married yet.”
Ahan spoke in the same indifferent tone.
“So…”
He looked directly at her.
“Are you already planning to divorce me?”
The abrupt question left Yeoreul speechless.
“You seemed quick to make your decision.”
When she didn’t answer, his expression stiffened almost imperceptibly.
“Why?”
He genuinely looked confused.
“Do you dislike me?”
Who would enjoy marrying someone they barely knew?
Yet Ahan asked the question without even raising an eyebrow, as though that possibility had never crossed his mind.
“Let me make one thing clear.”
His expression remained unreadable.
“There is no divorce in my plans.”
His voice was gentle, his pronunciation crisp and deliberate, making it sound less like a warning and more like a generous advance notice.
“No matter what happens.”
His moss-green eyes held her gaze steadily.
They conveyed his intentions with unmistakable clarity.
Yet despite their intensity, they were filled with light.
Yeoreul found herself seriously reconsidering what it meant to become husband and wife—even if only in name.
The marriage had been sudden.
She’d had no real choice.
But she’d never once thought becoming someone’s wife was something to take lightly.
“I… did decide that I wanted to become independent.”
She spoke honestly.
“But I never thought about getting divorced.”
The words came naturally.
“Independent?”
“I want to graduate and become a fashion designer.”
The moment the conversation shifted to her dream, her voice became noticeably more confident.
“My goal is to join a company’s design team, so I’ve been building my portfolio whenever I have free time. I entered university a year later because of personal circumstances, but I ranked first in the following year’s admissions, and my grades have been good.”
Ahan remained silent.
On the outside, Yeoreul looked as delicate as a tiny wildflower.
Inside, however…
She was brilliantly vibrant.
“Even after getting married…”
She lowered her voice again.
“I want to keep working hard.”
Standing before someone who already possessed unimaginable wealth and power, she suddenly felt as though she were only pretending to be an adult.
“…Mm.”
After quietly listening to everything she said, Ahan finally spoke.
“That’s admirable.”
Yeoreul blinked in disbelief.
Having said those two words, he calmly returned to his meal.
She replayed his compliment over and over in her head.
Gradually, her expression brightened.
Perhaps because he spoke so little, every single word that left his mouth felt precious.
That small exchange became a welcome breath of fresh air.
Watching her suddenly smile to herself, Ahan tilted his head slightly.
Why is she smiling?
The question crossed his mind.
But he didn’t ask.
He preferred watching to talking.
So he simply watched.
He quietly gazed at Yeoreul as she smiled with genuine happiness.
Very slowly…
His heart began to beat faster.
That afternoon, while they were discussing the day’s schedule, a polite knock sounded at the office door.
“Director, it’s Secretary Jung.”
The door opened, and Secretary Jung—who was mainly responsible for receiving important guests—entered the office.
Ahan looked up.
“Chairwoman Ma Seook of J Department Store has arrived.”
Behind the secretary stood his mother.
“Would you step outside for a moment?”
Seook turned to Heonsik, the executive secretary standing beside her.
“No tea will be necessary.”
Then she glanced toward Secretary Jung as well, subtly asking him to leave.
Her soft but firm voice carried an unmistakable message.
We need to talk. Now.
Ahan silently gestured for Heonsik to step outside.
Once both secretaries had left, only a comfortable silence remained in the office.
Ahan rose from his chair, gave his mother a slight bow, invited her to the sofa, then took the seat opposite her.
The daughter of Chairman Ma of the J Group—the nation’s undisputed number one company by market capitalization—and Ahan’s mother, Ma Seook possessed an elegant, intellectual beauty.
Whenever mother and son stood together, people were inevitably overwhelmed by the flawless dignity they radiated.
They somehow embodied two contradictory qualities at once.
Timeless elegance…
And effortless sophistication.
Their presence was authoritative without ever seeming outdated.
“You’ve been busy.”
Ahan smiled faintly.
“A little.”
He nodded lightly.
“I wasn’t expecting you to visit so suddenly.”
It was the first thing he had said to his mother since deciding to get married.
“…Ha.”
A dry laugh escaped Seook.
“So you’re asking as though you never expected me to come.”
While she had been overseas, she’d received news about her son’s decision.
She had been utterly dumbfounded.
He had made such an enormous decision…
Yet continued living as though nothing unusual had happened.
“When were you planning to tell me?”
She looked straight at him.
“About your marriage.”
The corners of Ahan’s lips curved gently.
“I was about to.”
“You said you had no intention of getting married.”
Determined not to lose her composure, Seook kept her voice measured.
“You clearly said you never planned to marry.”
“I really didn’t.”
Ahan met her gaze directly.
“But now I do.”
“…Well.”
She let out another hollow laugh.
“That’s certainly wonderful news.”
Opening the bag she’d brought with her, Seook spread several photographs across the table.
“Then marry someone else.”
She tapped one of the photos.
“Just not the girl at the end.”
“Not her.”
Ahan merely glanced at the pictures without saying a word.
“She’s still an unstable university student.”
“And from everything I’ve learned, her father’s reputation is absolutely terrible.”
She sighed deeply.
“It’s unbelievable.”
“This would become headline news.”
“Why should our family become entangled with someone like that?”
“What if he causes some major scandal later?”
“I don’t even want to think about it.”
Clearly more emotional than usual, Seook pointed to the glamorous young woman whose photograph lay closest to Ahan.
“Ahan.”
“I like this girl.”
“I’m in favor of your marriage.”
“Honestly, I’ve wanted to recommend her for quite some time.”
“If you’re going to marry…”
“Marry her.”
“I understand and respect your opinion.”
Ahan’s smooth voice remained calm.
“But Chairman Lee and I have already concluded our discussions.”
“So naturally…”
“We should honor our promise.”
Though phrased politely, it was obvious.
His decision would not change.
“That’s not the real reason.”
Seook frowned.
“Why did you suddenly decide to marry in the first place?”
She simply couldn’t understand.
Her son had always been emotionally detached.
He wasn’t obsessed with work.
His extraordinary talent simply made success effortless.
Nor was the bride from a family prestigious enough to explain his decision.
Then…
Why?
The answer had come the moment she’d seen the report.
This girl…
The realization had struck her instantly.
The college student in her early twenties.
The innocent-looking girl.
The moment Seook saw Yeoreul’s face…
Her hands had trembled.
She knew this girl.
A memory resurfaced.
Years ago…
Her son, who possessed everything and therefore desired almost nothing, had asked her for a single favor.
No…
It had been closer to a threat than a request.
“She’s still in middle school.”
That was all Ahan had said.
Only one sentence.
Yet it had been enough.
Enough for her to understand.
Enough for her to make the decision he wanted.
So… you really went through with it.
“Could you truly have been this serious…”
The years suddenly weighed heavily upon Seook as she murmured to herself.
Her voice was so quiet that Ahan didn’t seem to hear.
He merely gazed through the office window at the sunlight outside.
Whenever she looked at her son sitting there in complete stillness…
He felt like a stranger.
She had no idea what he was thinking.
“Do you realize…”
Her weary voice carried both frustration and resignation.
“…that you’re an unfilial son?”
Ahan slowly turned back toward her.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t become a better son for you, Mother.”
He accepted her words with a faint smile.
Seeing him apologize…
And smile while doing so…
Only made Seook feel emptier.
She almost laughed in disbelief.
“You’re lying.”
She pronounced each word clearly.
“You always keep the truth hidden inside.”
“You never say what’s really in your heart.”
“I’m only trying to make things easier for everyone.”
Ahan spoke as though he were offering a kindness.
“For the sake of the family.”
His gentle tone left no room for argument.
Once Ahan had made a decision…
Even his parents no longer had a choice.
Seook knew that better than anyone.
“You already knew?”
she asked in astonishment.
Ahan’s expression remained unchanged.
“I merely saw one man hurriedly avert his eyes after looking at me.”
A slow smile appeared on his lips.
“…Hah.”
Ahan had never slept with a woman.
Not because he was exceptionally virtuous.
He simply had never wanted to.
A kiss without genuine desire…
Held no appeal for him.
He had no interest in it.
Whenever he met someone through introductions, he would lower his gaze, stare out the café window, and quietly think to himself—
I could stop any random passerby outside and date them instead.
It would make no difference.
Whoever he met…
They all felt no more significant than strangers passing on the street.
His heart simply refused to move.
If that was the case…
Then there was no reason to date anyone at all.
It was a simple conclusion.
If such a life was his fate, then he would simply be satisfied with the life he had already been given.
Relationships without purpose…
Were nothing more than a waste of time.
