Chapter 20
It was an evening filled with the sharp chirring of insects.
In the yard where cicadas had been deafening just a few days ago, the sound of crickets now rang out, and that alone felt strangely fascinating.
Bora, wearing a thin cardigan, stepped out of the front door and slowly walked across the yard.
“Every time I see it, it’s impressive.”
A smile formed on Bora’s lips as she carefully took in the neatly trimmed garden trees and flowers. Walking beneath the soft lights, she thought that perhaps autumn was truly on its way—when suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps reached her ears.
“Mr. Kangyoon?”
Thinking Kangyoon—who had said he’d be eating dinner out after a series of meetings—had come home earlier than expected, Bora turned around with a bright smile.
“Sorry. Not the Kangyoon you were waiting for.”
Kangmoon, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, stood there, lifting one corner of his mouth into a crooked grin.
“Ah… it’s been a while, brother-in-law.”
“‘Brother-in-law,’ huh. That’s an awkward title.”
“Um… have you had dinner?”
“How touching. My sister-in-law worrying about my dinner.”
Kangmoon’s voice kept needling her, deliberately catching at her words. Bora turned away sharply.
Just as she was about to step onto the stone stairs and go inside, she felt Kangmoon grab her arm.
“I wasn’t finished talking. Why are you ignoring me?”
“Let go of me!”
“Shh. Raising your voice won’t do you any good.”
Bora clenched her teeth as she felt his grip tighten around her arm.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Why? What did I do?”
“Let go.”
“It pisses me off that you’re trying to scurry away like a frightened little rat when I haven’t even done anything.”
“A… rat?”
Seriously—who did he think he was?
Bora let out a hollow laugh, utterly incredulous. Kangmoon’s narrow eyes, looking down at her, seemed especially vicious tonight.
“…I don’t want to raise my voice with you. Please keep things respectful.”
“Respect? Respect, huh…”
Kangmoon frowned slightly.
“I hear you’ve been acting all sly lately, trying to get on Grandfather’s good side?”
“What did you say?”
“What—did Kangyoon tell you to suck up to that old man and squeeze out things that someone like him shouldn’t even be able to have?”
“Brother-in-law!”
“If you don’t like it, just call me Kangmoon. That ‘brother-in-law’ crap gives me goosebumps.”
“Do you really have to go this far? I’m married to Kangyoon now. Like it or not, we’re family. It’d be nice if we could at least treat each other with basic respect.”
“Family?” Kangmoon scoffed. “Hey, Yoon Bora.”
Bora bit her lower lip as she felt the pressure of his fingers digging into her arm. Under the dim lights, Kangmoon’s eyes looked almost unhinged.
“I’ve never once considered that bastard family. He’s the product of my father cheating with some woman from God-knows-where. The guy who made my mother cry blood her entire life. And now that bastard steals the woman I chose and marries her—how the hell am I supposed to think of you two as family? Huh?”
“Let go! You’re hurting me!”
This wasn’t the usual flippant, joking voice he always used. His low, growling tone near her ear sent chills racing over Bora’s entire body. As Kangmoon glared at her like he might tear her throat out at any moment, Bora hesitated—wondering if she should scream.
“That better not be happening,” a cold voice cut in.
At some point, Kangyoon had entered the yard. He yanked Kangmoon back by the shoulder and shoved him away, then pulled Bora behind him and stared at Kangmoon with a hard, icy glare.
“I thought maybe I was wrong—but you’re acting like a rabid dog even inside the house.”
“Shut up.”
“You’re the one who needs to shut up. Didn’t I warn you not to lay a finger on Bora?”
“I’m your older brother. The firstborn of this house. You’re nothing—so don’t order me around. I’m done holding back.”
“Holding back? You? Have you ever held back a single day in your life? You think you’ve endured more than me? I lived my entire life pretending to be inferior to you—playing dumb, acting lacking—just to survive behind a worthless idiot like you. And you say you’ve suffered more?”
“There’s a kind of burden only the legitimate firstborn son carries—something trash like you would never understand. Not even if you died and came back. And yet Mother keeps protecting you, telling me not to touch you…”
Bora held her breath, afraid Kangyoon might actually hit Kangmoon in his rage. But at the same time, the broad back shielding her felt so solid and reassuring that she couldn’t help feeling safe.
“Kangyoon… let’s just go inside. If this gets too loud, Grandfather might come out.”
“Oh? Since when do you care so much about Grandfather? What are you scheming? What are you so desperate to get from him?”
“What about you? Why are you so bothered now? Did it finally start getting under your skin? You crawled over me your whole life—did you think it would stay that way forever? Get a grip. If you’re old enough to eat that much rice, you should know your place.”
“I don’t want to see the two of you glued together in this house anymore. Why don’t you move out? Why cling so desperately to the main house?”
“Get lost, you bastard.”
As Kangmoon lunged forward in rage, Kangyoon instinctively shoved him hard.
“Ah—damn it…!”
Kangmoon crashed to the ground, cursing as he glared up at Kangyoon.
“Han Kangmoon. This is your final warning. Touch Bora even once more, or spew one more word of bullshit, and next time… I really won’t let it go.”
“You won’t let it go? What? What are you gonna do, you little shit?!”
“What is all this commotion?”
Drawn out by the noise, Jin Hyunsook—who had been quietly sipping tea while looking through profiles of women to introduce to Kangmoon—finally came outside.
“Kangmoon, why are you on the ground…? What’s going on with you two?”
Her startled gaze moved between the three of them.
“N-no. Nothing happened, Aunt.”
“Nothing? That doesn’t look like nothing to me.”
Concerned, Jin Hyunsook came down the steps and helped Kangmoon to his feet.
“What in the world is going on inside this house? What if Father sees this?”
“I’m sorry, Aunt.”
“Damn it. You snake. Why don’t you yell at me like you do at him, huh?”
“Kangmoon.”
Jin Hyunsook scolded him in a low voice. Quick to read the room, she had already guessed that Kangmoon must have said or done something to Bora and that Kangyoon had snapped because of it. Prolonging this would only hurt Kangmoon.
“We’ll talk in the morning. You two, go to your room. Kangmoon—you come with me.”
“Mother!”
“Quiet. Can’t you lower your voice?”
Under Jin Hyunsook’s cold stare, Kangmoon grimaced and stood up, brushing himself off.
“Just don’t show your face in front of me, got it?”
“Let’s go, Bora.”
As if Kangmoon didn’t exist, Kangyoon wrapped an arm around Bora’s shoulders and led her inside.
“Are you okay, Bora? Damn it… of all times, when I wasn’t here…”
Once inside their room, Kangyoon immediately sat Bora on the bed and looked her over anxiously.
“That bastard didn’t do anything worse, did he? Huh? If he did, I’ll break his fingers—”
“No! No, he didn’t. Calm down, Kangyoon.”
Bora grabbed Kangyoon’s angry face with both hands, afraid he really might snap. He paused, then slowly exhaled, forcing himself to calm down.
“He just grabbed my arm. He got angry and said a lot of nasty things.”
“Don’t listen to a word Han Kangmoon says. There’s nothing worth hearing.”
“I know. I’ll avoid him as much as possible. So please, calm down.”
Kangyoon placed his large hand over Bora’s as she gently cupped his cheeks. Her soft warmth tickled his palm.
“I’m not scared at all. I’ve got such a reliable husband, after all. So don’t worry.”
“I’m sorry. When I go to Dubai, who knows what that bastard might try…”
Reading the worry in his eyes, Bora leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
“Don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet. I’m Han Kangyoon’s wife. If it comes down to it, I’ll just kick him.”
Bora blinked up at him playfully. Kangyoon stared at her for a long moment, then swallowed hard.
“…Tonight, may we carry out the marital relationship stated in the contract?”
“All of a sudden…?”
At Kangyoon’s slow, dangerous smile, Bora’s vision went dark.
