TC 12

Chapter 12

“Th-That’s a lie…”

“A lie?”

Tae-ha laughed shortly. It was a mocking laugh.

“I sent flowers to my woman. It would be a problem if another woman insisted they were hers.”

“…My woman.”

Those words squeezed Sorim’s heart.

Shame and relief mixed together into a strange, overwhelming feeling.

Meanwhile, Minseo’s face turned red, then pale like dirt.

She trembled with anger when she realized she had been happily hugging flowers that were never meant for her.

“Mom… Mom, this isn’t right! You said it yourself!”

Minseo clung to Seong-ah and cried out.

But Seong-ah’s mind was already working fast.

She was shocked, but instinctive calculation came first.

The other person was Song Tae-ha of Yoonsan Group.

If what he wanted was not Minseo, but Sorim—

‘Either way, we’re still becoming in-laws with Yoonsan.’

Seong-ah and Sang-sik exchanged looks. There was some regret, but their eyes were equally greedy.

Sorim didn’t miss that brief exchange. A chill ran down her spine.

“S-So… what you’re saying is, Vice President, that you had feelings for our Sorim…”

Sang-sik quickly changed his attitude, sweating heavily.

“Yes. That’s correct. I’ve had my eye on Yoon Sorim.”

Tae-ha confirmed calmly. Then he naturally took Sorim’s hand.

“…!”

Sorim tried to pull away in shock, but his fingers were firm like steel.

His rough hand slid between her fingers and squeezed tightly, a silent warning not to run.

“I’ve watched her for a long time. Her devoted, quiet personality.”

The words were clearly made up, almost insulting, but Sang-sik nodded eagerly.

“Oh, I see! We had no idea—”

“Sorim, why didn’t you say anything and cause all this trouble!”

Seong-ah scolded Sorim on purpose, trying to smooth things over.

Just moments ago, she had praised Tae-ha as Minseo’s future husband. Now she was ready to sell Sorim instead.

Minseo, shaking with betrayal, collapsed onto the floor.

“How… how can you do this? Mom, Dad—you’re all the same!”

Her scream was completely ignored.

In this family, power was simple.

Whoever Song Tae-ha chose became the authority.

“So then,” Tae-ha asked, “will you give your permission?”

It sounded like a question, but it was really a notice. Refusal wasn’t an option.

“Of course! It would be an honor for us to become family with Yoonsan. An honor, truly!”

Sang-sik looked ready to hand Sorim over even if Minseo screamed herself hoarse.

Sorim closed her eyes in emptiness.

In this house, she was just an object.

If they couldn’t profit by selling Minseo, they would sell her instead.

But the scariest part was the man gripping her hand tightly.

He saw all of this ugliness clearly—and was using it.

By showing her exactly how her family sold her, he completely cut off her way back.

“Thank you.”

Tae-ha replied briefly, his voice showing no real gratitude.

Then he suddenly pulled Sorim toward him.

Her body slammed into his solid chest.

“Then may I take her with me starting today?”

“What? R-Right now?”

“As you know, there’s a lot to prepare. Marriage is a major life matter. We don’t have much time.”

Tae-ha glanced at his watch and turned away without waiting for an answer.

“Let’s go.”

Holding Sorim’s hand, he headed for the door.

“Yoon Sorim! Don’t go! If you leave like this, I’ll kill you!”

Minseo’s furious scream came from behind them, but Sorim couldn’t turn back.

No—Tae-ha didn’t let her.

The moment they stepped outside, cold winter air rushed in.

But the hand holding hers burned hot, like fire.

Tae-ha shoved Sorim into the passenger seat of his car.

Bang!

The door closed, and silence fell.

As soon as Tae-ha got into the driver’s seat, Sorim finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

“…Are you insane?”

Her voice shook.

“What are you doing? To my family… how could you do something like that…”

“Why?” Tae-ha said calmly as he started the engine.
“Wasn’t it satisfying?”

“Watching that Minseo woman collapse, or parents blinded by money who don’t care about their own child. It must’ve been quite a show.”

“…Why are you doing this to me? Am I that ridiculous?”

Tears finally welled up in Sorim’s eyes.

Anger, shame, and a fear she couldn’t name mixed together and spilled out.

Tae-ha lowered the hand he was about to put on the steering wheel and slowly turned to look at her.

His dark eyes pierced into her wet gaze.

He leaned closer, so close their breaths almost touched.

Sorim tried to lean back, but the seat trapped her.

His long fingers lifted her chin.

In a voice like soothing a crying child—gentle but cruel—he whispered,

“You don’t need to look like you’re about to cry.”

“…!”

“The ones who sold you weren’t you.”

“They were the people you believed were your family.”

* * *

The car slid smoothly onto the road without a sound.

Outside, the cold was biting, but inside the high-end sedan, it was so warm it made the body relax.

To Sorim, that comfort felt unbearable. She pressed herself close to the cold window instead.

The Seoul streets passing by felt familiar yet strange—like she had been cut off from the world she knew and pulled into another dimension.

“…”

The man driving said nothing.

One hand on the wheel, the other supporting his chin, he looked calmly ahead.

It was hard to believe this was the same man who had just destroyed a family and dragged someone away like a kidnapping.

Clasping her trembling hands together, Sorim finally spoke.

“…Where are we going?”

Without even looking at her, Tae-ha answered,

“My place.”

“Stop the car.”

“…”

“Stop it! Let me out!”

Sorim shouted and grabbed the door handle.

The locked door didn’t move at all.

Only then did Tae-ha glance sideways at Sorim, who was shaking in the seat.

“If you get out, where will you go?”

“Do you even have a home to return to?”

“…!”

Tae-ha let out a dry laugh and continued calmly,

“Or are you planning to crawl back to the people who just sold you and beg for forgiveness?”

The words were cruel—and perfectly accurate.

Sorim’s grip loosened.

She had nowhere to go.

That truth hit her deeply and painfully.

The Yeonhui-dong house was now hell to her—just as it always had been. No, it would be even worse now.

She couldn’t face Minseo’s venomous expression or her aunt and uncle’s greedy eyes again.

As if seeing through her weakness, Tae-ha spoke in a low voice, sealing her fate.

“Choose.”

“Freeze to death on the streets…”

“…or quietly follow me.”

“…Why me?”

Sorim asked, forcing down her sobs.

She couldn’t understand.

“There are so many women who would fit your standards. Even Minseo—she was desperate for you. Why choose me?”

“I told you already.”

Tae-ha cut her off.

“It’s interesting.”