THICA 6

Chapter 6

“I’ve tried to do business in partnership with Jeongseong Group for some time, but things never worked out.”

Whenever her father conducted business, he often expressed regret that he had never had the chance to work with Jeongseong Group.

Jeongseong Group was an excellent partner for joint business ventures.

It seemed that her father intended to take advantage of this opportunity to finally establish a connection with the group.

“There are ways to make the relationship between our groups known to the public… A strategic marriage is one of them, but…”

It seemed he wanted to make their connection with Jeongseong Group public.

Ye-seo had thought that a strategic marriage alone would be enough, but her father’s reaction made her uneasy.

It seemed he wanted something more.

“When it comes to demonstrating trust between two groups, nothing speaks louder than an investment.”

An investment? I told Do-gyeom that I wouldn’t be the kind of wife who tried to benefit her in-laws’ family.

Those words meant that what she had promised Do-gyeom was about to fall apart before they had even held their wedding ceremony.

“Let’s ask them to bring in an investment as a sign of trust in exchange for proceeding with the strategic marriage.”

“Anyone would see it as payment for the strategic marriage.”

“No. They’ll see it as a partnership between our groups.”

There was no sincerity in her father’s words. Rather, it would look as though they were proceeding with the strategic marriage in exchange for an investment.

Jeongseong Group was slightly larger than SH Group, so perhaps the situation would not look too bad. If SH Group were the smaller one, however, people might even accuse him of selling his daughter for investment money.

“In business, there are times when words alone aren’t enough to prove trust. This will be a way to show everyone that the strategic marriage is firmly established.”

Even if her father’s plan benefited the group, it would only bring unfavorable consequences for Ye-seo herself.

“In the end, it could look like my marriage is the price of the investment.”

“You can prove otherwise through the way you live. The partnership between the groups comes first.”

Her father’s reaction reminded her of how things had been in the past.

He must have reacted the same way when her stepmother tried to persuade him to arrange her marriage to Lee-min.

He prioritized the group’s interests over Ye-seo’s married life, made his decision, and simply informed her of it.

“Father!”

“For now, we can tell Do-gyeom about it first and decide whether to proceed afterward.”

There seemed to be no point in talking to her father any further. Ye-seo couldn’t hide how sorry she felt toward Do-gyeom.

It felt as though she was burdening him even before they were married. After speaking with her father, she returned to her room with a heavy heart.

“First, I should tell Do-gyeom about this before my father makes the proposal on behalf of the company.”

Ye-seo searched for Do-gyeom’s number on her phone and sent him a message.

[This is Han Ye-seo. There’s a problem at home regarding the marriage. Would you be available for a call?]

It wasn’t long after she sent the message that the read receipt appeared, followed by a reply from Do-gyeom.

[I’m available to talk now.]

Ye-seo sighed and gathered her resolve. Then she dialed Do-gyeom’s number.

Ring…

“Yes, this is Ryu Do-gyeom.”

“It’s Han Ye-seo. I’m sorry for calling so late.”

“It’s fine. I was just resting. What is it?”

Do-gyeom’s voice sounded more relaxed than it had when they met at the party. It seemed he really had been resting.

The thought of having to tell him something like this weighed heavily on her.

“Today… I told my father about our marriage. But a problem came up.”

“What kind of problem?”

“He wants to secure an investment as a sign of trust in our strategic marriage. I tried to talk him out of it, but it didn’t work.”

“An investment?”

“I’m sorry that I’m breaking my promise so soon. I said I wouldn’t try to benefit my in-laws’ family.”

Ye-seo felt she had no face to show Do-gyeom.

Just then, he spoke.

“If that’s all, then there’s no problem. I’ve been interested in doing business with SH Group for a while.”

Do-gyeom’s reaction was much more casual than Ye-seo had expected.

“They aren’t asking for a free investment. There’s nothing wrong with investing in a business that’s worth the money.”

“Were you already planning to invest in SH Group?”

“I was making plans to establish a partnership with their travel agency division for our hotel business.”

The travel agency was one of SH Group’s businesses.

If it partnered with Jeongseong Group’s hotel and resort business, the relatively insignificant division would have an opportunity to expand.

This would bring even greater benefits than her father had hoped for.

“I was already planning to pursue a joint venture soon, so this isn’t a big problem. Is this what you were worried about?”

“I’ve lost the advantage I was using to present myself as a good marriage partner.”

“This was your father’s decision rather than yours, so don’t worry about it.”

When Do-gyeom had heard Ye-seo say that she wouldn’t try to benefit her in-laws’ family, he had already expected that circumstances beyond her personal control might interfere.

If anything, he was surprised that Ye-seo had actually resisted her father.

At the parties he had attended over the years, Ye-seo had often been seen going out of her way to help her family.

That gave her the image of a family-oriented woman. Despite belonging to the powerful SH Group family, she had never been considered a suitable candidate for a strategic marriage.

People assumed she would be powerless against her in-laws and easily swayed by their demands.

But she was different at the charity party.

She had stood firm in her opinions and backed them up with action.

Her attitude, which showed that she was willing to draw a line even with her own family when necessary, was enough to make up for her shortcomings. It had been one of the reasons he decided to proceed with the strategic marriage.

From that perspective, this little incident was well within his expectations.

“Is that everything you wanted to discuss?”

“Yes, that’s the main issue. I’ll contact you once we’ve coordinated our schedules for our next meeting.”

“Then I’ll wait to hear from you.”

After ending the call with Do-gyeom, Ye-seo walked over to her bed and lay down.

“There are still so many things to deal with. I’m glad this worked out.”

Still, it was a long night filled with worries about how she could prevent similar situations from happening again.

“So, just as I expected.”

After ending the call, Do-gyeom thought about Ye-seo’s voice.

Compared to how confident she had sounded during their negotiations, she had seemed hesitant and unsure of herself. The way she appeared to feel guilty despite the situation not being her intention reminded him of when she had covered for Ye-jin.

“She still has some of her old habits, but she seems to have changed a little. I’ll wait and see.”

With that thought, Do-gyeom stood up and headed toward his father’s study.

Ye-seo had probably contacted him first because she was worried that the matter would be brought to him officially through the company.

However, as he had told her, the investment had already been planned. Reporting the matter to his father should prevent any major problems.

Knock, knock.

“Father, it’s Do-gyeom.”

“Come in.”

Do-gyeom’s father, Ryu Gyun-seong, was sitting at his desk, drinking tea.

“What is it?”

“I have something to report regarding the investment in SH Group.”

“Didn’t you say you were planning to proceed with a partnership with their travel agency?”

His father seemed to remember because Do-gyeom had previously reported the business idea to him.

However, since he had never mentioned the strategic marriage, he needed to report that as well.

“I intend to proceed with a marriage to Han Ye-seo of SH Group. However, her father wants an investment as a sign of trust in the strategic marriage.”

“Do you think it’s worth investing in them to demonstrate trust?”

“SH Group ranks among the top ten business groups in the country. I don’t think they fall significantly short of our family in terms of standing.”

“But the political family you were considering before would offer similar advantages, wouldn’t they?”

Gyun-seong seemed to assume that Do-gyeom was referring to the family with political connections he had been discussing with them.

“They have a slush fund scandal, and the person I’m supposed to marry is far too possessive.”

“Then what makes SH Group different?”

“First, SH Group has a clean public image. And Ye-seo isn’t the kind of person who would harm Jeongseong Group just to benefit her own family.”

If she had intended to cause harm, she wouldn’t have sounded so apologetic during their call.

“This marriage is important to you, too. Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“SH Group will benefit from the arrangement, but even considering Ye-seo herself, I believe she’s worth investing in.”

“It’s been a long time since you’ve spoken of investing in a person. I’ll trust your judgment.”

With that, Do-gyeom received his father’s approval for the strategic marriage.

Gyun-seong also agreed to discuss the formal meeting between the two families with Han Sang-hyeok, the chairman of SH Group.

At the formal meeting between the families, Ye-jin still couldn’t believe that Ye-seo was marrying into a better family than she was.

Nor could she imagine herself marrying into an even better one.

But there was nothing she could do in that situation.

Even if Sang-hyeok loved Ye-jin more than Ye-seo, it was obvious whom he would support as long as it benefited the group.

How did Ye-seo manage to get connected with Do-gyeom?

“How did the two of you meet?”

“I’d had a favorable impression of Ms. Ye-seo for a long time. Then we had a chance to talk recently, and we found that we got along well.”

As Do-gyeom spoke, he seemed to look at Ye-seo with genuine affection.

It made the marriage seem less like a strategic arrangement based on a business deal, which only made Ye-jin feel more frustrated.

After remaining quiet throughout the meeting, Ye-jin returned home and made an unexpected remark.

“Since SH Group’s capital is going into it, it’s SH Group’s property. So if you’re getting married, leave Yun-saek Ceramics behind.”

Rumors that SH Group was investing in Yun-saek Ceramics to preserve traditional craftsmanship were well known in business circles.

Yun-saek Ceramics held a special place in Ye-seo’s heart because it contained traces of her late mother.

Ye-jin thought that taking it away from Ye-seo might finally ease her own frustration.

Sang-hyeok, who heard her argument, knew that it had no valid basis.

However, he believed that absorbing Yun-saek Ceramics would benefit the group, so he silently watched Ye-jin make her case.

“I have evidence to refute that argument. I’ll show it to you tomorrow.”