DH ✦ Ch 10

✦ Chapter 9 ✦

“Shin Hyun-jae getting married? I was seriously shocked.”

At the sudden remark, Hyun-jae turned his head toward Byung-soo, who was sitting next to him. His eyes were wide open, as if he’d been awake all along.

Hyun-jae tried to brush it off with a smirk, but Byung-soo leaned in playfully.

“Weren’t you a sworn bachelor?”

“Not exactly.”

“Right. You were a romantic who said you’d never marry without love.”

This bastard is spouting nonsense again.

“You said you were looking for a fake bride.”

Hyun-jae responded flatly and opened his newspaper again.

He was trying to end the conversation, but Byung-soo was oblivious to the mood.

“You have a thing for Yoon Ga-young, don’t you? I’m sure you’ve had feelings for her for a while. Otherwise, Shin Hyun-jae wouldn’t be proposing marriage, of all things.”

“Enough.”

“It’s such a waste. If only I’d known about Yoon Ga-young’s unfortunate situation first. Even if it wasn’t marriage, if she wanted to date, I’d have found a way to lend her that 700 million won. I mean, if NewJeans asked me for 700 million, I’d—”

“Gil-byeong-shin.”

It was a nickname used among their high school friends—an insult derived from his name.

Hyun-jae turned his head slowly, his glare sharp enough to make Byung-soo flinch and bite his lip.

Even if it was just a contract marriage, how could he say something like that about a friend’s wife? Hyun-jae was so offended he wanted to punch him.

“You’re talking shit again.”

The insult, delivered in a needlessly elegant tone, was something Byung-soo especially hated. But realizing he’d crossed a line, he shrank back with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry. But honestly, it’s kind of unfair.”

“What is?”

“The fact that I’m the only one out of 8 billion people who knows what a damn mess you are.”

❦

They arrived at Incheon Airport around midnight.

After exiting the arrivals gate, Ga-young asked Hyun-jae for a moment and headed to the changing room. Her comfortable T-shirt and slacks were replaced by a high-end dress.

According to what she heard from Byung-soo, the next item on their schedule was to greet the chairman of GB Group. She’d bought this dress at the department store yesterday in preparation for that first formal meeting.

It was a purchase made with the intent of fulfilling her role as a wife properly.

She applied some lip gloss and straightened out her outfit.

It wasn’t a luxury brand, but it was the most extravagant piece of clothing she’d ever owned. The black-and-white dress added a touch of maturity to her college-student-like face and tall frame.

She felt it was enough to make a decent first impression on the chairman.

Ga-young quickly returned to where Hyun-jae was waiting.

His gaze had been fixed on her from about ten meters away, making her heart flutter with nerves. As she approached with an awkward expression, Hyun-jae casually spoke.

“Nice dress.”

It felt like he’d said she looked nice. Her cheeks flushed. Pressing a hand against her face, Ga-young tried to respond in a way that would satisfy him.

“I was told we’d be meeting the chairman right after arriving in Korea. I thought carefully about what a newlywed bride should wear to greet an elder respectfully.”

Hyun-jae let out a small huff of laughter through his nose.

It felt like he was mocking her over-the-top effort, and her shoulders instinctively hunched. But thankfully, that wasn’t his intention.

“Smart student.”

Ga-young trailed closely beside him as he began walking.

She was about to face the most important test in her role as his wife. To earn an A+, she needed a bit more information.

“Um, I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“What kind of family does the executive director have?”

“My grandmother. She’s the only family I have in Korea right now.”

During her two free days after signing the marriage contract, Ga-young had done some research on the GB family.

Chairwoman Kwon Sun-jin was Hyun-jae’s maternal grandmother. Other direct relatives included his mother and a younger sister. Hearing that she only needed to meet the chairwoman lifted a bit of the burden from her heart.

“What kind of person does she like?”

“Well, it’s unlikely she’ll like you…”

Hyun-jae paused briefly, his lips curling into a wry smile.

“It’s going to be hard. She might even slam the door in your face.”

Realistically speaking, it was unlikely that a chaebol chairwoman would welcome a gatekeeper’s niece as her grandson’s bride.

Ga-young was prepared to endure that cold reception. It was her duty to face it with dignity.

“What should I say today?”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’ll do all the talking—just nod and agree.”

It was a simple, clear instruction—but for Ga-young, it felt vague and overwhelming.

Could she really just sit there and nod in front of an elder? What if the chairwoman directly asked her a question—wouldn’t she have to say something at least?

Though she had memorized the fabricated love story Hyun-jae gave her, she worried about making even a small mistake in front of the chairwoman.

Noticing the worry etched on her face, Hyun-jae spoke gently.

“If you approach it with the same mindset you had when buying that dress, you’ll do fine.”

A short while later, they said goodbye to Byung-soo outside the terminal, and Hyun-jae went to retrieve the car from the parking lot.

Left alone, Ga-young looked out at the dim surroundings of the airport.

To her, Korea was a land shrouded in that kind of darkness.

Once, it had been a place she desperately wanted to escape, a land of humiliation she never wished to return to.

But now, those thoughts felt distant. The tension of the upcoming married life had pushed her regrets into the background.

Three months as Shin Hyun-jae’s wife—a period that felt both short and long.

She felt like a castaway on a vast, unfamiliar island without a map. All she could do was collide, stumble, and endure.

It’s okay. I can do this.

Ga-young made a silent vow. This was the start of an adventure into an unfamiliar life.

❦

The sedan came to a stop in Seongbuk-dong, nestled against Bukaksan, a neighborhood lined with luxury homes.

The house, hidden behind tall walls, revealed no hint of its interior from the outside.

Without needing to ring a bell, the gate opened. Ga-young glanced out the car window, taking in the estate of a true chaebol family.

It was hard to believe such a vast residence could exist within Seoul.

The garden, filled with grass, flowers, and trees, stretched out in a somber gray. A small pond and scattered sculptures were dimly visible.

Within the grounds, there were three buildings. The car stopped in front of the main house, located straight down the central path.

One of the household staff opened the car door. As she stepped out and looked up at the building’s facade, Ga-young was overwhelmed. Hyun-jae approached.

“Nervous?”

“No. I’m fully prepared.”

“We’re going in now.”

“Yes.”

Ga-young collected her scattered thoughts.

Her countless mental reminders not to lose confidence had worked. She didn’t tremble as she stepped into the main house. She even responded with a polite bow and smile to the staff lined up in greeting.

“Welcome.”

A stern elderly voice rang out from behind the servants. Ga-young followed Hyun-jae’s lead as he walked toward the woman.

“We’re here.”

He greeted the mistress of the house with practiced ease.

“How have you been? Is your health well?”

“My condition is a wreck—thanks to the bomb my grandson dropped yesterday.”

The refined tone couldn’t hide its barbs.

Apparently, Hyun-jae had informed her of the marriage over the phone. Ga-young could easily understand how furious the chairwoman must have been at such a sudden announcement.

Standing beside Hyun-jae in front of the main seat, Ga-young cautiously lifted her gaze.

Chairwoman Kwon Sun-jin of GB Group.

She was seventy-eight years old but looked much younger.

Her face had few wrinkles, and her silver-streaked hair, tied up neatly, gave her a dignified presence. Her tall, straight posture and simple knit blouse and slacks radiated class.

Her expression still held a trace of anger. Her sharp gaze was directed solely at Hyun-jae.

Most people would tremble under such scrutiny, but Hyun-jae looked completely unfazed.

“I’m happy to introduce her to you. She’s the woman I married.”

Even the rhythm of his voice was audacious. He didn’t seem the least bit remorseful about his secret wedding.

“Ga-young, say hello.”

Following his prompt, Ga-young bowed respectfully.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Yoon Ga-young.”

Since Hyun-jae was acting so confident, Ga-young decided to do the same. She hid her trembling nerves and forced a smile.

Chairwoman Kwon showed no interest in acknowledging her. Not even a glance was thrown Ga-young’s way.

“Aren’t you going to tell us to sit?”

“Sit down.”

With reluctant permission wrung from her, Hyun-jae and Ga-young took their seats across from the chairwoman.

At the same eye level, a tense standoff began between grandmother and grandson. Kwon Sun-jin’s gaze was full of disapproval, while Hyun-jae wore a relaxed, faint smile.

For Ga-young, the silence was nerve-wracking.

The unspoken battle of wills was finally broken by Kwon’s sharp question.

“What have you done?”

Hyun-jae replied with absurd ease.

“I fell in love at first sight.”