DH ✦ Ch 14

Byung-soo muttered an insult under his breath, his face showing utter disbelief, as if he were doing ventriloquism.

“What an absolute piece of work.”

Since he was the only one who knew about the fake marriage, newlywed life would never work as an excuse. And Hyun-jae couldn’t exactly tell him that it was the truth.

Having been properly countered, Hyun-jae gave a hollow smile and opened the documents.

“Fine. I’ll review the paperwork myself, so you can go.”

“Yes, my most respected Executive Director.”

Byung-soo exaggeratedly bowed his head, then turned to leave before suddenly raising his index finger.

“Ah, I almost forgot to report one thing.”

“What is it?”

“The chairman was kind enough to call me personally this morning. He knew that I stayed by your side in New York and asked about what happened around the wedding.”

“You gave him the appropriate answers, of course.”

To Hyun-jae, Byung-soo was a friend he trusted more than family. His competence, his friendship, even his loyalty to his superior were beyond question.

Still looking down at the documents, Hyun-jae spoke casually. Byung-soo shrugged.

“Of course. I performed my role perfectly, without getting a single detail wrong in the script you gave me. However, I should mention that there were a few questions I couldn’t answer.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Miss Yoon Ga-young’s exact date of birth and the time she was born.”

“Huh!”

Hyun-jae covered his forehead and laughed.

“Looks like Master Jeong will be paying us a visit soon.”

The moment he said it, a picture of the afternoon scenery in Seongbuk-dong came to mind.

After finishing her meal, Ga-young was about to clear the dishes when the doorbell of the annex rang.

“Master Jeong. I haven’t had a chance to tell Madam yet.”

It was Lady Eom’s voice as she greeted the visitor at the entrance.

Soon, the person who appeared before Ga-young looked less like a fortune teller and more like an old man with white hair. His long hair was braided into a single plait, and he had long beards on his chin and around his mouth. Dressed in a silk robe, he looked like some kind of Taoist sage.

Ga-young bowed her head uneasily.

Master Jeong returned the greeting with the same formal bow, but his eyes immediately fixed themselves on Ga-young’s face. His gaze persistently traced over her features, making her feel that he was being rather rude.

“Why are you looking at me like that…?”

“You have the face of one destined to become a noble person.”

“Pardon?”

“What time were you born?”

Ga-young looked at Lady Eom in confusion.

“He was sent by the chairman. I think it would be best to tell him.”

Lady Eom knew the circumstances of this household better than anyone, so Ga-young felt she should follow her advice.

Reluctantly, she gave him her exact birth time. Master Jeong then clasped his hands together in a formal greeting.

“I have met the owner of the rose.”

Leaving behind that utterly nonsensical remark, Master Jeong disappeared as suddenly as smoke.

According to Lady Eom’s explanation, Master Jeong was a shaman who had maintained a close relationship with Chairman Kwon Sun-jin for thirty years.

Apparently, every conglomerate chairman secretly kept a gifted fortune teller or shaman close at hand. Chairman Kwon was no exception. Whenever he had to make an important decision, he would summon Master Jeong.

“He says he’s never suffered a loss by following Master Jeong’s predictions.”

Lady Eom added her own assessment, saying that the chairman relied on him to that extent.

Master Jeong’s words hadn’t sounded negative. So it probably wasn’t a prediction that would bring misfortune. Ga-young tried to settle the uneasiness creeping over her.

Time passed, and around noon, a message came from the main house.

Lady Eom looked miserable as she told Ga-young that the chairman had ordered her to come alone.

Ga-young calmly reassured her.

“It was something I’d have to face sooner or later anyway.”

There was no way she could remain hidden away in the annex until Hyun-jae returned from work. The chairman might come in person, or she might be dragged over by one of his people and suffer the humiliation of being forcibly summoned.

It seemed better to go and see him voluntarily before either happened.

When Ga-young entered the main house, she was escorted to a room on the second floor.

The secretary opened the door, revealing an office decorated in classic tones with a solemn atmosphere.

Kwon Sun-jin was seated in the head position of the sofa rather than behind the desk.

Unlike the casual clothes he had worn yesterday, he was dressed in a two-piece suit. It seemed that the elderly chairman worked from home in this study.

“Good afternoon, Chairman.”

Ga-young bowed her head and met Kwon Sun-jin’s dry gaze with a respectful posture.

“Come over here and sit.”

His tone was noticeably gentler than yesterday.

Ga-young sat diagonally across from him, keeping their eye levels roughly equal.

Remaining steady even amid swirling currents was her responsibility. So she carefully chose her words and began by apologizing.

“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

“So you do realize it.”

The room badly needed ventilation. The air felt heavy and stifling.

His murky gray eyes bore down on Ga-young’s face like stone.

Unable to carelessly open her mouth, Ga-young simply sat upright and waited.

After a brief silence, Kwon Sun-jin spoke bluntly.

“First of all, I will acknowledge your marriage.”

Ga-young’s eyes widened.

Yesterday’s contempt and hostility couldn’t possibly have been reversed in an instant. It was probably like a smokescreen fired just before the real attack. She would have to prepare herself, because a harsh assault would surely follow.

“I don’t mean that I’m recognizing you as my grandson’s wife right this moment.”

Ga-young gave a small nod to show that she understood.

Kwon Sun-jin let out a low sigh and rubbed his forehead once.

“To be honest, I consider your marriage nothing more than an unexpected accident. I want you to separate even now. But Hyun-jae is being stubborn about his position, so forcing my will through immediately would be difficult.”

Half of what Kwon Sun-jin felt was rejection, while the other half was resignation.

“Do the couple who look after your family’s vacation home know that you’re married?”

“I haven’t told them yet.”

“You did well. For the time being, it would be best not to tell anyone around you.”

That was also stipulated in the marriage contract, so Ga-young obediently answered,

“Yes.”

The deep creases beside Kwon Sun-jin’s mouth shifted. It was obvious that he was still struggling with what he was about to say.

Only after letting out another sigh did he finally speak.

“If you accept my condition, then I intend to recognize you as a member of my family.”

“What condition?”

At Ga-young’s gentle question, Kwon Sun-jin gave her a firm answer.

“Have a child.”

To Ga-young, the words struck like a bolt of lightning.

Asking a married couple to have a child might not have been an unreasonable demand from a husband’s family.

But this marriage wasn’t real, was it?

There was absolutely no way she could agree to it. Yet Kwon Sun-jin continued earnestly.

“If you become pregnant with Hyun-jae’s child, I will have your marriage officially registered. That means you will acquire a certain level of rights to the enormous wealth of the GB family.”

Even if their relationship fell apart and they eventually divorced, it meant Ga-young would be able to live as a wealthy woman for the rest of her life.

Of course, there was no chance of that actually happening.

Neither Ga-young nor Hyun-jae wanted to register their marriage, and neither of them intended to have a child.

“Hyun-jae is a busy executive who spends half of every month overseas. He won’t have the time to take care of you properly, so I intend to take on that role myself. We’ll set up your newlywed household here in the annex.”

“You only need to enjoy the freedom I provide and focus on becoming pregnant as soon as possible.”

“You’ll accept my condition, won’t you?”

It sounded less like a proposal and more like an order.

Ga-young was too overwhelmed by the wall of authority before her to answer.

Perhaps the chairman intended to obtain a great-grandchild from her and then immediately cast her aside.

For a chaebol heir, one divorce and a young child would hardly be a major blemish. Ga-young interpreted the situation according to her own lowly circumstances: perhaps he had decided to create one heartwarming story about his grandson marrying an ordinary woman, then discard her afterward.

When her silence stretched on for too long, Kwon Sun-jin mixed persuasion with a threat.

“If you leave my house and establish a separate household, I will cut Hyun-jae off completely. But if you accept my proposal, I will provide the best possible environment for your newlywed life. And the moment you become pregnant, I will recognize you as my legal daughter-in-law.”

When there was still no response, Kwon Sun-jin softened his tone.

“You’re married now, so isn’t pregnancy only natural? I hope you’ll accept my goodwill with gratitude.”

How should she answer?

It wasn’t particularly complicated.

She simply had to endure the oppressive atmosphere of this mansion.

Hyun-jae’s plan to part ways after three months would remain unchanged, and she had already prepared herself to play the role of a married couple when necessary.

A marriage that would last only three months should not become the blade that drove a wedge between a grandmother and her grandson.

Carefully, Ga-young gave the obvious answer.

“I will follow your wishes, Chairman.”

“Send some headache medicine in.”

After sending Ga-young away, Kwon Sun-jin called the secretary’s office.

Even after swallowing the medicine the secretary brought him with some water, his headache did not subside.

Kwon Sun-jin supported his head with one hand, as though carrying a mountain-sized burden of worry.

How was this any different from simply surrendering and saying, You are my grandson’s wife?

He liked Yoon Ga-young’s appearance and educational background.

But even so… the niece of a caretaker couple, and an orphan?

Wasn’t that far too lowly a background to attach to his outstanding grandson, the man who would inherit all the glory of the GB family?

It was all because of Master Jeong’s fortune-telling.