WAK 02

Chapter 2

*Even land in the most remote regions… even land in the most remote regions…*

The same words echoed over and over in Hana’s head.

With her sharp mind, she quickly calculated the enormous wealth Jeonghan might possess.

The offer was so overwhelming that, without realizing it, Hana almost reached out to grab his hand, as if hypnotized. She snapped back to her senses and hurriedly pulled her hand away. She had nearly said, *“Yes, let’s do it!”* without thinking.

No matter how much she liked money, this was not right.

Clearing her throat in embarrassment, Hana pretended to stay calm.

“Ha ha, that’s one hell of a joke.”

“I’m not joking.”

Hana wiped the forced smile off her face.

“You’re saying this seriously?”

He nodded.

“So you really mean… you want us to have a child together?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t think this is a very amusing topic between us.”

“I didn’t bring it up to be amusing.”

Even though she tried to argue seriously, Jeonghan easily shut her down.

> “I came to you because I thought Kang Hana was the perfect person.”

*I’m the perfect person to give birth to his child? Why me?*

Hana couldn’t understand it at all. She was a successful lawyer living a comfortable life. If she had one stress in life, it was her family pressuring her to get married despite her decision to stay single.

With a stunned expression, Hana pointed back and forth between the two of them.

“Are we… close or something?”

“Didn’t it ever occur to you that I can make this kind of offer *because* we’re not close?”

Jeonghan never looked flustered or rushed. If anything, he seemed confident that things would go exactly as he wanted. That made Hana even more speechless.

“We can think about this rationally, without emotions.”

That was the most ridiculous thing she had heard all day.

“Who has a child rationally?”

“Why not?”

“Before having a child, there’s physical contact, intimacy, emotional and mental involvement—there’s so much that has to happen…”

Her voice trailed off, and she stopped talking. As she spoke, an image flashed in her mind—kissing Jeonghan, falling tangled together onto a bed.

“Ahem, anyway…”

Seeing Hana blush deeply and frown, Jeonghan turned his head and chuckled softly.

Before, even when he smiled, he looked cold. Now, his whole presence felt different. His already handsome face looked even more attractive.

“Anyway, what?”

Hana looked surprised. When their eyes met, her face grew even redder.

“I’m saying it’s not something you can just think about so rationally.”

Jeonghan leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with her. The closer he got, the faster her heart raced.

> “Then let’s get emotionally tangled instead.”

In that instant, Hana felt like her heart dropped straight down. A thought flashed through her mind—*this man might be far more dangerous than I thought.*

Warning sirens blared in her head.

*Is life trying to drag me down just because I’ve been doing too well, by sending a ridiculously handsome man like this?*

And seriously—why is he *this* good-looking?

It was the first time she realized how dizzying a man’s gaze could be.

Unlike him, who stayed relaxed the entire time, Hana was growing more and more anxious. Even though there was no reason for her to be on the defensive, she felt like she was being pushed back.

“I’m not asking for an answer today.”

Jeonghan generously gave her time to think. But Hana immediately waved her hand.

“No. Let’s just pretend I never heard this, and I’ll be going now.”

She had rushed over excited, thinking she’d get a divorce case and a big fee—only to hear this nonsense. Her irritation boiled over.

“I’m serious.”

Jeonghan said this as Hana stood up.

“If you’re not here for a divorce, let’s never meet again, senior. Goodbye.”

She walked away without looking back.

Jeonghan’s gaze followed her until she disappeared. When she pushed open the café door and left, a dark smile spread across his lips.

> “We’re going to meet again anyway.”

He calmly drank the iced coffee she had bought. No matter how he thought about it, Kang Hana was the perfect woman.

—

**The next day, noon.**

Hana entered the G Hotel in Jongno, wearing a bright ivory dress. Her older sister **Jua** was coming with Hana’s niece **Ara**, so Hana had dressed up nicely.

She absolutely adored her young niece. She already loved children, but because Ara shared her blood, she found her especially precious.

She was here today because Ara had apparently begged to visit a hotel, and Jua had casually mentioned it.

Walking through the large revolving door, Hana saw a dazzling chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. She had visited this hotel before for client meetings, so it felt familiar.

She headed straight for the café, her hands full of gifts for Ara.

Stopping at the entrance, she scanned the room.

*Looks like they’re not here yet.*

Just as she was about to step toward an empty seat—

> “I can see everything from here.”

A voice she would not have recognized two days ago, but could never forget after yesterday, came from right behind her.

Startled, Hana turned around. As expected, Jeonghan was standing there with a slightly cynical expression. For a coincidence, it was far too perfect.

He slowly looked her up and down.

“Are you here on a blind date?”

Hana frowned deeply.

“No.”

She didn’t know why she was answering him so honestly, especially when he looked just as refined and intimidating as yesterday.

“Aren’t hotel cafés usually for blind dates?”

“Not for me.”

He glanced at her irritation and replied indifferently.

“Is that so?”

Even though it was Sunday, Ryu Jeonghan was dressed in a flawless suit.

“You look like *you’re* here on a blind date, senior.”

She emphasized “senior” deliberately.

“No way. I don’t do marriage.”

Jeonghan answered casually, but firmly.

“Then why are you here?”

“For coffee.”

“What kind of person comes all the way to a hotel just for coffee?”

*Wait… is that normal for chaebol families?*

She argued instinctively, then belatedly realized that maybe it *was* normal in their world.

“Because this is my home.”

“What?”

For a moment, Hana thought G Hotel belonged to him.

Seeing her eyes widen, he pointed upward.

“Long-term stay.”

She relaxed her expression and cleared her throat awkwardly.

“Why live here when you have a perfectly good house?”

He smirked and answered simply.

“Hotels are comfortable.”

Of course. There was no way he didn’t own a house. Owning a home was a dream for ordinary people like her.

Swallowing the words she almost said, Hana smiled professionally.

“Then enjoy your business. I have someone to meet.”

She nodded briefly and turned away.

*Seriously, that startled me. Of all places, why here?*

She hurried toward a seat that Ara would like.

Then—Jeonghan followed her and sat down across from her.

“Why are you sitting there?”

She asked in disbelief.

Instead of answering, he asked another question.

> “Did you think about it?”

Hana glanced around and leaned closer.

“Think about what?”

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

“The proposal I made. About us having a child—”

Hana quickly cut him off.

“Shh! Someone might hear.”

Covering her mouth with the back of her hand, she whispered.

“Who in the world would seriously consider a proposal like that?”

She waved her hand, clearly telling him to leave.

Jeonghan ignored it, tilted his head, and rubbed his chin. His reaction was just as indifferent as when he said he wouldn’t get married.

“Hmm.”

*What is that reaction?*

*What is he thinking?*

Hana was usually good at reading people. Just a few words were enough for her to see through someone’s thoughts. But Ryu Jeonghan was impossible to read.

She straightened up and called out to him.

“Hey.”

“Go on.”

“You said you were in a hurry.”

“For having a child?”

“Yes.”

He shrugged once. Hana was dumbfounded.

“You said you were desperate yesterday, and I made time for you. Did you forget that?”

“I didn’t forget.”

“Then please find someone else who’s more suitable than me.”

He didn’t answer.

“I’ll pretend I never heard what you said yesterday. I’ll erase it from my memory, so don’t worry about it getting out.”

Jeonghan, who had been staring at her, slowly shook his head and said clearly,

> “I can’t do that.”

Strong confidence showed in his eyes.

“Why not?”

His lips were tightly closed, but his gaze said everything.

*I’m not having a child with anyone else—only with you.*