19.1

“Don’t worry about getting pregnant. She probably doesn’t want to get pregnant more than I do. She’s very enthusiastic about her studies right now. She doesn’t want to get involved with a rich guy in the first place.”

“Do you believe that? That’s just her way of getting your attention. She’s saying she’s different from other women. It’s a kind of differentiation strategy. How can you not know such a basic trick?”

Seonkyung sneered, thinking how naive Seonho was.

“I really wish she was just an ambitious girl who dreams of being a chaebol’s daughter-in-law. It would be much easier in many ways, but she really makes it difficult.”

Seonho sighed deeply.

“Anyway, she and I have nothing to do with each other, so leave her alone. As you say, mother, driven by youthful energy, I might chase after women and then lose interest. So, if grandfather or father brings this up, just say you know about it and leave it be. I’m still young, and over time I might get bored and break up. You know, if you leave it alone, it might just fizzle out, but making a fuss might fan the flames.”

Seonkyung narrowed her eyes and looked at Seonho.

His casual demeanor made it seem like this was nothing more than a passing fling. If he hadn’t mentioned his grandfather or father, she might have thought nothing of it.

But the bottom line was that he was telling her not to touch the girl, and furthermore, he was using her own words to maneuver her into shielding him from his grandfather and father.

Ha! I almost fell for it.

It was ridiculous, and she was also surprised that he had grown bold enough to try such a maneuver on her, stirring mixed feelings.

You’ve still got a long way to go. No chance, you rascal.

“Trying to use me? Ridiculous. Trying to make me a shield?”

Seonkyung’s voice was sharp. Being manipulated was the last thing she wanted.

“Oh, that’s a pity. I thought I almost had you. Why couldn’t you just play along a little?”

Seonho smiled wryly without any sign of panic.

“You think experience is for nothing?”

Seonkyung didn’t say anything about being tricked.

“How about a deal then? I’ll help you push father around in exchange for your help.”

“Isn’t that a given since I’m pushing you to be the heir?”

“I’m not interested in being a successor.”

“Now you say this?”

“I just stayed quiet because there was no reason not to. It was your pushing mother, and grandfather showed interest.”

“So? Are you going to run away like Joo-eun did?”

“That’s one option. But if becoming the successor benefits me in marrying her, then I’ll take that role. Which is more advantageous? Running away? Or becoming the successor?”

“Are you threatening me now?”

Seonkyung’s eyebrows twitched disapprovingly.

“If the threat works, that’s fine too.”

“Marriage is reality.”

“Arranged marriages are a safety valve for incompetent people like my brother, not me.”

“You’re so full of yourself because this project is going so well, but that’s not your talent. Who else would be so supportive of a team leader’s proposal like that? It’s special treatment because you’re the son of the group owner.”

“Do you know how many startups I’ve planned have succeeded? Some have sold for hundreds of times their investment, and I own shares in several of them. Besides, I have capital and items ready to launch soon.”

“Okay, let’s say you do have abilities. But even that isn’t really yours.”

“What do you mean it isn’t mine?”

“Don’t you see? You started on a different starting line. You grew up in a household that taught you how to play with stocks from a young age. You are where you are now because of such benefits. What you really have is our family’s wealth and connections.”

“Do you know how many second or third-generation chaebols fail to achieve results even with their family’s wealth and connections? I have that data on that too.”

“…….”

Seonho’s retorts, sharp and assertive, had left Seonkyung at a loss for words. It was the first time in their verbal exchange that she was the one to fall silent.

“Even without comparing to others, just my brother alone is like that. If he loses the inherited wealth, he will have nothing, but it’s not the same for me. That’s why grandfather pits me against my brother.”

This statement was also true. Seonkyung knew about the wealth they had handed down but had no grasp of how much Seonho had grown it. Even if the inheritance was taken away, the assets Seonho had grown could not be.

She’s always thought of him as smart but still young. But the son in front of her wasn’t just big in stature, he was imposing. His presence was different, and it showed today.

“Like I said, we’re not in a relationship.”

“Are you saying she doesn’t really want to be with you?”

“Yeah.” 

“Huh.”

Seonkyung was speechless, overwhelmed.

“So leave her alone. I still need to see her more.”

Seonho stated this decisively.

“Sure, look all you want. I won’t stop you.”

Seonkyung said in a disinterested tone.

“Let me repeat, if she gets hurt, I will make whoever hurt her suffer many times over.”

“I didn’t expect such a childish, cringe-worthy line to come out of my son’s mouth.”

Seonkyung shuddered.

“Still, aren’t you jealous? That I can live saying things like this?”

Seonho’s face was full of smiles, an expression Seonkyung had never seen on his son before.

“Not at all. I have no intention of becoming a childish person. You can go now. I feel like I might freeze into goosebumps if I stay with you any longer.”

“Well, then, I’ll take this as a good end to our conversation and leave.”

Seonho smiled wryly, stood up, bowed, and left the office.

After Seonho left, Seonkyung remained deep in thought.

What could it be? Could Seonho actually be in love?

The word “love” twisted Seonkyung’s lips into a sneer.

Love? As if that could exist.

She had embarked on her marriage devoid of any love. It was a marriage feasible without such sentiments, anchored by the contractual condition to raise their children as heirs. Under this arrangement, she had planned and borne her first son.

Maternal affection? She had heard that such a feeling exists when one gives birth, but she felt nothing special—perhaps she was devoid of such emotions from the start. After giving birth, a nanny was immediately employed, and she returned to work at the company, spending her days busily.

She had only intended to have one child, but her father-in-law insisted that she have a second, threatening to have a child out of wedlock if she didn’t.

Long since becoming a trophy couple, devoid of a shared bed after the birth of their first son, the idea of sharing a bed with her husband again, even just for procreation, was abhorrent to her. That’s why she resorted to in vitro fertilization. Seonho was conceived using her husband’s sperm through this process.

But Seonho felt different from his elder brother. Even while in her womb, he wasn’t particularly special, but after he was born, the nurse placed Seonho in her arms and he looked so beautiful.

Maybe as he grew and began to resemble her more, she grew more attached to him. That’s why she kept him closer than her eldest son. After returning from work, she would stop by his room to see him, and there were times she stayed by his side when he was ill. When he was a bit older, she even took him to gatherings to show him off.

But could this be called maternal love, or love?

It was the same with Seonho. The kind of affection seen between mothers and children among other people was absent between them.

She had her own lovers for s*xual gratification, and her husband and eldest son had not only one-night stands but also long-term mistresses, though she honestly didn’t think they loved these women. To them, mistresses were merely light bulbs that could be replaced.

And now Seonho is in love? If that were true, it would be absurd. Thinking this way, one could dismiss the woman he’s currently seeing as just a passing fancy. After all, he’s old enough to have girl problems.

But she couldn’t just dismiss it; something felt off.

Initially, she had taken it lightly, thinking it was merely precautionary advice before marriage talks began.

Seonkyung called her assistant over.

“That girl…”

As she spoke, she realized that Seonho had never once mentioned the girl’s name.

Was this deliberate?

Seonkyung tapped her finger on the photograph of the girl.

“What’s her name?”

The secretary opened the tablet PC and retrieved the information.

“Her name is Han Chaeyoon.”

“What’s her profile?”

The photograph had arrived, but she still hadn’t grasped detailed information about the girl.

“Just basic information so far.”

The secretary handed the tablet PC to Seonkyung.

“She’s a college classmate of Seonho. Class president?”

“She’s the daughter of Min Ah-young, who was a secretary to Madam Ko, and a friend of Cha Joo-eun.”

“Is this her profile?”

“Ah, that girl.”

That’s why the face looked familiar.