The reason Hwi-gang paid attention to her, despite her slurred, alcohol-soaked words, was because of her voice. There was something about it – something painfully familiar. It sounded almost identical to his late mother’s voice.

“Hwi-gang, will you listen to me for a moment? Can you help me figure out if I’m right to be so angry with your father, or if I’m just overreacting?”

His mother’s words echoed in his mind and for a moment he felt as if he had been pulled back into the past.

Hwi-gang’s mother had always dreamed of having a big family. She was sure that once married, she would have as many children as fate would allow. But it wasn’t until her third year of marriage that she realized how difficult this dream really was. After struggling to conceive, she visited an obstetrician, only to be told that a natural pregnancy was impossible.

Determined to have a child, despite her husband’s opposition, she underwent numerous attempts at artificial insemination. Finally, after countless failed attempts, she gave birth to Hwi-gang. He was a precious gift and she cherished him like gold.

Hwi-gang grew up as the center of his mother’s world, especially as his father was a workaholic who was rarely home. With her husband always away, Hwi-gang became her only companion. Even when he was too young to fully understand, she developed a habit of confiding in him, venting her frustrations, and sharing her thoughts with her son. As a result, Hwi-gang became his mother’s emotional anchor long before he knew what that meant.

He listened to his mother’s lamentations without understanding them, often falling asleep to the sound of her voice. That familiar voice – the one he hadn’t heard since he was seventeen when his mother died in a tragic accident – was something he missed deeply. It was a voice that had been with him for years, filling his ears until the day she died.

Now that voice – the one he longed to hear again, but knew he could never – seemed to echo in his ears through this stranger’s drunken ramblings. It stirred something deep within him, and his gaze faltered. Each time she paused, too drunk to continue, Hwi-gang found himself begging her to continue, captivated by the memories she brought back.

“And what happened after that?” he asked, genuinely interested, not quite knowing why.

“I was ready to crash the wedding and cause a huge scene!”

She explained, slurring her words but clearly caught up in the emotion of her story.

“And?” he asked as if he really needed to know the next part.

“But I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

Her hesitation, her frustration – it all sounded so familiar. Just like his mother, torn between anger and helplessness, venting to a son who couldn’t quite understand, but always listened.

“Even if I did, nothing would change,” she sighed. I didn’t want him back, not after he married someone else. Besides, what had Kim Seol-ran ever done wrong? It wasn’t her fault… I guess I’m just an idiot, worrying about others when I can’t even put out the fire in my own life.”

“You’re not an idiot. You’re just kind-hearted.”

“Ha, thanks for saying that. It makes me feel a little better. But it still feels like my chest is going to explode. No matter how hard I try to put it down to bad luck, I can’t help but feel like I’ve wasted these three years. It’s driving me crazy.

“Do you want revenge?” asked Hwi-gang, watching her closely.

“Of course I do. I want to get back at him for what he said.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me to keep my hopes up, that I could still meet a guy with better qualifications, someone great. But there was something so smug about it like he didn’t really mean it. It wasn’t sincere – he was mocking me. Like, “Yeah, sure, try to meet someone better than me. Good luck with that.” It was humiliating. Do you think the shock of being betrayed distorted my sense of self?”

As she poured out her heart, it became clear that her anger was intertwined with the pain of lost time and betrayal. Her words reminded Hwi-gang of his mother’s unresolved bitterness – how she would vent and find comfort in the idea of justice, but ultimately what she sought was peace, not revenge.

“No, not at all. It’s probably just as you said – your ex was taunting you. If he were really the kind, supportive man he claimed to be, he wouldn’t have cheated on you in the first place.”

“Ha, thank you for saying that. It makes me feel a bit better.”

As they exchanged more drinks, the woman opened up about almost everything – her ex-boyfriend, her insecurities, and her frustrations.

“So now I’m thinking about finding a guy with even better credentials. You know what I really want? It sounds like something out of a soap opera, but I want to marry his boss. Wouldn’t that be the perfect revenge?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Heh, should I? But here’s the thing – my ex just got a job at LJ Electronics. How am I supposed to meet a manager or director in a big company like that? Even if I did, a man in that position would probably be over 40, married with kids. It’s impossible.”

She sighed, feeling the weight of her unrealistic fantasy. It seemed far-fetched – a wish more about getting back at her ex than anything achievable.

Seol-ah shook her head vigorously before downing her drink in one gulp. Then Hwi-gang spoke.

“What if I told you I was the boss of his company?”

“What? No way, stop joking. Are you teasing me because I’m drunk?”

“What if I wasn’t joking?”

“If you don’t… Well, hey, if you have the time, will you marry me?”

Seol-ah laughed as she said it, but the question hung in the air.

“Are you proposing right now?”

Hwi-gang asked, looking amused.

“Yes, I am. As long as you’re not married, that’s my only condition. And for the record, I may not seem like much, but once you get to know me, you’ll see that I’m quite a catch. I won’t make you regret it.”

“You seem to like it. Then let’s get married.”

“Are you serious?”

“Very serious.”

Recalling the events of the previous night, Hwi-gang’s lips curled into a long, satisfied smile. With an air of confidence, he pulled out his phone and made a call, the smile still on his face.

[Yes, young master, I was just about to call you.]

“What is it?”

[The Chairman has asked me to ask you to accept the position. Could you please reconsider under the circumstances?]

“That’s actually why I’m calling. I’ll take the job.”

[Are you serious?]

“Yes, I’ll start on Monday.”

[Oh, young master, you’ve made the right decision. I’ll make sure everything is ready.]

“Thank you. Please take care of the preparations.”