CHAPTER 4: Naive (Part 1)

In front of old memories, the man she didn’t want to meet again in this manner whispered as he slid the ring onto her finger.

“How about that? Meeting me again feels familiar, doesn’t it?”

Moon-kyeong sent him a disdainful glance.

“Mr. Kim, no, Mr Kim Seojun. I don’t want to marry you.”

Seojun’s face is as smooth as well-molded porcelain. In his thirties now, he exuded not just lethal charm but also a seductive gaze.

“Why’s that?”

“You know why.”

“Why? Are you afraid you’ll ruin yourself again, someone who used to accept anything?”

“…”

“Or are you afraid I’ll break you?”

His unchanged mockery no longer pierced her. Moon-kyeong had truly become a woman numb to the wounds inflicted by others.

Her insensitivity, hardened by time, was now her weapon.

She slips the ring off her ring finger and places it in his palm.

“I made it clear I don’t want to.”

“You’ll end up doing it.”

He placed the ring back into its case and tucked it into his suit without hesitation.

She watched him leave without looking back.

She wanted to find a way.

Back then, she wanted it, but now she didn’t. She didn’t want any trace of Kim Seojun, not anymore.

* * *

The weekend performance was a full house.

People admired Moon-kyeong’s ballet. Hye-ran came just after the final performance.

The bouquet she handed to Moon-kyeong each time she hugged her was as elegant and sophisticated as Hye-ran herself. Handing over the bouquet, Hye-ran quickly mentioned tomorrow’s schedule.

“Director Nam Leehyeon wants to see you.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. We’re going to have dinner together, so let’s go to the department store now and pick out some clothes.”

“I have enough clothes.”

“No. She used to be a hanbok designer, so she has a good eye for fashion. Both of her daughters have inherited her talent and are working prominently in the home shopping and logistics departments. I just hope my daughter won’t get into any trouble no matter where she goes.”

It was an assessment that she would spend several hours shopping until she found clothes she liked. It wasn’t something she hadn’t experienced a few times before, so Moon-kyeong replied briefly, agreeing to it.

It was when they moved to the parking lot behind the Arts Center and Hye-ran grabbed the handle of the passenger door of her luxurious sedan.

“Get in the back.”

“The back?”

“Yes.”

Whereas Seo Jaewoo, a member of parliament, always had a personal chauffeur, Hye-ran had been driving herself since Moon-kyeong was young.

Although it was strange to be told to sit in the back instead of the passenger seat, Moon-kyeong didn’t question it and simply opened the back door.

As she was trying to quickly touch up her hastily wiped makeup, Hye-ran tossed her a paper bag.

“You still don’t eat on performance days?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s a sandwich. You should at least eat that so you won’t be too tired to shop.”

“Thank you, I’ll eat it well.”

As Hye-ran had said, all she had eaten all day was a chocolate bar and coffee, so she was hungry. Moon-kyeong took out the sandwich Hye-ran had packed and took a big bite.

During her school days, she would occasionally come across articles about adopted children being abused by their adoptive parents.

In addition to physical abuse, there were also horrifying stories of being sexually abused by their adoptive fathers, locked in a basement for days, and starved.

Hye-ran has never laid a hand on her in any way physically.

Given Seo Jaewoo’s character, he might have tried something with a young girl like her at least once, but she was the one who intervened and mediated everything.

Seo Jaewoo still uses his power to invite celebrities to drinking parties and flirt with young women.

Occasionally, women would blackmail him for money using photos from the hotel as bait, but Hye-ran would quickly defuse the situation. Moon-kyeong often admired Hye-ran’s strength and resilience in the face of her husband’s infidelity.

Her sincere desire to never live such a miserable life again because of her poverty when she was young sometimes persuaded Moon-kyeong.

“Is Dad busy these days?”

Hye-ran, who was driving, twisted her lips into a smile at her words.

“Of course he’s busy. Why wouldn’t he be?”

“Mom.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you so happy to be part of this Lee Han Group?”

Taking advantage of a momentary pause at a traffic light, Hye-ran glanced at her. Despite pretending not to be sensitive or clever, her daughter had a kind and tender heart.

So, taming her while choosing between carrots and sticks was a piece of cake for Hye-ran.

Giving her some slack when she loosened up and then applying strong pressure when she needed it, even driving her relentlessly crazy, but releasing her occasionally, turned her into a docile lamb.

She couldn’t deny that she as her daughter hated her to the point of death but also loved her. Hye-ran was no different. Even as she pushed Moon-kyeong to the edge, she did not stop loving her.

Hye-ran’s goal was Lee Han from the beginning. It wasn’t about personality; it was about the powerful social position and the Lee Han Group, which no one could overlook, rather than the ignorant and dirty Jeseong Group.

“Yeah, I’m happy.”

“…….”

“So, work harder. Make sure your marriage doesn’t fall apart.”

“Okay.”

“As for ballet, honestly, I’m a bit disappointed. I wish you’d stick around for a few more years. It’s something you should try to convince me about.”

Moon-kyeong quickly interrupted, coming up with an excuse and smoothly lying.

“No, if I get married, I should focus on supporting Mr. Seojun.”

“Is that so? Okay.”

Hye-ran also let go of one ambition. It wouldn’t matter much if she aimed for something bigger.