CHAPTER 31

The black mermaid dress Yeonseo wore was a tube top style with one-thigh exposed. The design was subdued but revealing, making it both bold and sophisticated, and it looked great against her fair skin.

Yeonseo awkwardly examined herself in the mirror, her hair in an updo. Her long neck somehow made her feel self-conscious, and she was about to rub the nape of her neck when Sieun grabbed her hand.

“Unnie? No more self-examining from now on. Absolutely no touching.”

“Okay.”

Yeonseo replied sheepishly. Once they were out of the shop and in the parking lot, Sieun pointed to a black sedan with a jerk of her chin.

“You’ll be riding that, unnie, so you’re on your own now.”

After finishing her sentence, Sieun dashed towards a man.

“Oppa! Did you wait long?”

“Sieun, be careful not to fall.”

Whether it was her boyfriend or not, Sieun’s actions were so her, cute and infectious, that it brought a smile to Yeonseo’s face. The man grabbed Sieun’s hand and pulled her into the passenger seat and they drove away without her looking back.

Yeonseo’s car made a beeping sound, as if urging her to get in. She turned and headed toward the waiting car. Her high heels felt uncomfortable, so she had to walk carefully.

“Well, then, let’s get going.”

“Yes.”

Yeonseo glanced at the passing gray city without much interest. With Sieun gone, she was snapped back to reality.

A poor, indebted caregiver invited to a big corporation’s founding anniversary party. Completely out of place.

When the driver said they’d arrived, Yeonseo gripped her clutch tightly. She realized she had no idea where to go once she got out.

Maybe I should just run away.

Suddenly, the backseat door creaked open. A man in a deep navy blue suit leaned over and smiled broadly. It was Seungbin. Her teeth clenched at the sight of his impeccably dressed face.

“Wow…”

Seungbin stared at Yeonseo’s face for a while with his mouth slightly agape. Her red lips pressed tightly together the longer his eyes met hers.

“Why did they dress you up so beautifully? Ah, I didn’t know you could be this stunning… It’s driving me crazy.”

“How can you summon me like this? You didn’t even answer my calls…”

“I was busy. Let’s get out first.”

Seungbin grinned and pulled Yeonseo’s wrist. Stumbling a bit due to her high heels, his arm snaked around her slender waist.

“Why are you so beautiful?”

“Let go, I can stand on my own.”

“I don’t want to. We’re going like this.”

Seungbin moved with his arm around Yeonseo’s waist. The grand hotel entrance seemed unusually bustling. Yeonseo cleared her throat.

“I think maybe you got the wrong date. Let’s talk about this some other time…”

“We can’t delay it any longer, let’s just go.”

He was right. It felt like a waste with time they had spent getting ready.

“But your legs are too exposed. I’m the only one who wants to see your legs.”

Yeonseo just stared ahead, ignoring Seungbin’s nonsense, wishing she could punch him in the snout for his bullshit.

“Do you want me to hold your hand?”

“I said let go.”

Pushing Seungbin’s arm away from her waist, Yeonseo felt like people were glancing at them. She gritted her teeth and endured as Seungbin forcibly linked arms with her.

Arguing with Seungbin in a place like this would only complicate matters further. Yeonseo wanted to avoid anything that might harm Mrs. Kang. Rumors usually come back exaggerated and can be haunting, after all.

“This is the last time I’m going to see you. Mrs. Kang already knows the deal with Director Woo.”

“Oh, really?”

“I’m just following along because I don’t want to cause any more trouble. Are you sure you have time to talk?”

“Yeah, yeah, okay.”

Seungbin smiled and replied dryly. He kissed Yeonseo on the forehead and headed for the party hall. Yeonseo rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand, forgetting that she put on makeup.

The event was bigger than she expected. Grand classical music, dazzling lights, and natural mingling of greetings within. Everything was unfamiliar and luxurious.

She was scared, but she calmed her nerves by reminding herself that it wasn’t so different from the state guests she’d seen when she worked in the VIP ward.

Seungbin exchanged greetings with numerous people before leading Yeonseo to a corner of the hall, in a nonchalant and relaxed manner unlike Yeonseo.

Occasionally, when curious glances were directed at Yeonseo, Seungbin would step in and introduced her. Luckily, Seungbin’s head wasn’t in the game, and he passed her off as an his friend.

He spoke with a natural eloquence. Of course, Seungbin was from another world different from hers.

Was Taeheon the same way?

In a setting like this, she could easily picture Taeheon being the center of attention.

Secretary Jeong, dressed in a blue dress, approached and bowed briefly to Yeonseo. She whispered something in Seungbin’s ear, and he nodded in response

“Yeonseo, I’m sorry, but stay here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

Given that it was more challenging to endure being with Seungbin in this awkward setting, it was better for him to leave her alone. He handed Yeonseo a glass of champagne and then disappeared.

“Haa…….”

Yeonseo sighed, looking down at the champagne in her hand. She hadn’t been feeling well since earlier.

Yeonseo lightly touched her slightly feverish forehead that had been warming up since earlier. Her throat had been scratchy since morning, probably because of the rain yesterday. She had taken some medicine, but it seemed like it had worn off.

Would it have been better if I had taken the day off to rest?

But she was stuck here right now.

Yeonseo took a slow breath. Seungbin’s unfamiliar smell of perfume clinging to her body made her feel sick to her stomach.

To soothe her stomach, she took a sip of the pale lemon-colored champagne in her hand. The sweet non-alcoholic champagne tingled on her taste buds.

It seemed like a place for social gatherings and making connections. People exchanging introductions, greetings, and strengthening relationships in this atmosphere. There were people who glanced at Yeonseo, but no one approached her with kindness to strike up a conversation.

The movements of the people had changed significantly. Yeonseo felt the focus shifting, and with curious eyes, she looked in that direction while her lips were on the champagne glass.

And then, she spotted Taeheon striding into the hall like a leader among the crowd.

With his angular shoulders, imposing height, fierce yet agile and graceful presence, he stood out like a unique extrovert that many admired. Her once dimming heart began to beat rapidly.

It was truly Taeheon. Her chest felt warm, as if her blood was racing. In the midst of this biological response, she became flustered and released the champagne glass from her lips.

A head taller than everyone else, Taeheon stood out even in a crowd. Yeonseo hoped he wouldn’t recognize her.

In reality, everything about him was drawing her in…

Taeheon was directly looking exactly her way. Realizing that their eyes met, Yeonseo froze in place.

Trapped in his gaze, Yeonseo felt like a felon. His probing and stern expression shook her heart, which had been unsettled all night.

The night before, they had talked about the end of their relationship, and their opinions clashed. Taeheon insisted on ending it after six months, which Yeonseo couldn’t accept.

Hearing that made her feel like she’d already been dumped by him. If it hurts this much when it hasn’t even begun yet, then ending it must be excruciating.

Yeonseo couldn’t avoid the meeting of their eyes and continued to suffer inside. She had been foolish to think that this event for Raon Planning wouldn’t have anything to do with Taeheon.

She had underestimated that the affiliated companies under Sewon Group were intertwined like a spider web.  She should have run away from the hotel entrance earlier. If she had known that Taeheon would show up like this, it would have been better to postpone settling things with Seungbin.

It felt like Taeheon was moving in her direction, and it wasn’t just her imagination.

The people surrounding Taeheon were moving closer together, matching his steps. His secretary she had seen before was following him.

Taeheon’s face remained expressionless as he briefly responded to the friendly greetings of those around him, full of laughter and kindness. His gaze had been fixed on Yeonseo the entire time. Taeheon was undoubtedly annoyed.

In the end, as if escaping, Yeonseo lowered her head. Her wish for him to pass by without noticing her wasn’t granted. Taeheon’s polished shoe unexpectedly slipped into her line of sight.

“Your spectrum as a caregiver is quite broad.”

“Your grandmother cheered me on and insist I attend.”

Yeonseo slowly raised her head. Fortunately, the people around Taeheon had moved away

But that didn’t stop a few eyes from trying to identify the woman Taeheon was talking to. She hadn’t gotten any attention when she was standing alone, but now that Taeheon was talking to her, she had the potential to become the topic of interest.

“I’m here to settle things with Seungbin.”

“Why would you do that at someone else’s party? And dressed like this?”

His comment about her appearance stung Yeonseo sharply. She hadn’t expected her carefully chosen attire to feel this embarrassing.

“I don’t like it either. I feel uncomfortable, like I might reveal too much when I move around.”

Taeheon ran his eyes down Yeonseo’s body from head to toe as if he were looking at something unclean.

“Yeah, you do look uncomfortable. You don’t suit this.”

“Are you here to pick a fight with me?”

Taeheon arched an eyebrow.

“I’m kind of looking forward to seeing what you’ll do after you settle things with Seungbin.”

Since the moment she realized she was attracted to him, her insides felt sick and hot, like she’d swallowed an ember.

She wanted to spit it out, but it was stuck somewhere and wouldn’t let go. She felt like she know what this emotion was called, but she was still being brainwashing herself not to acknowledge it.

“I’ll have someone send you different clothes, so change into them. Don’t look so vulgar.”

Whenever Taeheon spoke harshly, her heart ached, simply because he was too fierce. The naivety she had when she had hoped for gentleness from Taeheon was just her own foolishness. She fought to suppress the urge to lower her head and show obedience like a fool.

Yeonseo clenched her fist and then released it.

“No, please. Mr. Taeheon, just wait to see what happens.”

“Wait to see?”

“Have you forgotten? I’m a double agent.”

“Are you telling me to leave?”

He was right. She didn’t want to show her pitiful side any longer. Taeheon suddenly reached out and took Yeonseo’s clutch bag. Then, he removed a card from his pocket and placed it inside her clutch.

“It’s my hotel key.”