Runaway Secretary - Chapter 46

CHAPTER 46

As a child, a cracked arm didn’t hurt Taeheon, and he didn’t feel guilty when he bit the arm of the employer who looked down on him.

When the man who’d been called a social genius deliberately given Taeheon difficult questions to pick on him, and who had become his tutor, slipped and fell down the stairs, Taeheon observed the devastation dryly with earthy eyes.

He gave back as much as he received. He didn’t show emotions. He calculated in his head and then acted. He thought a few steps ahead. He prepared more than five contingencies for the worst-case scenario.

Taeheon had become a ruthless machine under Chairman Woo’s teachings.

When he told Seonye that he was going to study abroad, how did she look?

She seemed relieved. She no longer had to fret about Taeheon’s inhumanity in front of her.

Now, he hardly met with his parents unless it was for special occasions. His parents were aware of Taeheon’s mental and medical evaluations through the report from the psychiatrist.

If they could be satisfied with just a piece of paper, so be it.

Taeheon let them be.

It was laughable how his parents who he rarely met were now overly interfering in his marriage matters. To bring up marriage at a time like this and even sending Song Hyun to investigate him indicated that they were aware of Yeonseo and was a conscious attempt to remind him of his obligation to the family.

They knew he was meeting with Yeonseo through surveillance, so they wanted to control him.

“Are you afraid of me marrying her, or do you not like the idea of me seeing her, or both?”

Taeheon sneered, and Taeseon responded firmly.

“Taeheon, do you remember what you were like when you were young? You broke everything you didn’t like and threw it away, and the things you really liked……how you deal with them.”

Taeheon chuckled.

“You played with it until it broke.”

“So?”

“So what? You like that girl, don’t you? You know you’re going to hurt her, and you want me to put you two together knowing that?”

“I’m confused about who you’re trying to be concerned about.”

“Taeheon, I can’t stand seeing someone get hurt because of your personal emotions.”

“Is all this fuss for the sake of Han Yeonseo?”

Taeheon burst into laughter. By now, Yeonseo was probably suffering through a torturous shopping spree. She’s probably spending a lot of money, feeling uncomfortable, but diligently picking out things for Taeheon.

Then, at night, she’ll come rushing in, just like yesterday, to show him what she’s bought.

Smiling, looking happy, as if she wanted his approval.

Why disrupt this peace unnecessarily?

“Fine, I’ll give you a hundred concessions and let you meet her. But can she survive in our harsh world? And if anyone hurts her, can you stand by and watch?”

Taeseon spoke as if she knew what happened to those who tampered with Taeheon’s possessions.

“Then she’ll know who you really are. If she says she’s leaving, can you let her go at that time? You won’t get to destroy her like you want.”

Leave? Without my permission?

“Taeheon, that’s what me and our parents are worried about.”

Taeheon smiled bitterly at Taeseon, who was spouting off like it was her job.

“That’s a bit too much.”

His bitter feelings had piled up one by one, creating a tank with thorns on all sides. Without brakes, he knew his own nature better than anyone else did, the kind that would reduce Yeonseo to rags.

So what?

But he had no intention of breaking Yeonseo wheb he part ways with her. Until his thirst for her was quenched, or unless she left on her own accord, he wouldn’t do such a thing.

They were a troublesome family, toxic, but Taeheon had already learned how to deal with them. Ignoring them and giving appropriate responses. That was all he needed. There would be no change in his approach just because it involved Yeonseo.

Taeheon would eventually have Yeonseo to his heart’s content, and he would easily thwart his mother’s scheming.

His family members had a tendency to overestimate and worry about Taeheon excessively.

Can’t they see that I’m better off with her?

“I’ll date Yeonseo in moderation. It’s not a big deal. Does that answer your question?”

“Taeheon…”

“They say he can’t even eat without his wife.”

“What?”

“I heard that your husband can’t do anything without you, his wife, feeding him, so you should go. Go and sign some payment documents for him.”

“Woo Taeheon!”

After laughing at Taeseon’s predicament, Taeheon stood, finishing their conversation, her voice trailing behind him.

“Mom, she’s going to meet that girl.”

Taeseon’s voice trailed off.

“What are you talking about?”

“Mom, she’s gone to meet that girl! What are you going to do now?”

Taeheon slowly raised the corners of his mouth, smiling. Taeseon knew this look well.

When someone crossed the line, Taeheon’s eyes, like vast darkness, appeared. What had been at the cause for that look? Taeseon’s trembling hands tried to recall the memories.

*

Yeonseo left the store with a paper bag hanging from her wrist. She decided that she would stop here today.

She had planned to go to Taeheon’s residence directly. It would be her first time visiting his house, so she felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

It felt like entering Taeheon’s real world, and she was looking forward to it.

“Ms. Han Yeonseo.”

A woman’s voice called out to Yeonseo and her head snapped around to where the voice was coming from. For a moment, her expression visibly stiffened.

But she quickly regained her smile.

“Hello, Professor. It’s nice to see you here.”

Park Seonye, Taeheon’s mother. She used to be a renowned violinist and was currently a professor.

“May I speak with you for a moment?”

Yeonseo sensed the reason for her visit from her cautious tone. Yeonseo decided to follow her to a sitting area after briefly exploring the VIP room of the department store.

The plush velvet sofa felt overwhelming, and Yeonseo squirmed in her seat. The sound of the staff’s coffee being placed on the table was unusually loud.

Eventually, Yeonseo couldn’t contain the tension any longer and spoke.

“Do you mind if I speak first?”

“Go ahead.”

“I’m sorry. I’m seeing Mr. Taeheon.”

“I know.”

Yeonseo swallowed a lump in her throat. She hadn’t given a proper answer when asked if she had been dating Seungbin last time, but today she finally gave that response.

Now, would she spill the coffee on me, or hand me over an envelope of money?

“For Taeheon, you’re just a passing breeze.”

Seonye criticized Yeonseo in a calm voice instead of using harsh methods, which made it hurt even more.  Yeonseo held back her choking feeling and replied.

“Yes, I know.”

“I’m relieved that you know, but I’m worried about you, Han Yeonseo.”

Seonye dropped her gaze to the side as if reminiscing. Taeheon was her son, but she wasn’t attached to him.

To put it bluntly, she was scared of him. They even secretly conducted tests to check if he might be a psychopath.

Taeheon had been raised as a weapon for business by Chairman Woo. This was the first time he had a woman in his personal life. It was hard not to worry.

“Miss Han Yeonseo, do you realize that Taeheon isn’t like most people, right?”

“I heard he’s the heir apparent to the company. Naturally…”

“No, what I mean is… Haven’t you noticed anything strange about Taeheon?”

Yeonseo raised her eyebrows in confusion.

He was arrogant, mean, closed-minded, dry and uncaring and had a touch of OCD. And he tried to control her.

That wasn’t typical.

But he was more capable than anyone else, meticulously self-disciplined, and able to handle a busy schedule without complaining, a businessman to be admired. Apart from his bad habits, he was the kind of grown-up man she could look up to.

Being protected by him secretly filled her with a sense of security she hadn’t received from her parents.

“He’s a bit unusual.”

“It’s a relief that you know. He’s not someone you can easily handle, so it’s best to break it off before it gets too deep.”

“…I know. But I enjoy spending time with him.”

The way Seonye stared at her was similar to Taeheon’s, and there was a similar elegance in their presence. Taeheon’s appearance was similar to Chairman Woo’s, but there was an air of refinement about him. They both exuded a polished and sophisticated aura.

Perhaps that’s why Yeonseo felt she could be a bit more honest.

“I really like Mr. Taeheon.”

Seonye’s eyes wavered.

Would Taeheon have a similar expression if he were shaken by my words?

Making a difficult assumption, Yeonseo smiled softly.

“So, the time I spend with him makes me happy.”

“I don’t think Taeheon feels the same way about you. He just keeps you around like a toy, in that sense.”

When you receive such scrutiny from others, it becomes more desperate.

“…I heard you will be introducing him to potential partners.”

Yeonseo’s eyelashes trembled painfully downward.

“Yes. Taeheon will have to do something worthy of his position.”

Seonye’s words pierced Yeonseo’s heart like a thorn.
“I’m willing to endure even that.”

“It’s not a good choice, you know?”

Yeonseo closed her eyes briefly, then slowly uttered each word as if to remind herself.

“I may not fully understand what you’re worried about, Professor. But if you’re worried about me, you don’t have to.”

“Whether it’s fortunate that you’re strong-willed than I expected or if it’s causing more headaches, I don’t know.”

Seonye weakly smiled and raised her teacup. At that moment, Yeonseo’s wrist was roughly grabbed and pulled upwards by someone.

“What are you listening to?”

“T-Taeheon?”

Taeheon stood before her as if by magic and the force he exerted pulled her away.

She staggered, and as she whimpered and leaned against his chest, his stern voice poured down from above her.

“How do you plan to handle the aftermath?”

“I’m surprised you’re here in person. That you came here yourself… Does this girl really have a strong hold on you?”

“Are you enjoying testing people?”

There was no sign of emotional turmoil in Taeheon.

“I have to do this, or you won’t come out to face me.”

“If you keep this up, I won’t be able to see you anymore.”

With that, Taeheon dragged Yeonseo out of the VIP room. His grip on her wrist didn’t hurt, but she couldn’t break free.

“M-Mr. Taeheon!”

“Keep your mouth shut.”

“I left all the shopping bags behind…”