Sehee would nuzzle like this when she was in a good mood.

“I was really upset when you said you weren’t coming today.”

Then she raised her head, and their eyes met.

“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“Suddenly?”

Yeonsu questioned, looking at Sehee with a puzzled expression.

She had thought today’s dinner invitation was at Sehee’s request.

Wasn’t it that Sukgyeong had invited her because she couldn’t resist her daughter’s persistence?

Just as she was blinking in confusion—

“Aren’t you two a bit too close?”

She looked up at the deep, low voice echoing in her ears.

“Looking at you, you seem more like lovers than sisters.”

Seonjae was standing close by.

“We are rather special, aren’t we?”

Sehee smiled with rounded eyes, then released her arm from Yeonsu’s.

Then she approached Seonjae and spoke to him, her face blooming with smiles.

Yeonsu stared at the two walking ahead.

He would occasionally look back at Yeonsu lagging behind, even as he walked ahead.

〈Someone specifically asked me to invite you. Yeonsu, I told them you would be uncomfortable, but still. Plus, the Moon son-in-law was curious too, so what could I do?〉

〈Sehee…… Anyway, I’ve already told the guests you’ll be joining us. Keep that in mind and stay for dinner.〉

Sukgyeong’s words echoed in her ears.

Judging from Sehee’s reaction, it didn’t seem like she had extended the invitation.

For a moment, Yeonsu wondered if that man had invited her, but she quickly shook her head.

Her thoughts seemed to be running too far ahead.

What benefit would he gain by inviting her to dinner?

Unless it was to see her disturbed and suffering because of him.

Even as Yeonsu tried to convince herself otherwise, she couldn’t shake off the lingering uneasiness.

Perhaps because she had too many thoughts, her mood sank.

As they were walking—

The three of them eventually stopped at the garden where the dinner was prepared.

“Oh my, CEO, you’re here? I heard you were coming with the Moon son-in-law.”

“Somehow I ended up arriving first.”

Sukgyeong, who seemed to be discussing with an employee about the dinner arrangements, quickly approached after spotting Seonjae.

“Mom, Gijun said he’ll be a bit late.”

“Really? Is he busy with company work? Then let’s start dinner without him.”

The meal began as everyone took their seats at the table.

Though Yeonsu deliberately sat at the farthest end, Seonjae positioned himself directly across from her.

Even the seating arrangement was unfavorable.

Yeonsu found herself becoming sensitive to every small action he made, as everything about him irritated her.

“I enjoyed the wine you sent. It was quite expensive.”

“Did it suit your taste, CEO Moon? I’m glad.”

The atmosphere surrounding the three people was awkward.

Even in the quiet ambiance dominated by the clinking of utensils, the three maintained a steady conversation.

They discussed the Taeseo family, stories about Siwoo, Chairman Moon Daeho, and matters concerning the Seungji Apparel merger.

The three occasionally laughed and exchanged words in serious tones.

Yeonsu was the only one who couldn’t adapt to the dinner setting, feeling like an outsider.

Whenever she felt Seonjae’s gaze from across the table, she deliberately avoided looking up.

All she could do was continue eating silently. Of course, the food felt as rough as chewing sand.

That’s when it happened.

Sukgyeong was the first to address Yeonsu.

“By the way, are you seeing anyone?”

At this sudden topic, the sound of utensils hitting plates momentarily ceased.

In the ensuing silence, Yeonsu raised her head.

Sukgyeong, seated diagonally from her, was looking at her.

“I’m talking to you, Yeonsu.”

She had never shown interest in Yeonsu’s love life during her 14 years as a dependent.

In fact, Sukgyeong was generally indifferent about most things, not just romance.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Yeonsu—Sehee’s, and also Seonjae’s who sat across from her.

He picked up his water glass with a leisurely hand.

His half-lidded eyes reached Yeonsu through the transparent glass. As if waiting for her answer.

The silence enveloping the garden lengthened.

As the surrounding air gradually grew heavier, Yeonsu parted her lips.

“No, I’m not.”

Sukgyeong’s face brightened at Yeonsu’s response.

“That’s good. The madam from Daejeong Distribution saw you and thought you were lovely.”

She continued speaking, putting down her cutlery.

“She wants to introduce you to her eldest son. I’ll arrange a meeting, so go see him.”

“Daejeong Distribution? Ah, I think I know who you mean.”

Sehee, who had been eating, nodded, recalling the potential match.

“His looks are somewhat lacking.”

“What does a man’s face matter?”

“Well, Daejeong is a mid-sized company, and he’s the eldest son, so he’ll inherit it, right? Yeonsu, you should meet him.”

Sehee smiled prettily at Yeonsu, her eyes curving into rounds.

In truth, Yeonsu was familiar with the madam from Daejeong Distribution.

She had seen her several times while running errands for Sukgyeong. Of course, she had also seen the eldest son, her potential match.

Not only did he have murky eyes that created a sense of discomfort, but there were also abundant rumors about his complicated relationships with women.

However, setting those issues aside, Yeonsu had no intention of agreeing to an arranged date.

Who the person was wasn’t important.

After losing Huimang, the option of marriage had disappeared from Yeonsu’s life.

She was afraid to love someone.

And she was equally scared of telling that loved one about her past. She knew it would be hard to be understood.

But strangely, today she wanted to reverse that decision.

It was solely because of the man sitting across from her.

His eyes had darkened deeply from the moment the arranged date was proposed to Yeonsu.

“Isn’t it time for you to get married? I think I’ll feel at ease once you’ve established your own family, Yeonsu.”

At Sukgyeong’s words cutting through the silence, Yeonsu put down her utensils.

“Yes, it is time for me to start a family.”

Seonjae’s expression hardened at Yeonsu’s subsequent reply.

It might be a choice that would hurt herself. But that was okay.

“I’ll meet him.”

She finally felt like she could breathe as his face contorted.

※※※

“Mom, what should we do? Gijun says his meeting is running late and he can’t come.”

Sehee returned after stepping away briefly to make a call.

She had gone to contact Gijun, who hadn’t arrived even as dinner was ending.

But it seemed Gijun had expressed his intention not to attend.

“And Siwoo can’t seem to sleep today. He says his head feels heavy or something.”

“Why? Is he sick?”

“No. Since he doesn’t have a fever, I think it’s because he’s in a different bed.”

Additionally, Siwoo, who had gone to bed, kept asking for Sehee.

Thanks to this, the awkward dinner that had continued after the arranged date discussion seemed to be coming to an end.

“Mom, I think we need to end tonight’s gathering here.”

Finally, Sehee called it a night.

“I suppose so. It’s a shame to end like this when CEO Moon came specially.”

Sukgyeong’s face was full of regret, as if this wasn’t the outcome she had wanted.

“It can’t be helped. Where did the CEO go?”

“I think he just stepped away briefly. Are you leaving right away?”

“That’s the plan. The child seems to be whining more since coming to Korea.”

The two walked away, continuing their conversation.

Yeonsu stood up as she watched the staff approach to tidy up the table.

The scene of the Seongsu-dong mansion surrounded by layers of darkness now falling came into view.

Then, as Yeonsu lowered her gaze, she saw Seonjae’s empty seat.

He had stepped out briefly during dinner and hadn’t returned.

Perhaps it was fortunate that the gathering was ending like this.

Seonjae’s expression had noticeably hardened after the arranged date topic came up.

She judged it better to leave before running into him again.

Yeonsu immediately picked up her jacket draped over the chair.

“Yeonsu, are you leaving now?”

Yeonsu smiled faintly at Ms. Jung’s question as she approached.

“Yes. See you next time, ma’am.”

Though she wasn’t sure when that next time would be.

Yeonsu moved her steps, accompanied by Ms. Jung’s farewell.

Just as she passed through the garden and walked down along the wall, a small flame rose in the pitch-black darkness.

Her eyes tangled with those of a man standing in front of the garage door.

It was Seonjae.

Yeonsu stopped when she spotted him.

She noticed the smoke rising from the cigarette caught between his fingers.

She had hurried to the garage not wanting to run into him, but she hadn’t expected to meet him face to face like this.

Seonjae inhaled deeply, holding the smoke, then exhaled.

The cigarette smoke slowly dispersed into the air.

The scent of tobacco that had drifted to where she stood permeated her nostrils.

Just as Yeonsu’s brow furrowed at the old memories evoked by the familiar scent—

“Leaving early again, I see.”

Yeonsu’s mind awakened at the voice engraving itself in her ears.