Chapter 88
“Yes,” Kwon Hee-sung nodded in agreement. Ga-eun quietly smiled to herself, noting how he seemed to have a habit of automatically agreeing with whatever his wife said.
“…”
Si-heon watched the three of them from a distance.
He had finished his phone call earlier. When he was about to return to Ga-eun, he stopped in his tracks upon seeing her approach his parents.
Her soft, gentle voice seeped into his heart like diluted watercolor.
Si-heon silently observed them without making his presence known.
He watched his mother cry.
He watched Ga-eun wipe his mother’s tears with a handkerchief.
He watched her hold his mother’s hands firmly with both of hers, speaking softly with a smile.
With his hands thrust in his pockets, his gaze as he watched his “family” was so dark and deep that it was impossible to read.
Family. Family, he thought.
How could that even be possible?
How could a woman who agreed to marry him with a contract to separate become his family?
Yet watching the three of them together, they looked like a real family.
Suddenly, something bothered him.
…Had that woman ever smiled like that in front of him?
Though she occasionally gave him smiles that made him pause, he had never seen such a warm and gentle smile from her.
Ga-eun’s gaze toward his parents was incredibly soft.
Like the petals of the bouquet he had once brought to Jungshimwon.
Even his father, whose expressions rarely changed, looked softer than usual.
It was the first time he’d seen his father show such a relaxed face to anyone other than his mother.
Gye Ga-eun always gave him things he never expected.
Whether that was welcome or bothersome…
He couldn’t clearly distinguish.
The only thing he was certain of was that he would overlook Ga-eun receiving his parents’ business cards.
And so Si-heon stood there for a while, watching Ga-eun bow her head as she bid farewell to his parents.
***
The wedding of Kwon Si-heon, Executive Director of Hwanhee Group, was held in complete privacy.
Only those with invitations could attend, and even accompanying guests weren’t allowed.
Because Si-heon, who had previously shown such aversion to women that he wouldn’t even brush past them, was now marrying one, an absurd rumor spread that his partner must be a man.
However, that rumor completely disappeared after those who attended the wedding saw the bride.
“She was truly beautiful. Not just her face, but her proportions were perfect. So elegant and graceful.”
“Right? Looking at her, you’d think she was the one from the wealthy family, while Kwon Si-heon looks like a handsome gangster who snatched her up.”
“I really thought he was marrying a man since it was so private!”
Everyone nodded at someone’s comment.
“Where had such a woman been hiding? If I’d seen her first, I would have snatched her up myself.”
“I heard her older sister used to attend some of the gatherings we know. But the younger sister never showed up.”
“What? Sister? Is she pretty? Ah, I should have tried harder to get an invitation.”
“No, the sisters are completely different. You’d doubt they’re even real sisters. They don’t look alike at all. Even if she came to gatherings, she wouldn’t have caught anyone’s eye.”
The wedding was as much a hot topic in women’s gatherings as it was in men’s.
“How’s Director Kwon’s wife?”
“Well. She’s pretty. Slim.”
“I heard she’s the Deputy Director of Hwanhee Art Museum?”
“You know Director Kwon’s mother, Professor Han Yu-ae? They say she’s Deputy Director just out of consideration for Professor Han, but she’s basically the Director.”
“My goodness… where and how did they meet? So many women tried desperately to catch Director Kwon’s eye, but none ever held his attention.”
Among those who had failed to catch his attention was Park Ju-yeon,Park Ju-seong’s younger sister.
Even when rumors of Kwon Si-heon’s marriage circulated in the financial district a couple of months ago, she was scoffed.
It had to be a competitor’s ploy to lower Hwanhee Group’s stock price.
The idea of Kwon Si-heon, who despised women, getting married was absurd.
But the rumor became reality.
Si-heon had announced his marriage.
To the daughter of some unheard-of small company called Yuhan Trading.
Park Ju-yeon couldn’t believe it until the wedding day.
“Ga-eun.”
“…Si-heon.”
“Come here. Stay close to me.”
Not until she saw him tenderly call the bride’s name and wrap his arm around her waist.
It was the first time anyone had seen him gently call a woman’s name and reach out first.
Kwon Si-heon even smiled as he leaned down to whisper something in the bride’s ear.
Such a gentle smile from a man who was known to be so cold and rigid that people joked he was made of steel.
Park Ju-yeon’s mood plummeted.
Watching her friend’s reaction, Lee Yu-mi whispered.
“Ju-yeon, are you okay?”
“…This is wrong. How can a woman of unknown background stand beside Si-heon oppa, how?!”
The two women, having left the group gathering, were resting in the VVIP room of their usual luxury department store.
“My mother goes to volunteer work. She said some lady there was saying strange things. Mom laughed it off as nonsense, but…”
Even though they were alone, Yu-mi lowered her voice while glancing at the firmly closed door.
“They’re saying she might be an illegitimate child?”
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