Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Side Story 7 - Marriage

“Se-ori.”

At the low voice calling her name, the little girl with snow-white skin blinked her large eyes.

Her bright, innocent expression seemed to ask, Why are you calling me?—a look that showed no awareness of any wrongdoing.

No, even if she did know what she’d done wrong, it wouldn’t matter.

That gaze practically said, So what?

Si-heon let out a dry laugh as he leaned against the study door, arms crossed, watching his daughter seated at his desk.

The mahogany desk, the memo pad on top, and all the documents were now covered in colorful scribbles.

The floor around the desk had already transformed into an abstract, symbolic canvas—one so chaotic even Picasso would weep.

The little artist, having completed her masterpiece, was now about to adorn her father’s briefcase with a new work of art.

“I’m sure I told you. You can’t come into Daddy’s study without permission.”

When Si-heon fixed someone with his expressionless stare, even full-grown adults would flinch and bow their heads.

But Se-ori didn’t shrink back—instead, she stared right back at him and declared boldly.

“Whyyy? Se-ori was drawing pretty pictures for you!”

Her eyes seemed to say, How dare you scold me when I’m graciously giving you my art?

Suppressing a laugh, Si-heon stepped closer to his daughter—who was less bold and more downright audacious.

“And how did you get up on the chair?”

“Made steps!”

Glancing down, he saw thin books from the lowest shelf of the bookcase neatly stacked alongside Se-ori’s favorite fairy tales—the ones she always carried around.

“What if you’d gotten hurt?”

“Then Daddy could hoo~ make it better!”

Why even ask something so obvious?

At his young daughter’s expression and tone, Si-heon finally let out a low chuckle.

If she’d taken after him, he might’ve been stricter.

Unfortunately, Se-ori was a perfect miniature of Ga-eun—down to the last detail.

Which meant Si-heon was doomed to lose. Forever.

He let his gaze linger on Se-ori’s latest masterpiece.

“The colors are quite impressive.”

“The proportions are good too.”

Having spent her childhood drawing with her aunt, it seemed her sense of aesthetics had been well-honed.

Or perhaps she was just born with it.

‘If I put her in charge of running an art gallery, she’d do well. Just like Ga-eun.’

With a perfectly straight face, Si-heon indulged in his blatantly doting thoughts before scooping his daughter up and taking her place in the chair.

Se-ori, now comfortably settled on her father’s lap, tilted her head all the way back and asked.

“Good?”

“You drew it well. The composition is fresh. Dynamic.”

“Dyna… poop?”

“It means strong and spirited.”

Ah-ha. Se-ori nodded in satisfaction.

“Then I’ll draw extra dyna-poopy Kiki on Daddy’s bag!”

(Kiki was the name of her beloved rabbit doll, currently propped up quietly against the desk drawers.)

Pleased by her father’s praise, Se-ori eagerly grabbed her crayons and began decorating Si-heon’s briefcase.

It happened to be a one-of-a-kind piece—a high-end luxury item from the global brand Neptune, custom-made for him.

To commemorate Neptune’s flagship store in Hwanhee Hotel ranking first domestically and fifth worldwide, the CEO had personally commissioned their head designer to craft it from the finest leather.

But to Se-ori? It was just a decently usable canvas.

Instead of stopping her, Si-heon quietly watched as his daughter joyfully scribbled away.

“All done!”

The crookedly drawn pink rabbit was both serene and dynamic, carrying a smile that seemed to hold a hint of sorrow.

Its neatly folded paws appeared to embody a lesson about living humbly and properly.

The red ribbon on its tail was eye-catching yet tasteful.

Who knew such vibrancy could be brought to a once-plain briefcase?

No question about it—his daughter was born with an artistic eye.

“Daddy. Good?”

Si-heon looked at the rabbit drawn on his briefcase with a serious expression and said,

“Magnificent. You drew it even better than the real Kiki. I can feel all the joys and sorrows of life in this.”

Hee-ro-ae-rak? (Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Pleasure. It represents the four basic human emotions.)

She didn’t know what that meant, but it must be something really impressive, right?

Pleased with that thought, Se-ori leaned comfortably against her father’s firm chest, looking smug. Her tiny feet, clad in white socks with cherries printed on them, swung back and forth.

At her rather haughty posture, Si-heon let out a quiet chuckle and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Daddy, Se-ori’s drawing is pretty?”

“Mm.”

“Then Se-ori gave me a kiss!”

Shouldn’t he be the one rewarded with a kiss?

Ah—she must mean that since he praised her drawing, she is giving him a prize.

Si-heon briefly tried to make sense of this tiny creature’s logic before giving up with a soft laugh.

Well, no matter how you look at it, she’s adorable.

Just like Ga-eun.

As he lowered his head, Se-ori pressed a loud, smacking kiss to his cheek—not by puckering her lips, but by squishing her entire face against his.

Her way of giving kisses was exactly like Se-ryun’s at this age.

Come to think of it, Se-ryun was just as cute back then.

Well… he still is now.

And so is—

…his wife, of course.

“Ga-eun was still dazzlingly beautiful.”

Even more so after having their child.

Every time she smiled at him, Si-heon’s chest still tightened with that familiar warmth.

This will probably last a lifetime.

“Daddy.”

“Mm.”

“You’re thinking about Mommy again, aren’t you?”

When Si-heon asked how she knew, Se-ori shrugged as if it were obvious.

“Your mouth is all the way up here.” (She pointed near her eyebrows.) “And your eyes are all sparkly.”

Unbeknownst to him, his expression always softened when he thought of Ga-eun.

“You’re right. I was thinking about Mommy.”

“But why? You see her every day.”

“I still miss her.”

“Hmm.”

After a moment of deliberation, Se-ori nodded decisively.

“Then I’ll draw Mommy for you.”

Her big eyes scanned the desk before her tiny finger pointed—tap—at an innocent bystander.

“Se-ori drew her there.”

The next canvas for this great artist?

His closed laptop.

“Daddy looks at this every day. If I draw Mommy here, you can see her every day too!”

Si-heon chuckled and ruffled her hair.

“Clever, Kwon Se-ori.”

“Take after Mommy.”

“Agreed.”

“A-greed?”

“Means you’re absolutely right.”

“Aha!”

Puffing up with pride, Se-ori grabbed her crayons again.

“I’ll make it so full of hee-ro-ae-rak, even you can feel it!”

***

At the very moment Se-ori was pouring her artistic soul onto the canvas…

Ga-eun, who had been napping with Se-ryun, slowly stirred awake.

“Mmm…”

After days of hectic preparation for the art gallery event, she had finally been able to enjoy a rare, leisurely day off. Spending time with the kids, she had unknowingly dozed off.

Se-ori, seizing the opportunity, had stuffed her crayons and storybooks into her winged pink bag and stealthily invaded her father’s study. Meanwhile, Se-ryun had stayed by his mother’s side, drifting into sleep.

Stretching lightly, Ga-eun smiled at the sight of her son curled up close to her.

Every time she saw Se-ryun—who grew more and more like Si-heon with each passing day—she felt both wonder and overwhelming fondness.

Pulling him into her arms, she gently patted his back, just as her husband did for her every night.

Blinking sleepily, Se-ryun looked up at his mother’s face and broke into a sunny grin.

“Mommy~”

“Did you sleep well, Se-ryun?”

“Yeah…”

His voice still thick with drowsiness, he burrowed deeper into her embrace. Ga-eun laughed and hugged him tighter.

Even without being taught, Se-ryun had always spoken politely and tried to solve problems on his own without relying on others. Though mature for his age, moments like these reminded her he was still her sweet little boy.

Slowly waking under his mother’s soothing touch, Se-ryun stretched—his long limbs, so much like his father’s, extending fully.

“Huh? Se-ori’s gone.”

He sat up, glancing around before spotting the empty drawing desk.

“Mom.”

“Hmm?”

“The crayons are missing. Se-ori must’ve gone to Dad’s study to draw again.”

Out of everywhere she could choose, Se-ori’s exclusive canvas was always Si-heon’s study.

Ga-eun’s lips curved as she recalled Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol’s words.

“That girl of yours is destined for greatness. While others falter just making eye contact with my grandson, she zeroes in on him—the strongest one. A born challenger. She’s every bit the heir Hwanhee Group needs.”

Se-ori might look like her, but her boldness and antics were pure Si-heon.

“Mom, why are you smiling?”

Ga-eun pulled Se-ryun close.

“Because I’m happy.”