Prey (Lee Seohan) - Side Story 9

“Still, I’m so thankful that among all these people, Manager and you are here. …And as you said, I have been tense.”

Suhyeon smiled as she let out a small sigh.

Jeonghan was busy directly briefing reporters and entertaining executives. Though they had trimmed the guest list, with reporters included, the private jet was quite crowded.

Moreover, the reporters observed her with scrutinizing eyes, as if appraising her.

Though her story had been mostly revealed, their eyes were filled with curiosity to understand what kind of woman had stolen the heart of Cheonkyung’s powerful chairman.

The company executives were even worse. She was aware that quite a few were dissatisfied with her background, despite being the chairman’s choice.

She felt pressured to perform her role well, even for Jeonghan’s position, who had chosen her.

“Of course. Who wouldn’t be tense in your situation? If it were me, I would’ve run away and gone separately. Haven’t you thought about that?”

Suhyeon slowly shook her head. Bora furrowed her brows as if she’d expected that response.

“Well, even at the company, you never showed when things were difficult. Mom says people like that lose out in life.”

Suhyeon blinked.

“Who said that?”

“My mom.”

“Ah…”

Suhyeon burst out laughing at Bora’s confident response. Bora leaned closer to Suhyeon and said,

“Anyway, I’ll always be nearby, so signal me if you’re struggling. I’ll make up some excuse and take you somewhere to rest for a bit.”

“…”

As Suhyeon silently stared at her, Bora narrowed her eyes.

“Huh? Why that look? Don’t you trust me?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Suhyeon shook her head and smiled at Bora again.

“I’m touched.”

“Really? Wow, it’s easy to move you to tears, unni. This much for being touched? What??”

Seeing Suhyeon’s moistening eyes, Bora exclaimed in alarm and pulled out tissues.

“Unni, no…! Your makeup is perfect right now! There are reporters everywhere outside, and the photos need to come out well! You’re about to be in the mass media properly from now on!!”

Watching Bora fuss while carefully dabbing at her eyes, Suhyeon’s eyes grew even redder despite her smile.

It might seem foolish, but Suhyeon wasn’t used to such kindness from others.

She’d never had friends her whole life.

Until becoming an adult, she had no friends because she only studied to save her mother from Seol Hee-nam’s violence, and even after going abroad to study, she spent time alone just studying.

During her study abroad, her only leisure time was occasionally reading alone at cafes.

Back then, the girls in the dormitory, regardless of nationality, would throw parties and invite boys to hang out, but Suhyeon never attended.

She didn’t have such luxury. She was desperate to support her mother in Korea without worry.

So even when the girls were partying, she always stayed alone in her room studying.

She once overheard her French roommate whispering to other girls that she couldn’t understand Suhyeon.

“Isn’t she really weird? Like a bit crazy. There’s a limit to being study-obsessed.”

Though those words were bitter, she didn’t show it. She’d been treated that way often in Korea for studying alone, so it wasn’t her first experience.

She worked hard to get a good job quickly, but during her studies, she heard her mother had died.

Then all her life goals disappeared.

Though she lost her reason and purpose to study hard after learning of her mother’s death, she continued studying as it was all she could do.

After returning to Korea and getting a job at Cheonkyung, she immersed herself in work to forget the guilt and pain of her mother’s death.

Though she maintained appropriate relationships with people at work, she always lived with walls around her heart. People couldn’t help but notice. So she was always lonely at the company.

After meeting Jeonghan, she lived five years in the cage of marriage.

Only after divorce did she finally find her own life.

At her new job, she gained acquaintances in Hyunwoo and Bora. Bora could even be called a friend.

This was like a miracle to Suhyeon.

With everyone from Seol Hee-nam to Park In-ok and Seol Hana being full of malice, she had built even higher walls around herself after believing her mother was dead.

“Ah, I should give this before things get hectic!”

Speaking as if she’d just remembered something, Bora handed Suhyeon tissues and quickly rummaged through her carrier.

“What is it?”

Suhyeon asked while dabbing her reddened eyes with a tissue.

“Where is it… Huh? I’m sure I packed it… Ah! Here it is!”

Bora exclaimed, returning to her seat with a shopping bag. She then pulled something out and shyly held it out to Suhyeon.

“A wedding gift for you, unni.”

Bora said bashfully, her face unusually flushed.

“A gift…?”

Suhyeon sat up in bed with a surprised expression.

“You didn’t have to prepare anything. Just having you attend is enough.”

“No, no. I have a conscience, you know. Thanks to you, I get to vacation at such a luxurious resort.”

Bora said, using the excuse that Cheonkyung was covering all resort expenses.

“Open it, unni.”

As Bora watched with sparkling eyes, Suhyeon looked down at the gift in her hands.

Carefully opening the wrapping paper revealed a necklace and earring set.

Suhyeon’s eyes widened.

“This is…”

“Of course, you probably have more than enough jewelry, but this cost my entire month’s salary. The moment I saw it at the department store, I couldn’t look at anything else because I thought it would suit you perfectly.”

Suhyeon silently gazed at the necklace with its small flower-shaped pendant and matching earrings.

Seeing her expression, Bora rambled nervously.

“It’s probably worth about a hundredth of what you’re wearing now, but maybe when you’re having coffee in the neighborhood… Huh? Unni?”

Suhyeon unclasped the yellow diamond necklace she was wearing.

While Bora watched with surprised eyes, Suhyeon held out the gifted necklace.

“Would you put it on for me?”

Bora was shocked again at her smiling request.

“What? No, you should wear this one now! Do you know how expensive this is!”

“It’s fine. Please do it.”

“You can’t! With all those reporters outside, if the photos…”

Though Bora protested, Suhyeon firmly shook her head.

“I want to wear it. It actually matches this dress well.”

“But…”

Not expecting this reaction from Suhyeon, Bora stumbled over her words with a troubled expression.

Watching her, Suhyeon curved her lips into a pretty smile.

“It’s my wedding, after all.”

“…”

After wearing a worried expression, Bora exclaimed “Ah, whatever!” and grabbed the necklace she’d given.

She carefully fastened it around the slender neck, and the flower settled prettily above the collarbone. Meanwhile, Suhyeon removed her earrings and replaced them with Bora’s gift.

“How is it?”

Suhyeon asked, showing herself to Bora.

With pretty flowers adorning both ears and neck, Suhyeon smiled elegantly.

“Of course you look goddess-like and beautiful, but… is this really okay? If articles come out saying the Cheonkyung madam is wearing cheap jewelry, I really…”

As Bora made a dejected face, Suhyeon said with a laugh,

“Don’t worry. Would people think I’m cheap just because of this?”

At those words, Bora looked at Suhyeon with realization.

“True… I guess as Cheonkyung’s madam, it doesn’t matter what you wear.”

“Right?”

Suhyeon smiled as brightly as the pendant’s flower. Only then could Bora finally return the smile with a slightly relieved expression.