Body

Yeon-ha’s body stiffened.

Obstetrics and gynecology, Moo-jin’s child, abortion recommendation.

The meaning of these three things was clear, but her mind was not working, like a broken machine.

“Madam, what do you mean…?”

Yeon-ha trailed off, looking flustered.

Madam Song stared at Yeon-ha and let out a faint sigh.

Her head seemed to be aching as she pressed her temple with one hand, wearing an expression as if she had encountered something terrible.

“When you first came into our house as a guest, I gave you only a few warnings.”

“……”

“I just told you to live quietly, like you don’t exist.”

It was an old story.

Even though it had been 11 years, Yeon-ha remembered her first encounter with Madam Song as if it had happened yesterday.

A graceful and beautiful middle-aged lady and a shabby high school student in a worn-out uniform.

Just standing together, the two of them looked like mismatched pieces of a collage.

Yeon-ha would never forget how Madam Song looked at her with disgust, as if dirt had splashed onto her.

Madam Song seemed to recall that day as well, curling her lips coldly.

“I never liked you, not even for a moment. But unlike your mother, at least you knew your place, which I thought was tolerable.”

“……”

“But it seems I misjudged you.”

“I thought living as if you didn’t exist wasn’t such a difficult request.”

Madam Song took an orange envelope out of her tote bag.

She turned it upside down, and glossy photographs spilled onto the glass table.

Picking up one of the photos, she shuddered in disgust.

“You should know your place… aiming too high.”

Her voice was sharp.

Yeon-ha’s gaze naturally fell on the photos.

They were pictures of her and Moo-jin—one showing her leaving a hotel room with him, another capturing a kiss in his car.

The photos were taken from various angles, clearly in secret.

“Are you advertising that you’re the daughter of a prostitute? Hotel, car, office… How shameful.”

Madam Song threw the photos at Yeon-ha in irritation.

They fluttered weakly to the floor, showing images of a disheveled office, evidence of an intense encounter.

“A quiet cat climbs onto the stove, huh? Were you aiming for the successor of Hankyung Group?”

“…No.”

“Did you think seducing Moo-jin with your body would get you some scraps? Were you hoping for a change in status from your miserable life? Go on, try to make an excuse.”

Madam Song scoffed at Yeon-ha’s silence.

To be precise, Yeon-ha had not seduced Moo-jin.

But whether it was true or not didn’t seem to matter to Madam Song, who was fixated on the idea that Yeon-ha was a gold digger who had ensnared her innocent son.

Madam Song took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger.

“Conversations should be had with people who can understand them. There’s no point talking to you.”

She placed her teacup down with a clatter.

“You must have seen the women who have been introduced to Moo-jin as potential brides.”

“…Yes.”

“They are outstanding in every way—family background, looks, education.”

It wasn’t surprising news.

As the heir of Hankyung Group, it was natural for Moo-jin to be considering marriage.

Even though it was an obvious reality, understanding it logically and accepting it emotionally were two different things.

Her heart, already crushed under heavy weight, felt another knife stab at the news of his arranged marriage.

It was ironic—she and Moo-jin weren’t even officially lovers.

People would say they were just sex partners—nothing more, nothing less.

And yet, she couldn’t stop loving him.

“Moo-jin will marry a woman with no flaws. I’ll make sure of it.

You? You’re just one of the women he played around with for a while.

So…”

Madam Song’s cold eyes locked onto Yeon-ha.

“I won’t waste words. You should get married, too.”

For the first time, Yeon-ha reacted.

She had expected Madam Song’s anger and insults, but this was something she hadn’t anticipated.

“Marriage?”

“It’s best for Moo-jin to have no lingering attachments from his reckless affair.”

“……”

“If it were up to me, I’d make sure you disappeared from society.

But since we’ve been under the same roof for 11 years, I arranged a marriage for you that’s far above your level.”

“Madam, that’s—”

“Be quiet.”

Madam Song cut her off with a dismissive wave.

“Tomorrow at 7 PM. I’ll send the address via text. Dress properly and be on time.”

It was clear that everything had already been decided.

Yeon-ha’s opinion didn’t matter.

That was to be expected.

She had always obeyed Madam Song’s commands without question.

It was their unspoken rule.

But this was different.

A blind date meant marriage talks would follow.

And she had never planned to get married.

She had seen too many failed marriages to even consider it.

Besides, given Madam Song’s standards, this so-called “high-level” match was probably someone with major flaws.

Perhaps a divorced man in his fifties or someone whose personality was too terrible to be hidden by his wealth.

After all, in Madam Song’s eyes, Yeon-ha was defective as well.

“And I’ve scheduled your OB-GYN appointment through Mr. Kim.”

At first, she thought it was just a threat, but it seemed Madam Song had actually booked a consultation.

Yeon-ha hurried to clarify the misunderstanding.

“I’m not pregnant with the Vice President’s child.”

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

Madam Song sneered.

Her eyes scanned Yeon-ha from head to toe, filled with doubt.

As if challenging her to say something believable.

Having no words to defend herself only made Yeon-ha feel more humiliated.

“How do I know you haven’t been desperately trying to trap him?”

Madam Song let out a deep sigh, as if even arguing was beneath her.

“I don’t want to waste any more time on this. You can leave now.”

She had spoken her final words.

All Yeon-ha could do was bow her head and quietly say, “Yes.”

⸻

After the meeting with Madam Song, Yeon-ha returned to the office.

Her direct supervisor, Moo-jin, was busy with the grand opening preparations for Hankyung Hotel’s duty-free store.

So she had no time to rest either.

When she entered the office, Moo-jin was facing the floor-to-ceiling window, absorbed in his work.

Beyond the glass, the city skyline stood tall and dazzling, as if showing off.

Even though she saw the view often, she was always drawn to it.

It was only natural to be captivated by beautiful things.

And from this height, looking down at the struggling people trying to get home from work—

That was Moo-jin’s world.

“Brief me on tomorrow’s schedule,” he commanded, without looking up from his documents.

“At 10 AM, you have a meeting with the business division’s general director.

At 12 PM, lunch with Chairman Kang of LW Group.

After that, you’ll return to the office for a final construction selection meeting.

And at 6 PM…”