It’s the second night

Episode 8

Chairman Seo quietly looked at her before speaking again.

“I heard your injuries were serious. A head wound and severe burns, wasn’t it?”

Across from him, Seo Taejo put down his spoon and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

“I’m curious too.”

His sharp gaze locked onto her, as if trying to pierce through her.

“Just five days ago, you were barely conscious. You looked pretty hurt. But now… you seem perfectly fine.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Didn’t you say you tried to hurt yourself? Where exactly did you do that? Or was it all fake? Did you make up the whole thing?”

How could he be so harsh?

Even if their engagement was arranged for political reasons, she had just survived an accident only eight days ago. Yet, he showed no concern at all. His cold eyes and even colder words stabbed into her like knives.

And what did he just say?

Self-harm?

Who said anything about that?

Juheung clenched her jaw in frustration.

This man… it felt like his only purpose here was to make things harder for Yoo Haein.

But wasn’t he supposed to be the closest person to her here?

Her fiancé.

Yoo Haein’s fiancé.

She had come across that detail while gathering information on Yoo Haein, but it had slipped her mind. Probably because there was nothing between them to remind her of it.

An engagement with no real relationship. That alone showed how distant they were.

So maybe that was why he was being so cruel.

Or was he just naturally like this?

“What? Did she eat some kind of magic potion?”

“Taejo.”

Seo Taejo’s sharp words were cut off by his older brother, Seo Jungyoo.

“Enough.”

Seo Kyungok, who had been watching like a spectator, finally spoke up too. Unlike Taejo, his voice was gentle, almost kind.

“I heard from the hospital director that the burn treatment was done with a new technology. It worked really well.”

He smiled at her as he spoke, then gestured for her to eat.

In reality, her wounds had healed thanks to a special reward she had received—. That’s why Taejo’s sarcastic comment about magic wasn’t entirely wrong.

But there was no way she could say that.

So, she just went along with the idea that it was thanks to advanced medical treatment.

There was no other way to explain it.

She nodded slightly at Seo Jungyoo in thanks and picked up her spoon. Taejo’s gaze burned into her, but she ignored him. That was the smarter choice.

Besides, the steaming soup in front of her looked too delicious to waste energy on arguing.

As she took a sip, a faint smile crossed her lips.

Chairman Seo watched her for a moment before speaking again.

“I’m glad the treatment worked. I was really worried about scarring.”

Seo Kyungok nodded.

“Yes, I heard Yoo’s CEO stayed at the hospital the whole time, keeping watch over his sister. His love for her is truly touching.”

Then he pushed a plate of meat toward her.

“Your brother must be happy that you’re healing well, right?”

“…Yes, of course.”

She forced the words out with a small smile.

But inside, she felt uneasy.

Because Yoo Donghyuk wasn’t really her brother. And he wasn’t the caring older sibling they were making him out to be.

Just like some marriages exist only for appearances, so did their sibling relationship.

She had never seen a man more indifferent to his sister’s well-being.

Not even a single question about how she was doing.

He only cared that her face didn’t have scars.

As if that was the only thing that mattered.

Seo Taejo was already talking about breaking off the engagement, and if her face had been scarred, she wouldn’t have even had a chance to argue.

Not that anyone had asked for her opinion in the first place.

But it didn’t matter.

No matter what Seo Taejo said, this engagement would continue.

There would be no breaking it off.

This family was anything but normal.

If a real family existed…

It wouldn’t be like this.

Ignoring Juheung, Seo Taejo’s family continued their meal, chatting warmly among themselves.

Her father placed soft, white fish onto her mother’s plate. Her mother, happily eating like a spoiled child, scolded her sons between bites. The eldest son comforted her, while the second son, Seo Taejo, barely listened, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

It reminded Juheung of her own family.

Three years ago, they had been like this too.

A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed hard, as if forcing down cotton that had clogged her throat. But no matter how hard she tried, the sorrow rose up, thick and suffocating.

She froze, her fingers still holding her spoon, eyes growing misty. The table went silent.

Seo Kyungok, noticing her sudden stillness, spoke up.

“Haein?”

Juheung flinched and turned to him, startled.

“Y-yes?”

“You think the same, right?”

Her mind was blank. She had no idea what they were talking about.

Blinking rapidly, she looked around the table. Seo Kyungok. Seo Taejo. The others. They were all waiting for her answer.

Except Taejo.

His brow furrowed, irritation flickering in his sharp gaze. He clearly disagreed with his mother. His cold stare practically screamed at her to answer carefully.

Juheung met his gaze head-on. Then, with a small smile, she spoke.

“I agree with Mother.”

It was an impulsive decision, but one thing was certain—she had no desire to take Seo Taejo’s side.

Seo Kyungok beamed.

“Oh my, see? I was right.”

Seo Jungyoo chuckled.

“Wow. Impressive.”

Chairman Seo merely cleared his throat, giving Taejo and Kyungok a glance before returning to his meal.

Taejo, on the other hand, was seething.

His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened.

Then, without warning, he stood up and walked straight toward her.

“You. Get up.”

Before she could react, he grabbed her hand, yanking her up with such force that pain shot through her wrist.

“Ah!”

She gasped, wincing.

Taejo didn’t care. With a cold, polite nod to the others, he practically dragged her away from the table.

Once outside, he shoved her hand away as if touching her disgusted him.

“Have you lost your mind?”

The sudden push made her stumble. Rubbing her sore wrist, she looked up at him, confused and frustrated.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Me?” Taejo let out a sharp laugh. “You’re seriously asking that?”

“Yes! What did I do?”

Her voice wavered with irritation.

Taejo took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. Then he dropped the bomb.

“We’re getting married in June.”

Juheung’s eyes widened.

“What?”

He crossed his arms, his tone flat.

“We’re getting married.”

She stared at him, then burst into laughter.

“Oh, please. We broke up.”