Young bride

“Your contact number hasn’t changed, right?”
“Huh? Oh, no.”
“Then that’s fine. I’ll take care of Choi Kyuhyun, so don’t worry and just rest for now.”

Kang Woo, who had brought her home while she was asleep, left after reassuring her not to worry.

The time she spent sleeping in the car felt like a fleeting dream. Because of that, stepping into her house was a harsh reminder that it was time to wake up to reality.

Of course, she hadn’t expected anyone to come out and greet her.
If anything, she was relieved that Chairman Kwon wasn’t awake. But realizing she had to feel relieved over something so trivial made a bitter emotion rise to the surface.

That night, Seo-ah spent her time anxiously wondering whether Kyuhyun had caused a scene after realizing she had disappeared from the social gathering.

But as time passed and the next evening arrived, nothing happened.

She had been sure that by morning, Kyuhyun would call to demand where she had gone or scold her for leaving first. But the unusual silence made her uneasy.

If Chairman Kwon had at least said something, she wouldn’t be this nervous. But the complete quiet felt like the calm before a storm.

‘I wish I could hear some news from someone, anyone.’

Seo-ah bit her lip.

She sometimes wondered if she had been too hasty in making the contract with Kang Woo.

After all, it was a contract that practically held her mother’s life as collateral. No matter what happened, she couldn’t afford to regret this decision.

“Sigh…”

She suddenly missed her mother’s face. It had already been two months since she last visited her.

During the first two years after her mother became comatose, she visited every day.

But by the third year, she went every two or three days. By the fifth year, her visits had dwindled to once a month.

The more her hope of her mother waking up faded, the more guilt and sorrow weighed her down.

Just as she resolved to visit the hospital tomorrow, her phone vibrated.

She quickly grabbed it.

[What are you doing?
This is my new number, save it.]

It was a simple message.

Even though she didn’t recognize the number, it wasn’t hard to guess who it was from.

[Is this you, sir? You changed your number?]
[Yeah. Changed it after I got back.]

Seo-ah felt strange knowing that Kang Woo still had her contact information.

Even though they hadn’t spoken in a long time, the fact that their connection hadn’t been severed gave her an odd sense of relief.

Well, with how advanced phones were these days, it wasn’t surprising that he still had her number.

[Kyuhyun hasn’t contacted you, right?]
[No.]
[The police raided the lounge last night.]
[The police?]

Her eyes widened.

The word “police” was completely unexpected.

[I’ll explain when we meet. Just act like you ran away when they showed up. He’s probably too busy to call you right now.]

What on earth had happened at the lounge last night for the police to raid it?

She had no clue.

She wanted to ask if Kang Woo had anything to do with it, but she chose to stay silent.

Sometimes, ignorance was better.

Before long, the message was deleted—likely by Kang Woo for security reasons.

‘…Why does this make me feel so reassured?’

She had been anxious all night, worrying if she had made the wrong choice. Now, she felt a little foolish for doubting herself.

Kang Woo had always been like this—acting indifferent while secretly looking out for others.

Just as a small, relieved smile formed on Seo-ah’s lips, BANG!

The door suddenly burst open, and an unwelcome visitor barged in.

Seo-ah instinctively hid her phone before turning around.

There was only one person who would storm into her room like this—Kwon Ji-woo.

“What’s so funny? Who are you texting and giggling with?”

Seo-ah turned off her phone screen and stood up.

“It’s none of your business.”

“Wow, what’s with that attitude?”

Ji-woo stared at her intensely before his expression turned mischievous.

It looked like he had found something to use against her.

For a second, she worried that he had seen her messages, but his next words reassured her.

“You’ve got something going on, don’t you? Are you actually getting along with that creepy old guy? Don’t tell me… you two are hitting it off?”

Ji-woo made a crude hand gesture, forming a circle with one hand and poking a finger through it repeatedly.

Seo-ah looked at him with a mix of disgust and exhaustion.

There was no point in engaging with someone like him.

She picked up her bag from the floor, a clear sign that she had no interest in continuing the conversation.

But Ji-woo wasn’t one to back off easily.

“You’re not thinking of cheating, are you? Your wedding with Seo Han-gah is just around the corner.”

“…..”

Seo-ah’s hand paused for a moment before she casually pulled out some books and papers from her bag.

There was no need to react and give him the satisfaction.

Acting like she didn’t hear anything, she spread out her assignment on the desk.

“It’s noisy. Get out. I have work to do.”

Ji-woo frowned at her complete disregard.

Honestly, he didn’t really care who she was texting.

He just enjoyed ruining her mood.

“Crazy woman. Though, knowing you, I guess it’s not surprising.”

Ji-woo reached out.

“Hand over your phone.”

“Enough.”

Seo-ah swatted away his hand as he grabbed her shoulder.

Ji-woo froze in shock.

Seo-ah never talked back.

She was supposed to be a lifeless doll.

Yet now, she was resisting him.

Ji-woo wasn’t the smartest, but he had good instincts.

His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“You’re acting weird. Give me your phone.”

“Don’t.”

“This is for the sake of family peace. Let me check—ugh!”

Ji-woo lunged at her, but the next moment, he crashed onto the floor.

It was almost comical how easily he fell.

For years, he had thought Seo-ah was weak.

But the truth was, she had simply chosen not to react.

Seo-ah was taller and physically stronger than Ji-woo, who had been born frail.

Ji-woo looked up at her in shock.

Seeing the disgust in her eyes made his face burn red with humiliation.

“Y-you dare—!”

“Ji-woo, you should be careful.”

“W-what?”

“You know I’m the one marrying Kyuhyun, not you, right?”

Seo-ah’s voice was cold.

“Kyuhyun hates it when other people see his private messages.”

“S-so what—?”

“If he finds out you tried to take my phone, do you think he’ll be happy? You were right about one thing—we do get along surprisingly well.”

“….!”

Ji-woo couldn’t say a word.

He had insulted her, thinking there was no way Seo-ah would actually be close to Kyuhyun.

But her confident stare made him hesitate.

Could it be true?

“You know how badly our father wants this marriage to happen, right?”

Seo-ah leaned down and whispered.

“But if you ruin it… do you think he’ll let you off?”