CHAPTER 4
Later, Hancheol and Inha realized that Summer had injured her ankle and rushed her to the hospital, but the doctors just shook their heads.
Was it because she hadn’t received treatment in time, or because her young, fragile bones had suffered too strong an impact?
She could walk, but the words that she would have to live with this injury forever sparked not sympathy, but anger and frustration in both of them.
“Hey! If you ended up like this, you should have told us earlier. Who’s going to take care of you like this?”
“Ugh, I’m really losing it. What do we do now? You’ve made raising you even harder. Is there anything we get out of this? Are we supposed to nurse you back to health? I’m seriously… so frustrated. Why are you keeping your mouth shut?”
Even if she wanted to speak, she couldn’t.
After the accident, they had only cared about Haneul and paid her no attention.
How could she speak amidst the atmosphere of resentment, where they blamed Haneul for falling because of her?
Yet Summer kept bowing her head, apologizing as if everything were her fault.
She was more afraid of being abandoned by them.
If she were abandoned, she had nowhere to go.
“Anyway, make sure you do well. This time, we have to catch that person. Understood?”
Hancheol’s voice interrupted Summer’s recollections with a final instruction.
“…Yes, Father. I will.”
“This is the first time you’ve had something you can help me with. So of course, you must succeed, right?”
Her heart thumped rapidly.
For the first time, Hancheol was relying on her—not Haneul, but her alone.
Summer wanted to succeed even more.
To show her father that she could achieve what he wanted.
This time, she wanted recognition from both Hancheol and Inha.
“I believe in you. You know that, right?”
Summer’s lips trembled.
Her face looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment, and she nodded.
“Yes, Father. I will work really hard. Please believe in me.”
Hancheol’s words shook her to the core.
I must succeed. I can’t show him disappointment anymore. If I fail this time, they will completely treat me like I don’t exist.
Until now, they had needed her to maintain their status, so they had tolerated her a little.
But if she failed this time, they would treat her like a transparent human being.
Summer, who wanted to feel even a tiny place within her family, felt the weight of responsibility tighten her hands.
The JM Group main residence in Seongbuk-dong was located at the most scenic part of the area, and the size of the mansion was immense.
From the outside, the building inspired awe with its beautiful facade.
Both the interior and exterior had been meticulously designed, making it arguably the most beautiful residence in all of Korea.
The number of employees working there was also substantial.
“Did the meeting go well?”
The voice of JM Group CEO Kwon Yundong quietly echoed through the dining room.
Seonjae paused with his spoon halfway to his mouth and raised his head at his father’s voice.
Yundong sighed deeply, reading his son’s displeasure with the arranged meeting.
But that didn’t mean he would cancel it.
To run the JM Group smoothly, someone was needed to mitigate bad rumors.
The most suitable candidate was this young girl.
As the daughter of a presidential candidate, her background was sufficient.
Although her genes weren’t from the right side, that didn’t matter.
By appearance, she was even more impressive than the candidate’s own daughter.
Her limp is a flaw… but it might even work in our favor.
Too intelligent a bride would be troublesome.
It was better to have a somewhat flawed daughter-in-law who could act as a shield whenever needed.
Whenever a bad rumor circulated, presenting her as a kind, dutiful, and physically imperfect daughter-in-law would calm things down.
Showing affection could even turn the rumor into positive talk.
“Even if you dislike it, it won’t undo what’s already been arranged. Since you’ll marry anyway, it’s better to build some connection.”
“Are you planning to make a child a scapegoat just to clear up dirty rumors?”
Seonjae’s mother, Choi Soonhee, quietly listening, reached out to calm him.
Her warm hand touched Seonjae’s shoulder, but his irritation did not subside.
The reason for rushing this marriage was simple: rumors that JM Group was colluding with organized crime to coerce construction companies had spread widely.
Once a rumor spreads, it’s hard to contain.
Even if buried, it could be weaponized at any time.
Thus, they needed to introduce someone suitable to divert attention before the rumor spread further.
“Just because she’s young doesn’t mean she’s underage. She’s well over twenty. What’s the problem?”
“The issue isn’t marriage itself, but that she’s being married into this household to erase violent family rumors.”
“Seonjae, stop. You know your father doesn’t mean it that way.”
“I don’t know. You and Mother are the same. You both clearly dislike her. Once the rumors die down, you’ll divorce and discard her. And you’ll attach another prestigious woman to me, won’t you?”
Yundong wiped his mouth and gave a cold gaze, as if asking, What’s the problem?
“I don’t want to do that.”
“So you mean we should keep someone useless around? That’s how it goes. Once used, you discard. It’s cruel, but unavoidable. That’s the industry. When usefulness ends, part ways as if nothing happened. It’s common in our world.”
“Then, will you discard Mother when she’s no longer useful?”
“Kwon Seonjae!”
“Why are you so angry? Didn’t Father do the same? I don’t understand your overreaction.”
Seonjae stood abruptly.
He didn’t want to hear any more disgusting talk.
As he lowered his head to leave the dining room, Yundong’s voice stopped him.
“Since you’ll marry anyway, don’t waste energy resisting. But once the rumors are cleared, I’ll let you choose your next spouse. You yield that, now just follow my instructions.”
Seonjae muttered a curse under his breath, recalling the young girl limping alone after pretending to be guilty.
Seoyeo-reum, trembling, anxious, doing all this for his own usefulness—why did that face keep flashing through his mind?
“They also want this arrangement. They need our help to run for president. Mutual benefit. Don’t worry about divorce. JM Group isn’t tarnished by it. Just say it’s due to personality differences.”
“Such useful lessons.”
“Marriage doesn’t have to last. If you don’t want to share a bed, you don’t need to live together. Just show the appearance when necessary. No grandchildren required. You wouldn’t want a defective girl to bear children anyway.”
“Ha… Father, you have your ways.”
“Reality is this: get what you want for three years. No more. Think carefully. It’s not a bad offer for you.”
Seonjae left without listening further.
Once outside, the tightness in his chest worsened.
He had barely eaten, yet it felt like a stone was lodged in his stomach.
He roughly loosened his tie and climbed into the sedan waiting outside.
A secretary looked up, startled.
“Why are you here so early? Isn’t it breakfast time?”
“Damn it, I heard such crap from the morning, I couldn’t even eat.”
The secretary exhaled lightly and prepared to drive.
It was clear something had happened inside.
He didn’t ask further. Seonjae appreciated that—no unnecessary questions, just precise action.
He liked people who didn’t bother him.
Hoo… damn it.
Leaning back, he tried to process Yundong’s words.
It might have been a necessary contract to quell nasty rumors.
Such things happened often.
But why did the thought of Yundong belittling Summer make his head ache?
Was it because she seemed particularly weak?
Was he pitying a limp?
“Is it because she’s a clueless child?”
“…?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Bright-skinned, early twenties Summer had chubby cheeks still with baby fat.
Seonjae was already in his thirties.
When they first met, both his father and Hancheol had seemed completely crazy for arranging this meeting.
What were they thinking, trying to match me with Summer?
Damn it.
As he exhaled, trying to calm down, his phone buzzed.
He roughly pulled it out and read the message, which made him chuckle bitterly.
“Look at this.”
Seonjae’s lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.
[Hello, this is Seoyeo-reum, whom you met a few days ago.
As I mentioned then, I’d like to work with you.
I’ve made up my mind firmly, so please tell me the date and place, and I will come to meet you.]
