Young bride

“You, you…!”

Jiwoo’s face twisted with humiliation as she read the deep contempt in Seoa’s eyes.

The idea of Kwon Seoa, someone who was supposed to be trampled on, mocking her was unimaginable. In a strictly hierarchical world, it was natural for Seoa to not even dare to talk back to Kwon Jiwoo.

But despite her anger, Jiwoo couldn’t refute Seoa’s words.

She knew better than anyone that her father was determined to secure a union with the Seohan family, and now, the key to that lay in Seoa’s hands.

Still, Jiwoo wasn’t about to back down so easily. She narrowed her eyes and sneered sharply.

“You’ve been hiding your true colors well. No wonder you seduced that old man so easily.”

“The world teaches you to be sly like a fox. So, could you stop making noise and leave? I have to meet Kyuhyun tomorrow.”

Seoa’s composed response made Jiwoo’s lips quiver with anger.

“Interesting, sister. Let’s see how long you can keep acting so high and mighty.”

Instead of replying, Seoa simply opened the door, signaling that the conversation was over. Jiwoo glared at her, then stormed out, slamming the door so hard it seemed like it might break.

“Maybe I provoked her too much.”

Jiwoo had looked furious.

Seoa worried for a moment that Jiwoo might try to take revenge, but there was no taking back what had been said.

After a bit of regret, a strange sense of satisfaction crept in. It might have been childish, but seeing Jiwoo run away with a red face felt refreshing.

Jiwoo probably wouldn’t dare run to Chairman Kwon with this.

After all, she didn’t even know if Seoa and Kyuhyun were on good or bad terms, and all she really knew how to do was rely on her parents’ power.

Instead of overthinking, Seoa locked the door and sat at her desk. She had fallen behind on her studies because of all the chaos with Kyuhyun.

She opened her books and laptop, but the words blurred before her eyes.

Her eyes were on the pages, but her mind was elsewhere—waiting for a reply from Kangwoo.

As if mirroring her restless thoughts, the tip of her pen aimlessly scribbled dark lines across the blank paper.

Just as the page filled with doodles, her phone buzzed.

Her eyes quickly scanned the caller ID.

[When are you free?]

It was a short and simple message, but after Jiwoo’s tantrum earlier, those five words brought her a strange sense of peace.

Even if it was just her imagination, it felt like she wasn’t completely alone.

[Tomorrow evening is fine.]

Lying on her desk, she stared at her phone.

The reply came almost instantly.

[Okay. See you tomorrow.]

She waited, wondering if he would say more.

But no other messages came.

After rereading his texts a few times, she gave up on studying and lay down on her bed.

She must have been exhausted from the night before because her eyes shut easily, even though it was still early.

⸻

The next afternoon, Seoa went to the hospital.

A university hospital. White hallways. The sharp smell of disinfectant.

She had seen this scene for eight years, but it never felt any less heavy.

She walked through the quiet hospital room and sat beside a familiar-looking woman lying in the middle bed.

After hesitating, she spoke.

“It’s been too long, hasn’t it?”

Her words carried a mix of guilt for not visiting often, longing, and an unspoken resentment and sorrow for her mother—who had saved her but couldn’t wake up.

Her mother’s face was as pale as ever.

Ever since the accident eight years ago, she hadn’t changed.

At first, Seoa had hoped her mother would wake up. Then, after a few years, that hope turned to despair.

Now, she felt nothing.

No—maybe it was closer to resignation.

“Have you been okay? I’ve been… busy.”

After a long silence, Seoa finally spoke in a cracked voice.

At first, she wasn’t sure what to say, but once she started, everything poured out.

How she had gone to the blind date in Jiwoo’s place. How her match had been awful. How she had almost been forced into marriage.

She kept it brief, not wanting to upset her mother, but she let out the frustrations she had been holding in.

“But you know what? Life doesn’t always go the way you expect.”

For Seoa, Kangwoo was proof of that.

Maybe, for the first time in her unlucky life, she had found a stroke of luck.

Maybe that was why she had taken such a reckless gamble.

After a brief silence, she reached for her mother’s hand.

It was thin and bony.

“Mom, is it okay if I act selfishly?”

Looking at her mother’s peaceful face, her heart settled.

She knew her mother wouldn’t want her to be miserable.

Taking the obvious path to unhappiness would only hurt her more.

So, she decided—she wouldn’t apologize.

“I’ll come see you again soon.”

Next time, I might be a married woman.

Swallowing those words, Seoa smiled weakly and stood up.

Just then, her mother’s caregiver, Malsook, returned after changing the flowers.

“Oh my, Seoa! When did you get here? I didn’t even notice!”

“I just came by. How have you been?”

“I’ve been good! I even made seaweed soup for myself—want some?”

Malsook bustled around, setting the flowers by the window before hurrying toward Seoa.

She had been taking care of Seoa’s mother for eight years.

Though she was hired with money, she had always treated Seoa warmly, almost like a mother.

Whenever Seoa came to visit, Malsook was there with a cup of warm milk, listening.

When Seoa got into university, Malsook had been just as happy as if she were her real daughter.

Without people like Malsook and Kangwoo, Seoa wasn’t sure she would have made it through high school.

“Thank you, but I have plans, so I can’t stay.”

“Already? At least let me cut some fruit for you!”

Malsook grabbed Seoa’s hand warmly.

“You’ve gotten so thin. Are you eating properly?”

Malsook, with her plump frame, always worried about Seoa skipping meals.

Seoa chuckled and slung her bag over her shoulder.

“Please take care of my mom. I wish I could stay for dinner…”

“Oh, don’t worry about me! Just take care of yourself. Be sure to eat properly, okay?”

“I will.”

After saying goodbye to the ever-caring Malsook, Seoa left the hospital.

Walking past the same scenery in reverse, she stepped outside, where a car was already waiting for her.

Checking the license plate, she confirmed that it was the one Kangwoo had arranged.

Cautiously, she got in. The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

“I’ll take you home.”

No other words were exchanged.

As the car moved, the sky darkened. The city lights blurred past the window.

After a while, the car entered the parking lot of a luxurious apartment in Gangnam.

Following the driver’s lead, Seoa took the elevator to the top floor.

When the doors opened, Kangwoo was waiting at the entrance.

“You’re here?”