Chapter 75
Give Me a Chance
“You’re leaving now?”
They had just finished talking, but Lee Yeon was already coming down from the second floor with her suitcase.
Do Hyun quickly took it from her hands before she could carry it herself.
It was heavy.
“What did you even pack? Can you really carry something this heavy?”
To his eyes, her arms looked so fragile that a light tap could break them.
How was she planning to carry this all the way?
And she still had another bag hanging from her shoulder.
Judging by the amount, it looked like she had packed for three weeks.
Sending her off like this made Do Hyunās chest tighten with unease.
“If I stay around for a few more days, Iāll probably lose my resolve. I donāt want to leave either, but I have to go while I still can.”
Why was she so firm?
Was she always this resolute?
He didnāt want to let her go. But it felt like she didnāt feel the same. That stung more than he expected.
Maybe the one who loves more is the one who loses.
āSheās joking, right? Sheās not actually leaving right now.ā
He wanted to deny reality.
It didnāt make sense for her to just leave like this.
She had just said sheād go, and if she really walked out right now, he wouldnāt even have time to brace himself.
He could hold her every day and still never get enough, and yet now she was walking away without hesitation.
Do Hyun stared at her, his heart breaking at how cold she looked.
But her face wasnāt coldāit was determined.
Whatever she had decided, it seemed final.
That scared him even more.
If she was really leaving, he couldnāt just let her go like this.
“Donāt say youāre leaving. Say youāll be back soon.”
Do Hyun leaned in and kissed her.
The only way to calm his unease was to leave his mark on her, to remind her of him in every way he could.
Even if he acted like he was letting her go easily, his trembling heart told her otherwise.
Sensing that, Lee Yeon wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Come back soon.
Thatās what his body seemed to say.
Please wait for me a little.
***
“Was the wall always this tall?”
The gate looked impossibly high today.
Lee Yeon stood in front of Gapsuās house, dragging her suitcase behind her.
She wasnāt sure if sheād be able to get past those fortress-like walls.
But she was going to try.
And she hoped heād see that effort.
She clenched her fists softly, whispering a quiet cheer to herself.
“Letās do this.”
.
.
.
Gapsu was getting older now.
He had already handed most of his important work to Deokho, spending more time at home these days.
Three weeks.
That was how long Lee Yeon had.
For three weeks, she planned to show Gapsu her true self.
After thinking it over, she realized the biggest reason he couldnāt accept her was trust.
He probably wondered if she was two-faced, or if she was up to something behind their backs.
Or maybe he doubted how sincere her love for Do Hyun really was.
So she decided to show him everythingāno hiding, no pretending.
Heād be shocked to know she was actually moving in, but she needed to prove herself now.
Still, she was nervous.
What if he yelled at her for showing up? What if he kicked her out, or made things unbearable?
She shook her head, pushing the thought away.
It might just be wishful thinking, but she had a feelingāGapsu wanted to trust her.
And she was betting everything on that feeling.
If he doesnāt accept me, Iāll just find a room nearby.
Then Iāll visit every day. Heāll get tired of it and let me stay eventually.
Thatās how desperate she was.
She wanted, more than anything, for her sincerity to reach him.
No, more than thatāshe just wanted a chance to stay by his side.
After a long moment of quiet determination, she pressed the doorbell.
The die was cast.
She wasnāt sure if she could do this.
But she wanted to.
Beepā
To her surprise, the door opened right away.
She had braced herself for rejection, maybe even to be shooed away with salt, but instead the front gate swung open easily.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief.
One step down.
She walked through the gate, pulling her suitcase until she reached the front door.
“Hello.”
“Madam! Hello, thereās no one home right now!”
Relief washed over her.
That must be why the door openedāGapsu wasnāt home yet.
So far, her luck was holding.
All she needed was to get inside and last. Timing it for when he was out was perfect.
“When will the chairman be home?”
She wanted to be ready when he arrived.
Just then, the sound of the door unlocking echoed through the hallway.
“Heās home now. Would you like something to drink?”
Lee Yeon shook her head politely, and the housekeeper disappeared into the kitchen.
“Youāre here?”
She greeted Gapsu as he stepped inside.
He froze for a moment, startled by her voice, but quickly regained his composure.
“Why are you here? And youāre greeting me like you belong here?”
The lines on his forehead deepened.
He was clearly not pleased.
“I wanted to say hello. Iām happy to see you, Grandfather.”
She decided to call him thatājust like Do Hyun did.
“What kind of disrespect is this!”
“Iām sorry. But I came because Iām desperate. Please give me one chance. Just oneāto show you who I really am.”
Even with his sharp, icy tone, she didnāt flinch.
Maybe it was love that made her so strong.
All she could think was that she had to hold her ground no matter what.
“Thereās no need. Iāll call Do Hyunā”
“He doesnāt know Iām here. I told him I needed three weeks to rest and came on my own. I didnāt want to rely on him.
I want to be accepted by the family of the man I love through my own effort. Thatās why I came. So please, give me a chance.”
She didnāt blink once.
She didnāt look away from him.
She just hoped he could feel the sincerity that had brought her here.
Just give me a chance.
“I want you to see for yourself who I am. The good and the bad. And if, after that, you still want me goneā¦”
“ā¦”
“Then at least youāll have something real to tell Do Hyun. You can say, āI watched her for three weeks, and sheās not right for you.ā At least then, itāll be the truth.”
Something shifted in Gapsuās expression.
He lifted his head slightly, his lips pressing together as if in thought.
A few long seconds passed.
Lee Yeon watched his lips nervously.
She didnāt know how many times she had already begged in her heart.
“Fine. I donāt know what you plan to do here, but Iāll give you three weeks. If, by the end, I still canāt accept you, Iāll have one more reason to oppose your relationship. Thatās fair enough.”
Success.
She almost shouted for joy but swallowed it down.
This was only the beginning. She couldnāt act foolish now.
“Thank you so much. Iāll show you my true self, no pretense. I know living together wonāt be easy, but I trust your eyes will see me for who I am.”
“Donāt expect too much.”
“Thereās one more thing Iād like to say.”
He turned back, just before heading to his room.
“I hope youāll see me not as Do Hyunās future wife, but just as Yoo Lee Yeon. Iām not here in daughter-in-law mode.”
He frowned slightly, not sure what she meant.
But after a brief nod, he went upstairs.
She had expected him to explode in anger, but instead, he left quietly.
And before disappearing, he even told the housekeeper to prepare a guest room for her.
He really was hard to figure out.
“Madam, I donāt know whatās going on, but getting this far is impressive,” Mrs. Kim said as she led her to the guest room.
“Iām on your side. I havenāt seen you much, but after all these years working in other peopleās homes, Iāve learned to read people well.”
A warm smile spread across Mrs. Kimās face.
That small bit of kindness made Lee Yeonās chest feel lighter.
Maybe she wouldnāt be completely alone these next three weeks.
“I actually thought Iād be all by myself while the chairman was out. But now that youāre on my side, I feel like Iāve gained an ally. Thank you, Mrs. Kim. Iāll be in your care.”
Mrs. Kim patted her shoulder encouragingly before heading back to her work.
The āguest roomā was bigger than Do Hyunās master bedroom.
“Itās hugeā¦”
Standing alone in that wide, quiet room, loneliness crept in.
Do Hyun had always been by her side.
Now that he wasnāt, the emptiness hit her all at once.
I miss youā¦
It hadnāt even been that long, but she already felt the ache of missing him.
