Chapter 2
Had it piqued his interest?
Despite his reputation as a carefree wastrel and the family’s black sheep, Ryu Tae-ha had still managed to secure an executive director’s position because every business he touched turned into a remarkable success.
Some dismissed it as nothing more than blind luck.
Joo-ah thought otherwise.
He was Chairman Ryu of Taesong Group’s grandson.
It wasn’t luck.
It was instinct.
A gift he had been born with.
Which meant he would weigh the profits and losses.
He would calculate whether her proposal would benefit him—or cost him.
Praying that his mental calculator would land in her favour, Joo-ah spoke.
“You know about the two percent of Taesong shares I’m supposed to receive once I get married, don’t you?”
Of course he knew.
He’d been seven years old.
One day, while he and Joo-ah were playing at Chairman Ryu’s estate, she was the one who discovered the old man collapsed in the back garden.
When the chairman regained consciousness in hospital, his physician had told him that if he’d arrived even a little later, he wouldn’t have survived.
After his discharge, Chairman Ryu invited Joo-ah’s family to his home to express his gratitude.
He even summoned the company’s chief legal officer.
In front of everyone, he signed an agreement promising that on the day Han Joo-ah officially became part of the Taesong family, ownership of two percent of Taesong Group’s shares would be transferred to her.
At the time, they were too young to understand what that truly meant.
Years later, they did.
The man Han Joo-ah married would become Taesong’s next successor.
Not that it had changed anything for Tae-ha.
He’d never cared about becoming the heir.
Not even a little.
“If we get married…”
“I’ll give all of it to you.”
For the same reason, her astonishing offer didn’t tempt him nearly as much as she probably expected.
Instead…
It made him curious.
If she was willing to hand over something so valuable, then she clearly believed he was worth at least that much.
Of course, if Ryu Jin-ha found out, he’d lose his mind.
While Tae-ha couldn’t care less about inheriting Taesong, Jin-ha had devoted his entire life to winning that position.
There probably wasn’t a better way to ruin him.
Still…
Something felt off.
Would someone as intelligent as Han Joo-ah really throw herself into a swamp just to get revenge on one man?
The smartest thing she could do was never become entangled with Taesong again.
Surely she knew that.
Which meant…
There was something else.
Something important enough to make Han Joo-ah willingly step into the mud.
“Why?”
His sharp gaze pierced straight through her.
She had never intended to hide the truth.
And she knew she wouldn’t be able to.
“Han Da-yeon has been in love with someone.”
“For over ten years.”
A faint crease appeared between Tae-ha’s brows.
Don’t tell me…
“It’s you.”
For the first time that morning, Tae-ha burst into genuine laughter.
So…
She’d loved one man…
While sleeping with another.
Heart and body completely separated.
Come to think of it…
There had once been an annoyingly persistent girl who constantly followed him around calling him ‘Oppa, Oppa.’
Since he never bothered remembering people who didn’t interest him, he couldn’t even picture her face anymore.
But perhaps…
That girl had been Han Da-yeon.
At some point she’d suddenly stopped following him.
When had that been?
Around the time Ryu Jin-ha and Han Joo-ah announced their engagement?
“Interesting.”
The smile faded, replaced by genuine intrigue.
He more or less understood the situation now.
Silently, Tae-ha studied Joo-ah.
She showed no sign of impatience.
No anxiety.
Nothing.
Her expression was as unreadable as ever.
Watching her, he organised his thoughts.
She’s definitely hiding another reason.
But that’s beside the point.
With me alone, she can destroy both of them.
She needs me.
As for the shares… a contract will make sure she can’t back out later.
And above all…
“This would be the perfect way to drag the old man’s name through the mud.”
That…
That was the real reason the marriage appealed to him.
Humiliating Chairman Ryu.
It was practically the only thing in life that still entertained him.
If he married Han Joo-ah…
Could there possibly be a more scandalous family?
Their twisted relationships would become the talk of every gossip circle overnight.
And Chairman Ryu—
A man who valued the family’s honour above his own life—
What kind of expression would he make?
Just imagining it was entertaining.
Joo-ah was clearly still hiding something.
But whatever it was…
He wasn’t the one taking the loss.
So…
Let’s say he agreed to the marriage.
His thoughts continued.
Right now, because she’d come to him first, he held the advantage.
But power between people could shift at any moment.
Which meant…
He needed to squeeze every possible benefit from this deal while he still had the upper hand.
Never one to miss a profitable opportunity, he asked,
“What do you expect from me after we get married?”
“…”
For the first time since entering the house, Joo-ah hesitated.
What she truly wanted was simple.
She wanted him to stop causing trouble and live quietly.
But the moment she actually said that…
The negotiation would collapse instantly.
“I hate people meddling in my life just because they call themselves family.”
His words came exactly as she’d expected.
“I won’t interfere.”
She’d already accepted that marrying Ryu Tae-ha meant living with certain inconveniences.
You couldn’t change a person.
“But no women.”
That, however…
Was the one thing she refused to compromise on.
“Otherwise, I’d become a laughingstock.”
Leaning back against the sofa with his arms folded, Tae-ha showed no particular reaction.
The desperate one was sitting opposite him.
There was no need for him to rush.
The longer he dragged this out, the better it was for him.
After all…
The formal meeting between both families was scheduled to take place at Chairman Ryu’s residence today.
“It’s your turn to answer.”
As expected, she finally urged him.
She’s getting anxious.
Just as he thought he could see right through her…
Joo-ah slid a thick document envelope across the table.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
He did.
The corner of his mouth curled upward.
“A contract.”
It detailed every term regarding their marriage and the future transfer of Taesong’s shares.
It also included clauses stating that neither party would interfere in the other’s private life—
Along with one very specific exception regarding romantic relationships.
Anyone who violated the agreement would be forced to pay damages several times greater than whatever they’d gained.
So…
She’d anticipated all of this from the beginning.
She’d known exactly how he’d negotiate.
Up until moments ago…
He’d been sitting there confidently running calculations—
Completely unaware he’d been doing it in the palm of her hand.
I lost.
Once again, he was reminded…
Han Joo-ah was never someone to underestimate.
“Life certainly won’t be boring.”
Living with someone clever enough to stay one step ahead of him.
Tae-ha picked up the pen resting on the table.
After finishing work, Joo-ah checked her phone.
[Don’t be late.]
The only message in the conversation with Ryu Tae-ha was the one she’d sent him earlier.
She narrowed her eyes.
“He read it…”
“So why didn’t he reply?”
He had signed the contract.
But she still couldn’t relax.
Ryu Tae-ha was far too unpredictable.
No one ever knew what he might do next.
“He’s not seriously going to stand me up… is he?”
She wanted to believe he wasn’t that irresponsible.
Yet the uneasy feeling kept creeping into her mind.
“Joo-ah.”
She looked up.
Ryu Jin-ha was standing in front of her.
“What are you doing here?”
The question came out colder than she’d intended.
Realising it, she hurriedly added,
“Weren’t we supposed to meet at Chairman Ryu’s house?”
Not yet.
She couldn’t reveal anything yet.
If Jin-ha caught on and escaped now…
Everything would fall apart.
“I came to pick you up.”
“I thought you’d be tired.”
He smiled warmly.
A lie.
You came because you wanted to confirm something.
Now she understood what had always hidden behind that gentle smile.
Looking at the pleasant expression concealing such ugliness…
She smiled back.
“I was tired.”
“Thank you.”
She decided to return exactly what he’d given her all this time.
Deception.
To the fiancé who had lied to her for so long—
And whose time was quickly running out.
Once inside the car, she deliberately opened her tablet.
Looking at his face disgusted her.
She focused only on the screen.
“Something urgent?”
“Mm.”
“I have to finish this before tomorrow.”
Another lie.
Nothing in her life was more urgent than ending this engagement.
“Work is important, but don’t push yourself too hard.”
“You need to take care of your health.”
Hypocrite.
You have something else you really want to ask.
Without replying, she kept staring at the screen.
“You look exhausted.”
Glancing at her cautiously, Jin-ha spoke again.
“Didn’t sleep well?”
She knew exactly why he was asking.
Early that morning, on her way to Arville, where Ryu Tae-ha lived, she’d noticed a car following her.
So…
Ryu Jin-ha had been having her watched all this time.
The guiltier someone was…
The more desperately they monitored everyone else to keep their own secrets hidden.
Realising she’d been fooled by something so obvious made her feel unbearably stupid.
“I had somewhere to go this morning.”
She could have left it vague.
Instead…
She deliberately mentioned the morning.
“Where?”
Exactly the question she’d wanted him to ask.
He was curious.
The car tailing her had been stopped at Arville’s entrance and couldn’t get inside.
He had no idea why she’d gone there.
And now…
He was nervous.
Did she meet Ryu Tae-ha?
She gave him exactly the answer he’d been dreading.
“I went to see Ryu Tae-ha.”
“What?”
His startled voice rose involuntarily.
So this is what it felt like.
To hide your true intentions behind someone’s back…
While pretending everything was perfectly normal to their face.
To make someone else look like a complete fool.
It must have been enjoyable.
“So?”
Lowering her tablet, Joo-ah met his eyes.
“Is there some reason I’m not allowed to meet Ryu Tae-ha?”
Her cold, expressionless gaze pierced straight through him.
“You met someone too.”
“Han Da-yeon.”
Outside the window…
Chairman Ryu’s sprawling estate came into view.
