Chapter: 07
It was a separate matter from the fact that Seo-ah followed Se-yeon like her own older sister.
This was a story that might have something to do with her father-in-law or Dong-ha.
But then again, it was such an unbelievable story.
Even so, Seo-ah tried to maintain her composure despite this convincing story.
“Unnie…… how do you know about this rumor? Is the company you work for related to Taeyu Group?”
At Seo-ah’s serious expression, with a line forming between her brows, Se-yeon’s lips slightly curled upward.
However, Seo-ah did not notice whether it was a smile or something else.
“I told you, didn’t I? I work at a small company. It’s just…… I know someone in the upper management of Taeyu Motors.”
“The upper management? If that kind of person told you, doesn’t that mean the rumor has some truth to it?”
“I only heard it indirectly, so I need to check the details again. But Kang Tae-gyeong, who had been demoted, suddenly became the head of the Future Strategy Office at headquarters. Looking at that, it is a little strange.”
The more the conversation continued, the more Seo-ah, who had briefly held doubts, began leaning toward believing that the rumor might be true.
If the truth Dong-ha had been trying to tell her was really the same as what Se-yeon was saying.
Then the man named Kang Tae-gyeong.
Who was he connected to?
Lee Dong-ha or her father-in-law?
Even if it was her father-in-law, Dong-ha was not the type of person to say meaningless nonsense.
No, wait.
At that moment, Seo-ah remembered how she had been deceived by him while putting her own life on the line.
A gay husband with another man.
A hollow laugh escaped her, and she let out a self-deprecating sigh as she tightly closed her eyes.
Seeing Seo-ah’s pale face and deeply reddened eyes, Se-yeon pulled her chair closer and sat beside her.
“Calm down. It’s still only a rumor.”
However, the fact remained that the rumor had stabbed Seo-ah’s wounded heart and caused pain.
Seo-ah collapsed onto Se-yeon’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry. I thought it didn’t make sense. So even after hearing it, I just ignored it. I was worried that telling you would only make you worry more. Especially when you were already suffering from guilt.”
At Se-yeon’s warm and gentle voice, Seo-ah finally burst into tears.
How could she have not known?
How could she have been completely unaware?
They were competitors, but they were still connected through marriage.
How could she not notice until her father’s company’s core technology was stolen and completely exploited?
She felt pathetic thinking about her past.
The time she was distracted chasing the impossible dream of becoming a singer.
The time she stubbornly went abroad to study music without thinking.
And on top of that, she had accepted a suspicious offer and rushed into marriage, thinking she was doing it for her father.
No matter how much she thought about it, Seo-ah could not forgive herself.
Se-yeon tightly held Seo-ah’s trembling hand, which was shaking with anger.
“I’ll look into it more. I’m really sorry…… Seo-ah.”
Feeling Se-yeon’s trembling hand, Seo-ah silently shook her head.
Her voice would not come out because her throat was blocked.
She wanted Se-yeon to understand.
That it was not her fault.
That she was grateful for being told this much.
But Seo-ah knew nothing.
She did not know how perfect Se-yeon’s acting was.
The trembling tone of voice, the subtle changes in expression, and the huge lie mixed with a handful of truth.
All of it became an uncontrollable storm that swept over Seo-ah, who had no way of knowing.
After visiting the funeral hall, several weeks had passed since Tae-gyeong returned to India.
“Jung Hee-jun.”
“……”
On the usual way home from work, Hee-jun, who was driving, remained silent as if he was seriously sulking.
It seemed that he had been scolded by Tae-gyeong after constantly bringing up the “head office position” all day.
“Assistant Manager Jung.”
At his superior’s lowered businesslike voice, Hee-jun reluctantly answered in an irritated tone.
“Yes, why?”
Tae-gyeong let out a hollow laugh at his grumbling tone and got to the point.
“That woman from back then.”
“Jin Seo-ah?”
“What? How did you know?”
Hee-jun sighed as if he found it ridiculous.
“How could I not know? Since that day, you have been looking up information about Wonjeon Electronics nonstop.”
Tae-gyeong did not deny it.
He had not even tried to hide it.
He requested information about both Wonjeon Electronics and Dong-ha Motors from the purchasing department.
Of course, he was flatly refused.
Even though he was the second son of Taeyu Group, it was not information an ordinary team leader could access.
That was why, for now, he had no choice but to rely on Hee-jun, who was from the same region as the two companies and seemed to know something.
“Why again? What are you curious about?”
“Why did she…… get married?”
“What?”
Despite Hee-jun’s exaggerated reaction, Tae-gyeong did not care.
“Isn’t it strange? A rival company that hated each other suddenly invests, then suddenly there is a marriage, and then suddenly they release the same product? I can only think that Dong-ha Motors did it intentionally.”
Tae-gyeong had already heard about the Wonjeon Electronics incident from Hee-jun.
But that did not mean he completely understood everything Hee-jun had told him.
Unless the goal was actually technology theft, how else could this marriage be explained?
A product from Wonjeon Electronics, which had received unmatched evaluations, being perfectly recreated within only a few months was practically impossible.
Furthermore, Taeyu and Wonjeon Electronics had maintained a relationship since before Han Kyung became the representative.
The most difficult thing for him to understand was why they terminated the contract based only on uncertain circumstances while ignoring such a trusted relationship.
Hee-jun lifted his eyes and glanced at Tae-gyeong reflected in the rearview mirror.
He had never seen Tae-gyeong care about something this much before.
“I told you not to get involved. Why do you keep asking?”
“Why? What are you worried about?”
“Are you asking because you really don’t know? Don’t get unnecessarily tangled up in this. The second son of Taeyu Group and a widow? Does that make sense?”
Who said he was going to marry her?
Perhaps because he heard the muttered complaint, Hee-jun suddenly turned his head.
Tae-gyeong moved the back of his hand upward, telling him to look ahead.
“Seriously……”
Hee-jun shook his head and continued.
“I don’t know why they got married. My father worked at Wonjeon Electronics for a long time, so I only heard bits and pieces while coming and going. Other than that, there isn’t really anything……”
Ah!
As if something suddenly came to mind, Hee-jun stopped.
“What is it?”
After checking Tae-gyeong’s expression, Hee-jun carefully opened his mouth.
“The thing is…… Wonjeon Electronics’ Representative Jin actually passed away.”
“Passed away?”
“Yes. After the contract termination…… he did it himself.”
Tae-gyeong’s eyes grew darker.
How many misfortunes could possibly happen to one person?
“And I heard the guests at the funeral talking. They didn’t even tell Jin Seo-ah about her husband’s death. That family really……”
“Hmm……”
Without realizing it, Tae-gyeong let out a sigh.
The more he thought about it, the more tragic her life seemed.
“That woman with a cursed fate.”
The insult her mother-in-law shouted loudly kept circling in his mind.
Nothing about Jin Seo-ah’s situation felt right to him.
Tsk.
Tae-gyeong clicked his tongue and clenched his teeth.
Then he leaned his head against the backseat headrest and stared blankly out the window.
The roads were filled with Taeyu’s small cars, which had become India’s national vehicle.
And then, one face flashed through his mind.
“Has it been about two years since my brother came to Taeyu Motors?”
“Probably around that long, right?”
He nodded and rubbed his chin.
“Why?”
“Nothing.”
At Tae-gyeong’s short answer without explanation, Hee-jun’s expression suddenly brightened.
“Could it be…… that?”
“What?”
“Did you secretly accept the promotion?”
Hee-jun asked excitedly, wondering if it was true.
But Tae-gyeong’s reaction was even more unexpected.
“Do you think I’ll do well?”
“Yes…… yes?!”
“Don’t make me ask twice.”
“Yeees?!”
When Hee-jun turned his head in surprise, the car suddenly swerved.
“Jung Hee-jun, are you not looking ahead?!”
“Ah, yes!”
Because Tae-gyeong had never asked something like that before, Hee-jun confidently started talking.
“No wonder something felt strange! I heard headquarters had just started promoting Team Leader’s achievements. That was the reason, right?”
“Huh, what exactly do you not know?”
“You should consider yourself lucky. Do you think a personal assistant with connections this wide is common?”
Hee-jun could not hide his grin and even hummed happily.
“And why ask something so obvious? You’ll do well.”
Watching Hee-jun, Tae-gyeong closed his eyes without saying anything.
He thought everything had become tangled because he had attended the funeral hall instead of Han Kyung that day.
But unexpectedly, he met Jin Seo-ah.
Now, Jin Seo-ah had become the final puzzle piece for Kang Tae-gyeong.
Would she become the key to bringing down Han Kyung?
Or would she become a hindrance?
