CH 4.4

“Being born as a child out of wedlock is a mistake. That’s why they act like that.”

“Mistake? Who told you that?”

Jung Won, who had been hesitant, now asked sharply while looking at Geon Hyeong. Such remarks were not only unfair, but also very cruel and uncivilized. Who can control someone’s birth in this world? Can anyone choose their own parents?

“No one.”

Geon Hyeong replied lightly while looking at the fiery Jung Won. He had indeed heard people whispering about him several times when he was a child. However, when he was determined as one of the potential successors of Goryo Group, the treatment of the people around him instantly changed. Even though people hated and scorned him, no one dared to openly say such things to him.

“It seemed like they were talking about me behind my back, but I didn’t care. I don’t want to bother with cowards like that.”

“Really?”

Jung Won looked at him with a meaningful gaze. Geon Hyeong, who had been speechless at the woman’s innocent and honest gaze, came out of his reverie and turned his face away.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t like hearing the term ‘orphan’ either. Neither behind nor in front of me.”

Jung Won said in a low voice. The term seemed to describe the horrible life story of a child who grew up without her parents. She also didn’t like hearing remarks that said ‘that’s how she acts, it must be because she doesn’t have parents’.

The sad sighs and pitying looks from others also bring hurt to Jung Won and her younger siblings. Therefore, she has to be a stronger sister to his younger siblings. Now, she can’t help but face this man’s family’s treatment which might be even harsher than that.

She knows exactly how someone who always gets rejected feels.

She also knew how much loneliness one must deal with alone in that situation.

She also knew how sharp the stares of others could be.

For this time, Geon Hyeong couldn’t meet Jung Won’s  eyes that looked at him seriously.

They then arrive at a famous hotel whose name Jung Won has never heard before. As soon as they got out of the car, Geon Hyeong put his hand around Jung Won’s waist which surprised her.

“Hurry up and hold my hand.”

“Never mind, I can walk by myself.”

However, seeing Geon Hyeong’s face that ignored her opinion, Jung Won gave in again and complied. It’s useless to argue with this person. Jung Won, who was staring at Geon Hyeong’s hand with resentment, was finally forced to take Geon Hyeong’s arm. Instantly, the warmth flowing from Geon Hyeong’s body made her blood flow faster. The screen covering the stage slowly began to rise.

“What should I do next?”

“Nothing.”

Jung Won whispered softly in an anxious tone while Geon Hyeong still replied coldly.

For a moment Jung Won was annoyed by his cold treatment. However, she could sense from the tip of her hand that Geon Hyeong was also feeling anxious. Jung Won realized that his coldness wasn’t real. She tried to be patient and endure the situation.

Of course it’s hard for him to be relaxed right now, in a situation where he has to let go of the woman he loves to marry someone else.

However, this situation is not an easy one for Jung Won either. After being threatened and asked for a favor, now she has to pretend to be familiar with a man who is actually nobody to her. Moreover, she also has to meet the woman this man loves and probably his family as well.

In the midst of this completely unfamiliar environment and people, Jung Won feels scared and doesn’t know what to do. She touches the ring necklace her mother gave her hidden under her shirt and takes a deep breath.

“Hey, just calm down. Everything will be fine.”

“Of course. As long as you keep your mouth shut.”

Hearing Jung Won comforting him softly, the man coldly replied again.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t have to say anything, just keep quiet.”

“Don’t say anything?”

Jung Won asked again in response to the commanding words. Don’t say anything he said? Jung Won’s momentary sympathy for Geon Hyeong just disappeared.

“Yes. After all, your words won’t help me at all. If you dare to say anything, I won’t forgive you.”

“I think it’s better if I say something and then we go our separate ways. At least I’m more comfortable that way.”

“Didn’t you say, in this world there is not only ‘threatening’, but also ‘asking for help’?”

Huh. Really this guy. Geon Hyeong turned Jung Won’s words upside down. How dare the person who had dragged her into this absurd situation even patronize her.

“You’re really…”

“I’m serious. I beg you, don’t say a word. Don’t embarrass yourself with unnecessary words.”

Hearing his unreasonable request, Jung Won looked at him with annoyance. Meanwhile, Geon Hyeong doesn’t seem to care about Jung Won’s reaction. There is something that is a talent from birth and there is also something that cannot be hidden.

Even though this woman was ‘wrapped’ in a luxurious dress and makeup, Geon Hyeong didn’t dare to expect this woman to behave luxuriously like Shin Hee.

However, in return, Jung Won has a courage and resilience that even Geon Hyeong can’t beat. Her pride cannot be underestimated in this world. That one thing alone is enough to keep her in this situation. Hopefully.

“Alright, if you’re begging me.”

“I beg you.”

Huh, okay. He must actually be embarrassed of me, right?

Jung Won chuckled at Geon Hyeong’s increasingly tense face and warned her in a cold tone.

You’re not the only one who’s ashamed of me, I’m also not proud of you for being like that.

Before Geon Hyeong could say anything more to Jung Won, suddenly his stepmother and aunts approached them. Feeling the hand that hugged Jung Won’s waist getting stronger, Jung Won alternately looked at Geon Hyeong and the woman who came over to them.

A middle-aged woman gave Jung Won a sharp look. She looks beautiful but cold. Her silver dress looks luxurious but feels stiff.

“So, this is your girlfriend?”

“This is my mom. And these are my aunts. Hurry up and say hello.”

Geon Hyeong briefly introduced his family and before Jung Won could open her mouth to say hello, one of his aunts criticized her again.

“How can a girl like this be your girlfriend?”

“You look so much like your father, you don’t know the rules.”

Jung Won stood silently while Geon Hyeong’s aunts’ judgment sharpened. Although Geon Hyeong didn’t forbid her from saying a word, it seemed like she wouldn’t have a chance to open her mouth either. Like Geon Hyeong said earlier, Jung Won was completely attacked by their cold stares and sharp comments.

“What does her family do?”

“No need to know.”

Geon Hyeong replied briefly at Mrs. Oh’s question who had been watching Jung Won while

hiding a satisfied smile. Jung Won’s true identity might indeed be revealed in an instant.

However, those people don’t know the courage hidden inside Jung Won. A secret weapon.

Jung Won will definitely win this battle.

“I didn’t ask you. Then, you don’t have a mouth, do you?”

“You don’t know how to say greetings? You’re just nodding like that in front of an old man.”

This time, the other aunts criticized Jung Won again, who just smiled in response. Based on her experience in the social community so far, Jung Won knows very well that a smile is the best form of greeting when the other person doesn’t give her a chance to speak.

The aunties, who always interrupted Jung Won every time she was about to say something, left after a while. What a rude and disrespectful gesture.

Mrs. Oh, who stayed behind once again, gave Jung Won a sharp look. Her face was completely unfamiliar to her, but from the moment she saw it, Jung Won knew that this person was nothing to worry about.

“You’re really quiet, aren’t you? Or can’t talk?”

Even hearing that suspicious question, Jung Won still answered with a bitter smile. Meanwhile, Mrs. Oh who had looked satisfied earlier now looked unhappy.

“I never told you to bring a mute woman.”

“I guess it’s none of your business.”

“It turns out that you chose a woman whose nature is also like you, huh.”

This time Mrs. Oh muttered under her breath in a scornful tone without even glancing at Jung Won. She then left them and re-entered the wedding venue. A look of satisfaction radiated from her firm steps.

Maybe this was more than she expected. Maybe she hoped that the relationship between Geon Hyeong and the woman who kept her mouth shut while watching her surroundings could continue, just like his family wanted.

Once his family was out of sight, Geon Hyeong pulled Jung Won, who kept her mouth shut and watched her surroundings with a smile, to one side of the lobby.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“You said I shouldn’t say a word. I only did what you asked me to do. Especially since you were begging me earlier.”

Jung Won responded to Geon Hyeong’s protest casually.

Geon Hyeong momentarily forgot that this woman was not an easy woman to manage. Although he was lazy to deal with a stupid woman, dealing with a woman who was too smart was also very tiring. It was hard to win an argument with this woman. Because it was possible that he would lose more than what he had gained.

However, it turns out that this woman can also survive in this situation. She turned out to be the right choice.