Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 31
Flinch.
Ga-eun’s pupils dilated for a moment before returning to normal.
Normally in moments like these, one should bow their head and apologize. Simply for offending Gye So-yeon ‘s feelings.
Si-heon would investigate her background anyway. Perhaps he had already finished.
Then wouldn’t he know? About her origins.
Whatever the case… right now she was at least Si-heon Kwon’s fiancée.
Now that Gye Young-cheol was temporarily on her side, and Si-heon Kwon said he would watch her back.
She wanted to refute So-yeon’s words.
Every time So-yeon had mocked her mother and aunt, deep red marks had formed on her palms from clenching her fists so tightly that her nails dug in.
Thinking of Si-heon’s face suddenly gave her courage from somewhere.
“Wouldn’t it be difficult for you too if it comes out?”
“What?”
“If it comes out that I’m an illegitimate child, and this marriage falls apart. How will you solve your father’s company’s financial crisis?”
So-yeon stared at Ga-eun with her mouth open.
Did she just talk back? To me, of all people?
An illegitimate child, to the legitimate daughter?
Just as So-yeon, filled with rage, was about to move—
“If you slap my cheek now, this will become a big issue.”
Ga-eun pointed to her left cheek.
“The slap from earlier in the garage. The swelling hasn’t gone down yet. Unfortunately, Si-heon is sensitive about me being hurt.”
So-yeon probably didn’t know anything about Kwon Si-heon beyond his known background and wealth.
So this little lie should be fine.
This lie about him caring for me.
“You know well about Hwanhee Group’s roots, don’t you? That’s why he, though usually gentlemanly, sometimes has moments where his eyes turn frighteningly wild.”
The way Si-heon looked down at her on the bed could indeed be described as wild-eyed.
However, So-yeon would have no way of knowing what Kwon Si-heon was like in bed.
In So-yeon’s mind, only the fact that Hwanhee Group originated from the Hwanhee faction floated around.
‘Su-surely he wouldn’t hit someone? A woman at that? There’s no way the heir would do such a thing himself…’
Then So-yeon recalled rumors she had heard about Si-heon.
‘They said Kwon Si-heon was good at every sport. That he could take on two or three bodyguards without breaking a sweat…’
They said he was extremely possessive of what was his.
Whether it was people or things, they said he really hated when they were touched carelessly.
Let alone if he found out his bride-to-be had been slapped.
“…….”
Even though she thought it wasn’t a marriage based on true love between them.
The thought of ‘what if’ held her back.
So-yeon had an intuition that if Si-heon found out she had laid hands on Ga-eun, something unpleasant would happen.
“…You. I won’t forget what happened today.”
“Does that mean I can leave now?”
When Ga-eun responded calmly, So-yeon bit her lips hard and glared with such force her eyes turned red.
“How long do you think you can stay so bold?”
“And you?”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“If it comes out that I’m illegitimate after the marriage. You, father, and mother won’t be able to escape the fallout. The Hwanhee Group will think they were deceived and sold damaged goods.”
So-yeon’s expression showed she hadn’t thought that far.
“If it comes out before the marriage, as I said earlier, father’s financial crisis can’t be solved. Then we’ll all sink together.”
“…”
“Now it’s you who needs to be careful, not me.”
Ah, how she had wanted to say these words.
“From now on, don’t carelessly mention my aunt and mother. If you do, I might tell Si-heon myself that I’m illegitimate.”
You don’t even know why your mother accepted me.
But there was no need to say that much.
Ga-eun turned around without regret.
She could feel So-yeon trembling with rage behind her, but it didn’t matter.
She wouldn’t be able to touch her for a while.
Wouldn’t be able to carelessly speak of her aunt.
That alone was enough.
‘Thank you, Kwon Si-heon.’
Without him, she couldn’t have spoken so satisfyingly.
Ga-eun left the house quietly with a faint smile.
* * *
Exactly 18 minutes after leaving the main gate.
A black sedan climbed the hill and smoothly stopped in front of Ga-eun.
The driver’s window rolled down smoothly, revealing Si-heon’s face.
“You really came.”
“I really did.”
“It’ll be late going back.”
“What can we do about it being late?”
Si-heon tilted his head slightly.
“The one who’s at a disadvantage has to make the move.”
Ga-eun blushed and rolled her lips inward.
His gaze was blatantly directed at her lips.
“Get in. It’s dark, I can’t see your face well.”
Clearing her throat, Ga-eun got into the passenger seat.
