Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 4
The doors carefully opened from both sides.
“Why are you boys so late… Oh, what happened to your face?”
Park Ju-yeon’s eyes widened as she was about to greet her brother Park Ju-seong with exaggerated enthusiasm to deflect attention from Si-heon’s mockery.
Screams erupted from all around.
“Oh my, Ju-seong! Are you alright?”
“Good heavens, you’re bleeding!”
Park Ju-seong kept his head down, and Woo-hyeon Jin instinctively looked to gauge Si-heon’s reaction.
But Si-heon’s gaze wasn’t directed at them.
It remained fixed solely on his wife, Ga-eun.
“Oppa, what happened?”
“…I fell on the stairs.”
“How did you fall to end up like this? Did you hit your face first? More importantly, why did you come here! Let’s go to the hospital quickly.”
Park Ju-seong’s shoulders flinched as he shook his head vigorously.
“No, I don’t need to go. It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? You’re bleeding so much… And why are you limping?”
“…I twisted my ankle when I fell.”
Watching Ga-eun’s startled reaction to Park Ju-seong, Si-heon spoke.
“You should have been more careful, Ju-seong.”
At his deep voice, the noisy fuss dispersed like a switch had been flipped.
Only Si-heon’s voice permeated the silence.
“How could you make so many people worry about your mistake?”
Ah. Only then did Ga-eun turn to look at her husband.
Si-heon’s gaze was fixed on the cast around her wrist.
…He knew.
He wasn’t speaking to Park Ju-seong, but to her.
“How long are you going to ruin the mood?”
Making people worry. Ruining the mood. And thus wasting time.
All things Kwon Si-heon absolutely detested.
Ga-eun unconsciously held her breath at her husband’s dark eyes.
“Time’s passing.”
“Ah, yes, I-I’ll sit. I’m sitting now.”
With his battered face, Park Ju-seong limped to sit beside his sister.
Woo-hyeon Jin followed with an anxious face.
“Go sit down.”
“Si-Si-heon, I think Ju-seong needs to go to the hospital first…”
“You want only our Ga-eun to look like s**t?”
“…”
“Sit like a doll and shut up like a screen until the meeting’s over.”
They didn’t know what would happen if they didn’t obey those words.
‘He definitely said he was going out to meet someone around here. I should have been more careful and watched my surroundings…’
Park Ju-seong had no choice but to endure his seat with pain, and Woo-hyeon with anxiety.
On the way back.
***
Neon signs drew lines of light through the car window as they sped past.
“…”
After glancing at Si-heon at the wheel, Ga-eun fixed her gaze straight ahead.
His chief secretary had said it.
That she was the only one he ever drove personally.
She had been secretly happy about that.
Because she liked Si-heon.
Though they were a couple bound by contract, and he probably felt nothing for her.
Perhaps because she’d never received affection before, even his superficial kindness made her heart crumble endlessly.
Feelings that should never be revealed.
Emotions that kept bursting forth whenever she was by his side.
A heat that became unbearable.
If discovered, both her life and her aunt’s would be mercilessly crushed.
Like the cigarette filters he chewed without lighting.
If she hadn’t overheard that conversation between him and his grandfather recently, she would still be harboring these dangerous feelings.
“You seem quite affectionate.”
“I’m glad it appears that way.”
“Steel yourself. Men who’ve fallen for women in an instant are everywhere you look.”
“You know. She’s just insomnia medicine.”
“Don’t let your guard down.”
“I’m not so lost as to be enchanted by an object. Don’t worry.”
She knew how he thought of her, since they’d married out of necessity, not love.
Still… she’d believed there was at least a hint of sincerity in the looks and smiles he showed only to her.
But Kwon Si-heon was a capable businessman.
This arrogant, ruthless man could make anything appear sincere if he wanted.
She had forgotten that.
He was a man who always fell asleep beside her no matter how busy he was.
She had mistaken that for love.
“Your wrist.”
Because of those moments with him, sweet as a nightmare.
“I heard it wasn’t an accident.”
Si-heon said while turning the wheel, checking the left side mirror.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to bother you. It would have been a waste of time anyway.”
“That’s for me to judge.”
Silence fell.
Though Si-heon showed no change in words or expression, he knew how to pressure someone with silence.
“Kwon Si-heon-ssi.”
The unwavering line between his brows cracked.
When had that started bothering him too?
The way she called him “Si-heon-ssi” with a smile in front of others, but just dryly “Kwon Si-heon-ssi” when they were alone.
But without a doubt, nothing was as irritating as what she said next.
“I want to separate. From you, Kwon Si-heon-ssi.”
