Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 64
But Ji-hyang had insisted she come to work, as she needed to present commentary at an exhibition where So-yeon was listed as a planner.
Meanwhile, the person actually responsible had taken a vacation day claiming to be in a bad mood, then posted photos on social media eating beef noodles in Taiwan with her boyfriend.
Ji-hyang had overlooked it, and following the director’s lead, the staff had kept quiet.
“You seemed fine yesterday morning when we came to work together.”
“I had a slight headache then too. I thought it would get better if I left it alone, but it didn’t.”
“Headaches aren’t something to take lightly. I’ll get you some herbal medicine. I know a good place. Oh, why don’t we go together after work?”
“No, thank you. And Mr. Si-heon is coming to pick me up.”
At the mention of Si-heon, Ji-hyang lowered her voice, glancing around as if checking for eavesdroppers.
“Hey, Ga-eun. He doesn’t know, does he?”
Ga-eun unconsciously furrowed her brow.
‘He’ being so familiar.
She knew Ji-hyang was shameless, but to change how she referred to him so suddenly…
“Hm? Does he know?”
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
“What else? About your birth, of course.”
Ga-eun fell silent for a moment.
Si-heon still didn’t know. At least, it seemed that way.
Otherwise, he would have mentioned it at least once.
“Does he know? He’s accepting it even knowing? Say something! I’m dying here!”
“…He’ll find out soon enough.”
“How can you say that so calmly? You should hide it somehow!”
This time, Ga-eun couldn’t hold back her sneer.
They were dealing with the Hwanhee Group.
As if a mere mid-sized company’s family could hide anything from them.
“And how do you propose to hide it?”
“Well, that… that is…”
Ji-hyang’s lips trembled several times, at a loss for words, before she suddenly burst out.
“Just watch yourself, okay? Don’t do anything they could use against you.”
Ga-eun sighed inwardly. That’s what I should be saying to you.
“You never know? Things might change. People in such high positions might instinctively be drawn to a legitimate child rather than an illegitimate one.”
So this was what she’d wanted to say all along.
While supporting her marriage to Kwon Si-heon for family reasons, she clearly resented the idea of Ga-eun becoming the Hwanhee Group’s daughter-in-law.
‘No reason to stay here any longer.’
Ga-eun stood up.
“I’ll go visit Artist Ja-myeong again.”
“You’re going there again?”
“I should have visited yesterday but couldn’t.”
As Ji-hyang was about to say something else, her phone rang.
“By the way, what does Managing Director Kwon like… Oh my, Mrs. Kim! About today’s meeting, right?”
Seeing Ji-hyang glancing between her phone and herself, likely ready to fire off more comments, Ga-eun quickly left the director’s office.
“Talking with the artist will take at least an hour or two. I’ll be back this afternoon.”
“Hey, Ga-eun! Gye Ga-eun!”
Click. Ga-eun closed the door.
‘Sigh, this is exhausting.’
How many more times would she have to endure this?
Si-heon had proposed marriage but hadn’t specified when.
Even at the earliest, wouldn’t it take at least 6 months?
No, what’s 6 months?
It would take at least a year, being the Hwanhee Group.
A chaebol family wouldn’t rush into marriage.
No, now even the marriage itself seemed uncertain.
‘They’ll probably act like none of this ever happened.’
No matter how much he wanted to save time, he wouldn’t want to marry an illegitimate child.
Her chest felt tight, as if weighed down by a heavy stone.
Thinking it better to focus on work, Ga-eun quickly gathered her things and headed out.
‘There’s nothing I can do about it right now anyway.’
She took out her phone from her bag.
Yesterday, before heading to Go Yun-gu, she’d tried contacting Artist Ja-myeong but had to visit unannounced when he didn’t answer.
Would he not answer today either? If so, then again…
As she was leaving the gallery building and dialing Ja-myeong’s number, Ga-eun suddenly stopped in her tracks.
