Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 73
“Hey, where have you been?”
It was just as Ga-eun got out of the taxi and was walking toward the gallery’s main entrance.
Gye So-yeon was walking over from the parking lot.
“Coming back from lunch?”
“I asked you first, you wretch. Answer me.”
“I had a meeting. Let’s go inside. Lunch break is almost over.”
“Are you crazy…! Hey, I wasn’t done talking!”
Quickly catching up to the slowly walking Ga-eun, Gye So-yeon grabbed her arm and yanked her around.
“That hurts, unni.”
“Don’t call me unni. Hey, just because Mom and Dad treat you well, you think you’re really their daughter?”
No, of course not. I was never their daughter.
My only family is my mother and aunt.
Knowing any response would only lead to unnecessary arguments, Ga-eun remained silent.
Whether she responded or not, Gye So-yeon would get angry anyway, and today was no different.
“This is really…! You, your high and mighty attitude won’t last long. Your stiff neck is about to break, you stupid girl.”
“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
About to raise her hand as usual, Gye So-yeon suddenly remembered Ga-eun’s words about Kwon Si-heon being sensitive to her getting hurt, and gritted her teeth.
“You usually just grab a sandwich for lunch, so what got into you to go out today?”
“I told you I had a meeting. I went out for work.”
“You sure like going out. Were you up to something? Or did you meet Kwon Si-heon?”
“…Si-heon-ssi is a busy person.”
“Watch yourself. If you get caught meeting other men and can’t go through with this marriage, if we can’t pay off our family’s debt because of you, you’ll have to take responsibility.”
Then Gye So-yeon added slyly:
“If the position of Hwanhee Group’s daughter-in-law is too burdensome… you could always pass it to me.”
Ga-eun unconsciously made an expression of disbelief.
Did she think she could swap out a marriage partner like some replaceable part?
“Tch. Why are you making that kind of face?”
Ga-eun suddenly felt a deep fatigue.
How long would she have to live like this?
She should ask Si-heon when she sees him today.
When he’s thinking of having the wedding.
What expression would he make if she said she’d prefer it to be as soon as possible?
“Oh right, about that. What meeting did you have?”
Thinking it better to let the subject change, Ga-eun answered.
“A meeting with an artist. I’m going to be in charge of planning Artist Ja-myung’s exhibition.”
So-yeon’s eyes widened.
“Artist Ja-myung? The one who painted ‘Torch’? How did you manage that? I heard they don’t even take calls from anyone?”
Looking at Ga-eun standing there calmly without answering, So-yeon gritted her teeth.
That irritating girl…!
While Ja-myung’s paintings were extremely popular, opportunities to see them were rare due to their reclusive lifestyle.
That’s why whenever their rare exhibitions were held, they were packed with people coming to see the paintings.
So this exhibition would surely be successful too.
“Hey, submit your planning proposal this afternoon. I need to review it.”
“I’m the one in charge.”
“What did you say?”
“The director approved it.”
So-yeon made an expression of disbelief.
Mom approved this?
Shouldn’t I naturally be put in charge of a project like this?
It’s always been that way until now, so why…!
There was only one answer. Because Gye Ga-eun was becoming the Hwanhee Group’s daughter-in-law.
To build her a respectable career.
“Who decided that! I’m the Planning Director. You’re not leaving work today until you submit that proposal to me.”
Walking ahead while roughly shoving Ga-eun’s shoulder, So-yeon trembled with her fists clenched.
Absolutely not accepting this, absolutely not letting this happen.
Watching So-yeon’s retreating back, Ga-eun let out a faint sigh.
Time that was already moving slowly seemed like it would drag even more now.
‘I was hoping to leave work early today.’
