Bound by a Ruthless Contract - Chapter 78
“Ah, y-yes! Of course!”
“Hoho, certainly. H-how much we cherish Ga-eun…”
“May I ask one thing? I simply can’t let this pass without asking.”
“O-of course. You can ask anything…”
“Why were you trying to send such a cherished daughter to be a middle-aged man’s second wife?”
Silence fell at Si-heon’s words.
It was like the deafening quiet that spreads across ruins after a bomb has dropped, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.
Woo Ji-hyang forced an awkward smile, barely managing to lift the corners of her mouth.
“Though there is quite an age gap, he’s such a decent person. I thought he would truly cherish and take care of Ga-eun.”
“I understand Ga-eun has an older sister.”
“Yes, she should arrive shortly. She’s so dedicated to her work that she travels for business regardless of whether it’s a weekday or weekend. She puts her all into everything. As I mentioned earlier, if Director Kwon would be willing to consider…”
Si-heon coldly cut off Ji-hyang’s increasingly enthusiastic speech as soon as Gye So-yeon was mentioned.
“Then why didn’t you send your eldest daughter?”
Ji-hyang tensed her lips. How could she possibly send her own flesh and blood to such an old man?
Kwon Si-heon, who believed she was Ga-eun’s birth mother, wouldn’t understand.
He wouldn’t know just how much mercy he had shown to an illegitimate child.
Though Yang Si-mon was older and divorced, it was far too good a match for that fundamentally flawed girl.
Ji-hyang took a small breath to suppress her true feelings and smiled with all her might.
She couldn’t let her feelings about Ga-eun ruin this opportunity.
“They specifically wanted Ga-eun. As Director Kwon said, you can’t control emotions. Wouldn’t it cause pain to both parties if we force someone who has no feelings?”
“So if they had wanted your eldest daughter, you would have sent her?”
“Of… course. chuckle But you can’t force these things one-sidedly. It’s about both hearts being in alignment.”
“Are you saying our Ga-eun wanted to marry that middle-aged man?”
Ji-hyang’s gaze shifted to Ga-eun, who sat beside Si-heon.
“Of course. How could I have sent her there if she hadn’t wanted it?”
Despite having blackmailed her using her aunt as leverage. However, Ga-eun wasn’t yet ready to stand up to Ji-hyang.
She hadn’t even married Kwon Si-heon yet, and if she were to go against Chairman Kwon Soon-yeol’s wishes after marriage, the situation might become even worse than it is now.
“Isn’t that right, Ga-eun?”
Ji-hyang smiled while applying pressure.
“…I thought it was the best way to save our family.”
At her response, Kwon Si-heon slowly nodded.
“Your devotion to family runs deep. As someone who will become family, I’m very pleased. I’m sure… your older sister feels the same way.”
Ji-hyang quickly nodded at Si-heon’s words.
“Of course! Our So-yeon cares so deeply about family. And I’m not just saying this because she’s my daughter, but whoever marries So-yeon must have accumulated great merit in their past life. She’s so dedicated. These days she’s even making time in her busy schedule to learn cooking, foreign languages, and financial management.”
“That’s admirable.”
Ji-hyang’s face brightened at Si-heon’s casual praise.
Initially, he would cut off conversations or show obvious boredom whenever So-yeon was mentioned, but his reactions were improving ever so slightly.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Oh my, that must be our So-yeon.”
“You should go open the door quickly.”
At Gye Young-cheol’s words, Ji-hyang hastily rose and headed for the entrance.
Shortly after pressing the button, So-yeon entered, having stopped by a salon.
“My goodness, our daughter is so beautiful.”
“Do I look okay, Mom?”
“Yes, exactly like Ga-eun.”
So-yeon had been returning not from a business trip, but from a famous hair salon in Gangnam.
She had styled everything – from her hair and makeup to her clothes – to look just like Ga-eun.
Though she disliked this plain and boring style, she had no choice but to match Kwon Si-heon’s taste.
“But who is that…”
Ji-hyang wore a puzzled expression as she looked at the man standing behind So-yeon.
