Beneath the Elegant Mask

“Are you saying Yeonju lied to me…?” I asked, my face deliberately stiff. “That it wasn’t Yeonju who was tormenting anyone, but that you, Mother, were the one being bullied by her all along…?”

Her pitch-black, repulsive inner self was on full display, yet I feigned shock at her story and responded with a hardened expression.

“From Yeonju’s perspective, it might not even feel like a lie. She genuinely believes it. That I’m the one harassing her. That I’m the whore who stole her father. So no matter what I do… it will never look good in her eyes.”

“I see…”

She was the very picture of a tragic heroine right now. Her eyes had grown red as if overwhelmed with emotion, and even from several meters away her atmosphere was so raw that anyone would instantly recognize the pain and sorrow she was supposedly enduring.

She really should have been an actress.

Her visuals were perfect, and her acting ability was flawless. I could only marvel at her seasoned expressiveness. If possible, I felt like giving her a standing ovation.

“Hic… Sob…”

“Ah… Mother…”

While struggling to reveal Yeonju’s supposed misdeeds, she finally began to cry. It wasn’t loud, unrestrained weeping; she portrayed the image of someone desperately trying to hold it in, yet unable to stop the tears from spilling over. Even her emotional delivery was refined and elegant, perfectly matching her appearance. Her slender shoulders and tightly clenched fists trembled violently.

Is this my chance?

What she didn’t know about me wasn’t simply that I had seen through her true nature. I could also genuinely soothe the sorrow she expressed through her performance. Even her dark, wicked heart—I could soothe that too.

Mother-in-law, why don’t you feel just how warm your son-in-law’s hands can be.

I acted like an awkward young man who didn’t know what to do with a crying woman beside him, then unnaturally raised one arm. I activated the Hand of God and patted her back, channeling warm emotions directly into her.

Pat. Pat.

“Hic… Sob, ugh…”

My hand movements weren’t particularly skilled or natural. They were clumsy and awkward. But they were the Hand of God nonetheless. Each time I gently patted her back, I could feel her sobs gradually subsiding.

“Please calm down, Mother.”

“Ha… Hoo… I’m… I’m sorry, Minjun. For showing you such an unsightly side of myself…”

“…I’m completely confused now that I know how much you’ve been suffering because of Yeonju. I had no idea she was that kind of person… Honestly, I don’t know what I should do. Or what I can do.”

“I didn’t tell you this to make you break up with her or anything like that. I simply wanted to warn you in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠advance because I was worried Yeonju might become overly obsessed with you and cause trouble for everyone around her. And… I hoped you might understand her more deeply and help her with genuine sincerity. That’s all.”

“I see…”

I deliberately kept my expression rigid as I spoke. Under normal circumstances, no one could continue embracing Yeonju unchanged after hearing such a story.

If I hadn’t already known about Seolyeong’s black heart, that is.

Seolyeong carefully studied my hardened profile. I ignored her gaze, pretending to be lost in deep thought, then suddenly looked at her.

“Ah… I was distracted for a moment. I’m sorry, Mother.”

“It’s fine. You must have a lot to think about. Even though I’m her mother, I could never ask you to love even that side of Yeonju… That’s entirely your choice.”

“…”

“Anyway… thank you for listening to this auntie you’ve only just met. And for patting my back… your hands were really warm… Oh dear, look at me. I’m sorry, Minjun. This auntie has been quite forward, hasn’t she?”

She was skilled. The way she disguised her deliberately spoken lines as accidental slips was flawlessly executed. Even the slight flush in her cheeks and the slightly clumsy tone—as if she were embarrassed at having revealed her inner thoughts—were masterfully done. Truly seasoned.

“Not at all, Mother. I’m truly grateful that you mustered the courage to tell me about Yeonju. And… I’m sorry for patting your back without permission. You were crying so sorrowfully that I… I’m really sorry.”

I turned my body and bowed my head in apology. I kept my head lowered until she accepted it, and then I felt her hand gently stroking the back of my head. Her unusually cold, delicate, slender fingers tickled through my hair.

Stroke. Stroke.

“How polite… It’s all right now. You can raise your head.”

“Ah… Yes. Okay.”

I lifted my bowed head with a flushed face. This time the redness wasn’t intentional; my face had genuinely heated with excitement. I liked the way Seolyeong was slowly, carefully closing the distance while maintaining her thoughtful mother-in-law persona. I could have been far more aggressive, but for now it was enough to simply match the rhythm of her skilled performance.

Because she was clearly planning to approach me first.

This was my first time being worked on by such a hypocritical woman, and it was incredibly entertaining.

“I… I’ll be going in now, Minjun.”

“Ah… Just a moment.”

I quickly got out and opened the car door for her. I considered offering my hand for support, but it felt too soon to give her my hand already. Seolyeong was far too delicious a dish; I wanted to savor her slowly.

Thud.

Once she had stepped out of the car, Seolyeong gave me a subtle look. I deliberately avoided her gaze slightly as I spoke.

“Get home safely, Mother.”

“…Yes. You drive safely too, Minjun. Oh, and stop by the café I run sometime. I can treat my daughter’s boyfriend well, at least.”

Creak.

With those words, she disappeared through the front gate.

I climbed back into the car and let out a long sigh.

“Haa~”

The psychological tug-of-war with Seolyeong required quite a bit of thought. Matching her tastes and paying attention to every single action wasn’t so much difficult as it was tiring.

“Well, it’s that much more fun, though.”

If I had simply wanted to fuck her, I could have used the Hand of God to drive her into heat and been done with it. But I didn’t want to make our relationship that simple. The subtle thrill and erotic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tension that came from the peculiar dynamic between a young stepmother and her daughter’s boyfriend was something I couldn’t afford to miss.

“Oh, right. I need to go to the bank.”

After thinking about Seolyeong for a moment, I glanced at my watch. I started the car immediately. If I left now, I would arrive right on time for my reservation.

Han Seolyeong. Pianist. Thirty-five years old. Housewife. Owner of a café in Cheongdam-dong. Wife of a chairman. There were many words that could define her.

Yet none of them satisfied her.

She had walked a golden path since childhood. She had obtained everything desirable. After building a brilliant career as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a pianist, she had married—when her fingers began to stiffen—a man who was somewhat older but kind and possessed truly enormous wealth. To anyone looking in, it was a successful life.

But her heart was empty.

Even she didn’t know why.

“What… do you have something to say?”

After sending Minjun off, Seolyeong entered the house and spoke to Yeonju, who was sitting on the living room sofa. Seeing that she had come home earlier yet was still sitting there, it was obvious she had something to say.

“What… what did you say to M-Minjun?”

Yeonju asked, frightened but refusing to avert her eyes from Seolyeong. The corner of Seolyeong’s mouth twisted as she looked at her.

“Where did you learn such rudeness—talking back to your mother the moment you get a boyfriend? Did your dead birth mother teach you that before she left?”

“Stop… stop changing the subject. And don’t… don’t talk about my real mom. I-I’m asking what you said to Minjun.”

Seolyeong’s eyes widened in apparent surprise. Then, flames began to rise in her pupils.

The usual Yeonju would never have done this. A few sharp, venomous words would have been enough to make her crumble into tears. She would have stayed silent, simply letting tears fall.

Yeonju was a pathetic girl. A worthless thing who didn’t know her place and dared to pity her simply because she didn’t receive her husband’s love. If Seolyeong had her way, she would have sold the girl off somewhere. Or killed her. The only reason she merely tormented her was because she wasn’t confident she could get away with anything more.

Yet this stupid bitch had dared to bare her teeth and growl at her.

“Why should I have to explain myself to you?”

Seolyeong revealed her anger without restraint, her voice low and her eyes cold. Yet Yeonju, trembling with fear, still stood up to her. People became stronger when they had something more important than themselves.

“I-I know… I know you’ve been saying bad things about me to everyone, Mom. B-But I never told Dad. Because… because I felt sorry for you!”

Seolyeong was genuinely shocked. She hadn’t expected this pathetic girl to know even that much. It only made her more repulsive.

“Sorry for me? You’re just planning to use it to blackmail me later, aren’t you? You disgusting girl. Acting all kind and innocent on the outside while your insides are filthy. Truly.”

“N-No! It’s not like that! A-Anyway, not to Minjun! M-Minjun is off-limits! P-Please… You can say whatever you want to other people. B-But please don’t say bad things about me to Minjun… Sob… Please…”

Having started in a commanding tone, Yeonju eventually began to beg. She knew she could never win against Seolyeong no matter what she did. After suffering constant harassment from her, Yeonju had long fallen into complete helplessness. Whenever her mother appeared, everyone around her would leave. The few people who had been close to her had turned their backs, spewing insults as they walked away.

She had always been timid. Making friends had been difficult to begin with. Losing them afterward hurt even more. That was why Yeonju had lived alone. She was lonely, but losing people was more frightening. She had no confidence she could keep them. So she stayed alone because she had no other choice.

Then, like a miracle, Kim Minjun had suddenly appeared.

The compliments he had given her at the café, the reliable back that had shielded her, the warm hand that had stroked her hair while calling her cute. Yeonju remembered every single one without exception. She could never forget them. Not even the way he had boldly stood up to the mother she had never dared defy.

When she was with Minjun, she wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t scared. She was simply happy. He was the person who filled every part of her. She didn’t know what would happen if she lost even him.

She wasn’t smart, but she understood at least that much.

Standing up to her mother hadn’t come from courage. It had come from desperation.

“What should I do? I already told that man all about your filthy inner self… Seeing his face harden in shock was almost pitiful.”

“Ugh… N-No… that’s not true…”

Betrayed even in her desperation, Yeonju’s face completely collapsed. She had believed in Minjun, but she couldn’t believe in herself. Nothing she had tried to protect by defying her mother had ever remained. Everything had been stolen and destroyed. It seemed this time would be no different.

She couldn’t breathe. She felt like she was going to die.

“He said he lost all interest. That he never knew you were that kind of woman.”

“L-Lies… It’s… it’s a lie…”

“Whether it’s a lie or not, why don’t you meet your boyfriend and check for yourself? I have nothing more to say.”

“Lies!!! It’s a lie!!!!!!!!”

“Hah. Crazy bitch.”

Seolyeong left Yeonju to crumble on her own and headed up to her room.

“Insolent little bitch… How dare you talk back to me?”

Even after entering her room, her rage showed no signs of cooling. She could endure not being loved by her husband. After all, she didn’t truly love him either. But being pitied was unbearable. Especially being pitied by a pathetic girl like Yeonju—it made her feel as if her once-brilliant life had fallen all the way to the floor.

Yet it turned out there was a basement beneath even that floor.

Yeonju was a girl who couldn’t do anything by herself yet was exceptionally good at seducing men. For that whore to bring home a decent man and bare her teeth at her with such arrogance put Seolyeong in the absolute worst mood.

“Ha. I’m actually impressed. I’m curious whether she’ll still be able to act like that after I steal that wonderful boyfriend of hers.”

Seolyeong glanced at the mirror on her vanity. Her beauty was still more than sufficient. It was more than enough to captivate a younger man. This wasn’t self-praise. Back in the car, even with the slightest touch and approach from her, Minjun’s face had turned red and he hadn’t known what to do with himself. It definitely wasn’t the awkwardness of dealing with his girlfriend’s mother.

That young man—that fine male—had clearly been conscious of her as a woman.

“Haa…”

Young and handsome. Good personality and ability too. He fit her tastes as perfectly as a tailored suit. He was much younger—practically a child compared to her age—but he was still an impressive man. The thought that such a man saw her as a woman, recognized her as a female, made her body, which had been cold for years, heat up in an instant.

Slide.

Seolyeong reached behind her back and touched the spot where Minjun had patted her. The touch of a young man’s hand after so long was shockingly special.

It was so… warm… that man’s hand…

She wanted him. The desire to possess that young man was unbearable.

“Yes. It would be wasted on a bitch like Yeonju. Rather… I should be the one…”