The Marriage Contract
Even in the darkness, two cheeks were flushed with a clear blush. On top of that, the hope and excitement that "this is where my one-sided love is realized" was laid bare without any concealment.
But the expression on Siheon's face as he looked down at her was completely the opposite of Dayeon's.
His face, which even felt cool, was so distant that it was hard to believe he was the man who had just said "let's get married."
"Teacher?"
Hearing me call out to him while checking his expression, Siheon spat out a cold voice.
"No, our marriage is only up to there."
"What? What does that mean..."
"Until my grandfather's life remains. Our fake married life will end there."
Dayeon's expression froze. She couldn't understand at all what Siheon was saying to her right now.
He had said he would marry me. But what on earth did "until my grandfather's life remains" mean?
Dayeon rolled her eyes around and forced a smile as she looked at Siheon.
"Marriage isn't like that. You mean you want to divorce later, right?"
"No. You don't need to attach a divorce tag to something so trivial."
Dayeon was only twenty years old. Wasn't it too young to attach a divorce tag?
"We don't have a marriage registration, and no one around us knows about our marriage."
"Such..."
"You only need to act as a pretty granddaughter-in-law in front of grandfather for a while. When that matter ends, as compensation, I'll give you a house to live in and living expenses."
That would be enough for her to live separately from Dooseop. I could give more if she wanted.
Dayeon couldn't say a word.
So, what Siheon wanted from her wasn't a normal marriage where two people who love each other live happily together in the same house.
What he wanted was rather close to a play. A play to deceive an old man on his deathbed.
"I don't understand. There's no reason for you to do that much for me, right?"
Siheon's response to Dayeon's question was cold.
"I just thought we could have a pretty good cooperative relationship. You need a safe place to live, and I need a granddaughter-in-law who will satisfy grandfather."
"..."
"That should be enough, I think."
For the first time, Dayeon started to dislike Siheon. Even though she knew she liked him, he was making such a proposal.
But at the same time, she understood. Because she was too lacking to be his 'real wife'.
The difference between the successor of Samjeong Group and a medical student sitting on a pile of debts was too great.
"What do you want to do. Will you marry me even like this?"
Siheon extended his hand in front of Dayeon. Seeing the hand extended as if to grab if she accepts, Dayeon hesitated for a moment.
No matter what, it was to deceive one person. Is it right to marry Siheon for such a bad reason?
But Dayeon still liked him. Moreover, he said he'd repay her father's debts.
So, there was no other choice. If he needed her, Dayeon had no choice but to take the hand he extended to her.
Dayeon carefully placed her hand on top of his. Seeing that, Siheon smiled gently. When he grabbed the hand placed on top of his, a small thing was caught in one hand.
"Good. Then let's go."
Seeing Siheon nod while holding her hand, Dayeon's eyes wavered. She wondered if he was going to take her to Dooseop's house. She didn't want to go home yet.
"Go where...?"
Dayeon asked with a trembling voice.
"Where? Naturally, my house."
"What? Your house, Teacher? Can I go there...?"
"Of course. Otherwise, I have to send you back to that bastard of a father who might sell my fiancée at any moment."
Fiancée.
Even though she knew it was a false relationship, his words hit her heart like a thud.
"Let's go. For now, since there's nothing, it might be uncomfortable to live there, but we'll fill it up gradually."
Siheon held her hand and led her somewhere. Dayeon, trying to calm her pounding heart, followed behind him.
Seoyeongheon, the mansion with auspicious energy, was where Chairman Cha was having dinner and drinking tea.
Chairman Cha was about to gulp down the rare boicha tea that came as a gift, but he coughed as if he heard something.
"Cough. Cough. Cough!"
The cough that came out didn't seem to go away easily. With big coughs following one after another, Butler Song quickly ran over.
"Are you okay, Chairman?"
Chairman Cha raised his hand as if saying he's okay, but his face was distorted with effort.
"I'm fine. Getting older, drinking tea isn't easy."
Butler Song looked at Chairman Cha with a sad expression.
Once the one who ruled the world, now his wrinkled face was full of exhaustion.
It looked like the weight of time made by 80 years, but Butler Song knew it wasn't just that.
"You should start taking your medicine now, shouldn't you."
Butler Song cautiously suggested. The question was whether he should inform the surroundings about Chairman Cha's illness and prepare. But Chairman Cha just waved his hand as if he didn't care.
"I don't want to. If it becomes known that I'm sick, how many times will they treat me as a patient."
His eyes when lifting the teacup were deep and calm.
Like he had already accepted death chasing right behind him, his face was calm.
"What's the hurry. My share will all go to Siheon, so when I die, the company will naturally become his."
"..."
"The guy doesn't even know my big wish and doesn't listen. Before dying, if he sees that kid having one of his own like me, he won't have anything more to wish for. Tsk tsk."
Chairman Cha, clicking his tongue, recalled Dayeon he met a few days ago.
Her face was pretty enough, and her manners were not like young people nowadays, which he liked.
"I wish he would marry that girl..."
Butler Song, who heard Chairman Cha's mutter, tilted his head.
"You mean Jeong Dayeon?"
"Yes."
Chairman Cha put down the teacup and nodded.
"She's the daughter of Teacher Do Hee-ok. She's the life-saving benefactor who saved me when I was young. If I bring up the reasons of favor and such, the guy would think about it once."
The family was a bit lacking, but that wasn't a problem.
Samjeong Group could support it enough, and she entered medical school with excellent grades and was sending a sincere school life, so he was happy.
It was an unexpected thing that even Chairman Cha couldn't reject in one go.
'Especially if he would support her for years, Siheon would have thought he had feelings for her secretly...'
He didn't want to marry the daughter of the late Teacher Do Hee-ok, the last bastion, so he didn't know who to pair her with.
Chairman Cha let out a short sigh, and his phone next to him vibrated briefly. When he checked the screen, a strong sense of doubt appeared on his face.
Chairman Cha, who was sipping tea, sensed something odd and asked.
"What's wrong with that expression."
Butler Song quickly gathered his face and reported briefly.
"Executive Director requested a personal business from Lawyer Kang."
"Lawyer? What kind of business is that?"
"That is..."
Butler Song hesitated uncharacteristically, and after a while, continued.
"He requested to draft a marriage contract."
"Puup."
Chairman Cha, who was drinking tea, was surprised and spat out the tea in his mouth.
"Are you okay, Chairman?"
"Cough. I'm fine. But what did you just say? What? What did Siheon request? A marriage contract? Did I hear it right?"
Wiping the spilled tea with his hand, Chairman Cha asked as if confirming.
"Yes. Correct. Lawyer Kang sent it directly, so it's definitely that."
"Hahaha. The guy who hated marriage until recently suddenly..."
While saying it was unexpected, a smile he couldn't hide spread on Chairman Cha's face.
"Yeah. Who is the other party? The guy who didn't even look at girls from America suddenly wants to put a name in the marriage contract. Who is that woman?"
"That is..."
After hesitating, Butler Song opened his mouth, and Chairman Cha's eyes widened greatly.