A Father's Reckless Arrival
‘What is this? My hand just now...’
It was a fleeting moment.
‘Was I mistaken?’
There was no way. Why would Siheon's uncle...
Jung Dayeon could not bring herself to ask and stood there blankly. Seeing her, Cha Taeho smiled and looked around before asking,
“I came because I was told to come, but why isn't Siheon showing his face?”
“Father called him away for a moment. He must have something to discuss.”
At the small aunt's words, Cha Taeho clicked his tongue.
“Why does Father always fight with that guy? He's not even thirty yet, yet he's the US branch manager and headquarters executive director. When I was his age, I couldn't even dream of such a position and started from the bottom.”
At Cha Taeho's words, the big aunt stepped in.
“After all, he loves Siheon so much. He raised him as if he were his own...”
“I heard he has good performance. He reorganized a project that was about to be halted and even got government support. Everyone else couldn't do it, they threw their hands up.”
“Hah. No matter what, what can you expect from a young pup like that.”
Cha Taeho's eyes narrowed as he took another sip from his glass. He stared at Dayeon and asked as if seeking agreement.
“What do you think, nephew's wife?”
“Ye... yes?”
Jung Dayeon, who had been standing quietly listening to the conversation, realized that he was asking her and lifted her head.
“What do you think about Siheon taking that position?”
“That...”
“Well, the wife should have an opinion.”
The eyes testing her stared at her. She took a deep breath to choose her words and cautiously opened her mouth.
“I think that the ability needed for that position is more important than title or experience.”
She continued, looking at Cha Taeho with a more determined gaze.
“Grandfather placed Siheon in that position because he thought he would perform the role best, right?”
“Hah.”
Cha Taeho let out a hollow laugh.
“Then I. Having served Samjung Pharm for over thirty years and still only being vice president, it means my vessel is not enough?”
“...”
There was silence without agreement or denial. Seeing her, Cha Taeho curled the corner of his mouth.
“An young bride entered the family. Indeed, she is young.”
“...”
“Arrogant and presumptuous. Ah, so that's why Siheon brought his match.”
He laughed lightly and swept his gloomy eyes from Dayeon's toes to her face.
Jung Dayeon felt displeased and furrowed her brows. However, Cha Taeho's words continued without tiring.
“Pretending to be noble, he does it all himself. Siheon is no different from other men.”
The words treating Siheon as a young woman or a beast-seeking person made Jung Dayeon feel a surge of anger. She clenched her fists and retorted defiantly.
“Do you know about the small aunt as well?”
At Dayeon's words, Cha Taeho, who was looking for champagne, widened his eyes.
“What?”
“The fact that the small uncle's taste is for young women who are easy to tame.”
Dayeon added with a cold smile.
“If you know this fact, the small aunt would be quite upset, wouldn't she?”
“What... what?”
“If you know that the husband is treating his wife like a beast outside, how much of a wound would it be?”
The aunts who were watching the interesting situation in the boring meeting covered their mouths and laughed.
“Indeed, if the new sister-in-law knows, it's good she doesn't.”
“Our brother’s usual conduct is quite flashy, after all.”
With them joining in one by one, Cha Taeho's face flushed red with embarrassment.
“I’ll be going.”
Thinking there was no point in staying longer, Jung Dayeon bowed her head.
“Perhaps I don't match the small uncle's values well.”
Without losing her polite smile to the end, Jung Dayeon turned and left.
“Hey... Hey! Don't stand there?”
Cha Taeho shouted from behind, but Dayeon did not stop.
Among the teachings of the late Heeok, there was one to not listen to inappropriate words.
Moreover, the words of a beast were not worth listening to.
“What kind of woman entered our family?”
Beyond the departing Dayeon, Cha Taeho pointed and scolded the aunts who giggled.
“Why did you touch the quiet one?”
“Isn't Siheon the match? Could his personality be ordinary?”
He looked at the back of the departing Dayeon and picked up the nearby alcohol and downed it all.
“Good. Let's see how long she can crawl like this.”
He cursed and slammed the glass on the table with a bang.
* * *
Daring to confront the teacher's family.
Jung Dayeon, who had run to the backyard to escape Cha Taeho, let out a deep sigh.
She didn't know where such courage came from.
She could endure anything about him rambling about her. But she could not endure at all talking recklessly about the teacher.
‘Is he saying something to the teacher?’
Thinking this, Dayeon shook her head.
No. No matter how she thought, his behavior was rude.
Calling a person a young woman or a beast in front of her.
When Dayeon took a deep breath and steadied her mind,
“Shut up! I was invited here today too.”
A loud, booming voice shouting to leave the house rang out. The familiar voice sent a chill of fear down Dayeon's back.
“Father...?”
It couldn't be, but a bad feeling that something unpleasant was about to happen arose. Surprised, Dayeon ran hurriedly to the direction the voice was coming from.
“You can't do this here. We have an important event today...”
“You, do you know who I am? I'm the son-in-law of your family!”
In the entrance located under the stairs, the security guards and Jung Dusup were arguing.
His face flushed red, his suit wrinkled. And his bloodshot eyes unfocused. Seeing Jung Dusup, who had clearly been drinking since noon, Dayeon's face turned pale.
How did Father come here?
“Give it here. Don't give it.”
He was causing a ruckus like a drunk, and upon discovering Dayeon, he pointed his finger.
“This is my daughter, my daughter!”
The security guards, who hadn't believed his words about being the son-in-law, let go of the arm he was holding Jung Dusup with upon hearing that Dayeon was his daughter.
Jung Dusup, whose arms were freed, waved them widely and swaggered up the garden stairs.
Startled, Dayeon went down the stairs and grabbed his arm.
“Father. How did you come here?”
She hadn't informed him or invited him. After all, this place was strictly forbidden for outsiders to enter.
She hadn't expected to see him here.
“How? It's my daughter's wedding. Where would an father not be allowed to enter?”
His gaze, after sweeping around, soon stopped on Dayeon.
The dress that looked expensive at a glance, neatly styled hair, and jewelry that looked expensive on her neck and ears.
Jung Dusup's half-unfocused eyes slowly turned into a smile.
“Oh... Our daughter. I told you to come with money, but you brought a man who is quite impressive. Yes. Where is our son-in-law? You can prepare at least the investment fund from the father-in-law, right?”
It seemed Jung Dusup was now demanding business investment funds in addition to the debt repayment by Siheon.
Jung Dayeon, whose mind was dazed, tightened the arm she was holding.
“...Please go back.”
“What?”
“This place can't have Father.”
She couldn't impose such a burden on him. Moreover, at this time, all of Siheon's family were gathered here.
If it became known that his father-in-law was such a person, it could shake Siheon's position.
She had already become a wife who was not helpful to him, so she couldn't endure more trouble.
Dayeon pulled his arm, but Jung Dusup did not budge.
“What's with this kid suddenly?”
“Father. Please.”
Dayeon pleaded earnestly. But Jung Dusup ignored her words.
“Shut up. How did I get in here, just go back?”
“Father...”
“This guy is really...”
Annoyed by Dayeon constantly grabbing him, Jung Dusup's arm that pushed her away rose high.
A large hand as if about to slap her down.
The fear of violence ingrained over the years stiffened Dayeon's body.
‘That's right.’
When Dayeon shrank her body and tightly closed her eyes,
Suddenly, someone blocked between Dayeon and Jung Dusup, and a dark shadow fell over her head.
“What kind of wall is this...”
Jung Dusup, who was muttering irritably, flinched and retreated. The hand that didn't hit her even after waiting.
Feeling something wrong, Dayeon opened her eyes and saw that Siheon had already come and was blocking her way.
“Teacher...?”
Siheon, who had scanned Jung Dusup and Dayeon in turn, looked down at Jung Dusup with piercing eyes.