Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Marriage Bombshell
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An enormous pile of toys filled one side of the restaurant.
And sitting in front of them was an American man with white hair.
"Hello. I'm Richard. Nice to meet you."
"Uh…… Y-you speak Korean incredibly well."
I'd assumed he'd use English, of course.
But Representative Yoon's father spoke Korean fluently.
"My wife was Korean, so I learned it to communicate with her."
"Wow, that's impressive."
That explained why Representative Yoon spoke Korean so fluently.
As he spoke, Richard glanced over at Daeun.
"I'm so grateful you invited me to dinner. I was worried you might not like me, so I prepared some gifts."
He slid one forward.
Richard locked eyes with Daeun and flashed a warm smile.
"Do you like them?"
His playful expression was full of anticipation for her response.
Daeun, still unable to tear her eyes from the boxes, replied.
"I love them so much! But are all these for Daeun?"
He nodded.
"Yes, as a small token of my thanks for inviting me to dinner."
With that, Richard picked up one small toy box and held it out to her.
Whoosh!
At his gesture, Daeun looked up at me with questioning eyes.
Asking if it was okay to take it.
I nodded, and she happily accepted the toy box, beaming.
"Thank you!"
"Want to open it?"
"Right now?"
"The food won't be out for a while, so go ahead."
Swish.
At his encouragement, Daeun glanced at me, Representative Yoon, and James.
Rip.
She tore into the box like she'd been waiting for this moment.
A bit roughly, she quickly unpacked it and pulled out the contents.
In Daeun's hands was a small bear-shaped doll.
And then.
"Hm?"
Representative Yoon reacted suddenly.
I'd been about to ask if she recognized it, but Richard's words cut me off.
"What do you think? Do you like it?"
"Yes! The doll is super cute! Daeun loves it!"
"Good, I knew you'd like it. Someone else used to love this doll too."
"Who? Daeun's friend?"
"Hmm, she's a bit too old to be a friend now."
Something about the way Richard chatted and laughed with Daeun struck me as odd.
Was this really the same gruff father who'd left Representative Yoon feeling lonely her whole life?
No matter how I tried to reconcile it, the difference was too stark.
The disconnect was so strong that I found myself glancing back and forth between Representative Yoon and Richard.
That's when James, sitting beside me, quietly asked.
"Weird, right?"
"Yeah."
"Richard's like this with Maria."
Ah, so he'd picked up on my confusion.
Of course James would know—I'd shared the basics of what happened in Korea.
"Yeah, a little."
James nodded in understanding.
"I get it. I feel the same."
"You too, James?"
"Yeah. I've been by Richard's side my whole life, and I had no idea he was like this."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Makes you wonder how he managed to act so stoic all those years."
James's words were shocking.
Even those closest to him hadn't known this side of Richard.
Wait—did that mean he'd hidden this personality all these years to protect his ex-wife's secret?
'Impressive.'
I felt a sense of awe toward Richard as he smiled and talked with Daeun.
Swish.
Representative Yoon, who'd been watching the scene silently, finally spoke to him.
"Was that doll at home back then…… from you, Dad?"
"Yeah."
Richard looked up at her unexpected question.
"What do you mean?"
"When I was little. Someone sent a doll to the house. Was that from you?"
Realizing what she meant, Richard nodded.
"Oh, that. Yeah, I sent it. I heard dolls help with emotional regulation, so I thought it might help you."
"……."
It seemed Richard had known about Representative Yoon's condition all along.
Of course—a man who'd learned Korean for love wouldn't overlook his daughter's struggles.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?"
To her question, he replied casually.
"Because of your mom."
"That's an excuse."
"You're right, it is. What could a father who's left his daughter lonely until adulthood possibly say?"
His tone was calm, but the emotions beneath were anything but.
Regret for lost time, yet no real remorse.
A shuddering sense of guilt, all at once.
Then Richard looked at Representative Yoon.
"That's why I'm grateful. You pulled me out of that empty shell."
Daeun, sitting across from them, piped up.
"Uncle's an empty shell?"
"What?"
Was her question just too adorable?
Richard burst into hearty laughter and nodded.
"Yeah, Uncle was an empty shell. Pretty dumb, huh?"
Daeun shook her head vigorously.
"No!"
"Oh? Then what?"
"Uncle's super smart!"
Was she saying that knowingly?
It seemed mismatched, yet somehow fitting.
A man who'd lived for his wife, now calling himself a fool for his daughter.
'Pretty cool…….'
That's when I thought.
"I have something to say."
Representative Yoon spoke up.
And it was a total shock.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Yes. There's someone I want to marry."
Thud.
'Oh man, Representative Yoon…….'
I could only rub my face in dismay.
* * *
Clink.
The lively chatter had vanished, leaving only silence in its wake.
No one spoke, just the sound of knives on plates.
Well, except for one person.
"Daddy, cut this for Daeun."
"Want me to cut it?"
"Yeah, Daeun can't do it."
I pulled her plate closer, cut the food into bite-sized pieces, and glanced around at the mood.
Slice, slice.
Everyone continued eating in silence.
'They're gonna get indigestion like this.'
If it were just quiet eating, I wouldn't worry.
But this tension stemmed from Representative Yoon's bombshell.
Of course—if Daeun suddenly announced she had someone she wanted to marry someday, I'd react just like Richard.
Any dad with a daughter would.
"Ahem."
Richard cleared his throat awkwardly, discomfort plain on his face, but Representative Yoon's expression didn't change.
Meanwhile, I'd finished cutting Daeun's steak.
"Here you go."
"Wow, thanks Daddy!"
"Yeah, eat up, Daeun."
"Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
"Ah!"
'Ah!'
Daeun speared a piece of the cut meat and held it out to me.
Everyone's eyes turned to her sudden move.
"Yeah, for Daddy to eat."
"Yeah! Daddy cut it for me, so I'll give one!"
I couldn't help glancing around.
The vibe made it feel like feeding Daddy right now was a bad idea.
But I couldn't refuse Daeun.
I liked it.
"Ah."
I ate the piece she offered.
It was the same steak as mine, but maybe because of her feelings in it.
It tasted way better than regular steak.
"Because Daeun gave it to me."
"Really? Tastier 'cause Daeun gave it?"
"Yeah."
"Want another!"
She speared another piece and held it out.
I smiled.
"You eat it, Daeun. Your meat's running out."
She panicked a bit, checking her plate.
It wasn't much to start, and after two pieces, it was dwindling fast.
She pondered.
Then Daeun found her own solution.
"Then Daddy give me yours!"
"Yeah, Daddy's."
"Yeah! Daddy feed Daeun too!"
Oh! That was a great idea.
I quickly cut a small piece from my steak, speared it, and held it out.
"Ah!"
Nom!
Daeun cutely ate it and puffed her cheeks with both hands.
"Yummy!"
"Right? Super tasty."
"Yeah! Really yummy!"
I laughed and stroked her head.
That's when.
"What is this?"
It was completely unexpected.
Richard—who'd kept his mouth shut, maintaining the silence—suddenly speared a piece of his steak and held it out to Representative Yoon.
'Huh?'
Stunned by his abrupt action, Representative Yoon looked back and forth between the meat and him.
"Put it away."
Even with the chill in her icy response, Richard didn't back down.
"I'll give you one bite, so you give me one."
"No, I don't want to. Put it away."
Even if their relationship was improving, feeding each other wasn't easy.
Especially for Representative Yoon, who'd resented her father.
But as if anticipating her refusal, Richard made an offer she couldn't ignore.
"Do this, and I'll meet him once."
"What?"
"The guy you want to marry. I'll meet him."
Whoa, using that as leverage? Wild.
Richard was something else up close.
"Come on. If you want to show me your future husband, eat this and feed me one."
Swish.
Murderous intent flickered in Representative Yoon's eyes.
Terrifying to behold, but Richard ignored it, slowly advancing the fork.
Representative Yoon wasn't one to yield, though.
"Why should I show my intended to you, of all people?"
Oh! She came out swinging from her perspective.
Richard's expression didn't waver.
"That's exactly why I said it. You think I don't know you?"
"No. I won't."
"Then don't show me your fiancé."
"……."
Just one bite from him, one from her. Simple.
For two people who'd lived in hatred, it was harder than anything.
Normally, Representative Yoon would've shut it down flat.
Wouldn't even consider it.
But this time, she had to think.
Refusing her dad would make things awkward for Officer Kim later, no doubt.
Tough spot, but Richard's terms were tempting for her.
Gulp.
'Is she considering it?'
What would Representative Yoon choose?
All eyes were on her.
Swish.
She'd made her decision.
Grip.
'Huh?'
Her face changed in an instant.
The ever-stoic woman furrowed her brow and bit her lip hard for the first time.
Then she ate the piece from Richard's fork…… and speared one of her own……
"Ah……."
She held it out to him.
Richard ate it with utter bliss.
"You're right, Daeun. It really is delicious."