Flashback: A Mother's Heartless Rejection
Past Recollection: After committing the memory of Seo Euna and Han Ga-eun's first time to heart, he showered with Euna. Midway through, he got aroused again, leading to the fiasco of having to shower two more times.
"Right, ajusshi."
"Yeah?"
"Tomorrow we're meeting my mom. At that coffee shop over there."
The news of Euna's mother came as they lay in bed on fresh sheets, dressed in clean clothes, preparing to sleep.
"Your mom?"
"Yeah. Now that I've made it big, I figured it's time to introduce her. Hehehe."
"I see. So what should I do? Should I give you two some space and step out?"
"She's coming at 10 a.m. And my success? I couldn't have done it without you—or even if I had you around, it would've taken forever. You're the number one contributor to my success, ajusshi. So stay with me."
"Aren't you hyping me up too much?"
All he'd done was give her the opportunity. The real credit went to her blood, sweat, tears, and raw talent.
"Not at all! Seriously, you need to realize how amazing you are, ajusshi. Anyway, come with me and greet my mom properly."
"You think so? Alright."
"Yay!"
She giggled cutely and burrowed into his arms, wrapping her limbs around him in a tight embrace.
"I like you... I love you."
"……"
He should have said "I love you" back, but for some reason, the words wouldn't come. Instead, another thought circled in his mind.
If there'd been no hypnosis, would Euna have fallen for me?
He hadn't directly commanded her to love him. But hypnotizing her in the first place meant he'd manipulated her at will. What if she snapped back to her normal self right now?
I don't know.
But he brushed it off as no big deal. It was just a fleeting, meaningless thought.
It's not like it'll ever wear off anyway.
"Ajusshi, I'm sleepy..."
"Yeah. Go to sleep."
After repeated rounds of intense sex that drained her stamina and left her exhausted, no wonder she was tired. He pulled the blanket over her body.
Of course, he was fine as always. Not sleepy, not worn out. His stamina was ridiculous.
Gazing at her sleeping face, he turned on the hotel TV. One of her movies was playing, so he watched until he dozed off.
The next morning.
"Ajusshi. Ahh~"
Room service breakfast. They fed each other, even mouth-to-mouth, nearly getting carried away again before remembering the appointment with her mom. They finished eating properly, brushed their teeth, and changed into going-out clothes.
Euna, dressed up meticulously since it had been so long since she'd seen her mom. Him, in nice but not designer clothes.
"Will this be okay?"
"Yeah. You're handsome, ajusshi. Even rags would look good on you."
Now a celebrity, she donned a mask and sunglasses, calling out "Ajusshi!" playfully. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Thanks for seeing me in a good light."
They headed to the coffee shop. After ordering and picking up their drinks, they went up to the second floor. He spotted her mom right away at the window seat—a woman who looked less like a professor and more like a cold noblewoman from somewhere, legs crossed, in a black H-line skirt, stockings, crisp white blouse, and a coat draped over.
Her expression was blank, amplifying the icy vibe. And her beauty was stunning, just like Euna's mom should be. He'd seen photos before, but in person, she was even more incredible.
She's huge.
Her massive, assertive breasts and the vast Pacific Ocean of hips to match were enough to draw awe.
"You're here."
"Yeah, Mom."
At that, Euna's mother glanced around. Confirming no one else was there, she sighed.
"What if someone hears?"
"Ah... sorry. I was just so excited. You got here early?"
"Class is in the afternoon, so I have time. Is that your boyfriend next to you?"
He bowed politely.
"Hello. I'm Yun Geon-woo."
"He's the one who helped me a ton. I wouldn't have succeeded without him."
"……"
She stared at his face for a long moment, then snorted derisively. What was that about?
Euna's mother slurped her coffee and set it down, ignoring them both to stare out the window.
"So, why did you want to meet?"
Her demeanor was far from ordinary. Unsettling. It felt like Lee Heena's season two was about to unfold.
"Ah... well... Did you see my movie? Heroes of the Night? It was a hit, and I did ads, appeared on variety shows..."
"Do I have to?"
"Huh?"
Only then did she turn to face her daughter. Her eyes held pure contempt.
"Are you deaf? Do I have to watch?"
"Ah...... N-no, of course not. M-Mom... I mean, Professor, you're busy anyway."
"Even if I weren't, no reason to."
Why did Chairman Lee Jintae and his daughter Lee Heena keep popping into his head just two minutes into the conversation?
"Still, you did well succeeding."
"Yeah! I succeeded! Made a ton of mo-money too... Ah, here!"
She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small box, opening it to reveal a fancy gold watch adorned with tiny diamonds on the bezel.
He hadn't even seen it before, so he could tell how carefully she'd hidden it.
"A gift for you, Mom!"
"……"
Her mother stared silently at the watch her daughter offered. Instead of taking it, she pushed it back toward her. Clear rejection.
"M-Mom?"
"I don't need it. And don't call me Mom."
"W-what...?"
The color drained from Euna's face. Her pupils trembled violently, her hands spasming.
"The only reason I answered your call was to say this. Now that you've succeeded, you don't need the monthly allowance I send anymore. Hate to admit it, but I've done my part as a mom, right? At least I covered living expenses and rent."
"Pro... fessor?"
"From now on, live on your own. Marry that guy next to you or whatever. Do what you want, but don't call me again."
"H-how...? I-I..."
Fragmented, hollow words spilled from Euna's mouth.
"Did you think success would make me see you differently? Think I treated you like this because you failed? Don't delude yourself. You—the very existence of you—is a curse. Not a blessing, a goddamn curse. Whether you've succeeded socially or not doesn't mean a speck of dust."
What? Even he froze at the ruthless, cruel, ice-cold words.
"I'm leaving. Don't come looking for me. Handle your own life."
Euna's mother—no, Han Ga-eun— spat it out coldly and stood abruptly. She didn't even take her half-drunk coffee.
"That was..."
Snapping out of it too late, he stood to chase her, but—
Grab.
Euna clutched his wrist, stopping him.
"Ajusshi. I'm fine."
"What do you mean fine? You're not."
"I said I'm fine... So, sit down."
Tears welled in Euna's eyes. The final plea to sit carried a sob she couldn't swallow.
"Please."
"……"
Euna needed him there. She couldn't move, just wanted him by her side. So instead of chasing Han Ga-eun, he sat silently.
"Guess my efforts weren't enough."
He barely suppressed a scoff. Not enough? What? Her efforts? Sorry, Euna, but that was laughable. What was lacking?
She'd practiced acting day and night, honed her body. Luck helped, but she'd become a world-class actress getting global offers. What effort was "lacking" there?
"Ajusshi. Let's go."
Euna stood abruptly and left. She forgot the watch, so he grabbed it.
Outside the coffee shop, she spread her arms dramatically, exhaling with a "Hoo!" and forced a smile at him. She was trying hard, but it looked unnatural.
"I'll try harder. Much harder... so I can be a daughter you're not ashamed of... I will."
Even after that brutal treatment, Euna loved her mother. She hadn't given up on reconciling.
"There's a saying: No tree stands after ten strikes."
Instead of resenting the mother who despised her, she resolved to try harder.
What the fuck is wrong with her?
Rage boiled up. How could she talk to such a daughter like that? His fists clenched hard enough for his nails to dig into his palms.
"Euna, this won't—"
"No!"
She pressed her index finger to his lips.
"Nothing's impossible. So promise me one thing?"
"What."
"Don't do anything to my mom. I'll handle it myself... with effort. So just stay out of it. I can fix this... Promise!"
How the hell was "effort" going to fix that? He wanted to ask. But he didn't.
He stared at her offered pinky, then met her eyes. They sparkled beautifully. No trace of tears from moments ago.
"Don't want to?"
"No. Got it."
Unable to resist the pressure, he hooked his pinky with hers.
He saw her home and they parted.
What do I do?
It felt hopeless. Effort wouldn't cut it—how could he help?
Sighing, he slipped his hand into his pocket absentmindedly.
"Ah."
The gift Euna meant for her mom. He turned back to return it.
At her door, about to ring the bell, he froze.
"Hic... sniff..."
A faint sob made his hand drop limply.
"W-what should I do... I have no idea..."
Despair and flailing pain filled those tear-choked words.
She'd acted desperately in front of him, playing her role to the hilt. Realizing that snapped something inside him.
He knew what to do.
He shoved the gift back in his pocket and hailed a taxi.
"To Korea University, please."
Even he was shocked by the cold, anger-laced tone. The driver said nothing and drove quietly.
Euna had asked him to stay put. Not to do anything to her mom.
Normally, he'd respect that. But not this time. No matter how he thought about it, it was wrong.
Her mother had no intention of ever seeing her daughter properly. She'd spewed curses like "curse" right in front of him.
Effort? Fine. How much more? Would it change anything?
It was like pouring water into a bottomless jar—pointless.
The promise? Screw it. If breaking it made Euna happy, he'd break it a hundred times.
Keeping it would just lead to more nights of her crying alone.
Better to break the promise, take the blame—anything but watch that.