TMYRA Chapter 4
by ArianaThe Most Cherished Person
“I’m here.”
“Oh my, Ihan, you’re here?”
Bo-kyung quickly lowered her hand and put on a gentle smile.
“I’m a bit late.”
“It’s fine. That’s just how business is.”
Bo-kyung patted Ihan’s back and smiled with her eyes.
“Soo-ah, have you been well?”
Though he asked with a smile, Soo-ah only gave a short reply.
“Yes. Have you been well, brother?”
“Yeah. I’ve been doing well too.”
Ihan was practically Soo-ah’s stepbrother.
Due to Ihan’s opposition, the marriage registration had never been completed, but Bo-kyung had been Chairman Min’s cohabiting partner until his death.
Though their names weren’t legally connected, in practice, they were family.
“By the way, I really love this place. The interior is elegant, and I hear the food is excellent. You really think of your family.”
She poured out flattery while carefully watching Ihan’s reaction.
“Yes, they say the food is good.”
However, Ihan didn’t even glance at Bo-kyung.
The moment he entered, he had looked for Soo-ah first, and once their eyes met, he hadn’t looked away.
His gaze was filled with unrestrained desire and depravity, tangled together in a vulgar manner.
It had been the same ever since they first met, and Soo-ah hated it.
Not wanting to meet his eyes, she turned her head away.
“Our Ihan is so good-looking. Whenever I come to a place like this with him, I feel so proud.”
Just as Bo-kyung said, Ihan was strikingly handsome.
His tall height and well-groomed features made him stand out anywhere.
Even today, the luxury suit he wore looked impeccable on him.
The suit had evenly spaced stripes, and he paired it with a burgundy-colored tie. At thirty-five, he didn’t look his age at all.
He maintained his physique and appearance so well that he seemed much younger.
“Yoon-ha won’t be able to make it today. She had a meeting about a concert this morning and left for the U.S. yesterday.”
“Oh dear, I see. Well, that can’t be helped. As her mother-in-law, I miss her since I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Though she said that, Bo-kyung didn’t like Ihan’s wife, Yoon-ha. To be precise, she feared her.
Bo-kyung harbored a deep sense of inferiority toward Yoon-ha, who was born into a completely different world from her.
Bo-kyung had come from a poor background and relied on her looks to seduce one man after another to climb her way up.
Meanwhile, Yoon-ha had been born with everything.
Her father was a former minister with strong connections to the current administration, wielding significant influence.
Her mother was a former actress who had made a name for herself in the 90s, bringing both wealth and fame.
Yoon-ha had inherited her mother’s beauty, her father’s power, and their intelligence.
She had graduated from a prestigious university, was highly capable, and lacked nothing.
She was cultured and eloquent, and every time Bo-kyung revealed her ignorance, Yoon-ha would strike at her weak spots with precision, making her feel humiliated.
Bo-kyung both envied and hated her for that.
“I’ve been listening to classical music lately, but I just can’t appreciate Yoon-ha’s performances. I’d say it’s lacking soul.”
Bo-kyung tried to sound knowledgeable as she spoke ill of Yoon-ha.
But Ihan ignored her completely and changed the subject.
“I already placed the order. I made sure to choose dishes that Soo-ah likes. You like seafood, don’t you, Soo-ah?”
When Soo-ah didn’t answer, Bo-kyung nudged her in the side.
“When he talks to you, you should answer. Are you mute or what? Why are you keeping your mouth shut?”
“…Yes. I like seafood.”
Just as she reluctantly answered, the dishes started arriving one by one, filling the table.
Squid braised in wine and butter, grilled clams, and assorted sashimi followed.
After setting down abalone rice and seafood stew, the staff spoke.
“I’ll bring the dessert after the meal.”
“What kind of coffee beans do you use? I don’t drink just any coffee, so go check and let me know.”
“Yes, ma’am. Understood.”
Despite Bo-kyung’s picky demands, the staff maintained a polite smile before leaving.
“I wanted to treat you all to a meal before leaving for the U.S. I hope you enjoy it. Please, go ahead.”
“Thank you. I actually prepared some herbal medicine for you. I’ll make sure you take it, so don’t forget to drink it even after you leave.”
Bo-kyung forced a smile and did everything she could to gain Ihan’s favor.
Even though Ihan wasn’t paying her any attention, she remained obliviously confident.
“I’m thinking of looking into a house in LA this time.”
“A house? What kind of house?”
“Soo-ah needs a place to stay.”
“No. Absolutely not. That would mean you two would grow apart.”
Bo-kyung shook her head.
She had been maintaining her lavish lifestyle by taking advantage of Ihan’s feelings for Soo-ah.
If the two of them grew distant in the midst of all this, there would be no scraps left for her to pick up.
Bo-kyung flared up.
“You don’t have to worry. It’s a place where Soo-ah and I will be together. We just want to take a quiet break.”
“Really? If that’s the case, that’s a relief. You are the only one who truly looks after my Soo-ah.”
The two of them chattered away, keeping Soo-ah in the middle of their conversation.
“But I heard rumors that Yoon-ha is going to the U.S. for fertility treatment. Is that true?”
Bo-kyung asked cautiously, glancing at Ihan.
“Well…”
Ihan hesitated to answer.
“They say her family keeps asking when she’ll have a child. I thought maybe you were going to the U.S. because you wanted a child too.”
Bo-kyung’s gaze turned anxious.
She didn’t want Ihan to have a child.
She also wanted him to divorce Yoon-ha.
That way, the chances of Ihan falling completely for Soo-ah and his fortune becoming hers would be much higher.
“I’m still considering many things.”
After saying that much, Ihan took a sip of wine and looked at Soo-ah.
“As you know, I didn’t marry for love. It was a political marriage forced by my father, so I’m not happy. Now that my father has passed away and I’ve inherited the company, there’s no one I need to consider anymore.”
“That’s true. You didn’t marry her out of love.”
As Bo-kyung agreed enthusiastically, Ihan continued.
“I’m thinking about a separation.”
“Yes. That’s a good decision. No matter what you choose, I’ll support you unconditionally.”
Bo-kyung clapped her hands in delight, but Soo-ah felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“Right. You two were never a good match from the start. That Yoon-ha girl—do you think she’s as pretty as our Soo-ah? Of course not. Our Soo-ah is still pure, innocent, and has never been with a man. There’s no one like her.”
“Soo-ah is the most precious person to me. She’s the one I want to spend my life with.”
Soo-ah turned her eyes to the food.
She no longer wanted to stay here.
She despised Bo-kyung, who had abandoned her when she was young only to use her now for her own gain. She also found it sickening that Ihan didn’t see her as a sister but as a woman.
“I’ll be leaving right after the meal. I have work to do.”
She hastily ate, wanting to get up as soon as possible.
But Ihan, ever perceptive, didn’t let her go so easily.
“I have something important to tell you.”
His dark pupils clung persistently to her lips.
Disliking the way his gaze fixated solely on her, Soo-ah kept her head down and focused on her food.
“I don’t have much time. Even if I pull an all-nighter, I won’t be able to finish my work before the exhibition.”
Although her piece was already nearly complete, she deliberately lied.
She needed an excuse to spend more time in her studio.
“Soo-ah, I’m worried about what might happen to you while I’m in the U.S. So, I found someone to protect you.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Bo-kyung, who had been eating greedily, frowned.
“Since I won’t be by Soo-ah’s side, I thought she needed someone to guard her. Just in case, you never know what might happen to her.”