CS Chapter 35

“I don’t want to run away from Mr. Cha Minjun,” Seowoo replied in a small but clear voice.

 

“And… I don’t believe what that Cheonsin Bosal woman said…”

 

“…”

 

“Anyway, Mr. Cha Minjun saved me from the gutter.”

 

Her voice trembled as she spoke, as if her heart was about to burst like a woman confessing her love.

 

“Someday… I want to save Mr. Cha Minjun, too.”

 

Cha Minjun’s lips curved into a pleasant smile at her words.

 

How could such a tiny thing save me? It was laughable, but nevertheless, the conviction Seowoo gave him was etched into his heart at that moment.

 

***

 

The couple’s wedding ceremony was held in strict privacy, in consideration of Seowoo, who was not a public figure.

 

The Gallery “Destiny” was 100% owned by Chairman Cha Jinwoong and was a place where it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of Korea’s national treasures were housed. Because the exterior and landscaping of the building were so dazzlingly beautiful, there had been a constant stream of inquiries about wedding rentals, but, naturally, Jinwoong wouldn’t allow it even if offered a fortune. It was a space allowed only for his grandson, Cha Minjun, and his bride, Ji Seowoo.

 

In the bride’s waiting room. Seowoo, sitting in a pure white wedding dress and holding a lily of the valley bouquet, shone so brilliantly that even the word “queen” seemed insufficient.

 

“Are you Ms. Seowoo? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can see each other often from now on.”

 

“I greeted the Chairman earlier, but you two are truly a beautiful couple.”

 

“The groom must be so happy to have such a beautiful bride.”

 

Naturally, Seowoo had no guests of her own, but the Daehan Group guests came to the bride’s waiting room one after another to offer their congratulations, preventing a somewhat awkward situation. Of course, some of them still seemed suspicious of Seowoo, but they nevertheless tried their best to connect with the Daehan Group somehow through her.

 

While she was busy greeting and sending off the people, a gentle voice was heard.

 

“You’re beautiful, our Seowoo.”

 

“Grandfather!”

 

Jinwoong, whose health had recently deteriorated due to ongoing chemotherapy, eventually attended the wedding in a wheelchair. However, his face was filled with smiles, making it hard to believe he was a patient.

 

“Seowoo, thank you so much for becoming part of our family.”

 

“I’m so happy to be your granddaughter-in-law, Grandfather.”

 

Holding the wrinkled hand of her grandfather tightly, Seowoo smiled more happily than ever before.

 

“Grandfather, let’s take a picture together.”

 

“Alright. That rascal Minjun didn’t even ask to take a picture with his old grandpa.”

 

“Then let’s just take a lovely picture of the two of us, without Mr. Minjun.”

 

At that moment, as Seowoo and Jinwoong busily posed for pictures at the photographer’s various requests, someone was watching her from afar. It was none other than Hyunsook.

 

To attend her daughter’s wedding, she wore the best clothes she had at home, instead of her usual shabby attire. She even scraped together money she didn’t have to buy Joonseo a suit. Thanks to the invitation Seowoo sent, she was able to enter the wedding hall, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to appear in front of Seowoo and just lingered around the waiting room.

 

“The priority is to reassure Seowoo. Doesn’t she have a lot of distrust towards the church? Tell her that both Sister Hyunsook and Brother Junseo have left the church. Appear before Seowoo as a loving family again and build a bond. There will be plenty of time to evangelize her after that.”

 

Hyunsook took deep breaths, recalling the elder’s words. Until just before entering the wedding hall, she had been resolute, prepared to coax her daughter with a smile. But…

 

‘Has Seowoo ever smiled like that…?’

 

The moment she saw her daughter’s bright smile, she felt as if she had been struck in her head by a hammer. It was a smile she had never seen before, doubling her bewilderment.

 

‘I thought that if my daughter just became a Sky Bride… we would all truly be happy…’

 

It was a belief she had held firmly until now, but a single smile from her daughter began to create small cracks in it.

 

She had believed without a doubt that if her daughter became a Sky Bride, Junseo would be cured of his illness, and her whole family, including Seowoo, would be saved. But the fact that there was another kind of happiness for her daughter, the fact that she, as a mother, hadn’t even considered it, finally became clear.

 

Hesitantly, Hyunsook unknowingly stepped back. Her legs felt so weak that she almost stumbled several times.

 

Just then, Junseo, spotting Hyunsook in the bustling crowd, firmly grasped her shoulders with both hands. Her gait had looked incredibly unsteady.

 

“Mom, are you sick?”

“Th-that, Junseo…”

“Did you…greet Noona?”

 

He tilted his head, looking at Hyunsook’s pale face. His mother had been fine when they arrived together, but after visiting the bride’s waiting room, she suddenly trembled as if she had seen a ghost.

 

“Mom, what’s wrong all of a sudden? Did Noona… say something?”

“J-Junseo, Junseo… I… I can’t… I can’t face Seowoo… I’m sorry…” 

“What are you talking about? Why can’t you face Noona?”

“…C-c-can you tell Seowoo I’m sorry…? And… c-c-congratulate her on her marriage…?”

 

Leaving only those words behind, Hyunsook fled the wedding hall as if running away.

 

***

 

“Presenting the beautiful stars of today, the bride and groom!”

 

With the officiant’s clear voice announcing the start of the ceremony, the doors to the wedding hall finally opened wide.

 

The bride and groom entered hand-in-hand to beautiful piano music. The guests applauded thunderously, blessing the couple’s future.

 

“I, the groom, Cha Minjun, take Ji Seowoo as my wife, and promise to always respect and cherish her.”

 

“I, the bride, Ji Seowoo, take Cha Minjun as my husband, and promise to always respect and cherish him.”

 

Even though they were simply reading the formal wedding vows, tears welled up in Seowoo’s large eyes. She tried not to look at the empty seats reserved for her parents, but she couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting there.

 

As if sensing Seowoo’s feelings, Minjun kissed the back of her delicate hand. Their exchanged glances were endlessly affectionate. At least in that moment, she felt as if he truly loved her, and her previously heavy heart filled with warmth.

 

Immediately after the ceremony, Seowoo changed into her reception dress and headed to the reception hall with Minjun.

 

The reception dress was a flowing chiffon dress that brought to mind the blue sea of Hawaii, and it suited Seowoo as perfectly as her wedding dress.

 

“Congratulations on your marriage once again!”

“The wedding dress made you look like the Snow Queen, but now you look like a fairy, bride.”

 

Dapperly dressed gentlemen and elegant ladies, holding champagne glasses in hand, offered words of congratulations. Seowoo responded with a gentle smile, while Minjun engaged in business conversations with numerous guests, causing the two to become slightly separated.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“J-Junseo?”

 

Seowoo’s heart dropped as she spotted her younger brother standing in the distance.