IWYFB Chapter 37

“My mom likes Italian food. Especially seafood dishes.”

 

Jiwoo’s indifferent tone made the firm line of Taemu’s lips soften slightly under his sharp nose.

 

“The car model collection I ordered for Junghu just arrived this morning. I put it in the car to give it to him when I see him.”

 

Had she not reached out to him first today, she might have mistaken all of this for something he had meticulously planned.

 

His silent gaze brushed against the nape of her neck before slipping away smoothly. Though he hadn’t even touched her, just the sensation of his eyes on her skin made her stiffen, her body frozen in an unnatural tension.

 

She had convinced herself she was over him. But moments like this, when he pushed into her space with that unreadable intensity, left her feeling trapped, unable to move.

 

“I need some air. I’ll wait outside.”

 

Hurriedly, she stood up and left the café. Taemu’s gaze followed her retreating figure.

 

 

 

 

Junghu was ecstatic over the toy Taemu had given him.

 

Jiwoo and Jungsook were both caught off guard, they had never seen him so thrilled before.

 

It made all the carefully chosen gifts they had given him feel insignificant. A strange sense of betrayal crept over Jiwoo.

 

That was how much Junghu loved Taemu’s gift.

 

Seeing Junghu’s reaction, even Taemu seemed pleased.

 

During dinner, Junghu clung to his side, barely leaving his spot. Occasionally, he would tilt his head back and gaze up at Taemu with wide eyes, there was something like admiration, even reverence, in that look.

 

Was it a natural instinct, drawn to a shared bloodline? Or was there something inherently captivating about Han Taemu?

 

The food was carefully chosen, seafood dishes for her mother and kid-friendly options for Junghu.

 

At first, her mother had insisted there was no need for such a dinner. But now, sitting in a fine-dining restaurant she wouldn’t have visited on her own, she seemed to enjoy the experience.

 

And the food, it was incomparable.

 

While Junghu was distracted with his toy, Taemu took the opportunity to spoon-feed him. Though Junghu never made a fuss about eating, he seemed unusually compliant today.

 

Watching them, it was hard to believe they had ever lived apart.

 

Jungsook seemed to share the same thought, smiling warmly at the sight.

 

Seeing her mother happy, Jiwoo felt glad she had come.

 

To an outsider, they would have looked like a picture-perfect family.

 

Yet as she watched Taemu so naturally take care of Junghu, a bitter feeling welled up inside her.

 

He even subtly attended to her mother, pushing dishes toward her and ensuring she was comfortable.

 

Cold and seemingly indifferent on the surface, yet quietly considerate in his own way.

 

Looking back, he had always been like this, everything had to be under his control. It was the same then, and it was the same now.

 

Despite not appearing to be the athletic type, his lean, well-built physique remained unchanged. Maintaining that body without effort would have been impossible.

 

She had heard that he successfully launched a startup in his second year of university and had steadily grown it into a major company.

 

It wasn’t just any business, it was on a scale beyond what most Korean mid-sized companies could imagine. Among investors, his company was well-known.

 

A quick Google search would give a rough estimate of its asset value.

 

With headquarters in the U.S., he spent most of the year there.

 

So why was he talking about moving to Haeju after the wedding? That part didn’t quite add up.

 

“I’m sorry for the trouble my mother has caused. I knew she had strong feelings about this, but I didn’t expect her to overstep and be disrespectful to you. I’ll make sure this never happens again.”

 

“Oh, no need for that, dear. As long as you take good care of Junghu and Jiwoo, that’s all that matters.”

 

Despite her words, she subtly wiped at her eyes, touched by his apology.

 

Jiwoo felt an immense sense of relief.

 

At least, in this moment, her mother’s heart seemed to have softened.

 

 

 

 

Taemu entrusted the entire wedding preparations to Jungsook and even provided a chauffeur-driven car for their convenience.

 

Of course, he also covered all the wedding expenses.

 

With the wedding date set in a rush, the preparations felt overwhelming.

 

On top of that, Jiwoo couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret about leaving the company she had worked so hard to get into.

 

It was a place often called a “dream job” for young professionals, and no one had been prouder of her achievement than her father.

 

Memories of him surfaced from time to time, stirring her emotions.

 

Whenever that happened, she questioned if she was making the right decision.

 

She wondered how disappointed her father would be if he knew about this marriage.

 

Yet, he had always believed in her, always stood by her side.

 

“If that’s what you’ve decided, what can I say? But remember, every choice comes with responsibility. Whatever comes of it, you’ll have to bear it.”

 

That was exactly the kind of thing he would have said.

 

He had gone on a journey from which he could never return, yet ever since the day she lost him, she had felt his presence beside her.

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

In the heart of Gangnam stood a newly built luxury villa, where residents had only recently started moving in.

 

Even in this already expensive district, the complex was among the most high-end properties, setting new records for its sale prices.

 

Taemu’s parents had moved in as soon as the residences became available.

 

Despite inheriting a family business that had been passed down for generations, Taemu’s father had been watching it decline year after year.

 

While their income steadily decreased, his mother’s extravagant spending only grew worse.

 

Yet, even as they struggled with financial deficits, they took out an enormous bank loan to make this move happen.

 

Parking his car in the garage, Taemu headed straight for the elevator.

 

The complex had strict security measures, making the walk from the entrance alone a lengthy ordeal.

 

His mother had already been informed of his arrival and was waiting with the front door open.

 

“You’re here, my son? I was wondering when you’d come. Come in quickly.”

 

The moment he stepped inside, he was met with walls adorned with expensive paintings, giving the entryway the air of an art gallery.

 

His mother, who had studied fine art in college, presented herself as an avid art collector. But in reality, it was all for show.

 

For her, high-end artwork was nothing more than decoration, her true passion was luxury brand shopping.

 

The house staff bowed deeply to Taemu as he passed.

 

He returned the gesture, but his mother, standing behind him, immediately clicked her tongue in disapproval.

 

“You don’t need to bow back. Just acknowledge them and move on. Do you think this is Haeju? Your grandfather always went on about how the house staff are like family, but I’ve never agreed with that nonsense. We pay them, what more do they need?”

 

It was just like her to sneer with such condescension, but no matter how many times he saw it, Taemu could never grow used to it.

 

“Would you like something to eat?”

 

“No, I came because I need to speak with you. Please have a seat.”

 

Miju gestured to the housekeeper to bring refreshments before sitting across from him.

 

“What’s so urgent? It’s been ages since you visited. This is your first time seeing the new place, isn’t it? Everyone’s envious of us, you know…”

 

“Why did you go to Jiwoo’s mother’s house?”

 

Taemu’s sharp tone cut through her words.

 

Miju’s face twisted in irritation.

 

“So, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut, huh? Do you know how rude that woman was? She had the audacity to throw a tray at me! Do you even realize how expensive the dress I was wearing was? Honestly, people who’ve lived without means all their lives have no sense of class…”

 

“Mother.”

 

His voice, taut with fury, made his chest rise and fall sharply.

 

Startled by the rare display of anger, Miju instinctively held her breath and studied her son’s expression.

 

“Let me make this clear, Jiwoo is the woman I’m going to marry. Her parents have worked tirelessly to raise her and Junghu on their own. If anything, the first thing you should have said to them was ‘thank you.’”

 

Miju scoffed and turned away.

 

“I can’t stand that girl! There’s not a single thing I like about her! She may seem modest, but she speaks her mind without any filter. Who told her it was okay to have a child on her own and raise him like that?”

 

Taemu tilted his head slightly, as if he had just heard a logical contradiction.

 

“You… You’ve met Jiwoo before? You didn’t go to her, too… Did you?”

 

His dark eyes locked onto her with a penetrating intensity.

 

For the first time, Miju felt a cold dread creeping over her.

 

He was her son, but at this moment, the chill in his gaze was so sharp, so destructive, that it was difficult to endure.

 

She simply couldn’t understand why he lost all sense of reason whenever that girl was involved.