TMP Chapter 1: Finally Within My Domain

On a scorching summer day, with the sun beating down relentlessly, Haewon trudged up the hill, enduring the heat that burned the crown of her head. Just as she thought she might overheat completely, she finally reached her destination.

Haa… She halted, exhaling a breath of hot air.

Before her stood an imposing wall, so tall that even when she craned her neck, the building beyond remained out of sight.

As she stared blankly upward, a sudden mechanical buzz broke the silence. Turning toward the sound, she spotted a black camera mounted above the iron gate. The CCTV camera followed her movements, its slow, deliberate tracking making her feel as if she were under surveillance—though she had done nothing wrong.

Still, turning back wasn’t an option.

Haewon, this person is your greatest benefactor. You should thank them properly for helping you get accepted.

That was what Jungsook, the director of the self-reliance center, had said when Haewon had complained about having to visit in person.

Though she had grumbled at the time, she knew expressing gratitude for the support she had received was the right thing to do. What truly unsettled her was the unease of stepping into a grand estate—an environment that would only remind her of her own insignificance.

Steeling herself with Jungsook’s words, Haewon cautiously pressed the doorbell.

“Who is it?”

“Hello, my name is Lee Haewon. I’m here to see Chairwoman Cha Myeonghee.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes.”

“Please wait a moment.”

After a brief silence, the intercom crackled again.

“You may enter.”

With that, the heavy gate unlocked, revealing a stone-faced man standing just inside.

“Follow me,” he said curtly, offering no greeting.

Haewon followed him up a flight of over ten stone steps. Beyond a neatly maintained but modest garden, a modern two-story mansion loomed into view.

“The chairwoman is expecting you. Go inside.”

The man led her only as far as the front entrance before stepping back, making it clear that his role ended there. He didn’t even spare her a glance.

Had it been a year since she last saw her? When she was younger, she used to meet Cha Myeonghee at least three or four times a year. But ever since she started college, even once a year had become rare.

Every encounter with Chairwoman Cha always filled her with an inexplicable tension. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Haewon stepped inside.

Cha Myeonghee sat in the center of the living room, her back to the entrance, perched on a single-seater sofa. Even from behind, her aura was unmistakable.

Come to think of it, she had been like this from the very first meeting.

“So, it’s you.”

Fiddling with her pearl earrings, Cha Myeonghee spoke indifferently.

Haewon’s shoulders slumped.

She doesn’t like me either.

–

It was a familiar scene. Visitors always marveled at Haewon’s beauty. Wanting to appear even more charming, she forced a bright smile and widened her eyes.

But in the end, the children who were chosen for adoption were always the ones who hid behind Haewon, watching nervously from the shadows. This had happened more times than she could count.

And yet, for some inexplicable reason, Haewon later received support from Chairwoman Cha Myeonghee—something far beyond what someone in her position could have ever imagined. No one had to tell her that this woman held her future in her hands. The moment young Haewon met Cha Myeonghee’s gaze, she instinctively understood.

Officially, she was the top scholar of the Samwoo Scholarship Foundation, which was run by Chairwoman Cha. But even as a scholarship student, receiving benefits like an overseas language program while still in high school was far from ordinary.

Even as a child, Haewon knew how exceptional Cha Myeonghee’s patronage was. The children in her situation were incredibly perceptive. That was why Haewon never wanted to disappoint her. More than that, she wanted to be the proud face of the Samwoo Scholarship Foundation. That singular desire fueled her relentless efforts.

Throughout middle and high school, she never once lost her spot as the top student. She graduated from S University’s law department, completed law school, and passed the bar exam. Her hard work had paid off, earning her a status no one could dismiss.

“Hello.”

Haewon bowed deeply toward Cha Myeonghee, who sat on the sofa.

“You’re here?”

As always, the chairwoman responded briefly before falling silent. Her demeanor made it clear—she was the one who listened, and Haewon’s role was to report. In the beginning, it had made her anxious. But after several meetings, she had grown used to it.

“Director Jungsook asked me to give you this.”

Standing straight, Haewon pulled a card from her bag and placed it on the table.

“What is this?”

Cha Myeonghee picked up the card and asked indifferently.

“It’s a thank-you card from the children. They made it for you.”

“Hm.”

The chairwoman glanced at the uneven, clumsy handwriting before casually setting the card back down.

For a brief moment, Haewon thought that card was just like her—something insignificant, easily discarded.

“What are you doing? Sit.”

Haewon straightened her back as she took a seat on the sofa.

“I heard your law school grades were excellent.”

“Thanks to you.”

At Haewon’s response, a faint smile flickered across Cha Myeonghee’s face before disappearing.

“I don’t know why your intelligence is supposed to be my doing, but…”

She paused, taking a sip from the tea her housekeeper had brought. Setting the cup down, she spoke again. Haewon sat attentively, waiting for her next words.

“Thanks to you, the Samwoo Scholarship Foundation has another success story. Consider this a reward.”

Opening a drawer, Cha Myeonghee pulled out a card and held it out. It was about the size of a credit card but looked slightly different.

“It’s the key to an officetel.”

“…Pardon?”

Haewon’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected nature of the card. This was something she had never even dreamed of.

“Think of it as a congratulatory gift.”

An officetel, of all things. Was this just another extension of Chairwoman Cha’s sponsorship? Haewon stared at the key in her hand, still unable to get used to the grand scale of Cha Myeonghee’s support.

“Thank you.”

She wanted to refuse it—desperately so—but that was beyond her reach. Just because she was now capable of standing on her own didn’t mean she could reject Cha Myeonghee’s support. The weight of all she had received was far too heavy. Escaping from that shadow might be impossible forever—unless one day, the chairwoman simply lost interest in her.

So refusing was meaningless. As always, all she had to do was live up to Cha Myeonghee’s expectations. It wasn’t her place to question or attach meaning to any of this.

“Now that you’re officially a lawyer…”

The chairwoman trailed off, glancing at Haewon with a sharp gaze, as if what she was about to say was particularly significant.

“How about joining Samwoo Group?”

It sounded like a suggestion, but for someone like Haewon, it was no different from a command. If that was what Cha Myeonghee wanted, she had to comply. It was the only way to repay the debt she owed. And if it helped lighten the burden of her sponsorship, there was no reason to hesitate.

Besides, for Haewon, securing a position at Samwoo Group—the third most powerful conglomerate—wasn’t a bad deal.

“I’ll do it.”

“Good. You must be busy. You should get going.”

The conversation was over. It was her cue to leave, and Haewon quickly caught on.

“Yes, I’ll take my leave. Goodbye.”

She bowed deeply and walked out.

“Cheif Secretary Yoon.”

“Yes.”

At Chairwoman Cha’s call, Cheif Secretary Yoon, who had been waiting at a distance, swiftly approached.

“Is Kangwoo awake?”

“The Executive Director went out for a workout.”

“That boy, coming back from an overseas trip at dawn and already exercising. Ah, to be young.”

“…Madam.”

Cheif Secretary Yoon hesitated for a moment, studying her expression before cautiously speaking. Sensing he had something to say, Myeonghee gave him a brief glance, signaling him to continue.

“The officetel you gifted Miss Haewon… isn’t that where the Executive Director also resides?”

Myeonghee immediately caught his meaning and let out a quiet chuckle. He was worried about her son, Kangwoo, getting involved with Haewon.

“Are you concerned?”

“They aren’t strangers.”

Cheif Secretary Yoon still vividly remembered the way Kangwoo had looked at Haewon—like a predator locking onto its prey. That piercing gaze remained fresh in his mind.

Kangwoo was the type who never gave up on what he wanted. It was obvious how things would unfold between them.

“At most, it’ll just be a fling.”

Myeonghee muttered nonchalantly, as if discussing someone else’s business.

“Still, wouldn’t it be best to take precautions…”

“Leave it be. They will never marry.”

She spoke with absolute certainty, as if she knew something no one else did. Cheif Secretary Yoon, who had spent a lifetime serving her, only relaxed once he heard the unwavering confidence in her voice.

“Bring me a strong coffee in the study.”

Chairwoman Cha rose smoothly, heading toward her study. Cheif Secretary Yoon hurried off to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Haewon finally felt like she could breathe as she stepped outside. She inhaled deeply, as if she had been suffocating the entire time.

She should have grown used to it by now. But for some reason, every time she faced Cha Myeonghee, the tension never quite faded.

“Hey, scholar student. What are you doing standing there?”

Lost in thought, Haewon looked up. Just when she had finally started to relax, a presence that made her tense all over again appeared.

Standing at the top of the stairs was none other than Do Kangwoo, the only heir of Samwoo Group and the head of the planning division.

Dressed in workout clothes, Kangwoo’s forehead was damp with sweat. His wet hair should have looked messy, but on him, it somehow suited him—like he had just stepped out of a sportswear commercial.

Why did it feel like he smelled of the forest rather than sweat?

“You should drop that title. I’m not a student anymore.”

She had graduated law school. There was no reason for him to keep calling her a scholar.

“That’s a shame. I kind of liked it.”

Kangwoo smirked at her bold response. Annoyingly enough, even that smile was irritatingly refreshing.