Even if I have to cross the line - Chapter 3

The warmth with which Mrs. Han, the housekeeper who had cared for Taegun since he was young, welcomed him could be easily seen from the lavish food she had prepared.

Looking at the wide variety of dishes in front of her, Hayun was amazed, wondering if the housekeeper had mistakenly prepared for a much larger group.

“Jieun is on duty tonight, so you’ll only be able to see her tomorrow evening,” Taegun explained, referring to his fiancée, who was often busy as a surgeon. 

He added with a note of regret, “If you’d told her a week earlier, she would’ve made time no matter what.”

“I only heard about the wedding last week,” Hayun replied, knowing that her cousin, who often forgot anything unimportant, had a careless nature and Taegun knew better than anyone.

Taegun nodded knowingly. “It wasn’t that you heard about it last week; it’s more likely you only remembered it then. I even sent you an email about it last November, worried you’d forget.”

Hayun shot a playful glare at her cousin, who hadn’t even replied to her email. Chaehun chuckled at her playful scolding, knowing full well how absurd his excuse was.

Taegun, smiling helplessly, picked up his utensils. “Well, let’s eat first. You probably haven’t had a proper meal after flying for over ten hours, and Hayun must be starving since she hasn’t eaten since lunch.”

The meal continued quietly, with no one breaking the silence except for the clinking of silverware. Taegun finally broke the silence after finishing his meal and wiping his mouth. A casual conversation flowed from there, mostly led by Taegun with Hayun adding occasional remarks, creating a warm, lively atmosphere.

At one point, Taegun turned to Chaehun, who had been silently observing the conversation. “Chaehun,” he called.

Chaeheon, who had been listening quietly, raised an eyebrow. Hayun, observing him, couldn’t help but think how strikingly quiet he was. As she reflected on her impression of him, Taegun cleared his throat and carefully asked, “When are you planning to come back?”

“What do you mean?” Chaehun responded, puzzled.

“I mean, when will you settle down in Korea? Don’t you think it’s time to come back for good?” Taegun asked, leaning forward with a serious expression.

Chaehun looked at him calmly. “I’m not sure. Me being abroad is probably more convenient for you anyway.”

He leaned back against his chair, crossing his arms and closing his eyes briefly before reopening them. “I don’t want to get caught in unnecessary conflicts.”

Taegun gave a strained smile. “I know you’ve had a hard time being caught between me and my uncle.”

The current situation with KW Group was precarious, like standing on thin ice that could crack at any moment. The power struggle between Taegun and his uncle, Kang Jinchul, had been ongoing since Jinchul returned to Korea from an overseas branch four years ago, just after Taegun became vice chairman.

Kang Jinchul, fueled by his ambition for the chairman position, had been using Chaehun as a pawn, taking advantage of the fact that the current chairman, Kang Manho, favored Chaehun.

Chaehun shrugged indifferently. “It doesn’t really matter to me.”

Despite being forced to leave Korea years ago due to his father Kang Jinchul’s involvement in a drug trafficking scandal, Chaehun had found that living abroad suited him. The hotel business he inherited from his late mother was thriving under his management, and he had recently purchased a nearby golf course that was doing well. Life overseas had its perks.

But in Korea, things were different. The biggest challenge was his father, Kang Jinchul, who was always looking for a way to capitalize on Chaehun’s successes.

As Chaehun remembered the series of desperate phone calls his father made when he found out about his trip to Korea, he asked, “So? What’s your point?”

He knew Taegun was struggling with insomnia and exhausting himself trying to outmaneuver Jinchul, but he couldn’t figure out why Taegun wanted him back in Korea.

Taegun hesitated, then leaned forward with determination. “Let me be direct. I want you to take over the KW Hotel business.”

The next morning, as Hayun came down the stairs after getting ready for school, she paused, stunned by what she saw in the living room. The scene in front of her made her think, “It’s like we have the Statue of Liberty here.”

A large man sat on the sofa, head tilted back, eyes closed, and dressed in a tracksuit, as if he had just returned from an early morning jog. His muscular frame made the sofa look small, the surprising contrast caught her off guard.

Hayun, who had been living in this house for three years, had never seen this sight before. She clamped her hands over her mouth, stopping herself from letting out a gasp of admiration. The deep breath she had taken upstairs felt pointless now.

Her reaction was almost instinctual, a typical flutter of excitement any woman might feel when seeing a handsome man. Her reaction wasn’t unusual.

“How could anyone forget a face like that?” she thought, feeling frustrated that she couldn’t find any photos of him from the past, despite rummaging through her album last night.

Her throat felt dry, and she thought she should drink a glass of water before heading out. Just then, she was frozen, staring at Chaehun, when the housekeeper entered the living room, holding a tray of fruit drinks.

“Oh my, Hayun! You’re up early. I was just about to call you,” the housekeeper said, snapping Hayun out of her trance.

At the housekeeper’s voice, Chaehun’s eyelids lifted slowly, revealing dark eyes still heavy with sleep. Startled, Hayeon quickly turned her head away, pretending she had just come down the stairs, and forced a smile.

“Go on, Hayun. Your cereal and milk are ready,” the housekeeper said.

“Yes, thank you” Hayun replied, her voice still a bit hoarse. Embarrassed by her reaction, she cleared her throat and glanced sideways, noticing Chaehun lowering the hand that had been pressed against his eyes.

His gaze, dark and unreadable in the dim morning light, met hers, sending a chill down her spine. He looked dangerous, as if he had been born to mesmerize and captivate.

Her body tensed, and her palms grew sweaty. Chaehun seemed like a man who could bewitch anyone effortlessly.

“Is this what they mean by being captivated?” Hayun wondered, feeling the disappointment of breaking eye contact as the housekeeper blocked her view.

She wanted to say something, anything, to hold his attention a little longer, but she couldn’t find the words. Turning around, she heard Chaehun’s smooth, deep voice thanking the housekeeper, and it was so mesmerizing that she thought she could volunteer to be his alarm clock for the rest of her life, just to hear it every morning.

Sighing, Hayun entered the kitchen, finally hiding from Chaehun’s presence. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she took a deep breath to calm down.

“What is wrong with me?” she muttered, running a hand over her heart. It was her first time feeling this timid and shy. She wasn’t someone who usually got nervous easily, but something about Chaehun turned her into a bundle of nerves.

It was unfamiliar yet strangely exciting, and Hayun couldn’t help but smile at that feeling.