She was definitely the ’employer’ to Hoyeon. She had pleaded earnestly for help so that she could meet Jae-oh, and now that she had done a lot, she felt like she should at least give something back. Hoyeon was trying to shake her and coerce her into giving something, acting as if she was owed a lot.

Until now, Kyunghee could overlook and pass by with some understanding.

However, since things didn’t go as planned and she faced disregard from all sides, Kyunghee didn’t want to deal with persuading anyone, whether it was Kwon Hoyeon or Han Jae-oh.

Therefore, without contacting Hoyeon at all, Kyunghee was observing the situation.

“It seems better than I thought. He doesn’t seem to have any intention to exclude the investment in the tower.”

It was as expected. Kwon Hoyeon had no intention of giving up on Han Jae-oh.

So, since there was no need to worry about Hoyeon exposing the contract, Kyunghee left the dressing room with a gloomy face.

[My brother said so yesterday. Even if my mother wants to meet, don’t meet her.]

Kyunghee felt somewhat bewildered as she witnessed Chaeyoon, whom she thought she could handle as she pleased, using Jae-oh as a shield. It was more perplexing than Kwon Hoyeon’s threat.

However, this was just the image she had cultivated that tripped her up. Chaeyoon as a person wasn’t difficult to deal with. Therefore, Kyunghee was waiting for Chaeyoon’s contact.
At that moment, Kyunghee’s phone, somewhere in the room, rang.

Kyunghee walked leisurely towards it and checked the caller.

“Song Chaeyoon”

Kyunghee’s eyes blinked expressionlessly at Chaeyoon’s name.

Kyunghee silenced the ringer and chose not to answer the call.

As a result, the call was disconnected, and a message came.

“Dear mother, this is Chaeyoon. Please call me when you can.”

Having seen the message, Kyunghee turned the phone upside down and stood up.

She decided not to contact Chaeyoon until another call came.

[Star icon]

Another contact from Chaeyoon came a day later, in the bright daylight.

This time, too, Kyunghee did not answer the call immediately.

And when the phone rang again, Kyunghee finally answered it.

“Hello.”

It was a relaxed voice.

[Dash] Dear mother, it’s me.

“Yeah. What’s the matter?”

[Dash] Uh… I contacted you because of the construction company-related call last time.

“Really? Now Jae-oh has allowed you to meet me. That’s why you’ve been calling several times.”

Although she spoke with a relaxed tone, there was an uncomfortable undertone.

[Dash] If you felt bad because I declined at that time, I apologize. I didn’t mean to ignore what you said, dear mother.

When Chaeyoon lowered her head and entered, one corner of Kyunghee’s lips stretched out coldly.

It was a smile mixed with irony, but the words that flowed out were affectionate.

“Yeah, did you do that on purpose? I realized that if you had come out to meet me without Jae-oh knowing back then, it would have been embarrassing only for me.”

The expression pretending to think about Chaeyoon was an expression of complete indifference.

[Dash] Thank you for understanding.

“So, when is a good time?”

[Dash] I think I can meet you in the evening. Is that okay?

“Yeah.”

[Dash] Then I’ll send you the time and place.

With Kyunghee’s acknowledgment, the call ended.

A few hours later.

Chaeyoon arrived at the meeting place first.

Kyunghee, after giving Chaeyoon a brief nod of acknowledgment, sat down.

Facing each other, Kyunghee and Chaeyoon took a moment to catch their breath before Chaeyoon spoke.

“May I ask about what you wanted to say regarding the construction company last time?”

Her cautious words revealed the gentle and considerate Chaeyoon, who Kyunghee had seen so far.

Looking at her face, it was hard to believe the atmosphere Kyunghee felt when rejecting her over the phone.

Kyunghee withdrew her gaze, which had been examining Chaeyoon’s expression, and replied.

“I wanted to say that if you could clear up the misunderstanding with Jae-oh. He seems to think that you chose Jo Yeong Construction as the TK Tower construction company with the assumption that he will connect you with the daughter of Jo Yeong Group.”

Chaeyoon’s lips closed tightly.

Kyunghee noticed the darkening expression on Chaeyoon’s face and continued speaking.

“If you had considered Jo Yeong Construction as a candidate for your remarriage partner with the Jo Yeong Group daughter in mind, I won’t deny it.”

“…….”
“But, as you know, I had these thoughts when I heard that you are determined to divorce Jae-oh. Do you remember saying that you have no emotions towards me even when you were learning under Jae-oh?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah. So that’s why. I felt there was no progress between you two, and I persuaded him to hand over the TK Tower project to Jae-oh, considering his thoughts about Jae-oh. But now, it feels like I’m the one selling Jae-oh and setting things up… Ha, it’s really awkward.”

Kyunghee sighed deeply as if appealing her strange emotions, lifting her shoulders up to her ears.

Observing Kyunghee’s bewildered expression, Chaeyoon nodded slightly and spoke.

“Oh, so that’s why you contacted me. You must have been frustrated.”

Kyunghee responded with a deep sigh.

“But, dear mother, I have something to ask.”

The eyes, which had been staring elsewhere, turned to look at Chaeyoon.

Meeting Kyunghee’s eyes, Chaeyoon gazed directly at her and continued speaking.

“Regarding the time you called me before and asked about my relationship with Director Lim, were you talking about this photo?”

The photo she presented with the question was one of the photos Kyunghee had given to Jipil.

The fact that the photo came from Chaeyoon meant that Jipil had shared the story about the photo with Jae-oh and him.

“Yes, that’s right. I was so surprised when I saw that, I showed it to my father. But why?”

Kyunghee accepted it without showing any sign of confusion.

Even with Kyunghee’s unwavering expression, Chaeyoon kept her eyes on her and asked another question.

“Where did you get this photo?”

“Someone I know gave it to me.”

“Who is this acquaintance?”

With persistent questioning, Kyunghee’s eye corners sharpened.

“What are you doing right now?”

She tried to express her displeasure by stiffening her facial muscles, but Chaeyoon remained unfazed.

“Please tell me. It’s important to me, so I really want to know.”

It was even more forceful.

‘Look at this?’

Slightly surprised by Chaeyoon’s aggressive stance, Kyunghee decided to step back first.

“The person who gave it to me also received it from someone else, so I don’t exactly know where it originated.”

“It’s not that you don’t know, but that you’re pretending not to know, right?”

Kyunghee’s complexion turned cold.

The ends of her eyes, which revealed annoyance, became sharp.

“What?”