The Beginning of the Deal

‘A child…?’

I had just become an adult, and it was early for marriage by today’s standards.

But that didn’t mean being treated like a child felt good.

Moreover, this person was the third brother I’d met, and the youngest at twenty-eight.

While there was a significant age gap between us, having the youngest person treat me most like a child felt strangely odd.

I wanted to retort, but I couldn’t even make eye contact, let alone muster the courage to protest.

Instead, Haejin pouted his lips sulkily, expressing his dissatisfaction timidly.

Beomwoo, who had been quietly watching him, shook his head as if resigned and spoke.

[“Wait a moment.”]

[“……?”]

Beomwoo spoke to Haejin, then stopped an employee who happened to be passing by.

He said something to the employee, who listened intently, gave a polite bow, and turned away.

I was curious about what they discussed, but they spoke too quietly to hear.

Then he just silently sipped the coffee that had already been served.

‘He said to wait a moment, but what is he doing? Does he plan to just kill time because a child showed up instead of a marriage partner?’

Doubts swirled in my mind.

If he sees me as a child, he probably can’t consider me for marriage.

Ironically, I had felt something peculiar when I first saw him, which made me feel even stranger.

It’s not like I… was that interested either.

It’s just that his face draws attention…

Feeling unnecessarily defeated, Haejin tried hard not to pay him any mind.

Shortly after, an employee emerged carrying a tray laden with desserts.

The sheer volume of desserts made Haejin think, ‘No matter how much I want sweets, this is too much. Do people really order this much at once?’

When the employee stopped at our table, Beomwoo spoke to Haejin.

[“Having something sweet and tea should help you relax.”]

……That’s for our table?

I thought he might be ordering when he spoke to the employee earlier, but I never imagined it was for me.

And this much, especially.

It was my third time meeting someone from a chaebol family.

I’d eaten expensive food before, but never a spread like this; hiding my surprise was difficult.

[“Well… Thank you for your consideration, but this is too much… I can’t possibly eat it all.”]

[“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I ordered everything available.”]

[“No need to force yourself; just eat what appeals to you.”]

Haejin tried to imply that this wasn’t necessary and felt burdensome, but Beomwoo remained impassive.

By his standards, ordering this much was trivial; he didn’t even seem to consider leftover food wasteful.

‘So he really does see me as a kid… Buying this many sweets?’

I felt bad earlier about being treated like a child and was about to feel upset again, but the feeling quickly passed.

I wondered when I’d get an experience like this again, and I’ve always had a sweet tooth.

Even if I disliked being treated like a child, I couldn’t yet shed my youthful demeanor.

Haejin nodded in thanks, picked up the provided fork, cut a large piece of cake, and ate it.

He started with the strawberry-topped cream slice cake.

The sponge was fluffy, the cream smooth and sweet—it was truly delicious.

After my parents passed away, I couldn’t even have a proper birthday cake.

When I bought treats for myself, it was only Choco Pies or cheap cakes.

Eating something like this after so long sent endorphins rushing.

As Haejin’s mood improved quickly and he munched on the snacks, shedding his stiff, nervous posture, Beomwoo, who had been waiting while drinking coffee, finally spoke.

[“Shall we get to the main point now?”]

[“Ah, yes……”]

Having been gauging the atmosphere until now, Haejin stopped eating and looked at him with a tense expression at this serious opening.

Making eye contact with him was still difficult, but the delicious food had eased his tension somewhat.

He thought it would be rude to avoid his gaze after all this, so he made an effort.

When Haejin lifted his head and met Beomwoo’s eyes, the man looked directly at him for a moment before speaking seriously.

[“What I’m proposing to you isn’t marriage—it’s a transaction.”]

[“A transaction…?”]

[“Don’t you want to get out of that house? If I were you, I’d want to run away from a place like that immediately.”]

[“……”]

When he said ‘transaction,’ I initially thought he meant the inevitable connection to a chaebol family and the financial benefits, which made me reluctant…

But he pinpointed the issue as if he knew exactly what I endured and how I was treated in that house.

The biggest reason Haejin, who had no dreams of joining a top Korean chaebol family and had just graduated high school, was at this absurd meeting was precisely that.

But no matter how much I wanted to leave that house, no matter how sick I was of those people, I couldn’t just listen silently as others badmouthed them.

As much as I resented them, they were also people I owed gratitude.

[“……They’re the ones who took me in after my parents passed away. Please don’t speak of them that way.”]

[“Those ‘good people’ leave marks like that? The bruise on your neck is clearly visible.”]

At Beomwoo’s words, accompanied by a chin gesture as if telling him to cover the signs of abuse, Haejin flinched and covered his neck with his hand.

A few days ago, after meeting the brothers, my uncle asked how it went.

I said I couldn’t go through with it, which led to an argument.

During it, he choked me, leaving a bruise.

I tried covering it with a bandage, but apparently, it was still visible.

Frantically covering his neck, Haejin suddenly wondered, ‘How could he know my uncle did this? Is he testing me?’

[“I-It’s not like that… I just got hurt by accident.”]

[“Do you think I don’t know you’re being abused in that house?”]

[“……”]

As Haejin tried belatedly to explain it was an accidental injury, Beomwoo stated firmly that he knew everything.

Faced with his unwavering certainty, Haejin bit his lower lip hard.

‘Of course,’ he thought, ‘he wouldn’t have asked if I wanted to leave if he didn’t know about the abuse.’

Even in school, a few people knew about the frequent scars and the abuse.

Haejin felt ashamed every time it was discovered.

It felt like exposing his shameful secrets.

As Haejin bowed his head deeply, his face flushed red, Beomwoo, who had been quietly observing him, continued in a calm voice.

[“Think of it as using me. In my opinion, there’s no need to overcomplicate it. We can each take what we want.”]

It was a sweet proposal.

It sounded like salvation—offering freedom to a butterfly stuck in a web, unable to fly.

I felt capable of anything if it meant escaping that house immediately, but Haejin snapped back to his senses.

[“But… that transaction, couldn’t it be done with the other brothers too…?”]

I almost fell for his sweet words, but upon reflection, this transaction wasn’t exclusive to him.

Even if living completely apart would be difficult, simply leaving that house was possible by marrying any of the brothers and moving.

When Haejin asked, finding it strange, Beomwoo averted his gaze and muttered as if exasperated.

[“Seems your family didn’t tell you about us brothers. Perhaps they did it on purpose…”]

[“……What do you mean?”]

[“To be frank, looking beyond surface things like background or job, we brothers aren’t exactly great spouse material.”]

[“You know my eldest brother is over ten years older than you, right?”]

[“He’s already been married.”]

[“What? Been married, what do you…”]

[“He was married and then divorced. He even has a child who just started elementary school.”]

Divorced? Elementary school? No one mentioned that!

It was true I felt the age gap with the first Alpha was burdensome.

But he took such good care of himself he didn’t look that much older.

Having prepared myself for a potentially larger gap, it wasn’t as burdensome as I’d feared.

So I hadn’t viewed him too negatively, but divorced with a child…?

Divorce and having a child aren’t crimes, but for Haejin, who just graduated high school, it was a daunting prospect for a spouse.

As Haejin’s eyes filled with confusion, Beomwoo brought up the second brother matter-of-factly.

[“And my second brother uses drugs.”]

[“D-Drugs?”]

[“Didn’t you notice anything odd when you saw him? His complexion wasn’t great, was it?”]

[“He scratches his body often—it’s a side effect.”]

[“He manages to function because he uses top-tier stuff, but…”]

[“Anyway, I assume you wouldn’t want to marry a drug addict. Am I wrong?”]

[“……Hah.”]

Haejin let out an involuntary breath.

There was no way to verify if the second Alpha really used drugs.

But remembering how I thought, ‘Why does he scratch so much?’ when we met, it didn’t seem entirely slanderous.

A man with an elementary school kid was one thing, but presenting a drug user at a matchmaking meeting…?

When I heard this chaebol family, which seemed to have everything, was putting me forward as a candidate, I had my suspicions.

Even with the company at stake, were they pushing for marriage not just due to a simple promise, but because the candidates had major flaws—like being over forty, having unspeakable tastes, or already having children, like in internet rumors or dramas?

When I actually met them, they seemed fine, unlike my worries, though I wasn’t attracted.

But both brothers turned out to be people you couldn’t recommend anywhere.

No matter how rich the family, this felt excessive.

Feeling absurd, Haejin gulped down the hot tea and glanced at Beomwoo before him.

He didn’t think he was lying.

He needed to verify, but it seemed unlikely he’d tell a lie that would be exposed if Haejin met the other brothers even once.

Staring intently at Beomwoo, Haejin spoke.

[“Then what about you? You, I mean, Beomwoo-ssi, said earlier your brothers aren’t decent…”]

[“So… you might have some problems too.”]

[“Well. I’m not particularly prone to creating weaknesses.”]

[“I’m not a divorcee, I have no children, and I don’t do drugs.”]

[“……”]

When Haejin asked, recalling his words, Beomwoo answered confidently.

It’s not like others create weaknesses on purpose…

But he seemed so self-assured.

Given that exposing his brothers’ flaws could make him a target for retaliation, speaking so boldly couldn’t be easy.

He genuinely seemed to have nothing weighing on him.

[“If you marry me, I’ll ensure you don’t need to worry about anything.”]

[“Choosing me is better than my brothers.”]

[“I’m confident I’m better than someone with a criminal record or a history of infidelity.”]

[“So wouldn’t it be better to make a deal with me?”]

Beomwoo persuaded Haejin, making eye contact again.

Marrying the eldest brother meant suddenly gaining an elementary school child.

Marrying the second brother meant being with a drug addict whose actions were unpredictable.

He argued marrying him, with the fewest problems, was better.

If I had to choose one of three, picking the cleaner option over the two with issues was logical.

Yet, Haejin still felt uncertain.

Truthfully, choosing a marriage partner at a first meeting like this was inherently difficult for Haejin.

As Haejin fidgeted with his lips, still looking troubled, Beomwoo, sensing his hesitation, asked.

[“What more do you need? If you want something else, tell me.”]

[“It’s not that I want more…”]

[“It’s just that talking about marriage so soon after meeting… I’m not sure… I wonder if this is really okay.”]

[“Do you want a marriage based on love and dating, is that it?”]

Haejin spoke indirectly, fearing being treated like a child again, but Beomwoo immediately grasped the essence.

Haejin hesitated, then confessed what he’d been pondering every time he attended these meetings.

[“Actually, shouldn’t there be feelings for marriage?”]

[“And it’s not just now; if we marry, we’ll live together continuously.”]

[“I can’t imagine doing that without any affection…”]

Haejin’s parents had a good relationship, but his aunt and uncle’s marriage was strained.

They shouted at each other at least once daily; it was a good day if nothing broke.

Even couples who marry madly in love can grow apart.

Was it right to accept this marriage just because I wanted to leave that house…?

Since we’d marry without love, might we end up worse than them?

Imagining a bleak future, Haejin grew prematurely afraid.

Beomwoo, arms crossed, thought for a moment before speaking.

[“I assumed you didn’t care about feelings since you came to a matchmaking meeting.”]

[“That’s because my aunt…”]

Haejin started to say his aunt made him come, then quickly closed his mouth.

He was already found out, but admitting he was forced felt embarrassing after pretending otherwise.

Though Haejin stopped speaking at an awkward moment, Beomwoo had already assessed the situation.

He understood Haejin didn’t want to be there and was in a position where he had little choice but to marry.

After comprehending everything, Beomwoo stayed silent as if thinking, then slowly spoke.

[“Well. If you truly want something like love…”]

[“……”]

[“I can try that too.”]

Haejin bit his lip harder at his offer to ‘try love’ delivered with a completely emotionless face.

Can feelings really be forced?

As my aunt said, I’m insignificant.

Maybe someone could love someone like me, but would this exceptional Alpha ever come to like me?

This man with wealth and outstanding looks?

He knew feelings couldn’t be forced by effort.

But all other lifelines offered to Haejin were rotten; only one remained intact.

After verifying the truth of his words and meeting a few more times, with no other options, Haejin ultimately decided to trust him.