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A few days later, the date for the second date arrived.
Today was the day to meet the first son, ‘Hyun-nam’.
“Haa…….”
Changing clothes to meet Hyun-nam, Haejin let out a small sigh.
He felt a sense of heaviness pressing on his chest as he went.
It was a different feeling from when he went to meet Beomwoo.
His mindset was inevitably different.
When he went to meet Beomwoo for the first date, he had also been nervous.
But if that was a nervousness that felt like ‘I need to keep my wits about me’, now it was a different feeling.
It was the feeling of going to meet a stranger.
But it was a stranger he wasn’t exactly thrilled to see.
In this life, it was only their third meeting.
Even that was very brief, so it was natural to feel unfamiliar.
But in truth, Haejin had known him since his past life.
In terms of time, he had known him for several years.
But Haejin found him uncomfortable.
There was no one in that household he could interact with comfortably.
They didn’t cross paths often, so awkwardness was natural.
But even aside from that, he was a bit…… a difficult person.
Even in his past life, his first impression was of a very dignified and neat person.
His appearance, his actions—everything was without flaw.
He seemed like a person without faults.
It was to the point where Haejin thought, ‘Wouldn’t a contract marriage with someone like this be okay?’
However, after learning he had a past marriage, a child, and a significant age gap, Haejin stopped considering him as a marriage prospect.
Also, since the person who informed him of this was Beomwoo, who made a stronger first impression, he probably gave up the thought more quickly.
Anyway, while he didn’t consider him as a marriage prospect for other reasons, it was true his first impression had been good.
But not long after marrying Beomwoo, that image shattered completely.
Once or twice a year, the entire family would gather for a meal.
It was said that the chairman, while alive, formally created such occasions precisely because the family didn’t get along well.
The tradition continued.
As Beomwoo’s spouse, Haejin had to participate in those gatherings.
Even without that, since the family didn’t view him favorably, it was uncomfortable.
Since they didn’t get along with each other either, it was like sitting on pins and needles.
He wasn’t a big eater to begin with.
Since it wasn’t a comfortable setting, eating was difficult.
As Haejin picked at his food with his chopsticks, Beomwoo, sitting beside him, noticed.
He spoke to him in a low, whispering voice.
[No matter how poor your appetite, it’s better to eat something.]
[They’re the kind of people who will criticize you even for not being able to eat.]
[…….]
Beomwoo warned him that the people at this gathering had not the slightest intention of getting along.
On the contrary, they were people constantly on the lookout for any opportunity to pick apart anything.
So he should be careful with his behavior.
Everyone already had bad blood.
Since Beomwoo had even inherited the company through his marriage to Haejin, he was practically public enemy number one here.
Since Haejin was the one who chose him as a marriage partner, it was natural they disliked him too.
Eating a meal surrounded by people who hated him made his stomach churn.
But having been warned, he couldn’t afford to give them any grounds for criticism.
Haejin nodded vaguely.
Then he forced himself to shovel food into his mouth.
As hard as it was, time passed slowly.
But even this grueling time had an end.
After finishing the served food and the meal was roughly over, some left their seats briefly to smoke.
Or it was time for everyone to attend to their own affairs.
His stomach had been unsettled since earlier.
So Haejin finally saw his chance and cautiously brought it up.
[Um…… I’ll go to the restroom for a moment.]
[…….]
No one responded to his words.
Haejin felt awkward for speaking up.
But since no one objected, he quietly rose from his seat.
He managed to slip out.
But perhaps because it was such a large, high-end restaurant, the layout was like a maze.
It was so vast that he had to ask staff for directions.
He even had to pass through a central courtyard to find the restroom.
After taking care of his business and barely calming his queasy stomach, he was on his way back.
He was passing through the courtyard again when he saw Beomwoo standing there.
Beomwoo was a cold and scary person to Haejin.
But he was also the one he liked and his husband.
Seeing him, Haejin’s heart somehow softened.
Since he was reluctant to return to the seat alone, he thought about going back with him.
He was about to step in that direction when a different voice came from somewhere.
[How long are you going to keep him around?]
It was a familiar voice.
Looking to see who it was, he saw Hyun-nam, the eldest brother, standing beside Beomwoo.
Even though he had spoken with Hyun-nam a few times, he didn’t immediately recognize the owner of the voice.
It sounded different from usual—somehow colder and lower.
He had only heard one sentence.
But it seemed like they were having a serious conversation.
And above all…… the ‘him’ Hyun-nam mentioned somehow seemed to refer to Haejin.
It wasn’t like they had a pet.
The only one who could be described as ‘kept around’ was Haejin himself.
Haejin was a bit flustered.
But it felt wrong to pass by at this timing.
There was no other way back.
Also…… since they were talking about him, his feet wouldn’t move.
He knew eavesdropping was bad.
But it was as hard to pull away as if Pandora’s box were right before his eyes.
Unconsciously, Haejin stepped back hesitantly and hid his body.
Beomwoo, who had been smoking, looked coldly at Hyun-nam and retorted.
[Why ask that?]
[You’re not even interested.]
[Is it so strange for an older brother to be concerned about his younger brother?]
[Listen to you, people would think you’re a caring older brother.]
[No, it’s weird, isn’t it?]
[You’ve already inherited the company, so that’s the end of it, right?]
[It’s not like you married for love anyway.]
Beomwoo retorted as if he saw no need to answer.
But Hyun-nam shrugged his shoulders and chattered lightly.
Listening only to the words, Beomwoo seemed oddly defensive in the conversation.
But tone was important.
Hyun-nam was only pretending to be light-hearted.
His sarcastic and aggressive attitude was evident.
Thinking about how dignified and quietly Hyun-nam usually spoke to others made it clear.
Moreover, it was clearly a remark urging divorce.
At the time, Haejin had no reason nor desire to divorce him.
So he listened to their conversation with dissatisfaction.
He thought, ‘Why is he saying things like that?’
Beomwoo took the cigarette from his lips.
Though it hadn’t been lit long, he flicked it to the ground.
He extinguished the ember with the tip of his shoe.
As Beomwoo’s gaze, which had been lowered to the ground, rose again, he slowly looked up.
He stared at Hyun-nam.
The eyes that had been indifferent, as if dealing with a nuisance just moments before, had turned as cold as ice.
It felt like a murderous intent palpable even to Haejin watching from afar.
Perhaps Hyun-nam, who was closer, sensed an even more unusual and intense aura.
His face colored with perplexity.
At that moment, Beomwoo took a step toward Hyun-nam.
The moment his foot stepped forward, Hyun-nam, who had been meeting his gaze, flinched.
Hyun-nam faltered under the extraordinary pressure.
He seemed like he wanted to step back.
But not wanting to show fear, he barely kept both feet planted and tried not to react.
However, the two hands by his thighs were clenched so tightly into fists they had turned pale white.
Standing opposite Hyun-nam, Beomwoo exhaled a puff of hazy smoke.
[I have no intention of doing as you wish.]
[So, how about you stop with the divorce talk?]
[Ah, is that the only way you can attack me?]
[Hah, is this bastard crazy?!]
He retorted as if it was obvious Hyun-nam would use a divorce as a pretext to attack him.
He asked if that was the only way he could bring him down.
Since that statement was essentially telling Hyun-nam he had no ability, Hyun-nam’s face instantly flushed bright red.
He began to breathe heavily.
And even if it wasn’t meant as mockery, blowing cigarette smoke in someone’s face was an inconsiderate act.
No matter if both were smokers, it was an offensive behavior.
One might have been shocked and put off by this unseen side of Beomwoo.
But Haejin had seen Hyun-nam first speak as if urging a divorce and mock him.
So instead…… his heart fluttered a little.
At the time, he was also deeply infatuated.
So seeing this unknown side was even thrilling.
Looking back now, he was seriously afflicted back then.
Anyway, as Beomwoo didn’t just take it but instead provoked him, Hyun-nam, who had been trembling as if about to throw a punch any second, recognized his surroundings.
He suppressed his temper.
Since it was a restaurant they often visited for gatherings, everyone who knew them would know.
If word got out that brothers had come to blows, it would be problematic.
Also, it was a family event in name, so such a thing shouldn’t happen.
Barely suppressing his temper but unable to fully quell his anger, Hyun-nam glared sharply at Beomwoo.
Then he twitched one corner of his mouth and spoke as if sneering.
[Fine.]
[You live like that, never receiving love your whole life.]
[Live with that loveless marriage of yours.]
He said Beomwoo had always been that way and would remain so forever.
He said he would never receiving love.
It was a statement so close to a curse it was hard to believe it came from family.