The next morning.
There were more reporters than usual gathered at SH Group headquarters.
The contract marriage rumor spread by Unhak’s orders caused a huge uproar within a day.
But Sung-ho didn’t waver.
He was in the CEO’s office, receiving a report from Manager Kim.
Manager Kim "Mr. President, we’ve been contacted by the police."
Sung-ho "And Unhak?"
Manager Kim "No direct charges have been confirmed yet, but the person who took the photo testified that they were acting on Unhak’s orders."
Sung-ho looked out the window for a moment.
Sung-ho "...That’s enough."
Manager Kim "And there’s one more thing."
"..."
Manager Kim held out a document envelope.
Manager Kim "These are the materials Unhak claims to have secured."
Sung-ho opened the envelope.
Inside was a copy of the marriage contract.
And the last page.
'According to the agreement of both parties, the contract may be terminated even before the contract period ends.'
Sung-ho’s expression hardened.
Manager Kim "It looks like Unhak plans to use this clause to tell the press that Ms. Yeoju broke the contract first."
Sung-ho slowly folded the contract.
Sung-ho "No matter what happens, absolutely not."
---
Meanwhile.
The newlywed home.
Yeoju was sitting on the living room sofa, staring at her phone.
The internet was full of all kinds of speculation.
'Image-making for a chaebol family?'
'The truth behind the sudden marriage?'
'Who is CEO Park Sung-ho’s wife?'
Yeoju put down her phone.
Just then, the front door opened.
Sung-ho came in.
Yeoju stood up from her seat.
Yeoju "...You’re back?"
Sung-ho "Yes."
He walked up to her.
Then he handed over the documents in his hand.
Sung-ho "Look at this first."
Yeoju opened the contract.
The moment she checked it, her eyes widened.
Yeoju "...Unhak has this?"
Sung-ho "Yes."
Yeoju "...Then I."
Sung-ho shook his head firmly.
Sung-ho "Don’t worry about anything."
Yeoju "But if it stays like this, it’ll look like I broke the contract..."
Sung-ho "I won’t let that happen."
"..."
Sung-ho paused for a moment.
Then he quietly looked into Yeoju’s eyes.
Sung-ho "Actually, I found a way to settle this today."
Yeoju "What is it?"
Sung-ho took out another sheet of paper.
Yeoju’s eyes grew wider and wider as she read.
Yeoju "...What is this?"
Sung-ho "A divorce agreement."
"..."
"And this is."
Sung-ho held out the second document.
"A contract termination agreement."
Yeoju looked at him with an expression that showed she didn’t understand.
Anxiety flickered in her eyes.
Sung-ho "We’re ending the contract today."
"The contract marriage we entered into ends as of today."
"..."
"And after that."
"..."
"We’ll file a new marriage registration."
Sung-ho held out the third document.
It was a marriage registration form.
Yeoju was speechless.
Sung-ho’s face was much calmer than before.
Sung-ho "This time, there’s no contract."
"..."
"No conditions either."
"..."
"And no time limit."
The corners of Yeoju’s eyes turned red.
Sung-ho "Just forever."
"..."
"Please stay as my wife."
Yeoju finally burst out laughing.
It was laughter mixed with tears.
Yeoju "...Mr. President."
Sung-ho "Yes."
Yeoju "Why do you say something like that so casually?"
Sung-ho thought for a moment, then said,
"...I practiced a lot."
Yeoju laughed while wiping away her tears.
Yeoju "Since when?"
Sung-ho "Since yesterday."
"..."
"About twenty times."
Yeoju couldn’t hold back her laughter.
And Sung-ho laughed along too.
A little later, Yeoju asked quietly,
Yeoju "...You won’t regret it, right?"
Sung-ho didn’t hesitate.
Sung-ho "I won’t regret it."
"..."
"If there’s anything I’d regret."
Sung-ho looked at Yeoju and said,
"It would only be losing you."
Yeoju slowly nodded.
Yeoju "...Then I’ll do it too."
"The new marriage registration."
The light in Sung-ho’s eyes softened.
---
And that afternoon.
The two of them headed to the city office together.
This time, there was no contract.
There was no inheritance goal or anything like that either.
It wasn’t a marriage meant to be shown off to anyone.
It was simply a choice they made because they wanted to.
After signing side by side on the papers.
Yeoju put down the pen.
Yeoju "...It’s done."
Sung-ho looked at her.
Sung-ho "No."
Yeoju "...?"
Sung-ho gave a faint smile.
Sung-ho "It’s just beginning."
The two of them walked out of the building together.
And Unhak, who had been watching from afar, clenched his fist tightly.
Unhak "...No way."
Unhak still didn’t know.
That the final card he had prepared had, instead, made Sung-ho and Yeoju completely one.
But Unhak didn’t give up.
He still had one more secret hidden away.
And that secret was enough to shake Sung-ho’s mental state.
