Please be my wife for just one year.

EP.8

The venue was dazzling.

Hundreds of chandeliers lit up the ceiling, and business elites in suits were gathered in small groups, talking.

When Seongho and Yeoju entered, eyes turned toward them from all around.

"That must be Chairman Park Seongho's wife."

"She's even prettier than I expected."

"I was surprised when the news of the marriage came so suddenly too."

At the quiet conversation drifting over, Yeoju slightly hunched her shoulders.

At that moment.

Tap.

Seongho held out his arm.

Seongho "...Arm."

Yeoju "...Huh?"

Seongho "If we're a married couple, this is more natural."

Only then did Yeoju understand what he meant.

"Ah..."

Carefully placing her hand on Seongho's arm, Yeoju moved forward, while Seongho took slow steps with an expression that looked completely unaffected.

On the surface, they looked so natural they seemed like a real married couple, but their hearts were anything but natural.


---

A little later.

Chairman Park approached them.

Chairman Park "So you've come."

Seongho "Yes."

Chairman Park smiled brightly at Yeoju.

Chairman Park "My granddaughter-in-law."

Yeoju "...Huh?"

Chairman Park "What do you think of living with our Seongho?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Yeoju panicked.

'What should I say...?'

As she hesitated to answer, Seongho spoke in her place.

Seongho "We're getting along well."

Chairman Park let out a snort of a laugh.

Chairman Park "I was asking Yeoju."

Seongho "..."

Chairman Park "You shut up."

At the first-time expression of embarrassment on Seongho's face, Yeoju almost burst out laughing.

She barely held it in and answered.

Yeoju "...Please treat me well."

Chairman Park "Hm?"

Yeoju "More than I expected... you also take care of me a lot."

At that moment, Seongho's gaze turned to Yeoju.

It seemed to be an answer he hadn't expected.

Chairman Park smiled in satisfaction.

Chairman Park "That's how it should be."

"My son may not be good at expressing himself, but inside he's a decent guy."

Seongho only cleared his throat softly.


---

While the event was in full swing.

A woman walked up to the two of them.

Long straight hair, an elegant dress.

Model-like proportions.

As soon as she saw Seongho, she naturally smiled.

??? "Long time no see."

Seongho's expression stiffened ever so slightly.

Seongho "...Ms. Moon Hana."

It was a name Yeoju was hearing for the first time.

Hana looked at Yeoju and held out her hand.

Hana "Hello."

"I'm Seongho's college classmate."

Yeoju "Ah... hello."

After finishing the handshake, Hana gave a meaningful smile.

Hana "I was really surprised when I heard you got married."

"..."

"Seongho getting married, of all things."

Her words sounded congratulatory, but there was a sharp edge to them.

After a brief silence, Hana spoke again.

Hana "Back then, we used to..."

Seongho "Ms. Hana."

Seongho cut her off.

His voice was low, but firm.

"...Today, I'm here with my wife."

Hana's smile wavered for just an instant.

Hana "...I see."

She smiled again and said,

"I hope you two are happy."

She turned away after saying that, but her expression was nothing like that of someone wishing others well.


---

After the event ended.

On the way to the parking lot.

Yeoju walked quietly.

It was Seongho who spoke first.

Seongho "...Is there anything you're curious about?"

After hesitating for a moment, Yeoju asked.

"...That lady from earlier."

"..."

"Ms. Moon Hana."

Seongho was silent for a moment.

Seongho "She was someone there had once been talk of an arranged marriage with."

"...!"

Yeoju's eyes widened.

Seongho "I did not marry her."

Yeoju "Why not?"

Seongho "Our thoughts didn't match."

A short answer.

He didn't seem to want to explain any further.

But strangely, Yeoju felt a little lighter.

"...Thank goodness."

For a moment, she was startled by her own thought.

"Why am I glad about that?"

"It's a contract marriage."

She forcibly shook her head.

Then Seongho opened the car door for her and said,

Seongho "You worked hard today."

Yeoju "...You did too, Chairman."

The two looked at each other for a moment.

Seongho suddenly said quietly,

Seongho "...Today."

Yeoju "Yes?"

Seongho "You did well."

She replied with a small smile.

Yeoju "...You did too, Chairman."

Seeing that smile, Seongho averted his gaze for a moment.

It was strange.

Even in front of the reporters, he had been fine.

But for some reason, Yeoju's smiling face kept catching his eye.

The car quietly sped toward the new home.

And neither of them yet knew

that Moon Hana, whom they had met at today's event, would become the biggest variable in the contract marriage to come.