IMRMH 04

A luxury high-rise lounge in an exclusive hotel, accessible only to VIP members.

At the center of it sat Yuseong.

To get straight to the point—

‘My plan is a complete success.’

Yuseong was secretly conducting a very unusual matchmaking session—

Only with the illegitimate children of Chairman Kwon Seongjae.

She never imagined he would have as many as seven children outside marriage…

Among them, she had gathered three men who met her criteria and was meeting them one by one.

And now—

The final candidate sat in front of her.

‘Good appearance, decent personality…’

At this level, she figured marriage would be acceptable.

Compared to marrying a school bully, this was more than enough.

So—

She had to secure this man.

Yuseong smiled faintly and crossed her legs.

“Do you know what my nickname is?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure…”

“Want a hint? I grew up in the mountains.”

“Ah… mountain rabbit?”

“No. Poison. Mountain poison.”

The man’s eyes darted around, clearly overwhelmed by her intensity.

“I’m very ambitious. If you become my husband, the next chairman position of Kwonseong Group—”

“I-I’m sorry, but… I’m actually gay.”

“Pff—!”

Yuseong spat out her cocktail, too stunned to even wipe it.

“You… like men?”

What did she just hear?

“Yes. I didn’t intend to come out like this, but I felt I had to be honest.”

The man awkwardly handed her a tissue.

“You seemed quite desperate… about replacing your husband.”

“….”

Crunch.

Yuseong bit her nails.

If she lost this one too…

It was truly over.

Just thinking about the previous candidates gave her a headache.

“I’m sorry, but sexual compatibility is very important to me. Maybe we should go upstairs and try it first?”

“Wow. I hate men like that. I’ve made my decision—please leave.”

The first man had been basically another Kwon Hyukjun.

“You don’t have any physical issues, right? You need to give birth to a child quickly so my father will approve. Hmm… you look fine for childbirth.”

“…Then why don’t you give birth yourself?”

“W-what?”

The second wasn’t much better.

A marriage with love was never an option to begin with.

But shouldn’t she at least be treated like a human being?

Because of Kwon Hyukjun, Yuseong had developed a deep aversion to men.

She had never even dated.

‘In this condition, how could I ever fall in love?’

So she thought—

Maybe a purely business marriage would work…

“Just in case—I should mention that I’m currently in a serious relationship. We’re planning to move abroad and register our marriage soon.”

…Not even a chance.

Yuseong pressed her lips tightly.

“Congratulations. I hope you’re happy.”

What right did she have to take away someone else’s happiness?

She didn’t want to become like Kwon Hyukjun—

Gaining happiness by exploiting others.

“If there’s anything I can help you with in the future, please contact me. I’m on your side, Miss Shin Yuseong. Honestly, that’s why I came today.”

“…Thank you. Please take care.”

And just like that—

Her last hope left.

“…Ha.”

Correction.

To sum it up—

“My plan is a complete failure.”

Her mind went blank.

‘Do I really have to marry Kwon Hyukjun?’

His disgusting smile still lingered vividly in her mind.

“…Haah.”

A deep sigh escaped her.

With no solution in sight, she ordered a glass of whiskey and picked up her phone.

“Now the only one left is Kwon Suhyeok…”

But his whereabouts were unknown.

Not even a single clue.

She absentmindedly tapped her phone.

“Where are you…?”

Back in high school

There was a man she had met by chance—

Right before a school trip to Spain.

She had planned not to go, knowing she would be bullied day and night by Hyukjun’s group—

But—

“Hey, Shin Yuseong. If you don’t come, your cousin will take your place. What was her name… Oh Yuna?”

Yuseong had been severely bullied.

She begged Yuna not to go—

But Yuna refused.

“Yuseong, why should I suffer because of you? Just go yourself and it’s over.”

Looking back, she should’ve just ignored her.

But at the time—

She had treated her aunt like a mother.

She didn’t want to see her aunt sad after Yuna got hurt.

‘What am I supposed to do…?’

Lost in thought, she wandered out and stopped near Byungoh’s base.

“…Ah.”

And there—

In a blood-stained alley—

She met a man.

‘Who is he?’

His black eyes were mesmerizing.

His face, doll-like.

He was handsome—

But the faint bloodstains on his suit and the cigarette between his lips screamed:

I’m dangerous.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

He spoke as if he knew her.

“…Do you know me?”

Was he one of her father’s subordinates?

As she looked at him—

His gaze dropped to her exposed calf.

It was bruised black from Hyukjun’s kicks.

As she hurried to pull her pants down—

“For someone so bold… why are you living like that?”

“…What did you say?”

He bit down on his cigarette filter, his eyes sharp.

Her heart pounded strangely.

Then—

He handed her a business card.

“Call me if you need help.”

A strange card.

Black, with only a silver phone number.

No name. No title.

Swallowing nervously, she asked—

“…Who are you?”

This man—

Was not normal.

Her instincts, sharpened by growing up as a gangster’s daughter, told her that.

“Kwon Suhyeok.”

A familiar yet unfamiliar name.

“The half-brother of Kwon Hyukjun… the one who bullies our girl?”

That’s when she understood.

Kwon Suhyeok—

The son of Chairman Kwon Seongjae and his deceased first wife.

The same son who was publicly believed dead after a tragic incident years ago.

The real heir of Kwonseong Group.

Is he lying? How can I believe this?

How does he even know about my situation?

How does he know me at all?

Confusion filled her mind.

But—

“Do I look like I’m lying?”

“…!”

The moment she met his eyes—

A chill ran down her spine.

He wasn’t lying.

After that strange encounter—

Kwon Hyukjun never showed up at the airport.

Rumor had it his leg was broken.

Thanks to that—

Yuseong had a peaceful trip.

She saw Spain, dreamed of joining her father’s company.

And she suspected—

It was all because of Kwon Suhyeok.

Though she had no proof.

Later, she tried calling the number on his card—

But it no longer worked.

‘Still… I sent a message just in case.’

No reply yet.

Still—

She had to find him.

“Call me if you need help.”

He had said that himself.

There was a chance to negotiate.

She had no other way out.

Determined, Yuseong grabbed her bag and stood up—

When suddenly—

A shadow approached.

“I came because you called for help.”

A low voice wrapped around her ears.

She looked up.

A rough hand tucked into a pocket.

Then—

His face.

“I didn’t know there were this many people lining up to help you.”

Dressed in a black suit—

His gaze was cold.

“What, should we take numbers?”

He sat across from her casually, lips curling.

The son of Kwon Seongjae—

Kwon Suhyeok.

“I wonder what number I am.”

“….”

“Hm? Yuseong.”

Her final blind date—

Without her even realizing it.