Impossible Romance - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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40.

“No, you’re quite beautiful.”
Lee Ha-eun spoke coldly, her guarded eyes sweeping over Jun-hee. With her hair pulled back tightly without any styling and her face bare of makeup, she looked refreshingly pure—so much so that jealousy flickered across Lee Ha-eun’s expression for a brief moment.
But a pretty secretary was merely a secretary. Knowing that I could never truly be her rival, Lee Ha-eun soon offered a composed smile.
“You’re too kind. Well then, Executive Director, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”
Jun-hee bowed to Lee Ha-eun before turning toward Kwon Seok-ha.
Just witnessing Kwon Seok-ha’s blind date made me feel as though I were sitting on pins and needles. My honest desire was to leave this place as quickly as possible.
But because Kwon Seok-ha always did as he pleased, my heart raced anxiously at the thought of his response. What if he suddenly stood up and asked me to leave with him?
“Yes, go ahead and get back to work. I won’t be waiting for you.”
Yet Jun-hee’s concerns proved to be nothing but needless worry and misunderstanding.
Kwon Seok-ha didn’t hold her back—he let her go immediately. Though I had wanted this, hearing those words left me feeling hollow, as though my heart had developed a void.
The man who would normally bolt from his seat was now sitting at ease, casually telling me to go first—clearly different from his usual behavior.
And that wasn’t all. His instruction not to wait didn’t sound like he was giving his secretary a day off. I lived in the same house as him, after all.
It meant he might not return until late into the night.
‘So Lee Ha-eun has really captured his interest.’
I made this light assessment and bowed respectfully once more toward both of them.
“Yes, I understand.”
I offered a polite greeting as a well-mannered secretary would, then slowly turned away.
The sight of the two of them in my field of vision appeared remarkably serene. Perhaps the feeling of becoming a thorough outsider—an impurity that shouldn’t mix between them—was the price of finally confronting reality.
I seemed to have lived without understanding my place all this time. In that moment, my chest grew heavy and suffocating. But I couldn’t let this emotion show. As I left the room, my steps felt leaden, forcing me to hold my spine rigid. I didn’t want to reveal any emotional disturbance—not to Kwon Seok-ha, not to Lee Ha-eun, and certainly not to Han Seon-young.
Only after closing the door behind me did my body lose its strength, and a deep sigh escaped. Then, in the Hotel Corridor, I had the strange sensation that someone was watching me.
I turned to look behind me, but there was no familiar face. Of course, in a hotel like this, there was no reason anyone would recognize Jun-hee.
After leaving the hotel, Jun-hee hailed a taxi just as she had on the way there. With all her strength drained, she wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Indeed, witnessing Kwon Seok-ha’s blind date in person was exhausting.
Han Seon-young’s scheme had succeeded on this Saturday.

Once home, Jun-hee showered and fell into a deep sleep. Even after sleeping for a long time, Saturday hadn’t ended. And Kwon Seok-ha, true to his word, didn’t come home.

“Yes, go ahead and get back to work. I won’t be waiting for you.”

With my feet propped up on the Living Room sofa, I stared blankly at the television. But it seemed like every character that appeared was repeating the words Kwon Seok-ha had spoken—like an auditory hallucination.
How could the man who had always clung to me, desperate to stay together no matter what, shake me off so easily in mere minutes?
At the hotel, Kwon Seok-ha had seemed uncomfortable with Jun-hee lingering there. Never before had he shown such discomfort in my presence. He was the kind of man who remained composed and at ease even when everyone else felt awkward.
Yet those words he’d spoken, pushing me away, weighed on my mind.
They felt like a harbinger of farewell.
Jun-hee bit down on her lower lip, pressing hard. It seemed I needed to begin preparing my heart.

***

“It seems we’ve said all there is to say to each other.”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke while watching the door through which Jun-hee had just left.
“All you asked me was my name and what I do, wasn’t it?”
Lee Ha-eun turned toward Kwon Seok-ha with a rigid expression. When Jun-hee had entered moments earlier, the man’s expression—which had briefly softened—had turned cold, and her irritation had flared instinctively.
“Is that so? It seems there was nothing else in particular I was curious about.”
Kwon Seok-ha gazed out the window with an openly bored expression.
The season was ripe with autumn, and crimson maple leaves bloomed like flowers among the verdant foliage. Even in that brief moment, Jun-hee’s cheeks, flushed red, came to mind, and a smile played at the corners of his lips.
“Look, I’ll be honest with you. I believe our marriage would be mutually beneficial for both our companies.”
Lee Ha-eun set aside her pride to capture Kwon Seok-ha’s attention.
She was drawn to the man before her. Beyond his capabilities, his handsome features had captivated her at first sight. In all the arranged meetings she’d attended, she’d never encountered such looks.
“Then let me be honest as well. I don’t think our meeting can be anything beyond business.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to meet once more before deciding? It’s not like we’re marrying for love anyway.”
Lee Ha-eun shrugged with a rather cool expression.
“Then all the more reason you and I are incompatible. I intend to marry someone I love.”
Kwon Seok-ha created a striking smile with merely the slightest lift of his lips.
“What? No, that’s not….”
Lee Ha-eun was taken aback by Kwon Seok-ha’s unexpected answer. According to the rumors she’d heard, he was selfish and utterly indifferent to women, caring only about work—so what was this strange turn of events?
‘Could he have a woman he likes?’
The thought that naturally arose was followed by the image of Ahn Joon-hee, the secretary she’d seen moments ago. Yet this man, so money-conscious and possessed of such exceptional business acumen, didn’t seem like the type to be swayed by personal sentiment.
“Since our conclusions are already clear, why waste time? I have another appointment, so I should be going. It was a pleasure.”
Kwon Seok-ha rose from his seat without further conversation.
Lee Ha-eun’s face, still seated, twisted with displeasure.
“You’ll regret this.”
The fact that this was all she could muster made her even angrier.
“I’ve regretted something only once in my life. I don’t expect to do so again. Let’s meet again on business.”
Kwon Seok-ha laughed lightly, offered his farewell, and left the Room.
Watching his retreating figure, Lee Ha-eun let out an exasperated sigh.

***

In a small room at the same hotel, Lee Sook-hyun, Jun-hee’s mother, and her older brother Ahn Jun-young sat together. Unlike Ahn Jun-young, who had been hiding, Lee Sook-hyun had dressed up excessively for her rare trip to Seoul.
“You didn’t see Jun-hee, right?”
Lee Sook-hyun spoke while picking at the refreshments in front of her.
“Didn’t see her. She just left the hotel as planned. I was terrified she’d recognize us.”
Ahn Jun-young pressed a hand to his chest in relief.
“So why did you borrow money from the Executive Director and lose it all, creating this mess?”
Though her voice rose as if scolding Ahn Jun-young, Lee Sook-hyun was laughing.
“Come on, so Mom’s trying to get her share thanks to me, right?”
Ahn Jun-young chuckled along with her, munching on snacks and sipping drinks.
“A share? Anyway, you’re sure about this, right?”
“Absolutely. I went home to apologize to Executive Director Kwon and saw it myself, I’m telling you.”
“Oh my, our Jun-hee pretending to be so innocent all by herself while she’s got her hooks in Executive Director Kwon. I knew it would happen. I could tell from way back that Executive Director Kwon was crazy about Jun-hee.”
Lee Sook-hyun clapped her hands together, delighted by something.
“But Mom, you know, right? Mrs. Kwon would absolutely hate it if she found out. We can’t let it show. Though honestly, I think Mrs. Kwon already knows. With the housemaid coming and going there, how could she not?”
“I know. Still, we have to keep it secret on the surface from Mrs. Kwon.”
Lee Sook-hyun was bouncing her shoulders excitedly when the door opened.
Kwon Seok-ha walked in.
“Oh my, our young master. I mean, Executive Director, welcome.”
Lee Sook-hyun stood up and bowed excessively in greeting.
“Executive Director, hello.”
Ahn Jun-young stood beside her and greeted Kwon Seok-ha respectfully.
“Please, sit.”
A faint weariness crossed Kwon Seok-ha’s face as he looked at the two of them.
“Our Executive Director looks so radiant. Is it from spending time with our daughter? Hehe.”
Lee Sook-hyun tapped Ahn Jun-young’s shoulder and laughed ostentatiously.
“Yes, perhaps so. Let’s get to the point.”
Kwon Seok-ha leaned back against the chair, regarding both of them.
“Well, it’s nothing much. It’s just that our daughter is your… second? Is that right? Second.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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