Unloved | tk

ch22

"Hey Dad," Yewon greeted as she settled into her father's Bentley, a ride generously offered to their bungalow.

"Hello, Yewon-ah. Have you seen the article in the Business Times? Your fiancé has done an exceptional job. I'm incredibly proud of him," her father remarked, his eyes fixed on the article displayed on the iPad in his hand, radiating genuine admiration and pride.

"Yeah, Dad. It was quite unexpected," Yewon responded, making a conscious effort to conceal any resentment stirred by Taehyung's recognition. Her father had always yearned for a son, and after her mother's untimely death, he had pinned his hopes on Yewon's future husband—now Kim Taehyung.

"Great businessmen are like that. they don't brag about themselves because the world does that for them. Did you congratulate him?", he turned to take a look at his daughter.

Yewon, feeling a mix of irritation and envy, concealed her resentment. "No, Dad," she replied, masking her emotions. It had taken immense effort for her to earn her father's acknowledgement, while individuals like Taehyung seemed to effortlessly bask in the spotlight.

The old man's eyebrows were drawn together in concern, "Not good Yewon. Do you two talk to each other at all?"

Yewon tried to sound as casual and serious as she could. "We--we're too busy right now"

"that's no excuse. this is an arranged marriage. you can't just not talk at all and then all of a sudden get married, sweetheart. you should spend some time with each other. that would not just strengthen your bond as a couple but you will also learn a few tricks here and there from his brilliance"

She hesitated to challenge her father on this matter. Revealing the superficiality of her connection with Taehyung was something she wanted to avoid. Despite their friendship and her attempts to establish a deeper connection before the engagement, Taehyung's emotional baggage was overwhelming. If given a choice, she wouldn't choose to marry someone burdened with such baggage. However, she accepted Taehyung because he promised that he would never interfere in her business. This, however, was a detail she couldn't disclose to her father or Taehyung's father, as it might tarnish her image in their eyes. "Sure, Dad. I'll make an effort to schedule a meeting."

"You don't set an appointment to meet your finance. Set a date, dear. Go out. Have fun and fall in love"

For her, love was an unfamiliar language. Raised in a household where her existence was often overlooked, practicality became her guiding principle. Love, with its promises of giving everything for nothing tangible in return, seemed irrational and absurd. Even when Zoe confessed her feelings that night, it wasn't about her being a lesbian but the overwhelming weight of an emotion-like love that sent her into a panic. The word 'love' was a trigger for her anxiety, a reminder of countless expectations that went unmet. Now, she no longer entertains hope for love, having stopped expecting it altogether. When her father suggested the idea of her falling in love with Taehyung, she couldn't help but protest mildly, "Dad!"

Completely oblivious to the bitter emotions bubbling beneath the surface, her father laughed, interpreting her hesitance as shyness in response to the proposal. "Shy, my dear? Taehyung is sure to be an amazing life partner for you," he remarked.
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Taehyung stepped into his father's office, a sense of foreboding settling over him. It was evident that his father intended to engage in a serious conversation. During his time with Jungkook, a sudden call from Jongwon interrupted their session, leaving Taehyung uncertain about how to handle the situation without causing any tension. Faced with a dilemma, he fabricated the reason for the interruption. It was imperative to shield his personal dynamics from both his father and the observant secretary.