Marriage Of Convenience | Haely

Chapter 5

As the dessert course was being served, Mr. Oh glanced at Haewon, who had been relatively silent throughout the evening, absorbed in his thoughts and the ongoing discussion. After a brief exchange with Mrs. Oh and Mr. Morrow, Mr. Oh cleared his throat and addressed Haewon with a tone that suggested both formality and subtle authority.

"Haewon," Mr. Oh began, his voice firm, "there's one more thing we need to discuss. We think it would be best if you drove Lily home tonight. Mr. Morrow and I still have some matters to finalize."

Mr. Morrow, sitting next to Mr. Oh, added with a friendly smile, "Yes, Haewon, that's a good idea. We need some more time to discuss certain things involving our businesses. So, if you don't mind, could you drive Lily home?"

Haewon looked up from his plate, his expression a mix of surprise and reluctance. He was not thrilled about the idea of driving Lily home, especially given their earlier conversation and her apparent disinterest in the arrangement. Nonetheless, he understood his father's unspoken intentions—this was an opportunity for him to get to know Lily better, under the guise of a formal escort.

He glanced at Lily, who was sitting next to her mother and clearly eager to leave. Haewon felt a slight annoyance but knew that, as the only heir, he had to comply with his parents' wishes. Reluctantly, Haewon nodded and said, "Alright, if that's what Father and Mr. Morrow want. I will drive Lily home.

Lily, seated next to Mrs. Morrow, stiffened slightly at the suggestion. She had hoped to avoid any further interaction with Haewon and was not pleased with the idea of being driven home by him. Her lips tightened into a thin line, and she exchanged a glance with her parents, silently conveying her displeasure.

With that suggestion, Lily felt a bit uncomfortable but also realized she had no other choice. She knew her parents had deliberately arranged for her to be driven by Haewon to force some interaction between them.

With a resigned sigh, Haewon stood up, maintaining a neutral expression despite his internal frustration. He bowed slightly to the others, acknowledging their thanks and apologies for his delay. His mind was already focusing on the uncomfortable task ahead.

Lily, on the other hand, had no choice but to acquiesce. She rose from her seat with a reluctant grace, attempting to mask her displeasure. She gave a polite but curt nod to the others, her eyes flicking briefly to Haewon before she turned and headed towards the exit. The Oh and Morrow families smiled and bid farewell, pleased that they had managed to arrange this part of their plan.

As the two left the dining area, the remaining members of the Morrow and Oh families exchanged knowing glances. The evening had been a complex dance of diplomacy and family interests, and while the formalities had been observed, the real discussions and negotiations were just beginning.

As Haewon and Lily walked out of the restaurant, the atmosphere between them was slightly awkward. Haewon led the way with quick strides, while Lily, somewhat tired, tried to keep up. Both were lost in their thoughts about what would happen next. As they made their way to Haewon's car, he walked briskly, paying little attention to whether Lily could keep up with his pace.

Upon reaching the car, Haewon got into the driver's seat and glanced at Lily through the rearview mirror as she approached and opened the back passenger door.

"Why are you sitting in the back? Do you think I'm your chauffeur?" Haewon asked coldly, looking at Lily through the rearview mirror.

Lily responded nonchalantly, "I'm used to sitting in the back. Besides, aren't you supposed to be driving me home? It's practically the same as a chauffeur."

Hearing her response, Haewon clenched his fists slightly and closed his eyes to calm himself after what he perceived as a disrespectful remark. Not wanting to argue further, he started the engine and began driving towards the Morrow family's residence.