**A few days ago.**
"President, here are the documents you asked for."
As Taeseok looked through the papers the secretary handed him, his eyebrows slowly started to twitch.
"As you expected, many shareholders who own stakes have been in contact with Director Han Jitae. The shares already secured are more than 10%. If we don't act quickly, you could be in serious trouble."
*'So this is what they were aiming for…'*
The day his father died in an accident—
Min Hyejeong's face, as she rushed to the hospital, was still clear in Taeseok's memory.
She didn't seem like a woman who had just lost her husband. Her voice, her behavior—completely calm, as if nothing had happened. She didn't shed a single tear throughout the funeral. Watching her and her son, Taeseok couldn't hold back his rage.
Every time he saw Min Hyejeong and Han Jitae—whom Chairman Han had brought into their family—deep hatred boiled inside him.
Min Hyejeong finally showed her true colors after Chairman Han died.
She bought out shares with the help of the shareholders who supported her, slowly increasing her control over the company. Secretly, she also bought struggling businesses and expanded her power.
And at the center of it all—Han Jitae.
Her only goal was to make her son the new owner of the Kanghwa Group.
For that goal alone, Min Hyejeong lived pretending to be the perfect daughter-in-law of the late Chairman Han's wife, Pilsun, hiding her dark intentions.
"How should we respond, President?"
"There's only one option now."
"Excuse me?"
"We need to secure management control through marriage."
"W-Wait, are you talking about… your marriage, President?"
"I've never been interested in marriage. But they say even the dead deserve their wishes granted. Let's fulfill the Chairman's final wish properly."
A strange smile briefly appeared on Taeseok's face as he stood up.
---
**Later…**
"Didn't you say you work at the Choi Iseo Agency Center?"
"Yes. I'm quitting soon though."
"This has nothing to do with that job. I'm here to make a personal proposal to you. Well, more like an offer."
"An offer?"
"That's why I came."
Iseo didn't know what kind of shock the word "offer" might bring. Her eyes locked on Taeseok's face. His sharp features and perfectly neat appearance stood out under the dim light.
Iseo's heart started beating faster for some reason. She tried to avoid his gaze while he spoke.
"So, what's the offer?"
"Are you curious?"
"Don't get me wrong. I'm just wondering why someone as important as you would come here in person."
Iseo narrowed her eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
"So what's the offer?"
"Marriage."
"M-Marriage? You mean you want me to attend your wedding as a guest or something?"
"Do I look like I came here at this hour just to invite you to my wedding?"
"Then what…"
"Let's get married. You and me."
Words too shocking to believe.
As the word "marriage" came out of his mouth, Iseo's eyes began to shake.
"I must've misheard, right?"
"Want me to say it again?"
"Marriage? Did you really say that? Han Taeseok, I think you hit your head, not your arm."
Taeseok gave a soft chuckle.
"I'm perfectly fine. So don't worry."
His steady eyes never looked away. Iseo felt something hot rise in her chest as she stared at him.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Not at all."
"Then why would you say something so ridiculous?"
Iseo's eyes trembled as she stared at him.
"If you're not making fun of me, then what's the reason?"
"Why do you think that?"
Taeseok slightly raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.
"Do you even know what marriage means? Do you even understand what you're suggesting?"
Iseo started to pour out her frustration.
"What do you even know about me? All you know is my name and where I live! This is too much. Even as a joke, this is cruel!"
She glared at him with disbelief.
"Top of your class in J University's design department. Got a job right after graduation. But due to loan sharks coming to your workplace, you kept quitting. No siblings. Only a mother who lives in Busan. Your mother was a single mom who married a man who left behind a huge debt. Since then, you've been chased by debt collectors and threats. Oh, and one more thing—you've never been in a real relationship. And…"
Iseo stared at him, her mouth slightly open, stunned.
"W-What are you doing? Did you investigate me?"
"Want me to keep going?"
Her eyes narrowed. She felt completely exposed, like someone had torn off every layer of privacy.
"You're the president of Kanghwa Group. Did you forget that?"
"Of course not."
"Even dating you would be insane. But marriage? Are you out of your mind?"
"Should I show you a mental health certificate? I'm completely normal, more than anyone else."
**Kanghwa Group.**
It was one of Korea's most powerful corporations, controlling everything from electronics to finance. The income from its partner companies alone was unimaginable.
And yet, this man had just proposed marriage out of nowhere. Iseo was boiling with anger.
She tried to understand his real motive, but his calm face revealed nothing.
"Why are you in such a hurry to marry? Is there some hidden reason? Or… is there some issue down there—?"
"Are you seriously wondering if I'm impotent? I could prove otherwise right now if that's your concern."
Iseo stared at him silently.
He seemed to be enjoying this, unlike her, who was completely thrown off. Her mood darkened.
"It's late. You should go."
Taeseok got up and placed a business card on her desk.
"How long are you going to live like this?"
"What did you say?"
"Hiding in a place like this with no light, running like a fugitive… do you plan to live this way forever?"
"Hey—"
"Do you really think you can keep running forever?"
"My life is none of your business."
"Did you know? Your father, Choi Byeongtae, didn't just owe 100 million won."
"What do you mean?"
"There's another 300 million in debt under your name and your mother's. You'll find out soon enough."
Taeseok's words hit her like a brick.
Her body trembled. A hot wave surged from her toes up to her chest.
"Think carefully. My crazy offer might be your first and last chance to escape this hell."
After he left, Iseo collapsed to the floor, her strength completely gone.
It felt like she was running through a tunnel with no end, surrounded by suffocating darkness.
Her heart was filled with the hatred and pain from the years she had spent with Choi Byeongtae.
She bit her lip so hard it bled.
**The next day.**
After a sleepless night, Iseo found Taeseok's business card lying by her pillow.
That's when it hit her—his shocking proposal wasn't a dream.
> "Think carefully. My crazy offer might be your first and last chance to escape this hell."
Those words echoed in her mind again and again.
---