Summary: You expected to marry one of the Beom brothers, but you ended up with the father.
Warnning: this is an alternative timeline. It has nothing to do with the original story or the plot.
You stand in the living room of the penthouse, alone, waiting for the future husband. You're already know that the up-comming marriage is nothing more but a buisness transaction to unite various conglomerates conglomerates. Therefore, no love involved.
You knew too well that feelings aren't important in that world. All you have to do is to mentain the reputation and dignity... and to treat the partner as a doormant.
The reason why you're here was after that exhebition where you talked with Director Baek weeks ago.
You stared at Beom Taeha, the heir of Taeseong, leaving so suddenly. You had to blink multiple times to see that all of this was real. You liked him, but there was suspicion from the way he reacted and the way that his bodyguard stared was something out of place.
"I'm sorry." You heard Director Baek's voice coming at you. "I didn't expect him to just leave like that. Since it's the first time my son had been in situation like this, it must have been difficult for him."
You stayed calm, with a neutral expression but not hostile. "It's all right. Everyone was averting their eyes, so of course he felt awkward. It reminds me of my brothers acting like this. After all, men live on certain expectation."
She was smilling at you, notecing your composure on situation in a situation like this. Most women would kill themselfs to be in your place to talk to Taeha, but you mentained a professional image.
She extence her hand, giving an olive branch. "I really like you, [Name]."
You shake her hand. "From buisness perspective, should our family buisnesses merge into one?"
Ms. Baek looks surprised at your words. The way you carried for the potencial buisness proposal sounded more to get the closer to the Beom family. She didn't mind the idea.
After all, she wants to ruin her 'son.'
"What do you think? For my sake... can you stay by his side and help him?"
"I wouldn't mind, Director. Buisness only- can I have his phone number?"
Is been weeks and you're waiting for the discussion of buisness merge. It was pleasent to talk with Director Baek, despite you really don't like her in particular.
Did you felt attracted to Taeha? He has handsone face, but the way that he looked like Chairman Beom was hauntingly eerie. You know from the rumors about the Chairman himself: the suspicious business that he has.
But to answer about Taeha is no. You didn't feel for his and you knew that once you fall in love, the misfortunes will happen: the coldness, the cheating.
So why you will risk for something so foolish?
You saw what happened to your parents: your father cheated on your mother and she still stayed loyal to him.
You get a notification message form your friend, Ahn Yoonseo:
Yoonseo: You talked to him?
You: He didn't even showed up.
Yoonseo: Girl what? No way he didn't appeared! You're luckier then me! He looked so cold and didn't bothered to awknowllege my presence😭
You: Only if you didn't rubed his hand, none of that would happen🙄
You: I called it the truth
You closed your phone and pull it back.
What was even more suspicious was that Director Baek had less appearences then usual. You shouldn't care for someone intimidanting as her, but since she's married to Beom family... it kinda scares you.
Maybe your other friend, Yu Haeni, was right: Beom family is dangerous and shady. You just walked in that situation the moment you made the deal with Director Baek. The worst part wasn't that, it was facing the Chairman Beom in person- something that your mother dear warned you.
Maybe you should had listen instead.
The door opens to see not Taeha, but Taehee. He stared at you for a second, looking at your body. That it disgusted you more then you think.
"You're the daughter of Chairman Choi."
"You look like a pimp. Did you had fun with those women?"
"They're throwing themselfs at me."
"Acording to me, it seems that your dick gets smaller from many fucks. I know that you mand one of my brothers are doing this."
Just then, Taeha walks. He looks exactly like his father, but stares at Taehee with a murder glare. You saw the death at the door. Now it seems that you have two options for the marriage, but like a normal person you still chose Taeha.
"Did you enjoyed my gift, brother?"
Taeha grabs Taehee by the neck, forgetting that you're the for a second. "I was merciful because I was powerless, but you touched my woman. How much you and your mother enjoy to torment me?"
"You're nothing more but a bastard!"
Shit... you're getting to know to much.
And once someone knows something that they shouldn't... it only gets worse.
But the fight between Beom brothers shouldn't matter to you and yet, you feel bad for both of them:
Taehee... a man who hates his illegitimate half-brother.
Taeha... a man who didn't even asked to be born in this family.
But you also feel bad for yourself for being caught into a hateful mess between brothers.
"You should know... that 'mother' doesn't feel well."
That made you froze for a moment. Director Baek... feeling unwell. That's unsual for her to be like this, but it explains her absence at the Art Soho.
"Is been weeks, and as her son... quite pathetic that you didn't even bother to visit her for once- wait... the Chairman doesn't alow you."
Taehee stood frozen. His dearest mothet feeling unwell was something that he didn't predict. That was out of control and he knew what could meant: Chairman's attempt to push him and his mother away.
That's why he isn't alowed to even visit her. That's why he wants Taeha to succed. Because he carries the blood of Baek in him and that's why Chairman Beom might truly hated his mother.
You cut the silence. "Then explain the abscence."
That was the problem. How he could explain that absence.
As if that wasn't bad enough, you hear a phone ring. Pick the phone only to see your father'a name.
"No greading? It's a shame. Are you at Beom family?"
"Good. That means you will take her place from now on."
Your father ends the call and you stare like the last person to got the news.
This wasn't one of the brothers anymore, but the father instead. You feel like you signed a contract with the devil himself. You're in your 20's, around the same age with Taeha and the Chairman is twice then your age.
Who the hell did you put into this.
"Fuck... say hello to your step-mother."
For the first time, both Taeha and Taehee experience a genuine shock. They feel sick at the tought of their father marring someone who could be around the same age as them. Another youth will be waisted at the hands of powerful man.
But you knew one lesson: never fall and treat the partner as a doormat. Simple and crystal clear.
Then the Chairman arrived and you knew what this will be: you're nothing more but a replacement for his wife... or the wife will be replaced with you.
For the rest of the story, you can read on Ao3:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/85945666
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