Chapter 1: Twice Broken, Yet Desired: A Tale of Doubt and Curiosity
I knew that guy, no, that jerk was trash the moment I heard about him.
‘They say he’s been engaged twice and broke it off both times.’
Harin’s voice carried a hint of pity as she said everything about him was perfect except for that one flaw. But that tone didn’t last long.
‘But, you know, he’s just been so busy with work. How could he have time for romance? They say getting into S University, starting his own company without joining Wooshin, and building his success—all of it was done without relying on his family’s influence.’
Harin quickly switched to a bright tone, defending the jerk.
‘He’s so ambitious and talented that the media calls him a rising star. You’ve seen him in the news, right, sis? His articles pop up all the time.’
‘Not just talented, his manners are amazing. Polite guys aren’t that rare, but he’s different. It’s like… his gestures, his actions—they’re elegant yet strong. He’s cold when he’s expressionless, but when he smiles, he’s so warm. He’s witty, everything he does looks refined….’
‘It’s hard to explain. How do I put it? You’d have to see him to get it….’
‘Honestly, in this day and age, is breaking off two engagements such a big deal? It’s not like he’s divorced. If you date and realize you’re not a match, you break up, right? Even with two broken engagements, so many families are dying to snag a match with him.’
And yet, she’d managed to land that match. She said he seemed to like her. What was it about me that caught the eye of such a distinguished guy?
Harin chattered shyly. Woohee gave her the kind of response she’d like.
‘You’re beautiful. Bright, cute, charming. Who wouldn’t fall for you?’
Harin pretended to brush off Woohee’s words, but she couldn’t hide the smile creeping through.
With her second meeting with the guy coming up, Harin asked Woohee to pick an outfit, sending five photos during the call.
The first was her dad’s pick, the second her mom’s, the fifth her shopper’s. Which one did Woohee like best?
Woohee chose the third photo—a light pink dress.
‘Hmm, that one’s a bit tacky… Is that your taste, sis? Anyway, thanks for your precious vote!’
Harin ended the call with a cheerful goodbye. Woohee set the phone down indifferently.
Her younger sister, spoiled with love and attention from their parents since childhood, had always been particularly fickle.
So when Harin first called about the guy, Woohee wondered how long her interest would last.
Harin always loved bragging to Woohee about anything and everything. This seemed like just another one of those boasts—about landing such an impressive guy.
So Woohee didn’t listen too closely. She figured the thing with that jerk wouldn’t last long.
But the calls kept coming—one, two, three times, without end. The content was mostly the same.
He’s insanely handsome, tall, broad-shouldered, in great shape, with a deep voice that’s pleasant to hear, a sexy vibe, and kind manners.
Woohee heard endless praise about the guy, to the point of boredom. Even for someone like Woohee, playing along with the same lines every time was exhausting.
One day, curiosity got the better of her. What did he even look like to make fickle Harin this obsessed?
She searched his name, but no photos came up. They said he was born into such a prominent family that he’d been in the spotlight since birth. A small note at the end of an article mentioned that Wooshin was especially strict about managing his image rights to protect him. Woohee lost interest and went back to half-listening to her sister’s ramblings.
When would her sister get tired of him?
Or when would she realize he’s a jerk and snap out of it? Woohee thought, exasperated.
Still, whenever Harin’s calls got tedious, Woohee would search his name again.
She skimmed a few articles about him. They were dull pieces about the impressive achievements of a guy running an IT startup. She’d read a bit, then swipe away.
No photos of this supposedly stunning guy could be found.
*
Life was monotonous every single day. Woohee was sick of hearing Woojehyuk’s name. That day, too, she was listening to Harin’s endless praise of him.
It was around 9 a.m. in Korea. Harin calling first thing in the morning to brag was both amusing and endearing.
Was this guy really that great?
Woohee thought lazily. Lying in bed, she turned to look out the window.
The clear California sky, not a cloud in sight, was dull. She could easily picture the blue ocean beyond it.
It was boring. The same weather, same scenery, same routine every day.
Woohee suddenly counted the years she’d spent here.
Eleven years already. The number hit her like a weight on her chest. To think she’d endured this place for so long.
When was the last time she went to Korea? Four years ago, for a brief week?
She let the familiar sense of weariness wash over her. Harin’s voice still poured through the phone. Out of habit, Woohee searched ‘Woojehyuk.’ No photos of the guy Harin raved about.
Woohee sat up. Time had slipped by—it was already 11 a.m. She got up to make a late breakfast or early lunch, but a glance at the mirror across the room caught her eye.
Her pale skin looked ghostly. Her long, messy hair hung limply, and her eyes were pitch-black, devoid of any spark. Of all the dull things around her, her own face seemed the dullest.
Woohee sank back onto the bed. Hunger faded. She stared blankly at her reflection, half-listening to Harin. The name Woojehyuk echoed in her ears.
How charming he is, how handsome, how pleasant his voice, how fun it is to spend time with him.
No matter how much she heard, it didn’t resonate with Woohee. Was Woojehyuk really all that?
Even without Harin’s boasting, Woohee knew plenty about him.
The famous heir of Wooshin, right? The precious son born to Chairman Woo Taeyoung at forty. His parents’ love story was a legendary tale that defined an era.
Woo Taeyoung betrayed his arranged fiancée, fell for a poor pianist a year older, and gave up a secure future to elope with her. Wooshin’s founder, Woo Janggil, eventually gave in to their love.
But they couldn’t conceive for years, and shortly after finally having a child, the wife died.
A fortune-teller claimed the child was born with an exceptionally rare fate, and from the moment of his birth, he was doted on by his grandfather. But after his wife’s death, Woo Taeyoung was consumed by grief for a long time.
For six months, he didn’t show up at the company, living in seclusion, and for even longer, he didn’t care for his child. Yet, without a mother and with a neglectful father, the boy grew up without want, showered with his grandfather’s love.
A young master born and raised in such privilege. That story made Wooshin’s heir famous.
A prominent family, a grandfather called a titan of industry, parents who defied opposition for love, a birth born of desperate effort and tragedy.
It was the kind of story the public loved to devour. Even now, years later, it occasionally popped up online under titles like “The Tragedy of a Chaebol Family.” People pitied their love while being captivated by it.
But that story didn’t move Woohee either. A love so fierce and tenacious? Was such a thing possible? It was only complete because the woman died early. Her early death meant no one saw the messy, bitter end of that love.
– Ugh, what do I do, sis? I think I really like him. I keep wanting to see him, thinking about him, even dreaming about him. When I’m walking, eating, or even talking with Mom, he’s all I can think about…
By then, Woohee was curious. What did Woojehyuk, the product of that love, even look like? How impressive was he?
“Woojehyuk…”
Woohee murmured his name softly. A slow California breeze drifted through the window.
That day, Woohee impulsively booked a flight to Korea. Maybe it’d be more interesting than the scenery here.
Their relationship probably wouldn’t get serious, but it wouldn’t hurt to check out Woojehyuk and Harin’s dynamic, just in case. Besides, it was about time to return to Korea anyway… As always, she tacked on reasons after making an impulsive decision.
But in the end, it all started with that small spark of curiosity.