198 — Growing Tension V (Conclusion)

Eun Ha's POV:

Eun Ha made no attempts whatsoever to dispel the lingering awkward silence over breakfast. Yeong Gu might've looked a bit suspicious about what could have possibly turned breakfast from pleasant and chatty to disturbingly quiet.

Mia and Su Ah's pointed glare only served to silence everyone within a certain distance. And there was plenty of distance at this particular table. She, as the only mother to them all, was not helping at all.

She might've been worried, but she couldn't help it.

She was a traitor herself.

A hypocrite for not reprimanding them.

She ate in silence.

She listened.

She did not intervene.

She was not interested.

She was not concerned about Yeong Gu's dejected feelings either.

Because she could feel herself smiling, faintly, as she watched her daughters so perfectly, gracefully, and skillfully, dismantle their father's hopes for a marriage that would've ruined everything for everyone. And she did not feel ashamed.

She felt proud.

She turned to glance at her Jae-il, who was watching this unfold before his eyes like a poker player, holding an impassive front with mild surprise and nonchalance, all things considered.

But his eyes...

His watchful eyes caught the slight curve of her lips as she ate quietly. One could've mistaken her smile as a malicious, vindictive one, watching all plans of future development and cooperation come to a stuttering halt. Yeong Gu was forced to slowly, grudgingly withdraw and pretend as though everything's normal.

She felt all that.

The power in it, the satisfaction that should not ever have existed within her soul, because this was not like her. This wasn't Eun Ha at all.

Her heart raced.

What had she turned into?

Who was this demon within her own body that grinned and snickered with the smug sense of entitlement—feeling satisfied that something was taken care of, that something, or more specifically, someone's life and future was being kept out of harm's way.

How strange.

Jae-il's eyes were still on hers.

She couldn't turn back, or else his gaze will surely meet with hers.

Maybe it was in her head, but she swore she could hear him chuckle and sigh at the ridiculousness of the situation. He gave no hint or inclination of his inner thoughts.

He let the chaos unfold without so much as a word.

Yeong Gu coughed, trying to ease the discomfort and steer back into normal conversation topics.

"So!" Yeong Gu started, giving everyone at the table, including his wife, a brief glance. "... How have things been around the house?" He asked, his tone a little too cheerful, trying to fill the silence.

"Nothing much." Mia answered, her attention now fully on her breakfast.

"Yeah, nothing new." Su Ah added, not sparing him another glance as she ate.

Eun Ha looked at her husband and gave him the most pleasant smile she could muster. "Same as always, dear. The usual. The house is peaceful, and the children have been studying well."

She'd never mention what was really going on under this roof. Yeong Gu's continuous absences might've been a contributing factor to the rot festering right underneath his nose, and Eun Ha was now part of the problem too.

"I just came back recently from the Training Camp." Jae-il said, offering his good old man a bone. "It was intense."

"I'll bet it was, son! Haha! Did you get a chance to relax and decompress? How's your health? Any injuries? Are you getting enough rest?" Yeong Gu's eyes lit up, grasping at the lifeline of normal conversation.

"I feel fine, Dad. The doctor did a thorough check. Everything's fine." Jae-il gave him a reassuring smile. Eun Ha couldn't help but wonder if the doctor was male—surely it must've been.

The idea of an adult woman's hands roaming all over her son's body was unpleasant.

"Well, that's good to hear!" He clasped his hands together in delight. "The football club better treat you right, kid. If they don't, your old man will tear through them, you hear me?" Yeong Gu threw an imaginary jab, looking terribly cheerful.

"Thanks, Dad." Jae-il said, amused. "You're always looking out for me."

Yeong Gu chuckled, paused and examined Jae-il. "You've always had that fire in your belly, son. Even as a kid playing in the park after school."

Jae-il smiled faintly at the memory. "Remember that time I broke the neighbor's window with a corner kick?"

Yeun Gu laughed loudly. "God, I do! Old Man Park was furious until you scored 10 goals against his team the next weekend. Changed his tune right quick."

"He deserved it." Jae-il laughed, shaking his head.

"He did." Yeong Gu agreed.

The conversation turned into a fond recollection of Jae-il's childhood. Mia and Su Ah remained quiet throughout, observing their father and brother.

As the conversation slowed down, Yeong Gu coughed again, looking at Eun Ha.

Eun Ha stiffened.

Yeong Gu cleared his throat and turned his eyes towards his son. Eun Ha could see the pride glint welling up even behind those glasses.

"You know what, son, I'm thinking of hosting a dinner party at the house sometime soon. Might be a great way for you to relax and catch up with everyone, and to show off to my colleagues about my amazing family! It's been a while since we had one." Yeong Gu said, looking around the table to gauge their reactions. "What do you all think?"

Eun Ha's grip on her chopsticks tightened.

Dinner party. He wanted to host a dinner party.

"I think that's a wonderful idea." She forced herself to say, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. She was the perfect hostess, after all. Always supportive. "The kids would love that, wouldn't you?

"Would we?" Mia said, her voice dripping with honey-laced skepticism.

"Maybe." Su Ah murmured, her attention still seemingly focused on her food.

A dinner party. Strangers. Other people's sons and daughters. In their house. Invading their space.

Eun Ha could feel the familiar chill creeping up her spine.

"I'm... not sure that's a good idea, Father." Jae-il said, speaking up for the first time since the matchmaking fiasco. "With the upcoming season, I really need to keep my focus. The coaches are pretty strict about diet and social commitments."

"Nonsense, son! A little socializing won't kill you." Yeong Gu waved him off, his enthusiasm unchecked. "It'll be good for you. Besides, I want everyone to meet the famous Jae-il! My boy! We could even have it next weekend, before I head back to Busan. I'll have my assistant start sending out invitations tomorrow!"

Eun Ha wasn't fond of the idea, but she had her image to maintain. So she swallowed her misgivings and nodded along.

"Next weekend does sound a little soon, dear." Eun Ha said, her voice calm and measured. "Perhaps we could give ourselves more time to prepare? It would be nice to make it special." She was hoping to buy some time. Maybe the idea would fizzle out before then.

Yeong Gu considered it for a moment, stroking his chin. "Hmm... the problem is that I have plans after the weekend, and I'll be quite busy for a while. This is the only window I have."

"Then I guess next weekend it is." Eun Ha said, her smile never wavering. But inside, she was screaming.

Eun Ha could feel her knuckles turning white beneath the table. Next weekend. Seven days to prepare for an invasion. She kept her smile plastered on. "If that's the only window, then we'll make it work, of course. We'll just have to be very organized."

Mia's fork scraped against her plate, the sudden, grating sound drawing all eyes.

She was smiling. A sweet, placid smile. "A dinner party. How... quaint."

Su Ah's chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. She looked at her father, then at Jae-il, her dark blue eyes unreadable. "Who, exactly, will be attending?"

"Ah, colleagues, partners, and their families, of course!" Yeong Gu said, oblivious to the undercurrents. "People from the company, investors, that sort of thing. Important people. It's always good to maintain connections."

"I see." Su Ah said, her voice flat.

Eun Ha saw Mia and Su Ah exchange a meaningful look.

Jae-il's gaze swept across the table, and she was sure he could smell the blood in the water. "Dad..." He began. "A dinner party sounds great, but given my training schedule, maybe we could keep it intimate? Just a few of your closest colleagues? The more people, the more distractions from my focus."

Yeong Gu puffed out his chest. "Nonsense, son! Your old man wants to show you off! All of them!"

Of course he would. Eun Ha gritted her teeth.

"Perhaps." Jae-il countered, leaning forward slightly. "But the coaches have been specific about my diet regimen. Large gatherings mean more food temptations, longer nights. If we limit it to, say, eight guests maximum, I can maintain my routine easier. Plus—" He added with a casual shrug. "—it allows more quality time with each person rather than rushed hellos to, let's say, twenty strangers."

Yeong Gu raised his eyebrows.

"And..." Jae-il continued. "Let's make it a quiet evening affair. Early dinner, say six to nine. That way I can still get my eight hours before morning practice, and you'd still get to show me off without derailing my professional commitments. Win-win."

Yeong Gu looked from his son to his wife, then to Mia and Su Ah, whose expressions now seemed deceptively supportive. He thought for a moment.

"A small, early dinner... for a select few." He mused, stroking his chin. "That does sound a bit more... exclusive. I like it." He finally agreed.

Eun Ha breathed out slowly through her nose—not quite catching the mischievous twinkle in her husband's eyes as he quieted down.