I Don’t Want to be a Villainess

“I’m sorry. We don’t really know either.”

Yoo Ha-neul responded like that.

In fact, if they were looking for something, they could find it. It wasn’t polite for others to rummage around anywhere in this mansion, but Sara would at least forgive her three friends who were with her. Or maybe, she might not understand why it shouldn’t be done.

However, she didn’t want to have Sara meet this person. As it was, Sara had already been running into various issues.

“Is that so?”

The old man replied to Ha-neul’s words, looking at her quietly.

“I’ve heard that you are quite close to Sara.”

He said that while glancing at Yoon Da-ho, but Yoo Ha-neul didn’t think that Yoon Da-ho would have a cozy chat about this with her grandfather.

In fact, Yoon Da-ho also subtly avoided her gaze. It was the expression of a liar.

If Yoo Ha-neul’s instincts were right, Yoon Da-ho was being abused by the former chairwoman. She had seen a bruise peeking out slightly from his sleeve the last time she saw him.

It was unavoidable that a feeling of pity arose. Yoo Ha-neul didn’t particularly like Yoon Da-ho… or rather, she disliked him. She could say that for sure. Regardless of the background or past, she didn’t like how he looked down on people and treated her friend Sara like some kind of plague.

That said, it didn’t mean she thought he deserved to be beaten… but, it was also true that she didn’t feel inclined to help him.

However, that didn’t mean she should extend no hand at all.

After all, that helping hand wouldn’t be aimed at preventing Yoon Da-ho from getting hit.

“Yes, I’m very close to Sara.”

That’s right. Close.

And she wanted to get even closer.

If anything, she wanted to be someone essential to each other who could never be absent from one another’s lives.

And naturally, she hoped that there wouldn’t be another man in the way.

Yoon Da-ho, Yoo Ha-neul, and Sara all agreed on this direction. Both Yoon Da-ho and Sara thought it best to cut off this engagement.

Yoo Ha-neul actively supported the annulment.

Thus, although she didn’t think she should actively step in to resolve the family issues, she did think about extending some help where she could.

“Then, can’t you find out where Sara is? After all, she’s your only fiancée.”

He said that as if throwing a joke. There could only be one fiancée. But an engagement that both parties do not agree on couldn’t even be called an engagement. There was no guarantee from anyone, nor was it registered with any institution.

Moreover, when Yoo Ha-neul handed over the ring, Sara had no ring on her hand. It was proof that the engagement was really just words.

Thinking about Choi Na-kyung’s obsession with Sara, Yoon Da-ho thought he was just a shield to “absolutely prevent anyone else from interfering.”

What should he say here? Should he directly tell her that Sara didn’t want this marriage and wanted to annul the engagement?

He glanced at Yoon Da-ho, who slightly shook his head.

At least, he seemed to want to resolve his own matters himself.

“If she feels too burdened and wants a break… I think you should let her.”

“What about the fiancée taking care of him by his side? It’s about time to advance the relationship since they’ve been engaged for quite a while.”

Honestly, even if they genuinely got married, she didn’t think their relationship would turn into a true romantic one… but maybe that person was thinking of forcing them to be together somehow.

“Even so, I don’t think it’s good for two minors to be in the same room…”

“What? Chairwoman Choi Na-kyung must wish for that.”

“…”

Yoo Ha-neul shot him a glare.

Even with this behavior, he didn’t flinch a muscle. He must have roughly investigated Sara and the relationships around her.

“I’d like to point out that Chairwoman Choi Na-kyung is not present right now…”

“Just because she’s not here doesn’t mean we couldn’t reach out.”

“…What?”

Yoo Ha-neul asked back with a blank expression. Sua, who was beside her, covered her mouth. Nam Da-un frowned slightly.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I don’t know where she is either. But while we might not be able to reach out to her, there are plenty of ways she could contact us.”

“But the chairwoman is currently wanted…”

“That would mean it’s an urgent matter for her to contact us, indicating there’s a possibility of being caught. Of course, I can’t go spreading her private matters. But if the police request our cooperation, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

“….”

Noticing Yoo Ha-neul’s sudden silence, the old man stepped a little closer and bowed slightly.

“Hmm.”

Seeing the rigid expression on Yoo Ha-neul’s face, the old man smiled gently.

“Well, if you don’t really understand, that’s fine… But I’d like you to acknowledge that Sara’s only legal guardian right now is that woman. And she has her own desires. If she’s a ‘close’ friend, you all should know well.”

The old man whispered.

“I wish for my grandson to marry the heir of Yujin Group. That’s all I desire. Whatever you all want, if it’s ‘Sara,’ you can take her back as much as you like. If there’s a way for both sides to win together, there’s no reason to fight, is there?”

“….Does that contact say so as well?”

“….”

At Yoo Ha-neul’s question, the old man fell silent.

Did Choi Na-kyung really write to hand Sara over to Yoo Ha-neul? No, Yoo Ha-neul thought she surely wouldn’t do that.

She would have preferred they say they’d transfer the assets and take Sara instead.

“Is this how you’ll fight to the bitter end? Or are you all after the money as well?”

Absolutely not.

It was just that this asset belonged to Sara.

Since it belonged to Sara, even if she had to give it up or dispose of it, it had to be done with Sara’s will. It was not something others could just claim as their own.

“So…”

“Hello.”

Before the old man could continue, someone interrupted their conversation.

Looking towards the sound, it was Sara’s uncle, Ye In-hyuk, standing there.

“Long time no see, Chairwoman. I hope your health has improved a bit.”

“….”

Just moments ago, he had been coaxing Yoo Ha-neul, but now, when the real relation of Yujin Group spoke, he fell silent.

He slowly moved his gaze over him, scanning him thoroughly.

“Thanks to you, I’ve become quite well.”

He extended his hand.

The two shook hands. From the outside, it looked like a very amicable atmosphere.

“Still, it’s about time to attend the grandson and granddaughter-in-law’s birthday party.”

“I appreciate you taking good care of my niece. But I’m aware that they are not yet married.”

“They’re engaged to one another.”

“But engagement does not equal marriage. Kids these days change their minds swiftly. Who knows, by the time they turn 20, they might rethink things.”

“That’s why we adults should help find the best match for them, shouldn’t we?”

“In that case, sir.”

Ye In-hyuk lightly bowed.

Bringing his face closer to the old man, he spoke slowly and kindly, as if explaining.

“In that case, wouldn’t you agree that Yoon Da-ho is not the best match for our Sara? They don’t seem to like each other that much.”

“….”

“I would like you to be aware that we are currently in the birthday party of the heir of Yujin Group. I haven’t sent any invitation to either you or the child claiming to be her fiancé.”

Until just a moment ago, while bantering with the old man, he hadn’t noticed at all, but now, the surroundings had completely hushed into silence.

Especially, the adults who were not wearing the red dress looked that way.

Those adults, looking over here, seemed to already have some sense of belonging in themselves, regardless of how different the colors and styles of their clothing were.

“I’m not sure how you regard the Chairwoman Choi Na-kyung. But if you have merely regarded us as trifling, then that would be a big misunderstanding. Do you truly wish for a direct confrontation between the Hongmyung Group and Yujin Group?”

“If that happens, both sides will suffer great damage.”

“You said ‘both’, didn’t you? I have a very different view. I think only one side will be ‘damaged.’ The other side won’t even have the resources left to tally the damage.”

“….”

The old man looked at him quietly for a while, then, smiling gently, he spoke.

“Well then, it seems I have been rude. If my grandson and granddaughter-in-law are unwell, they should indeed rest. I must apologize for my unnecessary insistence. Age indeed makes one stubborn.”

“It’s fine, Chairwoman. That could happen.”

The two smiled and wrapped up their conversation.

But both, Yoo Ha-neul thought, seemed to be completely devoid of any actual smiles in their eyes.

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