[Heo Moeun]

I've had enough of Saeryeong. She's always in Sanggyeom's hair, pestering him, acting as if she were his wife. Does she realize she's a homewrecker now? She doesn't get to waltz in our marriage void of consequences.

Can't she find another man to pursue? Is she desperate enough to need to ruin my life with her constant interference? No matter how, I'll put her in her place because I can't keep suffering over her bullshit.

***

"Maybe another man will take her heart soon." Kyungsoo's idea is stupid. That woman is so deep into Sanggyeom that she'd rather die than give up and accept any other man in her life. She's pathetic at best.

"Please, as if she weren't a simp for Sanggyeom. Come on, there has to be a better idea!" I stomp my left foot so violently that one of the maids overhears me and abruptly enters the room where my circle and I are having conversation.

I bark at her. "Jeonghee! How dare you eavesdrop? You're supposed to work, okay?"

She tries to make excuses. "Madam, I was just passing by with the dirty laundry. You startled me..." I glare at her, which forces her to adjust her posture. "I'm sorry. I should've knocked on the door first. I'll do better."

I don't buy her regret over her actions. "Honestly, I can wipe my ass with your bullshit. How many times have I told you not to eavesdrop? Are you stupid or what?" She lowers her head like a dog that got its round of lashings instead of answering and offering me a more sincere apology.

I angrily point my finger at who's gonna be my former maid. "You know what? I've had enough of you. Get out! You're fired!" Jeonghee drops the laundry basket on the floor. Instead of doing as told and simply leaving, she throws a pointed glare at me.

"I may no longer work with you, but at least I leave with my conscience intact. I don't know if the same applies to you, madam." She then takes off her apron and angrily throws it on the floor. "Good luck finding other maids to treat like scum, Miss Heo."

When Jeonghee finally leaves, she does so without closing the door or greeting my guests properly. How rude. I'll make sure everyone knows she's unreliable and disrespectful, so that no-one else considers hiring her. Despite this, neither Kyungsoo nor Hagyeong agree with my decision.

"Moeun, this isn't a good look on you," warns the latter. "Who wants to work for your family if you look so bad tempered? Plus, this attitude will discredit you further with Sanggyeom. He won't like that."

"If you want to pass off as a loving wife, you have to show signs of respecting house staff," adds Kyungsoo. He and Hagyeong aren't wrong. I can't keep following through Mom and Dad's example if I want to keep Sanggyeom. One wrong step, and he'll be back to Saeryeong, no matter how binding our marriage contract is.

***

The little gang is at their favorite pub as usual. I decided to go there as well, for a change. They haven't started their usual round of drinks yet. Good, this means I can join them and mark my territory all whil making sure Sanggyeom pays for all the drinks I decide to order. After all, he's meant to provide for me even though we don't love each other.

Since I don't want to act as if I just barged in, I wait for a while, sitting at a table as far from theirs as possible but without ordering anything. To avoid unwanted attention from waitstaff, I've come here in disguise: a black scarf on my head, a black coat and large black sunglasses.

I pretend to fix my lipstick, then stare at my perfectly curated nails—at least Hyori is good at her job, not like that other desperate idiot Mom recommended to me after seeing a bunch of positive reviews on Facebook. I love my mother, but sometimes she has some really weird ideas.

Out of a sudden, I notice a strange movement from Seokcheol. He stands up to pick up a napkin that fell on the floor. That's when I whistle twice to gain his attention. He turns in my direction, believing some random waiter is about to scold him because... his pants are sagging. Doesn't he, like, have a belt?

I wave at him, acting as if I need help. He doesn't hesitate and rushes to me. "Madam, is everything okay? You seem to struggle. Can I help you?" he asks, still panting. I bite my lip to keep myself from chuckling. He sounds so pathetic.

I don't have time for pleasantries, so I go straight to the point. "I see you and others were seated at a table where there's my husband, too. Blue jacket, striped trousers... Yeah, I know, it's so kitsch..." This time, I don't retain myself and end up laughing with a touch of malice.

"So?"

I snap at him. "So... There's that one woman who's sitting next to him. Do you see her? She's trying to hit on him! I can't let that happen. Can you distract her for me, please?"

Unfortunately for me, Seokcheol is perceptive enough to see through my disguise. "Come on, Moeun, stop it. I know what you want. No, I'm not gonna flirt with Saeryeong. She's a friend to me." He leaves without give me the chance to elaborate the plan properly.

Screw him! If he's so loyal to those two, why won't he kill two birds with a stone? Now, I'm forced to put my hands on Sanggyeom the hard way. Thanks to a few gossipers in the area, I got some dirt on Saeryeong: it's time to unload it.

I open my file folder on my phone, scroll through the pictures I have and select a few of them before sharing them on several social networks: Facebook, X, Instagram and, why not, TikTok and Xiaohongshu as well. This way, Saeryeong will know better than messing with the wrong person.

The moment I put down my phone and snicker, I hear a loud thud and a man screaming. "What the fuck is this? Is this some sick joke? Can anyone explain?"

Pretending to act casual, I pass by the counter, where Sanggyeom is panicking. His little discovery may have been a little too much for it. However, this isn't enough. I have to add a heavier load to succeed with my plan.

Therefore, I take his phone from his hands and show it off to the rest of his pathetic clique. "Look. Oh Saeryeong acts like a saint, she thinks she's Little Miss Perfection, but here she is, treating coworkers like scum. She's a bully!"

The pictures are clearly cut, edited and manipulated, but they're enough of a wake-up call for Sanggyeom. He begs. "Please, Saeryeong, tell me this is not true! There has to be a mistake." Tears form in his eye wells—mission almost accomplished.

However, Saeryeong still finds a way to justify herself. "What? It's obviously a mistake—I left Jumbo Mart back in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic! There are pictures with no mask. Everyone was required to wear masks by then!"

Since Sanggyeom seems convinced by her pathetic excuses, and so are the other three losers, I throw the ultimate bomb. "Please... 2021... Who believes that? Sanggyeom, trust me, she has never loved you. She only clings to you to make me jealous."

He explodes. "Stop with the bullshit, Moeun! Saeryeong has no such intention!"

I continue. "I have a lot more evidence to show. If you don't want to believe that, then listen." I open another folder, this time containing audio files I carefully fabricated through cutting and editing, but sound so realistic that they can pass off as true. One says, 'One day, he'll pay for what he made me go through!'

I scoff triumphantly. "See? She sees you as a liability, Sanggyeom! She thinks you're dangerous!"

Saeryeong tries to protest. "No, Sanggyeom, I wasn't talking to you!" Her efforts are useless, because he throws her the deadliest glare possible.

Then, he hisses. "Stay away from me, Saeryeong. It's for the better." She bursts into tears, while I rejoice.

"Come with me, Sanggyeom. Let's try to restart on another note." He accepts my offer and we leave together, while Saeryeong and the other three losers will have to stay there picking up pieces. Fuck them all.