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Soomin positioned the newlyweds squarely in front of her, her piercing gaze scrutinizing their every word. After a relentless barrage of questions, she finally seemed satisfied with their responses.

"And that girl who put them in jail," she seethed, "I hope she stubs her toes and grows nails from her tongue so she can't speak."

Haein's eyes widened in shock; they were unwittingly wishing harm upon her, unaware that she was the one responsible for putting her dear husband in jail. Grandma chimed in with her own scathing remarks, calling the unknown girl "impolite" and adding more insults.

Haein let out an exasperated sigh, feeling the weight of their expectations bearing down on her. Surely, they anticipated her to retaliate with equal ferocity.

Jake, watching the scene unfold, found amusement in his wife's predicament, curious to see how she would respond. "Uh... what an impolite girl," Haein managed to say cautiously, earning a skeptical glance from Soomin.

Feeling the pressure mounting, Haein swallowed nervously before continuing, "I hope she gives birth to a centipede and spends her life making shoes for it."

The two women exchanged satisfied looks, seemingly appeased by Haein's unexpected retort. Jake couldn't help but smile and shake his head, finding humor in his wife's clever deflection amidst the tension.

Seojun glanced at the clock and rose from his seat, addressing his daughter with a suggestion. "The sun is about to set. Why don't you go buy the gift and bring Haein with you?"

Both girls shot him a glare at the suggestion, but Haein sighed reluctantly, offering a fake smile as she followed Soomin out. Soomin, clearly in no mood to wait, strode ahead briskly, leaving Haein struggling to keep pace.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the bustling streets as they navigated through the neighborhood. Haein glanced around, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the area, now bustling with evening activity. The air was filled with the aroma of street food vendors, and the distant hum of traffic created a backdrop to their hurried footsteps

Despite Soomin's brisk pace, Haein continued to engage her in conversation, hoping to glean some information about their destination but Soomin remained tight-lipped.

Undeterred, Haein continued to press until she finally relented with a curt reply, "To a shop, of course."

She couldn't help but giggle at Soomin's brusqueness, quipping, "Like a bull in a china shop."

Soomin halted abruptly, fixing Haein with an incredulous stare.

"Did you just call me a bull?"

"Of course not, sister. I was simply thinking of that saying. I wanted to show you that I'm educated." Soomin remained skeptical but too fatigued to argue further.

As they approached the hairdresser's shop, Soomin abruptly released Haein's hand, causing a momentary confusion before Haein followed her sister-in-law inside. Soomin engaged in conversation with a brunette stylist with curly hair, her intense gaze directed at Haein not going unnoticed.

"So this is Jaeyun's wife," the stylist remarked coolly, eyeing Haein with a mix of curiosity and something else that Haein couldn't quite decipher.

Haein, determined not to be phased, extended her hand with a polite smile. "I'm Haein. Jake's wife indeed, It's nice to meet you."

The brunette, gave a shallow smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm Juri, Jaeyun's childhood best friend," she replied with a hint of underlying tension.

Haein couldn't help but notice the subtle competitiveness in Juri's demeanor. She sensed there was more to their relationship than just childhood friendship, but she chose not to dwell on it, focusing instead on the task at hand – getting through this encounter with as much grace as possible.

Soomin noticed the tension brewing between the two girls, and with a knowing smile, she interjected, "Juri was always the belle of our neighborhood. All the boys in school had a crush on her."

Said person, bashful yet slightly pleased, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear under Haein's watchful gaze. There was a subtle challenge in her gaze, as if daring her to respond to Soomin's remarks.

Soomin continued, oblivious to the undercurrents, "She and Jake were practically inseparable as kids. I always thought they'd end up together, but, well, life takes unexpected turns." She glanced at Haein knowingly, her eyes hinting at more than she said aloud.

Haein felt a pang of irritation at her insinuations ,but she concealed her emotions, reminding herself of her role as Jake's temporary wife. She couldn't afford to show any cracks in their facade, even as Soomin showered Juri with more compliments. The weight of it all made her eyelids feel heavy with frustration.

Juri, sensing the tension, attempted to lighten the mood. "You should come by my salon sometime," she suggested with a friendly smile. "I'd love to style your hair for a special occasion."

Haein, ever graceful under pressure, replied with a polite nod, "Sure, I'd love that. Maybe you could do my hairstyle for the wedding after-party."

Juri's smile faltered, jealousy simmering beneath her facade as she watched Haein walk away, her gaze fixed on her retreating form with a mixture of admiration and resentment.

The sunlight filtered through the gaps between buildings, casting dappled patterns on the cobblestone streets beneath their feet. Haein stole glances at Soomin, noticing the tension etched into the lines of her sister-in-law's face.

While walking through the quiet streets, Haein fought against the urge to break the silence, but the question gnawed at her until she couldn't hold it in any longer. Her steps slowed slightly as she glanced over at Soomin, who walked beside her with a distant expression.

"Did you want Jake to marry Juri?" Haein finally ventured, her voice hesitant yet firm.

Soomin's thoughtful silence added to the atmosphere, punctuated only by the occasional passing of locals going about their daily routines. Haein felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her—curiosity about Jake's past, unease about her own place in his life, and a lingering sense of guilt over the fact that she might've ruined his love life.

"Does he love her?"

Soomin's response was measured, her gaze distant as if contemplating her words carefully. "Well, if Jake actually talked to us about these things, maybe we wouldn't have seen you for the first time in a wedding dress," she remarked wryly, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

Caught off guard by the implication of Soomin's words, Haein blurted out defensively, " I'm different."

Soomin didn't immediately respond, and the awkward silence stretched between them until they spotted Jake waiting in front of the store they were supposed to visit. Both women exchanged confused glances, wondering why he was there.

The two women watched Jake and Inha from a distance, their initial curiosity turning quickly into concern as the conversation between them escalated. Soomin's grip tightened around Haein's hand, a silent question hanging between them as they witnessed the tense exchange.

"Are they talking together?" Soomin murmured, her voice low but urgent.

Haein squinted slightly, her brow furrowing as she observed. "It looks more like arguing," she replied, noting the gestures and expressions that hinted at a confrontation rather than a casual discussion.

Both hesitated, unsure whether to intervene in the unfolding scene, but Soomin's protective instinct took over.

With a determined nod, she tugged Haein along as she hurried toward her brother's side. Haein followed reluctantly, her steps faltering briefly before she composed herself.

However, as they neared, Haein realized her mistake. Panic surged through her, and she instinctively turned away, using her purse to shield her face. She couldn't afford for Inha to identify her and connect her to the past incident.

"I will literally throw you in a cell and let you rot in jail," Inha's voice boomed, his threat echoing through the quiet street.

Soomin's protective instincts flared into action. She pointed an accusatory finger at Inha, her voice firm with indignation.

"Hey, hey! Don't threaten my brother like that," Soomin demanded, her eyes flashing with defiance as she stepped closer to Jake's side.

Jake, caught between his sister and his boss, attempted to diffuse the escalating tension. He placed a calming hand on his sister's shoulder, urging her to step back.

Soomin's voice rang out, sharp with indignation. "You can't throw him in jail based on false accusations!"

"It's not a false accusation if I have a witness."

Jake felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He couldn't protect Haein from this any longer. Soomin, perplexed by Inha's certainty, looked around in confusion.

Her protective instinct kicked in once more as she continued, "My brother is a married man. He has to take care of his family, and look, there's his wife."

Pointing towards Haein, who was nervously biting her lip and hiding her face behind her purse, Soomin tried to draw attention away from the situation. Jake turned to look, bewildered by Soomin's sudden defense.

Haein, feeling overwhelmed, slowly turned around, offering a nervous smile that did little to ease the tension. Jake sighed, exasperated, and ran a hand over his face in frustration.

Inha, now intrigued, voiced his confusion. "I've been looking for this woman everywhere. Are you sure that's his wife?"

"Yes, why?"

Inha's revelation struck Jake like a blow. "She's the one who testified against him at the station," he muttered darkly, fixing a piercing glare on Haein. This time, Jake couldn't bring himself to step in and defend her.

As Soomin's glare intensified, Haein nervously attempted to diffuse the tension with a feeble "oppsie?" Her attempt at levity faltered under her unyielding gaze, which seemed to pierce through her.

Jake, standing beside them, had been trying to offer Haein reassurance with a comforting look. But his expression quickly shifted to surprise, his eyes widening in response to something he saw above them.

Haein, now curious and a bit alarmed by Jake's sudden change, followed his gaze upward.

There, infront of them overlooking the scene, stood Jia and Taerae. Their faces were frozen in expressions of utter disbelief and shock. Jia's eyes were wide, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief. Taerae, standing beside her, had a look of astonishment , he couldn't quite believe what he was witnessing.

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