CHAPTER 34

Originally, CEO Choi had planned to leave work and go home immediately after his meeting with an external company, and he had informed Manager Yang about it.

However, he suddenly remembered some documents that needed to be reviewed at the office, so he stopped by the company briefly to pick them up. He had thought the office would be empty, but to his surprise, some employees were still there.

The part-time worker, Kim Siyeon, were among them. He couldn’t forget the first time he saw Siyeon at the factory. She resembled his wife so much in her younger days that he was taken aback. Ever since he heard that she was living alone and struggling, he had been concerned for her.

Sometimes, when he felt Siyeon’s gaze following him, he sensed emotions similar to those of an orphan missing their parents.

That’s why, on a scorching summer day, when he saw her standing in the yard with her cheeks flushed red, he couldn’t shake off a sense of unease all day.

After he found out that she had moved to this neighborhood and was living on her own, his concern for her grew, but due to the factory’s financial situation, he didn’t have the luxury to pay her extra attention.

However, one day, he happened to overhear that the team leader was cooking and providing side dishes for her, and he decided to give her some extra money and asked the team leader to continue taking care of her, and urging her to keep it a secret.

“CEO, I’m doing this because I want to, why are you doing this?”

The team leader waved off the money, but CEO Choi insisted on adding that amount to her monthly salary and asked her not to mention it to Siyeon. He was worried that Siyeon might misunderstand his intentions and think he was being overly concerned for her.

After learning that Siyeon often stayed home without a stable job, he also asked Manager Yang to arrange for her to have lunch at the factory every day.

“CEO Choi, is it really okay to do this?”

Seeing Manager Yang blushing with happiness, he felt relieved. At least Siyeon wouldn’t be alone every day and he felt a sense of security.

He couldn’t understand why Siyeon, who had stopped working as a part-timer in his company, stood out to him so much. Whenever he missed his daughter, whose face had become increasingly difficult to see, Siyeon’s face occasionally came to mind.

“CEO Choi, doesn’t Siyeon look a lot like your wife? If someone saw her, they might think she’s your daughter, not Eunhye.”

He couldn’t pinpoint when his heart had started to race for no apparent reason, but it was probably after Yoonsoo had made a joking comment one day. He had laughed it off, but a lingering feeling remained in his heart.

“Happy birthday, dear Siyeon, happy birthday to you!”

As he opened the entrance and stepped inside, the employees were celebrating Siyeon’s birthday. CEO Choi had already forgotten why he had come back here in the first place.

Today was Eunhye’s birthday also. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“No. I was born in Seongbuk-dong, at Seongbuk-dong Royal Maternity Clinic. I lived there for a while and then moved to Ichon-dong and stayed there.”

The moment he heard Siyeon’s words, his world turned upside down. A girl who looked exactly like his wife and born on the same day at Seongbuk-dong Royal Maternity Clinic. He shuddered at the thought of such an unbelievable coincidence.

“Oh my, CEO-sir! When did you arrive?”

“…”

Slowly, Siyeon turned to face him, and their eyes met. A look of fear, almost terror, filled his gaze. He was trembling. In that moment, everything went dark before him.

***

Siyeon returned home and spent the night with wide-open eyes. The CEO’s sudden appearance in the office had left her in shock. He had left without saying a word, stumbling as he opened the door.

Manager Yang and the team leader had told her that the CEO had been going through a tough time lately, and they should be understanding, but Siyeon couldn’t shake her anxiety. It seemed like her biological father might have heard what she had said.

There was no other explanation but to suspect the girl who was born on the same day at the same maternity hospital. If she were to consider why she had come all the way here to work part-time, those suspicions couldn’t just be dismissed as mere doubts.

Siyeon was restless, but she had nowhere to talk about it. And so, days turned into weeks.

As Siyeon began to lean toward the idea that she might have had taken the situation too sensitively, at one point, Siyeon went to the factory to have lunch and heard from Manager Yang that the CEO had been hospitalized.

“When… did he get hospitalized? Why all of a sudden? Is he very ill? Is his wife, okay?”

Siyeon bombarded her with questions, her face turning pale. Manager Yang, equally worried, couldn’t detect any strange signs from Siyeon and reveleade the information to her in a weak voice.

“The CEO collapsed as soon as he came home yesterday after meeting someone. Oh dear! His wife was so shocked that she called an ambulance right away and told me what happened.”

“Which hospital? Did she tell you what room number?”

“Yes, she told me, but his wife said that the CEO needs to rest right now. She asked not to visit him just yet and to take good care of the factory, as the factory’s situation isn’t great right now.”

“Do you know who he met before coming home? Did he say anything about it?”

Siyeon’s eyes welled up with tears as she pressed for answers.

Did he meet Gwihyeon? Or perhaps the Ichon-dong parents? Grandmother?

She regretted not telling him first that she knew, so he wouldn’t be so surprised.

“Please, just tell me the name of the hospital.”

“No, his wife said nobody should come to visit him.”

“I have plenty of time, so I’ll just go and see his face from a distance. You’re curious too, right? I’ll go and check if he’s really okay!”

As Siyeon persisted, Manager Yang reluctantly disclosed the hospital’s name and room number. Siyeon took a taxi and headed to the hospital.

Her father was in a four-bed ward. The bed was diagonally visible from the room’s door. Siyeon lingered outside the room, trying to see his face, but it was out of her line of sight. To see his face, she would have to enter the room, which meant that he would also be able to see her.

“I can’t see his face.”

Siyeon tried to tiptoe and even turned her head from side to side, but her view was limited to just below his chest.

As she bit her lower lip, not knowing what to do, a nurse happened to check on the patient in the adjacent bed and left the room. Siyeon followed her a few steps and then called out to her a few seconds later.

“Excuse me! Nurse.”

“Yes?”

“Um, that patient in Room 608, Mr. Choi Won-dae, is he okay? Is he seriously ill or injured?”

“Are you a family member of the patient?”

Siyeon hesitated for a moment before answering softly.

“…Yes.”

“Oh, you must be his daughter.”

With that, the nurse finally smiled kindly at her.

“The doctor already informed your mother earlier, but there doesn’t seem to be any major health issues based on the test results. However, since your mother wanted to have a comprehensive examination while he’s here, it’s a good opportunity for him to take a few days off and get a thorough check-up. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, thank you. Thank you so much.”

Siyeon expressed her gratitude with a deep bow. She was so relieved to hear that there were no major health problems. She wiped away the tears forming in her eyes and turned to leave, but she stopped abruptly in her tracks.

“Who are you? Why do you say my husband is your family?”

“Uh…”

She was a middle-aged woman with an impressive presence despite her plain attire and lack of makeup. She was looking at Siyeon with a puzzled expression.

It was her Hannam-dong mother, a much fairer face than Siyeon remembered. She recalled her mother who had apologized to Siyeon for not having done anything for her as a parent, and tears welled up in Siyeon’s eyes.

She left Siyeon with the feeling that she had done nothing as a parent, leaving her to face the world alone, causing the biggest wound in her already troubled life.

“Miss.”

“I used to… work as a part-timer at Yeongjin a while ago…”

Siyeon explained with a tearful voice. When she heard the name ‘Yeongjin’, the woman’s face softened.

“I told Manager Yang not to let anyone come, but it seems she sent you. Fortunately, the CEO is much better now, so don’t worry too much. Since he’s awake, you can go inside and greet him if you want.”

“…”

Siyeon couldn’t respond any further and just shook her head. Tears fell from her eyes. She didn’t know if she’d be able to compose herself and not cry uncontrollably if she saw his face now.

“The CEO is really fine. Our daughter isn’t crying either. What are you crying?”

“…Did Eunhye come and visit?”

She asked with a trembling voice. If Eunhye hadn’t visited, she would have to contact her through Gwihyeon and told her to come to the hospital immediately.

Her mother seemed a little surprised when Siyeon mentioned Eunhye, but then she spoke with a warm voice.

“Oh, you know our Eunhye? She went yesterday when the CEO was still unconscious, and she’s probably coming again after she finishes work tonight.”

“…Okay.”

Siyeon had been quite anxious, waiting for Eunhye to arrive at any moment. Now she felt relieved.

“Well, please take care.”

“You’re not going inside to see the CEO?”

“Since the CEO is okay… I’ll go tell the people at the factory that he’s doing well. And Manager Yang said not to worry about the factory work and told me to pass a message to Mo…you.”

“You must have been busy, and I appreciate you coming all the way here to worry about us.”

“Oh no, I’m not busy.”

It was fortunate that she wasn’t a regular office worker with a strict schedule. If she had left work to come here, it would have looked very strange.

“Well then, please be careful on your way back.”

“Yes…”

iyeon bowed and greeted before passing by her and heading out. Watching Siyeon with a puzzled expression, she opened the door to the hospital room a while later.

Her husband, CEO Choi, had been staring out of the window like a lost soul since he regained consciousness yesterday. He remained silent, not saying a word about what had happened, leaving her feeling frustrated and worried.

“Honey, there are so many people who care about you. So please, regain your strength and get discharged soon.”

“…”

“Just now, a young lady who used to work part-time at the factory came to visit because she’s worried about you.”

CEO Choi slowly turned his head and looked at her, his lips moving as he struggled to speak.

“…Who…?”

“She was a very pretty young lady, and I met her right here. She was so tearful, asking if you were okay, that she couldn’t help but cry. She said she came to see your face but then left, just like that…”

“…”

At that moment, large tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Honey…”

Her eyes widened in shock.

“Uh…”

He struggled to speak, crying painfully. He seemed completely distraught.

His wife let out a startled scream and hurriedly rushed outside to call a nurse.