Part 25

“What’s going on?”

Jiwook’s face turned cold at the sight of Myeong-hye suddenly bursting into the office.

Not knowing why her son was acting that way, Myeong-hye, always unfathomable, entered his office with a cheerful smile, and sat down on the couch, crossing her legs gracefully.

“I’ll have some roasted barley tea.”

“Understood.”

The secretary bowed and quietly left the office.

Jiwook was trying to organize his thoughts after his meeting with Sung-hyun.

How to handle these matters and what to do about Myeong-hye’s actions over the past few days.

He didn’t want to face her, so he avoided her calls and didn’t visit his parents’ house.

“I mean, I should be able to see my son’s face, right? Instead, I have to see those unsightly faces on TV all the time. How come it’s harder to see my own son?”

Myeong-hye’s words had a sting to them.

She was probably referring to Seowoo, who was currently appearing in a drama.

Jiwook knew Myeong-hye had not been nice to Seowoo as a mother-in-law, but what Myeong-hye was doing behind his back was beyond imagination.

More than he could bear to believe.

“I have a meeting to go into soon.”

It was his way of telling her to leave. However, Myeong-hye, undeterred, simply continued to smile at her son.

Even if he and Seowoo were to reconcile, the biggest problem would still be Myeong-hye. The wounds she had inflicted over time on Seowoo. And if Seowoo ever found out about Myeong-hye’s attempt to deal with Sung-hyun…

The very thought made his head throb.

“Lately, I see you’ve been busy meeting with Yoon Seowoo again.”

At Myeong-hye’s remark, Jiwook slowly lifted his gaze. The stern look on her son’s face didn’t faze Myeong-hye in the slightest.

“I guess you had someone follow me around too.”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s every parent’s right to want their child to do well. I was just inquiring because you wouldn’t marry. Is there a problem with that?”

“Mother.”

“That girl has a man, doesn’t she? They denied it, but she’s dating Ki Sung-hyun. Don’t you think everyone knows?”

“Ha.”

Jiwook couldn’t help but let out a scoff. It was ludicrous. This was the woman who had gone to the lengths to put her own son into a coma to force a divorce.

And yet, there she was, acting nonchalant and shameless.

“So, you met with Ki Sung-hyun to make a deal?”

Myeong-hye’s expression changed subtly at that comment. Her botox-tightened brow creased slightly.

“How long will you keep doing this? It’s about time you stopped.”

“Adjusting a button that’s been wrongly placed is all I’m doing. Isn’t it time you moved on from her and made a fresh start?”

“It’s been disrupted because of you. Don’t deny it.”

If only you have not been so greedy.

If only you had been a bit more caring toward the woman who suffered a miscarriage.

If only you hadn’t pushed her out of the house, forcing a divorce.

But Jiwook knew.

Regardless of everything else, he wasn’t without fault. The biggest issue was his failure to have her trust.

“I plan to reconcile with her.”

He was prepared to get back together as long as Seowoo would let him.

After all, Jiwook had never wanted the divorce; it was just that Seowoo was tired and just wanted to leave.

Jiwook was sure of it. She still had feelings for him.

“Reconcile? Seriously?”

The word ‘reconcile’ disrupted Myeong-hye’s composure completely. Her face twisted as she spoke with a sour expression.

“Didn’t I tell you? Do you still want to go through with this even after knowing what happened between her mother and your father?”

“Did you threaten Seowoo with that?”

“She said that? That I threatened her?”

Seowoo had never said anything to him.

The reason he had proceeded with the marriage despite hearing those words from Myeong-hye was different.

Because Jiwook knew that not everything Myeong-hye said was true.

Seeing Myeong-hye’s attitude toward himself confirmed his belief. Jiwook’s eyes sharpened.

“You should know better, Mother.”

“That never happened.”

Myeong-hye denied it instantly. Observing her slightly trembling lips, Jiwook was further convinced.

“She left because she hated our family. She left because she didn’t love you. She left without a trace of reluctance. Would she have disappeared like that if she loved you?”

The lawyer who handled their divorce was hired by Myeong-hye.

Though Jiwook didn’t know exactly what had been said between Seowoo and Myeong-hye, he was sure that Myeong-hye was the one who had driven Seowoo into a corner.

“If she was threatened, it makes sense. You did the same with Ki Sung-hyun. It would be quite a spectacle if that got out.”

“That nobody, what can he possibly expose?”

“I don’t ever want to see your face again, Mother. Please leave.”

Jiwook couldn’t bear to face her any longer. The mere sight of her made him feel nauseous and disgusted. He stood up from his seat. He headed straight for the door.

“Are you going to disrespect your mother like this!”

Myeong-hye’s voice screamed with fury.

“Ah.”

Just as he grasped the doorknob, something occurred to Jiwook, prompting him to turn back towards Myeong-hye. His cold gaze landed on her.

“Don’t ever touch Seowoo again. This is my last warning.”

“What?”

“Remember my words, Mother. This is the last consideration I can offer you.”

His clenched fist trembled.

It was time to correct all the wrongs.

***

5 years ago.

“She quit and is now living in Busan.”

“Busan?”

“Yes. That’s her hometown originally, so it seems she went straight there.”

Cheol-hoon reported to Jiwook. Myeong-hye’s words had been nagging at him, and he felt compelled to verify the facts himself.

‘I don’t know about your father…….’

His marriage to Seowoo was just around the corner. Myeong-hye, who had been discouraging Jiwook, eventually broke down in tears and let out that statement

It was a claim that Seowoo’s mother, Yoon-rim, who had worked as a maid in their household, had an inappropriate relationship with his father, Hyeong-gyeong.

If true, it would be a relationship too problematic to allow Jiwook and Seowoo’s marriage. However, something did not sit right with him.

‘Is it true?’

‘Of course, it’s true. Why would I embarrass myself with this? I’ve been boiling with this secret all my life. That’s why I wanted to drive that mother and daughter out. Could you bear to have such a woman working in our house?’

Flashes of Myeong-hye’s past manipulations crossed his mind. 

Even as a child, Jiwook could see through the absurdity when Myeong-hye hid her own jewelry and blamed it on Seowoo. 

The image of Seowoo and Yoon-rim kneeling on the living room floor, begging, was etched in his mind. 

Eventually, Jiwook resolved the incident by revealing the truth since he had seen his mother hiding the jewelry himself. 

He couldn’t stand to see Seowoo crying, and all he could think about was saving Seowoo from being falsely accused.

‘Everyone kept it quiet, but most of the staff knew too. It was truly shameful.’

However, Jiwook could not be certain about the affair involving Yoonrim and Hyeong-gyeong.

Myeong-hye wept profusely while denouncing Hyeong-gyeong and Seowoo’s mother, but Jiwook’s expression remained impassive. He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

‘I understand.’

After hearing this story from Myeong-hye, Jiwook immediately went to see Hyeong-gyeong.

He needed confirmation from the man himself. There could be nothing more accurate.

‘Please tell me the truth. This is important.’

Hyeong-gyeong grimaced at Jiwook’s question, merely coughing evasively.

‘Father.’

‘Hmm. It’s a bit awkward, but really, nothing happened.’

‘Is that the truth?’

‘It’s true. Really.’

Taking advantage of the fact that Myeong-hye had gone to her parent’s home, a drunken Hyeong-gyeong called Yoon-rim to his room. 

For someone who’d lived a hard life, Yoon-rim was a very nice girl.

Each time she gently narrowed her eyes and smiled, his heart would race uncontrollably.

Thus, Hyeong-gyeong tried to embrace her, but sensing something off, Yoon-rim dodged him, and eventually, he could do nothing. Furthermore, Myeong-hye, who was supposed to be sleeping over at her parent’s house, came home early and caught everything.

“Sigh.”

Jiwook mulled over the past events as he intently looked at the note he was holding. It was the address of the house belonging to Soon-ja, the nanny who had raised him since he was a child.

Even after receiving an answer from Hyeong-gyeong, Jiwook felt the need to check one more time.

It was a thought triggered by Myeong-hye’s words that the employees were also aware of.

“I’ll go straight there.”

“Understood.”

To avoid hurting Seowoo any further, it seemed better for him to verify it personally. He couldn’t trust his own father either.

Jiwook immediately set out for where Soon-ja was.