Part 30

“You looked really pretty today.”

“Oh, stop it with the compliments.”

Seowoo rolled her eyes in annoyance.

After finishing the commercial shoot, they were on their way home.

Jung-ah, sitting beside her, marveled incessantly.

Seowoo gazed out the window, lost in thought. Fortunately, her condition wasn’t bad today, and she was able to finish the shoot safely.

There was a fear of miscarriage, but luckily her appetite was strong enough to be reassuring. She even had a better appetite than before pregnancy.

“What are you doing tomorrow? You have to think about your next drama project.”

“Tomorrow…”

Seowoo was about to say something, but her words trailed off. Tomorrow was the day she had arranged to meet Seung-min.

She knew she had to tell him about her pregnancy.

In case of any adverse situations, Seung-min, being her CEO, should know.

But the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth.

“Why did you stop talking all of a sudden?”

Seowoo slowly turned her head to look at Jung-ah.

I should tell Jung-ah too. It would be better to let her know before she hears it from Seung-min.

“Is there something on my face?”

Jung-ah runs her hand over her face, looking puzzled as Seowoo stares at her.

“Are you busy tonight?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Come have dinner with me.”

Seowoo decided it was better to talk about it today. She planned to bring it up over dinner with Jung-ah.

“Should we? I’m eating alone anyway. Let’s do that, then. What should we eat?”

“Choose whatever you want to eat.”

“Okay. I’ll take a look at the menu then.”

Jung-ah’s voice brightened as she pressed on a delivery app.

Seowoo finds herself pathetic, so she wonders how pathetic she must look to others.

Jung-ah was like a sister to her, but it wasn’t easy to bring up the topic.

A child from her ex-husband, and to think she got pregnant as soon as she returned to the industry.

It felt like someone was choking her even before she could speak.

“Seowoo, how about pork belly? You like pork belly.”

“I’m fine with anything, choose what you like.”

“Oh, I also want to eat pizza…….”

Jung-ah’s face was serious as if deciding on a matter of great importance. As Seowoo looked out the window, her cell phone vibrated in her hand.

“…!”

Seowoo’s expression turned cold as she saw the caller ID.

It was a number she hadn’t saved, but she recognized it instantly. Just seeing that number made her breath catch. She wanted to erase it from her mind but couldn’t forget it.

She couldn’t bring herself to answer and watched as the call disconnected.

“Pizza and pasta sound good. Deal?”

“…”

“Hey, Yoon Seowoo. How about pizza?”

“Uh-huh. Okay.”

“I’m ordering it to your house now.”

The cell phone rang incessantly.

After making an absurd proposal to Sung-hyun, and now it seemed Myeong-hye was reaching out to her.

Chills ran down Seowoo’s body.

“We’re here.”

“Thank you, In-ryul. Take care. Seowoo, let’s go upstairs.”

Seowoo tried to calm her racing heart as she slowly got out of the van. Her hands trembled with anxiety. She clenched her fists tightly.

“Who are you?”

Jung-ah asked in a sharp tone, blocking Seowoo’s path. Seowoo slowly raised her gaze.

It was a man who looked all too familiar. Myeong-hye’s secretary was standing in front of her.

Seowoo’s face turned pale at the sight of him.

“Miss.”

“No, who are you? Who are you calling ‘Miss’… Do you know him? Oh, Seowoo, are you okay?”

Jung-ah turned back and was shocked to see Seowoo’s pale face.

“Ha.” 

Her legs began to shake until she could barely stand.  The moment she encountered the secretary, the countless events that had occurred flashed before her eyes like a panorama.

“The madam would like to see you for a moment.”

“What? Which madam? Is it possibly…”

Recognizing who it was, Jung-ah narrowed her eyes and glared at the secretary.

“They have no business here, so go back. Who do you think you are coming here? Come on, Seowoo, let’s go.”

Seowoo grabbed Jung-ah’s hand, which was pulling her away.

“Jung-ah, I’m okay. I’m sorry, but can you go upstairs first?”

“Hey, are you going to meet that someone? That person?!”

“I have things to check and things to say. It’s okay, alright?”

Seowoo forced a smile to reassure Jung-ah. Jung-ah still looked anxious so Seowoo pulled her hand away and approached the secretary.

“Where is she?”

“She’d like to see you briefly in the car.”

“Then I’ll wait here. Go and come back.”

“Jung-ah.”

“I can’t leave you alone. But I’ll just wait here. It will only be a moment.”

Jung-ah was insistent. Eventually, Seowoo walked with the secretary.

After a short walk, a black sedan parked in the parking lot came into view. As the secretary opened the back door of the driver’s side, the repulsive yet familiar scent of Myeong-hye’s perfume wafted out.

Seowoo hadn’t had any morning sickness yet, but suddenly her stomach churned.

She gritted her teeth and climbed into the car.

Thud.

The secretary closed the door and stepped aside for a moment. Seowoo didn’t even look at Myeong-hye’s side, staring straight ahead but she could feel Myeong-hye’s piercing gaze from beside her.

“It’s been a while.”

That loathsome voice rang in her ears. Seowoo’s brow furrowed instantly.

“What do you want?”

“Surely you know better why I am here?”

“I’m not sure, actually.”

Her immediate response brought a sneer from Myeong-hye.

She’s still the same. Troublesome as always. I really don’t like you.

Seeing Seowoo, who resembled Yoon-rim so much, naturally twisted her insides.

“You, after making a deal with me and getting divorced, why are you hanging around Jiwook again!”

Myeong-hye raised her voice so much it reverberated inside the car. Seowoo tightly wrapped her arms around her abdomen and glared at Myeong-hye.

Myeong-hye let out a meaningless laugh, as if perplexed.

“I guess you’re not understanding things anymore, huh?”

“You thought I was the one hanging around? If you’re so worried, you should keep better watch over your son.”

“Are you blaming Jiwook?”

“Don’t make that ridiculous proposal to Ki Sung-hyun.”

At Seowoo’s words, Myeong-hye’s eyes shone sharply.

“Seeing you say all that, it seems you’re really dating him.”

As if it were a welcome development, Myeong-hye’s face lit up. Her determination was firm enough to want to separate Seowoo from her son by linking her with Sung-hyun.

“Because of you, Jiwook’s arranged marriage got messed up again. Was that your doing?”

Arranged marriage…

Seems Jiwook had another one set up. Seowoo had heard nothing from him about it.

Nothing had changed in his family or Myeong-hye from five years ago to now. 

Seowoo smiled calmly and continued.

“If you want to believe that, then do so.”

“Are you considering remarrying him? Are you serious?”

“No. I have no such intentions.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t. If you get married again, the scandal involving your mother will be exposed to the world.”

Seowoo’s lips twisted at that moment. Myeong-hye had used that incident as leverage to push Seowoo into divorcing Jiwook. At that time, the truth was hard to verify, and she felt helpless, agreeing to it, but not anymore.

“Then, do as you please.”

“What?”

Myeong-hye was visibly taken aback by Seowoo’s response.

“The truth of it can hardly be verified anyway. It wouldn’t be good for the chairman’s image either. I don’t mind. I’m fine with retiring without any regrets.”

Myeonghye’s lips quivered. Seowoo, observing her, remained completely unshaken.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. If it’s true, I have no choice but to accept the blame directed at my mother who destroyed a family.”

Although she hoped it wasn’t true, but if it was, there was nothing she could do about it. Publicizing it would be difficult because of Hyeong-gyeong. It seemed like nothing more than a threat to separate her from Jiwook.

Seowoo spoke up, her expression unwavering.

“I don’t want someone like you as a mother-in-law either. It would be dreadful.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Think what you want, but I hope you don’t come to me again, and if you do, and you threaten me, I’ll tell you what happened the day you met with Ki Sung-hyun. I’ll hand it all over to the press, just so you know.”

Seowoo got out of the car without looking back.