Chapter 62

“When I come back, that’s the bigger problem… But I’ll be fine.”

“What’s the problem when you get back?”

Instead of explaining, Taeheon just shook his head. 

“You should focus on keeping yourself and the baby safe.”

She couldn’t possibly do that. Of course she’d do her best to protect the baby. But there was no way Yaein could stop worrying about Taeheon.

“While I’m gone, you’re the one in the most danger. I’ll leave people around to protect you, but who knows what could happen. My father’s already making moves, so it’s getting harder for my staff to operate.”

Yaein could guess the situation. Seonghwan tended to keep people away from Yaein whenever he wanted to punish her. It was the same strategy he’d used before, tormenting her through the people closest to her—like involving Gyeongju.

If only there were someone else who could help.

Yaein thought the main reason she’d always been at a disadvantage was because she was on her own. 

No one can truly live alone.

“How about your mother?”

At the mention of his mother, Taeheon’s expression went cold.

“You think she’d take my father’s side?”

“Do you think your mother might be on your father’s side?”

“Why do you think that woman married him? She’s a cunning fox who only cares about herself.“

Hearing this cutting remark, Yaein reached out to gently stroke Taeheon’s cheek. Though he didn’t say so directly, Taeheon had continued to suffer his father’s abuse even after Seonghwan remarried.

Meanwhile, Yaein had been helped by her mother-in-law on multiple occasions, so it was natural that she had a different view.

People are complicated and strange. Those who inflicted terrible wounds on Yaein could well have been a source of support to someone else. Like how her own mother had gone all out to save her lover. She thought about how lonely it felt to realize that people she loathed could be beloved by someone else.

She couldn’t hate her mother-in-law, who had saved her on more than one occasion. But she also didn’t want Taeheon to be left out in the cold.

“Still, I’m going to at least ask her if she can help you.”

Taeheon frowned, staring at Yaein.

“You trust people too stubbornly.”

“I trust you, too.”

Yaein placed her hands gently on both sides of Taeheon’s face. As he savored the softness of her touch, Taeheon silently repeated Yaein’s words.

Surely, she was already thinking of how to protect Taeheon. 

Meanwhile, Taeheon, once again, was thinking of something different from Yaein.

***

People say you live longer if you draw vigor from tormenting others. Seeing Seonghwan these days, bursting with energy, made that sound all the more plausible.

He was such a dreadful old man that even ghosts wouldn’t take him—so Geongju thought, shaking her head as the woman in a neat suit gave her a report.

Gathering information swiftly is always important. Geongju had known the value of intel since her rough beginnings.

She paid as much attention to internal info as she did to intel on her enemies. Recently, she’d been focusing all her senses on what was happening near Seonghwan.

“He’s going to devour his own son, it seems.” 

Geongju shuddered. The woman in front of her lowered her head silently.

“It looks like Secretary Kim is up to something, but is there no word leaking out?” 

Geongju’s associate edged closer and whispered in her ear, making Geongju’s expression change.

It appeared that Seonghwan wasn’t merely spouting hot air when he said he’d devour his offspring.

After dismissing her subordinates, Geongju took a sip of the coffee she had set aside. The bitter caffeine went down as she glanced sideways at her phone.

Should she make contact?

But getting involved in whatever Seonghwan was planning felt too dangerous. If Seonghwan learned that Geongju had leaked any information, who knew what he’d do? The mere thought was terrifying.

Yet simply pleading ignorance didn’t feel right given the gravity of the situation. The baby would be born soon—how would you hide the fact that the baby’s father might end up in jail?

After several days of agonizing, while Geongju was nursing a headache, her secretary announced Taeheon’s visit. Anxious, she prepared to receive him.

She could just say she was busy and turn him away, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to do that.

Even when Taeheon arrived at the appointed time, Geongju was still undecided about whether she would warn him about Seonghwan.

“Come to settle the score for everything I did to help Yaein?” 

She skipped any greeting and posed the question first. She couldn’t think why else he might come.

She’d tried three times to spirit Yaein away, so that was three strikes, right? Two of those times failed, but she doubted Taeheon would make allowances for that.

“No. I came to ask for your help.” 

“What?”

She thought she must have misheard. Taeheon uttering the word “help”? For a second, she suspected sarcasm, but it seemed he was sincere. Shockingly so.

“Considering how things turned out, I figure Yaein must be rather special to you as well.” 

Right now, Taeheon was basically acknowledging Geongju’s involvement in aiding Yaein. Life can surprise you. She used to see him as a control freak who’d be furious if things didn’t go his way—but apparently, he was prioritizing Yaein’s safety over pride.

“I’m going to China for a week. Please watch over my wife so she doesn’t fall into danger.”

It was one shocking development after another. Kwon Taeheon was bowing his head to Gyeongju. Gyeongju bit the tip of her tongue and felt pain, confirming it wasn’t a dream.

“Are you actually asking me for a favor right now?”

Last time he came by, it was an interrogation – practically a threat. This time was different.

If it were the Taeheon she knew, he would have rattled off how much trouble she’d be in if she didn’t protect Yaein properly. Asking a favor wasn’t his style.

“So, you wouldn’t mind if I don’t help?”

“I doubt you want to be caught in the crossfire between me and my father either, Director.”

She flinched at how accurately he read her. She’d had the same thought even before Taeheon arrived.

“When I was getting beaten to a pulp right in front of you, you never tried to intervene.”

Taeheon’s tone was as unemotional as always, but Gyeongju couldn’t stay calm listening to him.

She had nothing to say. Even seeing a child beaten until bones broke, she didn’t step in. Helping him afterwards—taking him to the hospital—was hardly enough.

If she were completely honest, she’d been afraid the blows meant for Taeheon would come her way instead.

Even without siding with Taeheon, Gyeongju already had to endure ugly experiences living under Seonghwan. A man who could beat his own son wasn’t likely to treat his new, younger wife with any kindness.

She also disliked that Taeheon was Seonghwan’s son. His deadened eyes gave her chills; his un-childlike demeanor felt unnerving. Though Taeheon had never done anything to her personally back then.

“It doesn’t matter. As long as you do just this one favor properly.”

Taeheon genuinely seemed unbothered, and yet Gyeongju couldn’t shake her unease.

“Does Yaein know you came here today?”

“No need for her to know. She’ll probably call you soon, anyway.”

“Even if you didn’t ask, Yaein would have helped me.”

If she’d wanted to ignore it, she would have done so already. That Lee Yaein was far too much like Park Gyeongju.

“That’s good news, then.”

One might have expected him to wonder why she used to be so cold to him, but Taeheon genuinely looked relieved.

Whenever it came to Yaein, Taeheon showed his emotions—anxious, following her around, wanting her safe. Gyeongju understood what all that pointed to.

Taeheon was a man who, in the end, could be happy or miserable in love.

It felt strange, seeing a boy who never flinched no matter what happened to him suddenly be shaken this way.

“While you’re in Shanghai, your father plans to wipe out your people and your businesses.”

She’d debated countless times whether to reveal this, but in the end, it slipped out almost impulsively.

“I know.”

“You could guess just by looking?”

“If I were him, I’d do the same.”

“Are you aware he’s planning to pin everything on you and toss you in prison?”

Up until then Taeheon had answered placidly, but this time he paused.

“The timing is perfect, you see. The chairman was out of the spotlight for a while due to illness, and now the prosecution and police need a big catch for their results.”

His son, who also held real power, would make a perfect target.

Taeheon bowed his head and rubbed his face with dry hands. Imagining the expression he was hiding, Gyeongju tut-tutted internally.

Then a faint sound leaked from Taeheon, like a rush of air. He was laughing. She’d thought he was weighed down with worry, but he was actually laughing.

“So, this is why people say blood ties can’t be hidden, huh. In the end, we’re doing about the same thing, so it seems.”

His face was at an angle, wearing that old merciless smile. There was no trace of betrayal or helplessness.

“If it were me, I’d link it to my wife’s side of the family and blow it up. I’d put some pressure on my father-in-law and mother-in-law, maybe let them off with a slap on the wrist and keep my wife under investigation to torment her. Watching a pregnant woman get harassed might be enough to make me walk into prison of my own accord.”

It didn’t sound as though he was talking to Gyeongju, more like he was organizing his own thoughts aloud. After a few mumbled remarks, Taeheon bowed his head slightly in thanks.

“Thank you. What you’ve told me has been helpful.”

He followed with a simple, straightforward word of gratitude.

“Listening to my wife was no loss, as expected.”

He tossed out something like a dull joke, then made as if to stand. Even after hearing all this, it didn’t look as though Taeheon intended to pry for more information from Gyeongju or rely on her. All he asked was for Yaein’s safety.

“You’re still planning on going on that trip, then?”

Gyeongju asked urgently. Perhaps she shouldn’t interfere any further. She’d spent days staying silent. Yet her heart trembled at this moment.

She couldn’t fully guess how things would turn out. She knew well that Taeheon was formidable, but Seonghwan was no less ruthless. Besides, Yaein was caught up in all this. Taeheon’s weakness was laid bare.

“Not sure. What do you think I should do?”

It seemed Taeheon was thinking the same thing.

“Before, I would have gambled everything right here, you know—kill or be killed.”

It sounded brutally frank. Even as he asked, Gyeongju hadn’t expected Taeheon to speak his mind so openly.

He wasn’t sneering or mocking; he was just stating his own thoughts. Gyeongju couldn’t recall a single time he’d ever talked like this. Probably this was the first.

*I’d have bet it all, no matter who lost what. Fair’s fair, right? High risk, high return. Didn’t matter to me what I gained or lost.”

The Taeheon Park Gyeongju knew had never shown much attachment to life.

Not just Taeheon—lots of people around Gyeongju lived without concern for tomorrow. Alcoholics, gambling addicts, blowing their hard-earned money into thin air, harming themselves, disregarding their own lives.

Gyeongju was known to be a tough survivor. She’d do whatever it took to live better. She saved money fiercely and married a rich bastard.

She despised those who squandered their lives for nothing, who didn’t do as she had done. They were disgusting. She feared catching their sense of futility.

“But now, I’ve decided to die the day after my wife dies. I don’t want to do it any other day.”

As he stared into empty space, Taeheon’s gaze was clearly focused on somewhere—carrying a spark of life.