Chapter 65

“Try to stay as stable as possible. Understood?” 

The doctor repeatedly emphasized. 

Instead of promising right away that she would, Yaein only nodded in response. She had just heard the test results at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic before heading to work. 

When she described the sudden abdominal pains she’d been having, the doctor earnestly advised caution. 

She’d heard the same words before, at a time when she simply couldn’t drop everything and rest. 

“Yes, I was actually thinking of taking some time off work soon.” 

But now it was only a few days until Taeheon’s departure date. 

Seeing Yaein’s positive reply, the doctor relaxed a bit and let her go. After receiving the prescribed injection, Yaein hastily grabbed a taxi. 

She was rsisterng late. She’d gotten permission, but Serin wouldn’t care and would still find fault. 

No matter how she tried to ignore it and act unbothered, it wouldn’t always go the way she wanted, and the mere thought of it gave her a pounding headache. 

Just a little more. Yaein repeated that to herself like a mantra. A few more days. 

However, the moment she arrived at work, Serin stormed at her with furious eyes, and Yaein felt a pressure in her chest. 

“Why are you so late? Are you here to work or to hang out?” 

“I told the Chairwoman beforehand that I’d be late today because I had to go to the hospital.” 

“Being pregnant is some kind of big deal, huh?” 

Serin was relentless in finding fault. She too was going crazy at the sight of Yaein first thing every morning. 

She had figured Yaein would quit on her own if she harassed her for a few days, but Yaein kept on coming to work. 

Serin didn’t get it. Yaein wasn’t in a position where she had to work, so why be so stubborn? 

“Does your husband insist that his pregnant wife work? Does he throw a fit at you and get all low‐class and drunk like he did with me?” 

Recalling the humiliation of that mealtime, Serin spoke with a pent‐up resentment in her voice. It only aggravated her the more she talked. 

“No, he’s not like that to me.” 

Yaein answered in a soft, placid tone. 

That, more than anything, rubbed Serin the wrong way. As if pushing a button in her gut, Serin’s face turned red with anger. 

Before Serin could lash out again, there was a commotion at the door. 

“Enough! What’s the point of calling that useless husband of hers!” 

With an exasperated yell, Baek Sojeong strode into the Chairwoman’s office. As she slammed the door hard behind her, the man who had been trailing her nervously disappeared from sight. 

“Mom, what’s going on?” 

Serin tried speaking to her, but Sojeong ignored her and headed straight for Yaein. 

“I’m going crazy because of your in‐laws!” 

Sojeong poked Yaein with her sharp nails. 

“Your father‐in‐law is a swindler like no other. You said the prosecutors are all buddy‐buddy with him, and he’s got no worries? I knew this would happen. Never should I have messed around with some uneducated thug.” 

At the harsh onslaught, Yaein paled and shrank back. 

“What happened? If it’s about Father‐in‐law, I can bring it up with my in‐laws.” 

“Fine, go and ask them. Find out how they’re going to deal with this investigation coming into our foundation.” 

At the word “investigation,” Serin jumped, looking at Sojeong. Sojeong looked ready to explode at any moment. 

“This is no time to be fooling around. I‐Serin, come here.” 

Sojeong roughly grabbed Serin’s arm. Serin struggled, complaining of pain, but Sojeong dragged her into the private room, slamming the door shut behind them. 

“I’ve thought about it, and here’s what we need to do. You’re not technically a part of the foundation, so if something goes wrong, you might dodge the seizure and search.” 

She spoke of things Serin could hardly understand. Meanwhile, Sojeong opened a small safe. Inside, instead of jewelry or documents, she took out a tiny USB and handed it to Serin. 

Serin knew what it was, too. It was evidence of the secret transactions they’d been involved in. Holding on to incriminating items when there was word of a looming investigation made her nerves jangle. 

“Hang onto this, then use it to talk with that father‐in‐law of Yaein’s, Chairman Kwon, or whomever.” 

“What do you mean, how am I supposed to handle that?” 

“Before the investigation actually starts and we’re all trapped, get Yaein to help. I can’t leave any record that I contacted Chairman Kwon.” 

“Have Yaein do it?” 

When Serin responded unenthusiastically, Sojeong gave her a fierce scowl. 

“You want to dig in your heels now, when your mom and dad’s entire livelihood is hanging in the balance? Do you want to watch your mom get handcuffed?” 

“But Mom, you could just tell her yourself. A minute ago, she said she’d talk to her in‐laws, so—” 

“Why are you being so dull? If I had time to latch onto that girl and talk, would I be telling you to do this right now?” 

Not even giving her a chance to speak, her mother railed on. Serin couldn’t get a word in. 

“I’m already busy trying to put out the fire that’s landed right on my feet. I’ve got no time to make sure your loser father doesn’t pull some nonsense! I have to head out again right now. So you, Serin, go coax that girl into it.” 

“……” 

“You think I’m telling you to personally go meet Chairman Kwon and sweet‐talk him? Just get hold of Yaein, use her soft side, and she’ll figure something out in the middle.” 

Seeing Serin remain silent, Sojeong changed her tone to something more affectionate. 

“Is it because of that dinner the other day? Kwon, that son‐in‐law, was just overreacting a bit. Don’t let it bother you. Yaein’s a softie. She’s always been going ‘Sister, sister’ following you around since way back.” 

Her daughter had wine dumped on her, yet that was “just overreacting a bit.” Serin wanted to snarl, but in her mother’s current mood, she’d simply be told to shut up. 

In desperate times, following her mother’s directions typically turned out to be right. This time, however, for reasons Serin didn’t fully understand, she was loath to do it. Yes, Yaein annoyed her, but that alone wasn’t the whole reason. Something else weighed on her mind. 

“Well, do you get it or not?” 

“……” 

“Serin! Are you not going to do what your mother says?” 

“……Okay.” 

Reluctantly, Serin gave in.

It must not have been an exaggeration to say she was so busy she barely had time to breathe, because as soon as Sojeong got an answer, she hurried out. Left behind by herself, Serin felt a slight surge of rebelliousness. 

Just because she answered, does she really have to keep that promise? When she stepped out and saw Yaein, her sense of defiance flared up even more. 

“Something bad happened, right, sister?” 

Yaein, who was pacing around the chairwoman’s office, asked worriedly. 

Hearing her say “Sister” annoyed Serin. Glowering at Yaein, Serin opened her bag. 

“You don’t need to know.” 

Placing the USB stick in the inside pocket of her leather purse, Serin spoke coldly. Yaein merely watched her quietly for a moment, then withdrew without asking further questions. 

Even though her mother had said something serious was going on, it didn’t feel real. For a short while she’d been anxious, but as the days passed, nothing major happened. 

Her mom and dad seemed busier going around than usual, but they said nothing specific to Serin, and in truth, there were plenty of times in the past when her parents were busy with their own affairs, leaving Serin out of it. 

On the contrary, being freed from parental supervision only made her daily life that much looser. One day drifted into the next as usual. A friend texted about a new club opening, and Serin cheerfully got ready to go out. 

And, as always, she came home dead drunk, waking up hungover from the alcohol. 

[Why aren’t you answering your phone? Don’t tell me you were out drinking again?] 

[Has Yaein said anything?] 

When she woke up, there were texts from her mom. Seems her parents hadn’t come home last night either. Lucky she didn’t get caught staying out so late herself. 

Dragging her feet, she finished washing up and picked up the bag she’d tossed under the bed. Judging by how pushy her mother was being, maybe today she really did have to bring it up with Yaein. 

Of course, she didn’t feel like going begging to that Yaein. She’d corner her—did she know what dirty tricks her father‐in‐law was playing with our foundation? That would surely make the girl panic. 

If you don’t want your father‐in‐law going down with him, you’d better intervene. She pictured the satisfying outcome and rummaged in her bag for the USB. 

It wasn’t there. 

Serin shot up and started searching through every inner pocket. Eventually she flipped the bag upside down. 

Odds and ends rolled out, but the thing Serin were looking for still didn’t appear. 

“This can’t be happening.” 

All at once, Serin went pale. She spread out each item that had fallen from her bag. Her wallet was missing, too. The earrings she’d taken off because they got in the way of dancing were also gone. 

Could someone have stolen them? That’s ridiculous. How could something like this happen to me? She muttered, still rummaging in the bag for no result. 

Pointlessly turning the room over, she got a call from her mother, who’d been on her case since morning. 

Serin hesitated, then pressed the accept button. No point ignoring it, her mom would keep calling all day if she didn’t answer. 

— Why are you just now picking up? Have you talked to Yaein? What’d she says? Didn’t Chairman Kwon say anything? 

The moment the call connected, her mom began urgently demanding. Serin’s words wouldn’t come. She wiped sweat from her lip. Her mouth was dry. 

— Don’t tell me you still haven’t talked to that Yaein? 

Serin still couldn’t reply quickly, so her mother grew immediately suspicious. She knew well what kind of daughter she had. 

“Of… of course I did.” 

Like back in middle school, when she’d done something wrong and pinned the blame on Yaein, Serin resorted to lying. 

“She must not have passed the word along yet. She’s awfully slow.” 

“— Really? Go and hurry them up to see what happens to you. Quickly. If this goes on, your mom is really going to get caught. Your father’s family is completely shameless. 

It seems the people on your mother’s side have said they won’t help. I’m not surprised—I’ve been warned several times that they wouldn’t cover for your father’s mess anymore. 

— Right now, only Chairman Kwon and Kwon Taeheon will be held accountable. 

There was desperation in your mother’s voice. With the sense of crisis mounting, Serin hung up the phone and started tapping her feet. 

What are we going to do? 

In fact, the answer on how to handle this had already been decided. As Serin trudged to the foundation building for work, burdened with hangover and worries, she bit her lip. 

‘I must speak to Yaein in a tone filled with regret. I have to ask her.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I can’t believe I have to bow down to Yaein. Why must I?’

“Hello, Sister.” 

Yaein, who greeted Serin, looked exceptionally beautiful. A red silk scarf tied around her long hair caught the eye. Seeing her carefully groomed appearance, Serin made a sour face. 

“Where are you going? Why are you dressed like that?” 

“Today, Taeheon is leaving on a business trip, so I’m going out to see him off. I mentioned it last time.” 

Although it was said in a teasing tone, when Yaein replied cheerfully, anger welled up inside. That damn husband’s bragging—why on earth did Kwon Taeheon have to end up as the husband of such a person? 

If Taeheon were Serin’s husband, there wouldn’t be any problems like this. Serin could have handled it herself, and she wouldn’t even have to see Yaein.

“Are you skipping work to go to the airport with your husband? Just quit.” 

Serin snapped irritably, her words laced with spite.