CHAPTER 18 – Broken up (Part 2)

The door to the study closed. Standing next to the desk facing the door, Sang-cheol said to Seoyeon.

“Sit down.”

“I’m fine here.”

Seoyeon said, standing in front of the door. Sang-cheol looked at her for a long time before speaking.

“Tell that Team Leader to come for an introduction next week. We’ve arranged a meeting at the beginning of next month.”

Seoyeon almost laughed. Discussing a formal introduction in the absence of the person involved – that was just like her father.

“No, we’ve broken up.” 

Seoyeon said in a calm voice, making it clear that it wasn’t acceptable, no matter who said it.

“What kind of irresponsible nonsense is that? You’re not just casual acquaintances – you met through family arrangements and even had your engagement approved. Don’t you have a responsibility?”

Sang-cheol emphasized his words. Seoyeon looked at him. 

Responsibility, huh? 

It was a word that really didn’t suit her father.

“What responsibility?”

“If you were going to be this irresponsible, you had all the time in the world! What have you been doing for the past year? You set the mood as if you were really going to get married, and now you’re breaking up when the introduction and wedding plans are already being discussed? How am I supposed to face the chairman and vice-chairman?”

“I can’t get married just to uphold your reputation, Father.”

Sang-cheol’s face contorted. Seoyeon could see the unspoken message in his glaring eyes:

Why can’t you? Don’t disgrace the family, just do it. What’s the big deal about marriage?

Seoyeon gave a small laugh, suddenly understanding. For her father, marriage might not be a big deal. But for her, it was.

“I can’t do it. It’s my life, after all.”

To enter into an irresponsible marriage, to ignore a lifelong partner, to have affairs with random women, and to get caught by his daughter time and time again. She couldn’t do something like that.

It was all thanks to her father that Seoyeon could quietly gather evidence when she first sensed something strange about Sehyun. She had done this before, collecting the scattered evidence and putting together the puzzle.

The change in tone, the light excitement in her father’s eyes, his laughter, his face – those carefree emotions that had been exposed even to his young daughter.

“Do you think I’m doing this just for my own sake? If you irresponsibly call off the engagement like this, you have to think about your own future too, Seoyeon. You know how well the chairman and vice-chairman have regarded you until now. The man won’t really lose anything or get a bad reputation. It’s your reputation that will be tarnished, Seoyeon”

Enough. I don’t need to hear more.

She looked at Sang-cheol with a cold gaze.

Should I marry that kind of man to avoid tarnishing my reputation? Like Mother?

She swallowed the words that were circling in her head and turning her gaze to the scenery outside the window, she spoke calmly.

“When Mother was still alive…”

Sang-cheol furrowed his brow, seeming to wonder what she was talking about.

“I pretended not to know because I didn’t want to hurt my mom’s feelings. I knew where and with whom you were meeting, Father, but I overlooked it.”

Sang-cheol’s expression hardened. Seoyeon continued.

“Mother probably knew too. She was a sensitive person. But since she didn’t want me, her child, to know, I chose to pretend not to know, even though I was fully aware.”

Seoyeon’s gaze met Sang-cheol’s. The study was bright and well-lit, making her eyes squint.

“My stepmother.”

The stepmother is not her real mother. So she can reveal the truth. It might hurt her a little, but she’s not her mom.

“Doesn’t know yet, does she? That pink tie.”

“Seoyeon!”

Seoyeon smiled softly. Sang-cheol’s reddened face was quite amusing.

“Sehyun will take care of informing President Lee Jang-soo. As for you, Father, just…”

After glaring at Sang-cheol, Seoyeon opened her mouth.

“Just stop it.”

“Seoyeon, why don’t you stay for dinner before you go?”

As Seoyeon was about to leave the study, Mi-seon called out to her with a formal invitation.

“No, I have a lot to take care of at home since I haven’t been focused on it these past few days. I’ll just greet Grandmother and be on my way.”

Knowing it was just a formality, Seoyeon declined, making an excuse about chores at home. Mi-seon approached her and asked with a worried look.

“What did your father say?”

“Just told me to behave properly.”

Seoyeon smiled at Mi-seon and then headed to her Grandmother’s room. Peeking in, she saw her Grandmother cutting open the chestnut bread and eating only the chestnuts inside.

“Grandmother, I’m leaving now.”

The old lady, who was still munching on chestnuts, glanced over and gestured for her to come closer. As Seoyeon approached, Grandmother took a crumpled 50,000 won bill from her pocket and placed it in Seoyeon’s hand, smiling broadly.

“Here’s some pocket money.”

“Should I buy another bread for you?”

“No, just this one. It’s so delicious.”

“You shouldn’t just eat the chestnuts, you should have the bread too.”

Grandmother shook her head firmly, making Seoyeon chuckle. Promising to bring more bread next time, Seoyeon closed the door. She didn’t bother saying goodbye to Sang-cheol, who hadn’t come out of the study and just turned to leave.

“I’ll be going now. Don’t come out.”

After bidding farewell to Mi-seon, Seoyeon crossed the lawn and opened the front gate. Down the driveway, an old sedan pulled up, and Haewon got out of the passenger seat. A man in his mid-20s also got out of the driver’s seat.

Haewon, in jeans and a short padded jacket, walked alongside the man. They seemed quite friendly, and the man said something amusing, making Haewon burst into a bright smile.

His face lit up like that when she smiled.

So that’s what her face looks like when she smiles so radiantly.

That was Seoyeon’s first thought, more than anything else. Haewon’s smile was like a sunflower in full bloom. A bright yellow sunflower that turned its head to follow the man in front of it. Seeing that, Seoyeon could understand why Sehyun had fallen for Haewon.

They walked together to the entrance of the driveway and waved goodbye. The man backed up and kept waving at Haewon, who waved back, too, until the man got into his car, and then turned away.

Humming and with her hands in her pockets, Haewon came up the driveway and noticed Seoyeon.

“Oh, Unnie.”

Looking a little startled at first, Haewon’s expression soon relaxed into a smile.

“When did you get here?”

“Just a little while ago. I’m about to leave.”

As Seoyeon answered, Haewon glanced sideways. She had stolen a quick look at the car that had turned onto the main road. In some ways, the girl was truly guileless.

“Were you just coming back from a part-time job?”

Seoyeon asked, and Haewon turned her gaze back, replying, 

“Yes. I was feeling cooped up at home, so…”

“It can be suffocating at home.”

Seoyeon’s words elicited a faint smile from Haewon. Haewon then took her hands out of her pockets, fidgeting a little as she looked at Seoyeon.

“Go inside. Enjoy your part-time job.”

As Seoyeon greeted her and turned to leave, Haewon bit her lip, her expression hesitant.

“Do you have something to say?”

Seoyeon decided to ask first. Haewon fidgeted, intertwining her fingers, and then opened her mouth hesitantly.

“I broke up. With oppa, I mean, the team leader, no, the manager.”

Contrary to her hesitation, Haewon spoke the words quickly. She scratched her head a few times and then lightly kicked the grass with her foot, looking awkward and embarrassed.

“Why, because you’re sorry for me?”