Chapter 7.4

She stepped out of the house, intending to stop by the mart for some groceries. She thought about buying tofu, which he liked, sausages he enjoyed, and a variety of fruits.  

In the center of the mart, a mountain of green avocados was on display. She also added rye bread and cherry tomatoes to her cart.  

Seojun had been preferring lighter breakfasts lately, so she thought of making guacamole and serving it on rye bread as sandwiches for tomorrow morning.  

“Should I buy some shrimp too?”  

Even though it wasn’t on her list, she thought shrimp would make a delicious topping for the sandwiches.  

While looking at plump shrimp in the seafood section, her phone buzzed loudly in her cardigan pocket. She pulled it out and saw Shin Jueun’s name on the screen.  

The sight of the name made her frown.  

Today seemed like a triple combo day. It felt as though the three women were taking turns squeezing her into a tiny hole, leaving her dizzy.  

Especially Shin Jueun, who would throw a tantrum if she didn’t answer promptly. Before the phone could vibrate again, Moonkyeong quickly pressed the call button.  

“Yes, Director.”  

• Where are you?  

“At the mart. I stepped out to pick up some groceries.”  

• Come to Do Hyowon. I have something urgent to discuss.  

“…Alright.”  

Moonkyeong rode in the car driven by Driver Park, whom Seojun had assigned to her after their marriage, to Do Hyowon.  

In her rush to leave the mart, all she managed to buy were avocados, cherry tomatoes, and a bag of rye bread.  

Rubbing her upset face with both hands, she soon saw the entrance to Do Hyowon.  

Despite having been summoned to Do Hyowon over thirty times, thanks to Shin Jueun’s constant calls, the place still felt intimidating to her.  

Last month, during the wedding of Lee Heejin and Kim Seouk, she had been called here and spent two days confined to the kitchen, cooking nonstop.  

Although Seojun had furiously confronted Shin Jueun about it, Moonkyeong had stopped him. She had drawn a line, saying that he shouldn’t interfere in the women’s affairs at Do Hyowon.  

During her time as Leehan’s daughter-in-law, she wanted to do her best and avoid being a burden.  

Honestly, Moonkyeong genuinely wanted to fulfill her role as Leehan’s eldest daughter-in-law.  

[If you put your all into it, you can achieve anything. A person’s desires determine the size of their success.]  

This was the philosophy Moonkyeong had learned from Hyeran since childhood.  

As she entered the annex, Shin Jueun quickly pulled her over.  

“You’re here? Sit down.”  

“Yes.”  

Most of what Shin Jueun said was nonsensical, with arrogance as a given. Moonkyeong had only encountered one other person like her in her life: Lee Heejin.  

Shin Jueun and Lee Heejin were remarkably similar. Just like Lee Heejin, who had once made unreasonable demands, Shin Jueun’s words were absurd and mentally draining. The best approach was to not take her seriously.  

After all, it was impossible to have a meaningful conversation with someone like her.  

The moment Moonkyeong sat down on the sofa, Shin Jueun glared at her.  

“You’re taking herbal medicine, aren’t you?”  

“…Yes.”  

“Do you have to take it? I’d prefer if you didn’t.”  

“Why?”  

“Because I don’t want you to get pregnant.”  

Without any intention of sugarcoating her words, Shin Jueun blinked her heavily mascaraed lashes.  

“I hear you’ve been visiting the OB-GYN with your husband. What did the doctor say? No issues?”  

Not knowing how to respond, Moonkyeong bit her lip. Shin Jueun raised an eyebrow.  

“Healthy?”  

“…Yes.”  

“Both of you?”  

“Yes.”  

“That’s a problem.”  

Shin Jueun sighed dramatically, pressing her hand to her forehead.  

If Moonkyeong were to suddenly get pregnant and present an heir before the Chairman passed away, it was obvious where his favor would go.  

Shin Jueun’s goal was to ensure that Lee Heejin and Kim Seouk had a son first. That’s why she constantly summoned Moonkyeong for household chores.  

It wasn’t just to tire her out physically but also because thinking about Seojun made her seethe with rage.  

Calling Moonkyeong over and venting her frustration was the only way for Shin Jueun to feel at ease.  

According to Fortune Teller Yeonhwa, no child would come this year, but one would appear in their charts early next year.  

Until then, she had to do everything in her power to prevent Moonkyeong from getting pregnant.  

“You know our Seouk has kidney issues, right?”  

Moonkyeong shook her head.  

“No, this is the first I’m hearing of it.”  

“What? Seojun didn’t tell you?”  

Although it was a secret to the public, everyone in the family knew about it, so Shin Jueun assumed Moonkyeong had been informed.  

Seouk’s health problems were a significant disadvantage in the succession race.  

“Anyway, he might need a transplant soon.”  

“Yes.”  

“When the time comes, you should get tested too.”  

Startled, Moonkyeong looked up.  

“Pardon?”  

“Get tested. Aren’t you part of the family? Of course, you should.”  

Since when were we family? You’ve never once looked at me with warmth.

She lacked common sense, basic courtesy, and had always been selfish, but Seo Moonkyeong hadn’t realized it was to this extent. Though she was half-dazed by Shin Jueun’s absurd words, Shin Jueun continued speaking as if nothing was amiss.

“That’s why you can’t get pregnant. You might need to undergo surgery.”

Shin Jueun delivered such a statement with a bright smile, which Moonkyeong found so ridiculous that she lowered her head. What was the point of engaging further with someone so irrational? She decided to let the words go in one ear and out the other. Surgery? As if. Even for a chaebol, organ transplants would be impossible without the recipient’s consent.

There would be plenty of people willing to donate a kidney for the right price from Leehan Group. At least there was one thing she and Shin Jueun had in common: not wanting her to get pregnant. After all, having a child would complicate things.

Ah, no, that wasn’t true. Moonkyeong realized she had misunderstood herself again and wore a bitter expression.

“Mother.”

Just then, Lee Heejin entered the annex. It seemed she had also been invited in advance. Her exaggerated nasal tone and light steps as she approached made Moonkyeong let out a low, mocking laugh.

“Oh, welcome, our daughter-in-law. What are you doing? Go fetch some coffee.”

“Yes.”

Moonkyeong stood up. When she entered the kitchen, Jinju, who had recently moved from the main house to the annex, waved her hand.

“Madam wants coffee?”

“Yes.”

“Goodness, such blatant favoritism. It’s outrageous. She had you working all day last time, too.”

“Um, coffee.”

“Oh, right. I’ll bring it right away.”

When Jinju brought the coffee, Moonkyeong thanked her. The distance between the annex’s living room and kitchen was so far that it took quite a while to walk back. Moonkyeong placed the coffee in front of the two women. Jinju had thoughtfully prepared three cups, including one for Moonkyeong, but she returned one to Jinju, not wanting to sit and drink with them.

Even after placing only their coffee on the table, neither of them asked why she wasn’t drinking any. Shin Jueun exchanged a suspicious glance with Lee Heejin before addressing Moonkyeong again.

“Next Wednesday, go to Heejin’s house.”

Moonkyeong locked eyes with Heejin, silently asking, “What’s this about?” Heejin’s sharp gaze mocked her.

Shin Jueun sipped her coffee and continued, 

“She wants to host a party for people on Seouk’s side. Go and help out.”

“…”

“You’re the eldest daughter-in-law of this family. You can manage that, right?”

It was an outright order to act as a servant. Moonkyeong agreed. It was clear this idea had come from Lee Heejin, not Shin Jueun, but what could she do? A two-against-one battle was unwinnable from the start. Asking Nam Leehyun for help or pleading with Seojun to intervene seemed laughable at this point.

She had no choice but to handle it herself.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

After bowing, Moonkyeong exited the annex. As she passed through the entrance, she glanced at her wristwatch. Though she had enough time to resume her grocery shopping, she didn’t feel like it anymore. She decided to make do with the ingredients she already had at home. Just then, she received another message from Seojun. He suggested they eat out for dinner, which came as a relief.

Over dinner, she resolved to ask him something she had been holding back. ‘You’ll let me go, right? Whenever I want, at the time I choose. You have to let me go.’

If he didn’t respond, she planned to plead with him. Without looking back, Moonkyeong walked briskly out of Do Hyowon.

***

The meal was satisfying. She got to enjoy as much sushi as she wanted, including her favorite raw shrimp sushi. Just as she was savoring it, Seojun brought up his business trip again.

“I’m going to Vietnam next week.”

“Yes.”

“If you have time, come with me.”

She had added too much wasabi, and the sharp tang hit her nose. Moonkyeong, who often relieved stress by eating, was startled and asked, 

“What?”

“If you can’t, never mind.”

“When is it?”

“Next Wednesday.”

“Oh.”

“Do you have plans?”

“Well, um… What time are you leaving?”

“7 p.m.”

She realized she could help with Lee Heejin’s dinner party in the morning and then leave with him for Vietnam in the afternoon. That way, she wouldn’t have to endure Heejin’s mockery during the party or witness her mingling with others to humiliate her.

Moonkyeong nodded. One good thing, one bad thing—it balanced out perfectly.

“I’ll go with you.”

Seojun gave a brief response, 

“Alright.”