Runaway Secretary - Chapter 60

CHAPTER 60

Feeling like he was pointing out her flaws, she was once again pained by the fact that there was no place to return to other than the crumbling corners of her home. Even though it was a blow to her pride, there was nothing she could do. He had made Yeonseo even poorer.

“We broke up, and I’ve repaid all my debts. Now, it just feels awkward seeing each other like this again.”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

Taeheon’s deep voice made Yeonseo uneasy, the way his eyes slowly picked her apart as if he were about to discover her secret.

“No, I have nothing to say to you.”

“How can I make you come back?” 

The gentle breeze turned into a gust, tousling Yeonseo’s hair as it passed by.

To ask her to come back was a pitiful and painful thing to say.

If his calm voice sounded like a plea, it would be a natural mistake.

He must have come looking for her because he couldn’t forget their moments in bed together. That’s what Taeheon would do.

And if it were Taeheon, he could easily find someone else.

It’s just that he can’t forget the familiar pl*asure. As someone who values efficiency, he will soon realize that meeting someone new is more convenient.

“Don’t do anything.”

“Han Yeonseo.”

“I’m begging you, please don’t do anything.”

Yeonseo expressed her sincere plea with difficulty.

“I’ve seen you living like this, how can I do nothing?”

“Like this?”

“I mean…….”

“Don’t you see? This is how I live, and if you come here again, I’ll lose my last footing, if you don’t know what I mean…….”

“The officetel is still there.”

As expected, he didn’t know. He didn’t know Yeonseo’s impoverished pride or the difficult life that she had to protect.

“This is where I live.”

“This neighborhood is dangerous. Just move. That’s the only way I can have peace of mind…”

“Don’t come back here again. If you come here again, I’ll report you.”

It might be an ordinary threat to Taeheon, but it was the maximum resistance Yeonseo could muster, the most she could do. She had no strength, so even if he forcibly took her away, she had no way to resist.

Knowing that, she could only sharpen her words even more.

Yeonseo deliberately walked past Taeheon, her steps full of confidence. She worried that he might grab her, and drag her along, but nothing of the sort happened.

Returning home, she casually dropped her bag and entered her room, clutching her stomach. A sharp pain brushed against her lower abdomen. It was a sign that the b*by inside her was growing stronger.

The child was conceived on the day she met Taeheon, the day that hurt her the most and made her feelings more tender. A life that would give Yeonseo the strength to keep going was nestled within her.

“Mom will protect you.”

Yeonseo smiled faintly.

So that person can’t harm you, so that you won’t be treated as an obstacle, I’ll protect you.

She wondered what Taeheon would do if he found out she was pregnant.

Would he drag me to the operating table?

Yeonseo’s tears filled her pale cheeks.

*

Obstetrician records and ultrasound pictures were handed to Taeheon. When investigating Yeonseo’s whereabouts, he had taken medical records into consideration. That’s why Secretary Shin brought these.

Obstetrics. Ultrasound images of a child. She was pregnant.

It couldn’t be Baek Hyeonho’s child. Considering the dates, it wasn’t an entirely impossible occurrence.

But it was a crude hypothesis. Yeonseo, who had considered Hyeonho as a family for a lifetime, couldn’t easily share a bed with him.

The photo was dated 11 weeks and 5 days. It’s hard to believe that a somewhat discernible human form, yet a life not even a few centimeters long had taken residence in Yeonseo’s body.

If she hadn’t aborted it until now, it meant she intended to raise it alone.

Or maybe to make Baek Hyeonho the father.

The thought was too much for him to bear. Taeheon paced the officetel living room, holding the ultrasound photo like a madman.

The scent of Yeonseo had faded, but Taeheon couldn’t leave the officetel. He hadn’t been able to focus on work since seeing her again. Without strong alcohol, even breathing was painful, like his whole body was on fire.

Something hot trickled out of his nose. Rushing to the bathroom, he washed his face with cold water.

“Haa…. F*ck.”

Taeheon stared at himself in the mirror with bloodshot eyes.

Was my face always like this? Monstrous?

Yes, I was a monster.

That’s why Yeonseo left.

Taeheon staggered out of the bathroom and grabbed the whiskey bottle left carelessly on the living room table.

Even pouring strong whiskey didn’t bring sleep.

He was in so much pain that he wished he could think of nothing at all…….

Sitting on the couch, Taeheon closed and opened his eyes a few times. Day turned into night. Amidst the relentless passing of time, he was left completely alone.

All the while, the time outside the window passed steadily. He had no idea what time it was, or how many days it had been. He didn’t know.

If this was a punishment, it would be an eternal punishment for Taeheon, for whom the passage of time had become meaningless. Since a while ago, someone had been knocking on the entrance and ringing the doorbell persistently.

“Shut up.”

Muttering a curse, he rose from the disheveled couch where he had been sprawled. His slippers made a dry sound against the marble floor.

Grasping his throbbing head, Taeheon walked to the entrance, and on the screen was Seonye.

Why is this woman here?

Taeheon hadn’t even bothered to cover his upper body, even though he was wearing only long pants. Putting effort into appearances, everything felt bothersome.

He pressed the open button to let the unwelcome guest inside.

“Goodness. The smell of alcohol.”

As soon as Seonye entered the entrance, she wrinkled her nose.

“How did you get into the communal entrance?”

“This is my building. Didn’t you know that?”

“Oh, is that so.”

When he told him to find a residence somewhere closer to the hospital, Secretary Shin stupidly went to Seonye’s building….

“Taeheon, are you really insane? Why aren’t you going to the office? Do you know what the executives are saying about you these days?”

“If you’re afraid of those bastards barking, pull them out.”

As Seonye pushed aside Taeheon’s lazy arm and entered, she immediately frowned.

“You……. Taeheon, what is this……”

“Or are you here to interfere with your grown son’s life?”

Seonye, who had barely maintained her composure, froze in front of the kitchen. All the utensils in the kitchen were broken and scattered on the floor.

“If it’s not a thief, did you do all this?”

The same was true of the decorations in the living room. Broken fragments were scattered sharp and menacing all over the house. It resembled the current state of Taeheon.

“If you’re done looking at the house, cut to the chase. I’m tired.”

“This crazy bastard!”

Seonye headed towards the bedroom, grumbling. She forcefully opened the tightly closed door.

Women’s clothes were scattered carelessly in the bedroom. The crumpled state seemed almost perverted as if someone had been clutching them.

Still, perhaps the bedroom provided some solace as a personal space. Returning to the living room, aside from the whiskey bottle on the table, everything else was intact.

There were even bloodstains scattered here and there on the floor. Seonye quickly scanned Taeheon’s body, wondering if he had self-harmed.

Relieved to find no visible wounds, even if only slightly, she felt a sense of relief.

“What the …… is this? Tae, Taeheon!”

“Stop shouting. Put that down.”

Taeheon reached out and took away the ultrasound photo that Seonye had unexpectedly picked up.

It was impossible for a mother of two to not recognize an ultrasound. She covered her mouth with both hands at the sight of the tiny new life.

It was an unexpected turn of events. Taeheon was not the type to carelessly leave things behind.

If it wasn’t accidental, then was it intentional…?

Had Taeheon really lost his mind over Han Yeonseo?

No. It was unthinkable for Taeheon, with his personality, to intentionally impregnate someone. It must have been a mistake. However, “mistake” was not a word that existed in his vocabulary. Seonye’s mind was racing.

“You really…!”

She didn’t know how to calm down her son, who was gradually falling apart and neglecting his work.

Neither threats nor coercion worked on him, and he wasn’t the type to be easily swayed. In fact, Seonye had never been able to handle her son as she wished.

Regaining her composure, she asked calmly.

“Is it your child?”

“Do you think I would be making a fuss over someone else’s child?”

“I really don’t know how to deal with this situation…”

“Well, I’m sure you’re feeling better now.”

“…What?”

“You’ve been upset because your son has had no emotions his whole life. Professor Park was worried about me being a psychopath, wasn’t he? It’s regrettable that I turned in the opposite direction.”

“Are you… are you saying this to your mother right now?”

“You’re the one who speaks as you please. Why, has decency become important to you now?”

Seonye finally burst into tears. It wasn’t because of Taeheon’s way of pointing out her faults.

It was because of her own faults, which had caused Taeheon, who was once close to perfection, to crumble so miserably

While finding comfort in the fact that Taeheon did have a humane side, she was also frustrated as she tried to find a way out of this situation.

Watching Seonye sneakily wipe away tears with a handkerchief, Taeheon sighed wearily.

“Then what are you going to do about the child? Don’t tell me that girl won’t show it to you?”

“You have no shame.”

Taeheon sneered. Seonye, who had played a part in driving Yeonseo away, was just as shameless as him. He stood right in front of his mother.

“This is my first and last request. Please don’t interfere with Yeonseo again. If you don’t want to lose your only remaining son, that’s what you should do.”

“I came to apologize.”

“Then I accept it. Now, go.”

Despite being disheveled and drunk, Taeheon’s tone was unwavering. It showed he still had his mind.

Seonye nodded and stepped back. She had judged that further scratching would only worsen the situation.

Having succeeded in pushing the unwelcome visitor out the door, Taeheon turned around. Back in his bedroom, he closed the door and collapsed on top of Yeonseo’s clothes.

I miss you. It hurts because I miss you.

I’d rather lose my memory, but then I realize I can’t because that would mean forgetting you.

Then I want to die like this.

So that my soul can freely see you to its heart’s content.

I want to see your beautiful smile, and hear you call the b*by’s name.

I want to reach out to you like the wind and touch your sunny presence.

You were the sunshine, and I was the darkness that erased you.

You’ll be happier without me.

Taeheon got up and opened the medicine cabinet.

It was a sleeping pill he received from his doctor whenever he couldn’t sleep. It didn’t work, so he saved it, and it was quite a lot.

Taeheon laughed slowly as he counted the pills.

Any method would do; he just wanted to go where Yeonseo was.