Chapter 5.7

A little while later, she saw him off as he left for work.  

Last week, she had also found herself in a situation where she saw him off unexpectedly, but this time it felt different—she felt shy and nervous.  

He got into the sedan.  

“…Have a good day.”  

She managed to utter the shy words with difficulty.  

“Mm.”  

He replied briefly, but the smile pooling at the corners of his lips felt like the best response she could ask for.  

His sedan drove away.  

Eun-sol went up to the second-floor terrace. From there, she could see his sedan leaving the townhouse complex in the distance.  

Even though all she had done was see him off, her heart felt full. The days she had spent doubting him and struggling felt like nothing more than a fleeting nightmare.  

‘He’s just returned to his true self.’  

Strictly speaking, they had loved each other even before she lost her memory. It was only because of misunderstandings that she had doubted and kept her guard up against him.  

Soon, Housekeeper Woo, appeared carrying a small box.  

“Madam, here is the new phone you requested.”  

“Thank you.”  

She turned on the new phone and saved Hae-seong’s number. She also saved the number of her newly made nurse friend, Yu-rim.  

Yu-rim, as it turned out, was the same age as her and a newlywed without children, so they had a lot in common. Above all, after Yu-rim had helped her sneak out to buy the phone under the pretense of needing IV fluids, Eun-sol felt an even deeper connection with her.  

As soon as Eun-sol sent a message to Yu-rim, a call came through.  

– Wow, congratulations on getting a new phone! I was just feeling sad thinking that once your stitches are removed the day after tomorrow, you won’t need to come to the hospital anymore. This is great!

True to her promise, Yu-rim casually dropped the formal speech and took the lead in their conversation. Her bright and straightforward personality was one of her most charming traits.  

“Yu-rim, do you happen to have time after work today? I want to thank you for helping me last time, so let me treat you to something delicious.”  

– That sounds great. But how about another day instead of today? I’m having dinner with my father-in-law tonight.  

After exchanging a few more words, Eun-sol ended the call with Yu-rim.

When Yu-rim mentioned her father-in-law, it reminded Eun-sol of Chairman Kwon Gi-jo.

She had heard that Jeong-hyeok’s mother had passed away when he was in high school, and she had never met his father, Chairman Kwon Gi-jo, in person.

Apparently, he hadn’t even attended their wedding.

‘When I subtly asked Housekeeper Woo about it a while ago, she avoided giving a detailed answer, which made it seem like there was strong opposition to this marriage.’

It continued to bother her.

***

Seoul Namsan Hospital VVIP Ward.

Jeong-hyeok stood in front of someone’s hospital room door, his expression cold.

“Chief Cheon. Step back. I’ll call you when I’m done.”  

“Yes, the documents are inside.”  

Chief Cheon carefully handed over a folder of documents and stepped away.

Two burly guards were stationed outside the hospital room door. Someone close to the person inside the room recognized Jeong-hyeok as he approached and blocked his way.

“Young Master, the Chairman needs to rest. If you notify us in advance, we can discuss his condition with the doctor and—”  

“If I notify you in advance, you’ll just move him to another hospital.”  

“…But still.”  

“Chief Park. Do you really think you can just send me away with words like that? I suggest you don’t waste your energy.”  

The man addressed as Chief Park hesitated briefly before going inside. After a brief exchange of words with someone inside, he came back out.

“You may go in. But please avoid saying anything that might agitate the Chairman…!”  

“Chief Park, you’ve gotten old. You’re nagging more than ever.”  

Jeong-hyeok stepped into the hospital room. Before the door had even fully closed, something came flying toward him.

Crash—

Whatever was thrown smashed against the door.

Jeong-hyeok easily dodged the object, but it shattered into pieces upon hitting the door.

“You’re still full of energy, Father.”

Jeong-hyeok looked down at the floor. There were shards of porcelain, a puddle of water, and a few tulips scattered on the ground.

It seemed his father had thrown a vase that had tulips in it.

“You devilish bastard! How dare you show up here? You’ve got some nerve!”  

The man trembling with icy rage was none other than Jeong-hyeok’s father, Chairman Kwon Gi-jo of Sowon Finance.

“Get out right now! I wouldn’t even feel satisfied if I stomped you to death—you disgust me!”

Jeong-hyeok quietly stared at Kwon Gi-jo. For someone who had been hospitalized for over two months, he looked surprisingly healthy.

“There are too many unnecessary pieces of furniture in this hospital room.”

Jeong-hyeok responded indifferently, avoiding the topic.

The room was furnished with a plush bed, a sofa, and a desk for the caregiver, but no one was there to use them.

“If you hadn’t treated Mother so coldly, she might have been here by your side, keeping you company.”

“Who do you think you’re calling Father? Don’t say such disgusting things. I’ve never considered someone like you my son, so get out immediately!”

On the bed, Chairman Kwon Gi-jo’s body trembled in anger. This time, he reached for a book on the bedside table to throw.

Jeong-hyeok casually bent down, unfazed.

In one hand, he picked up a sharp shard of the broken vase. In the other, he gathered the tulips scattered on the floor.

“What now? Are you thinking of cutting the stems of those tulips with that glass shard?”

Chairman Kwon Gi-jo’s voice was sharp with fury.

“What did I even do? You’re the one who ruined the tulips that were perfectly fine in the vase.”

Chairman Kwon Gi-jo’s body trembled again, his breathing rough. The tulips they were referring to symbolized someone.

“You, you! What on earth are you planning to do with her?!”

Jeong-hyeok let out a small laugh.

“Why do you keep accusing me of doing something to Eun-sol? You’re the one who always ruins things, like these tulips.”

Kwon Gi-jo raised the book high again but didn’t throw it this time.

Meanwhile, Jeong-hyeok gathered all the tulips scattered on the floor.

He took a fresh water bottle from the refrigerator, opened it, and placed the tulips inside.

Kwon Gi-jo didn’t miss a single one of Jeong-hyeok’s actions.

“Do you see? It’s always you who thoughtlessly throws things away, and it’s always me who cleans up the mess.”

“Hah!”

Kwon Gi-jo let out a deep, exasperated sigh, his frustration evident.

“How long do you think you can keep the truth hidden?”

“Well, who knows? But unfortunately for you, what’s clear right now is that God is on my side. You must’ve heard the news—Eun-sol lost her memory after the car accident. She recently started to recall a few things, but…”

At the mention of her regaining her memory, Chairman Kwon Gi-jo’s eyes widened.

“She doesn’t remember anything about the day she met you, or anything that happened in the past, for that matter.”

Kwon Gi-jo clutched his chest as if he were struggling to breathe.

“I’m not planning to let go of this opportunity that feels like a gift from God. So, please, don’t cause any more unnecessary trouble. Don’t appear in front of Eun-sol again. I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back next time.”

Jeong-hyeok calmly handed over a document envelope.

“This is a loan guarantee agreement that requires your signature. Right now, Sowon Construction is pursuing a merger with Shinhwa Construction, and we need the capital strength of Sowon Financial.”

Kwon Gi-jo scoffed and tossed the documents onto the floor.

“Why should I sign something that benefits you?!”

“Father, the rumors in the business and political circles aren’t good. There are already whispers that I’m not your biological son. If Sowon Financial doesn’t support this merger, and it becomes clear that we’re at odds, do you think the hyenas targeting Sowon Financial will just sit still?”

Jeong-hyeok used a shard from the broken vase to cut open the sealed envelope. He took the book out of his father’s hands and replaced it with a thick stack of documents, pressing them into his grip as he added: