Chapter 13
Mrs. Cha’s voice was calm yet gentle. To demand a divorce. What could that mean? Mrs. Cha tilted her head slightly as she saw Sua, who seemed speechless for a moment.
“Your father passed away, and it’s only been a month. Wasn’t that enough time to wait? Our marriage was originally meant to be a union between Han Dong Group and PY Group.”
“Our marriage. It’s as if it’s not just the marriage of Ji Hyun-oh and Han Sua, but as if Mrs. Cha also has a stake in that marriage.”
And it had only been a month. To bring up divorce just because the company collapsed, it’s unbelievable…
Sua remained silent, bowing her head quietly and calming her breath.
Maybe she expected this.
After all, it wasn’t a marriage based on love.
“In the end, isn’t it time to end this marriage as well? I’ll generously pay the price.”
It was quite amusing. The one who treated Sua the best after their marriage was none other than Mrs. Cha. Initially, she had such fond thoughts of Sua when the eldest daughter of Han Dong Group came into our house.
But now, she was the first one to be driven away.
Sua still didn’t say anything. Then, Mrs. Cha narrowed her eyes and waved her hand. The ornate nail decorations on her fingertips swayed threateningly.
Mrs. Cha Myung-joo was the second wife of Chairman PY Ji-hae-chan.
Well, they say second wife, but she was a concubine. What made her different from other second wives was that she climbed up from the position of a concubine to eventually drive out the legal wife and take her place.
The first wife was kicked out of PY Group, and eventually, Mrs. Cha took the seat next to the chairman.
But the former wife came from a conglomerate family, while Mrs. Cha came from a very ordinary household, or frankly, a rather insignificant one. Her education, her appearance were excellent, but terms like household, money, concubine, those words held her back.
Naturally, with such a background, there were many people in the circles of the conglomerate wives who subtly ignored Mrs. Cha when she went to the gatherings.
Her only wish was for her only son to become the successor of PY. The current chairman had another son from his legal wife. Ji-hyun-jae. He was even one year older than Hyun-oh.
To beat him, she needed a good backing in her in-laws.
“No children, and it’s a good opportunity to separate before it’s too late.”
“Hey, are you listening to me?”
We’ll get a divorce.
Of course, that’s what we should say.
Without a drop of blood or tear, her words were resentful, but in the situation where her father’s 49th day hadn’t even passed yet, it was relentlessly cold, but this wasn’t just any marriage—it was a business.
No one cared about her feelings.
So, it was only right to say we’ll part ways, but Sua couldn’t bring herself to say those words.
Even if they were to separate, it was her and Hyun-oh’s marriage. It took so much courage to enter into this marriage; she couldn’t discuss divorce in his absence.
She clenched her jaw. She could barely open her lips, which felt like they might burst into tears at any moment.
“Mother.”
A low voice slipped through Sua’s lips. Mrs. Cha’s eyebrows furrowed at Su-a’s unusual firm tone.
“We’ll handle it ourselves.”
“What? What did you just say?”
Taken aback by Sua’s unexpected retort, Mrs. Cha widened her eyes. But Sua whispered calmly, settling her heart.
“Shouldn’t Mr. Hyun-oh be the one to handle such matters? Because you’re his mother.”
“Hyun-oh is too kind to say such things, isn’t he?”
That’s true.
The thought that Hyun-oh might have asked his mother never crossed her mind.
Hyun-oh wasn’t the type of man to bring up divorce first. Even if he harbored resentment towards Han Dong for hiding the circumstances of their marriage and even if he resented Sua because of it, he wouldn’t abandon her like this when it hadn’t even been 49 days.
She lowered her head. He wasn’t that heartless of a man.
Sua lifted her head.
“Still, the marriage is a matter between the two of us.”
She didn’t know where she found this courage.
Perhaps tomorrow, she would blame herself while kicking her blankets.
But Sua didn’t want to end her marriage without Hyun-oh being present.
“Aren’t you listening to me? I’ll give you as much money as you need for your home. Just release our Hyun-oh. Like you’re granting a divorce. Like Sua is begging for it.”
Mrs. Cha lashed out at her as if she were doing charity. A sense of misery surged from the tips of her toes to her legs. Overwhelmed by the misery that felt like falling into a pit, Sua was engulfed.
All she wanted was Hyun-oh. Since the day they went to see the lineage, all she wanted was him.
Her throat felt choked, but she managed to speak.
“I’ll talk to Mr. Hyun-oh.”
With her eyes cast down, Sua murmured. “Sua. Are you trying to ruin our Hyun-oh’s life? Did you come into our household, hiding the failing company, only to leave without trying?”
If I had known, I wouldn’t have married Mr. Hyun-oh either. I got married because I thought it was advantageous for Mr. Hyun-oh. I couldn’t ruin his life. Do you know how much I love him?
I almost blurted out those words. If I had known that Han Dong Group was in trouble, if I had known, I wouldn’t have married Mr. Hyun-oh. Because I thought it would benefit him, because of that… I dared to covet him.
I didn’t want to ruin his life.
Who am I to do such a thing?
But no matter how much I said, it sounded like meaningless excuses.
“We’ll handle it ourselves.”
With a firm turn, she left the room. As if she hadn’t even thought about Sua’s rebellion, Mrs. Cha was too taken aback to stop Sua.
Even if she had stopped her, nothing would have changed.
While Sua collected herself, Hyun-oh became even busier. Two months ago, he was promoted from head of the department to CEO of PY Chemicals. PY Chemicals was currently making strides in the cosmetics and household chemical fields. After taking office as CEO, he tirelessly worked day and night to develop the Chinese market.
Was all the hard work worth it? Last week, a significant contract was finally signed with a Chinese company.
Although there was still no conversation between the spouses, there was a change. Late at night, he headed not to the usual guest room but to the main bedroom.
To Sua’s bed.
What changed?
Why suddenly?
Maybe it was sympathy. Sympathy for Sua, who was struggling after her father’s passing. He was always such a kind person.
Sometimes, his kindness was painfully overwhelming.
When she woke up in the early hours of the morning, tears welled up in Sua’s eyes.
The sound of the man sleeping next to me, his shoulders occasionally brushing against mine. Everything was precious.
Lying next to him like this late at night made me feel like we were a real married couple. But…
Sua and Hyun-oh were a show-window couple.
“This isn’t a real marriage, don’t delude yourself, Han Sua.”
She whispered to herself.
The reason Hyun-oh married her was nothing other than the need for Han Dong Group’s daughter, Sua’s position. Once Han Dong Group collapsed, there was no reason for the marriage to continue.
Of course, Hyun-oh hadn’t mentioned divorce yet.
He was a principled man.
“Since your house is ruined, let’s break up.”
He was too good of a man to say such words.
The answer is there, but perhaps the knife is in my hand.
The knife to cut this marriage cleanly.
One night, she woke up hazily to the sound of Hyun-oh entering the bed. Carefully, so as not to wake Sua, the man entered the bed and lay down, turning his back.
I just want to hug him one more time.
Just once more, as I may never be able to touch him again.
Slowly, she pressed her face against his back. As her soft cheek touched his firm muscles, his body tensed up instantly.
“Are you awake?”
Sua nodded slightly in response to his question.
As he tried to turn to look at Sua’s face in response to her movement, Sua spoke quickly.
“Just for today, let’s hug each other once more.”
“Just like this. Okay?”
I know you don’t like me. I know I left because of Han Dong Group. But please, give me just one day. Because today is the last.
At Sua’s poignant words, Hyun-oh murmured softly.
“Have you been through a lot?”
He didn’t receive any answer.
No, he couldn’t. Tears kept welling up, and if he opened his mouth now, his voice would surely become a mess.
At Sua’s request, Hyun-oh didn’t turn around or move, he just stayed still. Sua sobbed into his back for a while before falling asleep like that.
I loved him.
I loved Ji Hyun-oh.
It was a short and meaningless marriage, but it felt good to be with you.
But now it’s time to end it.
The last night faded away like that.
The next morning.
Sua prepared breakfast with Hyun-oh, something she had never done before. She had never made breakfast and sent him off before, but today, Hyun-oh sat down at the table. Whether it was because of Sua’s tears from last night weighing on his mind or because the business went well and he felt relaxed, he sat down at the breakfast table.
There was a lot of hesitation about how to bring up the conversation, but fortunately, they found themselves sitting down together for a meal. Sua laid out the food on the table by the window overlooking the garden.
There was seafood stew, rolled omelette, seasoned vegetables, and freshly cooked rice – all his favorites.
“Please eat. Did you drink a lot last night? That’s why I made seafood stew?”
“Yes. You had it last time, so I made it again.”
She had always cooked for him, but she never heard his feedback directly. But finally, today, she could talk about it.
She had been pondering over it for days.
After setting up breakfast, Sua found herself at a loss for words. Sitting face to face with Hyun-oh in this moment of peace, she wanted to gaze into his eyes for a long time, to preserve this happiness, to enjoy this peaceful moment a little longer.
That’s why it was difficult to speak.
She loved him too much to find the courage to speak. Because if she opened her mouth, everything would end.
But, because of love, she had to make up her mind.
“Um, Hyun-oh, we…”
“Yes?”
“We… let’s get a divorce.”
Just six words, but it was harder than anything in the world to say those words.
