Chapter 26
“Ah, yes. Please wait a moment.”
The manager, who had been answering anything without hesitation, paused in confusion. His lips, which had been moving freely despite the topic being largely unrelated to the chemical company, stopped momentarily as if he were searching his memory before he spoke again.
“Um, are you referring to the publishing company of the bestselling author, Han Yoon Dam?”
“You know it.”
In response to the unexpected reaction, the manager hurriedly replied.
“Yes, I’ve read books from that company before.”
“If it’s okay, could you look into that company for me?”
“Yes, of course. Excuse me, but… what specifically would you like me to find out?”
“Anything. Who works at that company, what books they publish, what their employment status is like. Find out whatever you can.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you.”
With Hyun-oh’s permission to leave, the manager exited the room. Hyun-oh glanced out the window.
Hyun-oh realized he hadn’t known much about her until now.
Since her father’s death, he had sensed Sua’s anxiety, but he never thought she would bring up divorce. Perhaps she didn’t even want to know.
He vowed not to make that mistake again.
He was determined to know everything about what she liked and wanted.
He wouldn’t miss anything.
Hyun-oh also knew this was his last chance.
***
Although he was the CEO, Hyun-oh often had lunch in the company cafeteria. He kept his distance from the employees to avoid discomfort, but he liked being able to gauge the atmosphere among them, and above all, it allowed him to maintain the flow of work without interruptions while going in and out of the office.
But he couldn’t do that when meeting Mrs. Cha.
Mrs. Cha, who loved luxury and showing off, was his mother, Cha Myung-joo.
His mother’s blood flowing inside him was almost unbelievable. She always wanted the best for herself. Hyun-oh felt both burdened and touched by her.
As they entered the room directed by the employee, Mrs.Cha, who was sitting inside, greeted him with a bright smile.
“Son!”
Her soft, wavy hair swayed gently.
“Mother.”
“Oh, why is it so hard to see my son’s face?”
Even today, with her glamorous hairstyle and brand-name clothes, Mrs. Cha looked as if she wanted to show off. Hyun-oh smiled wryly at her.
Seeing her like that made him feel both burdened and tender.
His mother, who had lived her whole life as a concubine. She knew that her life, chosen by herself, and the life of hurting others were different, yet sometimes, she was bothered by it.
Hyun-oh greeted her with a stiff smile.
“I’ve been busy. Have you ordered food?”
“Not yet. I’ll have what I usually eat. How about you, Hyun?”
“I’ll have the same.”
After ordering food, they sat facing each other. Mrs. Cha looked at Hyun-oh’s face with a smile. She leaned closer, staring at her handsome son. Seeing her like that, Hyun-oh raised an eyebrow.
“Mother, why did you come today?”
At her son’s question, Mrs. Cha smiled brightly.
“Mom has something she wants to say, so I called you.”
Something she wants to say?
Hyun-oh knew better than anyone that when his mother smiled like that, it meant something bad was happening. A shadow fell over Hyun-oh’s expression, usually not easily revealed.
“Son, are you having a hard time lately? Your face looks very tired.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Are you really fine? I read in the news. You had a hard time because of the contract with China. Endure it, my son. You’re a CEO now. Be dignified. You’re still young.”
Even with her always overflowing praises, Hyun-oh’s expression remained unchanged. Mrs. Cha spoke excitedly.
“Contrary to the past, our Hyun-oh is so smart. Chairman often praises him every day.”
Pyeong-ho, that name, caused a slight wrinkle in Hyun-oh’s brow.
Did she call him for this?
Pyeong-ho was Hyun-oh’s brother’s name. He was the son of the former Mrs. Cha, he was a half-brother of Hyun-oh.
When his half-brother, who was always sensitive during adolescence, caused trouble, former Mrs. Cha was kicked out of the house because of him. Rolling in from outside, Hyun-oh, who had never seen such a scene before, became his brother. He must have been frustrated.
His brother was also cruel to Hyun-oh. He vented his pent-up anger on him.
[Get lost!]
[Cry! Hyun-oh!]
[Don’t call me brother. You’re filthy.]
Even though he didn’t know why his brother, who was the only one at the time, was so cruel to him, Hyun-oh, who was now old enough to understand his heart, knew that he must have been full of resentment. Even if he were in his shoes, he would have done the same.
“Our Hyun-oh is so humble. The Chairman often worries about how much he must have suffered because of the trouble caused by Pyeong-ho.”
Mrs. Cha laughed happily, delighted by the scandal.
“In contrast, our Hyun-oh is perfect in everything.”
“….Mother.”
“Yeah?”
“Did you call me because you have something to say today?”
Once a month, Hyun-oh had a meeting with Mrs. Cha. Other than that, they didn’t meet because of his busy schedule, but today was a meeting he had to have because there was something important to discuss. There wasn’t time to listen to endless praise. Mrs. Cha nodded in response to Hyun-oh’s observation.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, Hyun-oh…”
Even his mother, who was always straightforward and careful with her words, smoothed out her speech. Hyun-oh furrowed his brows. A strange feeling ran down his spine. And that premonition turned out to be true.
“I’m thinking about you and Sua breaking up.”
At her words, Hyun-oh twisted his lips.
When Hyun-oh announced his marriage to Sua, it was none other than Mrs. Cha who was happier than anyone else. He was marrying the eldest daughter of the Han Group.
Unlike Hyun-oh, who didn’t have any relatives other than his brother, unlike Pyeong-ho, Mrs. Cha was delighted because there would be no backstabbing relatives. She was happy that her in-laws would support her.
“Why are you suddenly saying that?”
“Why… Are you… Really asking because you don’t know?”
Just by looking at Mrs. Cha’s expression, Hyun-oh felt like he knew the reason. That damn company must have failed. Mrs. Cha, who was so greedy, must have seen this coming someday.
“Chairman will retire soon. Of course, if things go as they are, you’ll naturally inherit the management rights, but even if Pyeong-ho is incompetent… He’s still the eldest son. And his mother is a direct descendant of the Jeshin Group.”
Pyeong-ho’s mother was the daughter of the founder of Jeshin, a prestigious construction company.
“Even though our Hyun-oh is doing well at PY, he shouldn’t be left behind because of something like this. If Pyeong-ho marries a better girl from a better family…”
Not sensing the chilling atmosphere surrounding her son, Mrs. Cha continued to talk cheerfully.
“Our Hyun-oh should marry the daughter of a prestigious family as well.”
It wasn’t something to say to a son who was already married.
Hyun-oh, who was raising his teacup with a less cheerful expression, paused and then set it down.
“And if that family fails, are you planning to divorce again?”
“Huh?”
At Hyun-oh’s uncharacteristically sharp words, Mrs. Cha’s eyes widened. Hyun-oh twisted his lips, letting out a restrained voice.
“You’re planning to marry off the daughter of a prestigious family, and if that family fails, are you planning to divorce again?”
The calm but cold words echoed in the room.
There had been times when he thought his mother’s life was pitiful.
From other people’s perspectives, his mother might seem like a villain.
A woman who committed adultery. A woman who stole another woman’s place as a wife.
She might seem like that to others, but she was still his mother. She struggled in the swamp of desire, whether she wanted to or not. It sometimes seemed like she was struggling to escape from there. She had struggled so much in her life, even if she didn’t want to.
So when that blade turned toward Sua, it stirred up a storm in Hyun-oh’s calm heart.
“You were the one who was happier than anyone else when I said I was marrying Sua.”
“Well, things have changed now.”
“At that time, the Han Group was fine, but it’s not now if that’s what you mean, you’re seriously mistaken.”
“Hyun-oh.”
He was a good son who had never opposed his parents’ words.
It wasn’t because he didn’t have a backbone, but because he knew it was pointless. But even knowing that, Mrs. Cha was surprised by Hyun-oh’s unexpected reaction.
“Hyun-oh, that’s not what I meant.”
After stumbling over her words several times, Mrs. Cha reached out and took her son’s hand. But her son’s hand was cold.
“What did Sua say to make you like this?”
Hyun-oh looked at his mother’s hand in silence and then looked up at her.
“What did Sua say to make you question me like this?”
Mrs. Cha’s words didn’t seem ordinary. It sounded as if she knew somehow that Sua had brought up the topic of divorce.
The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.
Hyun-oh furrowed his brows and asked her.
“Have you met Sua?”
“…”
Mrs. Cha closed her mouth, as if realizing her mistake. Hyun-oh twisted his lips.
Until now, he had thought Sua wanted to leave because of the Han Group’s bankruptcy. But was there something his mother had foreseen?
That’s why she hadn’t given in and withdrawn so decisively.
Hyun-oh spoke again.
