CHAPTER 42………………………………………
A little while later, Woo-il walked down the hallway and entered the living room. Loosening his tie, he said,
“Father?”
“He’s out. He said he’d eat and then come back.”
Woo-il nodded and took off his coat.
“Geon-woo still isn’t answering his phone?”
Misook stared at her phone without blinking, then answered weakly,
“…Yes. You try. He probably won’t answer your calls either.”
Woo-il smiled indifferently and waved his hand.
“Why would I? I don’t even have anything to say.”
At that, Misook slowly turned her head. Her gaze was sharp.
“Nothing to say? Your son isn’t picking up his mother’s calls. You think you can just ignore that?”
“Right, that’s really something.”
Woo-il calmly spoke as he loosened his tie.
“Why do you go shopping with Serin, and why take Hana along too?”
Misook’s shoulders twitched.
“…That’s…”
“What if some weird rumor spreads?”
Woo-il’s voice dropped coldly.
“You’re not even divorced yet, and if you treat Hana that way while running around with Serin, how do you think people will see it? Rumors will spread fast.”
“Do you think I do it for no reason?”
Misook’s voice trembled.
“They haven’t even hinted at breaking up! If you just stay still, there will be no end to it. Hana… she could completely fall for him!”
“Enough.”
Woo-il frowned and shook his head.
“Don’t make this bigger than it needs to be.”
“Aren’t you really anxious?”
“For what?”
“What if Serin changes her mind and it’s completely over with Jet Group? Why are you acting like this?”
Misook’s voice was almost choking with emotion. Woo-il rubbed his furrowed brow as if tired.
“If it ends, it ends. Can’t be helped.”
Misook’s face stiffened at that.
“I only went along because you were making such a fuss. Honestly, Hana isn’t bad.”
“…What did you say?”
Misook raised her voice in disbelief. Woo-il leaned back on the sofa, speaking calmly.
“She’s kind, polite, pretty, and meticulous at work. If she’s a daughter-in-law like that, it’s fine, isn’t it?”
Misook’s hands trembled.
“The problem is her family. She’s an orphan and adopted.”
“So what?”
Woo-il waved his hand dismissively.
“Is this the age where family background matters?”
“But we—!”
Misook couldn’t finish her sentence. Woo-il’s relaxed demeanor left her so flustered that her throat went dry.
“Family doesn’t matter.”
Woo-il said in a low voice.
“If Geon-woo likes her, that’s all that matters. You should stop bothering your father and just let it go.”
Misook couldn’t respond. She bit her lip hard, only fidgeting with her fingertips. She knew he was right, but she couldn’t accept it.
Woo-il slowly stood up.
“And Geon-woo isn’t thinking about divorce either.”
“That’s exactly the problem!”
Misook’s voice rose.
“Why don’t you understand?”
“It’s not a problem. There’s nothing we can do.”
Woo-il spoke calmly as he walked toward the kitchen. His steps were leisurely, but his voice carried firmness.
“If Geon-woo likes her, what can we do?”
“…You really…”
Even at Misook’s pleading tone, Woo-il didn’t turn his head.
“You should give up too.”
He opened the fridge, took out a bottle of water, and poured it.
“Geon-woo likes Hana. He won’t divorce.”
After that, only the sound of gulping water echoed in the living room.
“So just accept it.”
Misook collapsed onto the sofa as if drained.
Clutching her chest as if she couldn’t breathe, she muttered,
“I… I can’t do that.”
Her voice trembled.
“If I marry into Jet Group, think about how much our position will change. I can’t just let that opportunity slip in front of me.”
Woo-il placed the glass of water firmly on the table.
“Have you thought about Geon-woo?”
“I am thinking about him, that’s why I’m doing this!”
Misook lifted her head and shouted.
“Hana doesn’t suit Geon-woo! Serin does! In every way—status, background, everything!”
“That’s just your opinion.”
Woo-il cut her off sharply. Silence fell for a moment. He slowly returned to the living room and sat back on the sofa.
“Geon-woo likes Hana. That’s all there is to it. No matter what we say, his heart is already made up.”
Misook lowered her head. The phone in her hands trembled. His words hit painfully. Woo-il was right—Geon-woo’s feelings were clearly leaning toward Hana.
“Then… what am I supposed to do?”
Her voice was almost a whisper.
“If Geon-woo… keeps ignoring my calls…!”
“That’s your own doing.”
Woo-il’s words were cold but undeniable truth.
“Harassing Hana, going shopping with Serin… Geon-woo had every right to be angry.”
“…No matter what…”
Misook’s lips trembled.
“That’s still not enough.”
Woo-il cut her off firmly.
“Stop now. Apologize to Hana. Apologize to Geon-woo too.”
“Apologize?”
Misook snapped her head up.
“Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong?”
“That’s how Geon-woo will give you another chance.”
“……”
“If you keep being stubborn like this, you could really lose your son.”
At that, Misook’s eyes flickered. Her chest felt tight, and she couldn’t breathe properly.
“I….”
She barely opened her mouth.
“I’m just… I only wanted Geon-woo to do well…”
“That’s selfish.”
Woo-il’s voice was firm, cutting through the air like a blade. Misook had no words to respond.
She just stared blankly at the phone in her hand.
Even though the screen was off, Geon-woo’s name still lingered there.
Misook closed her eyes quietly and muttered in a tiny, almost sigh-like voice,
“…Still, I… I can’t bear to see Hana next to Geon-woo.”
Woo-il didn’t answer. Shaking his head briefly as if helpless, he left.
Misook was left alone in the living room.
A moment later, Woo-il silently returned with a glass of water and placed it in front of her.
The water rippled gently before settling into calm.
A few days later.
In Geon-woo’s office, the quiet sound of pages turning filled the room.
His desk was covered with documents yet to be stamped for approval.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
He responded,
“Yes.”
The door opened, and the secretary cautiously stepped inside.
“Sir, the chairman’s wife is here.”
Geon-woo paused and lifted his head.
“…Mother?”
The secretary nodded with a troubled expression.
“She’s in the lobby now.”
Her tone was careful. Geon-woo put down his pen.
He hadn’t answered Misook’s calls for days, nor read her messages. Apparently, she had come to the company in person.
“…Show her in.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the secretary left, Geon-woo let out a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair.
Misook was unpredictable. Over the past few days, she could have been angry, crying, or pretending nothing happened.
A moment later, there was another knock. The door opened, and Misook walked in.
She looked far more haggard than usual. Her skin was dry and dull, and her hair was carelessly tied.
Yet her luxurious trench coat, designer bag, and sunglasses still held her pride.
She removed her sunglasses and looked at Geon-woo.
“Are you busy?”
Her voice was hoarse. Geon-woo replied briefly,
“Yes.”
