Chapter : 42
“No, he’s been busy lately… It’s already a hectic time. With Dad collapsing and work increasing…”
Juhye smiled, trying her best to act nonchalant.
She only hoped her hands wouldn’t tremble while holding the teacup.
She had never been good at lying, and Suha, on the other hand, was skilled at detecting lies.
“Really?”
“I was tired even at the arboretum’s commemorative party last time. That day, the bride and groom were the center of attention, and I thought maybe people would focus on us unnecessarily…”
Suha’s expression didn’t change, but the unease of possibly being found out grew stronger.
Wanting to preempt his suspicion, Juhye decided to take a more assertive approach and brought up a heavy topic.
“That day, I ended up hearing strange things about infertility and sterility and left.”
“What?”
As expected, Suha’s face instantly darkened.
“What do you mean? Who would say such a thing?”
“It was someone from Jinju Construction. I didn’t see them closely, but…”
“Jinju Construction? Who!”
Suha slammed down the teacup and started demanding details.
If she told him everything, he would probably go confront that person immediately.
Of course, it would be fine, but Juhye already trusted that her husband would somehow have found that person.
Judging from his actions over the past few days, it was entirely plausible.
“The person doesn’t matter. Do you think they’re the only one spreading that story?”
“Then…”
“The important thing is that the story is circulating.”
Juhye looked up at her brother with a bitter smile.
It made her uncomfortable to see her brother’s face hardened by hearing a needless rumor.
Even though the doctor said during the check-up that there was no problem and that having a baby was just a matter of timing, she couldn’t help but worry…
“Sorry… all these strange rumors are because of me.”
Juhye always felt guilty.
As a child, it was the guilt of having caused her mother to pass away while giving birth to her. Now, it was the guilt of possibly stirring up gossip again due to divorce.
Her life was always, in some way, shaded by guilt.
“There’s no need to apologize. Don’t even bring it up.”
As always, Suha embraced her shoulder gently, wearing a kind expression.
“Try to enjoy yourself at the party tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll be fun.”
Yet, that alone didn’t ease her heart.
The love of her family wasn’t enough to fill the anxiety that she was always the cause of an incomplete family. It was ironic.
“…Thanks, brother.”
No matter what, neither Suha nor Sukyung could fully understand how she felt.
Juhye set down her teacup and gave an awkward smile at his comforting gesture.
At that moment, the housekeeper approached, saying the meal was ready, and the two stood up together.
Suha led her through the corridor to the dining room.
“Brother, what’s that painting?”
It was then that Juhye’s attention was caught by a painting in the corridor.
It was placed at the very end, in a spot not easily visible to others.
The square-framed painting exuded a mysterious atmosphere.
“Ah… this painting?”
Suha, who had been smiling all this time, answered with an indifferent expression.
It was a painting with a completely black background and a white circle in the center.
At first glance, it didn’t seem like a famous work—more like a drawing with dense doodles around the center.
“This was a gift from CEO Seo when he married you.”
‘CEO Seo’—a formal title, but it referred to Daehyun.
“To him, your brother?”
Daehyun had always been extremely formal when dealing with Suha and Sukyung, almost as if facing a superior.
It was hard to imagine him treating his wife’s family normally.
And yet, he had given them a gift separately—something Juhye couldn’t imagine.
“Didn’t he ever tell you?”
“I… I’m hearing this for the first time.”
Juhye’s eyes widened in surprise at hearing something she had never known.
Daehyun had never mentioned the painting before, so she had never thought he would be interested.
But to give it to her brother too—she hadn’t expected that.
“It was also a gift for Dad and Sukyung. Since it’s a print, it’s not very valuable, but the artist is somewhat famous.”
Suha examined the painting quietly and shrugged.
It looked like ink wash painting, but upon closer inspection after his comment, it was a print.
“Of all the gifts from CEO Seo, this was the one he liked the most. The title was unusual.”
“What’s the title?”
“Look at the bottom right of the frame.”
Suha whispered softly, as if giving a small puzzle.
Juhye tilted her head and found the title.
In messy handwriting, the title was scribbled at the bottom.
“Shells don’t rust…”
It was a phrase she had never heard before.
Curious, she looked closer as Suha explained.
“It’s a proverb meaning that a naturally good and virtuous person doesn’t get tainted by the bad habits of others.”
Hearing the title made her see the painting differently.
Even surrounded by a black frame, something in the pure white center drew her attention.
What could it truly signify?
“That’s a nice meaning.”
She spoke softly, lost in thought, when Suha continued with an astonishing statement.
“CEO Seo said he wanted you to think of him when looking at this painting.”
“Me?”
To think of her while looking at the painting—what could that mean?
Juhye tilted her head, confused by Daehyun’s intention.
Seeing her innocent reaction, Suha chuckled and gestured at the painting.
“Your father said the same thing back then. That CEO Seo had an eye for women, and he thought it was a metaphor that perfectly described you.”
“In what way?”
“Because of your naturally pure personality.”
Juhye frowned slightly at the word “pure.”
It reminded her of something Daehyun had said long ago.
‘You may not know because you’re innocent, but men…’
‘Innocent? Me?’
‘You’re the same as when I first met you. Nothing’s changed.’
At the time, she had thought he was just saying something to escape the situation.
But hearing her brother now, it seemed Daehyun truly had felt that way from the very beginning.
And the painting he had given to the family carried a similar sentiment.
‘Still innocent and pure. That’s your strength, not sarcasm. If that’s a flaw, it’s only that it makes me worry…’
Juhye wanted to shout that it wasn’t true.
She wasn’t the innocent, pure woman Daehyun imagined.
If she had been, she would have teased him long ago about not remembering her, and then loved him after resolving all those feelings before marriage.
She hadn’t married him while silently harboring a gloomy love without revealing the truth.
“That said, I felt a little reluctant that someone like that would marry you.”
“….”
“You were too precious, that’s why, brother.”
Though said jokingly, there was sincerity in his words.
Juhye’s gaze lingered on the painting, subtly shaken.
“Shall we go? The food will get cold.”
Suha brushed her head gently before moving ahead.
Meanwhile, Juhye stayed in place, unable to take her eyes off the painting.
Why had he given such a gift?
She never imagined that when Daehyun married, he would give a gift to her father and brothers as well.
No one had told her this story before.
Since Suha only mentioned it now, she suspected he might not have intended to tell her at all if she hadn’t discovered the painting.
Why?
When she asked herself, the answer came surprisingly easily.
It was the only explanation.
And after hearing Suha’s joking addition, she felt even more certain.
“Did my brothers… dislike him from the start?”
If she were to talk about the divorce, how would they react?
Would they cheer her on, saying she made the right decision?
Or would they suggest taking time due to her father’s health?
“…I don’t know.”
Faced with a question she couldn’t answer, she felt frustrated.
But one thing was certain.
“I still don’t know everything about Daehyun.”
Even now, she didn’t fully understand Daehyun’s feelings at the time of their marriage.
