Chapter 09
Really? Is it true? Then why did Moon-seok…
“There were circumstances.”
What on earth do you mean?
“I’ll explain everything when you get here.”
Ha, you really…
Kyung-seok’s voice changed, surprised.
It was understandable.
Until now, Jian had never shared personal stories with even a colleague she saw every day.
But if she wanted to keep her mother close and care for her, she had to tell Kyung-seok at least.
“Yes. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
Jian answered calmly.
Her racing thoughts and pounding heart slowly settled as the reality in front of her came into focus.
She had to hurry.
No matter what, she needed to get her mother out of Dongsan Hospital quickly to feel at ease.
Am I being dumped now?
After just one night, without leaving any trace of presence.
Tae-jun, abandoned alone in the bed, couldn’t move for a while.
“Ha, serves me right… Seo Tae-jun.”
Once he finally regained some clarity, he ran his hands roughly through his hair.
The fox who had cried all night in his arms had vanished faster than an arrow.
She left him coldly, as if she no longer had any interest or attachment.
She’d claimed it was her first time, making him lose his mind, but when it came to dumping someone, she was a pro.
If both parties had “caused the accident,” then mutual responsibility should be recognized.
He couldn’t just let it end with a one-sided notice like this.
“A one-night stand? I never agreed to just one night. Hong Jian.”
Tae-jun muttered bitterly, rising to his feet.
“This is maddening.”
Even after being dumped overnight, why did he keep thinking about her?
Absurdly, he felt not anger but thirst.
It seemed clear that he was completely crazy about this woman, Hong Jian.
Last night hadn’t been normal. He had been swept up in impulse, unlike himself.
But if he felt this way even in the morning, it couldn’t be called just impulse anymore.
It was like an unpredictable traffic accident.
Standing still, only to have an enormous, scorching-hot truck crush his entire body.
Something inside him had broken.
The burning heat wouldn’t subside.
One thing was certain.
He absolutely couldn’t let it end like this.
Perhaps it was stubbornness. An inexplicable sense of challenge ignited in his whole body.
So what if it wasn’t an explosion of fireworks all at once?
The fire was already lit; now the side with lingering desire had to fuel it again.
Tae-jun picked up his phone and hit a speed dial.
As soon as it rang, Manager Kim’s voice, his right hand, answered.
Yes, speak.
“Coordinate with Hotel H to check the CCTV on the 18th-floor hallway around 1 PM yesterday. A doctor saving a child should have been captured. Check the rescued child’s condition and secure footage of the related path from the elevator to the hallway.”
Understood.
“And send all the foundation-related documents, and adjust the work schedule at Hanyeong Hospital to prepare an additional suitable spot.”
You have so many tasks at headquarters, and you want to handle the foundation work too?
“I have to handle this personally. Hurry.”
Yes. I’ll get on it immediately.
A meaningful smile spread across Tae-jun’s lips.
Just wait, Hong Jian.
If one night wasn’t enough for you to know me, then I’ll show you properly. The true Seo Tae-jun.
The next afternoon.
It seemed the gods were on her side; everything went smoothly.
Jian officially went to Dongsan Hospital to pick up her mother.
And for someone, it was a bolt from the blue.
“Mother! Something terrible has happened!”
The director’s office at Dongsan Hospital burst open, and Director Hong Cheol-ho ran in.
“Tsk tsk! Why are you making such a fuss, as the hospital director? I told you to act with dignity!”
Park Soon-ja clicked her tongue in disapproval at her son.
Her eldest son had died, and the second son became hospital director. But he couldn’t even handle the simplest tasks.
As a result, Dongsan Hospital had been running at a deficit for years.
The financial crisis was so severe that if they didn’t find investors soon, the hospital might have to close.
Jian’s marriage had been their only hope, but she had been ruining every matchmaking meeting, and their plan was falling apart.
At the most anticipated matchmaking meeting, she had truly reached the peak of disaster.
He wanted to grab Jian by the hair and shake some sense into her.
Fortunately, Madam Kim, who arranged the matchmaking, introduced an even better match.
Apparently, there was a family seeking a smart daughter-in-law to care for their disabled only son and produce a successor.
A real estate conglomerate; they were even looking for a hospital to support their son. They could invest heavily to expand the hospital building.
It was a blessing in disguise—an even better opportunity.
Madam Kim had been right: elite families only wanted intelligent daughters-in-law.
Families with problematic children wanted capable heirs, so a clever daughter-in-law was essential.
This time, the conditions were better than ever, so they had to be more careful.
Even if they had to use gentle persuasion to make the matchmaking work, it was necessary.
If she didn’t listen, they could test how far she could be pressured with her already vulnerable mother.
“Mother! Now is not the time! Jian is taking an ambulance to bring you right now.”
Hong Cheol-ho stomped his feet anxiously.
“Since her guardian is taking her, it seems impossible to stop her!”
“This foolish boy! Did you even need to tell me? Just hold her back with the hospital fees!”
“But we were supposed to cover the hospital fees. How could we…?”
“Snap out of it! Why do you even think she’s your wife? Because you’re so weak, the hospital is in this state!”
Park Soon-ja’s anger was apparent.
“Have you even handled a case or two? Inflate extra fees for uninsured VVIP patients, tack on test costs, and you can make thousands more. We need to properly hold onto that girl’s mother so she’ll marry obediently…!”
Park Soon-ja stormed out of the director’s office in a rage.
And there, right in front of her, stood Jian, her eyes blazing.
“I will no longer cooperate with the Hong family affairs. I am taking my mother.”
Her anger rose, but Jian spoke calmly, her expression resolute.
“Didn’t you say my mother needed treatment to wake up? You’ve left her corpse here all this time, yet Dongsan Hospital still treated her—did you think that was funny? You just needed to go to a matchmaking meeting and get married, and you couldn’t even do that one thing.”
Her grandmother had cunningly targeted Jian’s weakness.
But Jian refused to be manipulated any longer.
She had already heard the horrific stories leaking from the director’s office.
Hearing it confirmed by her own ears only made her heart colder.
It was fortunate she hadn’t delayed any longer.
“Thank you. I realize again that it would have been terrible if I had waited any longer, grandmother.”
Jian spoke with a steely gaze.
“And if you want the hospital fees, I’ll pay in full, but make sure you bill properly. Otherwise, I won’t stay quiet either.”
“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
Park Soon-ja asked ominously.
It would be a lie if Jian were not afraid.
But she focused on her mother, whom she needed to protect, unwavering.
“…I hope I never see you again.”
Having said her piece, Jian turned sharply and left.
Her heart pounded like crazy, but she walked straight and steadily.
Her mother, ready and prepared, was safely moved into the ambulance and out of Dongsan Hospital.
Jian’s eyes reddened as she climbed into the ambulance, holding her mother’s hand tightly.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I was such a fool.”
Wiping her stinging eyes, Jian smiled at her mother and whispered,
“You won’t have to see grandmother again.”
Fortunately, there was an available spot at Hanyeong Care Hospital, so they could transfer her mother immediately.
Kyung-seok’s extensive network had been a huge help.
After hearing her situation, Kyung-seok was stunned and speechless for a while. But he called the director of the care hospital he knew and arranged a consultation immediately.
Fortunately, Jian working at Hanyeong Hospital allowed them to bypass much of the bureaucratic procedure.
‘Physical therapy should be sufficient there. And it’ll actually be easier for you to visit your mother.’
Receiving help from others rather than blood relatives, Jian silently vowed never to forget this gratitude.
Holding her mother’s hand tightly, she prayed.
“Mom, everything will be fine now. You have to come back to me. Let’s stay strong just a little longer.”
The ambulance carrying them entered Hanyeong Care Hospital with new hope.
