Chapter 5
In front of the main gate, I saw a familiar black sedan.
I opened the passenger door and got in, but Jaehyun didn’t even glance at me.
He tapped the steering wheel lightly with his index finger.
Was he anxious?
Or, like me, was he thinking of safe, neutral questions so he wouldn’t say anything that might put him at a disadvantage in the lawsuit?
With all these thoughts, it wasn’t easy to speak.
“Do you know Yeonha is sick?”
In the end, I spoke first.
“She’s doing fine, so don’t worry.”
Irresponsible.
“I’ll pick Yeonha up from daycare just for tomorrow. You have to agree to this. I kept my promise to you.”
“Yujin…”
After a long pause, Jaehyun spoke carefully.
“Just let it go this once. Cut me some slack.”
“I only want to talk about Yeonha with you.”
After all that hesitation, all he could say was to let it go.
What mattered to him was always himself.
Jaehyun, who had been stubbornly staring straight ahead, turned his body toward the passenger seat.
“Yujin. This is an important time for me right now. You know that better than anyone.”
After becoming vice chairman of Daewoong Electronics, Jaehyun hadn’t achieved any notable results for four years.
The company’s ambitious new products aimed at overseas markets were often overshadowed by competitors, leading to losses, and each time, domestic media poured out provocative articles questioning his competence.
He started coming home less often.
What was he missing?
He worked that hard—what was lacking?
When Yeonha started daycare, I had some free time, and wanting to help, I casually drafted a proposal.
It wasn’t difficult for me, having filmed numerous commercials, met businesspeople both domestically and internationally, and even participated in product planning.
My proposal captivated Jaehyun.
He quickly announced a new product, and I helped by sending Daewoong Electronics’ smartphones to famous overseas pop stars and actors to gain media exposure.
The result was successful.
But contrary to what I had hoped, my husband became even busier afterward.
The busier he got, the loneliness that had taken root in me grew without limit.
In a house where every move was monitored, I couldn’t express my emotions, nor could I even go out freely.
That painful time only made me realize, painfully, that this place was not mine.
Jaehyun, who was too busy to even properly watch his son grow up, bringing home a child from an affair was certainly a huge shock to me.
But was that all?
No, it was just the reason put forward.
Looking back, I had been gradually preparing to end my life with him—as a daughter-in-law of a chaebol family—for a long time.
“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll go. Don’t forget, I’ll pick Yeonha up tomorrow.”
“You’re going to keep this lawsuit going?”
“My position hasn’t changed. Yeonha’s custody, primary caregiver… and divorce from you.”
At my firmness, Jaehyun’s gaze sharpened.
His eyes, reddened with burst capillaries, stared at me.
As if there would be no more consideration.
“Dream big, don’t you. What do you think I am… what do you think the Daewoong family is?”
“What?”
“You think you can take my son’s custody away from me?”
“I’m the one who’s been raising Yeonha all this time.”
At my words, Jaehyun curled his lips into a bitter smile.
“Visitation rights? Are you expecting that kind of kindness from me?”
“Can’t you… really think of Yeonha first? I’m her mother.”
“…”
“Do you think you can’t handle this project without me? Is that why the divorce—”
Jaehyun’s face crumpled instantly.
Even his breathing grew rough, and I couldn’t continue speaking.
“You really don’t know me. I’ll make sure you never see your son again. Get out.”
“What do you mean—”
Click.
“Get out, Lee Yujin.”
Suddenly, the passenger door opened, and a rough hand grabbed my arm.
Before I could grasp the situation, I was dragged out of the car by force and came face to face with Sunwoo, his expression stiff.
“Why are you…?”
He glanced at me with clear anger, then bent toward the driver’s seat.
“I’m Lee Yujin’s legal representative. If you have anything to say to her, tell me from now on. Don’t come looking for her directly.”
Sunwoo took out a business card and placed it on the passenger seat.
“I heard lawyers have a hard time making a living these days. So if you pay them, they’ll stand guard like dogs in front of their master’s house?”
At Sunwoo’s sudden rudeness, Jaehyun didn’t hide his twisted irritation.
It was unfamiliar to see him act aggressively toward others.
Jaehyun had always maintained a certain level of politeness toward people, thanks to the social training ingrained in him since childhood.
“Sunwoo.”
Worried their confrontation might escalate, I grabbed Sunwoo’s elbow to signal him to stop.
“If you know that, then watch yourself. Once I bite, I don’t let go.”
Sunwoo slammed the car door shut.
The tension grew so thick it felt like the air itself had frozen.
As soon as the door closed, Jaehyun jerked the steering wheel and drove off.
“What’s going on? Why are you…?”
“You met Jung Jaehyun without discussing it with me?”
Sunwoo demanded sharply.
I knew why he was angry, but I didn’t want to be hounded by him as well.
“Let’s talk later.”
“You’ve said everything you needed to Jung Jaehyun, but with me it’s ‘later’?”
“Stop it. I told you I had no choice but to meet him.”
“You were the one who said you’d do anything I told you.”
“Ha…”
A long breath escaped with a sigh.
It was too cold to be standing around in light clothing.
I didn’t want to argue with him on the street any longer.
Perhaps frustrated as well, Sunwoo took a cigarette from his pocket.
“Do you have any idea how important this time is? I’m warning you—”
“Stop it.”
Sunwoo bit his lip as if suppressing his emotions.
“Are they fighting?”
“Something must be going on.”
It was late evening.
People heading into the officetel entrance glanced at us and whispered among themselves.
Ignoring their stares, Sunwoo took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
“Ah.”
His hand gripped my wrist.
“You planning to come into my place like this with me?”
I spoke to Sunwoo as he held my wrist and headed toward the entrance.
My voice came out lifeless, like salted cabbage.
“I still have things to say.”
<First floor.>
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I pulled my wrist from his grip and faced him.
I didn’t want to let him into my daily life anymore.
“I won’t meet Jaehyun separately anymore. Is that enough?”
As I tried to take off the coat he had put on me, Sunwoo stopped me and draped it back over my shoulders.
“Jung Jaehyun will try to control you using Yeonha. Like today. Even if it’s about Yeonha, don’t act without discussing it with me.”
“…”
“Answer me, Lee Yujin.”
With a click, the elevator doors closed again.
Even though he knew exactly what state I was in, Sunwoo stubbornly pressed me.
He placed both hands on my shoulders, gripping tightly.
As if he wouldn’t let go until he got the answer he wanted.
“Don’t invade my daily life. I didn’t give you that kind of authority.”
For a moment, Sunwoo’s expression twisted.
Further arguing was meaningless.
As I turned away, exhausted, he stopped me with a rough motion.
“You look completely different from when you came to me looking like you were about to die.”
“You…”
The emotions I had been holding back burst out.
I steadied my breathing before meeting his eyes.
“You didn’t have to talk to Jaehyun like that.”
“Ha, so what? Should I have groveled in front of Jung Jaehyun in that situation?”
“I’m saying don’t create situations that can be misunderstood.”
As if something occurred to him, Sunwoo tilted his head and smirked.
“Misunderstood? You mean when I grabbed your arm? Did we touch a bit back then?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then who’s misunderstanding? Jung Jaehyun? Or Lee Yujin?”
“Isn’t it a situation anyone could misunderstand? You came running at one phone call—”
My words caught as emotions surged, and I swallowed them.
Sunwoo still looked at me as if reprimanding me.
“I’m not your woman.”
My voice came out low, cold, and desolate, like a settled fog.
“What’s this? You meet Jung Jaehyun and come back like a completely different person… makes me imagine all sorts of things.”
Sunwoo’s gaze sharpened as if piercing through my face.
Even Jaehyun’s mocking words hadn’t affected him, but now he seemed out of breath as he loosened his tie and ran a hand through his hair.
“Don’t be sarcastic.”
“So meeting your ex-husband got you worked up? Ah… did I ruin a good mood? Is that it?”
He pressed me with an aggressive gaze.
“Stop.”
In an instant, Sunwoo’s arm wrapped around my waist.
He pulled me close—so close I could feel his breath.
It was an unexpected incident.
“Sorry if I interrupted when things were heating up.”
“Wait… Sunwoo.”
I leaned my head back as far as I could, trying to escape his hold, but he pulled me closer with even more force.
The scent of whiskey brushed past my nose.
Between the open collar of his shirt, a neat patterned tattoo was revealed.
“If you want, say so. I can do that much too.”
Sunwoo whispered, looking down at my lips.
The playful version of him was nowhere to be found.
There was only a tense line, so fragile it felt like it would explode if touched.
