Chapter 48 …
In fact, following Harim’s issue, this was an unavoidable topic in their relationship. Hyun’s gaze changed after hearing So-jung’s words.
“Do you remember? The divorce we talked about back then.”
“…….”
“And I don’t know if you’re aware, but rumors about our divorce have already spread.”
“What?”
“And… there’s talk about your remarriage too. That you’re going to marry Han Su-ah.”
Hyun, apparently hearing this for the first time, was surprised. Then he thought for a moment and muttered ominously,
“Could it be….”
“Do you know something?”
“Has anyone from our family ever approached you? Told you to get a divorce or anything?”
“My mother met you a while back, but nothing recently. Oh, but….”
So-jung hesitated, recalling her encounters with Su-ah.
“I’ve met Han Su-ah.”
“What? Why did you meet her?”
“Her daughter goes to the same kindergarten as Harim. I’ve seen her there and at gatherings. She even told me that she’d meet you again.”
It was practically a declaration. Hyun’s brow furrowed.
“What nonsense. Forget it. Just ignore it.”
“But it’s hard to ignore… weren’t you seeing that woman?”
“I’m not seeing her anymore.”
“What?”
So-jung’s eyes widened at the unexpected response. Hyun, as if to confirm, said again,
“I’m not seeing her. I told her not to come anymore.”
“…….”
“Why, do you want to meet her again?”
“Not really….”
Hearing that Hyun wasn’t seeing Su-ah, So-jung momentarily didn’t know how to react, glancing around awkwardly. After a pause, Hyun continued, breaking the silence.
“Are you going through the divorce process now?”
“No, not yet.”
“Neither have I. So…”
They hadn’t even started the process. Hyun scratched the back of his neck at So-jung’s words.
“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to cancel that divorce talk.”
“…….”
“Honestly… we have a child. Do you want him to live apart from his mom and dad? Just seeing us fight is enough, and if we divorce, who knows what’ll happen?”
So-jung was surprised at Hyun’s words.
“So no matter who talks about divorce, don’t pay attention. It’s my life, and since I’ve decided not to divorce, I won’t.”
This man was even retracting the divorce while considering her feelings.
“……So, what’s your answer?”
So-jung thought she wasn’t showing much, but having spent years with Hyun, she could pick up on his subtle habits—even if his personality had changed with his memory loss.
Did he know? That whenever he cared about the other’s reaction, his left eyebrow would rise.
Even now, his left eyebrow was slightly raised, yet his expression seemed to say it didn’t matter. That gap made So-jung chuckle quietly.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just reminded me of something amusing.”
“What?”
“Alright, let’s forget the divorce talk.”
“…….”
“I was a bit emotional back then because I was exhausted. I was too hasty.”
The stress of handling things alone, Mi-ae’s pressure, and Hyun getting angry in front of her—all that had overwhelmed her and made her reactive. So-jung acknowledged that.
“Fine. I also got angry for petty reasons back then.”
“We were both a little emotional.”
“And, even if late to say it… I don’t regret saving you.”
“…….”
“So don’t feel sorry about that. Since I took the initiative, whether my head got hurt or not, it was my responsibility.”
“…….”
“Got it?”
“Ah, yes.”
So-jung was momentarily speechless at the unexpected words. But she gave a small smile toward Hyun, who was speaking so decisively.
Not divorcing was definitely good for the child. But was it only good for the child?
“What’s so funny now?”
“Just reminded me of something good.”
And he might know too—how her lips subtly moved whenever she tried to hide a positive feeling.
After bathing, Harim continued to be busy playing with Hyun. Meanwhile, So-jung sent the helper home early. The helper kept apologizing for what happened earlier, but So-jung reassured her that it was unintentional and that since Harim had returned safely, everything was fine.
“Both of you, eat.”
A meal together, the three of them. It had been a long time. The table seemed especially full today, and So-jung quietly picked up her spoon while observing Hyun and Harim.
“Daddy, I want this.”
“You can eat on your own. Let’s start with the spoon.”
Harim, excited at seeing Dad after a long time, opened his mouth for Hyun to feed him, but So-jung intervened. Harim eventually picked up the spoon himself but soon grimaced.
“I hate onions!”
It was Harim’s usual complaint about onions. So-jung didn’t even blink.
“No, you can eat it. You ate it fine yesterday.”
“No, I won’t!”
Harim struggled as if trying to get off the chair, dropping his spoon. So-jung stepped in.
“Choi Harim.”
“…….”
“Who moves around like that at the table?”
“Ah, Daddyyy……”
Harim looked to Hyun for help, but Hyun himself was staring seriously at the onions.
“……You can’t eat onions?”
So-jung was surprised.
“Nope. Tastes awful.”
“…….”
“Especially onions taste the worst.”
Hyun, usually not picky, was surprisingly selective now. Harim eagerly agreed.
“Right, they taste awful!”
“Squishy, limp, just all wrong.”
“Yes, all wrong!”
Hyun, usually eating everything, surprisingly hated onions. But the father-daughter duo protesting together was a bit of a headache. So-jung sighed, pressing her palm to her forehead.
“You can’t just eat sausages. You need vegetables too, for growing tall.”
“I grew fine without this stuff.”
“…….”
At So-jung’s glare, Hyun finally stayed quiet. Harim, however, pouted and didn’t even touch the onions.
“You said you want to grow taller. Look, Dad did too. He ate it and grew this tall.”
“Really?”
Harim looked at Hyun expectantly. Under So-jung’s silent pressure, Hyun muttered,
“…I guess maybe about a centimeter.”
Harim hesitated, then closed his eyes and ate the onions. Hyun, still avoiding them, finally frowned and put a small piece in his mouth under Harim’s gaze.
Am I raising one child or two?
So-jung watched with a small sigh as both chewed onions with scrunched faces. Just then, her phone alarm rang.
“…….”
Checking the message, So-jung said to Hyun,
“Kang-chan says he’s too busy to come back today.”
“How busy could he be? Maybe he just doesn’t want to come.”
True…
So-jung knew Kang-chan’s tasks weren’t that time-consuming. She still looked understanding.
“He’s been with you all day recently. Let him rest a little.”
“He’d come immediately if they offered overtime pay multiplied.”
“Can’t argue with that. But don’t hide onions under the kimchi.”
While So-jung checked her phone, Harim tried to hide onions under kimchi again. Sensing the change in topic, he quickly spoke.
“Daddy, we’ll play together tomorrow too, right?”
“……Tomorrow?”
“Yes, sleep over today!”
Sleep, sleep, sleep…
At Harim’s final words, So-jung slightly opened her mouth. Amid all the chaos, she had forgotten one thing.
Hyun no longer needed to return to the villa. This was his home. Only then did So-jung realize why Kang-chan used work as an excuse and why the helper happily changed the bedding in the main room.
“…….”
Hyun seemed to realize it too, and for a moment, neither spoke. So-jung broke the silence.
“Let’s do that. Tomorrow’s a day off kindergarten anyway.”
“…….”
“This is your home, so staying here is fine.”
So-jung’s expression was calm, almost emotionless. She ended her sentence without realizing her hands moved slightly. Hyun quietly agreed.
“Right, it’s my house.”
“Yes, it is your home.”
“Yeah, that’s right…”
An awkward atmosphere quickly filled the table. Harim tried once more to hide onions under the kimchi, but this time, neither So-jung nor Hyun said a word.
