Chapter 25
“Y-you!”
The older woman gasped in shock.
I was just as startled.
“Mr. Oh!”
“No, I didn’t mean to throw it—it just slipped!”
“How can you even say that, does that make sense?”
“I swear, it’s true!”
I was about to say more but shut my mouth when I saw the old man’s terrified expression.
I’m not family. I’d better behave carefully so no one can twist this against me—legally.
“Your hand…”
The woman pointed at my left hand, trembling.
The back of my hand was already bruised blue. My fingers ached slightly, but nothing time wouldn’t fix.
“It’s nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious? If that’s not serious, then what is!”
“If it had hit squarely, you would’ve been in serious danger instead.”
If it had struck her head, she could have lost her life.
“…Why do you always jump in first? At the shop, now here. This isn’t the time. Let me grab some ointment.”
She staggered off to fetch the first-aid kit.
I watched her for a moment, then pulled out my phone.
Ding.
I filmed the shattered ashtray pieces scattered on the floor—then panned to the man sitting across.
“What are you doing?”
“Recording evidence of Mr. Oh Yoonsik throwing an ashtray.”
“Delete it right now!”
He sprang up, panicked.
“Mr. Oh, do you realize what you just did constitutes assault?”
“Assault? I wasn’t trying to hit you—it was just to scare you!”
“But I was hit.”
“……!”
Ding.
That was the truth. He knew someone could be hurt if he threw it—and threw it anyway.
Like with all crimes, once you commit assault once, it becomes easier to do again.
“If Mrs. Lee Kkot-soon decides to divorce you over this, I’ll represent her. Keep that in mind.”
“What kind of lawyer threatens people?!”
“Mr. Oh, even the IOU for the land compensation is grounds enough for divorce. Unlike you, Mrs. Lee handles both the household and earns income.”
“If I wanted, I could work too!”
“Then do it. Though your child may not want to live with you afterward.”
“……!”
He probably knew better than anyone what his child thought of him.
And unlike in the past, society’s view on divorce had changed drastically.
“The kids are getting married soon—how could we divorce?”
“Some conservative families still cancel engagements if they hear a parent is divorced, but those are few.”
“Few? That’s ridiculous!”
“Times have changed, Mr. Oh.”
When minors reach adulthood, custody ends and child support ceases. But nowadays, courts often assign more property to the parent supporting adult children, and even expect them to cover tuition and living costs.
In truth…
Attacking through family ties is most effective.
Especially when it involves the home.
“This house will stay with Mrs. Lee and your child. If your child wants to visit you, you’d need a place nearby. Do you think you can easily get a house in Gangnam?”
“……?!”
“Of course, this is just a hypothetical, not a threat.”
He’s never done housework in his life. He’d pay others at first, but money runs out fast. Ordering food, hiring cleaners—eventually the fridge empties, mold grows in the bathroom, blankets stink. He’ll end up alone in silence, longing for his child.
The thought of divorce clearly made him restless.
“What should I do? I can’t live without my kids.”
And yet he’s never even bought them a gift?
Unbelievable.
“Can’t we cancel the IOU? Then maybe Yeji’s mother won’t mention divorce.”
I hadn’t meant to destroy this family, so I decided to deescalate.
“The IOU can be dealt with—but we’d need to find a way.”
I do know a good way, but since we haven’t signed a retainer, no comment.
“Please, just listen to Mrs. Lee. Isn’t she rightfully angry? That money was for her old age.”
“Old age? Yes… yes, it was.”
“…Wait, don’t tell me.”
“Hm?”
His face was exactly like a gambler who’d just come into money and was on his way to the casino.
Time to rein him in again.
“Mr. Oh, if you honor the IOU, you’ll be in the red. If you don’t, your siblings will sue you.”
“My siblings wouldn’t do that.”
“Then why not call them right now and say you can’t keep the promise?”
“Ahem. A man doesn’t take back his word.”
“Is that more important than your marriage?”
He coughed awkwardly.
“Then… do my case for free. In return, I’ll introduce you to my business friends.”
Ha.
This guy… Does he think I’m beneath him just because Mrs. Lee brought me here?
I’d made up my mind.
“Introduce me, huh. And then buy them drinks?”
“Of course—you need to build connections.”
“Mr. Oh, do you think I’m a pushover?”
“Eh?”
“What use are broke acquaintances who can’t even pay proper fees? That thought wouldn’t even cross my mind.”
I gave him a deliberate once-over.
“You little brat!”
He flared up, but the woman pushed his shoulder down.
She slammed the first-aid kit on the table, hands on hips, glaring.
“Raising your hand again?! What kind of man does that every time?”
“This time it wasn’t like that!”
“You threw the ashtray yourself! At least aim properly if you’re going to hit someone—what if you’d hurt this young man? Do you even know who he is?”
…Me?
“He’s the good Samaritan from the news at the Express Bus Terminal! And he even worked at Continet!”
“N-no way.”
“I can’t live like this anymore. IOU, land—whatever. You deal with it yourself.”
She hadn’t said the word “divorce,” but it was as good as declared.
Looks like she’s serious this time.
Time to back her up.
“You shameless hag! Watch your mouth—”
“You watch yours! Who taught you to hit people first? Do you want me to press charges too?”
“She’s right. I’ll be pressing charges as well.”
“……?”
“……?!”
They both froze.
“Even with ointment, it hurts badly. What if there’s bone damage?”
I looked at my bruised hand and frowned on purpose.
“Stop exaggerating.”
“Yeji’s father!”
“……”
“Young man, this won’t do. Let’s go to the ER.”
She stood to grab her purse, but I waved her off.
“I can go alone—it’s late already.”
A mission-complete message hovered before me. To her, it was just the clock on the wall.
“Oh my, past ten already?”
“You came late, remember?”
“Sigh, you came for dinner and ended up hurt. I feel so sorry.”
“Don’t be. And whether it’s divorce or assault charges, let me know. I’ll be handling them anyway.”
I glanced once more at Mr. Oh, then headed for the door.
“……!”
As I slipped on my shoes, I froze.
On the shoe cabinet sat a faded photo—Mrs. Lee smiling warmly beside… my mother.
A younger version of my mother I had never seen.
“Ma’am… do you know this woman?”
“Know her? We were close! I told you I had rich clients, right? She was a maid at one of their houses. Bought flowers here often. We even hung out together. Then one day, she just stopped coming.”
Maid? But she worked at a restaurant before I was born…
“Why do you ask, young man?”
“…She looks like someone I know.”
At home, I caressed the photo she had given me. Life was truly inexplicable.
“How… how is this possible?”
When I was desperately searching for traces of my mother, it had felt like the world was conspiring against me.
Everyone who had known her—except for my grandmother—suddenly disappeared.
I once visited the neighborhood clinic where she had worked as a nurse’s aide.
But the clinic had shut down, with only a notice thanking patients.
They could have at least called, told me to collect her belongings. After working side by side for years, they just vanished.
“She left nothing behind…”
A tight ache pressed at my chest.
“Not the time to sulk. Time to use my psychometry ability.”
To meet my mother again.
“Haah!”
Ziiip.
Springtime at Seoul Grand Park, pink azaleas blooming.
A whistle sounded. Someone held hands, smiling shyly.
Mrs. Lee—and beside her, neatly dressed in a lavender jacket—my mother.
“Yeong-a, sit here. I’ll take a solo picture of you.”
“Alone? That feels awkward, sister. Let’s take one together.”
“Shall we?”
Mrs. Lee asked a passerby to take the photo. She leaned close to my mother.
“Okay, one, two—”
Click.
“Mom.”
The woman who hated being alone.
Who, even when poor, cooked bulgogi for Choi Jae-woo’s birthday.
My mother, Lee Soo-young.
“Should I have just said she was my mother? Then Mrs. Lee would have told me to keep the photo.”
It would have been nice to see more pictures of her younger self. But sadly, this one belonged to Mrs. Lee.
Still, I was grateful.
I chuckled softly.
“Even though I scanned it, I can’t let go.”
Tomorrow, I’ll treat her to a meal. Something she likes. And we can talk about Mom.
Feeling light, I left the subway station and walked toward my office.
But then—
A well-known freeloader in the area was picking a fight.
Right in front of Yeji’s flower shop.
“Didn’t you know an IOU with a seal is legally binding? And you dare say you’ll cancel it? What nonsense!”
“Stop talking rubbish and leave.”
“Why? Because you work here? A woman who can’t even bear a son dares talk back?!”
“Haah.”
“Anyone can pass through here—it’s public. What right do you have?”
He spread his arms wide, mocking.
Mrs. Lee’s temple throbbed with a vein.
She’s furious.
I quickly called the police.
“Get out.”
“Uneducated fool. Just listen to the educated. Who do you think you are, selling flowers? You think my brother Yoonsik will listen to you?!”
Crash!
Flower baskets toppled from the stall.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
“What else? Blocking the way to the subway! Is this your land?”
Nearby shop owners sighed, clearly used to his antics.
…Brother Yoonsik? This freeloader is Mr. Oh Yoonsik’s brother? But they don’t look alike at all.
Mr. Oh was tall and skinny. This man was short and stocky. Even their hair was different.
I can open my office late. Better protect Mrs. Lee first.
I stepped toward her.
But before I could—
A woman in sunglasses and a mask stormed past me.
“You filthy beggar, get lost! Do you even know where you are?”
“Beggar?”
Oh Yunbok snapped, striking her on the head.
Thud!
“…Ha!”
“Oh Yeji?”
Her sunglasses fell, revealing a familiar face—eyes blazing.
“Smell that? You claim to serve the Lord, but your ‘Lord’ must be alcohol. Guess violence runs in your family philosophy.”
“Yeji!”
“Mom, I’ve been hit. Call the police now.”
Oh Yeji.
Mrs. Lee’s second daughter—the fierce one—had arrived.
“So, what are you here to leech off today?”
