Suddenly, Jungok picked up her cell phone. When the signal rang exactly twice, the other party answered.
—Yes, ma’am.
“Is the Chairman there?”
—He’s in an emergency executive meeting right now. Should I connect you?
“No, it’s fine. It’s not urgent, so I’ll call back later.”
After hanging up, a staff member brought her tea. It was cool green tea with ice floating in it.
“I’ve uploaded the electronic report.”
“Got it. My throat was parched, so thank you.”
When Jungok smiled at her, the staff member smiled back brightly and went downstairs with lively steps. She was a young woman from an ordinary family who majored in art history. If she were to bring in a daughter-in-law, she thought a young woman like that would be good.
Cheerful, quick-witted, capable, and strong. So she could take good care of the sensitive Kyungwoo. A wonderful young woman whose personality seemed like it wouldn’t change even if she became a chaebol wife someday. Regrettably, the only drawback was that she had a boyfriend.
“If she happens to break up with her boyfriend, should I set her up on a blind date with Kyungwoo?”
From the moment she heard he was meeting someone, Jungok had become unable to look at single women around Kyungwoo’s age with simple eyes.
She thought it was meddlesome, so she absolutely never showed it outwardly. But she couldn’t stop her thoughts from going in that direction.
Whether she saw a department store employee, a cafe part-timer she happened to stop by, or even young college students visiting the art museum, she would inwardly match them up with Kyungwoo.
She had only thought he had a woman he was seeing regularly, but a while ago when Dohyun said there was too much food left over, she immediately sensed they had broken up. She also noticed how he withered away for a few weeks, looking haggard.
As a mother, it was so heartbreaking to watch him suffer, but on the other hand, she was happy that Kyungwoo was also an ordinary man. Moreover, recently, perhaps because they had gotten back together, his complexion had brightened.
“He should meet someone better from now on.”
As if her son were right in front of her, Jungok unknowingly muttered to herself as she drank her tea and opened the report on her laptop. As she quickly skimmed through it with her eyes, her cell phone rang.
“Yes.”
—You called?
“Yes. Did you see Kyungrok and Kyungwoo?”
—Briefly before the meeting. What did that household say?
“They’re begging me desperately to spare Kyunghyun, you know.”
—Why are they begging you? If he committed a crime, he should beg the victim.
“I told them that too. They didn’t listen at all and told me to tell you to spare Kyunghyun.”
—Tell them to do that in front of a judge. No matter how much they’re blood relatives, I can’t embrace a murderer bastard. Taesu will wash his hands of Chemical from now on. The executives will all be replaced too. Where else would they have nothing to do that they’d cover for such a bastard? I told the kids that too. You know that as well.
“Then who will take over Chemical from now on?”
—I’ll take it over for the time being. If there’s no one suitable to hand it over to, we’ll have to bring in an outside CEO for now. Chemical has come back into my hands and it seems like Kyungrok is eyeing it, but she’s completely ignorant about chemistry, so it’s still too early. I need to watch and see.
“Kyungrok? That’s also a method. In this day and age, there’s no reason a woman can’t lead a chemical company. The elders can’t oppose Kyungrok now either. Not when Kyunghyun, whom they doted on so much, has become like that.”
—That aside, you keep an eye on Kyungwoo.
“Why Kyungwoo all of a sudden?”
—I think Kyunghyun’s case is probably Kyungwoo’s doing.
“What?”
Jungok was so surprised she almost dropped her cell phone.
“Kyungwoo?”
—Yeah. It’s my feeling, but somehow that bastard is involved. The feeling is strange.
“He would do that… But didn’t you say Kyungrok liked him? Why would Kyungwoo do something good for Kyungrok?”
—I don’t know what that bastard Kyungwoo is thinking either, but anyway, there’s something. No one knows what’s inside that bastard. Anyway, it’s also strange how he’s changed lately.
“Still, surely not. Would he have done that to Kyunghyun on purpose?”
—I didn’t say he did it on purpose. I said Kyungwoo seems to be in the process.
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
—Anyway, keep an eye on Kyungwoo.
“What ability do I have? He made such a fuss just from going home once. Wouldn’t it be better to ask Kyungrok?”
—Tell Kyungrok to keep her husband in check instead.
At those words, Jungok sighed.
“You knew?”
—Of course. Why wouldn’t a father know his daughter’s situation? You’re covering for her too much too. Can’t you see after looking at Kyunghyun?
“How can you compare me telling her to try a separation first, thinking of the child, when she says she wants a divorce, to Kyunghyun? If you’re going to say things like that, I’m hanging up.”
—Anyway, watch Kyungwoo and let me know if there’s anything strange.
“I’ll handle it myself, so you just do your own work.”
Jungok hung up the phone immediately. Ever since the elders forcibly made Jungok, who wanted a divorce, stay in the household, Taeho had been nothing more than a target for harsh words to Jungok.
It was a story that would make other chaebol wives, who serve their chairman husbands as if they were sacred, gasp, but the Taeryoung Chairman’s household was different in many ways. It was a difference that started with an affectionate stepdaughter and a biological son who disliked his parents.
As she finished drinking the remaining cold tea, she was about to ask the housekeeper if Kyungwoo’s household was running low on any food.
Thud. Thud.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs. The weight was male. Sure enough, a tall man opened the door and entered.
The man Jungok loved most in the world, Jung Kyungwoo.
“Oh my, what brings you here?”
Jungok jumped up from her seat in surprise. She hadn’t even heard the car come in because she was on the phone with Taeho.
“Do you have time?”
Kyungwoo, who had a slightly pale complexion, stood at the door and asked. His voice was low and trembled slightly. The moment she thought something seemed to have happened, Jungok’s heart sank. Without realizing it, she smoothed her hair and straightened the clothes she was wearing.
“Of course.”
“May I sit down?”
“Why are you asking such things?”
As she said that, Jungok pointed to the designer table set she often used to entertain artists. She could see a staff member standing in front of the open door.
“Should I bring tea?”
“Yes. Hot or cold?”
“Hot would be good.”
When Jungok nodded to the staff member, the staff member quickly closed the door and disappeared.
The round marble table was sized for four people to sit closely. For two people sitting across from each other, it was neither too close nor too far, just right for having a long conversation.
The staff member who brought hot green tea quickly glanced at Kyungwoo and scurried out. Jungok was inwardly proud and pleased, as if her son’s beauty had been acknowledged.
“It’s much more intimate than I thought.”
“Come to think of it, this is your first time here, right?”
It had been several years since he came to Korea. But this was the first time Kyungwoo had visited the art museum.
“Do you only do paintings and sculptures?”
“No. We’re large enough to do crafts and media art too. We also hold readings. This time we have a poet reading, so we’re preparing for that.”
“So that’s why you were hanging poem frames.”
“Right. Come visit when you have time later. I’ll give you an invitation.”
Jungok clasped the newly received hot tea with both hands. It wasn’t even cold weather, but somehow her fingertips felt cold. When the talk of the art museum ended, silence came. She couldn’t believe how awkward it was to be in a place with her son.
“What about work, why did you come? Aren’t you busy?”
“I am busy. But I wanted to see you, Mother.”
“Really? Why me all of a sudden?”
She was happy, but on the other hand, she was scared. What would Kyungwoo say? And her husband’s words also bothered her.
Did Kyungwoo do something in connection with Kyunghyun’s case? Would there be something that would make her wail like a beast again, like her sister-in-law did, no, like before? She couldn’t contain her anxiety.
“Today I received my treatment records.”
“Treatment records?”
Her heart dropped to the floor. As expected, her anxiety intensified.
Had she touched something again? Should she not have sent food? Would Kyungwoo say he couldn’t stand it anymore and that they should never see each other’s faces again?
Jungok pressed her trembling fingertips firmly against the teacup.
“Why that all of a sudden?”
“There’s something I want to know.”
“What?”
“Why you never once came to see me, Mother.”
Her heartstrings melted away like water. She couldn’t think of anything. Water droplets shouldn’t get on her perfectly applied eyelashes. She used a product that applied thinly but had weak waterproof function instead. Those were the only thoughts that came to her.
“It wasn’t… on purpose. There were circumstances… for everything.”
“I know.”
“Really… Oh, Kyungwoo.”
Jungok tried to stretch her lips as she forcibly swallowed her tears. But somehow, she couldn’t manage to smile. She blinked her eyes countless times, cooling her hot eyelids. She didn’t want to show the detestable sight of crying in front of Kyungwoo.
“They said I had seizures whenever I saw you, Mother. Until I had difficulty breathing.”
At his calm reaction, Jungok couldn’t help but feel tears about to pour out. She jumped up from her seat and went to her work desk. Then, with her back to Kyungwoo, she secretly dabbed at her tears.
“Was it written like that in the treatment records?”
“Yes.”
“Right. You would gasp for breath whenever you saw me, so I had no choice. I did sneak in to see you sometimes. But you’re still my son, how could I not see you?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did it so I wouldn’t burden you for no reason. The counselor also said there was no need to drag up the treatment process. They told me to go along with your attitude for a while for your psychological stability.”
Jungok recalled the day when Kyungwoo returned to Korea and they first faced each other. That moment when her heart was torn to shreds by her son’s cold attitude was still vivid now.
“A while became several years.”
“Right. Somehow it ended up that way.”
Having secretly wiped her tears, Jungok forced a smile. But she still didn’t have the courage to turn around to face Kyungwoo.
“But why were you suddenly curious about that, son?”
As she turned around and leaned against the desk, she asked as if joking. The end of the word “son” trembled pitifully.
“Someone asked me to convey thanks to you, Mother.”
“Who?”
At Jungok’s question, Kyungwoo was silent for a moment.
“The braised short ribs, the abalone, even though it’s all done by the live-in housekeeper who takes care of the kitchen, I was scolded for taking it all for granted, saying that paying attention to all that one by one is no ordinary devotion.”
Jungok couldn’t understand the unexpected words. Kyungwoo also seemed awkward about the distant atmosphere and couldn’t look directly at Jungok, lowering his gaze.
“I knew I should say thank you, but my mouth absolutely wouldn’t open. It’s a childish stubbornness. But there was also noona’s words, and I wanted to know whether I should really say thank you or whether I should hate you as I had until now. So I requested the treatment records.”
“So… do you still hate Mom?”
