Hope for Salvation - Chapter 2

In an attempt to shake off her thoughts, Seoyoon lay down on the bed for a moment, unable to bear the fatigue and rising heat in her body as she tried to do household chores.

She fell into a drowsy state and woke up to the consecutive ringing of the intercom, checking the screen.

—Open the door.

It was an unexpected visitor, more frequent than the monthly event.

“You shameless woman. How many houses are you planning to mooch off? You’re quite something. And that Tae Kang-hyun, that bastard, he’s so funny. Acting like he’s the best thing in the world, but what’s the point? He got caught up in his half-faced charm and got played like a fool.”

She was dressed in luxury from head to toe, putting on airs of sophistication, but the words coming out of her venomous mouth were no different from a market gossip.

As Seoyoon faced the woman who had even come to the house she had moved into just a month ago, bile rose in her throat.

“What are you doing here?”

“What’s the big deal? I came to tell you to back off. You’re getting on my nerves, kid. So why aren’t you listening? Are you hard of hearing? Why do you insist on sticking around, bothering everyone without a clue? Is the sponsorship money running low? What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m tired, too, Mother.”

“Mother? Why am I your mother!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Madam.”

Koo Se-hee, burdened with the sense of inferiority as the wife of Chairman Tae Seok Jung, opened her eyes.

“It’s already been four years. Aren’t you tired of the same repertoire?”

“If you leave, I won’t have to do this. Oh, Tae Kang-hyun got engaged three days ago, to another woman. He’s getting married next year. You know it’s never going to work out anyway.”

Unable to bring herself to tell Kang-hyun yet, but tired of this frustrating struggle, she blurted out to Koo Se-hee first.

Seoyoon, exhaling a hot breath as her temperature rose, finally gave the answer everyone, including the elders, had been waiting for.

It was like surrendering to the enemy and raising the white flag.

“I know. That’s why I want to break up. I’ll leave, I will.”

* * *

Having resolved her pent-up emotions, Se-Hee left Seoyoon’s apartment and dialed Chairman Tae’s number to deliver the joyful news.

“Mr. Chairman!”

—Just make it brief.

Her face, which had been filled with anticipation for the praise she expected upon achieving her husband’s desired task, stiffened unpleasantly.

Just a little bit of positivity would suffice.

Her overly nervous tone, which left him at a loss for words, irritated him.

“I met Han Seoyoon. She’s leaving soon.”

—Great, thanks.

“Yeah, I’m going in for lunch with Sejun.”

—Make sure to manage that properly. Sitting around overflowing with arrogance and behaving like a gangster. Whether it’s about women or bullying, if I hear one more word from you, you’ll be kicked out too. Park the congressman fell for that excuse, and I ended up becoming a fool doling out money!

With a threatening tone, reminiscent of the wrathful thunder, he struck with his words, mentioning Sejun, Se-hee’s younger brother.

A long time ago, Sejun, who had married Park the congressman’s youngest daughter through Chairman Tae’s mediation, had brought all sorts of troubles, including infidelity, bullying, and assaulting employees.

Due to the misjudgment of his son-in-law, Park the congressman suffered a significant blow in his political career, increasing the amount of sponsorship he received from Chairman Tae, acknowledging his fault.

Chairman Tae, who had removed Sejun from the subsidiary and arranged for a suitable film production company, held such disdain for his brother-in-law that he wouldn’t even let him set foot in the family business.

“Let me finish what I have to say…”

Before Se-Hee could finish her response, the call abruptly ended.

Feeling a surge of anger, Se-Hee was about to throw the bag she held in her hands, but she restrained herself.

It was particularly frustrating because the bag she had brought out today was a limited edition, expensive one she had waited three years to obtain.

No matter how much she lived for the thrill of spending money, enduring the disregard and humiliation from Chairman Tae was becoming increasingly difficult to bear.

“That? What does Sejun have to do with it? It’s an old man’s obsession with outdated things.”

Chairman Tae Seok Jung’s remarriage was solely for the sake of Tae Kang-Hyun.

Upon receiving a diagnosis of dangerously deficient emotions from a doctor, he hurried to create a perfect family environment by finding a remarriage partner.

It was the same as giving Seo-yoon as a gift.

The remarriage partner chosen by Chairman Tae was the daughter of a mid-sized construction company’s CEO. And one on the brink of bankruptcy, at that.

Background didn’t matter. Se-Hee bore a striking resemblance to the youthful appearance of the deceased ex-wife.

Of course, it was Seoyoon who had put Tae Kang-hyun back on track, remarriage or not.

The driver, who noticed Se-Hee approaching confidently, hurriedly came over and opened the back seat.

“Take me to Sejun’s company.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

* * *

Mr. Tae left his disconnected cell phone on his desk and walked over to the reception couch.

“She’s meeting Sejun. Just calling unnecessarily.”

“I see.”

Kang Hyun nodded heavily at Tae, who was giving him the silent treatment, and held out the black board.

“This is the prenuptial agreement you signed with Flora Hotel. Please read it.”

“Oh, okay.”

Kang hyun referred to his fiancée as Flora Hotel.

His marriage was a perfect business deal.

The prenuptial agreement was also filled with discussions about investments and agreements, rather than matters related to married life.

“The father’s signature is required on the third page. It contains a clause stating that you will not interfere with Seoyoon until death.”

His tone was as businesslike as when he gathered his employees to give instructions.

“Huh!”

“I’ll have it notarized. In case of breach of contract, the marriage will naturally be null and void, and you, Father, will transfer the entire stake of Seoyoon Construction that you own to me. Since the engagement ceremony has been completed without incident, the agreement must be followed as signed.”

“Do you distrust your father? No need for further explanations.”

Chairman Tae continued to press Seoyoon for a breakup, but he also tried to reassure Kang-hyun, even showing signs of regret.

While he was determined to separate Seoyoon from Kanghyun by any means necessary, he didn’t want to alienate his son in the process.

It was the only selfishness he had inherited from his son.

“It’s not a deal without Seo-yoon. Don’t forget that.”

“Okay. Can I see my grandkids?”

“If you look at clause 3 on the second page in detail, it’s clearly stated. Physical contact will only occur when absolutely necessary, such as during the engagement ceremony, wedding, or other events like press conferences. There’s no intention of getting physically intimate. If necessary, sperm donation might be possible, but appropriate compensation would be required.”

A sigh escaped from his wrinkled lips once again. His son’s mindset, tainted by half of his blood, always strayed far from normalcy.

“How is Seoyoon doing?”

“This is a breach of contract. Don’t even remember her face or name.”

Vicious indeed.

“I got it, I understand.”

He was an unloving stepson, but he was also a mutant, unlike his emotional mother.

* * *

Arriving at her younger brother’s production company, Se-Hee couldn’t bring herself to enter the office. She nervously bit her nails outside the door.

The conversation between the couple inside sounded unsettling.

“Honey, honey, why aren’t you making any progress? If you really can’t break up with the woman, meet her secretly, secretly! Who told you not to meet her? Why do you make these pictures end up in your father’s hands every time!”

“I told you it’s not like that. I’ve been auditioning actresses for the upcoming movie, I’ve said it several times.”

“Don’t make excuses like that. Going into a motel while touching a woman’s waist, how is that an audition? Who is she again, huh? No, who cares who she is. This time, I’m really filing for divorce. I’ve been holding back because of Chairman Tae, but I just can’t anymore.”

Se-Hee, unintentionally eavesdropping, tightly shut her eyes. Olke’s declaration reminded her of the conversation she had just had with Chairman Tae.

‘If another word about women or bullying comes out, you’ll be kicked out too.’

It was clear that if Sejun got divorced, it would inevitably lead to her own divorce.

Se-Hee, biting her lip firmly, turned the doorknob.

“Sister?”

“Oh, you’re here, brother.”

“Olke, I’ll take care of it. Let’s calm down a bit and talk again, okay?”

“My father has already made up his mind, and I’m going to go along with it. I’ll probably call the chairman, I’ll be off now.”

“Just a moment, Olke. Olke!”

No matter how desperately she called out, Sejun’s wife, Park Yuran, didn’t even look back and left the office without a glance.

“Sejun.”

“Ah, seriously. How did this happen? There’s no way I could have been caught.”

Three photos were scattered on the glass table, showing Sejun’s side profile and the back of a woman.

“What do you think you’ll achieve by getting divorced? Your brother-in-law won’t just sit idly by, he’s going crazy.”

“Ah, I don’t know. Let’s go out. I’ve made a reservation at a good Japanese restaurant. Is that guy still pestering my sister?”

Shaking his head as if to say “whatever happens, happens,” Sejun grabbed his suit jacket.

“He’ll do more than just pester. He’ll make a fuss, chew her out, and spit her out.”

“What, have you ever used a person? He even has high blood pressure and arrhythmia. With his age and underlying conditions, it could be over in a moment.”

“It’s all going to Tae Kang-hyun anyway, so who cares?”

Se-hee threw up her hands. It was a scratchy affair.

“That’s right, we should have attached ourselves to Chairman Tae Seok from the beginning. Chairman Tae Seok likes my sister. If Chairman Tae collapses right now, Chairman Tae Seok might have the upper hand.”

Sejun’s resentment, nurtured while enduring humiliation, ran deep. In his mind, Chairman Tae was already nothing. Whenever the opportunity arose, he was ready to strike back at him.

It seems like they made a pact to barge in and make their intentions clear on the same day.

Seoyoon was greeted by another unwelcome guest, intent on forcing a breakup.

“How can you be sure once you’ve seen it with your own eyes?”

A deep sigh escaped from her disgraced body.

She felt a surge of frustration and irritation.

“Yes.”

“I don’t have a job and I’ve never earned money myself, but I received buildings, officetels, villas from Tae Kang-hyun. And this apartment. Including stocks, the estimated assets are, well, enormous. There’s no need for an envelope stuffed with cash.”

“The employees are doing a good job. They’re accurate.”

“How much time do you think we should give?”

With determination, Kim So-ye pushed her chin up and took out her cellphone, pressing it against Seoyoon’s lips.

The red square indicating recording flashed brightly.

“Listen.”

“We like certainty. Even though Seo Seoyoon’s name is clearly stated in the prenuptial agreement, what does this recording mean?”

“I’ve never seen the contract.”

“Of course, it’s just a hollow agreement to me. If Kang hyun sincerely likes you.”

“Talk to my brother about that.”

“It was so irritating when Seo Seoyoon insisted on removing conditions before getting married.”

Seoyoon let out a deep sigh in the face of Kim So-ye’s outburst.

It’s not that she couldn’t understand her feelings.

Ultimately, the problem lay with Tae Kang-hyun, who refused to let her go over a subject that wasn’t even love in the end.

“Saying we’ll break up means I’ll accept whatever I do if it’s violated. It’s just two things.”

Well-maintained nails pressed the button, and time passed quickly.

Resigned and slumped shoulders, Seoyoon recited exactly as she was told.

It was bitter to spit out words that hurt so much to hold in, like twisting your stomach when you try to say them twice.

Once she got what she wanted, she would leave with a joyful smile like anyone else, but the elegant woman spoke again with a refined demeanor.

“I’ve seen plenty like you. Usually, you’re two-faced. You don’t hesitate to do vulgar things that suit your character. If you don’t want to be labeled as a mistress at a young age, make sure to keep your word. Even if you have nothing else, don’t sell your conscience.”

Despite thinking she had thick skin enough to brush off insults endured, alone in the living room, Seoyoon couldn’t stop the tears flowing endlessly.