Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 19. Incomparable to You
Chapter 19. Incomparable to You
The sound of rushing water filled the air as Eunchae stood under the hot stream from the showerhead.
She had lost track of the days and the time, unable to remember what day it was. Time seemed to flow on without her, while she remained stuck in the moment she was told about the divorce.
Whenever she sat absentmindedly in the bedroom, everything that had happened felt surreal as if it were all just a bad dream.
Relying on sleeping pills to get any rest, her consciousness became even more muddled. Her mental state had deteriorated to the point where she sometimes couldn’t distinguish between day and night.
As she closed her eyes, hot tears mixed with the shower water, streaming down her cheeks.
Lee Joon’s cold and razor-sharp personality was also evident in the divorce matter. Shortly after demanding a divorce from Eunchae, he informed the elders of his decision.
Naturally, the elders were angry. When Chairman Tae found out that the reason was infidelity, he couldn’t contain his anger and slapped Lee Joon’s face.
While Lee Joon remained unaffected, Eunchae was the one who almost fainted, trembling as if she had been the one who had been hit. Her cheeks stung and burned as if she had received the blow herself.
Mrs. Kang, however, stood by her son until the end. She defended Lee Joon, questioning why anyone would hit an adult child.
‘What are we supposed to do if he doesn’t want to stay married? Should he be forced to live with someone he no longer cares for?’
‘Are you even hearing yourself?’
The impending divorce between her son and Eunchae escalated into a full-blown argument between the two parents.
Mrs. Kang fiercely defended Lee Joon, angrily confronting Chairman Tae. In a rare display of raising his voice, Chairman Tae admonished her, insisting that she shouldn’t blindly take their son’s side.
Already shocked and overwhelmed, Eunchae watched the two of them with wide, bewildered eyes.
Meanwhile, the person who caused all this turmoil, Lee Joon, remained completely unbothered. Even amid the chaos, he watched his parents argue with a detached, emotionless expression.
How could anyone be so heartless and cold? It was almost as if when the Creator made this man’s heart, He gave it shape but forgot to let blood flow through it.
‘My decision won’t change. Just so you know.’
With these words, Lee Joon left the living room. Ironically, his exit put an end to his parents’ argument.
When someone’s heart leaves, their body soon follows. After that day, Lee Joon stayed at a hotel, while Eunchae ignored his suggestion to move out and continued living alone in the guest house.
She continued going to work at the art gallery as usual. On the days she went to work, she could at least maintain a clear mind and act as if nothing was wrong.
Even though she knew it was a foolish display of stubbornness, Eunchae stayed at the guesthouse alone, waiting for Lee Joon. She had endured the hardships of their marriage because he told her to be patient and persevere, but she never imagined that she would have to endure her divorce alone.
“Sigh…”
Even showering felt like a chore. Letting out a weary sigh, Eunchae weakly walked out of the bathroom. As she dried her body and hair, a call came in from Mrs. Kang.
“Yes, Mother?”
Eunchae’s voice was low and subdued as she answered the call.
“Come over to the main house.”
“Yes.”
Eunchae responded quietly to Mrs. Kang’s short command.
Since Lee Joon mentioned the divorce, Mrs. Kang’s attitude toward Eunchae had grown even colder. The open disregard and humiliating remarks had become more frequent and harsh.
It was an unspoken pressure for Eunchae to leave and agree to the divorce.
‘Of course, she must be thrilled that the long-awaited divorce of her precious son is finally happening.’
As she walked toward the main house, Eunchae mocked inwardly. For Mrs. Kang, her son’s affair was not the issue – it was the resulting divorce that mattered.
“I’m here, Mother,” Eunchae greeted politely as she entered the living room, where Mrs. Kang was seated on the sofa. Mrs. Kang acknowledged her with a slight, dismissive nod.
“Sit.”
Mrs. Kang’s furrowed brow made it clear that even looking at Eunchae was bothersome. Eunchae bowed her head and took a seat on the sofa.
“The sooner you get over this and agree to the divorce, the better.”
The instant Mrs. Kang’s command hit her, Eunchae’s expression hardened.
“Mother…”
Mrs. Kang completely ignored Eunchae’s resentful plea, driving a knife into her heart with cruel words.
“Do you think Lee Joon will come back just because you’re holding out? No. We both know who he is. He’s a cold-hearted man who won’t even let his parents get close to him. And now he’s openly admitted that he prefers another woman – even in front of his parents. Imagine how much he must be in love with her to do that.
“….”
“Even if you refuse to divorce and try to hold on, what’s the point of being a wife in name only when your husband’s heart is with someone else?”
“But, Mother—”
“Living with a man who doesn’t even look at you, who only shows you his back, is the most humiliating and miserable thing for a woman. This is genuine advice from one woman to another.”
Mrs. Kang took a sip of tea from the elegantly crafted cup on the table, a bitter smile on her lips. As she looked up, she met Eunchae’s gaze, noticing her tear-filled eyes.
“Right now you probably think I’m being too hard on you, but one day you’ll thank me. When you meet a good man who truly loves and cherishes you, and you start a new life, you’ll forget all this. I’ll make sure the alimony is generous, so…”
“No! I won’t… I won’t get a divorce. I’m not going to leave Lee Joon. I’ll stay in this family and see it through to the end.”
Eunchae’s gaze was firm and determined as she made her intentions clear. Her refusal, driven in part by sheer stubbornness, caused a crack in Mrs. Kang’s previously composed expression. Her eyes narrowed and took on their usual sharpness.
“Why are you being so stubborn? Do you think I’m wasting my time trying to persuade you for no reason? I have a good reason for all of this!”
“What reason? What could be so important that you’re pushing your daughter-in-law to divorce?”
Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, Eunchae’s eyes blazed as she confronted Mrs. Kang. No matter how much she disapproved of her, she was still her daughter-in-law. How could she, a woman, be so cruel and merciless?
“I know who the young woman Lee Joon is dating. She’s from a much better family than yours. She’s beautiful and well-mannered. It’s no wonder Lee Joon is so fond of her. I like her a lot too.
“…What… did you just say?”
Eunchae’s eyes widened in disbelief, her vision blurring as she tried to process what she had just heard. Her complexion grew pale and her breathing became erratic and shaky.
The fact that Mrs. Kang knew everything… How long had she known…?
A sudden realization hit her, and Eunchae looked at Mrs. Kang with a mixture of shock and distrust.
The strange way Mrs. Kang had been watching her lately. The doubtful concern she showed the day Eunchae returned from the villa alone, telling her to rest. And how she openly supported Lee Joon when he announced the divorce… All these moments flashed through her mind like a fast-moving panorama.
“Could it be…?”
Eunchae was left speechless, staring in shock at Mrs. Kang, who casually crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Was it you who sent me the envelope with the photos… Mother?”
Eunchae asked, hoping against hope that the answer would be no. But Mrs. Kang shattered that hope without hesitation.
“Yes, I did. Lee Joon’s heart has already left, so why should you stay together out of obligation? It’s better to part ways cleanly and move on with your lives, don’t you think?”
The smile on Mrs. Kang’s face as she sought agreement was chillingly innocent.
“Sigh…!”
A sound that was almost a laugh slipped from Eunchae’s lips. The sudden shock was so overwhelming that she could only utter a hollow, incredulous laugh.
Tears welled up in Eunchae’s eyes, and only ragged, tearful breaths escaped from her barely parted lips.
Mrs. Kang smiled sweetly as she watched Eunchae tremble pitifully, like an abandoned animal.
“The young woman’s family is a well-known Korean-American real estate tycoon in the U.S. It’s not exactly ideal, but… it’s a decent match for Lee Joon, so I approve of their relationship. We’ll soon arrange a formal meeting to introduce them.”
“M-Mother, how could you…?”
“You should have had a child sooner. If you had, I might have considered Lee Joon’s feelings for the sake of a grandchild.”
Mrs. Kang put all the blame on Eunchae, who was too stunned to do anything but mumble in disbelief. She blamed her son’s affair and impending divorce on Eunchae’s shortcomings. Then, in a tone that suggested she was merely complaining.
“It was an unsuitable marriage from the start. I should have been more firm in opposing your father-in-law’s wishes back then. In the end, all it did was tarnish Lee Joon’s life and waste time.”
Growing increasingly frustrated, Mrs. Kang let out an exasperated sigh and then delivered a harsh ultimatum.
“Divorce while you’re still in a favorable position, and while I’m still willing to be lenient. If you keep resisting, you might end up with nothing—not even alimony—and be thrown out. Do you think I won’t do it?”
A sneer spread across Mrs. Kang’s face as she delivered the threat without hesitation. The look in her eyes was as cold and ruthless as it could be, boring into Eunchae with a menacing glare.
The unspoken warning was clear: If you obstruct my son’s future again, I’ll tear you apart.
***
Eunchae, with a confused expression on her face, refused Chief Han’s offer to help her and staggered back to the guesthouse on her own, barely making it.
After the series of distressing events, her mind felt blank, as if wiped clean, with no thoughts coming to her.
Her vision kept spinning, so she closed her eyes and shook her head, but it didn’t help. With her sight still blurred, she sighed in resignation and weakly stepped inside the guest house.
After only a few steps, Eunchae’s eyes suddenly widened. The familiar smell of wood and the subtle scent of a familiar perfume filled the air, bringing a spark of life back to her blank eyes.
Her steps toward the living room grew stronger and more purposeful.
“Ah…”
Eunchae walked faster and let out a soft breath as she reached the living room. Lee Joon was sitting on the couch.