Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 26: Words That Must Be Said

Chapter 26: Words That Must Be Said

Eunchae stared at Lee Joon, convinced that something was wrong with her ears.

“Waiting? Tae Lee Joon was waiting for me?”

As Eunchae repeated Lee Joon’s words in her mind, she concluded that there must be an issue with her hearing.

Throughout their marriage, waiting had always been Eunchae’s responsibility.

Eunchae had always waited for Lee Joon to love her and notice her, spending nights waiting for him to come home while he buried himself in work. She waited endlessly for him to arrive late on important anniversaries.

Not once had he ever waited for her. He didn’t even give her time to prepare for their divorce, pressing ahead with his own decisions.

Now, the same man was claiming he had been waiting for her. Eunchae couldn’t believe it.

“Why?”

With a gaze full of suspicion, Eunchae simply asked. There was no reason for them to meet again or share any conversation.

As Lee Joon glanced at the cafe, suggesting they go somewhere quiet to talk, Eunchae sneered and flatly rejected him.

“Don’t even dream of it. This is my favorite place. Don’t make me recall those dirty memories of coming here with you.”

Lee Joon’s eyebrows lifted slightly at Eunchae’s harsh words.

“You’ve changed a lot, Eunchae. I guess you haven’t just grown older.”

Lee Joon’s gaze was enigmatic as he smiled faintly. He seemed both intrigued and amused by Eunchae’s harsh words, not looking particularly offended.

“People should grow as they age.”

As Eunchae responded with a thin smile, Lee Joon laughed again.

“Yes, people should always progress, and hopefully, in a positive direction.”

Nodding in agreement, Lee Joon quickly adjusted his relaxed expression and looked directly at Eunchae.

“Then let’s go somewhere else. To a café, you would never visit again.”

“Why are you doing this? I said I had nothing to say!”

Despite Eunchae’s firm refusal, Lee Joon didn’t back down.

“I do have something to say. Something I must say.”

“Then say it here. Whatever it is you must say.”

The two stood their ground, neither willing to give an inch. Lee Joon’s expression began to show cracks as if he wasn’t used to this kind of confrontation.

“If that’s your stance, should I come to your company? Request a formal meeting.”

The man, unaccustomed to waiting and being rejected, resorted to his old ways. Lee Joon’s threats hit their mark. He displayed his characteristic intimidation, casually flicking his fingers as if to throw his opponent far away.

“You said people don’t change easily, but you—really haven’t changed at all. Where do you think you’re going?”

In Eunchae’s furious eyes, a red flame flickered. Lee Joon’s brazen behavior was absurd and infuriating. Yet, she had no choice but to face him.

Eunchae knew Lee Joon’s personality better than anyone. He was someone who did what he set out to do. He would boldly come to her company and demand a meeting if needed.

Sighing in resignation, Eunchae abruptly turned and headed to Seong-ah’s café. At this point, moving to another place seemed both ridiculous and annoying.

***

Seong-ah was clearing the table where the guests had just left, glancing at the window seat where Eunchae always sat.

When Eunchae had walked into the café a little earlier, Seong-ah was startled for three reasons.

First, Eunchae came to the café with a man for the first time, other than Woo-sung.

Second, Seong-ah immediately recognized the man who had come in with Eunchae. He was Tae Lee Joon, Eunchae’s ex-husband and the heir to the Geumyoung Group.

The third reason was the overwhelming presence that Tae Lee Joon exuded.

Seong-ah had never seen a man with such a masculine and dominating aura before. His looks were more handsome than most movie stars, with a tall and impressive physique and a chilling dignity that couldn’t be fully described in words.

‘By the way, what could have brought them together? They haven’t even touched their coffee.’

Seong-ah watched the two, who were staring each other down, without even touching their drinks. The atmosphere was so tense it looked like a staring contest, and her expression grew serious.

Even their choice of drinks mirrored their feelings. Eunchae ordered an iced coffee loaded with ice, while Tae Lee Joon chose a warm coffee.

‘There’s nothing good about sitting across from an ex-husband.’

Recalling her own divorce experience, Seong-ah frowned. The end of a marriage that was once so consumed by love and without any reservations was extremely tragic. The divorce process itself was a hellish experience.

Knowing that Eunchae’s divorce was also due to an affair, Seong-ah couldn’t help but be concerned about their meeting.

‘Could they possibly cause a scene in such a public place?’

Despite trying to reassure herself that nothing would happen, Seong-ah remained anxious, keeping a close watch on the two people who were still locked in their intense staring contest.

Meanwhile, Eunchae was also acutely aware of Tae Lee Joon’s presence, which made her increasingly on edge.

Eunchae felt Tae Lee Joon’s gaze as if he were scrutinizing every detail of her face. His eyes were sharp and imposing, making her skin prickle.

She had momentarily forgotten just how powerful Tae Lee Joon’s presence was and how intimidating his gaze could be.

Determined not to be overwhelmed, Eunchae lifted her chin, causing Tae Lee Joon’s gaze to follow her upward naturally.

Breaking the uncomfortable silence, Eunchae spoke up.

“You said you have something to say? Hurry up and say it. Stop just staring at me.”

“Have you lost more weight? Your face looks much thinner.”

“Pardon?”

Eunchae’s mouth fell open in disbelief. The answer to the question was utterly absurd.

Tae Lee Joon furrowed his brows as he looked again at Eunchae’s pale, slender face. Eunchae narrowed her eyes, feeling his gaze growing more intense.

“Are your parents doing well?”

“Did you recently suffer a severe head injury?”

The unexpected questions threw Tae Lee Joon off, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise. It felt like a game of ping-pong, where both were responding to each other’s questions with their curiosity.

Eunchae looked directly at Lee Joon, who was staring at her in confusion and added with a cold smile.

“Or have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness?”

At that, Lee Joon visibly flinched, but only for a split second. His expression and demeanor quickly returned to being emotionless.

Eunchae knew her words were harsh, but she had no intention of apologizing. After all, Lee Joon had been far more cruel with his words throughout their time together.

“People say they change when they’re on the brink of death. If that’s not the case, why would you ask such things, Tae Lee Joon? Since when did you ever care about me or my parents?”

As she spoke, memories of the past she had managed to forget came rushing back, sharpening the edge in Eunchae’s voice.

On her parents’ birthdays and during holidays, Eunchae felt both hurt and angry. It wasn’t just because Khang Yeo-sa (Lee Joon’s mother) made all sorts of excuses to keep them from visiting, but more so because of Lee Joon’s attitude. He always seemed uncomfortable sitting at her parents’ house for even a few hours.

His entire show of interest was limited to playing a game of Go with her father or making small talk. He never initiated any warm conversations or made an effort to engage with her parents.

“Other sons-in-law often go on trips with their in-laws, but our Tae Seobang (son-in-law) is so reserved and indifferent. I wish we could go somewhere, like Jeju Island, but it’s always hard for him to find the time,” Mrs. Hwang had remarked casually during the Lunar New Year.

A few days later, Lee Joon handed Eunchae an envelope of money, suggesting she send her parents on a trip instead.

The humiliation she felt at that moment was indescribable. It made her feel utterly insignificant and miserable.

Recalling those deeply hurtful memories, Eunchae spoke with a biting sarcasm.

“Then again, even if you did have a set date to die, you wouldn’t be that kind of man. Honestly, the thought is even more irritating. It feels like you’re just pretending to repent on the surface, wanting to secure a spot in heaven before you die.”

Her eyes lifted, filled with anger.

She had just started to climb out of the pit of despair and pain. Her heart, once torn and wounded in so many places, was finally beginning to heal, with scabs falling off and new skin forming.

Lee Joon’s sudden reappearance made things difficult for her. It dredged up memories she had buried deep in the past.

“So, what you’re trying to say is…”

Lee Joon took a sip from his steaming cup of coffee, his eyes fixed on Eunchae, who was seething with anger.

“Even if I were to come to you, begging for forgiveness because I was dying, you wouldn’t forgive me.”

“No, I wouldn’t. Death doesn’t give you a free pass, does it?”

Eunchae retorted, her expression stern. A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered on Lee Joon’s lips.

“I see. You’ve grown cold, Yoon Eunchae.”

“And whose fault do you think that is?”

Eunchae shot back with a frosty expression as she stood up. She no longer wanted to sit across from this shameless man.

Even though Lee Joon had claimed he had something to say, he didn’t try to stop her; he simply watched her silently.

Was it just her imagination? For a fleeting moment, Eunchae thought she saw a deep emptiness in Lee Joon’s eyes. She studied his face briefly. As always, his expression was hard and emotionless.

‘Of course.’

Deciding that she was too agitated and had probably seen it wrong, Eunchae turned away without hesitation.

Feeling Lee Joon’s eyes stubbornly glued to the back of her head, she straightened her shoulders and walked away confidently, hoping she would never have to face Tae Lee Joon again.

“Are you okay?”

As Eunchae reached the exit, Seong-ah quickly approached her with a worried look.

“Yes, I’m okay. I’ll tell you about it later. Right now… I just need to clear my head.”

“Alright. Let’s talk later.”

“Okay.”

Eunchae forced a smile as she said goodbye to Seong-ah, then stepped out of the café, heading back to the office.

Lee Joon continued to follow her with his eyes, watching through the café window as she walked away. He kept his gaze fixed on her until she completely disappeared from view.