Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 34. We're Getting Back Together
Chapter 34. We’re Getting Back Together
“Lee Joon…!”
“Lee Joon!”
Both Mrs. Kang and So-hyun exclaimed simultaneously at his crude and insulting remarks.
“Why are you acting like this?!”
Mrs. Kang looked at So-hyun’s pale face and slapped Lee Joon’s arm. No matter how devoted So-hyun was to her son, she wasn’t the type to endure such humiliation.
“Your words are going too far…”
Amidst So-hyun’s strained voice, her labored breaths could be heard. Lee Joon didn’t realize that his indifference and cold treatment only served to provoke her further.
Now So-hyun was determined to get Tae Lee Joon for herself. Of course, she couldn’t give up her position as the lady of the Geumyoung group either. The time she had been waiting for was too precious to waste, and she was determined to claim the position for herself.
“I know I’m going too far. Just get a grip and stay away from me.”
“What did you say?”
“How can someone born with a silver spoon and with such talent be treated like this? Doesn’t it hurt your pride? Is the position of the lady of Geumyoung Group that enticing?”
“That’s too much, Lee Joon. How can you say something like that…? Do you think I’m around you for such a trivial reason?”
“Isn’t that a pretty grand reason?”
Lee Joon scoffed at the ridiculous lie, and So-hyun met his gaze. In his pitch-black eyes, devoid of emotion, there was a fierce determination to make it all about himself.
Turning away from So-hyun, Lee Joon directed the waiting bodyguards.
“Make sure these two leave within ten minutes. I’ll take full responsibility for any problems that arise during the confrontation.”
“Lee Joon!”
Mrs. Kang shouted in outrage at the indirect dismissal through the hired servants.
“What kind of ridiculous behavior is this?!”
To treat his mother this way in front of everyone was too much, even for someone as cold and unfeeling as Lee Joon.
“You… you…!”
“It’s been two minutes, Mother. Don’t embarrass yourself further in front of everyone. And you too, Director So-hyun, with no pride left.”
Issuing the dismissal once more, Lee Joon turned away and left the kitchen without a second thought.
***
“How dare you even step foot in here?”
Lee Joon entered the bedroom, frowning, and loosened his tie with rough hands. As he walked towards the dressing room, harsh words spilled out of his mouth.
From the moment Eunchae left the annex until now, he had made sure that no one could set foot there except for the hired helper who was in charge of managing it.
But it wasn’t just anyone; Mrs. Kang, the mother who was the cause of all the trouble, had stepped in. Not only that, but she also brought So-hyun with her.
“Damn.”
While cursing and unbuttoning his dress shirt with angry swears, the door slammed loudly, and a harsh voice echoed.
“Lee Joon! Tae Lee Joon!”
Mrs. Kang shouted angrily as she entered the dressing room. However, Lee Joon didn’t even look at her and instead scolded her.
“Don’t you know how to knock, Mother? Have you completely disregarded even the most basic manners?”
“What? Manners? Did you just say that to me?”
Mrs. Kang let out a loud scoff, confronting Lee Joon.
“Is this how someone with manners behaves? Embarrassing your mother in front of your hired helper? Especially in front of So-hyun!”
Mrs. Kang became increasingly angry, her frustration boiling over.
“Apologize to So-hyun. Right now!”
“I refuse.”
Lee Joon replied indifferently as he took off his shirt. When his well-defined muscular body was revealed, Mrs. Kang quickly averted her eyes in confusion. No matter how much he was her son, it was embarrassing to see a grown man without a shirt.
“This isn’t about liking or disliking! This is a matter of manners!”
Mrs. Kang insisted, waiting for Lee Joon to pull on a knit top before meeting his gaze to reason with him.
“What will you do if So-hyun decides to give up on you?”
“That’s a pleasant thought to hear.”
Mrs. Kang’s complexion turned pale as he longed to see this happen.
“Lee Joon, what’s gotten into you? Where will you find someone better than So-hyun? Honestly, why would the granddaughter of the Dongyang Group go to such lengths for an ex-husband? She’s doing it because she likes you. Even if you’re my son, objectively speaking, So-hyun deserves better.”
“Exactly. Because I recognize her worth, I’m telling her to stay away. Mother, you should stop too. Don’t give false hope to someone who doesn’t need it.”
“Lee Joon!”
At her warning tone, Lee Joon shot back directly.
“I’m getting back together with Eunchae.”
“…What? Are you seriously saying something so ridiculous? It’s not April Fool’s Day.”
Mrs. Kang let out a hollow laugh as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“No matter how angry you are with me, how could you say something so absurd…?”
“Starting tomorrow, Eunchae will be living here. I’ve already finished discussing everything with Grandfather.”
Only after hearing Lee Joon’s abrupt announcement did Mrs. Kang’s expression gradually harden.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Mrs. Kang stared blankly at Lee Joon’s serious face. His words were not a joke; they were the truth.
“Say that again…what the hell are you doing?”
In her shock, Mrs. Kang stumbled over her words. Lee Joon willingly repeated himself.
“I said I’m getting back together with Eunchae. We’ll be living together again.”
“YAAAAAA—!”
Unable to contain her anger, a scream erupted from Mrs. Kang’s lips.
“What kind of nonsense is this? After you finally split up with her, what? Get married again? Who gave you the right to decide?”
Mrs. Kang shouted furiously, her demeanor resembling a wild animal. Lee Joon instinctively frowned; his mother was becoming increasingly impossible to deal with.
“Are you out of your mind? Why are you doing this?! What makes you think you can live with her again? You were caught cheating with another woman, and now suddenly—no! Not! I won’t allow it!”
“It’s not about your permission. It’s an order from Grandfather. If I don’t do this, I can’t inherit the company.”
“What… what do you mean? What are you talking about? Explain it to me in detail!”
The urgent demand for an explanation echoed sharply in the dressing room.
Lee Joon sighed tiredly as he looked at Mrs. Kang, whose complexion had turned pale. He briefly outlined the main points, omitting only the conditions Eunchae had set for the divorce.
Upon hearing the full story, Mrs. Kang staggered, too stunned to form coherent words.
“Why her of all people? What’s so special about that girl that you have to bring her back to your side?!”
“I don’t know. Grandfather said to do it, so I’m doing it. That means I have to live with Eunchae for a year.”
Lee Joon replied bluntly, then addressed his mother seriously.
“Please don’t upset Eunchae. I barely managed to convince someone who was determined to refuse. If you want me to inherit smoothly, you should just bow down.”
“What? Bow down? You want me to bow down to that girl?”
Mrs. Kang shook with anger. The thought of having to humble herself in front of the former daughter-in-law she had effectively pushed away was horrifying.
“It’s just for a year. Can’t you endure that much for the sake of the company?”
“But…!”
“Keep this a secret from Father. I’ll just say we’re reconciling. Knowing his personality, he will surely oppose it.”
Considering his father’s overly rigid nature, Lee Joon asked for her discretion, and Mrs. Kang reluctantly agreed.
“Why does he always have to meddle in your marriage matters? It’s so frustrating!”
The more she thought about it, the more her anger boiled over. Mrs. Kang vented her frustration, feeling the weight of the situation. She needed to secure a stable position for her family as soon as possible, but here she was, allowing her son to live with someone so unsuitable for an entire year. She couldn’t understand the reasoning behind this madness.
“I can’t take this anymore! It’s infuriating!”
Ms. Kang pounded her chest, venting her frustration. No matter how much it was for the sake of the company, she just couldn’t accept it. Just when she was feeling crushed, Lee Joon added fuel to the fire.
“If it’s really that painful, you could always move out for a while.”
“Are you telling me to leave the house?”
Mrs. Kang looked incredulous at his suggestion, and Lee Joon shrugged indifferently in response.
“I thought it was a considerate suggestion for you, but if you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do.”
With that, he walked into the bathroom.
“What is happening… What am I supposed to tell So-hyun? Ugh…”
Left alone, Mrs. Kang sighed, feeling utterly lost and overwhelmed.
***
Eunchae stood at the front door, dragging a suitcase almost as big as she was. Even though she had only packed the essentials, it still felt like a considerable amount of luggage.
“Is it that hard to consider someone else’s feelings? It’s not like I’m asking for much.”
With a frown on her face, Eunchae felt overwhelmed by the large suitcase and how she would manage to carry it down the stairs. The building didn’t have an elevator, so she had to carry it herself.
“Time’s up. I need to get going.”
She hurried, knowing the car Lee Joon had sent was about to arrive. Just as she reached for the doorknob, the doorbell rang. Startled, she reflexively opened the door.
“Lee Joon?”
Eunchae’s eyes widened in surprise as she saw Lee Joon in a suit standing at her door.
“How did you…?”
“Is this all you need to move?”
In response to her bewildered question, Lee Joon grabbed the handle of the suitcase instead of answering.
“What are you doing? Come out and close the door behind you.”
He urged her, nudging her to stop standing there in a daze.
“Uh? Oh, okay…”
Eunchae replied absently as she stepped out and closed the door behind her. Lee Joon led the way down the stairs and she didn’t even have a chance to say that it was heavy. He carried the luggage so effortlessly that it was awkward to say anything.
‘How does he have such strength in his arms?’
Watching Lee Joon’s broad back as he walked confidently, Eunchae couldn’t help but stick out her tongue in disbelief. She noticed that his shoulders were much bulkier than before.
“Looks like he’s been eating well and working out hard.”
Looking at Lee Joon’s broad back, Eunchae felt a surge of annoyance. After the divorce, she had lost so much weight that her health had suffered. She had collapsed several times because her body just couldn’t handle it.
As a result, Lee Joon’s strong physique didn’t look appealing to her at all.
“Get in.”
Once they reached the bottom of the stairs and passed through the common entrance, Lee Joon put the suitcase into the trunk and opened the car door for her. Even though she should be used to his kindness by now, it still felt awkward and unfamiliar.
“Did you drive yourself here?”
“Yeah. I finished my business trip and came straight here.”
“I see.”
As Eunchae nodded and got into the car, Lee Joon closed the door for her.
“By the way, do you like this kind of thing? I heard it’s famous, so I bought a few.”
As Lee Joon reached into the backseat and grabbed a paper bag, Eunchae looked at him curiously.
“Huh?”
Eunchae’s eyes widened in surprise at the paper bag Lee Joon casually handed her. Inside was a gift bag filled with Gyeongju bread.
“Wow, is this Gyeongju bread?” she exclaimed, a smile creeping onto her face.
Lee Joon nodded, looking somewhat pleased with her reaction.
“I thought you might like it.”