Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 38: Jealousy
Chapter 38: Jealousy
Startled by the ominous tone, Eunchae flinched. She instinctively turned to find Lee Joon standing there in a classic suit.
Her eyes darted from his calm and restrained face to the well-tailored suit that clung to his frame.
She marveled at how he had managed to prepare so perfectly for work at any time and place.
“I’d prefer you to answer first before admiring.”
With one hand shoved into his pants pocket, Lee Joon leaned casually against the edge of the vanity.
As Eunchae looked at him, her eyelids trembled slightly. His gaze, laced with sarcasm, felt sharp enough to cut. It was a familiar sight that appeared when he was particularly displeased.
“What do you mean?”
Meeting his cold stare, Eunchae couldn’t hide her irritation. Lee Joon responded with a frigid expression.
“Your brother, Kim Woo-sung.”
Lee Joon deliberately emphasized the word “brother,” causing Eunchae’s gaze to sharpen. She realized the crux of his question.
“What about him? Is there a problem?”
Feigning ignorance out of defiance, she pushed back.
“Yoon Eunchae, are you really that oblivious? Or are you just pretending to be innocent?”
As Lee Joon spoke, he moved closer. The familiar scent of wood enveloped Eunchae, causing her to take a deep breath unconsciously.
When he leaned over the vanity, his face filled her vision, a picture of arrogance that loomed large before her.
“Do you think Kim Woo-sung sees you as just a little sister?”
She knew the answer but felt a tightening in her chest at his words. It sounded like a judgment, implying that she was leading him on when she knew his feelings.
“So what? That’s his feelings, and I can do nothing about it.”
“You should have cut things off from the start. Don’t give him false hope, especially not during a time when there are so many prying eyes.”
“That’s quite… rude.”
Eunchae looked up and shot a sharp glare at Lee Joon.
“Regardless of his feelings, I’ve never given him any room. If anything, I’ve always kept my distance and set clear boundaries. So how can you say something like that? Who was the one who really betrayed us?”
By mentioning Lee Joon’s infidelity, Eunchae intensified her accusations.
“Am I the one who has been leading him on? Acting innocent on the outside while secretly managing a situation? “
***
“I am not someone who applies double standards. I’m not like you, who suddenly turns into a dutiful grandson blinded by greed!”
“What do you mean by that?”
Taken aback by her sudden accusation, Lee Joon narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t you know what I mean?”
As Eunchae’s unwavering gaze held his, Lee Joon’s eyes narrowed into slits. Their stares clashed fiercely in the air.
After a moment, Lee Joon, being quick-witted, grasped the meaning behind Eunchae’s words.
“You think of me… as that kind of person?”
His expression hardened in shock. He hadn’t realized she looked at him so contemptibly.
“You’re the one who pretended to reconcile with your ex-wife just to keep the company, Lee Joon. If you can do that, what wouldn’t you be capable of?”
Eunchae sneered as she escalated her accusations. Lee Joon remained silent, still reeling from the shock.
He had used inappropriate means and methods to achieve his goals, leaving him with no recourse. However, he hadn’t expected that his affection for his grandfather would be misunderstood.
“And who are you to criticize? It’s absurd.”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and suddenly, she stormed out. Her quick exit gave Lee Joon no time to stop her.
“Ha… damn it.”
Lee Joon ran a hand over his face, cursing under his breath. His petty jealousy had once again provoked Eunchae’s anger.
“Serves you right, Tae Lee Joon.”
He let out a bitter self-deprecating laugh, releasing a deep sigh.
Even though he knew Eunchae had no feelings for Kim Woo-sung, he couldn’t act rationally in the face of another man lingering around her.
The mere thought of his foolish jealousy made him feel sick inside. How difficult must it have been for Eunchae before their divorce? Just thinking about it made his heart hurt.
Lee Joon let out a pained groan as he washed his face roughly. The look of self-reproach on his face sank heavily.
The happy morning he had envisioned beside Eunchae had quickly turned into a mess—all because of his jealousy.
***
The morning sunlight poured through the windshield. Woo-sung squinted, his brows furrowing as he lowered the sun visor.
His eyes fell on the lunch box on the passenger seat and his expression became desperate. Staring blankly at the lunch box, Woo-sung picked up his cell phone and dialed a number.
After a few rings, a cheerful voice came through on the other end.
[Yes, Oppa!]
“Have you been well, Yoo-rim?”
[I’m the same as always. How about you, Oppa?]
“I’m doing fine. Are you on your way to work?”
As he asked, urgency flickered in Woo-sung’s eyes. However, the response shattered his hopes.
[Work? Not at all. I didn’t even get to leave yesterday because I was finishing up a deadline.]
Yoo-rim’s distressed tone made Woo-sung’s expression stiffen.
“That sounds tough.”
Woo-sung gripped the phone tightly, offering a hollow consolation. Yoo-rim responded with her usual bright laughter.
[That’s just the nature of being a reporter. I’ve learned to roll with it. But Oppa, what brings you to call this morning? Is there something you want to discuss?]
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just thought of you on my way to work and wanted to check in to see how you’re doing. I figured I should reach out when it comes to mind; otherwise, I keep putting it off.”
[That’s true. Speaking of which, we should all get together soon. How about including Seong-ah as well?]
“Let’s do that.”
Agreeing readily to Yoo-rim’s suggestion, Woo-sung decided it was time to end the call.
“You’ve been busy, so I won’t keep you any longer. Go on.”
[Okay, Oppa. Take care and have a good day at work.]
“Thanks.”
After hanging up, Woo-sung clenched his fist, his eyes filled with despair. Eun-chae had not only deceived him but had also spent the night away.
Even knowing who it was, he couldn’t bring himself to accept it. If he did, he felt like he would lose control to jealousy.
“Yoon Eunchae, how could you do this to me? How could you…?”
Disappointment and hurt surged within him uncontrollably. Woo-sung clenched his jaw so tightly that his muscles tensed painfully.
As he took a long breath, trying to manage the jealousy swirling inside him, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, his brows furrowed in annoyance. It was his father, Kim Seok-hwan.
Not wanting to take the call, he wished he could avoid it. But knowing he couldn’t, Woo-sung reluctantly answered.
“Yes, Father.”
[I’ve heard your company secured a major investment. Is that true?]
“Where did you hear that?”
Woo-sung swallowed a painful sigh and rubbed his forehead. His father had a knack for sniffing out information like a predator.
[The news has spread like wildfire. Your investment saved Jeong-ik’s company. It’s a solid private equity fund, right?]
“You’re well-informed.”
[Information tends to find its way to me, even if I just sit quietly.]
Despite his son’s sarcasm, Kim Seok-hwan laughed heartily, demonstrating his ability to gather information.
[That’s why there’s no such thing as ‘you must die.’ The heavens know how to help.]
“Woo-sung, please…”
A pleading expression crossed Woo-sung’s face as he envisioned his father’s greedy, gluttonous smile.
[No need for long explanations. Come to the house today. There’s a lot we need to discuss.]
His father’s abrupt end to the call left Woo-sung biting his lip in frustration, slamming his hand against the steering wheel. The sharp honk echoed loudly in the quiet alley.
‘When it comes to being shameless and ruthless, you’re no better.’
Lee Joon’s words echoed in his ears.
“Damn it…”
He cursed under his breath, sinking deeper into the seat. The suffocating circumstances tightened around his throat, making it hard to breathe.
A sunny day felt completely different; it was a terrible and exhausting morning.
***
The board meeting at the headquarters, held at the beginning of the month, was progressing as Tae Moo-jin had lunch with the representatives of the subsidiaries and the executives.
“Let’s begin.”
Tae Moo-jin took a spoonful of lukewarm porridge and gave the order. With that, the presentations from the executives started.
As Kim Young Chemical started its reports, followed by Kim Young Construction, which was run by a smaller company, Lee Joon listened carefully while having lunch, his face revealing no particular emotion.
Most of the subsidiaries were in high spirits due to good results in the first quarter. The last presentation was from Kim Young Electronics.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to Lee Joon. Chairman Tae Sung-yeol silently observed his son, while Tae Sung-min and Tae Young-jun watched him intently.
The heightened attention was due to Lee Joon’s impressive achievements.
After his divorce, Lee Joon was assigned to the New York branch, and within just two years, he had created a storm in the North American electronics market.
Not only had the already established mobile phone business flourished, but the results of the built-in home appliance business, which had been cultivated since Korea, were also impressive.
In particular, acquiring luxury kitchen furniture in the U.S. and launching aggressive marketing strategies was a masterstroke.
Lee Joon didn’t stop there. He skillfully took advantage of the political transition to secure government subsidies for the semiconductor industry. This remarkable achievement made Kim Young Electronics the only Asian company to do so.
Throughout the performance report, people occasionally glanced at Lee Joon or observed Tae Moo-jin’s expression in the main seat.
Tae Young-jun, Tae Sung-min, and their associates were also on high alert, keeping a close eye on Lee Joon.
“That’s all.”
After the performance report for Kim Young Electronics, Tae Moo-jin sipped his tea, which had been served as dessert. He then immediately revealed his intentions.
“The current CEO, Byun Min-soo, will soon step down due to health reasons. I’m planning to appoint Deputy CEO Tae Lee Joon to that position.”