Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 71: Resolving the Knot (1)

Chapter 71: Resolving the Knot (1)

Mrs Kang swallowed the cold water the secretary had brought her in one gulp. She was so shocked that she didn’t even remember rushing back to the family home in Hannam-dong.

“Oh…”

Mrs Kang handed the empty glass back to the secretary. She wiped her lips and the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief.

“So-hyun… is she out of her mind? How could she dare…!”

Mrs Kang’s face turned a deep shade of red as she struggled to find the words. Eunchae swallowed a sigh as she watched.

While Lee Joon, accompanied by his grandfather and father, was in a meeting with the executives, Mrs Kang stormed into the family home. Eunchae had no choice but to look after her.

The incident that erupted on a weekend morning threw both the Geumyoung Group and the public into chaos. Despite it being the weekend, the legal team was working hard to discuss countermeasures, while Tae Moo-jin, recognizing the severity of the situation, called the executives to the family home.

After hearing Director Kwon’s report, Eunchae convinced Lee Joon, who wanted her to stay home, to accompany him to the in-laws’ house.

Eunchae was deeply involved in the scandal stirred up by Dongyang Textile and So-hyun. So-hyun had skillfully manipulated the media, painting Eunchae and Lee Joon as the villains while portraying herself as the innocent victim who had no idea what was happening.

She even mentioned the contract they had signed. She claimed that their remarriage contract had been tolerated due to the circumstances of the company, but in the end, Eunchae had deliberately seduced Lee Joon, got pregnant, and betrayed her.

Unbeknownst to her, So-hyun had fallen into the trap set by Lee Joon and Mrs. Kang and set up a private equity fund to raise money. In doing so, she inadvertently hinted at tax evasion by the mother and son.

As a result, both Mrs Kang and Lee Joon were inevitably prosecuted.

Although everyone’s name in the articles was represented by English initials, anyone familiar with the situation could easily guess who was involved.

The part that upset Lee Joon the most was the mention of Eunchae’s behaviour. It was claimed that Eunchae had been involved with a man before her marriage, while at the same time flirting with Lee Joon, effectively playing both men. The man in question was presumably Woo-sung.

“No… I didn’t want to commit fraud. She also stood to gain from collecting the fund and providing the capital! How could this happen…?”

Mrs Kang struggled to control her rising anger, venting her frustration.

“Please bring me another glass of cold water, Secretary Han.”

“Yes, Mrs. Kang.”

Eunchae asked Secretary Han for cold water, signalling her desire to step away from the tense situation. Following her instructions, Secretary Han quietly left the area.

Mrs Kang’s eyes sparkled with anger as she watched. Consumed by her rage, she needed someone to lash out at, and that person was Eunchae.

“This is all your fault! If you hadn’t held onto my son, none of this would have happened!”

“Mother…”

Eunchae shouted at Mrs Kang to stop, but her words fell on deaf ears; Mrs Kang was already beyond reason. Raising her voice and showing the veins on her neck, she accused Eunchae vehemently.

“Do you think So-hyun would act like this for no reason? How angry and frustrated must she be to risk her own image and cause such a scandal? You’re the cause of all this! What kind of curse have you put on me to keep blocking my son’s path?

“Who really blocked Lee Joon’s way? It’s you, mother!”

Eunchae couldn’t hold back any longer and raised her voice.

She had tried her best to be polite, being the mother of the man she loved, but there was a limit. As Lee Joon had said, Mrs Kang showed no signs of improvement. She was beyond redemption.

” Your actions always come back to haunt Lee Joon! Whether it’s Michael’s revenge or So-hyun’s outburst, the blade of vengeance is always pointed at him. But you refuse to reflect on your mistakes and only blame others!”

As Eunchae vented her frustration, a fiery emotion surged through her. So-hyun’s complaint was disturbing and serious, but the more pressing issue was Lee Joon’s proposed dismissal, which threatened his very existence.

How the small department had discovered Mrs Kang’s infidelity was a mystery, but in order to prove that Lee Joon was a legitimate heir to the Tae family, the private affairs of a family had to be exposed to the world.

This revelation would be a severe blow not only to the Geumyoung Group, but also to Lee Joon’s pride. So-hyun and Dongyang Textile were probably expecting such an outcome since they had allied themselves with the small group.

The Tae family discussed the matter. Mrs Kang’s sins were egregious, but for the sake of the family’s reputation and Lee Joon’s future, they had to find a way to cover up her misdeeds.

Eunchae’s heart ached just thinking about it. Lee Joon’s decision not to tell Mrs Kang about Michael was rooted in his pride. He simply couldn’t bear the thought of personally confirming his mother’s infidelity.

Despite Lee Joon’s best efforts, it had come to this and Eunchae found it incredibly upsetting.

“You have no idea what Lee Joon went through, mother! How could you – his own mother – cause him the most pain? All because of your own selfishness?”

“What did you just say? What kind of insolence is that? Do you think you can talk back to me now that you’re pregnant? Do you think I’m a joke?”

“Mother!”

Mrs Kang’s eyes widened in anger as she glared at Eunchae, but her sharp retort was interrupted by a voice that broke the tension. Startled, she turned to see Lee Joon approaching with a grim expression on his face.

“Lee… Joon.”

“What the hell is wrong with you, mother?”

Lee Joon bit his lip, struggling to hold back a flood of harsh words. Just as Eunchae had pointed out, the person responsible for the chaos was now causing the biggest uproar in the household.

“Aren’t you ashamed to act like this in front of your daughter-in-law? Especially when she’s pregnant?”

“Who’s my daughter-in-law? Who? That woman who had a child without even getting remarried?”

Mrs. Kang shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Eunchae, demanding she feel ashamed.

As Mrs. Kang spiraled further into her outburst, Lee Joon stifled a pained groan. His mother had disappointed him once again, even now, when he hoped for better.

Unable to bear the scene any longer, Lee Joon turned to Eunchae. 

“Go rest on the second-floor terrace.” 

“Lee Joon…” 

“Just listen to me,” he said firmly, giving the command before calling over Secretary Han. 

“Please bring some fruit for Eunchae, and also some lukewarm lemon water.” 

“Yes, sir.”

Secretary Han responded to the directive with a kind expression, addressing Eunchae gently.

“Young Madam, I’ll take you to the second floor.”

With her persuasive tone, Eunchae reluctantly nodded in agreement.

“I’ll be on the second floor.”

“Alright. Thank you, Eunchae.”

Eunchae felt tears welling up in her eyes at Lee Joon’s warm smile.

The man who had always seemed so cold and strong now looked so worn down that all she wanted to do was hold him and comfort him. She could feel how hard he was trying to hold it together.

“Come back soon.”

“Okay.”

Only after hearing Lee Joon’s reply did Eunchae head for the second-floor terrace. As she disappeared up the stairs, Lee Joon, who had been watching her with a gentle expression on his face, suddenly became cold and rigid.

There was no warmth or emotion on his face as he turned away. Mrs Kang swallowed hard and felt a chill run down her spine. Even though he was her own son, the intensity of his presence was so intimidating that she was too afraid to approach him.

“Lee Joon, I’m in shock too! My heart is racing.”

Mrs Kang expressed her hurt feelings, wondering why her son was only concerned about his girlfriend and not about her. Lee Joon replied with a sneer.

“Is that really enough to shock you? The formidable Mrs Kang Yeosah?”

“Lee Joon…”

Her cold reply made Mrs Kang’s face turn painful. The one child she could trust and rely on was the coldest towards her.

“What did I tell you? I warned you repeatedly not to get close to So-hyun”.

“Did I do it on purpose? It was all for you! I wanted to give you a respectable family like Young-jun’s!”

“Mother, do you really have such bad judgment? Do you think So-hyun followed me out of sincere love?”

“Well…”

Mrs Kang was at a loss for words, biting her lip. Deep down she knew the truth. So-hyun may have had feelings for Lee Joon, but the main reason she couldn’t let go was her desire for the position of Lady of the Geumyoung Group.

“Do you really think Dongyang Textile created a fund to gather capital without any ulterior motives?”

“…….”

“You know that So-hyun’s father, Lee Jin-cheol, the head of Dongyang Textile, is considered the least competent of his siblings, right? You must know that he tried to use his marriage to Geum-young as a stepping stone to secure his position in the Dongyang Group!”

As Lee Joon listed one thing after another, Mrs Kang’s complexion grew darker.

“That… that’s…”

As she struggled to find a counter-argument, Mrs Kang’s gaze suddenly turned venomous. Unable to control her temper, she snapped, feeling that everyone was blaming her.

“Why are they all pointing the finger at me? Why me? Everyone else is so high and mighty, while I’m the only one who’s low and common?”

“Mother.”

“Isn’t it only natural for people to have ambitions? Who doesn’t have such desires?”

“There are people who don’t.”

Lee Joon responded with unwavering conviction.

“Eunchae wouldn’t care if I lost everything. Even if I were to die tomorrow, she would still stand by me.”

“Really? Are you saying Yoon Eunchae isn’t like other people?”

“If you’re truly curious, should I prove it? I could give up everything right now and leave this family with nothing but myself.”

“Lee Joon! Are you trying to threaten me right now?”

Mrs Kang gasped, her voice rising in anger. She knew her son’s temperament well enough to understand that he would go through with it.

“I won’t say much more. Just stop making trouble and wait. Team Leader Oh will be with you shortly.”

“Team Leader Oh?”

At Lee Joon’s words, Mrs Kang’s complexion turned pale. Team Leader Oh was the head of Geumyoung’s legal team.

“Yes, you must tell Team Leader Oh everything about what you’ve conspired with So-hyun. That way we can prepare thoroughly.

“Lee Joon, then… what does that mean?”

“What you’re thinking is correct, Mother. None of us will be able to avoid the prosecution’s investigation. Especially you—there’s no way out. If the investigation extends to the art gallery, you must be prepared for the possibility of arrest.”