Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 75:

Side Story(1)

In the quiet stillness of the night, while everyone else was fast asleep, Eunchae woke to find Lee Joon peacefully holding her in his arms. The soft moonlight bathed his face, accentuating his delicate and handsome features.

Carefully, Eunchae touched his face, tracing the well-defined lines that felt so real beneath her fingertips.

Perhaps it was the exhaustion from the chaotic days they had recently faced, but Lee Joon’s sleeping face looked tired. Feeling a wave of sympathy, Eunchae gently stroked his face, hoping to bring him some comfort.

“Even amidst all this, my husband is still handsome. He looks like a Greek general who has fought a war and fallen asleep.”

She whispered this to herself, laughing softly. Suddenly she felt her body being gently pulled closer, accompanied by a deep, low rumbling sound.

“You’re quite the mischievous wife, Yoon Eunchae, touching your sleeping husband’s face.”

“Wasn’t I supposed to?”

Eunchae’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I was asleep. But someone just had to start poking around and woke me up. I couldn’t help but feel a little fluttered.”

“I wasn’t poking; I just touched your face lightly.”

“Same difference.”

Lee Joon laughed softly as he pulled Eunchae closer into his embrace.

“Why are you still awake? You must be tired.”

“I’m… hungry.”

“Huh?”

At her unexpected response, Lee Joon’s eyes widened with excitement.

“Really?”

His voice was hopeful. Although Eunchae’s morning sickness had improved, she still had trouble eating.

But for her to wake up hungry was a joyous revelation for Lee Joon. It seemed that her appetite had finally returned, and he felt a wave of relief and happiness.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you right away. Just say the word.”

When Lee Joon sat up, he spoke with such eagerness that it seemed he was going to rush off to get her food. Seeing his excitement, Eunchae burst out laughing.

“There’s this restaurant for knights that I used to go to often with my dad.”

“A restaurant for knights?”

“Yeah. I want to eat their pork bulgogi set.”

Just mentioning it made Eunchae’s mouth water. The pork bulgogi was delicious, but the grilled mackerel, dipped in spicy wasabi sauce, was also a must-have that would tempt her appetite.

“Is it open 24 hours?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s hurry and go!”

Lee Joon was already getting out of bed and getting ready to leave. Eunchae carefully got up and changed her clothes.

To avoid waking her parents, Eunchae took Lee Joon’s hand and they quietly tiptoed out of the house, her face lighting up with a happy smile.

***

“It feels like we’re on a date.”

As Eunchae spoke while waiting for their food, Lee Joon, who was arranging the utensils, looked over at her.

“It is a date. What else could it be? If you’re spending time with someone you love, then that’s a date.”

“You’re right.”

Eunchae said with a bright smile, picking up some bean sprouts that had been served as a side dish.

“So you’ll be starting work at the art museum tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Nodding in response, Eunchae carefully studied Lee Joon’s expression. On the surface, he seemed calm, but she knew a storm of emotions must be brewing inside him.

It was now inevitable that Mrs. Kang would be facing the prosecutors, and as a result, she had stepped down from her role as director. For the time being, Eunchae would be taking over her responsibilities.

What made it even more significant was that Lee Joon had orchestrated everything. He was resolute in ensuring his mother was held accountable.

“It’s going to be difficult to reconcile that with the work of the company, isn’t it? Especially when technology development is in full swing.”

“The vice president is there, so it shouldn’t be a big problem. The real problem is the art museum. We need to find someone suitable to run it quickly.”

As they discussed these practical matters, the atmosphere between them grew increasingly tense. Mrs Kang had run the museum in an overly one-sided and lax manner, making it difficult to find just anyone to fill her role.

“I’m doing my best, so I’m sure it will work out somehow.”

Lee Joon reassured Eunchae and tried to ease her worries. Just then their food arrived, changing the topic of conversation.

“Make sure you chew slowly and thoroughly.”

After getting Eunchae to drink some water, he turned his attention to the baby growing inside her.

“Hope, eat well. Keep eating a lot so Mommy has the energy she needs and doesn’t have a hard time.”

His words eventually turned into gentle reminders for Eunchae.

“Our little Hope might feel a little neglected because Daddy is so worried about Mommy”.

While Eunchae was delighted by Lee Joon’s deep love for her, she couldn’t help but worry that her child might feel neglected.

However, Lee Joon was adamant. Although the baby was precious, Eunchae was always first in his heart.

“Tell Hope to grow up and find someone who loves her just as much. That should be enough.”

“Oh, come on…”

Eunchae couldn’t help but chuckle at his unwavering reply. Then, while gauging Lee Joon’s reaction, she cautiously began to speak.

“And speaking of that, Lee Joon…”

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Sensing that this was an unwelcome request, Lee Joon replied gruffly. Eunchae swallowed the food she was chewing and hesitantly broached the subject.

“What about Woo-sung? Are we just going to leave things as they are?”

She wasn’t trying to probe Lee Joon’s feelings, she really wanted to know.

“I don’t want to keep him, but the reality is different. The development of the technology is nearing completion, and I am worried about you being stressed. Even though it’s annoying that he slandered you, we should recognize his dedication to the company during this time.”

“I see.”

Eunchae nodded, then decided to express her true feelings.

“I would like to meet him once. Will you allow me?”

“If I say no, will you still listen to me?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

Lee Joon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had expected her to try to persuade him, but Eunchae’s agreement to follow his desires took him by surprise.

“If you don’t want me to, then I don’t want to either. That’s why I’m asking for your permission. I’m not just demanding this without reason.”

With a gentle smile, Eunchae picked some mackerel flesh off the bones and placed it into Lee Joon’s bowl. Noticing her actions, Lee Joon squinted his eyes and then laughed, shaking his head.

“You’ve turned into quite the cunning one, Yoon Eunchae. You’re really catching me off guard like this.”

“What do you mean?”

Eunchae tilted her head with an innocent look, pretending not to understand. This only made her seem more cunning, and Lee Joon’s lips curled into a slow smile.

“Don’t act like you don’t know. You’re trying to turn my heart around by pretending to be compliant instead of being stubborn.”

“No, I really intended to do what you want.”

When Eunchae continued to play coy, he grabbed her cheeks playfully, insisting he wouldn’t fall for her act.

“Alright, go ahead and meet him. Kim Woo-sung will need to come to work for a while anyway; we should clear this up.”

Lee Joon sighed and willingly granted permission. What else could he do? The one who loves more has to make concessions.

“Thank you, Lee Joon. It’s difficult for me to face him too. But I feel like I need to meet and talk with him at least once.”

“Do what you feel you need to do. If that will help you feel at ease.”

“Okay.”

With a soft smile, Eunchae nodded and then called out to Lee Joon.

“Lee Joon.”

“Yeah?”

“I love you. And I’m thankful, but I’m also sorry.”

“Why add unnecessary words when all you need to say is ‘I love you’? Try again.”

Lee Joon commanded, furrowing his brow, which made Eunchae giggle.

“Okay, I’ll do it again.”

With laughter in her eyes, Eunchae confessed her love once more.

“I love you, Lee Joon. More than I love myself.”

“I love you more. That’s one thing I won’t ever concede.”

“Yes. Lee Joon, you love me even more.”

Eunchae, who willingly conceded a portion of her love, beamed with a bright smile. She looked so dazzlingly beautiful that Lee Joon couldn’t tear his eyes away.

His heart swelled with emotion. He was grateful for another day of good health and thankful for the simple joy of sharing life with his beloved wife.

After finishing their meal, the couple stopped by a convenience store near their home to buy ice cream before heading back.

With their bellies full, they shared laughs while enjoying their ice cream, tapping their stomachs in satisfaction.

What more is there in life? Living a simple, ordinary life like everyone else and finding happiness in those moments was more than enough.

***

With a nervous expression, So-hyun picked up her teacup. Her entire body was trembling as if she were a shaking aspen tree, possibly due to the cold from the air conditioner.

Because of this, even in the middle of summer, she asked Lee Joon’s secretary, who had offered her tea, for a cup of warm coffee instead.

“Sigh…”

A long sigh escaped So-hyun’s lips as she took a sip of the hot coffee. Her uneasy gaze shifted toward Lee Joon, who sat silently at the head of the table, quietly drinking his tea.

As she watched him sip his tea with dignity, a flood of thoughts ran through her mind. He was a man she had desired so much, and yet she knew he was someone else’s husband, which made it all the more impossible to let go.

She longed for him as a man, and she also craved the Geumyoung Group that he would eventually inherit.

‘I never imagined that the cost of my greed would be so devastating…’

So-hyun’s eyes grew hot with tears as regret washed over her. In her moment of fear, Lee Joon’s dry voice pierced her thoughts.

“It seems you’re feeling quite anxious, Executive Director.”

“Lee Joon…”

So-hyun flinched, pulling her shoulders in before relaxing them again. With teary eyes, she looked at Lee Joon. She was relieved that she hadn’t been turned away at the door, but the feeling of helplessness remained now that she was alone with him.

“I told you, didn’t I? If you’d taken my warning and backed off, things wouldn’t have come to this.”

At his cold remark, the tears hanging from So-hyun’s lashes fell, one by one. His frosty demeanor left her in despair—there was no hint of mercy in him.

“Lee… Lee Joon, I was wrong. Please, just this once… forgive me, just this once. Please…”

So-hyun clasped her hands together, pleading desperately. With Lee Joon tightening his grip on her, she felt she had no choice but to beg like this.

“If you’ve done wrong, you should face the consequences.”

Lee Joon replied with a charming smile, but So-hyun’s gaze shook with intensity. As she had expected, this man had no intention of forgiving her. The smile on his lips contrasted sharply with the coldness in his eyes, sending a shiver down her spine.

“If I have to go through a prosecutor’s investigation… your mother won’t be safe either.”

Desperate, So-hyun resorted to a tactic of intimidation. If the prosecutors learned about the art fraud and various secret dealings involving Mrs. Kang, it would spell disaster for both of them.

Yet, Tae Lee Joon appeared unfazed, as if he had already resolved to accept the consequences of it all. He didn’t even flinch at her threats.

“You still haven’t grasped the situation, Executive Director So-hyun. Do you think I would have initiated something like this without being prepared for the fallout?”