Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 78:

Side Story (4)

The summer night beach was bustling with even more people and energy than when spring was coming to an end.

“Lee Joon, do you know that?”

“What is it?”

Lee Joon, walking hand in hand with Eunchae along the sandy shore, suddenly stopped at her question. As he swept his hair back, tousled by the wind, he locked eyes with her. Eunchae smiled gently and continued,

“You remind me of the night sea, you know? Especially like a winter night sea.”

“Me?”

Lee Joon’s expression, with his brows furrowed, seemed to ask, “What do you mean by that? Where are you looking?”

“Your eyes.”

As she answered, Eunchae raised her hand and gently brushed around Lee Joon’s eyes.

“When I look into those deep black eyes of yours, it reminds me of the night sea, so deep that I can’t fathom its depths.”

“That sounds scary.”

Understanding the implication, a faint smile spread across Joon’s lips.

Lee Joon hoped to be a caring husband to Eunchae. Throughout their two years of marriage, he had intentionally treated her coldly, never showing her his affectionate and warm side.

Now, he wanted to be a lovesick husband who clung to his wife, even if others called him a fool for it. However, he was troubled by the thought that Eunchae still found him difficult and intimidating.

Maybe sensing his bittersweet feelings, Eunchae smiled and shook her head.

“Not at all. It means you’re intense. Sure, it’s a bit scary, but it’s not that kind of fear that makes you tremble all over.”

“What does that mean?”

Lee Joon laughed at her confusing explanation. He thought she might be trying to reassure him, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Instead, she clarified her thoughts and worked to clear up his misunderstanding.

“Overwhelming! That’s the word I couldn’t think of!”

Eunchae clapped her hands and added.

“It’s like something that tightly binds you, making it impossible to move. When I look into your eyes, I feel overwhelmed, and I get nervous, my heart racing and all.”

“You sure have a complicated way of explaining things.”

Understanding the essence of her explanation, Lee Joon cupped Eunchae’s face with his hands, his eyes filled with laughter. Just seeing her exceptionally bright eyes made his heartache.

“That means you’re smitten. It’s not some grand expression like ‘overwhelming’ or whatever.”

Then, Lee Joon gently kissed Eunchae’s. As her eyelids fluttered closed, she parted her lips to meet his. Their kiss tasted of salty sweetness.

Being mindful of the crowd, the two shared a brief kiss and then pressed their foreheads together, laughing softly.

“Want me to carry you? Once your belly starts showing, I won’t be able to for a while, so I want to enjoy it now.”

“Sounds good.”

Eunchae readily accepted, and Lee Joon turned around, sitting down to give her his back.

“Be careful and take your time.”

“Okay.”

With a sweet smile, Eunchae climbed onto Lee Joon’s back. Despite worrying that she might feel heavy due to recent weight gain, Lee Joon lifted her effortlessly.

“Is it because you haven’t been eating due to morning sickness? Why do you feel so light?”

“Not really. I’ve already gained 3 kg.”

“Well then, you should gain another 13 kg.”

“If I gain that much, how am I supposed to handle it later? It doesn’t come off easily, you know.”

As Eunchae protested,  Lee Joon adjusted his grip on her and replied calmly.

“Then don’t lose weight. You’ll look cute with a little extra chub.”

“Oh…! It’s easy for you to say that when I’m not showing yet, Lee Joon. Once I actually gain weight, you won’t say that at all.”

“I really don’t mind. I’ll love you no matter what you look like. Don’t you believe me?”

Joon stopped walking and turned his head to meet Eunchae’s gaze, her face buried in the nape of his neck. Her round lips were pursed, and her eyes were filled with doubt.

“I mean it.”

Only after he emphasized this with a warm smile did Eunchae lift the corners of her mouth and nod.

“I believe you. Even if I become a hunched old lady, I know you’ll still dote on me without a doubt.”

“Of course.”

Even though his reply was a joke, Lee Joon responded seriously. Eunchae couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his earnestness.

“My husband is the best!”

As Eunchae gave a thumbs-up in praise, Lee Joon wanted even more from her.

“Aren’t you going to tell me you love me?”

“I love you, Lee Joon. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Eunchae.”

The two quickly shed their playful demeanor and confessed their love with heartfelt sincerity. For them, every moment spent together was precious and filled with nostalgia.

Lee Joon continued walking, his feet moving over the sand as the night sea stretched before him. He wished this path would go on forever.

***

Congressman Hong Seong-do, leader of the ruling party and Young-jun’s maternal uncle took a sip of tea out of courtesy and looked over at Lee Joon.

With his clean, handsome face and eyes as black as polished marble, devoid of any emotion, he resembled a finely carved statue. The cold, smooth marble offered no warmth at all.

Was that the reason? The private meeting with Lee Joon felt like sipping tea in a snow-covered field in the middle of winter.

“Since we’re both busy people, I’ll get straight to the point.”

Hong, finding no benefit in prolonging the conversation, finally spoke up. Lee Joon, who had been quietly sipping his tea, shifted his gaze to him.

“Please, go ahead.”

Lee Joon’s formality lacked any sense of respect; it felt more like he was adopting the stance of someone receiving a report.

Despite the arrogance of his demeanor, Hong couldn’t show his displeasure. After all, in this meeting, he was the one in a thoroughly submissive position.

“If you tell me what you want, I will do as you say. So… I hope you can overlook the misdeeds of my siblings.”

Hong’s complexion darkened as he made this request. He was the strong candidate for the ruling party in the upcoming presidential election at the end of the year.

Leveraging the influence of his father, a former president, along with his image as a gentleman and a solid leader, Congressman Hong was enjoying overwhelming support, leaving other candidates far behind.

However, when scandals involving his relatives began to surface, his siblings found themselves embroiled in prosecutorial investigations. All the allegations were related to the Seoryeong Group.

Naturally, Rep. Hong was affected and his approval ratings began to waver. It wasn’t just a family matter; he had also received substantial political funding from his sister, Mrs Hong, and his brother-in-law, Chairman Kim.

If the prosecution, or rather Lee Joon, decided to dig deep, Congressman Hong and even other ruling party members would become entangled like sweet potatoes in a vine.

The thought of that potential fallout made Hong dizzy. His political career was on the brink of collapse.

“It’s just too significant to sweep under the rug.”

Lee Joon laughed lightly and replied nonchalantly. He had nothing to lose in this deal.

Hong’s complexion darkened even further at Lee Joon’s indifferent attitude. He was desperate to reach some sort of agreement, and his anxiety was eating away at him.

“Because it’s so serious, I’m asking you to tell me what you want. Our party is chaotic inside and out. Everyone is on edge.”

Hong almost pleaded, nearly begging. The opposition party, eager for a change in power, was already keeping a close eye on him and had begun contacting Lee Joon.

“What a businessman like me wants is simple: to make a profit without incurring any losses.”

Lee Joon shifted his crossed legs. He smiled thinly as he came to the point.

“Right now the situation is urgent and you’re asking me for help, Congressman Hong, but that’s just human nature. The mindset you have when you go into the restroom is different from the one you have when you come out.”

Lee Joon’s expression hardened and he began to smile sardonically.

“If you get elected president, who knows how you might act then?”

“Do you need a shackle?”

“Yes, I do need a shackle.”

Clearly stating his intentions, Lee Joon immediately laid out his terms for the deal.

“Please transfer all the shares of Geomyoung Construction and Geomyoung Electronics that Seoryeong holds.”

“All of them?”

Hong’s mouth fell open in disbelief at the staggering demand. It felt as if he was trying to take everything just because he had caught one break.

“But…”

“I’ve heard that there is a secret fund managed by Seoryeong. Do you know anything about it, Congressman?”

As Lee Joon’s threats tightened around him, Congressman Hong felt his breath catch. Could Lee Joon really have obtained this information? Was that why he seemed so arrogant?

“Well, it’s common knowledge that companies manage secret funds. Geomyoung does the same, of course.”

Lee Joon curled his lips into a lazy smile. Hong felt even more suffocated by Joon’s nonchalant behavior. Cold sweat ran down his back.

“However, it’s crucial that what’s common knowledge doesn’t become public. Just like a popular idol shouldn’t be caught in a secret relationship—it would seem too… lacking in sincerity.”

Hong stared at Lee Joon, dumbfounded. The calmness of his face was terrifying despite the threatening words he had just spoken. To an outsider, it would look like he was simply having tea and chatting with a friend.

“I will try to convince my brother-in-law and sister.”

In the end, Congressman Hong raised the white flag. Lee Joon was so frightening and relentless that there was no way out for him.

“Very well. I hope you have enough discussions with your family to make a wise decision. However, I won’t wait long.”

Lee Joon’s gaze pierced directly into Hong’s as he said his ultimatum.

The chill running down Hong’s spine made him flinch and swallow hard. He felt completely crushed by Lee Joon, who was younger than his own son.

The immense pressure left no room for pride. He just wanted to end this terrifying meeting as soon as possible.

“I understand. I will give you my answer as soon as I can…”

With this shaky answer, Hong moved his trembling legs. He left Joon’s office.

“Phew…”

As Congressman Hong left the office, Lee Joon let out a tired sigh and rubbed his face. Facing an experienced politician was no easy task for him either.

Given the serious weaknesses that had been exposed, Hong had no choice but to give in. Otherwise, a tense power struggle would have ensued.

As he rubbed his stiff neck and returned to his desk, a call came in from Eunchae. Immediately, his previously tense expression brightened.

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Lee Joon, I’ll be finishing up at the art gallery soon. Is it okay if I come to the office? Hope wants to eat tteokbokki and sundae. I know a famous place, so let’s go together.”

“Really? If you want to eat, you should. Take your time after work. I’ll be waiting.”

“Okay. See you in a bit!”

Eunchae said goodbye in an excited voice before hanging up.

After the call, a broad smile spread across Joon’s face. It felt as if he hadn’t been tired at all; his whole body felt light, and his mind was clear.

“Should I finish up some work while I wait?”

As Lee Joon sat at his desk, holding the mouse, he felt a rush of excitement. For Lee Joon, Eunchae was a source of vitality and the reason to live.