Living with an Ex-Husband - Chapter 79:

Side Story (5)

Not wanting the air conditioner breeze, she opened the window, and the deafening sound of cicadas along with a fairly cool breeze rushed in.

“Wow… the weather is great today.”

Eunchae playfully stuck out her tongue at the scorching sun, which felt like it could melt the world. The media had reported on this heatwave, calling it the worst in a century, and they weren’t kidding.

“Your Dad is going to worry a lot today, Hope.”

With her eyes squinted into crescent shapes, Eunchae gently rubbed her noticeably rounded belly. As she entered her fifth month, the morning sickness had completely disappeared, and her condition had improved significantly.

Still, Lee Joon fussed over her health every day, sometimes making Eunchae feel embarrassed when it came time to meet their parents.

“Phew… Should I get moving and be productive today?”

Settling into her sturdy mahogany desk by the window, Eunchae began her work.

While she was in the middle of her work, she received a phone call from Lee Joon. She answered with a broad smile.

“Yes, Lee Joon.”

“How are you feeling?”

Eunchae couldn’t help but laugh at the familiar question she got every time they spoke.

“I’m fine. I’m A-okay! How about you, Lee Joon? Aren’t you tired?”

Eunchae was also concerned about Lee Joon’s health. He had returned home late last night and had left for work early in the morning.

“I’m good. I’m just pouring all my extra energy into work, so don’t worry about me.”

Eunchae’s cheeks flushed at Joon’s playful response.

“See? I told you not to hold back.”

“I’ve been seriously considering just tossing my resolutions lately.”

Joon shared his honest feelings with a low laugh but quickly shifted to a more serious tone.

“A guest will be arriving soon.”

“Guest? Who is coming?”

“You’ll find out when you see them. I’m just letting you know in advance so you don’t freak out and call me. Just handle it well.”

Lee Joon answered vaguely, showing he wasn’t inclined to give any more details. Knowing his personality, Eunchae didn’t press for more information. She figured she would understand his intentions once she met the guest.

“Got it. I’ll take care of things when the guest arrives.”

“Thank you, Eunchae. I appreciate how wise and flexible you always are.”

Eunchae’s eyes trembled slightly at his sincere gratitude. She could sense that Lee Joon was feeling uneasy.

However, she didn’t show it. Instead, she said the words Lee Joon loved to hear the most.

“I love you, Lee Joon. I want to leave work early just to see you.”

When she playfully added a cute tone, Lee Joon burst into a hearty laugh. His refreshing and hearty laughter lifted Eunchae’s spirits as well.

“I have to go to a meeting, so I’m sorry, but I have to hang up now. Let’s talk again later.”

“Okay, have a good meeting.”

“Yeah.”

With Joon’s brief reply, the call ended.

“Hmm…”

Eunchae pursed her lips and rolled her eyes in thought after hanging up. While she wondered who the soon-to-arrive guest might be, Secretary Moon brought the expected news.

“Director, the guests have… arrived.”

With an awkward smile, Secretary Moon cautiously added, “There are two of them.”

“Two?”

Eunchae’s eyes widened. Lee Joon hadn’t mentioned that there would be two people, which caught her off guard for a moment. Secretary Moon’s expression was also unusual, heightening her curiosity.

“Please bring them in.”

Feeling the need to meet the guests, Eunchae instructed Secretary Moon and stood up.

However, the moment Eunchae saw the two people enter the director’s office, she was quite surprised. It was Mrs. Kang and So-hyun.

“Mother…”

“Have you been… doing well, Eunchae?”

“Hello, Eunchae.”

“Ah… yes. How have you been?”

Eunchae, surprised, exchanged greetings with the two women in a daze.

“Please, have a seat.”

As she invited them to sit, Eunchae asked Secretary Moon for some sparkling water.

Once Secretary Moon quickly left to get it, Mrs. Kang, who had been staring intently at Eunchae’s belly, spoke up first.

“Eunchae, I need your help.”

Eunchae’s eyes widened at Mrs. Kang’s urgent tone.

“Excuse me?”

“Lee Joon asked me to apologize to you.”

“I… I also need help… please help me too.”

The purpose of Mrs Kang’s visit was repeated by So-hyun, causing Eunchae’s eyes to widen even more in surprise.

“Apologize?”

“Yes. If you forgive me, it will help reduce my sentence. So, Eunchae… please save me. Tell Lee Joon that you forgive me.”

Mrs. Kang’s desperate plea made her complexion look pale.

‘Please apologize to Eunchae sincerely—or at least try to sound sincere. Don’t be sarcastic. If you do, I might be able to lessen your punishment, even just a little.’

Recalling the conditions Lee Joon had set, Mrs. Kang clenched her fist tightly beneath the table. Her own son was threatening her, figuratively holding her by the throat.

The humiliation was unbearable, especially as a mother. She couldn’t conceal her feelings of despair.

Despite the anger and resentment boiling inside her, she had no choice. To survive, she had to endure even greater humiliation.

So-hyun’s situation was no different. She needed to apologize to Eunchae for the deal she made with Lee Joon to go through completely.

“Well, an apology is necessary, but… the idea of bowing down feels a bit unsettling.”

Mrs. Kang clenched her teeth at Eunchae’s indifferent tone, while So-hyun’s eyes momentarily turned cold. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted the tension, and Secretary Moon entered with the sparkling water, briefly halting the conversation between the three women.

After Secretary Moon left, Mrs. Kang resumed the conversation.

“But shouldn’t we at least exchange something? For each other’s sake.”

Mrs Kang tried her best to come to a favorable conclusion with Eunchae. Her future depended on Eunchae’s answer.

“Okay then… go ahead and apologize.”

Eunchae also felt quite burdened by the situation and wanted to get things done quickly.

She could understand So-hyun’s presence, but Mrs Kang was her husband’s mother and Hope’s grandmother. She didn’t want to be too harsh, so she hoped to end the uncomfortable conversation as soon as possible.

With a sigh, Mrs Kang stood up with a tense expression on her face, but just then there was another knock at the door.

“Yes.”

With Eunchae’s permission, Lee Joon’s Chief secretary entered.

“Madam.”

“Ah… Secretary Kwon.”

Eunchae looked at Secretary Kwon with a puzzled expression as he bowed. Seeing her questioning gaze, he calmly explained the purpose of his visit.

“The president has instructed me to observe and report whether Executive So-hyun and the lady of the house are properly apologizing.”

“What?”

“Excuse me?”

Both Mrs Kang and So-hyun were shocked by Secretary Kwon’s words. It was a warning from Lee Joon not to take it lightly.

“Is he expecting me to kneel or something?”

Mrs. Kang sneered with raised eyebrows, but Secretary Kwon responded seriously.

“Of course, that method was considered, but the president decided to make an exception for you, thinking the young madam wouldn’t be comfortable with it.”

“What… what?”

Mrs. Kang gasped, utterly shocked at the idea that her son had intended to make her kneel in front of her daughter-in-law.

“So… you’re saying only I have to kneel?”

So-hyun was equally stunned. It was humiliating enough to have to apologize to Eunchae, but to kneel as well?

“I can’t possibly…”

“Aren’t you due to appear at the prosecutor’s office in two days? Executive So-hyun,” Secretary Kwon interrupted.

At his question, So-hyun stared at him in disbelief. It felt like a threat.

“Ugh…!”

Feeling defeated, So-hyun bowed her head, which only increased Mrs. Kang’s anxiety. She realized it would be smart to apologize quickly—otherwise, she might end up having to kneel before Eunchae herself.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Mrs. Kang leaned forward, forming a “?” shape with her body.

“I’m sorry, Eunchae. It was my fault. I’m truly sorry. Please forgive me.”

As Mrs. Kang spoke first, Secretary Kwon watched So-hyun intently, urging her with his gaze. Eunchae also fixed her eyes on So-hyun, waiting for her response.

Cornered into a dead end, So-hyun had no choice but to kneel and apologize to Eunchae.

“I’m sorry, Eunchae. I was wrong… please forgive me.”

So-hyun bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. The humiliation and shame she felt—emotions she had never experienced before—made her entire body tremble.

But what could she do? She had to appear at the prosecutor’s office in just two days.

From what she’d heard, even the Seoryeong Group and Assemblyman Hong’s family had been beaten down by Lee Joon and surrendered. How could she resist? Even if they asked her to bow until her forehead hit the ground, she would have to accept it.

As Eunchae watched the two women bowing their heads in apology, her expression grew complex. She felt a sense of relief, but at the same time, there was a lingering bitterness.

She knew their apologies weren’t sincere—they were only apologizing because Lee Joon had pushed them into it.

“Okay. I’ll accept your apology.”

Nevertheless, Eunchae accepted their apologies out of courtesy, and Mrs Kang and So-hyun straightened their bodies.

“So-hyun, you can go now.”

At this cold dismissal, So-hyun shot Eunchae a look as if she wanted to kill her. Unable to say anything of substance, she just nodded.

“Yes. Well then… I’ll take my leave.”

After finishing her part, So-hyun left Eunchae’s office as if fleeing. Following her, Secretary Kwon quietly left the office as well.

Left alone with Mrs Kang, Eunchae watched as her lips tightened and loosened several times, as if trying to gather her thoughts, before she finally spoke.

“You must be busy, go on with your work.”

With a tired expression, Mrs Kang turned to leave, but Eunchae called to her.

“Mother.”

“What is it?”

Mrs. Kang instinctively tensed as she faced Eunchae, worried that the young woman, harboring many bottled-up emotions, might make a strange demand. Her heart sank at the thought that Eunchae might actually ask her to kneel.

However, Eunchae had a completely different reason for calling Mrs. Kang. She walked over to her desk, pulled something out of her bag, and handed it to her.

“I wanted you to take this… but if you really don’t want to, it’s okay.”

“What is this…?”

Mrs Kang’s tone was a bit shocked by Eunchae’s seemingly indifferent attitude as she quickly grabbed the small piece of paper.

As soon as she felt the smooth texture of the ultrasound photo, Mrs Kang’s eyes widened.

“I went to the hospital with Lee Joon a few days ago. I’m five months pregnant now,” Eunchae informed her with a small sigh.

Lee Joon and the elders of the family had decided not to show the baby to Mrs Kang once it was born. Eunchae silently accepted their decision.

But giving the ultrasound to Mrs Kang was not just a duty as a daughter-in-law. It was also a hope that Mrs Kang would finally come to her senses and live properly.

“I just hope you won’t be an embarrassing grandmother to my child.

As she spoke her thoughts aloud, Mrs Kang shifted her gaze from the ultrasound to Eunchae.

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mrs. Kang opened her mouth as if to say something but then closed it again.

“Take care of yourself… and stay well.”

With just a brief farewell, Mrs. Kang left the office. Who could she blame now? Everything was the result of her own mistakes in life.

“Sigh… kneeling and bowing isn’t something just anyone can do.”

Feeling troubled and conflicted, Eunchae sighed again and again.

After staring at the closed door for a moment, she returned to her seat and began her work, putting on a serene face as if nothing had happened.

Shortly after Mrs Kang and So-hyun left, they were arrested and taken to a detention center.

***

“Ugh…”

Eunchae let out a groan as she sat on the bed, her back to the mattress. Perhaps it was the heat, but she felt unusually sluggish, and even the slightest movement made her tired.

“My feet feel swollen.”

As Lee Joon adjusted his tie, he looked sharply at Eunchae’s feet. They did indeed look swollen.

“Let me see.”

Without hesitation, Lee Joon knelt and began to massage her foot.

“Oh, Lee Joon! I haven’t showered yet.”

Eunchae, feeling confused, tried to pull her foot away from his grip, but Lee Joon held on. Gently, he placed her foot back on his knee and continued to massage it with care.