The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 64

CHAPTER 64

Go-yeo wasn’t uncomfortable in this overly deserted dining room. It was just that gathering at her parent’s house for her birthday felt a bit suffocating as the atmosphere, which would soon become bleak after passing the silence, began to feel oppressive.

“I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it again. You can’t continue seeing Moon Ji-hyuk.”

The abalone seaweed soup her mother prepared was quite delicious, but it felt like her appetite was diminishing.

“Honey, let’s talk after finishing our meal.”

Ji-yeong-ran narrowed her eyes at Sang-moon.

“It’s okay. I told you it was just a coincidence that we met at the gathering.”

Sang-moon believed Go-yeo’s words, but Moon Ji-hyuk didn’t. From the first time they met, there was something about his gaze that didn’t sit well with Sang-moon. It was unsettling to think that his twisted mind was directed towards his daughter. He was worried that he might cause a big accident one day.

After the heavy meal was over and they were drinking tea, Sang-moon brought up another uncomfortable topic.

“You seem to pay too much attention to that student you met last time, Yoon Ga-eul.”

Go-yeo didn’t think it was a secret that they had worked through a lawyer.  She’d assumed Sang-moon knew about Ga-eul’s mother’s hospitalization and Eun-jae because he’d heard about it, but she hadn’t expected him to mention it directly.

“Is there a problem?”

The response, as if avoiding the discomfort of this conversation, was typical of her. But Go-yeo drank her tea while avoiding Sang-moon’s gaze. Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Sang-moon’s penetrating gaze felt uncomfortable.

“…Excessiveness is not far from inadequacy.”

Sang-moon warned Go-yeo with a frown.

Ji-yeong-ran also knew about this matter. She had said that she hurriedly left first on the day they went to the gallery because there was a problem with that student’s younger sibling. Considering the circumstances, she could help enough, but what bothered her was the student’s gaze or Go-yeo’s caring demeanor towards him.

Until now, she had simply accepted him as someone who worked, but now she realized that might not be the case. He seemed like a good person, but his environment and background weren’t favorable.

Go-yeo realized a new fact. She had only cared about Yoon Ga-eul, completely ignoring how he was perceived from this side. According to the standards commonly seen here, Ga-eul was just an ordinary college student with nothing special about his background. Moreover, if you consider his family situation, it becomes a problem. Nevertheless, reasons why he shouldn’t be associated with her kept coming up. Yet, regardless of the reasons, she kept thinking about him.

“If that woman, Yun Seung-ok, moves, don’t confront her.”

There was a slight delay in responding to Sang-moon’s advice as she was lost in thought.

“…Okay.”

“And if they contact you about this matter, I’ll handle it. So, don’t meet that guy in person.”

Go-yeo put down the tea she didn’t even know the taste of and looked at Sang-moon.

“I can’t agree on that part. I need to talk to him directly. It’s not going to end easily if I do it that way.”

“Go-yeo.”

Upon hearing Sang-moon’s call to dissuade her daughter, Go-yeo felt both concern and affection.

“I must do it. It’s something I want to do. Not just meeting alone, but the lawyer will accompany me, so don’t worry.”

Although it didn’t sit well with him, knowing Go-yeo’s stubbornness, he agreed. Sang-moon knew that when it came to children, things often didn’t go as he wished, but now he also had a desire to see her meet someone nice and live well.

While saying it was okay to live alone, as parents, they couldn’t honestly feel that way. Though meeting another rotten person was worse than living alone, they didn’t want their well-raised daughter to be lonely.

* * *

Having arrived at the boutique to work, having meetings about the new branch, and dealing with a team of customers, Go-yeo already felt drained of energy. Having spent most of her time idly, even a little work made her feel tired quickly.

Leaning back on the couch in her office, she looked at the painting she received as a gift. It was a painting her mother bought at the gallery she visited this time. It depicted a calm lake shimmering in the midday sun. Somehow, looking at it made her feel better, as if someone came to mind when she gazed at the clear, blue lake.

Go-yeo smiled faintly and closed her eyes. It felt like she fell into a light doze, or perhaps she just closed her eyes and got up. She opened her eyes at the unfamiliar noise outside her office, and soon the office door was forcefully thrown open.

“If you continue to act recklessly like this, I’ll call the police!”

Ji-yeon’s shout was heard, followed by Yun Seung-ok, who was looking at her contemptuously.

“Either way.”

It was a voice she hadn’t heard in a long time, chillingly relaxed. Next to Ji-yeon, Jin-young also actively blocked Seung-ok from entering.

Seung-ok laughed mockingly as if there were no such farce in the world. Then, she stared at Go-yeo silently, sending chills down her spine.

“You answer. Should I just go, or should these two move aside quietly?”

Go-yeo realized, only after Seung-ok spoke to her, that her body had stiffened the moment she appeared. Facing the trauma itself was difficult.

Her fingertips were stiff, and her heart was beating loudly. She had to try hard not to breathe heavily. Just facing her was torture.

To regain composure, she brushed her hair back and took a deep breath. Currently, Yun Seung-ok was just another person, and Go-yeo had done nothing wrong. And Go-yeo constantly reminded herself that Yun Seung-ok was not someone to be treated lightly.

“You’ve come this far, come in. It would have been nice if you had made an appointment beforehand.”

Seung-ok laughed at Go-yeo’s cold response. Despite Ji-yeon’s attempts to stop her, Go-yeo shook her head. Ignoring the worries of Jin-young and Ji-yeon, she ushered Seung-ok into the office.

Seung-ok shamelessly ordered Ji-yeon.

“You’re making a lot of noise, so get cold water.”

Ji-yeon was on the verge of getting angry at Seung-ok’s absurd attitude, but Go-yeo nodded, indicating to let it be. Jin-young also wore a worried expression, but Go-yeo reassured her that everything was okay.

Seung-ok leisurely explored Go-yeo’s office, her own space. She stood in front of a painting filled with silver trees for a while.

“It’s a painting by the Spanish artist Cherneman. You seem to have an amazing eye for this kind of thing.”

Go-yeo remained silent, just observing Seung-ok. Ji-yeon brought the cold water to the table. Only then did Seung-ok sit down on the couch, crossing her legs.

“Sit down. I get a sore neck looking up at you.”

Go-yeo sat opposite Seung-ok and watched her drink water.

“It seems like you’ve been doing well.”

Go-yeo had no intention of responding to her pointless words. She assumed Seung-ok’s sudden appearance was related to the reunion scandal. No matter how much Wushin countered with rebuttal articles, people wouldn’t have been pleased to see Moon Ji-hyuk and her paired up.

“You know why I came.”

“Yes. That part is clear…”

“That’s enough. Go-yeo, although I never mentioned it, you’re quite resourceful.”

A chilling, sinister voice, like a cold snake slithering, crept up. It made her shiver. She wanted to leave immediately.

She knew a few things about Yun Seung-ok. Whenever she spoke in a low voice and made backhanded compliments like this, there would be even more astonishing stories behind them.

“You’re talking nonsense for a kid I know. I just don’t want you and my Ji-hyuk to get involved. Do you understand?”

She replied with a raised eyebrow. That familiar rising and falling right eyebrow was recognizable. Watching each other with such fake courtesy, she wondered why they bothered pretending.

“Excuse me, Ms. Yun Seung-ok.”

Go-yeo asked in a patronizing tone, with a fake smile towards Seung-ok.

“I know you dislike me enough, so could you tell me why you’ve come?”

Go-yeo asked in a sarcastic tone as she flashed Seung-ok a conspiratorial smile.

“You’ll never know how hard I’ve worked to get where I am, and kids like you who were born with everything will never know. That goes for my Ji-hyuk too.”

Go-yeo furrowed her brows at Seung-ok’s nonsense.

“But that’s not stealing from others; it’s just an effort to reclaim what’s originally mine.”

Seung-ok took a sip of water and put the glass down quietly.

“My father was the CEO of Simho Corporation, the predecessor of MMK International. When he ruined the company and it was on the verge of bankruptcy, it was sold to MMK recognizing its value.”

Go-yeo couldn’t grasp the conclusion of Seung-ok’s rambling story.

“My father worked diligently until a half-faced mistress appeared. Then it’s a very typical story. He lost everything, his company, his family, leaving nothing behind. Isn’t it ironic? My mother suffered so much because of that mistress, yet here I am in that position. At that time, there was no other way to reclaim that company.”

Seung-ok chuckled as if amused. Go-yeo had no interest in her grandiose truths. However, it seemed Seung-ok’s story was similar to what she heard in the arboretum—the reason why Yun Seung-ok disliked her.

“You might wonder why I’m telling you this. But it’s deeply connected to you. Your bloodline, to be precise.”

Go-yeo immediately understood what Seung-ok meant.

“Eun Ji-ho’s mother, that bar hostess. That mistress ruined our house. The company went bankrupt, and my mother ended her life with suicide. My father struggled with alcohol addiction and eventually died of liver cancer.”

Seung-ok looked at Go-yeo with self-pity, and Go-yeo’s gaze turned cold as soon as she heard the name Eun Ji-ho. Seung-ok received Go-yeo’s chilly stare as if it were nothing and continued, almost amused.

“I see you’re not surprised. If he was so fond of that filthy woman, would he be so fond of someone else’s daughter?”

She chuckled again, masking her true intentions.

“That’s why I loathe you so much. It’s hard to describe how I felt when I saw you laughing next to my son.”

Seung-ok’s expression was truly disdainful. She adeptly manipulated people with her dignified and affable demeanor.

“I hope you realize that I also suffered while you were in my house.”

Go-yeo let out a bitter laugh involuntarily.

“…Crazy person.”

Even after hearing Go-yeo’s words, Seung-ok continued to smile brightly.

“I’ve always wanted to hear that. You’ve kept it well to yourself.”

“You’re the one who has too many excuses for causing the downfall of a family.”

Seung-ok acknowledged this matter-of-factly.

“Right. I needed a scapegoat to blame for ruining my life. I vividly remember the image of the two women and that man laughing together. I did nothing wrong. But who took responsibility for my ruined life? Exactly. It’s funny how Eun Ji-ho’s daughter became my daughter-in-law. That’s why life is so subtle and interesting.”

Her calmly delivered words were excessively dry and plain, making her seem even more abnormal. Go-yeo felt there was no need to hear more.

“I’ve heard enough of your absurd thoughts, Madam. I’ll say it again, there will be no association with Moon Ji-hyuk. Please leave.”

“Of course. My visit today is a kind of warning. Know your place.”

The mention of warnings was not amusing. Who judged who and discussed topics? Seung-ok seemed to feel no guilt for her actions with her excessively confident and shameless attitude. Go-yeo knew well how to break through that fake facade. While staying quiet might have satisfied Seung-ok and made her leave, Go-yeo felt a sense of satisfaction in not giving her an ounce of it.