Chapter 60: A Plea for Love

Yoon-mi’s words of encouragement lingered in Jisoo’s mind. Given their strained relationship, Jisoo realized her presence might be perceived negatively by Yoon-mi.

Impulsively, on Saturday morning, she headed to the church where In-hee resided. She hoped In-hee could guide her toward what was truly best for Tae-ha—someone who both believed in him and loved him deeply.

Even early in the morning, the train station bustled with travelers eager to catch autumn’s peak foliage. Each person seemed intent on capturing the season’s beauty, their faces glowing with satisfaction.

Jisoo wanted a warm cup of coffee but settled for sweet honey tea from a convenience store instead. As she exited, a child darted toward her, grabbing her hand tightly.

“Hmm?”

The girl, around five years old, wore a yellow dress adorned with a large red bow. How happy her mother must have been to dress her so beautifully!

More delighted than surprised, Jisoo knelt down to meet the child at eye level.

“Where’s your mom? Why are you here alone?”

The girl tilted her head, her red ribbon swaying. She seemed to mistake Jisoo for her mother. Still, Jisoo scanned the area, searching for the girl’s parent.

“My mommy… bathroom…”

“I see. Let’s wait together. She’ll be out soon.”

The girl began tapping the honey tea bottle playfully with her finger.

“Do you want some? I’ll give you a sip.”

“Yes!”

Glad she had chosen honey tea over coffee, Jisoo took a sip first, then blew on it to cool it before offering it to the child.

“It’s hot, so drink slowly, okay?”

“Eun-rim!”

Just as the girl pressed her lips to the bottle, a woman emerged from the restroom, calling her name.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

The girl released Jisoo’s hand and ran into her mother’s arms, her small body disappearing into an embrace. The red bow fluttered gently above her head.

The mother, carrying a bag in one hand and holding her daughter’s hand with the other, gave Jisoo a slight nod before walking toward the platform.

Even after letting go of the bottle, Jisoo felt the lingering warmth of the child’s touch. Finishing the fragrant honey tea, she boarded the departing train.

The small station saw only a few passengers disembark before the train quickly moved on. Calculating that she’d need a taxi to reach the church, Jisoo searched for the number as she left the station.

“Miss Jisoo!”

At the crosswalk stood In-hee beside a flashy red sports car, waving enthusiastically.

“How did you know I was coming?”

Regretting having called earlier and burdening In-hee unnecessarily, Jisoo hesitated.

“I was already in town for my regular check-up. Thought I’d show off my new ride while picking you up.”

The car, incongruous with the modest surroundings, made sense now—it belonged to In-hee. Smiling in pleasant surprise, Jisoo climbed in.

“How was your check-up?”

The road to the forest church was clear, allowing In-hee to drive swiftly without interruption.

“Same symptoms, same advice, same medication. At my age, being normal is suspicious. Hungry? Too lazy to cook, shall we eat first?”

“Yes, anything’s fine.”

“Great! Want to see what this baby can do?”

With a mischievous grin, In-hee accelerated. Watching the speedometer climb, Jisoo gripped the seatbelt tightly, reminded once again how much Tae-ha resembled his mother.

“Did you just buy this car?”

Jisoo asked while gazing at the bubbling tofu hot pot they were about to eat.

“Yesterday. You’re the first test driver.”

“Really? What an honor.”

“Don’t get me started! Do you know how hard it was to buy this car? Sending a sedan with a chauffeur to someone already sick and aging would’ve crushed my spirit completely.”

Knowing how obsessively cautious Tae-ha was about safety, Jisoo nodded understandingly.

“People might think I begged for this car, but no—I paid for it myself. Yet he still tried to stop me. What danger is there driving here anyway?”

“Still, Vice President Cha probably just wants you to stay safe.”

Piling tofu, mushrooms, and broth onto In-hee’s plate, Jisoo smiled warmly.

“It smells delicious. Enjoy your meal.”

Meeting In-hee’s gaze, Jisoo picked up her spoon. Having eaten nothing since dawn except the honey tea, she was famished. She noticed the resemblance between the child’s red ribbon and In-hee’s vibrant red car—a lively energy connecting them both.

“Still playing hard to get with our Tae-ha?”

“What? Ah, well…”

“No pressure, but as his mother, I’m curious. Even though I live like an old recluse, I know more about Tae-ha than Chairman Cha himself.”

If Yoon-mi knew about their relationship and approached her, perhaps In-hee had known since before. If so, she might have disapproved...

“I didn’t mean to hide it intentionally… Honestly, I don’t know what to do. Whether I should even try.”

Jisoo crushed pieces of tofu absentmindedly with her spoon.

“When unsure, there’s a simple solution. Want to hear it?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“But if I tell you, you must promise to follow through.”

“I promise.”

“When torn between two choices, just pick one. Either way, you’ll regret something—but regretting action is better than regretting inaction. Life taught me that. This is advice from a senior.”

But… Did she belong by Tae-ha’s side? That remained uncertain.

“Tae-ha seems to really like you. After our divorce, I saw him smile like that for the first time—and only when he looks at you. It makes me jealous.”

“I… I don’t want to be a stain on Vice President Cha. I fear bringing negativity into his life. What if my bad luck rubs off on him?”

Seeing Jisoo’s eyes brimming with emotion, In-hee stirred the pot.

“You can’t juggle two things at once, can you? Fine, I won’t push. Eat more.”

Summoning courage, Jisoo resolved to try. She hoped this determination would last until she saw Tae-ha again.

The two strolled through the garden and woods surrounding the church. Expecting Jisoo to stay overnight, In-hee brought out an album when she learned Jisoo had booked the last train home.

“There’s nothing like photos when teasing one’s son.”

Despite her words, pride radiated from In-hee’s face. Her love and admiration for Tae-ha were undeniable.

“Take your time looking. I’ll bring some fruit and drinks.”

“Stay seated; I’ll handle it.”

“Just treating you as a guest today. Love my son fiercely, alright? As a mother, that’s all I can offer.”

Leaving behind two thick albums and a leather notebook, In-hee excused herself.

Flipping through the childhood photos of Tae-ha, Jisoo chuckled. Her phone, unusually quiet today, sat in her pocket. Somehow, she felt Tae-ha knew she was here. He wouldn’t have stayed silent all day otherwise—not unless he had business or travel plans. Weekends were usually spent together.

Should she reach out first? Hesitating, Jisoo finally mustered the courage, inspired by In-hee’s earlier words, and sent a cautious text.

[What are you doing?]

Almost instantly, a reply arrived.

[Waiting for your call. I’ve been staring at my phone screen all day.]

Jisoo struggled to picture Tae-ha fixated on his tiny phone screen.

[You could’ve called first.]

[I’m being punished. My wrists are tied. A sinner deserves to lose freedom.]

[So… will you still have your hands tied when you meet me later?]

[Even without hands, I have my tongue.]

Typical Tae-ha logic. Shaking her head amusedly, Jisoo nudged the leather notebook beneath the album. Clippings spilled out—old, yellowed newspaper articles.

Though half-obscured faces, Jisoo recognized them immediately. The woman in the scandalous photos with Chairman Cha Geon-wook was none other than her own mother.

Buzz. Her phone vibrated suddenly, startling her. The screen displayed “Bapmat.” No response to her text meant Tae-ha was calling.

Should she answer? Leave? Or brazenly pretend ignorance and face In-hee?

Jisoo dreaded uncovering secrets from the past. Even if she learned the truth, could she bear it? Was cowardice her only option?

Among the clippings were photos of Ae-ran and Geon-wook on romantic outings, shopping arm-in-arm. Flipping further, Jisoo unconsciously tightened her grip on the article.

Though Ae-ran’s affair had caused marital strife, love and trust prevailed, leading to Tae-ha’s birth. The final article lamented the fading star who once shone brightly on screen.