RB - 79

79. If No One Will Cry for You, It’s Better That the Rain Falls

Chairman Shin turned his face with great effort, confirming the presence of his three sons one by one. The expression he wore was uncharacteristically weak—so much so that it was hard to believe this was the same Chairman Shin. His entire face radiated a fragility no one would have associated with him, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

In just a few days, Chairman Shin had withered away, resembling someone who had lost all their vitality. Was it the severity of his condition that had reduced him to this state? Or was it the overwhelming weight of regret and self-reproach? The thin blanket covering his frail body rose and fell laboriously, revealing how difficult each breath was for him.

Jung-hyuk stared down at his father—the man who had once been as fierce as a tiger and as towering as a mountain. Jung-hyuk’s expression betrayed nothing, perhaps because too many conflicting emotions swirled within him simultaneously.

The eldest son, Shin Junhyuk, approached his father and gently grasped his emaciated hand. As Junhyuk tenderly stroked his father’s wrinkled fingers, tears spilled from his eyes. In a low voice, he whispered into his father’s ear:

“Thank you for allowing someone like me to be born into this world, Father.”

Jung-hyuk found the scene surreal. He had yet to forgive his father, but here was his identical twin, already offering forgiveness. And it was none other than Shin Junhyuk, the child who had suffered the most under their father’s neglect.

Jung-hyuk blinked away the stinging sensation in his eyes, irritated by the emotion threatening to surface. A part of him thought it might even be a blessing if his father passed away now. Even if he survived, he would spend the rest of his life shackled by guilt—a fate worse than death. Dying now would be merciful.

If not for the steady hum of the ventilator filling the silence, the ICU would have felt as still as a desert. Finally, the calm, measured voice of the legal representative broke the quiet.

“I am Attorney Yoon Heegoo, Chairman Shin Taemyeong’s legal representative. Three days before the incident, Chairman Shin revised his will. Given his critical condition, I will read it aloud on his behalf.”

Attorney Yoon cast a sorrowful glance at Chairman Shin, struggling to breathe. Then, in a composed tone, he began reading the will.

“To my eldest son, Shin Junhyuk, I appoint my youngest son, Shin Jinhyuk, as your guardian. To Junhyuk, I bequeath all fixed-term deposits in my name and an equal share of Taesung Hospital’s equity according to statutory inheritance laws.

To my second son, Shin Jung-hyuk, I leave all securities of Taesung Corporation, which I have managed. I express my gratitude for your contributions to the company’s growth over the years and hope you will continue to lead its development.

To my youngest son, Shin Jinhyuk, I bequeath all securities of Taesung Asset Management and Taesung Trading, subsidiaries of Taesung Corporation, where I served as CEO. I also entrust you with the management rights of Taesung Hospital in Korea and the Taesung Foundation in Boston. I hope you will shine as a beacon of light and salt in society, upholding the Taesung name.

Even in death, I wish for your prosperity and happiness. Please forgive my mistakes with a generous heart.”

The low, rhythmic sound of the oxygen machine filled the room like a solemn undertone. Among the three sons, only Shin Junhyuk wore an expression of profound grief. This was the sole irony: in his final moments, Chairman Shin had received forgiveness solely from Junhyuk.

---

A week later, when the household staff returned from vacation, they discovered the body of Lady Park Yeowan. She had hanged herself in the master bedroom, and due to the summer heat, her remains showed signs of decomposition.

“Lady Park adored her sons so much. Despite being a stepmother, she had such strong maternal instincts. And her love for Chairman Shin—it was unmatched. She always prepared his favorite spicy stir-fried eggplant herself. Such a precious woman…”

Thanks to the staff’s testimonies and the circumstances surrounding Chairman Shin’s critical condition, Lady Park’s death was ruled a suicide. The investigation headquarters at Gangnam Police Station successfully concluded their operation.

Jung-hyuk extinguished his cigarette with a long sigh. The news media was rife with speculative reports, many of which were risky enough to keep Taesung Group’s PR team on high alert. But Jung-hyuk felt a strange sense of relief.

The truth Chairman Shin had desperately tried to conceal—that Park Yeowan, the woman who had been Taesung’s mistress for over two decades, was the biological mother of H-ssi—remained buried as the world’s secret.

Several days later, heavy rain poured during Chairman Shin’s funeral. Jung-hyuk grimaced, his black suit soaked through.

“If no one will cry for you, then let the rain fall instead.”

The media, which had initially focused on the tragedy of the three brothers of Taesung Group, now highlighted the extraordinary love within the family. Chairman Shin’s tragic accident and his beautiful wife’s inability to bear the grief, leading to her decision to end her life, became the narrative’s core.

After the funeral, Jung-hyuk headed to Chairman Shin’s mansion. Each step on the estate’s threshold splashed with rainwater. As evening approached, the garden always grew pitch-dark—a darkness perhaps amplified by Jung-hyuk’s complex feelings toward the home where he had grown up.

But Jung-hyuk paid no mind to the gloom as he strode purposefully inside. The happy moments he’d experienced in this space could probably be counted on one hand, even after a year’s worth of effort. Clearing his throat deliberately, he called out, but no response came. The once-luxurious mansion now felt like a desolate prison.

His gaze lingered on the study. Behind that door, his father had always been waiting—not as a good father, but as someone who at least reflected and regretted, fulfilling a minimal role. Should he be grateful for that small mercy? Bitterness welled up in his throat.

“Father, even so… I still cannot forgive you.”

Jung-hyuk’s mournful muttering echoed through the silent mansion.

---

Seo-yeon spent a week in the hospital under tight security, keeping her existence hidden from the prying eyes of the press. Her pregnancy remained a closely guarded secret.

“Miss Han Seo-yeon, congratulations. You are nine weeks pregnant. However, this is still not a stable period, and the risk of miscarriage is relatively high. You must prioritize rest moving forward.”

The news of her pregnancy came from the doctor. Seo-yeon was stunned, almost fainting at the revelation. Then, recalling how her abdomen had been kicked repeatedly by Professor Sung, anxiety washed over her. Instinctively, she placed a hand on her lower belly and asked the doctor:

“I was kicked in the stomach multiple times. Is the baby okay?”

Her trembling voice carried deep concern for the unborn child. The doctor smiled kindly and reassured her.

“It’s miraculous, but the baby is healthy. The gestational sac has formed beautifully. We’ve scheduled an ultrasound for this afternoon.”

Seo-yeon finally exhaled a long sigh of relief. She wondered if Jung-hyuk had heard about the pregnancy and whether he was happy. Gently stroking her belly, she whispered to the child:

“Thank you for staying alive. I’ll do my best to live well, and I promise to protect you from now on.”

During Seo-yeon’s week-long hospital stay, Jung-hyuk never visited. Though initially hurt, Seo-yeon let go of her resentment upon learning about the two funerals held at the Taesung estate during that time.

The death of her biological mother, Park Yeowan, wasn’t difficult to accept. There was no reason to mourn or shed tears for a woman who didn’t deserve them. Seo-yeon didn’t cry a single tear, surprising herself with her own coldness.

Now, Seo-yeon had a child to protect. Despite the physical torment she endured at the hands of Professor Sung, the baby had stayed with her. She vowed to pour all her remaining emotions into protecting this life growing inside her.

Upon discharge, Seo-yeon, escorted by bodyguards, moved to Jung-hyuk’s apartment. She knew he would return soon and waited eagerly, placing her hand on her belly several times a day. Though she couldn’t yet feel movement, she believed the baby was waiting for its father too.

What helped Seo-yeon endure the long wait was the unexpected arrival of a cat. Attorney Jung, claiming it as a retainer fee, handed her a stray calico kitten.

“A retainer fee? Does Gaham Law Firm accept cats as payment?”

“Of course not. We don’t compromise on fees. But this was an exception.”

Attorney Jung teased her with mock reproach.

“This exception is entirely thanks to you, Miss Han Seo-yeon—and Shin Jinhyuk.”

Seo-yeon realized the cat had come from Kim Hyunae. She cradled the fluffy bundle close to her chest.

“The divorce case concluded very favorably for Ms. Kim Hyunae. Oh, and the cat’s name is ‘Mao.’ Its surname is ‘Go.’”

“Go… Mao?”

“Young Miss Go Yuna told me so. Since it’s her younger sibling, it took the Go surname.”

Thus, “Go Mao” became Seo-yeon’s cat, quickly capturing her heart completely.

One morning, bathed in sunlight, Seo-yeon opened her door. The calico ball rolled out energetically, leaping onto the dining table.

“That’s not allowed! Get down, Mao!”

Though Seo-yeon scolded him sternly, Mao lazily licked his fur, clearly unbothered. As Seo-yeon picked him up and set him back on the floor, the front door clicked open. Turning, she saw Jung-hyuk standing there, smiling brightly. Despite knowing how busy he was, his sudden appearance without any prior contact left her both relieved and annoyed.

Seo-yeon ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms without slowing down. Jung-hyuk staggered slightly under her momentum but caught her securely, savoring the fullness of her embrace.