Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
“The family graveyard is only for family members. That woman has no right to be buried there.”
The term “that woman” cut deep into Joo-Hyuk’s heart.
“She’s the one who gave birth to me. Isn’t that enough to qualify her?”
“…No, it’s not.”
Her expression was firm as she flatly rejected him.
‘You too are a child unworthy of being part of this family.’
That’s what her eyes seemed to say, though she couldn’t bring herself to voice those words and wound him further.
“Grandmother.”
“That’s enough. Don’t make me out to be the villain. You know I’m not the bad guy here.”
With those final words, she forbade anyone from ever bringing up the subject again—until her dying day.
Even the mighty Chairman Choi, who was cold and stern toward his children, never mistreated her. Looking back now, it even seemed like he tiptoed around her at times.
But if that were true, why had he continued to resist moving Joo-Hyuk’s mother’s remains to the family graveyard even after her death? If not for his marriage to Sena, he surely would have continued to oppose it.
What was the reason?
Joo-Hyuk took a sip of beer to wet his throat and then dialed Joo-Chan’s number.
[Hello, Joo-Hyuk.]
The voice on the other end sounded subdued, possibly half-asleep.
“I have something to ask you.”
[Hm? What is it at this hour?]
After some rustling, likely checking the time, Joo-Chan asked.
“It’s about what Brother Joo-Ho told me today.”
[Go ahead.]
Joo-Chan didn’t inquire further, likely already informed by Joo-Ho about what had transpired.
“Why did Father keep refusing to move my mother’s remains to the family graveyard?”
[Huh?]
“I mean, with Grandmother gone, and if Father truly grieved over my mother’s death, wouldn’t he have honored my request by now?”
[Sigh...]
A long exhale came through the phone.
“Hyung, do you know the reason?”
[Yes, I do.]
“Tell me.”
After a brief pause and another heavy sigh, Joo-Chan began to speak.
[In the end, you should know this too. Mother left a will.]
“A will?”
[She requested that under no circumstances should your mother’s remains ever be moved to the family graveyard.]
The revelation hit Joo-Hyuk like a punch to the head.
Never to be moved to the family graveyard?
[It wasn’t because of your late mother or you.]
“Then why?”
[It was because of Father. Mother pitied both your biological mother and you. But Father never forgave her. After much thought, Mother decided this was the best way to torment him.]
Revenge against a husband who had betrayed her trust?
Still, Joo-Hyuk couldn’t condemn Grandmother’s decision. Though it caused pain, compared to what she endured in life, it seemed like a small act of vengeance.
[Of course, Father’s refusal isn’t solely due to that.]
“What other reason?”
[It’s because you’re asking him.]
“What?”
[You’ve always done everything your way, but this is the one thing you can’t control—moving your mother’s remains to the family graveyard. So, Father probably enjoyed watching you come to him and beg for it.]
If he’d heard these words without context, Joo-Hyuk might have cursed his father as a cruel man. But now, he found himself unable to do so.
[Does that answer your question? If so, I’d like to go back to sleep.]
“Ah, sorry. Go ahead and rest.”
[Alright.]
“Hyung.”
Just as Joo-Chan was about to hang up, Joo-Hyuk called out urgently.
[Hm?]
“Thank you.”
[Don’t mention it. I’m hanging up now.]
The call ended, and Joo-Hyuk placed his phone on the desk.
I’m sorry, Hyung. I can’t apologize to you all face-to-face just yet, but someday I’ll make sure to do it properly.
Staring at his own conflicted reflection in the window, Joo-Hyuk prayed fervently for that day to come soon.
---
One week later, at Simahn Center.
Sena stared intently at the phone sitting on the waiting room table, her face tense with anxiety.
“Why is this taking so long? Are they trying to drive us crazy with the wait?”
“They’ll call soon.”
Though Sena calmly responded to Seol-Young’s grumbling, her restless legs betrayed her impatience. Today was the day KMS held its shareholders’ meeting to vote on the “Reappointment Resolution for CEO Joo-Hyuk Choi.”
Thanks to the united efforts of minority shareholders, along with Joo-Hyuk and Eun-Yoo, they had successfully blocked the opposition’s proposed professional manager candidate. As a result, there was optimism that the resolution would pass.
Even Joo-Ah, who had just finished a counseling session, sat beside them at the table, all eyes glued to Sena’s phone.
After about thirty minutes, the phone finally rang.
“Hello?”
[Have I kept you waiting long?]
It was the voice she’d been hoping for—Joo-Hyuk.
“How did it go? Did it pass?”
[Well...]
His voice trailed off, sounding somber.
Did it fail?
Sena’s face fell, and Seol-Young and Joo-Ah’s brows furrowed deeply.
[Of course it passed.]
“What?”
[“I’m the CEO of KMS again.”]
“What? You had me worried for a moment there.”
Laughter bubbled through the phone.
“How did it go? Good news?”
At Seol-Young’s pressing question, Sena formed an “O” with her fingers to signal success.
Seol-Young and Joo-Ah, who had been waiting anxiously, clapped their hands in joy simultaneously.
“I’m so relieved. Truly, this is such a relief.”
[“Sorry, but I’ll be home a bit late today.”]
“Alright, you have to celebrate with the employees, right?”
[“I’ll try to come home as early as possible.”]
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll stop by Auntie’s place before heading home too.”
Joo-Hyuk ended the call after reminding her to take a taxi.
“This is wonderful, Teacher Kang. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Center Director.”
Sena smiled brightly as she bowed. Joo-Ah repeated how relieved she was and headed back into the office.
“You still don’t drive?”
Having overheard the conversation, Seol-Young asked with concern.
“Not since that day, right?”
“I didn’t drive much even before. If it weren’t for the used car Joo-Hyuk gave me, I wouldn’t have driven at all.”
“But avoiding parking lots altogether—isn’t it because of what happened that day?”
At the sharp question, Sena bit her lip instead of answering.
If only she hadn’t accepted Joo-Hyuk’s gift and driven to the parking lot that day, would Kang-Un not have kidnapped her?
Of course, Kang-Un would have found another way to approach her, but Sena couldn’t shake off the thought.
And now, places like parking lots or secluded alleys terrified her.
“Does it only happen in parking lots? Do you experience panic attacks or symptoms like that in other places?”
Lying to Seol-Young, who was practically her doctor, would be akin to rejecting treatment.
So Sena slowly nodded.
“No symptoms, really. It’s just… I get scared thinking about parking lots or dark alleys. My palms sweat a little.”
“You can avoid them if you try, but you can’t completely avoid those places forever.”
“That’s true.”
“How about visiting the neurology department to get some medication to help ease your anxiety?”
“I already have plenty of meds. I carry emergency pills with me, and there are more at home.”
To reassure Seol-Young, Sena answered as earnestly as possible.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Well, obviously you will, but…”
Seol-Young still couldn’t quite let go of her worries.
“I’m going to my aunt’s place today. Want to come along?”
“Why are you going to your aunt’s house?”
“She made kimchi and side dishes and told me to pick them up. I figured I’d stay for dinner too.”
“Oh? Then maybe I’ll tag along.”
Fortunately, the change in topic worked, and with Seol-Young joining her, Sena managed to evade the conversation she wanted to avoid.
Nothing will happen. Nothing at all.
She tried to convince herself, though she wasn’t entirely sure.
---
“Thanks for dropping me off.”
At the apartment entrance, Sena stepped out of the car and waved goodbye to Seol-Young.
“Don’t mention it. But are you feeling okay? Maybe you should visit the ER?”
“It’s nothing serious.”
Sena waved off Seol-Young’s concerned question.
After dinner, she had started to feel bloated and noticed a slight fever.
“I think I ate too fast. Auntie made such a feast that I got carried away.”
“You did eat pretty quickly. Do you have any digestive medicine at home?”
“Of course, I do. Go on, head home.”
Worried that Seol-Young might insist on stopping by a late-night pharmacy for digestive medicine, Sena hurried to reassure her.
“Alright, I’m leaving. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, drive safely.”
Seol-Young waved a few times before driving off.
Once the car disappeared from sight, Sena pressed the back of her hand to her forehead to check her temperature. A mild fever greeted her skin.
The excitement of hearing that Joo-Hyuk had become CEO again must have led her to overeat all the delicious dishes her aunt had prepared.
I should’ve eaten less.
Still, she felt proud carrying the homemade side dishes as she headed upstairs.
Opening the door, the apartment was dark and quiet. Joo-Hyuk hadn’t returned yet from his celebration, so she placed the shopping bag of side dishes in the kitchen, took off her coat, and entered the living room.
And then, suddenly, the lights blazed on.
“Mom!”
Startled, she collapsed onto the floor near the sofa. To her surprise, Joo-Hyuk stood there smiling.
“Joo-Hyuk?”
“Are you okay? Can you stand?”
Dressed sharply in a suit, he extended his hand toward her.
“What’s this? I thought you said you’d be late?”
“I changed plans when I heard you were going to your aunt’s place.”
“Huh?”
“To prepare this.”
He gestured to the decorations filling the living room.
White, pink, and transparent balloons covered the floor and ceiling, making the room look like a festive party venue. Sena grinned like a child at the sight.
“What’s all this for?”
Taking his hand to stand up, Sena nudged a rolling balloon with her foot and asked.
“I realized I had carelessly thrown something away.”
“Carelessly threw away?”
Google Sites
Report abuse