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Sehee looked at Chairwoman Jo with indifferent eyes, recalling yesterday. Mija arrived at the Seoul house around evening, riding in the limousine Kang-joon had sent.
‘Ladies, talk your hearts out and rest comfortably tonight. I’ll sleep at a hotel.’
But Mija casually spoke to Kang-joon as he was about to get into the car.
‘Take all this and give it to your family. This is all I can give to ask you to take good care of my child.’
Both their gazes turned to the packed trunk. Sehee immediately knew the contents of the luggage Mija had meticulously packed. It must have been homemade doenjang (fermented soybean paste) and gochujang (chili paste), homegrown vegetables, and dried wild greens. But Kang-joon smiled and replied to Mija.
‘Since you’ve made the difficult journey to Seoul, please deliver it directly to them tomorrow. Then the adults will also be happy.’
Kang-joon bowed, gently held Mija’s hand as she couldn’t answer, and continued.
‘You’re not planning to leave without having a formal meeting between the families, are you? I want to marry Sehee quickly. And you can also confirm how much your granddaughter is loved as a daughter-in-law.’
Only after finally getting Mija’s answer did Kang-joon head to the hotel. And Sehee, in the house without Kang-joon, poured out the events of the past four years to Mija. More precisely, the reason why she had no choice but to put Chairwoman Jo in a mental hospital. Mija only nodded a few times, saying little. And right at this moment, to Chairwoman Jo in the hospital, Mija declared that she was cutting off their mother-daughter relationship. Even when Chairwoman Jo uttered the word “Mom,” Mija coldly turned away. But Sehee saw it. The face of Mija, who barely managed to suppress her tears the moment she turned her back. Who are you to hurt Grandmother until the very end? Calming her anger, Sehee slowly continued.
“I don’t think you need to answer. Just looking at you now gives me enough answers.”
Chairwoman Jo, with her eyes twitching and a face full of wrinkles, looked greatly aged. Her once sophisticated appearance from head to toe was gone, and her loose patient gown was unsightly. Sehee wore a genuinely regretful expression.
“Aunt, why have you aged so much, it breaks my heart?”
Only a week has passed, but I wanted to watch you deteriorate more slowly. Of course, the shock must have been huge. First, her daughter, then her husband, and finally, her mother, who was always on her side, abandoned her. And at this moment, when you are at your most desperate and miserable, I am here in front of you.
“Just you wait until I get out of here! I’m going to kill you!”
At Chairwoman Jo’s desperate cry, Sehee replied with a faint, scornful smile.
“Aunt, in this situation, it’s probably more comfortable for you to stay here. Oh, are you perhaps worried about the money I haven’t touched? That money, you wouldn’t be able to use it or show it off even if you got out, would you?”
Chairwoman Jo looked as if she didn’t immediately understand Sehee’s words. So, Sehee decided to explain kindly.
“Haven’t you felt something strange lately? You’d know just by looking at the items they show you at the department store. Your direct contact person is hard to reach, it’s hard to even buy last year’s inventory, and whenever you try to buy something, someone else snatches it up.”
“...”
“Is that all? All the social gatherings you attend have disappeared, and wherever you go, people seem to avoid you. Have you met any acquaintances recently?”
In fact, Sehee had only found this out during dinner with Yeon-sook that day. That Yeon-sook, who cherished Sehee terribly, had taken revenge on Chairwoman Jo in her own way. Yeon-sook’s revenge was ordinary, yet it was the method that could cause Chairwoman Jo the greatest shock. Because Chairwoman Jo cared most about fashion and social gatherings. It was a method of revenge Sehee would never have thought of.
“Was all that your doing?”
Only then, as if something clicked, Chairwoman Jo’s face was filled with horror. Her personal shopper, who used to tremble in front of her, had unilaterally informed her that she was too busy to come. When she went to the store in anger, they would only show her last year’s inventory and seemed indifferent to selling even that. It wasn’t like she was being treated as if she was just Browse because she had no money. Members of the social gatherings she led began to drop out. What was even more outrageous was that several new groups had formed, and a condition for joining was not to be a part of any group that Chairwoman Jo was in. She had attributed all of that to the disrespect she faced after stepping down from the board of directors. So she had gritted her teeth and vowed fiercely: The day I return to my rightful place, I’ll remember all of you and pay you back in full. But the mastermind behind all of it was that cunning person!
“My mother-in-law did all that behind my back. Kang-joon said he’d quietly overlook the marriage fraud you committed, but my mother-in-law wasn’t like that.”
Chairwoman Jo’s eyes widened in surprise at the term “mother-in-law” that flowed naturally from Sehee’s lips.
“So you should have accepted the win-win proposal and lived quietly. Why did you even hire men to do such wicked things?”
“Because you shouldn’t have been born in the first place! You should be grateful I didn’t kill you but let you live!”
“Actually, there is one thing I’m grateful for to you, Aunt. Thanks to you, I met Kang-joon and also met wonderful in-laws. And...”
Sehee softly lowered her eyes, embracing her belly with both hands.
“Because I can proudly become a daughter-in-law of the Hanshin family, carrying the best dowry in this belly.”
“You’re not, are you, pregnant?”
“I’m almost 5 months along.”
“...”
“It’s going according to your plan, isn’t it, Aunt? Having a child of the Hanshin family and becoming a daughter-in-law. And I’m currently pondering which Hanshin affiliate I want, as Grandfather and Mother said to name one if there’s a company I like.”
At Sehee’s annoyingly calm reply, Chairwoman Jo shrieked and writhed in a furious outburst.
“Aaaaaah! I’ll rip you to shreds! You wicked bitch! You devilish bitch!”
Even the male nurses were flustered by her frenzied struggle. Eventually, a nurse who had been waiting outside injected Chairwoman Jo’s arm with a syringe. As Chairwoman Jo’s struggles subsided, the male nurses took her to the bed and tied her wrists. Sehee approached the bed and looked down at Chairwoman Jo. With dry eyes that felt no mercy or pity. Sehee leaned down to Chairwoman Jo, who was slowly blinking as if her mind was blurring. Listening to her irregular breathing, she gently whispered into Chairwoman Jo’s ear.
“Your nephew in my belly, they say it’s a boy.”
I want Chairwoman Jo to hear this one last word before she falls asleep.
“He’ll be the second heir to the Hanshin family.”
Chairwoman Jo flapped her hands as if making a final desperate struggle. The last remaining rhinestone on her almost peeled-off nails dangled precariously, about to fall. Just like Chairwoman Jo’s life.
________________________________________
The two people, having left the hospital, were heading to Chairman Seo’s main residence. Sehee, looking at the unusually silent Mija, asked calmly,
“Would you like me to get Aunt out of the hospital?”
“...”
“If Grandmother wants it, I can’t do it right now, but I can do it later, depending on Aunt’s condition.”
Sehee was continuously bothered by how harshly she had hurt Mija’s feelings. Knowing how much of a sore spot Chairwoman Jo was for Mija, she desperately wished for Mija to live the rest of her life in peace. But defying Sehee’s expectations, Mija burst out,
“She did something deserving of divine punishment, so why should I be pretty and let her out! She should be grateful she wasn’t thrown into a prison with other criminals!”
Mija firmly held Sehee’s hand, who was staring at her to gauge her true feelings.
“Sehee, now Grandmother has only you. All that matters is for you to live well. Understand?”
Mija had finally let go of the daughter she had intended to hold painfully in her heart until death. Solely for her granddaughter’s sake.
________________________________________
The two families met in a small annex located behind the main residence. It was Yeon-sook’s delicate consideration, held there so Mija wouldn’t feel uncomfortable at a restaurant or intimidated by a too-large house. Upon seeing Mija’s gifts, Yeon-sook reacted so excessively that it was almost embarrassing to witness. Only after she excitedly declared that she would also give Mija many gifts did the meal begin in the annex’s garden. Mija, who was initially awkward, noticeably relaxed after realizing that Chairman Seo and Yeon-sook genuinely cherished Sehee. Thanks to Yeon-sook’s bright personality, who led the meal, the dinner was enjoyable, and conversation flowed continuously. Seeing the two families, who were once strangers, getting along so well was another unfamiliar happiness for Sehee. Up to that point, the atmosphere was truly good. Until Sehee announced Pré’s gender. Kang-joon was belatedly disappointed, but she had thought the adults would be happy to hear it was a boy.
“Wow, a boy?”
“Hmm, a boy.”
Both Chairman Seo and Yeon-sook’s reactions were lukewarm. They were smiling, but it felt like they weren’t truly smiling. When Sehee cautiously stared, Yeon-sook deliberately let out a loud laugh.
“Sehee, Mom is so happy. I really meant it when I said it doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl!”
Why were they specifically answering something she hadn’t even asked? At this point, Sehee could tell. That the two of them, though unspoken, had secretly hoped for a granddaughter.
“How smart and capable will our grandson be, taking after his father! How strong are the Seo family’s male genes! Right, Father-in-law?”
“Indeed! He’ll definitely take after his father...”
If Sehee had to carefully guess the reason, it seemed the two were fed up. Fed up with the Seo family’s male genes, which were so perfect that their children didn’t feel like children, and their grandchildren didn’t feel like grandchildren. Yeon-sook, exchanging glances with Chairman Seo, spoke again.
“So, have you chosen Father-in-law’s and my gifts?”
“Not yet.”
“Oh my! Child! What will you do if you’re so ungreedy?”
Yeon-sook then turned her attention to Mija.
“Sehee’s Grandmother, my husband and I want to give Sehee gifts to celebrate her pregnancy, but she hasn’t chosen them yet, has she? Isn’t this discourteous to elders? We have so many gifts to give!”
Having seen with her own eyes how much Kang-joon’s family cherished Sehee, Mija comfortably sided with Yeon-sook.
“Sehee, in times like these, you can just say ‘Thank you’ and accept them with heavy hands.”
Grandmother, those gifts aren’t the kind of gifts you’re imagining. If only they were gifts I could willingly accept with both hands, I would. But the scale of their generosity is too immense for me to handle. But what good would it do to say anything? Mija would also be surprised if she knew they were offering companies. So, Sehee decided to keep their generous gifts a secret.
“Alright, Grandmother.”
When Sehee smiled vaguely and agreed, the adults finally began to discuss the wedding. Sehee quietly got up from her seat and carefully sat next to Kang-joon, whispering,
“Kang-joon, they were disappointed that it’s a boy, weren’t they?”
“Disappointed? What are you talking about? They’re happy that they have a grandson they thought they’d never see.”
“No, they’re not...”
Kang-joon, putting an arm around Sehee’s shoulder as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously, pulled her closer and whispered,
“Of course, they would have been happier if it were a daughter.”
“...They wanted a daughter more.”
“Sehee, please understand them. They’re probably sad because a daughter has never been born in the Hanshin family before.”
A daughter has never been born? Sehee’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Kang-joon replied,
“Do you think that saying about the ‘damned Seo family genes’ came out of nowhere? There’s a joke that says the Seo family men cause so much heartache that their wives won’t give birth to daughters, just to spite the Hanshin family.”
“Oh my goodness.”
It meant that the Seo family men’s genes didn’t lose even in the gender battle. At that, Sehee didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I wanted to make them happy.”
At Sehee’s murmur, Kang-joon said with a calm expression,
“What are you worried about? The wife is young, and the husband has overflowing stamina. As you said, Sehee, we can diligently try until we have a little Joo Sehee. I’m confident.”
Why are you saying that here, of all places?! Sehee, glaring at Kang-joon with a flushed face, then let out a faint sigh and asked,
“It’s not pregnancy that’s the problem, it’s the gender. What if I can’t give birth to a daughter either?”
Sehee’s question also implied another meaning. Can I overcome the powerful genes of the Seo family?
“No way. If not Joo Sehee, who else would give birth to a daughter in the Hanshin family?”
Kang-joon leaned down and whispered softly into Sehee’s ear, who was looking at him with questioning eyes.
“No matter the reason, no matter the place. I always lose to Joo Sehee.”
“...”
“Especially in bed.”
“Don’t you think you’re the epitome of ‘submissive by day, dominant by night’?”
When Sehee retorted as if she absolutely couldn’t accept it, Kang-joon mumbled with a serious expression,
“Oh, you don’t seem to believe me.”
Would you believe it if you were me? Kang-joon, chuckling at her passionate eye-protest, fondled her earlobe and whispered sweetly,
“Then I’ll prove it tonight. How much I’m the epitome of ‘submissive by day, submissive by night’.”
At that secret declaration of war, she was too dumbfounded to be angry, and he was too shameless for words. Sehee’s bewildered expression must have seemed cute, as Kang-joon laughed aloud. But Sehee couldn’t laugh along. Half worried about what scheme this lewd tiger had up his sleeve, and half with a strangely excited anticipation.
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