A Real Married Couple - Chapter 40

There was a decisive moment that led Kang Woo to go to America. She drove out the young Kang Woo based on unproven claims that he had mental issues.

The memory of that day was still vivid.

It was the year Kang Woo turned 11.

[Are you saying all these injuries were self-inflicted by Kang Woo?]

Chairman Cha, returning from work, was shocked to see Kang Woo covered in blood. Madam So, standing beside Chairman Cha, spoke with a devastated expression.

[I tried to stop him. But the more I tried, the worse it got.]

As Madam So finally burst into tears, Kang Woo spoke urgently.

[I didn’t do this! Father, please believe me. This was all that woman’s…]

However, Kang Woo’s voice was drowned out by Madam So’s crying.

[Sob, sob, maybe it’s because I’m not his real mother.]

Madam So shed tears and leaned on Chairman Cha’s shoulder.

Kang Woo’s heart sank as he saw his father’s eyes turn colder than ever before.

[That woman? She’s your mother.] [Father.] [I’m sorry, it’s all because of my shortcomings. I said I’d treat you better than Seok Hoon, but I… sob sob.]

Chairman Cha, wrapping his arm around Madam So’s shoulder, spoke to the chief secretary standing behind him.

[Call Dr. Chae. Tell him to bring a psychiatric evaluator too.]

As if it had been predetermined, Kang Woo was quickly diagnosed with schizophrenia.

[It would be good to change the stressful environment itself.]

Based on Dr. Chae’s judgment, Kang Woo was quickly sent to America. And as if planned, he was forcibly admitted to a mental hospital in America.

He couldn’t accept it. But he had no choice but to accept it. And only after acknowledging all illnesses and receiving all kinds of treatments was he able to leave the hospital.

It was after a full 6 years had passed, when Kang Woo turned 17.

After leaving the hospital, he studied with determination to die. He had no intention of returning to Korea. That’s how he entered university without Chairman Cha’s help, and even made good friends.

Time passed, and it was when Kang Woo was 30, contemplating whether to start a business with his friends after completing a business course or join an investment company.

[Come back and take over the company.]

He heard the call to return to Korea when Chairman Cha’s health was gradually deteriorating.

[I’ll stay in America. And isn’t there Cha Seok Hoon? Leave it to him. I don’t have the ability.]

He immediately refused as he had no lingering attachment to Korea and didn’t care about the company.

[Seok Hoon won’t do. And you have enough qualifications. I heard you graduated top of your class in university. I also heard you received a scout offer from J&B. Why didn’t you tell me?]

But Chairman Cha persisted, saying incomprehensible things. In fact, Kang Woo no longer had any affection for his father in his heart. He didn’t feel the need to tell him as he had no intention of impressing him.

Moreover, he had no intention of returning to Korea ever again anyway.

However, Kang Woo’s resolve wavered at Chairman Cha’s next words.

[They say it’s stage 2 stomach cancer now.] [… Who?] [I haven’t told anyone. So, only you know.]

When Chairman Cha confessed to having cancer, Kang Woo’s heart began to waver.

[I had surgery. This too is known only to me and Director Choi.] [Don’t lie. How can that be? How can you hide it from Madam So?] [Kang Woo, sometimes spouses can be worse than strangers.] […] [They said the post-surgery prognosis is good. But who knows what might happen to a person?]

Kang Woo couldn’t say anything to Chairman Cha, who was using his life as a bargaining chip.

[So I’d like you to come back and take over the company. I may be a selfish and heartless father, but please, Kang Woo.]

Thus, Kang Woo, who returned to Korea due to Chairman Cha’s request disguised as blackmail, officially began the successor procedures.

But he set conditions for his father.

To fully accept all his opinions.

The marriage to Hee Won was the same.

The memory of being forcibly sent to America and admitted to a mental hospital was a trauma for Kang Woo.

Chairman Cha promised to proceed with everything according to Kang Woo’s will.

The problem was Madam So. As if expected, his stepmother sharpened her blade towards him. But he was no longer the weak 11-year-old, so he didn’t act recklessly like before.

The problem was Hee Won. He thought that Madam So’s anger, which had been directed at him in childhood, would now be aimed at Hee Won.

Of course, he didn’t think of her as entirely weak. The 22-year-old Kang Woo wasn’t as strong as Hee Won.

She seemed fragile but wasn’t, a woman who seemed like she might break but didn’t. In fact, that’s why he didn’t want to hurt her more and wanted to protect her.

And he thought if something were to happen, it would be today.

Two hours after the event started, he received a call from Mi Yeon, his confidant.

[I saw the elder madam slap the young madam’s cheek. The young madam and I made eye contact, and perhaps feeling concerned, she came to me later and asked me not to tell, but I didn’t mention that I’m your person and just said I understood.]

At that time, Kang Woo was on his way to the next schedule.

“Turn the car around right now.”

“This next appointment is a meeting with the Saudi project manager.”

Kang Woo couldn’t go to Hee Won immediately due to Director Kang’s restraint.

Kang Woo clenched his fist tightly in rising anger.

He didn’t care if Madam So hurt him. But not Hee Won.

As soon as the schedule ended, he messaged Hee Won. In less than a minute, a call came from her.

[Kang Woo.]

As Hee Won’s voice came through the speaker, Kang Woo’s heart ached.

[I was wondering if anything happened.] [Ah…]

After hesitating, she spoke.

[What could have happened? Nothing happened. Jun Seo came too, and many people helped, so it ended successfully.]

His heart ached even more at her bright voice.

Her pretense of being fine made his heart even heavier.

[Are you finished, Kang Woo?]

He felt like going crazy because he felt sorry for her, because he loved hearing her voice.

[I’m almost done now. I think I can wrap up within an hour. When are you coming home, Kang Woo?] [I think I’ll arrive around the same time as you.] [Oh, I see. Then I’ll see you at home.] [Yes, see you later.]

After hanging up, an indescribable emotion swept through Kang Woo’s heart.

The identity of the feeling towards her that had been troubling him all along,

It was love.

He wanted to see Hee Won right away. Forgetting even to speak, Kang Woo headed straight for the hotel where Hee Won was.

And soon after, he saw Hee Won.

After realizing his love, his heart swelled when he saw her.

When he waved, a bright smile appeared on her face.

Kang Woo’s heart began to race at the faint scent of freesia and her calm, soft voice.

Seeing her, he felt even more sorry and guilty.

The day they first met flashed through his mind.

[Want to sleep with me?]

The reason why he, who should have ignored and turned away from such nonsense given his personality, couldn’t pass it by,

[I don’t regret it. Living like a doll like this is more frustrating. But it seems like I won’t be able to do anything I want in the future. It’s my life, and I just wanted to do what I wanted at least once.]

He thought it was because she was a woman who said the same things he had always thought.

But it wasn’t. Perhaps, it was a feeling of attraction to her from the very beginning.

He had constantly denied his feelings for Hee Won subconsciously.

Because his relationship with Hee Won was just a contract marriage, so he dismissed his desire to treat her well not as interest or love, but as wanting to get along well since they were in this situation anyway.

Moreover, Hee Won was 22 years old, just at the age when she should be breaking free from her father’s shadow to experience and enjoy the world.

But now he couldn’t let her go.

Kang Woo, unable to hide his complicated feelings, pulled Hee Won out of his embrace and silently looked at her.

A pretty, kind, and upright person, therefore too precious for him.

“Hee Won.”

Moreover, it was clear that if she stayed by his side like today, she would only get hurt.

He couldn’t drag a beautiful flower into the muddy life of Cha Kang Woo.

As he hugged her and buried his face in her snow-white nape, the faint scent of freesia pricked his nose.

“I’m sorry.”

How dare I.

She deserved to be much happier than she was now.

So, he couldn’t dare to say “I love you” which had risen to his throat.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kang Woo pulled Hee Won out of his embrace and looked down at her for a long time. His expression looked complex and confused.

“I’m really okay. Don’t be sorry.”

Why did she do that?

Hee Won reached out and caressed Kang Woo’s cheek.

Surprised, he opened his eyes wide.

She just wanted to let him know her true feelings.

That she meant it when she said she was fine, that her painful and troubled heart had become okay as soon as she saw him.

Hee Won smiled at Kang Woo.

“I’m really going to eat a lot today.”

A gentle voice flowed from between his lips.

“Hee Won.”

Kang Woo called her name.

Hee Won liked how he called her name. Until she met Kang Woo, she didn’t like her own name.

It made her feel like she was confirming that her mother didn’t love her.

After all, her mother had gone to register her birth without even deciding on a name for her daughter.