A Thrilling Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 6

“Yes. We’re just friends—sometimes we drink tea, watch movies.”

“……”

“Ah… I’m sorry. I’m really sorry if I was too rude.”

Ra Hee Chae quickly apologized when she saw Ji Sung’s flustered expression.

“Okay. Fine. Friends.”

He felt momentarily dazed even after saying it himself. Could he really be friends with this woman? Still, he didn’t want to lose her. He found himself intensely curious about her standing right before him.

Ra Hee Chae gave him a faint smile, then took out her phone and handed it to him.

“Then please give me your number.”

“Sure.”

Ji Sung entered his number into Ra Hee Chae’s phone and called himself. His own phone rang, displaying Ra Hee Chae’s number. He quickly saved her contact information.

The two smiled at each other over sushi.

“Team Leader, would you like to watch a movie tomorrow? There’s one I really want to see, but I don’t want to go alone.”

“Alright.”

Ra Hee Chae recalled her first meeting with Ji Sung, then abruptly turned off her phone. Her expression hardened, as if she’d made up her mind.

‘Oppa is mine.’

After finishing work, Ji Sung stared at his phone. Neither Ra Hee Chae nor So Myung had called him.

Ji Sung first called Ra Hee Chae. After several rings, an automated voice came on.

“The phone is turned off……”

He grew worried that Ra Hee Chae’s phone was off. Having finished getting ready to leave, he began to fret—should he go to So Myung, who wasn’t feeling well, or to Ra Hee Chae, who had turned off her phone?

Checking his watch anxiously, he realized Ra Hee Chae might not have even left work yet. He quickly grabbed his bag and headed down the emergency stairs.

Ra Hee Chae’s marketing team worked on the floor directly below.

He cautiously passed by her office, glancing to see if she was still there.

But she wasn’t in sight.

She must have already left. He took the elevator down to the underground parking lot and got into his car. He called Ra Hee Chae again.

Her phone remained off. A short sigh escaped his lips. With a determined look, he started the engine and began driving.

Ji Sung left So Myung, who wasn’t feeling well, behind and headed straight for Ra Hee Chae’s officetel.

After work, Ra Hee Chae returned to her officetel. She’d decided she needed some distance from Ji Sung for now. In past relationships, she’d always held the upper hand—but Ji Sung was different.

She was clearly in love with Ji Sung. Whenever a boyfriend made her uncomfortable in a relationship, she’d instantly decide to break up with him.

After all, she could always find someone else if it wasn’t him. Every man she showed interest in inevitably fell for Ra Hee Chae—but Ji Sung was different.

She genuinely liked him. She’d get angry whenever he left her place to go home. Nothing got done at work.

She wanted to keep being with him, to make him hers. She finally believed her chance had come.

His wife had apparently noticed something between them. She’d hoped Ji Sung would take a firmer stance, but his voice had sounded weak.

His guilt-ridden tone about being caught by his wife had wounded Ra Hee Chae’s pride.

She was also angry at herself for being unable to simply cling to him like she had with past lovers—and then abruptly dump him if he disappointed her.

As soon as she got home, Ra Hee Chae took a shower and began redoing her makeup. Hoping Ji Sung might come looking for her, she applied makeup subtly and naturally.

She kept checking the clock, mentally calculating how long it would take him to get off work and reach her officetel.

Just as the time she’d estimated was nearly up, the doorbell rang.

At that moment, the corners of Ra Hee Chae’s mouth lifted slightly.

Ra Hee Chae pretended not to notice Ji Sung pressing the doorbell repeatedly. When he kept ringing without any response, Ji Sung began pounding on the door with his hands.

“Ra Hee, I know you’re in there. Please open the door.”

“Ra Hee, please. I’m going crazy. Just let me see your face.”

Just as Ji Sung, having rambled alone for a while, started sounding exhausted, Ra Hee Chae’s voice came from inside.

“Go away. It’s over between us now, Oppa.”

“Ra Hee, what are you talking about?”

Ji Sung asked with shocked eyes at Ra Hee Chae’s sudden breakup declaration.

“You don’t care about me anymore, do you? I realized it today—how you really feel about me.”

“Ra Hee, just open the door first. Let me explain. It’s about Oha. That’s all.”

“Go home.”

“Ra Hee, I’m staying right here until you open the door. I absolutely won’t leave.”

“Even if I tell you to go?”

“Ra Hee, please. I’m begging you.”

Hearing Ji Sung’s desperate voice, Ra Hee Chae reluctantly cracked the door open. The moment it opened, Ji Sung rushed into her officetel and pulled her tightly into his arms.

Then he whispered into her ear.

“Ra Hee, you’re the only one for me. Were you really upset about this morning?”

“Yeah. You looked so distressed about that woman finding out about us. I thought this was my chance.”

“Yeah. Actually, it worked out well. I didn’t mean to hurt you—if I did, I’m sorry. My head’s just been a mess because So Myung won’t agree to divorce easily.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me that? I misunderstood you.”

“I didn’t want you to worry. I was trying to handle it myself somehow.”

“Oppa, can we really get married?”

“Of course. You’re the only one for me.”

Ji Sung released their embrace and looked into her face. The more he looked, the more beautiful she appeared. This young, gorgeous woman right before his eyes was passionately declaring her love for him.

It felt like a dream—so incredibly sweet. She was.

He slowly leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Their passionate kiss deepened, their breathing growing heavier.

Ji Sung held her tightly, afraid she might vanish from his side, while she gazed at him with a teasing expression, driving him wild.

Ji Sung was happily floundering in the strangely pleasurable swamp Ra Hee Chae created, utterly unconcerned about what others might think.

He was growing increasingly demonic as he schemed how to tear away from So Myung, his devoted wife who had always looked only at him.

******

So Myung had resolved that if Ji Sung came home today, she wouldn’t hesitate or hold back—she’d finally ask him directly about that other woman. Struggling to sit up, she showered and changed clothes.

She put on the neatest outfit she owned and applied simple makeup. She no longer wanted Ji Sung to see her looking pitiful.

Having finished getting ready, she waited for Ji Sung—but he never came. So Myung kept checking the clock and repeatedly hesitated about calling him again.

So Myung stayed awake all night waiting for Ji Sung, who never returned. Had she dozed off without realizing it?

When she opened her eyes again, Ji Sung was still nowhere to be found.

‘Why are you doing this to me?’

She tried not to cry, but tears kept falling anyway. Just then, her phone rang loudly. She picked it up and checked the caller.

It was her mother-in-law, Madam Jung. So Myung’s already gloomy expression darkened further. She forced herself to answer the phone with as much strength as she could muster.

“Yes, Mother.”

[Come over for dinner this weekend.]

“Yes?”

[Last time I visited and left like that, yet you didn’t even call once?]

“I’m sorry, Mother.”

[Bring Ji Sung along. Let’s just have a meal.]

“Ah… yes, Mother.”

[Then I’ll see you then.]

“Yes. Goodbye.”

As soon as she hung up, a sigh slipped from So Myung’s lips.

‘He even stayed out overnight yesterday. Ji Sung, are you really the Ji Sung An I know? Why are you acting like this… why!’

This was the first time since their marriage that Ji Sung hadn’t come home without any notice. The sudden storm made it difficult for So Myung to steady her mind.

She didn’t know where to start fixing things. She felt pathetic for constantly trying to run away from reality.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone again and called Ji Sung.

After a few rings, Ji Sung’s calm voice came through.

Thump thump

‘Why is my heart pounding? Why?’

[Hello.]

“Honey.”

So Myung’s voice trembled badly as she called him “honey.”

[Yeah.]

Ji Sung was no longer the man he used to be.

“Why… didn’t you come home?”

[I’m sorry.]

“What? Give me a reason. Something I can understand.”

[I’m at the office right now. Let’s talk when I get home.]

“……”

[I’m hanging up.]

His cold tone felt like it was gouging into her chest. He’d always been such a gentle man.

His change—this man who once looked only at her—was so unfamiliar she couldn’t believe this reality.

After hanging up, So Myung hesitated for a long time.

Her chest felt so tight she desperately wanted to confide in someone…

She thought of her mother—but couldn’t bring herself to make the call. She didn’t want to hurt her mom.

Her mother, who always stepped forward eagerly for her daughter’s sake, had raised So Myung—an only child—on her own with immense love and care.

After losing her father early, So Myung had grown into a bright, positive person largely thanks to her mother’s strength. Raised with abundant love, she had high self-esteem.

She’d never felt ashamed about her humble family background or her father’s passing.

Madam Jung had opposed the marriage because So Myung had no father, was raised by a single mother, and came from an unremarkable household—but So Myung had declared to Ji Sung that if those were the reasons for opposition, she wouldn’t marry him.

Eventually, as the saying goes, parents can’t win against their children, and Madam Jung relented to Ji Sung’s insistence, allowing the marriage.

Now, after such a hard-won marriage, she couldn’t hurt her mother just because she was suffering. Lying there doing nothing only made those thoughts torment her more.

She started cleaning the house frantically—running the vacuum, wringing out rags, and scrubbing the floors by hand.

She owned an electric mop, but she desperately needed to keep her body moving, if only to briefly escape this swamp of thoughts.

By evening, she looked in the mirror—her hair was tangled, and her body drenched in sweat. As she changed clothes to meet him, she heard the sound of someone entering the password.

She looked toward the front door in surprise.

Thump thump

Her heart began pounding wildly.

Flustered, So Myung quickly smoothed her hair. Ji Sung entered the house with a dark expression.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah.”

Just like that morning, Ji Sung’s face remained shadowed, his tone still cold.

“Go wash up first. Change clothes, then let’s talk.”

When So Myung spoke to him, Ji Sung let out a deep sigh.

“No. Let’s do it now.”

Ji Sung loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, then slumped onto the sofa.

“Ji Sung, what’s wrong with you?”

At So Myung’s words, Ji Sung stared intently at her. A flicker of regret passed through his eyes.

“I’m sorry, So Myung. I really want a divorce.”

“What?”

“You know, right? How I was completely infatuated with you—couldn’t think straight. I still am. I’m going crazy. I want to live with that woman.”

His blunt confession left So Myung speechless, her throat tight as if choked.

“Let’s not make this any harder on ourselves.”

“Ji Sung, I still love you.”

At So Myung’s words, Ji Sung’s eyes wavered.

She was his first love—the woman he’d loved madly, his wife who had looked only at him and stood by his side all this way…

It wasn’t that he’d grown to dislike her and cheated. His heart had simply been stolen by Ra Hee Chae, who’d suddenly appeared before him.

She’d taken control of his entire being. Though he felt guilty toward So Myung—as a human being—he felt he couldn’t survive even a single day without Ra Hee Chae.

“I don’t love you anymore. I’ll send you the divorce papers.”

“Don’t go.”

So Myung grabbed Ji Sung’s arm with a desperate expression.

“Right now… I really hate you, and forgiving you won’t be easy. But please, don’t go.”