A Thrilling Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9

[Are you getting ready?]

“…….”

[You absolutely must keep your promise today. It’s important for both you and me.]

“Yes. Understood.”

[Good.]

The father-son conversation was short and concise. Given that his father had called twice to confirm, it was clear this appointment today was truly non-negotiable.

He trudged slowly toward the bathroom. Do Ha began showering with the expression of an elementary school kid forced to do homework he hated. Honestly, all he wanted today was to rest.

He wanted to water his houseplants, visit the flower shop to bring home a new one, sip a cup of coffee, and finally get around to reading that novel he’d left untouched for so long….

After showering, he picked out his clothes and fixed his hair. Standing before the mirror, he looked flawless.

He was stunningly handsome—so much so it hurt to look at him.

His tall stature and broad shoulders showcased his noble lineage, and his dark eyes, filled with melancholy, sparkled unusually bright.

Grabbing his car keys, he stepped out the front door. As he waited for the elevator, he kept glancing sideways toward So Myung’s front door. It remained firmly shut.

‘Is she doing okay?’

Do Ha couldn’t stop picturing So Myung’s tear-streaked, sorrowful face. Shaking his head, he stepped into the elevator that had just arrived and headed down to the underground parking lot.

He got into the driver’s seat and started driving toward his parents’ home.

Upon arriving, he entered the house. An ample dining table was already set with various dishes, and Chairman Cha sat waiting. As soon as Do Ha walked in, Chairman Cha looked up and spoke.

“Come in.”

“Where’s Mother?”

“She’ll be out shortly.”

Do Ha sat down at the table. Chairman Cha scanned him up and down and remarked,

“You don’t look unwell. Is living away from home treating you well?”

Do Ha looked back at Chairman Cha and replied confidently,

“Yes.”

“You’re old enough now—you should start thinking about marriage.”

“I’m not considering it yet.”

“Since you clearly have no intention of doing it yourself, I’ve arranged a meeting for you.”

“Excuse me?”

At that moment, Do Ha’s mother walked in.

“Do Ha, you’re here? Why have you gotten so thin?”

Eun Young, Do Ha’s mother, possessed a beauty so youthful it was hard to believe she was old enough to be his mother. Though well past middle age, she looked more like Do Ha’s older sister than his parent.

Her long, wavy hair added to her elegance, and the dress she wore—tailored to her exercise-toned figure—accentuated her graceful silhouette.

In truth, Chairman Cha had remarried Eun Young. After losing his first wife, he’d wandered lost in grief until he met Eun Young. Drawn in by her bright, cheerful energy, he fell deeply in love with her.

Eun Young, in turn, had been captivated by his mature kindness and gentleness, and gradually opened her heart to Chairman Cha.

But their marriage—between a mere university student and a chaebol chairman—faced fierce opposition from his family.

Despite overwhelming resistance, their resolve held strong, and Do Ha was born from their union.

Chairman Cha, having fathered a child in his later years, doted on Do Ha with immense love.

If it had been just the three of them, there would have been no issue. But watching his mother endure constant, subtle dismissiveness from relatives—solely because of their disapproval—made Do Ha feel deeply sorry for her.

The burdens she bore just for loving his father weighed heavily on him.

The quiet arrogance and condescension of the chaebol world had instilled in Do Ha a strong aversion toward marriage.

Eun Young sincerely wished for her son Do Ha to marry and live happily.

Yet whenever marriage was mentioned, Do Ha would flare up—leaving her terribly worried.

“Do Ha, why don’t you hire a housemaid? You must be so busy—how do you manage cleaning and chores alone? Why be so stubborn? It breaks my heart.”

“Ah, Mom, just….”

“Still, seeing my son makes me so happy. Do you even know how much I’ve missed you?”

“That’s why I came.”

“Right. Just wait a bit—almost everything’s ready. Honey, when will Chairman Lee’s family be arriving?”

“They’ll be here soon.”

“I see.”

“Father, Chairman Lee’s family?”

“I invited them today to introduce you. Seo Bin just returned from studying abroad.”

“Sigh… I clearly said I didn’t want this. Why won’t either of you help me?”

“Do Ha, crossing that line is something your father won’t forgive.”

Though he cherished and loved Do Ha, Chairman Cha—firm when necessary—gave him a warning look.

Do Ha had no choice but to sit stiffly in his seat with a stony expression.

He felt unbearably tense just sitting there. Soon enough, Chairman Lee’s family arrived. Chairman Cha stood and greeted Chairman Lee with a smile, while Eun Young warmly welcomed Madam Oh and Seo Bin who followed behind.

“Welcome.”

Once Chairman Lee’s family was seated, a cheerful, lively meal commenced.

Everyone chatted and laughed—but Do Ha kept his head down, focused solely on eating.

Seo Bin glanced at him, then quickly looked away. When her eyes met Eun Young’s, she offered a faint smile.

“By the way, don’t you think it’s about time we set a date for our Seo Bin and Do Ha?”

Chairman Cha brought up the very reason for the gathering—the marriage discussion between the two. Hearing this, Chairman Lee chuckled and chimed in,

“Exactly. They’re both at the perfect age to marry. Do Ha, what do you think of our Seo Bin?”

Chairman Lee subtly tested Do Ha, and all eyes immediately turned toward him.

“…I already have someone I intend to marry. Thank you for the meal. Please enjoy the rest. I’ll head home now.”

Do Ha set down his utensils, abruptly stood, and left. Chairman Cha and Eun Young were left flustered and at a loss.

Chairman Lee and his wife’s faces darkened at Do Ha’s rudeness. Noticing their expressions, Eun Young forced an awkward smile and hurriedly explained,

“Our Do Ha has always preferred focusing on work over marriage—he’s repeatedly said he’s not interested. But when I heard Seo Bin was returning from abroad, I secretly called him here without telling him. He’s probably upset at being tricked. It’s entirely my fault—I’m so sorry. It seems I’ve raised him without proper manners.”

Seo Bin quickly echoed Eun Young’s words,

“I’d feel stressed too if someone kept pushing me to do something I dislike. I hope what Do Ha Oppa said isn’t true—I’ve liked him since forever.”

“What a kind heart you have, Seo Bin. Thank you for understanding.”

“Not at all. I’ll just go say hello to Do Ha Oppa.”

“You will?”

Seo Bin quickly walked out after Do Ha.

Just as Do Ha reached his car, he heard Seo Bin calling out from a distance.

“Oppa.”

Do Ha glared at her with an angry expression.

“Just a moment. Just one moment, okay?”

Do Ha, about to open his car door, stopped and waited for her. As he waited, his expression grew darker.

“Oppa, after meeting again after four years, you’re leaving right away? That hurts my feelings.”

“You only ever think about yourself, don’t you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“This isn’t really the time or place for us to sit face-to-face and talk like this, is it?”

“What are we even to each other?”

Her provoking tone made Do Ha’s anger boil over. Eyes narrowed with tension, he snapped,

“You should know better than anyone.”

“A couple in love?”

“I’m leaving. I’d prefer never to see you again.”

Just as Do Ha opened the car door to get in, Seo Bin laughed—as if mocking him—and continued,

“Do you really think that’s possible? We’re destined for an arranged marriage anyway.”

“I’d rather die than marry you.”

“Why? I’ve missed you for four long years.”

“Do you find it fun playing with people’s feelings?”

With a hardened expression, Do Ha opened the door and got into the car.

Seo Bin stood confidently and called out loudly,

“I’ve decided I’m marrying you. Isn’t that a win-win for both of us?”

Do Ha didn’t even glance at her—clearly unwilling to listen—as he replied,

“I have someone I love.”

He immediately started the engine, pressed the accelerator, and drove away from Seo Bin. Startled by his words, Seo Bin stood momentarily dumbfounded, watching his car disappear into the distance.

Once, they truly had been in love.

They’d spent so much time together since childhood—at first like a caring older brother and younger sister, but as they entered adolescence, Do Ha grew more masculine while Seo Bin became increasingly feminine.

Naturally, they began to see each other as man and woman, eventually falling deeply in love. Do Ha had hoped Seo Bin would be both his first and last love.

But Seo Bin was curious and adventurous. When their long-standing relationship began to feel dull, she started looking elsewhere—behind Do Ha’s back—until her double life was finally exposed.

She still very much wanted to marry Do Ha. Their union would be perfect—company to company—and becoming the next chairman’s wife had always been on her bucket list. If only she hadn’t been caught.

She did love Do Ha—but she also needed other thrills.

She could never forget the look in Do Ha’s eyes the day he saw her with another man.

The emptiness, the sorrow in his gaze. Without asking her a single question, he simply walked away—and never contacted her again.

She went abroad to study, and even while overseas, her dating never stopped. Yet she always believed her final chapter would be with Do Ha.

Now that she’d returned after graduating, heart pounding with anticipation… only to find he had someone else. Fury surged within her.

‘Either way, you’ll never escape my grasp.’

Seo Bin began scheming how to get rid of Do Ha’s new lover.

As Do Ha drove, he couldn’t stop thinking about Seo Bin. He’d loved her with all his heart—but all he’d received in return was betrayal.

He no longer believed in love. The pain she’d inflicted had been too deep, so he shut the door to his heart. After their breakup, he grew even colder, harshly rejecting anyone who showed him affection.

Being alone was easier. Alone, he wouldn’t risk getting hurt again. It was his houseplants that pulled him through.

They flourished in return for the love he gave them, comforting him by his side. He swore he’d never marry.

Now, after four years, Seo Bin had shamelessly reappeared—and the fire in his chest reignited. The anger he’d kept dormant surged back fiercely. Just when he thought he was finally starting to forget her….

Without even realizing it, he’d lied—claiming he already had someone he loved.

His mind was in chaos, his chest tight. Sighs kept escaping his lips.

Just then, his phone rang loudly. Frowning, Do Ha checked the caller.

It was his father. He answered hands-free.

[You fool. Does disgracing your father’s face make you feel satisfied?]

“I’m sorry.”

[Who is this girl you’re seeing?]

“I’ll tell you later.”

Not in the mood to argue with his father, Do Ha quickly ended the call.

Calm waves in his life had suddenly turned into a storm.

Do Ha drove to his building’s underground parking lot, took the elevator up, and stood silently in front of his apartment. He gazed wordlessly at the neighboring unit. It was quiet—as if no one was home.

‘Has her foot healed yet?’