Did I Ever Love You? (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2

“Something feels off. This isn’t like Eun Ji Yeon—she’d never let me go so easily.”

Min Woo sat in the car with a sullen expression for a while after getting in.

Eun Ji Yeon had always treated him with boundless affection, behaving almost obsessively—no matter what he did, he fully expected her to cling to him stubbornly.

Yet here she was, being the first to hand over divorce papers. It was beyond surprising—it was hard to believe at all.

But he quickly shook his head, clearing the thought away, and started the car.

She’s letting me divorce this easily—shouldn’t I be happy? Why am I even hesitating now?

As soon as he started driving, he called Se Ah, and she answered right away, as if she’d been waiting.

—Min Woo, where are you? Did you finish talking with that woman?

Se Ah already knew Min Woo was meeting Ji Yeon today to discuss divorce, so she couldn’t help but ask.

“Yeah, I just signed the divorce papers. I’m on my way home now.”

—So you’re a free man now, right? You’re really mine now? Oh gosh, I’m so happy I might cry.

“Se Ah, I’m driving right now. I’ll explain everything in detail once I get home.”

He held back, fearing she’d be disappointed if she heard the full story right away.

—Got it. Hurry home, Min Woo. I miss you so, so much.

Se Ah’s voice, sweeter than ever, flowed through the phone and tickled Min Woo’s ears.

After parting with Min Woo, Ji Yeon walked aimlessly through a nearby park, weighed down by emptiness, and eventually sat on a bench she spotted, blankly staring around.

That look of weary disdain when she’d asked—just once a month, nothing more—to keep seeing him; those contemptuous eyes; the relieved smile as she signed the divorce papers.

The thought that all he ever felt for her was hatred and contempt pierced her heart like a sharp blade.

She knew it herself.

That her feelings for him were still strong, and that her request to meet once a month—wrapped in all sorts of excuses—was merely born from lingering attachment.

‘Little by little, over these remaining six months, I’ll erase Cha Min Woo from my heart. That’s all I need to do.’

As if to shake off her tangled thoughts, Ji Yeon vigorously shook her head and stood up resolutely.

She had to do something—staying still with these feelings would only sink her deeper into gloom.

✦✦✦

[Since going separately might make Mother and Father suspicious, let’s meet in front of the house and go in together. They asked us to be there by 7, so meeting ten minutes early is probably best. I’ll wait for you out front.]

Due to an unexpected summons from her father-in-law, Chairman Cha Seung Jo, she was seeing him again sooner than anticipated—just days later.

Ji Yeon arrived on time and sat on a bench in a park a short distance from the house, sent him a message with her location, and stared blankly at the surroundings while waiting.

‘Spring’s fully here already. Look how beautiful these flowers are. I never used to notice things like this before.’

The gentle breeze carried the scent of trees and blossoms, and she smiled contentedly—until she spotted Cha Min Woo walking into the park and raised her hand.

“Over here.”

As Ji Yeon stood from the bench and walked toward him, Min Woo stopped in his tracks, staring at her as if stunned.

“Eun Ji Yeon! Your hair….”

This Ji Yeon was completely unfamiliar to Min Woo.

After marriage, she’d always kept her jet-black, long straight hair neatly tied, not a strand out of place. Now it was transformed into a bright brown, beautifully wavy cascade flowing down her back.

Gone were the knee-length, neutral-colored skirts, round-neck blouses, and tiny pearl earrings she’d worn without fail.

Instead, she approached him in snug jeans, a ruffled blouse, and dramatic drop earrings swaying with each step.

“I changed my style for spring. What do you think? Does it suit me?”

“You look… incredibly fresh today.”

Actually, Ji Yeon looked refreshingly beautiful.

“Well, if you don’t think it suits me, too bad.”

When Min Woo didn’t immediately say it looked good, Ji Yeon puckered her lips playfully and smiled.

“Alright then, shall we go in and play the perfect couple?”

She slipped her hand onto Min Woo’s arm and leaned closer.

The woman who just days ago had looked utterly shattered, speaking of divorce, was nowhere to be seen—instead, beside him bloomed a woman radiant as spring flowers,

exuding a heady floral scent.

As they entered the in-laws’ home, Min Woo’s mother, Kang Joo Ran, stood waiting—and her eyes widened in shock at the sight of Ji Yeon.

“Oh dear! Ji Yeon, what on earth are you wearing!”

Ji Yeon had fully anticipated Joo Ran’s reaction.

By her mother-in-law’s decree, Ji Yeon had always worn modest, knee-length skirts or dresses.

“A woman must always appear elegant and dignified,” she’d insisted.

So of course Joo Ran would loathe Ji Yeon’s complete opposite look today.

“I changed it for spring, Mother. Doesn’t it suit me?”

“You look so strange, honey! What is this? It looks cheap.”

Only Joo Ran would call her daughter-in-law “cheap”—it was just like her.

“Honey! Come quick and see what Ji Yeon’s done to herself!”

Joo Ran loudly called for Chairman Cha Seung Jo.

“Mother, please stop.”

Min Woo cut her off and led Ji Yeon toward the dining room, where dinner was already set.

“You’re here.”

Chairman Cha slowly approached and sat across from them at the table.

“Honey, doesn’t Ji Yeon’s hair look bizarre? She went and changed it all on her own! And those clothes—so unseemly!”

“Why, it suits her well. You look like a college student now, Ji Yeon!”

Chairman Cha gave Ji Yeon a gentle smile.

“Thank you for the compliment, Father. I wanted to dress more lightly for spring.”

“Good. Well done.”

The four began their meal, and throughout, Joo Ran kept criticizing Ji Yeon’s appearance and outfit.

Near the end of the meal, Chairman Cha suddenly spoke up.

“Ji Yeon wants to go back to work? Chairman Eun mentioned it during our call the other day.”

Both Min Woo and Joo Ran turned to Ji Yeon in shock at the chairman’s words.

She’d told her parents a few days ago about her plans to return to work, and it seemed the news had reached him.

Although her parents had suggested she join Onyu Pharmaceuticals, she’d respectfully declined, saying she lacked interest in management and wanted to gain more experience elsewhere first.

“What? Ji Yeon, you want to work again? Absolutely not! You should stay home quietly and focus on supporting Min Woo. What’s this about work? Have you completely given up on having a baby? You were quiet for a while, and now what’s gotten into you!”

Ji Yeon didn’t directly respond to Joo Ran’s outburst. After a quiet moment, she turned to Chairman Cha and answered.

“Yes, Father. I’d like to return to work. Min Woo agreed, which gave me the courage.”

Her eyes met Min Woo’s with a clear message: “I no longer need your permission—just stay quiet.”

“So I’ve already submitted my resume to Jae Woo Group. I passed the first screening and am now waiting for the second interview date. Please cheer me on, Father.”

“Oh goodness, look at her! You can’t just do things like this on your own—you need our approval! Call them right now and cancel it!”

Joo Ran slammed her water glass onto the table, her voice razor-sharp.

“Yes, Ji Yeon. Go ahead and cancel wherever you applied.”

“Father! But that’s―”

“Don’t worry about that. Come work for our company instead. After hearing from Chairman Eun, I looked into it—there’s an opening in the Planning Department. Why look elsewhere?”

Joo Ran’s shocked gaze now turned to her husband.

“Honey!”

“Enough, will you?”

Chairman Cha spoke quietly to Joo Ran, and she clenched her lips, clearly wanting to say more but holding back.

“I know well how smart you are and how much you love your work. It broke my heart when you quit. I’m glad you’ve decided to return. And if you work for our company, both I and Min Woo will feel at ease. Isn’t that right, Min Woo?”

Min Woo hesitated briefly before answering.

“Yes, join our company. I never even thought of that.”

He looked at Ji Yeon with a hint of reproach, as if blaming her for not telling him sooner.

“Don’t worry—you’re family now. We’ll give you an even better position. Remember how you once told me you’d applied to our Planning Department before but didn’t make it?”

C&C Global’s Planning Department.

Though not an advertising or design firm, it was a place nearly everyone in those fields dreamed of working.

Famous for direct involvement in everything from product design planning—covering everything from home appliances to smartphones—to advertising campaigns.

Especially renowned for offering expanded responsibilities beyond standard planning, being part of C&C’s core Strategic Planning Division.

Back when she worked at her previous company, Ji Yeon had always told her colleagues she’d one day make it there through her own efforts.

As Chairman Cha mentioned, she’d applied there early in her career but had been rejected in the second interview round.

“I’ll have Secretary Choi inform HR. Consider it done.”

“But―”

“Let’s end the discussion here.”

Chairman Cha stood, signaling firmly that the matter was closed.

Ji Yeon’s heart warred within her—part of her insisted this was wrong, yet another voice whispered temptingly, making it hard to outright refuse.

Would it really be so bad… just for a little while?

For one year? Or even just six months?

Would it truly be so wrong to finally work in the place she’d always longed to join?

After the tense family dinner—where Joo Ran had been thoroughly irritated by Ji Yeon’s announcement about returning to work—Ji Yeon suggested they head home separately. But Min Woo insisted on driving her all the way.

Since they’d left the house together in his car, he refused to let her out.

“I told you, just drop me off at the big intersection.”

“Just come.”

Min Woo brushed off Ji Yeon’s words and drove straight to their home—where she now lived alone.

The car ride was filled only with suffocating silence—no music, no conversation.

Min Woo broke the quiet first.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Why should I have told you beforehand?”

“Because you’re―”

‘Still my wife.’

The words rose to Min Woo’s throat but were swallowed back.

“It’s really strange. For the past three years, you never cared what I did—yet suddenly you’re showing interest now?”

Ji Yeon’s tone was laced with sarcasm, leaving Min Woo speechless.

“I’ve always loved working. Of course, you never noticed.”

Min Woo couldn’t deny it.

No—he’d known very well just how much she loved her job.

Before marriage, and for about a year after, Ji Yeon had kept working at her company. Even though he’d never asked, she’d always chattered happily about her day over meals.

Back then, her face had always glowed with vitality and bright energy.

But Min Woo had hated seeing it.

Her joy, her liveliness—it all filled him with resentment.

Perhaps because every time he closed his eyes, he saw Se Ah’s teary face, which made it even worse.

So whenever Ji Yeon spoke excitedly about work, he’d been especially cruel to her.

He’d echoed his mother’s words—telling her to focus on being a proper wife.

If she couldn’t manage both her job and supporting him properly, she should just quit everything.

He’d callously said things that cut straight to her heart.

As days like that piled up, Ji Yeon stopped talking to Min Woo about work. Their conversations dwindled until there was almost nothing left between them.

After however long passed like that, Ji Yeon finally quit her job—and from that moment on, Min Woo never again saw her speak with that old vibrant energy.