I Became a Mother (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“Assemblyman Jeon Hyung Joon was involved in a minor collision and is now hospitalized. He asked for your understanding regarding the unavoidable cancellation of the meeting.”
Team Leader Nam opened the car door for Kyo Hwan, who was coming down wearing sunglasses to hide the tear stains.
“Is that so?”
The wristwatch pointed to 3 p.m.
It was just about the time Seung Yul’s school classes ended.
“Then let’s go pick up Yul from school.”
Vroom. The car started off with a smooth engine hum.
In the back seat, Kyo Hwan removed his sunglasses, leaned back against the seat, and gazed out the window with sore eyes as the scenery receded.
Jeongeum International School, a private foundation.
By the time he arrived, the classroom was already empty—classes had ended.
“I’m sorry for dropping by unannounced. My afternoon schedule was suddenly canceled, and I wanted to check how Yul is doing in school.”
“That’s no problem at all. We’ve received the generous donation your mother contributed to the charity art exhibition.”
“Huh?”
What? My mother?
“You mean… my mother came here?”
Facing Seung Yul’s homeroom teacher in the classroom, Kyo Hwan slowly closed and reopened his eyes.
“Yes. She mentioned she’s been busy lately with wedding preparations.”
“Oh…”
Wedding preparations.
She’d said she’d let go once he married Han Na.
Kyo Hwan hadn’t even considered the possibility that the “mother” the teacher referred to might be Hyo Jin—he’d simply assumed it was Ja Hyun who’d come to the school.
“The staff all send their congratulations. Your mother was incredibly beautiful.”
“…”
The teacher probably meant this as a kind gesture for someone about to get married, but Kyo Hwan—who understood it was about his actual mother, Ja Hyun—didn’t even offer a polite word of thanks. Instead, he immediately moved to the real reason he’d come to the school.
“Is Yul doing well in school?”
“Oh, yes.”
Puzzled by his dry response, the teacher gave an awkward smile.
“When he first transferred, the Parent-Teacher Association raised quite a few objections, and we were worried. But everything quieted down after your mother visited. Seung Yul gets along well with the other kids now—it’s all thanks to your mother. He clearly adores her too.”
“My… mother?”
The teacher, unable to understand why Kyo Hwan kept asking, just smiled and shook her head.
“No—not his grandmother. His mother.”
“Huh?”
Kyo Hwan’s furrowed brow, already tight with suspicion, only narrowed further.
“He even bragged that his mom paints beautifully and is an excellent pianist.”
Wait—could that be wrong?
Seeing Kyo Hwan grow even more perplexed, the teacher blinked rapidly.
“When exactly did she come to the school?”
“It was the last day of the exhibition. The Parent-Teacher Association held a charity art show for children with developmental disabilities.”
“Do you happen to have any photos or brochures?”
The teacher pulled out a brochure she’d kept as a keepsake from her file.
“I was actually planning to take a commemorative photo with Seung Yul, but she politely declined and instead took pictures of all the children’s artwork with her phone.”
“Is that so?”
Who on earth could it be?
Painting and piano—those were things that applied only to his late wife.
Kyo Hwan, who’d just visited his wife’s grave, suddenly felt as if she really had secretly come to the school without him knowing.
Taekwondo Dojang.
“Baby, all changed?”
Hyo Jin adjusted Seung Yul’s clothes as he stepped out of the changing room in his dobok, then firmly tugged both ends of the black belt around his waist to secure the knot.
Despite talking like a little old man, when it came to dressing or eating, he still needed hands-on help—after all, Baby was Baby.
“Where did you put your math workbook? I couldn’t find it anywhere in your bag.”
“I took it out during break to do homework and forgot to put it back.”
“You really should’ve kept better track. You have math class next. I’ll go back to the school and get it. You stay and train well.”
Hyo Jin got out of Driver Seo’s car at the fountain plaza and hurried toward the stairs leading to the second-grade classrooms.
“Well, I was worried, but I’m relieved to hear he’s adapting well.”
Huh? Whose voice was that—so dry and icy like dry ice? Hyo Jin felt a chill run deep into her bones and froze mid-step.
Nah, there’s no way Father-in-law would be at school at this hour.
Convincing herself it was just overreaction, she took another step—
“Oh! There she is, just arriving!”
“…?”
“Seung Yul’s mother!”
Oh no. Only now did she realize her earlier unease hadn’t been baseless paranoia. As she quickly tried to turn around, the homeroom teacher’s voice rang out from above like a confirmation shot.
“Seung Yul’s mother, where are you going? Your father-in-law has just arrived.”
The teacher was delighted that the two had met so fortuitously, but for Hyo Jin, it was the exact opposite.
Of all times—she had to run into him while coming back for the book she’d left at school.
“…Seung Yul’s mother?”
Hearing his cold, questioning tone and the sound of footsteps descending the stairs, Hyo Jin felt her heart pounding so hard it seemed to sink right through the floor.
Thud. Thud. As he came down the stairs and stood facing her, Kyo Hwan’s brow slowly furrowed.
“Where are you off to? I feel like we have a great deal to discuss.”
“…”
Under his sharp gaze, Hyo Jin nearly screamed as if she’d stepped barefoot on a thumbtack.
With the homeroom teacher watching, Kyo Hwan walked beside her as if they were an affectionate married couple and personally opened the back door of his car parked nearby.
Why didn’t I notice this car when I arrived at school earlier?
“Get in. Seung Yul’s mother.”
Why are you doing this, Father-in-law? You might as well just curse at me outright.
Unlike Hyo Jin, whose face flushed with fluster, he showed no change in expression whatsoever.
Slam. Kyo Hwan shut the rear door—hard enough to feel like a slap—and walked around the hood to get into the passenger seat.
“Cancel all my appointments this afternoon.”
“Yes?”
Team Leader Nam, who had no idea what had just happened inside, paused before starting the car and turned to look at Kyo Hwan beside him.
“What should I tell the clients?”
“Tell them a serious family matter has come up—today, Choi Kyo Hwan isn’t acting as an attorney, but simply as a father spending time with his son. Kindly ask for their generous understanding.”
His gaze in the rearview mirror, fixed on Hyo Jin in the back seat, was like that of a predator who’d just caught its prey.
“Yes, understood.”
Anticipating the storm that was about to hit her, Hyo Jin clenched her trembling fingertips and stared at his impressively broad, sharply tailored shoulders.
Even in this situation, I’m admiring his suit fit… I really haven’t come to my senses yet.
Damn it, Bong Hyo Jin. Is this really the time for that? I’m being dragged straight to the slaughterhouse.
She tried to think of an excuse for being called “Seung Yul’s mom,” but her mind went completely blank—bleached white like laundry.
Upon arriving at Sangrimwon, Kyo Hwan headed straight for Hyo Jin’s quarters instead of his office.
Remembering how she’d worn his late wife’s clothes before, Hyo Jin couldn’t help but feel he was acting like she might have secretly taken something else of her wife’s—making her mood sour.
“…You’ve taught my son remarkably well. At only nine years old, he’s already deceiving his friends and teachers by calling you ‘Mom.’”
His cold, mocking tone didn’t even bother with the title “teacher” anymore—she was just a fraud to him.
“I’m sorry.”
“An apology isn’t what’s needed first. You should explain why this happened in the first place. I thought I’d already made that clear.”
His icy gaze made Hyo Jin’s voice tremble so badly her teeth nearly clattered.
“When I went to the school, some mothers were talking about Seung Yul—how he was expelled from Singapore, and that he’s being raised alone by his father with no mother, so he’s problematic.”
“And so…?”
His indifferent, “So what?” response left Hyo Jin’s words stuck in her throat as if she’d tripped over a threshold.
“Oh! I tried to hold back at first, but then one of them said if his dad remarries and has another child, Seung Yul’s done for.”
“And what of it?”
“Huh?”
Hyo Jin, who’d been miming a throat-cutting gesture, blinked a few times in stunned silence.
“…Father-in-law, aren’t you even upset hearing this?”
If she, who wasn’t even his real mother, was this furious—
“Then let me ask you—what does that have to do with you? Even I, his actual father, am letting it go.”
Hah. The way he said “you” instead of “teacher” alone made Hyo Jin sense her fate approaching.
“But it could really happen! If he remarries and has another child, it’s over for him!”
While Ja Hyun—the real mother—believed marriage would fully restore her position as the representative, Kyo Hwan had long feared exactly this outcome.
Just as Grandfather had once designated his father’s friend, Attorney Kang Jae Ik, as an adopted heir in place of his idle father.
“So that’s why the Parent-Teacher Association mothers quieted down?”
“Oh, that’s…”
Kyo Hwan, who’d asked the question, cut her off before she could even begin her explanation—he clearly didn’t want to hear any excuses.
“Never mind. Did Seung Yul know about this and go along with it?”
“No! Seung Yul knows absolutely nothing!”
Terrified the blame might fall on Seung Yul, Hyo Jin’s voice rose sharply, veins popping in her neck.
“He was furious! He yelled at me—‘You’re not my real mom, so why did you tell the teacher you were?’”
“So you’re saying you did this entirely on your own initiative.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Why?”
His imposing presence as he moved closer instinctively made Hyo Jin’s head tilt backward.
“Who the hell do you think you are, daring to play mother to my son? He already has a real mother who gave birth to him…”
His eyes blazed with the ferocity of a predator sinking its teeth into cornered prey.
“I care about Seung Yul. He’s cute, lovable—sometimes he even looks after me like an adult. I just wanted to do something for him too.”
“So you decided to become his mother? How touching. My son means that much to you.”
With each sarcastic remark, Hyo Jin felt her shoulders hunch deeper inward until her heart itself seemed to shrink.
“But if you were his real mother…”
Kyo Hwan’s icy gaze chilled the very air around her.
“…you’d never, ever do something like that.”
Lying to friends and teachers in the child’s name.
“You couldn’t do that—absolutely not—if you were his real mother. Do you understand?”
“Then what should I have done?”
Like a worm that squirms when stepped on, Hyo Jin finally snapped back.
Was she supposed to just stand there and take it?
“Sigh. This is exactly why I wanted an experienced teacher.”
Kyo Hwan sighed wearily.
“Then why didn’t you just say from the beginning that you wanted someone experienced? Someone who’s married and even has kids, while you’re at it.”
He’d hired her himself! Why was he acting like this now?
“But Professor Kim Yong Hoon recommended you.”
“…!”
“I didn’t like you from the start—an inexperienced rookie—but I trusted you because the professor vouched for you. And now, someone I’ve always respected has deeply disappointed me.”
Hearing him say the professor had never let him down before, Hyo Jin bit her lip hard.
“I’m truly sorry for disappointing you. The professor only believed in me and gave me a recommendation—that’s all. Punish me however you see fit for my mistake, but please don’t blame the professor because of me. I beg you.”
After shouting back fiercely just moments ago, she now stood with her head bowed like a wilted cabbage. Watching her, Kyo Hwan’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
Just how did she even know my father?
He felt a flicker of curiosity—but even that felt like a waste of energy and an annoyance.
“Representative.”
Team Leader Nam entered, having just finished a call with the bank on Kyo Hwan’s orders.
“Did you verify the account?”
Team Leader Nam relayed the grim news he’d just received from the bank.
“On October 20th, twenty million won was withdrawn from the account Madam left in Seung Yul’s name.”
Twenty million won? Good heavens, has she lost her mind?!
Hyo Jin’s jaw dropped in shock—but the moment her eyes met Kyo Hwan’s, she clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Judging by your reaction, I suppose you didn’t know about this either? Seung Yul insisted he knew nothing.”
“Ah—Father-in-law!”
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, clutching at Kyo Hwan’s jacket as he turned to leave.
“I’m so sorry. Seung Yul is completely innocent—it was all my doing.”
With a detached gaze, Kyo Hwan easily pulled his jacket free from her grasp and issued a sharp command.
“Until further notice, you are not to step one foot out of this room.”
After leaving the room, he ordered Driver Seo to guard the door, then headed toward the annex where Seung Yul’s room was, shouting to Team Leader Nam as he walked.
“Bring Seung Yul to me immediately. Right now!”
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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Took back his own words real fast, funny man. Wonder what her message is
He really is a bad father. Kinda sad how he just left his son alone.