Postponing Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11

Chae Yoon had never belonged to any of the connections Jae Oh had built up until now.

After learning the true nature of Jung Woong and Kyeong Hee, Jae Oh no longer viewed favorably the people who approached him warmly and acted friendly.

No matter how they act on the outside, their insides are probably different—what are they really thinking behind those smiles when I’m not looking?

Because I’m the grandson of a chaebol family, and the more successfully I run each business, the more obvious it becomes that they’re putting on an act to curry favor with me and get something in return. So I kept only an appropriate distance and never gave them my heart.

Even if I did give my heart, the moment they decided my abilities were lacking, they’d betray me in an instant.

Even if that weren’t the case, thinking they were only staying by my side to gain something from me, Jae Oh decided that maintaining a reasonable distance from everyone was the most efficient approach.

This tendency was especially strong toward “women.”

Whenever he saw a woman giving soft, smiling eyes, he’d remember Kyeong Hee’s face as she faked smiles for him, so women were rare in Jae Oh’s business network, and privately, they didn’t exist at all.

Part of it was that there wasn’t a single woman attractive enough to want by his side, but Chae Yoon was the one and only exception to Jae Oh’s usual pattern.

[The oppa I’ve known would never do anything he didn’t want to, no matter what anyone said, yet with me he readily agreed to marriage and even sharing a room, so I was curious.]

When he heard those words, Jae Oh was certain that being with Chae Yoon was far better than being with any other woman.

He had simply thought the reason he could be so sure was “because Song Chae Yoon is the only woman who doesn’t get on my nerves,” but after talking with Chae Yoon today, he felt he now understood the real reason.

Until now, he hadn’t once thought of Woo Kyeong Hee.

He realized for the first time today, while looking at Chae Yoon, that the hypocritical image of Kyeong Hee—which used to appear no matter which woman he saw—had never once surfaced when he looked at Chae Yoon.

‘So that’s why.’

That’s why he felt this sense of betrayal.

Because she was the only person who didn’t make him think of Jung Woong and Kyeong Hee when he looked at her.

You were the exception in everything.

I must have trusted you a lot without even realizing it.

At the very least, Song Chae Yoon, you—

[Okay. Let’s do it, let’s get married.]

—I believed that as long as I didn’t let go of your hand first, you would never leave me.

Yet you…

[We’re really dating.] [Prepare the divorce papers as quickly as possible and give them to me.]

The pale face that had stared at him dryly and snapped those words rose clearly in his mind.

His thick eyebrows furrowed. Perhaps shocked by how much he had trusted Chae Yoon, a bitterly painful feeling welled up from deep inside his heart.

Feeling as though even his mouth had turned bitter, Jae Oh clenched his jaw muscles to push the surging emotions down, but the feelings that had already swollen to the brim refused to subside easily.

Moreover, the more he looked at the photos of Chae Yoon and Hyun Min, the more he felt as though Chae Yoon had been stolen from him—an extremely unpleasant sensation—and his handsome face darkened.

“Ah, this is annoying.”

He had thought that if he could just figure out why he was so furious, he would feel better, but far from feeling better, his emotions only grew more tangled.

On top of that, Chae Yoon’s words kept replaying in his mind, adding an uneasy feeling to his already complicated mood.

[I’m not in that kind of relationship with Assistant Manager Lim.]

Although she eventually admitted they were dating, the Chae Yoon he knew wasn’t the type to lie. She had no reason to lie.

So why did she first say no, then later say yes?

As Jae Oh began trying to gauge Chae Yoon’s true feelings, the corners of his eyes narrowed thinly. His long index finger started tapping the table in a steady rhythm.

Tok, tok, tok.

The finger moving in time with his thoughts stopped abruptly.

Figuring out why his heart was so tangled was difficult, but finding out why Chae Yoon had lied was simple.

All he had to do was talk to her.

Having decided on a course of action, Jae Oh lit up his phone screen.

The way he stared at Chae Yoon’s name was unusually persistent.

After crying her eyes out in front of Ji Pil and stepping outside, Chae Yoon was trying to calm her flushed, tear-streaked face in the cold wind.

The moment she spoke of divorce and admitted she was dating Hyun Min, she had thought she would lose not only Jae Oh but Ji Pil as well.

Yet Ji Pil hadn’t pried at all and had instead wholeheartedly supported her, soothing even a little the pain in her heart caused by Jae Oh.

Seeing that reaction, words she could never say in front of Jae Oh flowed out easily.

[I… still like oppa.] […] [But even after three years, to oppa I’m still just a younger acquaintance, so I think it’s time I stopped.]

When she revealed the real reason she wanted to divorce Jae Oh, Ji Pil nodded as if he understood her feelings completely and answered,

[Alright, got it. I understand everything you’re feeling, so stop crying now, okay?]

Recalling that final conversation with Ji Pil, Chae Yoon took a deep, steadying breath.

Now all that was left was the divorce.

‘So let’s think positively.’

She wouldn’t be able to see Han Jae Oh anymore, but at least she could still occasionally contact Ji Pil—that thought comforted her aching heart a little. Chae Yoon checked the time.

Seeing that lunch break was almost over, she stood up from her seat.

She had skipped the meal, but perhaps because of the stress, she wasn’t hungry.

‘Oppa must have eaten, right? He shouldn’t work on an empty stomach.’

Startled by the thought that had slipped out unconsciously, Chae Yoon stopped walking.

“Ah…”

A faint, self-mocking sigh escaped through her full lips.

Had she not yet sorted out her feelings?

What was so good about a man who wouldn’t even listen to her that she was still like this?

No matter how little control people have over their hearts, this felt excessive.

At that moment, the phone in Chae Yoon’s hand vibrated long.

「Jae Oh oppa」

Chae Yoon’s expression hardened the instant she saw Jae Oh’s name.

She had thought her heart had calmed thanks to Ji Pil’s comfort. But his name alone instantly brought back the pain.

Remembering Jae Oh ignoring her and refusing to listen to a single word she said, Chae Yoon pressed her lips tightly together.

She didn’t think she should answer the call right now. She had no idea what her uncontrollable heart might make her say to him, and above all, she didn’t want to hear Jae Oh’s voice.

After staring silently at Jae Oh’s name on the screen, Chae Yoon eventually slipped the phone into her pocket.

The call could not be connected…

Hearing the message that Chae Yoon wasn’t picking up, the ends of Jae Oh’s eyebrows twisted crookedly.

Jae Oh called again. But Chae Yoon still didn’t answer.

“What the—why isn’t she picking up.”

Just as he was about to call once more despite the consecutive rejection messages, there was a knock at the door.

The person who entered was Woo Jong, who had been waiting outside after Jae Oh said he wanted to be alone.

Noticing the same posture and unchanged icy atmosphere as when Chae Yoon had left, Woo Jong spoke cautiously.

“Director, it seems it’s time to head to the meeting.”

The hand that had been about to press the call button paused.

He hadn’t realized so much time had passed.

Checking the current time, Jae Oh rationalized that Chae Yoon wasn’t answering because she was preparing for afternoon work. It felt a little like self-justification, but since he had his own duties, he decided they would talk properly when he got home and stood up.

His steps toward the meeting room felt heavy.

This was completely unlike his usual bold and unrestrained self, and that atmosphere persisted throughout the entire meeting.

Because Jae Oh responded far more sharply and directly than usual, the employees who barely finished the long meeting all stuck out their tongues in disbelief.

“Wow… today was seriously the worst ever. What’s wrong with him?”

“Something bad must have happened.”

Recognizing the employees shuddering at the sight of Jae Oh, the faint murmurs of conversation, and Jae Oh’s still-icy demeanor even after considerable time had passed, Woo Jong decided this wouldn’t do and approached Jae Oh, who was walking ahead.

“Director. Today…”

“Ah, she’s still not picking up.”

The words Woo Jong was about to say—suggesting he cancel the rest of the schedule and rest—were cut off by Jae Oh.

“Who?”

Hearing Woo Jong’s voice, Jae Oh immediately ordered,

“Find out if Song Chae Yoon has left work.”

It wasn’t an answer to the question, but it was answer enough, so Woo Jong quickly checked Chae Yoon’s attendance record.

She had already clocked out.

“She’s already left for the day, sir.”

At Woo Jong’s report, Jae Oh’s eyes reacted instantly.

She left work?

“When.”

“She took the afternoon off, so right after lunch ended…”

So that’s why she wasn’t answering the phone. If that’s the case…

A glint flashed in his dark eyes.

“Director. Today…”

“Cancel everything left on the schedule.”

“Y-yes?”

When Jae Oh said exactly what he had been about to suggest and strode ahead, Woo Jong wondered if he had heard correctly.

Until now, canceling the remaining schedule had been something Jae Oh would barely agree to even after persuasion.

Seeing it happen so easily left Woo Jong bewildered; he stood blankly for a moment before snapping to attention and hurrying after his boss.

Having unusually ordered the cancellation of his schedule, Jae Oh rushed home like lightning and flung open the bedroom door.

“Song Chae…”

Contrary to his expectation that the early-leaving Chae Yoon would be inside, the room was completely empty.

He searched the rest of the house just in case, but Chae Yoon was nowhere to be found.

When he couldn’t find her, his dark eyes turned impatient.

“Where did she go.”

She wasn’t at the company, she wasn’t at home.

The phone is turned off…

And now her phone was completely powered off.

“What the hell.”

Experiencing being completely out of contact for the first time, Jae Oh didn’t know what to do, but his hesitation lasted only a moment.

He immediately called Ji Pil.

What.

“Where is Song Chae Yoon.”

Why are you asking me that.

“She’s not at the office, not at home, and her phone is off.”

Yeah? Then she probably went out to get some air for a bit.

Even after being told her phone was off, the response wasn’t worry—it was pure indifference.

Which meant…

“Did Song Chae Yoon say she was going out to get some air?”

Guessing with high probability that the two had spoken, Jae Oh asked bluntly, and a sigh leaked from Ji Pil.

He hadn’t actually received any contact from Chae Yoon. Still, Ji Pil could fully understand her actions.

Who would want to talk to a guy who barged in and demanded, “Are you divorcing me because of that bastard?”

Clicking his tongue, Ji Pil casually called out to Jae Oh, who was waiting for an answer.

“Jae Oh-ya.”

Is she coming home today at least?

The voice that jumped in the moment his name was called was frantic to know where Chae Yoon was.

To that Jae Oh, Ji Pil replied calmly,

Stop pretending to be smart and hang up. Grandpa’s busy.

Along with Ji Pil’s voice came the call-end tone.

“Hello? Hel… what the—”

Cut off abruptly, Jae Oh scowled fiercely and called Ji Pil again, only to be met with call rejection.

Chae Yoon wasn’t answering, and even Grandfather, who seemed to know where she was, wasn’t picking up—Jae Oh felt like he was literally going insane.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Frustration rose all the way to the top of his head.

He wanted to find Chae Yoon right that instant and talk to her. But there was no way for him to find out where she was.

Realizing that all he could do was wait for Chae Yoon, Jae Oh suppressed his frustration and headed to the bedroom.

At that moment—

Bzzz.

His eyes reacted quickly to the short vibration.

Hoping it was Chae Yoon, he immediately opened the message, but the sender was not her.

The message from an unknown number contained several attached photos.

Two cars parked in the same parking lot, Hyun Min entering the apartment complex parking entrance, and Chae Yoon heading toward the same entrance.

Jae Oh’s eyes hardened coldly as he looked at the four photos in total.