Postponing Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12

“The photo has been sent.”

Ho Yeon’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as she read the message.

Closing the messaging app, Ho Yeon tapped on her photo gallery.

The first four photos that appeared were identical to the ones she had sent to Jae Oh.

“Anyone seeing this would think I deliberately set out to help him.”

Jae Oh had been the one to propose divorce first—something that already pleased her deeply—and now he was even unknowingly creating situations that invited exactly the kind of misunderstandings she needed.

Thanks to this, Ho Yeon hadn’t been able to stop her lips from curling upward all day.

Ho Yeon had first seen Jae Oh right after entering high school.

It was only natural to be drawn to a guy whose looks, grades, and family background were all flawless—but back then, Ho Yeon hadn’t actually liked him. She had wanted to get closer, though, so she made a few attempts. He never let her in.

Just how distant was he?

[“Who’s that guy?”] [“That’s Kwon Ho Yeon. We had lunch together yesterday—don’t you remember?”] [“Is she your girlfriend?”] [“No.”] [“Then why should I remember her?”]

She didn’t know why it mattered to him, but being treated so blatantly like an invisible person stung, and she stopped trying to get close after that.

She thought that was the end of their connection.

But three years ago, at a business forum in the U.S., she ran into Jae Oh again—and he instantly stole her heart.

The moment she saw him, nothing else existed.

Gone was the boyishness she remembered. His sharply chiseled features drew immediate admiration, and his tall, broad-shouldered frame radiated unmistakable masculinity—so much so that she wanted nothing more than to lean her head against his chest.

Just that alone made her heart race, but the firm muscles visible even beneath his formal attire sent a flush of heat through her body.

Among everything in sight, only the man named Han Jae Oh held any meaning. Every other man—especially the one she was dating at the time—suddenly seemed utterly insignificant. As if entranced, Ho Yeon approached him and spoke.

“Hello.”

She hadn’t expected him to recognize her immediately—that was precisely why she could greet him so easily.

She’d chosen a polite, neutral greeting instead of referencing their past, hoping he’d take a closer look at her familiar yet unplaceable face. But contrary to her expectations, Jae Oh all but treated her like a ghost and walked away without a word.

“…Did he really just ignore me even after seeing me?”

This wasn’t some crowded street with a hundred strangers—it was a gathering of executives from top-tier companies, and yet he didn’t even offer a basic courtesy.

“Managing Director Han Jae Oh is famously rude. Still, he’s somewhat respectful toward the chairman—if it bothers you, maybe mention it to him—”

“No. I’m fine. Don’t say anything to Dad.”

Though she couldn’t believe someone could be so shamelessly rude, she remembered how exceptionally aloof he’d been even as a teenager—so she wasn’t offended. If anything, she was even more drawn to him.

What would it feel like to make a man like that hers?

Just imagining it sent a thrilling jolt through her. Was this what the desire to conquer felt like?

The burning intensity wouldn’t fade unless she saw Jae Oh again. Having never wanted anything so fiercely before, Ho Yeon ended things with her boyfriend the moment she returned to Korea.

Then she contacted Sung Wook—Jae Oh’s friend and her own high school classmate.

“Glad to hear everyone’s doing well. Oh, is Jae Oh doing okay too?”

“Don’t even get me started. He suddenly announced he’s getting married—everyone’s freaking out.”

“M…Married?”

It felt like she’d been struck hard on the head.

“Was he seeing someone?”

“Not exactly—just a girl he’s known since childhood. His grandfather told him to marry her, and he apparently just said okay.”

“…”

“Yeah, it’s surprising, right? That’s why we all thought—”

She didn’t hear the rest of what Sung Wook said.

‘So it’s not just any marriage—it’s an arranged one?’

A pang of regret rose inside her.

If it were a marriage based solely on conditions and not love, she was absolutely certain she could outshine anyone. So why—why was he rushing into an arranged marriage with another woman without even giving her a chance?

The missed timing frustrated her deeply. Ho Yeon was utterly convinced that given just a little more time, Jae Oh would have become hers.

Her confidence came from the woman he was marrying.

No matter how she looked at it, that woman was far beneath her.

‘If someone like that can stand beside Jae Oh, why not me?’

Of course, this assumed Ji Pil cared for Chae Yoon—but people’s hearts were fickle.

No matter how stubborn someone seemed, once they realized what they had was rotten and something far more tempting appeared before them, they’d toss it away without hesitation.

It was only natural—and Ji Pil would be no exception.

Thus, Ho Yeon began planning Jae Oh’s divorce.

After three long years of waiting, she now felt as though every heartache had been repaid. Smiling blissfully, she set down her phone.

“Now, if they just divorce cleanly, everything will be perfect…”

All the misunderstandings had already been set in motion—just a little more careful handling, and she’d finally, finally be one step closer to that man who had always seemed like a mirage.

Impatience rising, Ho Yeon’s gaze dropped to the phone on her desk.

“Better leave it alone for a bit, just in case.”

Her eyes gleamed darkly as she watched Hyun Min enter Eun Ha’s officetel.

Unable to focus at work, Chae Yoon took a half-day off, visited her parents’ graves to calm her mind, then headed to Eun Ha’s place.

Hyun Min was already there.

Feeling guilty that her own shortcomings had dragged these two into unnecessary trouble, Chae Yoon apologized.

“Why apologize? It’s fine.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about it.”

Neither Eun Ha nor Hyun Min seemed bothered.

Grateful for their understanding, Chae Yoon was about to join the cozy couple for a meal—but when she returned from washing her hands in the bathroom, their mood had turned strange.

“Just go already! It’s only for three months, and you’ll get promoted for sure—why won’t you go?”

“But I’d have to leave this weekend! How can you ask me to go like that?”

“Yeah.”

Hyun Min was speechless at Eun Ha’s firm reply.

“What’s going on?”

When Chae Yoon asked gently, Eun Ha answered as if she couldn’t understand Hyun Min’s decision.

“The department head said he’d promote him if he goes on this U.S. assignment—but he refuses to go.”

Hurt flickered in Hyun Min’s eyes.

Sensing the tension, Chae Yoon slowly scanned their expressions.

She decided it was best to give them some space.

“Unnie, I’ll take a quick call.”

Not wanting to get caught in their couple’s quarrel, Chae Yoon quietly slipped into the small room.

Even with the door closed, their sharp exchange carried clearly through.

『They’ve already arranged your housing—you just need to go. What’s the problem?』

『Because obviously… never mind. Let’s just drop it.』

From what she overheard, the core issue was whether they could handle being apart for three months.

Hyun Min didn’t want to leave because they’d just started dating, while Eun Ha insisted it was foolish to waste such a great opportunity over something so trivial.

Hearing this, Chae Yoon involuntarily recalled her own past.

[“Oppa, this business trip is going to be really long, right?”] [“Is a week really that long?”]

She remembered how dejected she’d felt at the thought of not seeing even his fleeting presence for a whole week—and how hurt she’d been by his casual reply.

“…”

The sudden memory brought back feelings she’d sworn never to think about again.

Her lips tightened bitterly. Glumly, Chae Yoon pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them.

She’d come to Eun Ha’s place instead of her own precisely to avoid running into Jae Oh.

That was why she’d ignored all his calls—and why she’d hoped chatting with Eun Ha would help her forget him, even briefly. Yet here her mind was, thinking about Han Jae Oh again.

‘When will I finally stop thinking about him?’

Her efforts felt worthless. She resented herself for being unable to let him go.

A deep sigh escaped her full lips.

It was a heavy, suffocating breath.

Another night passed with nothing clearly resolved.

After a night of tension with Eun Ha, Hyun Min left. Chae Yoon, having lightened her mood through their chatter, headed home to get ready for work.

It was still early, so Jae Oh’s car remained in the garage.

‘Is he asleep, or already awake?’

He was probably up—but she still hoped to avoid running into him. Tiptoeing into the room, Chae Yoon tried to make no sound.

Silent stillness greeted her.

Careful not to break the quiet, she closed the door as softly as possible—then turned around…

“!”

Her eyes met Jae Oh’s, who was sitting in the recliner, staring straight at her.

Her heart dropped. Too shocked to move, Chae Yoon finally exhaled to calm her racing pulse.

‘Why is he just sitting there like that?’

She didn’t know why he was watching her with such a sharp gaze at this hour—and honestly, she didn’t want to know.

So once she’d steadied herself, she assessed his appearance.

He looked perfectly put together, as if he’d already finished in the bathroom.

‘Then he’ll probably just change and leave for work now.’

She felt relieved. There was no point in running into him anyway.

Convinced he’d be gone by the time she came out of the bathroom, Chae Yoon turned her eyes away from him.

But the moment she glanced at him, then abruptly turned and left, the corners of his eyes—fixed on her—sharpened.

He looked ready to say something sharp, yet he remained silent, tracking her every movement only with his gaze.

Only when she disappeared completely from view did he finally stand.

With long strides, he headed straight for the dressing room—and stopped right beside her.

“!”

Chae Yoon flinched slightly as she sensed his presence.

She glanced sideways at him with wide eyes.

He didn’t spare her a single look. In the past, this would have hurt her—but now, since she had no desire to talk to him, she actually felt grateful.

‘I’m thankful he doesn’t care about me.’

Bitterness gathered at the corners of her composed lips.

Just moments ago, she’d felt like nothing in her life was sorted out. But now that she’d actually seen him, she realized her efforts hadn’t been entirely in vain—and her troubled heart eased, just a little.

‘I’ll forget him soon if I keep going like this.’

Reassuring herself inwardly, Chae Yoon let out a small breath that had been pressing heavily on her chest—and turned away from him.

At that exact moment, Jae Oh—who had been staring straight ahead—shifted his gaze.

His eyes locked onto her retreating back as he remembered her words.

[“He really is someone I’m seeing.”] [“That’s exactly why I asked for a divorce—please prepare the paperwork as quickly as possible.”]

A mocking smile spread slowly across his tightly set lips.

‘On whose terms?’

His eyes blazed fiercely, as if he’d made a silent vow.

It was the look of someone who hadn’t slept a wink all night.