Postponing Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2

For three years since their marriage until now, Chae Yoon had never once set foot here.

Jae Oh, who had found it strange that Chae Yoon—who had never come before—would suddenly show up at such an early hour, stared at her silently for a moment.

Perhaps because he’d always seen Chae Yoon at home, he’d never witnessed her dressed up like this.

Yet the Chae Yoon standing before him now was unlike the Song Chae Yoon he’d known all this time.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly how she’d styled herself—what part of her appearance had changed—but she simply wasn’t the Song Chae Yoon he’d had fixed in his mind.

And above all—

It felt as though he hadn’t seen her in an awfully long time.

‘“A long time”?’

Was that really something one could say about someone who shared the same room?

‘Now that I think about it… I haven’t been running into her often lately either…’

As he tried to recall the last time he’d looked directly into Chae Yoon’s face, nothing came to mind.

The only memory he had was…

[Hey, Oppa.]

Her appearance back then—when she’d visited his study sometime after they got married.

He couldn’t remember exactly when that was, but he was certain she’d been different from how she looked today.

While Jae Oh was lost in thought, Chae Yoon walked briskly up to him and said,

“I brought you a lunchbox.”

Only then did Jae Oh notice the lunchbox in Chae Yoon’s hand.

At that moment, Secretary Yang, standing beside Chae Yoon, chimed in.

“She even brought food for us secretaries…”

“Come in.”

Jae Oh cut off Secretary Yang mid-sentence and spoke directly to Chae Yoon.

This was a familiar scenario for Secretary Yang, who had worked with Jae Oh for years. Thus, she stepped back with an indifferent expression—but Chae Yoon was different.

‘I thought he only acted this way at home… So he does it outside too, huh?’

Feeling uneasy that Secretary Yang had been put in an awkward position because of her unannounced visit, Chae Yoon offered her an apologetic smile before following Jae Oh into his office.

Jae Oh’s office was larger, more stylish, and as immaculately tidy as his sharp personality—everything precisely aligned, as if measured with a ruler.

“What brings you here?”

At the sound of his deep voice, Chae Yoon’s eyes—previously scanning the office—snapped toward him.

Meeting his gaze, she offered a slightly bashful smile and replied,

“Well… I was just worried you’d left without eating.”

For a fleeting moment, he wondered if she’d really come all this way just for that—when her gentle voice added her real purpose.

“I also have something to talk about.”

Hearing “something to talk about,” Jae Oh immediately asked,

“Something to talk about?”

Noticing the conversation had finally begun, Chae Yoon set the lunchbox she’d been holding onto the table.

“Let’s eat this first while we…”

“Oh, I have to leave right away—I don’t have time to eat.”

“Are you really that busy?”

“Yeah.”

He checked his wristwatch as he answered, appearing genuinely pressed for time.

She’d seen this exact expression for three years straight.

Yet again today, she sensed that he could spare only a brief moment—and so, just like always, she gave the same reply.

“I see. Then I’ll leave this here for you to eat later.”

Just as Chae Yoon turned to leave without having said what she’d actually come to say—

“You said you came because you had something to say.”

Chae Yoon stopped in her tracks. A flicker of hope passed through her clear eyes.

Could this finally be the moment they’d have a real conversation? Turning away from the door, she faced Jae Oh.

He was already standing by the garment steamer in one corner of the office.

Watching his movements, Chae Yoon’s lips twitched.

“But you said you were busy.”

As he pulled his coat from inside the steamer, he replied,

“I’ve got time to listen. What is it?”

The long coat settled neatly over his well-proportioned frame.

Disappointment flashed in Chae Yoon’s eyes as she watched.

He’d finished getting ready to leave—and, true to his word, he intended only to listen to what she had to say, not to sit down and have a proper conversation.

It was always like this.

Jae Oh left for work before she woke up and returned after she’d fallen asleep. On the rare occasions he came home early, he’d disappear into his study. Thus, Chae Yoon had almost no opportunity to talk with him.

Even when timing occasionally aligned and they exchanged a few words, their conversations were brief—and chances to sit face-to-face and truly talk never came.

She hadn’t hesitated to ask for time before.

[Then when are you not busy?] [I don’t know myself. Why?] [I just… wanted to have a meal with you.] [When?] [Whenever works for you.] [Alright.]

But whenever she finally managed to make plans, he’d cancel last minute, citing urgent work—and Chae Yoon would return home bitterly, staring at the emptiness he’d left behind.

That’s why she’d come to his office unannounced today.

She’d hoped that doing something unexpected might make him look at her with surprise—even just a little. She’d dressed up carefully, wishing to leave some trace of her presence in the mind of this man who lived only for work—but it seemed even that was useless.

‘Just as I thought.’

Chae Yoon’s lips curved bitterly as she felt foolish for having briefly hoped for something “different” just because he’d stopped her from leaving.

Of course, she knew it was more her fault for showing up without saying anything than his for being busy. She should be understanding—but…

Because of emotions piled up over three years, what she felt wasn’t understanding, but disappointment.

“Song Chae Yoon.”

At the sound of her name in his low voice, her eyes—weighted with rising emotion—turned to him.

“You said you had something to say. What is it?”

Seeing that he was waiting for her words, Chae Yoon’s eyes trembled faintly.

Even if she spoke, would anything really change? He’d probably forget her words immediately and go back to his busy schedule anyway.

When Chae Yoon remained silent, his brows furrowed deeply.

“You don’t have anything to say?”

Reacting to his impatient prompt, Chae Yoon’s eyes flickered.

She took one last look at his handsome face—still urgent, yet still striking—and her lips tightened.

‘Fine. Since I came here thinking this might be my last chance, I’ll just say it.’

Resolved—gripping the strap of her bag tightly, determined not to try again if he rejected her once more—Chae Yoon opened her mouth.

“Oh, next Wednesday…”

Just then—

Knock, knock. Woo Jong entered after tapping on the door.

Jae Oh’s gaze, previously fixed on Chae Yoon, shifted to him.

“What is it?”

“Ah, well…”

Woo Jong looked momentarily troubled, as if something urgent had come up, then leaned in close to Jae Oh and spoke softly.

As Woo Jong reported, Jae Oh’s expression grew serious.

“That’s exactly why I told you to double-check that.”

“Yes. I did mention it several times, but it seems the vendor wrapped things up carelessly.”

His handsome face twisted in frustration.

Seeing his near-murderous glare directed at the uncooperative vendor, Chae Yoon’s eyes widened.

‘So he can make this kind of expression too, huh?’

Unaware of how Chae Yoon was looking at him, Jae Oh began walking off without relaxing his scowl.

It was as if he hadn’t even noticed Chae Yoon was standing right in front of him.

Chae Yoon simply watched as he immediately moved to leave upon hearing the report.

Woo Jong, standing beside Jae Oh, blinked rapidly.

Realizing he’d unintentionally disrupted them, he spoke in an awkward tone.

“Ah, Senior Vice President… Madam…”

Jae Oh halted mid-step.

“Oh.”

He’d momentarily forgotten Chae Yoon was there. Turning his head, he looked at her.

Their eyes met.

In that instant, Chae Yoon said to the man who’d nearly walked out forgetting her,

“It sounds like something urgent came up. You should go quickly.”

She offered a faint smile, as if to say she was fine.

At her words, Jae Oh gave a light nod and resumed walking—disappearing rapidly from Chae Yoon’s sight.

Thunk. The door closed.

Left alone in the spacious room, Chae Yoon let out a quiet sigh.

Next Wednesday was graduation day.

Until now, she’d always attended such events alone—but since this marked the end of her college life, she’d mustered her last bit of courage, hoping Jae Oh would be there with her.

“…”

Bitterness gathered at the corners of her lips as she looked at the untouched lunchbox.

Would he even eat it later? He probably wouldn’t even notice if she took it back with her. Maybe she should just take it.

Shadows fell across her pale face as these thoughts crowded in.

Feeling her chest tighten and her mood sink, Chae Yoon suddenly shook her head firmly.

‘No. I should stay positive.’

She’d come here on her own accord—why was she acting like this?

At least coming here let her see what he was like at work, right?

Even if he couldn’t think of her due to urgent matters now, maybe when he got home, he’d ask what she’d wanted to say when she’d visited the office.

Comforting her sinking heart, Chae Yoon took one last glance around his office before leaving.

In the now-empty office, only the lunchbox she’d brought remained, sitting alone on the desk.

⁂

Two months passed.

“Wow, I didn’t expect we’d actually win the JM contract—congratulations, Senior Vice President.”

The project Jae Oh had poured his heart into had finally borne fruit, leaving him deeply satisfied.

The thrill of seeing hard work pay off made him decide to leave on time and even brag a little to Ji Pil.

As his car headed home, his unusually relaxed mind recalled a certain sentence.

[Well… I was just worried you’d left without eating. I also have something to talk about.]

“Oh…”

Now that he thought about it, he still hadn’t asked her.

What she’d wanted to say when she’d come to the office that day.

As memories of Chae Yoon surfaced unexpectedly, Jae Oh quietly retraced when exactly she’d said those words.

‘That was…’

She’d come to the office just as he’d received a report that a partner company had leaked documents related to their new technology due to a mistake. Which meant…

“It’s already been two months?”

Surprised by how two months had flown by, Jae Oh’s brows knitted together.

What kind of time passed this quickly?

As he blamed the blur of days gone by, a pale face came to mind.

[It sounds like something urgent came up. You should go quickly.]

Realizing he hadn’t seen Chae Yoon since then, Jae Oh made up his mind.

When he got home tonight, he’d finally ask her what she’d wanted to say back then.

His foot pressed harder on the accelerator.

The car sped toward home.

But when he arrived, Chae Yoon wasn’t there.

“Chae Yoon hasn’t come home yet?”

Jae Oh asked Ji Pil, unable to find Chae Yoon anywhere in the house.

“Where’d she go?”

Though it was rare to see his granddaughter at this hour, Ji Pil didn’t seem particularly surprised and simply replied,

“Why are you asking me? Call Chae Yoon yourself.”

With that, he disappeared into his room, leaving Jae Oh momentarily puzzled—then he dialed Chae Yoon.

The ringtone didn’t end quickly.

Just as the impatient man was about to hang up, Chae Yoon’s voice came through.

—Hello?

“Where are you?”

—Why?

“I got home and you weren’t here.”

—Ah, I’m just out for a bit… Oh! My sister’s here. Oppa, I’ll hang up.

The call ended abruptly.

“Wha—hey! Hello?”

No matter how many times he checked, the line stayed disconnected.

Though his expression looked slightly incredulous as he stared at the ended call screen, his mind replayed their brief conversation.

[Oh! My sister’s here.]

He thought he’d heard another voice in the background…

And that voice had sounded distinctly male.

His brows lifted sharply at the thought.

“…”

His gaze toward the now-bright phone screen turned strangely sharp.

⁂

After parking her car in the garage, Chae Yoon let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew…”

Her slender, straight fingers gently brushed the steering wheel. Pride filled her face.

“Another accident-free day.”

The car she was driving now was the one Ji Pil had gifted her right after she’d gotten her driver’s license. Lately, she’d grown fond of driving it.

Though she hadn’t yet gathered the courage to go on a long drive, her current progress made her hopeful she’d soon take short trips to the outskirts with close friends—and with a light smile, she stepped out of the car.

“Oh? That’s Oppa’s car.”

She hadn’t noticed while parking, but now she saw Jae Oh’s car clearly. It reminded her of their earlier phone call.

“Oh, right—I did say I was home.”

It was 9 p.m.

Thinking he’d come home earlier than usual, Chae Yoon headed inside.

After greeting Ji Pil, she made her way toward her second-floor room—but suddenly stopped.

Her round head turned toward Jae Oh’s study.

‘He’s probably working again.’

Certain there was a 100% chance of that, Chae Yoon pushed the door open with a calm expression—

And headed straight for the dressing room, when—

“Where’d you go?”

A low voice halted her steps.