Postponing Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7

Seeing Jae Oh frown as he looked at the divorce application, Chae Yoon cautiously broke the silence.

“It wasn’t something I should’ve brought up while drunk… I’m sorry.”

After speaking, Chae Yoon gave an awkward smile.

Meanwhile, Jae Oh’s mind went blank.

So, what she said yesterday hadn’t just been drunken nonsense after all.

Earlier, when they’d bumped into each other in front of the bathroom, she’d seemed perfectly normal—so he’d assumed her words from last night were just idle ramblings under the influence.

But now, it turned out she’d been serious.

Even though he’d considered the possibility that her divorce request might have been genuine, hearing it confirmed directly from Chae Yoon herself felt shocking all over again.

Moreover, this shock was far more intense than yesterday’s. Jae Oh set the document down almost as if throwing it and asked,

“Why all of a sudden?”

His gaze fixed on Chae Yoon was sharp and intense.

Feeling both the tension in the air—as though he might tear up the divorce papers at any moment—and the piercing stare aimed straight at her, Chae Yoon didn’t know where to look.

‘Why is he reacting like this?’

She’d expected him to respond indifferently as he always had before, simply saying, “Okay,” but the man before her now was reacting far more strongly than she’d anticipated.

Finding it strange, she stared at him for a moment without replying—until his cold voice urged her again.

“I’m asking why you suddenly want a divorce.”

Though his harsh tone itself was puzzling, Chae Yoon didn’t address his confusion but answered his actual question.

“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

A shaky breath escaped Jae Oh’s lips.

She’d been thinking about it for a while.

He couldn’t understand why those words made him feel so betrayed.

His mouth dry, Jae Oh asked,

“Since when?”

“A pretty long time.”

Imagining Chae Yoon—without his knowledge—having already made up her mind to divorce him and even preparing this application on her own made his jaw clench tight.

His emotions surged uncontrollably, tangled beyond reason.

It was the same confusion he’d felt upon overhearing Jung Woong and Kyeong Hee’s conversation. Never had he expected to relive those unwanted memories and feelings—especially not now, and certainly not because of Chae Yoon. He gritted his teeth.

Taking a deep breath to steady his ragged breathing, he asked with a deeply furrowed brow,

“What’s your reason for wanting a divorce?”

His low, subdued voice sounded unfamiliar.

Even his hardened expression was something she’d never seen before, making Chae Yoon wonder if her request for divorce was truly such a big deal to Jae Oh.

Though her eyes held traces of confusion as she looked at him, she maintained a calm demeanor and replied,

“I just… want to be alone now.”

She meant it.

The thought of living alone still felt overwhelming and frightening, but even more unbearable was staying beside a man who never saw her as a woman—continuing to silently adore him while receiving nothing in return.

“You probably noticed—I got a job.”

“…”

“It’s at Taeil Chemical.”

The moment he heard the company name, Jae Oh’s eyes sharpened further.

Chae Yoon joining Taeil Chemical meant, in other words, that she intended to learn the business—and possibly even participate in its management.

“I haven’t been there long, so I don’t know much yet, but I plan to learn everything step by step without anyone’s help.”

Her face carried a determined air, as if declaring she was now a proper working adult capable of standing on her own.

She was completely different from the Chae Yoon he’d seen at Hae Sang’s funeral.

The Song Chae Yoon who’d seemed like someone needing protection was gone.

“That way, I can live on my own from now on…”

Why did that thought sit so poorly with him?

Moreover, the fact that she’d decided on divorce without telling him and was now unilaterally informing him only added to his displeasure, so Jae Oh cut in before she could finish.

“I guess you don’t remember what Grandfather said when we filed our marriage registration.”

Chae Yoon replied without hesitation.

“I remember. He said divorce wasn’t allowed.”

“And yet you brought this here anyway.”

Hearing his voice turn icy cold, Chae Yoon—who had maintained composure until now—finally showed a flicker of reaction in her eyes.

‘This?’

From the moment she’d shown him the divorce papers, Jae Oh’s demeanor had turned sour. Now, her gaze toward him grew sharply edged.

Then, as her eyes cooled completely,

Her lips moved.

“Then is it not allowed?”

Her voice, emerging from those full lips, was icy.

“What?”

Surprised by her unexpected response, Jae Oh echoed the question—and Chae Yoon calmly replied,

“It’s a matter between you and me.”

Her expression clearly conveyed confusion over why Ji Pil’s opinion mattered here.

He’d always known Chae Yoon treated Ji Pil almost like her own grandfather. He never imagined she’d defy Ji Pil’s words—and do so with such coldness. Stunned, Jae Oh stared at her.

“You’re saying…”

“You’ve already secured your position at the company.”

Just as Jae Oh had interrupted her earlier, Chae Yoon now cut him off and continued,

“And I’ve finally sorted out my feelings enough to live on my own without relying on Grandfather or you, so there’s no point dragging on this meaningless life together. That’s why I asked for a divorce…”

Her tone, calmly laying out each point of the situation, was the coldest of all.

“Is there a problem?”

Her eyes, challenging him to speak up if he had any objections, suddenly felt so frigid that Jae Oh lost his words.

Seeing him remain completely silent, Chae Yoon finally realized she’d spoken more sharply than usual.

But she couldn’t help it.

She’d resented the way Jae Oh dismissed her decision by bringing up Ji Pil and treating her divorce request as if it were something trivial.

His clear implication that Ji Pil’s opinion mattered more than hers hurt deeply, darkening Chae Yoon’s expression. She felt upset.

They’d soon part ways, and she worried her final impression on him would be like this.

Though she’d never truly become anything to him, she’d still wanted him to remember her kindly at the end…

But Jae Oh wouldn’t even allow her that. Watching him, Chae Yoon softened her tone slightly and said,

“I’m sorry to Grandfather, but if I explain this situation properly, I think he’ll understand…”

Jae Oh abruptly stood up and left.

Watching him walk out before she’d even finished speaking, Chae Yoon let out a deep sigh.

Her appetite gone, she stared at the divorce papers left behind on his seat.

Though his reaction had been unexpectedly intense—she’d assumed he’d be more accepting of divorce—she knew his emotions wouldn’t last long.

After all, his main concerns lay elsewhere, not with her.

Convinced he’d soon return to his usual calm self, Han Jae Oh, Chae Yoon gathered the divorce papers and headed toward his study.

She placed the documents squarely in the center of his desk.

After staring at them for a moment, she turned and left the study.

Her steps were resolute—

as if determined never to reverse her decision.

At the very moment Chae Yoon left home for work,

an excited voice rang out in the office of Jo Young Logistics’ Strategic Planning Team Leader.

“Song Chae Yoon said what?”

Standing before the woman, the man repeated the information he’d just received from the informant planted in Jae Oh’s household.

“She told Managing Director Han she wants a divorce.”

A bright smile spread across the woman’s face.

‘What a stroke of luck.’

Her eyes sparkled as if seizing an opportunity, and she quickly asked,

“Was Chairman Han also present at the time?”

“No. It was only Ms. Song Chae Yoon and Managing Director Han.”

“Really? Perfect.”

Her lips curved wider, satisfaction brimming at the edges. Picking up her phone with a delighted smile, she tapped a name in her contacts.

The screen switched.

After exactly three rings, the call connected.

“Madam, it’s me.”

Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she began the call, her voice animated.

On the clear nameplate before her was written:

「Team Leader Kwon Ho Yeon, Strategic Planning Team」

After his conversation with Chae Yoon, Jae Oh arrived at work but couldn’t focus on anything.

Every time he tried to work, Chae Yoon’s words echoed in his mind.

[“I’ve sorted out my feelings enough to live independently without Grandfather or you, so there’s no reason to keep up this meaningless life together. Why is that a problem?”]

Just picturing her speaking to him in that cold tone made him furious.

He wondered if this was really the Song Chae Yoon he knew.

Because of that, an inexplicable sense of betrayal kept rising, scattering his thoughts until Jae Oh couldn’t concentrate at all.

[“Shall we get a divorce?”]

Chae Yoon’s image as she proposed divorce flashed in his mind again—an unwelcome thought beyond his control.

His brow furrowed sharply. Setting down the fountain pen as if discarding it, he exhaled a long sigh.

Noticing his boss’s state, Woo Jong quickly assessed the situation.

His boss had seemed off since arriving at work, and even as lunchtime approached, Managing Director Han’s condition hadn’t improved.

Though he’d rarely seen his boss in a bad mood—and it usually passed quickly—Woo Jong couldn’t understand why this time was different.

Seeing Jae Oh act so unusually, Woo Jong became certain something serious must have happened.

“Is something wrong?”

He asked carefully, but received no reply.

Knowing from experience that silence was best in such moments, Woo Jong refrained from pressing further—until Jae Oh suddenly stood up.

As Jae Oh headed for the door, Woo Jong hurried after him.

“Managing Director, where are you—”

“Don’t follow me.”

Leaving Woo Jong halted by the icy command, Jae Oh walked straight out of the executive office—heading for none other than

“Is the Chairman in?”

—the Chairman’s office.

One of Ji Pil’s secretaries cried out in alarm as Jae Oh entered without an appointment, heading straight for Ji Pil’s private office.

“Ah, Chairman is currently—!”

At that moment, the door to Ji Pil’s office opened.

Kyeong Hee stepped out.

“Oh? Jae Oh, what brings you here?”

Kyeong Hee greeted him warmly, but Jae Oh simply brushed past her without a word.

The secretaries in the Chairman’s office exchanged worried glances, bracing for an icy atmosphere—but surprisingly, Kyeong Hee looked perfectly fine.

In fact, she seemed even kinder and more cheerful than usual, making the secretaries’ eyes narrow in confusion—just as she spoke.

“I’ll be off now. Please bring in some tea.”

Make it something Jae Oh likes.

Adding this with a faint smile, the secretaries quickly nodded in acknowledgment. After smiling at them once more, Kyeong Hee left the Chairman’s office.

Her steps toward the elevator were remarkably light and cheerful.