The Bad Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
“Ugh, Mom… I really can’t stand this. How can I possibly send our Woo Jin off to get married when it’s so unfair!”
Young Sook had been causing a scene since morning, tears and snot streaming down her face. Beside her, Young Hee looked as if she were about to die.
And no wonder—they had finally reached that day.
The long-awaited engagement meeting day.
For days on end, Young Hee and Young Sook had visited Chairwoman Jung almost daily, desperately trying to change her mind. But for some reason, Chairwoman Jung’s resolve remained surprisingly firm, so instead, they’d only received warnings.
“Don’t say anything unnecessary at the meeting. Just as Woo Jin is precious to us, their daughter is equally precious to them. So show proper respect and manners.”
“Mom!”
“If you think you’re going to cause trouble, then don’t come at all!”
“Ugh! You’re really something, Mom!”
Young Sook vented her frustration by tossing her handkerchief, but she absolutely didn’t say she’d skip the engagement meeting. How could she possibly miss it? After all, it was the engagement ceremony for Jang Won’s only eldest grandson!
Reluctantly, they got into the waiting car, like someone forced to eat mustard while crying.
Thus, four cars smoothly pulled out from the vast Jang Won estate.
It was an exceptionally bright and sunny day—perfect for an engagement meeting.
* * *
Tae Eun, looking extremely tense, followed an employee’s guidance toward the private room where the engagement meeting would take place, frowning at Ji Hoon and Ji Eun’s overly familiar chatter along the way.
“Mom, do you really have to talk about it right now? I want to get a job at Woosung Group as soon as I graduate. Okay?”
“I know. He’s your only brother-in-law—of course they’ll give you a position.”
“Ah, but I fell out of favor last time because of Min Tae Eun. I’m a little worried, but I still want to get hired before I even graduate. That way, I won’t have to stress about job hunting. Hmm, maybe I could even become the youngest team leader ever? I’m totally confident I’d be great at it.”
“Ugh, of course you would. There’s nothing you can’t do! Don’t worry—I’ll handle everything.”
As she spoke, Ji Eun straightened Ji Hoon’s crooked tie. Min Kyung Hoon, standing nearby, had been so nervous that he hadn’t uttered a word since leaving home.
The sliding door to the reserved room opened. It was an upscale Korean restaurant designed like a traditional hanok, and it seemed they’d rented out the entire place just for the engagement meeting.
Chairwoman Jung, Woo Jin, and the three formidable women of the Woosung family were already seated. Tae Eun had arrived about ten minutes early, yet it appeared they’d come even earlier.
“Oh dear! It seems we’re late. We tried our best to arrive first, considering how honored we are to meet you.”
“Not at all. We simply arrived a bit early. Please don’t worry about it.”
Chairwoman Jung responded gently to Min Kyung Hoon’s words, and after exchanging introductions and greetings, everyone took their seats.
The atmosphere remained pleasant throughout. Initially, when Tae Eun had unintentionally made her first greeting, the three aunts seemed ready to pounce—but today, they appeared noticeably calmer. They must have received a stern talking-to from Chairwoman Jung. Tae Eun suspected as much when she saw Young Sook, the third aunt, pursing her lips tightly to suppress what she really wanted to say.
“You’ve raised your daughter so beautifully.”
“Haha. On the contrary, I’m the one who should be thanking you for being so generous toward my humble daughter.”
“Madam Sabu-in must be very proud.”
When Chairwoman Jung addressed Ji Eun, the woman seized her cue and launched into her award-worthy performance.
“Oh dear, please don’t say such things! I’m truly flattered. Honestly, Tae Eun has never been a handful at all—I’m so grateful. Of course, I’ve always tried my best not to seem like a ‘stepmother,’ but you know how it is. No matter how much I treat her like my own daughter, in everyone else’s eyes, I’m just a stepmom. I’ve cried alone more times than I can count. Still, I’m just thankful that Tae Eun grew up so beautifully.”
Her subtle reddening eyes and well-timed tear were masterful. Min Kyung Hoon, patting her back sympathetically with a “You’ve worked so hard,” played his part perfectly as well.
But Tae Eun noticed something else—Young Ja’s cold gaze as she set down her warm teacup with a soft clink, staring icily at Ji Eun.
Young Ja’s frosty eyes showed no trace of emotion, as if she’d seen right through Ji Eun’s lies. Yet she said nothing. After all, this was an engagement meeting, and above all, she didn’t want to forget the dignity and manners expected of a royal family.
“I understand completely. Our Woo Jin was also raised by my eldest daughter here. So we know firsthand just how difficult that journey can be.”
Encouraged by Chairwoman Jung’s gentle agreement, Ji Eun dove even deeper into her act.
“I’m so grateful you understand! Honestly, I came into this marriage trusting only my husband, and it’s been quite a bumpy road. But Tae Eun is just as dear to me as my own child, and her character is so exceptional—it’s what kept me going.”
“Haha, yes. I’ve heard—she’s a former human rights lawyer. That must have been quite the challenging path. Truly admirable.”
“You flatter me.”
“Oh, not at all! This person is just so humble. Everyone around us praises her endlessly, saying someone this honest and upright should be in politics. So she did enter politics, but—well, you know how tough that world is. No matter how capable she is, it’s impossible to survive without connections.”
As she spoke, Ji Eun discreetly glanced at Chairwoman Jung, hoping for a promise of full support. But Chairwoman Jung only offered a kind smile and a nod—warm enough to seem supportive, yet Tae Eun found it impossible to read her true thoughts.
Since Chairwoman Jung said nothing further—contrary to Ji Eun’s expectations—Ji Eun quickly drained her glass of water as if parched. Chairwoman Jung then smoothly changed the subject.
“And how about our future in-law? Is he still a student?”
“Yes! He’s still in school!”
Ji Hoon, eyes sparkling with excitement, answered instantly in a stiffly formal tone.
“I see. What’s your major?”
“Business administration!”
“And which university do you attend?”
“Well….”
Ji Hoon hesitated. Despite expensive private tutoring, he’d ended up at a third-tier university. Even when Ji Eun urged him to retake the college entrance exam, he refused outright—academics simply weren’t his strength, and his test scores had been disastrous, leaving him few options.
Usually, Ji Hoon took pride just in attending university, but apparently, even that wasn’t enough in front of these people—so embarrassed he couldn’t speak.
Unable to bear it, Ji Eun stepped in for him.
“Oh, what does the university matter? Character is what counts! Ji Hoon gets along so well in social settings—he’s friendly, popular with friends, and especially close to Tae Eun. Even though she’s his half-sister, he looks up to her so much.”
“At least he’s got that going for him.”
Young Sook’s blunt remark slipped out before she could stop herself, earning a sharp warning glance from Chairwoman Jung. Only then did Young Sook realize she’d spoken her true thoughts aloud, and she quickly covered by coughing and taking a sip of water.
Chairwoman Jung then turned her attention to Ji Hoon, as if to smooth over Young Sook’s blunder.
“So, young man, what are your plans after graduation?”
“Ah, yes! I’d like to join Woosung Group!”
“Haha. Our company?”
Chairwoman Jung chuckled, but Woo Jin stopped mid-bite, visibly irritated by the comment. His cold, expressionless eyes fixed on Ji Hoon. Tae Eun instantly felt a sharp chill run from her heart to her fingertips, overwhelmed by tension.
An indescribable pressure weighed on her. She was utterly ashamed of her own family behaving this way even at such a formal gathering.
Oblivious to Tae Eun’s discomfort, tactless Ji Hoon didn’t stop there and boldly declared his grand ambitions.
“I’ve thought about this for a long time—ever since before my sister—Min Tae… I mean, ever since before my sister and your son started discussing marriage. Woosung Group is one of Korea’s top conglomerates, after all.”
Ji Hoon almost used her name carelessly again, but startled, he quickly glanced at Woo Jin and corrected his address. Fortunately, Woo Jin said nothing—likely holding his tongue out of respect for the occasion.
“Exactly! Ji Hoon’s always talked about this. He’s always wanted to join Woosung Electronics. In fact, one of this person’s acquaintances liked Ji Hoon so much that they offered him a job right after graduation—but he turned it down flat! Even though it was a great position!”
It was a complete fabrication, yet Ji Eun delivered the lie with perfect composure. Tae Eun felt like crawling into a mouse hole from sheer embarrassment.
She had no idea how to fix this situation.
Her family’s shameless attempts to latch on contrasted painfully with the Woosung family’s calm, dignified observation. Their silent awareness of Ji Eun’s scheming—yet still choosing restraint—exuded such extraordinary grace that it only deepened Tae Eun’s humiliation.
“To be honest, not just because he’s my son, but Ji Hoon truly has exceptional character. Look how devoted he is to his half-sister! Just watching how he treats Tae Eun says it all. These days, smart and talented kids are everywhere, but their character? A complete mess. In that sense, I’ve succeeded as a parent. Just seeing Ji Hoon fills me with joy.”
“….”
“He’s also very consistent with volunteer work. He’s so kind-hearted he can’t walk past a stray cat without helping. Honestly, I don’t even know where such a son came from….”
“Sabu-in, that’s enough.”
It was Young Ja who finally cut off Ji Eun’s impassioned bragging.
Setting down her chopsticks, Young Ja fixed Ji Eun with a gaze utterly devoid of emotion. Yet her tone carried unmistakable intent.
“Anyone watching might think this was your son’s wedding ceremony. Today’s main characters are Woo Jin and Tae Eun.”
It was a warning—fierce and unambiguous: “Stop showing off.”
Her unwavering, solemn voice made the air around them grow heavy. Ji Eun, stunned, couldn’t even close her mouth, which had already opened to speak again.
But Young Ja wasn’t finished.
“Hearing you speak, it’s truly excessive. You keep saying you raised her like your own daughter, yet you constantly draw lines by calling yourself her ‘stepmother’ and referring to Tae Eun as your ‘half-sister.’”
Brief but precise, her words struck with overwhelming impact.
Ji Eun’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment. Min Kyung Hoon and Ji Hoon, seated beside her, also looked visibly shaken, unsure where to direct their eyes. Finally, Min Kyung Hoon hesitantly spoke up.
“That’s… that’s not what she meant—she was just…”
As usual, he was trying to naturally defend Ji Eun, but Young Ja wouldn’t allow even that.
“‘Just’? It sounded as if you say those words far too comfortably, as if it’s completely natural.”
“….”
“By constantly labeling yourself as a stepmother and Tae Eun as a half-sister, you make her feel like an outsider—like she’s not truly part of the family.”
“I—I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant at all.”
Ji Eun quickly apologized, but Young Ja gently lowered her gaze and responded with unwavering clarity.
“You should apologize to Tae Eun, not to me.”
Her sharp, direct words carried both sternness and elegance—a perfect reflection of Seo Young Ja of the Woosung family.
Ji Eun clenched her hands on her lap until her knuckles turned white, the sting of shame burning at her neck. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to apologize to Tae Eun—not here, not ever.
As the atmosphere grew even heavier with Ji Eun’s hesitation, Young Ja gracefully eased the tension.
“Forgive my overstepping. Having raised Woo Jin myself, I know all too well how such careless words can deeply wound a child—even when unintended.”
“Oh, of course, of course.”
Ji Eun nodded vigorously in agreement.
Chairwoman Jung’s eyes briefly sparkled with quiet satisfaction—after all, if Young Ja hadn’t spoken up, she might have had to say it herself. Watching her daughter, who resembled her most, deliver yet another perfectly timed intervention, Chairwoman Jung shifted her gaze to Tae Eun.
Though official documents hinted at a complicated past, Tae Eun’s gentle smile had initially suggested she’d been raised with grace in a respectable household. But now Chairwoman Jung realized—this girl had simply grown up well on her own.
No matter how skillfully they masked it with polished acting, their subtle behaviors clearly revealed how Tae Eun had truly been treated in that home.
And so, Chairwoman Jung’s eyes softened even more as she looked at Tae Eun.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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Chapter Comments (9)
Inline Comments (2)
Every time Seo Woo spoke, the lips painted the same color as hers felt strangely
The alleged mistress is showing more courage than the legitimate wife!
“You’re pathetic.”
She is pathetic and you are pathetic too dragging your innocent wife in your messy life
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He couldn’t provide her the sense of security she needed all the time
Yes get way from this annoying man..he is only good at making excuses
Just leave her alone you jerk !!..she is exhausted 😔