Ju-yeong’s continuing words were utterly absurd and clearly deceitful to Arin.

[Your husband did a lot to help your father out. If he hadn’t assisted with the suspension of the sentence, it would have been difficult. Actually, at first, he didn’t agree to help when Kyeong-sook approached him. But after she mentioned you and persuaded him, he eventually…]

Arin was confused.

‘Where to even start correcting this?’

Why was Ju-yeong still calling Jae-hyeok her ‘husband’? Why did Jae-hyeok’s name come up in a conversation about her family? Why did Kyeong-sook seek Jae-hyeok’s help for such a matter instead of her?

An endless stream of doubts and questions flooded Arin’s mind.

Nothing made sense to her. Her head was in utter chaos.

[Your husband is quite a remarkable man. He got the best lawyers in South Korea involved. Without that, your father might not have made it.]

Her heart fluttered more wildly than ever before.

[He found the best hospital for your father and even got an apartment near the hospital for Kyeong-sook to take care of him. It’s a nice apartment, I’ve been there a few times. And he told her not to worry about the hospital bills.]

Ju-yeong continued, seemingly pleased and relieved.

[You know the apartment next to the National Cancer Center? It’s there. According to your mother, the unit she lives in, 104-1701, is the best in terms of size and location.]

Arin was glad to hear her father was doing well. However, the fact that Kyeong-sook hid Jae-hyeok’s support from her and cut off contact felt like a clear betrayal.

[Arin? Are you listening to me?]

Ju-yeong’s voice echoed in her ears, but Arin couldn’t respond.

‘Usually, if a daughter wants to divorce, the parents would cut ties with the son-in-law, right? To go as far as to…’

Arin had severed ties with Jae-hyeok. Whether he accepted it or not didn’t matter.

She thought the same should apply to her family with Jae-hyeok. Especially since they didn’t part on good terms.

Of course, she had her doubts. Considering how her family had leached off Jae-hyeok during their marriage, it might not be easy to cut ties immediately.

But she never imagined this long-severed connection would still bind her parents and Jae-hyeok.

And the extent of his support was enormous. Arin was overwhelmed by feelings of betrayal.

‘I thought it would change after the divorce.’

Her family, who had treated her like an ATM during the marriage, was supposed to change after the divorce, but she had hopelessly expected otherwise.

Yet, they hadn’t changed at all. They were still using her. Not once did they consider her feelings. How could they…

Arin’s anger also began to extend to Jae-hyeok.

Time had passed, and even if her family behaved that way, Jae-hyeok should have cut them off.

Her anger towards her family and Jae-hyeok began to explode in all directions.

‘But why did they seek my brother’s help? Why did he help my mother? I clearly said I wanted a divorce… Why!’
A surge of heat rose within Arin, and she bit the inside of her mouth hard.

“Why?”

[Hmm?]

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been trying to divorce that man…”

To Arin’s question, Ju-yeong answered as if it were a matter of course.

[But you two didn’t end up divorcing, right? Kyeong-sook said that.]

“Mother said that?”

[Yes. You initially wanted to divorce, but apparently, you’ve worked things out and are now just temporarily apart due to circumstances.]

Ju-yeong’s words made Arin’s heart sink.

‘What is Aunt saying? Temporarily apart? Why would mother say such a thing? Why?’

The more she listened to Ju-yeong, the more Arin felt like she was sinking deeper into a quagmire.

As Arin remained silent, Ju-yeong called out to her.

[Arin, don’t take it too seriously. In a marriage, there are times you like and dislike each other. Maybe there are more times you dislike. But that doesn’t mean you’re not a couple. He’s your husband, so it’s natural for him to care about his in-laws. Just because you’re living separately doesn’t change that you’re married. Besides, Kyeong-sook and your father said they felt sorry to tell you. You’re not misunderstanding, are you? Kyeong-sook didn’t mean any harm.]

“……”

[As far as I know, Kyeong-sook didn’t tell you because she was worried about you. You know how much your mother cares about you, right?]

Ju-yeong’s attempt to comfort Arin backfired.

[You were still her daughter, after all.]

That was a passing comment Ju-yeong had made earlier.

That phrase echoed in Arin’s head, making her feel like she was plummeting into an abyss.

“Aunt, please keep it a secret from mother that I called today and that you gave me the address.”

‘I don’t know what I’d say to her right now.’

Arin needed time to sort out her thoughts. Otherwise, she feared she might come to resent even Ju-yeong, who defended Kyeong-sook.

[…Alright. I think that’s best.]

“Sorry for bothering you, Aunt.”

Arin tried to suppress her anger and continued. Her fists were trembling and had turned white from the tight grip.