True Marriage After Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5

It was the faint light of dawn, when everyone at the main house—including Jae Hyuk—was fast asleep, that Ah Rin left her family home with minimal luggage.

Just as Jae Hyuk had anticipated, the place she headed to was Ji Yoon’s house.

“Ji Yoon….”

Was it because her tension had finally eased?

Ah Rin burst into tears the moment she saw Ji Yoon.

“Ah Rin, what’s wrong?”

The moment Ji Yoon saw her cry, she pulled Ah Rin into her embrace.

“Come in first. Come in and tell me everything.”

Ah Rin’s tears wouldn’t stop. Ji Yoon silently stroked her back slowly.

‘What on earth happened?’

Ji Yoon carefully observed Ah Rin’s puffy eyes and her travel bag. Even without hearing anything from her, it was obvious that something serious had occurred.

“Ji Yoon, I…”

After a long while, once her tears had somewhat subsided, Ah Rin finally spoke.

“I’m getting a divorce.”

“…What? Seriously?”

Ah Rin gave a small nod in response to Ji Yoon’s question, then broke down crying once again.

Ji Yoon’s gaze deepened as she looked at Ah Rin, her eyes darkening like the depths of the sea.

Ji Yoon recalled the unexpected phone call she’d received from Ah Rin the previous afternoon.

[Ji Yoon, I’m sorry. Could you possibly lend me some money?] [Ah Rin, what’s going on? Why do you suddenly need money? What happened?] [I’m sorry. I really can’t tell you anything right now. I’m so sorry… But I’ll definitely pay you back. Please, just lend me the money.]

Ji Yoon was the team leader of the PR team at VAN Group. Although she hadn’t experienced it firsthand, she’d heard plenty of rumors within the company about how difficult and exacting Madam Jeong was.

Moreover, everyone knew how fiercely protective Madam Jeong was of her son. Though Ah Rin seemed kind and lovely in her own eyes, Ah Rin and Jae Hyuk came from very different worlds—so it wasn’t hard to imagine how inadequate and displeasing Ah Rin must have seemed to Madam Jeong.

It was a simple matter to grasp even without deep thought. As proof, despite repeatedly saying she was fine, Ah Rin had grown increasingly dim—both physically and mentally—as if wearing herself down day by day.

[No, you don’t have to tell me. How much money do you need? And don’t worry about paying me back. It’s fine.] [I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Ji Yoon.]

Ji Yoon had been startled when Ah Rin brought up money. Even Ah Rin’s voice—lower and more subdued than usual—weighed heavily on her mind.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to ask anything further.

Because Ah Rin’s voice sounded utterly heartbroken.

[I’ll come see you at dawn.]

When Ah Rin said she’d come over at dawn to talk, Ji Yoon was certain that something major had happened to her friend.

She transferred all the money she could spare and stayed awake until dawn, waiting for Ah Rin’s arrival.

“I’m sorry for showing up so suddenly, Ji Yoon.”

Snapped out of her memories by Ah Rin’s words, Ji Yoon replied,

“What are you sorry for? We’re friends.”

“Ji Yoon….”

“Yeah, go ahead. Tell me, Ah Rin.”

Ji Yoon grasped Ah Rin’s trembling small hands tightly.

“You know…”

“Yeah?”

“Did you love Oppa a lot?”

“…You know that already.”

Seo Ji Yoon knew better than anyone that Choi Ah Rin loved Ban Jae Hyuk more than her own life.

When the public saw Ah Rin marrying Jae Hyuk, they labeled her everything from “a modern-day Cinderella” to “a gold-digger,” flooding the media with baseless speculation. Many of the articles were outright infuriating.

[I’m fine. It’s not true anyway… As long as Oppa doesn’t think that way about me, it’s okay.]

Even in that moment, Ah Rin had smiled. All Ji Yoon could do was pat her shoulder and encourage her to stay strong.

But now, Ah Rin was leaving Jae Hyuk of her own accord?

It felt like the world was turning upside down.

Ah Rin had to hide her deep love for Jae Hyuk and sacrifice herself for her family, who only ever looked to her for support.

Ji Yoon knew Ah Rin’s family well.

They were people who didn’t deserve to be called family.

Despite their close friendship, Ah Rin had never opened up about her true feelings—not even about her family, which Ji Yoon naturally knew nothing about.

She’d only exchanged brief greetings with Ah Rin’s mother, Kyung Suk, a few times in passing.

But then—when was it again?

She’d once seen Kyung Suk outside her company.

Wondering, ‘What could she possibly be doing all the way here?’ Ji Yoon had approached her to say hello.

But Kyung Suk happened to be on the phone, and Ji Yoon accidentally overheard what she said—a mistake she now considered the biggest of her life.

[Do you even know who I am? I’m the mother-in-law of the heir to Korea’s top conglomerate. Do you really think I’d live like some pathetic nobody?] [What? So what if she finds out? That’s exactly why you raise kids—to use them like this. It’s not like I’m doing this for free.]

It felt as if she’d opened a Pandora’s box she was never meant to see. Ji Yoon turned around immediately without greeting Kyung Suk.

Ever since then, things that had previously been invisible started coming into view—the hidden truth about Ah Rin’s family, who had been secretly draining her like parasites from behind.

After that, the press occasionally published damaging articles about Ah Rin’s family. And every time, Ah Rin simply smiled it off.

Ji Yoon couldn’t bring herself to ask whether Ah Rin’s decision to divorce was because of her family.

“Are you serious?”

No matter how she looked at it,

Ji Yoon honestly couldn’t believe that Ah Rin was really leaving Jae Hyuk.

“Yeah. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Ah Rin looked straight at Ji Yoon and nodded firmly.

“But a divorce so suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden.”

“Did something happen with Madam Ban? Did she tell you to leave? Is that why you’re like this?”

Ah Rin couldn’t answer Ji Yoon’s questions honestly.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Ji Yoon.

‘I’m just so confused myself right now.’

The horrifying reality that she’d actually left Jae Hyuk choked her throat with grief.

[You won’t be able to conceive naturally from now on.]

Dr. Kim’s blunt voice, informing her she could no longer have children, echoed relentlessly in her mind, tormenting her.

“I don’t want to live like this anymore. Besides…”

Ah Rin felt like her heart was about to burst.

She hadn’t expected everything to magically work out or imagined a perfect future—but neither had she hoped for a living hell.

Though her life hadn’t been long, she’d spent every moment focused solely on Jae Hyuk. She’d loved him for as long as she could remember—since time immemorial, it seemed.

It was only natural.

Like a hatchling imprinting on the first being it sees, Jae Hyuk was her first love. Ban Jae Hyuk was etched into her life like a permanent mark—something she couldn’t simply erase at will.

And yet, she was leaving him.

“I feel like I’ll completely shatter if I stay like this…”

Besides, it would be cruel to stubbornly cling to Jae Hyuk’s side.

“I have to leave.”

Because there would surely be another woman by Oppa’s side.

“…Ah Rin.”

After a brief silence, Ji Yoon spoke.

“Does the Vice Chairman know?”

“Even if he knows, it won’t change anything.”

“Where are you planning to go?”

A place to go…?

Ah Rin had no answer.

It was painfully sad and humiliating to realize that despite having lived a decent chunk of life, she had nowhere to turn for even her own survival.

Ah Rin met Ji Yoon’s eyes. Her gaze wavered.

“I don’t have anyone… except you.”

That’s probably why I came to you.

Ah Rin reached out and took Ji Yoon’s hand.

“Please help me… Ji Yoon.”

“Ah Rin…”

“You’re the only person I can ask. Oppa probably already noticed I’m gone by now. I don’t think he’ll come looking for me.”

It was highly unlikely that Jae Hyuk would come after her.

“I won’t see Oppa again except at court. It’s for my own sake.”

Though he might refuse the divorce right now, it wasn’t because he loved her. The divorce would inevitably happen soon. So, seeing him again would only be foolish sentimentality.

“But what if he does find you?”

“He won’t.”

“No, seriously—what if he does? It’s not like he’d miss you; he’d probably be looking for you because of your father’s issues and the money matter.”

Confronted with Ji Yoon’s coldly realistic assessment, Ah Rin fell silent.

“No matter the reason, if the Vice Chairman really wants to find you, he can. Don’t worry about the money—I’ll help with that too. But that’s not my real concern. Where will you live on your own?”

“…”

She had family—but no one she could rely on.

Even now, in this situation, the only person who came to mind was Ji Yoon.

“Ji Yoon… Do you think I ran away from home too recklessly?”

Ah Rin kept spiraling into negative thoughts.

“I’m so useless, aren’t I? Even as an adult, I can’t do anything on my own.”

She felt pathetic and foolish.

Just then,

Ji Yoon squeezed Ah Rin’s hand tightly and spoke.

“The money I gave you yesterday should be enough to rent a jeonse apartment. But… I don’t think I can let you use it to live alone somewhere.”

“…Why?”

“Because I’m afraid you’ll end up just like this—despairing, hopeless, blaming and hating yourself—until you vanish completely. You might say you’re fine, but don’t even think about lying to me.”

Ah Rin looked as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind.

Ji Yoon spoke decisively, as if she’d already made up her mind.

“Don’t disappear on me—not while I’m watching.”

“Ji Yoon…”

“If you’re okay with it… How about taking the money I gave you and going to live in Jeju Island?”

“…Jeju Island?”

Jeju Island…?

Ah Rin was stunned by Ji Yoon’s suggestion.

“Yeah. Remember when I told you my dad passed away and Mom moved to Jeju? You’ve never met him, but I mentioned my older brother’s studying abroad in France—he might come back sometime next year, though it’s not certain yet.”

Ji Yoon gently stroked Ah Rin’s trembling hands as she continued.

“If you’re okay with it, would you like to live with my mom?”

“…With your mom?”

“Yeah. I’ve been worried about her being alone in Jeju. If you don’t want to live by yourself, how about staying with her?”

“Won’t it be uncomfortable for her?”

Ji Yoon held Ah Rin’s hand tightly and went on.

“Of course not. You know Mom likes you even more than she likes me.”

Memories of Ji Yoon’s mother, Madam Seo, came flooding back to Ah Rin—she had always been so kind.

[Ah Rin, have you eaten? If not, come in and eat with us. I just happened to cook your favorite japchae today.] [Oh dear, the button on your blouse looks like it’s about to fall off. Let me sew it for you. Go change into whatever you like from Ji Yoon’s closet—anything’s fine.] [It’s your birthday today, right? I couldn’t do much since I was working, but I made seaweed soup and japchae. Stop by the house on your way home.]

Compared to her own mother—who never cared when her birthday was or whether she’d eaten—Madam Seo had always looked after her more warmly.

“Mom’s been saying lately that she’s been feeling really lonely. So I think it’d be great if you went to keep her company.”

“Ji Yoon…”

Ah Rin’s eyes filled with tears.

“Please. Ah Rin. Honestly, I’m asking because I’m worried about Mom. If it’s not too uncomfortable for you, I’d be really grateful if you went to Jeju and stayed with her.”

Ah Rin’s eyes shimmered with emotion.

“Ji Yoon… I’m sorry. And thank you. I know you’re saying it like a ‘favor’ because you’re worried I’d feel burdened—but I see right through it. You’re doing this to make me feel at ease.”

Having Ji Yoon as a friend in this life was an immense blessing. Ah Rin wrapped her arms around Ji Yoon’s neck and hugged her tightly.

“…Thank you, Ji Yoon.”

Ah Rin choked up as she spoke from the heart. Ji Yoon gently patted her back and replied,

“Don’t mention it. I’m the one who’s thankful.”

Ji Yoon glanced briefly at Ah Rin’s luggage and added,

“Let’s leave before the Vice Chairman arrives. I’ll drive you. Is this all you have for clothes?”

“For now, yes.”

“Right. There are stores and everything in Jeju, so we can buy whatever you need later. I can bring things when I visit too.”

Instead of pulling Ah Rin away, Ji Yoon kept holding her hand.

“Let’s head to the airport first. We can get a flight to Jeju right away. I’ll call Mom on the way.”

If Ji Yoon hadn’t been there, how utterly hopeless would she have felt?

Though they were the same age, Ji Yoon had always felt like an elder sister to her—and she was endlessly grateful.

And an hour later, Ah Rin arrived at Gimpo Airport with Ji Yoon.