True Marriage After Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8

Yoo Hyun liked the diligent Ah Rin. Sitting beside her, he gently tucked back a stray strand of her hair and looked at her with a contented smile.

“What do you want to do?”

“I’ve been thinking… Let me just take out my phone and check while I talk. Oppa.”

But Ah Rin couldn’t see his expression. She had lowered her head, busy pulling her phone out of her bag.

“Okay.”

Yoo Hyun kept watching her with the same smile, as if it didn’t matter at all whether Ah Rin looked at him or not.

Unaware of Yoo Hyun’s feelings, Ah Rin was focused on pressing the power button and tapping the portal site app on her screen.

“I don’t think we really need to bring someone all the way from the mainland. Maybe it’s because Jeju Island has so many bakeries, but I looked into it, and there seem to be more locals than I expected who are hiring pastry chefs or bakers. Ah, is the Wi-Fi bad? Why won’t it load?”

“Take your time.”

“Ah, it loaded. If I go in here… Ah…”

But Ah Rin’s finger, scrolling through her phone screen, suddenly froze. The tip of her finger trembled slightly.

“…Hah.”

Yoo Hyun’s expression, as he looked at the screen alongside her, instantly hardened too.

The news headlines filling the portal site’s main page were impossible to ignore even if she tried.

[Breaking: VAN Group Vice Chairman Ban Jae Hyuk reportedly nearing marriage with LW Group Director Min Yu Jin.] [Vice Chairman Ban Jae Hyuk’s fiancée confirmed as LW Group Director Min Yu Jin.] [Vice Chairman Ban’s camp plans formal engagement before marriage.]

“Don’t look at stuff like this.”

Yoo Hyun snatched Ah Rin’s phone and hid it behind his back. Both their faces had fallen deeply.

Ah Rin looked up at Yoo Hyun.

“…Oppa, I’m okay.”

Ah Rin forced a smile, lifting the corners of her mouth, but couldn’t hide the slight trembling of her shoulders.

At that sight, Yoo Hyun’s brow instantly furrowed.

He disliked seeing Ah Rin make that kind of expression because of that man.

He silently cursed Jae Hyuk in his mind.

“Oppa, I really am fine.”

Yoo Hyun saw through Ah Rin’s lie.

For a full two years—

He had stayed by her side every single hour of every day.

He cared about Ah Rin more than anyone in the world. Understanding her heart was no difficult task.

Yoo Hyun’s emotions stirred.

He resented that man—the one who could shake Ah Rin’s heart with just a fleeting news article, while he himself struggled so hard.

He understood, though. He’d heard from Ji Yoon just how deeply Ah Rin had loved that man.

Moreover, Ah Rin had even carried that man’s child once, so he knew her feelings were far more complex and profound than mere lingering attachment.

Yoo Hyun had repeatedly steeled his heart, reminding himself not to grow impatient with Ah Rin, who couldn’t easily erase that man from her life.

But each time, impatience welled up uncontrollably. Yoo Hyun roughly ran his fingers through his hair.

‘Get a grip, Seo Yoo Hyun. You can’t let Ah Rin see you acting so petty and jealous. At least you’ll never meet that man again—that alone should be enough for now. Remember, you decided to become the man Ah Rin could lean on, even in situations like this.’

In front of Ah Rin, he absolutely had to be the better man.

“Alright. I understand how you feel, Ah Rin. But…”

Yoo Hyun reluctantly handed her phone back to her and continued.

“Still, don’t look at things like this. Let’s go home.”

Ah Rin stared blankly at her phone.

“Okay, I won’t look. Oppa, you just hold onto my phone.”

Ah Rin placed her phone back into Yoo Hyun’s hand and stood up.

“Why?”

“Nothing, I just need to go to the restroom for a moment.”

“…”

“Oppa, go on ahead.”

Ah Rin felt Yoo Hyun’s gaze on her as she looked up at him—it felt strangely unreadable.

“…You.”

But as if resigning himself, Yoo Hyun closed his mouth again.

“Go ahead. I’ll start the car.”

**

Ah Rin walked quickly toward the restroom.

She’d noticed Yoo Hyun’s expression wasn’t good. But right now, she didn’t have the energy to worry about his mood.

“Get yourself together, Choi Ah Rin. What are you even thinking about?”

It had been a relationship completely over three years ago. If someone asked whether she still had feelings for Jae Hyuk, she could’ve easily said no.

“He’s my ex-husband. No, wait—he’s not even that. We haven’t even filed for divorce yet. Then why hasn’t he filed? And yet he’s already talking about engagement. Am I some joke to him? What does he even want from me?”

She wanted to sever all ties with him as soon as possible—only then could she stop feeling this turmoil.

The memory of Madam Jeong’s voice—her former mother-in-law—raced through her mind, and Ah Rin’s reflection in the restroom mirror wavered.

[Jae Hyuk has liked a certain girl since he was little. She’s studying abroad now, but she’ll be back soon.]

“That girl… was Min Yu Jin.”

It was a name and memory she still couldn’t forget.

She recalled Madam Jeong’s voice again—how she hadn’t even hung up the call, fully aware that Ah Rin, still her daughter-in-law, was right there listening.

[It’s fate, really. Yu Jin and our Jae Hyuk are simply meant for each other. Just as Yu Jin returns, everything around him clears up nicely. Ho ho.]

“So just hurry up and sign the divorce papers already. Stop playing games with me. I’m tired of being shaken like this.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day.

Ah Rin was busy with opening preparations.

Two hours before opening time, someone entered the shop as she unlocked the door.

“I’m sorry…”

Ah Rin, who had been arranging items on the display shelf beside the counter, looked up to greet them but froze mid-sentence. Her face instantly stiffened.

These were people she couldn’t possibly pretend not to recognize.

An older woman and a younger woman in her twenties—the older one spoke first.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“Madam…”

The two women were none other than Madam Jeong, Ah Rin’s former mother-in-law, and Min Yu Jin, the woman set to marry Jae Hyuk.

There were no greetings after five years apart—neither Madam Jeong offered one, nor did Ah Rin feel inclined to.

“I’m sorry, but we’re in the middle of preparing the store right now.”

Was it because she’d heard yesterday about Jae Hyuk’s engagement? These visitors had never been welcome before, but today, their presence felt more unwelcome than ever.

Madam Jeong crossed her arms and scoffed.

“How arrogant. You’ve clearly forgotten your place since we last met.”

Madam Jeong’s sharp remark weighed even heavier on Ah Rin’s heart.

“I don’t want to talk to you for long either.”

Ah Rin didn’t avoid Madam Jeong’s gaze.

Once, that gaze had terrified her—so fearsome she couldn’t meet it.

Madam Jeong used to look at her as if she were the most worthless, inferior creature on earth.

Back then, she’d felt utterly small and insignificant in Madam Jeong’s presence.

But now, she’d improved. Though fear still lingered, it no longer paralyzed her as it once did.

Clenching her white-knuckled fist tightly, Ah Rin spoke.

“I’m sorry, but I’m busy right now. Please come back later.”

“How arrogant.”

Unable to contain her anger, Madam Jeong slammed her hand on the counter.

Ah Rin’s eyes shifted to another gaze fixed on her—Min Yu Jin stood with her arms crossed, watching her with a calm, composed smile.

This was the first time Ah Rin had seen Min Yu Jin in person.

Even in this tense situation, Min Yu Jin’s expression didn’t flicker. Draped head to toe in luxury brands, she radiated elegance.

Her face carried a quiet confidence—as if everything in the world naturally belonged beneath her—an expression so similar to Madam Jeong’s that they could easily be mistaken for mother and daughter.

‘I’ve seen her in news photos before, but she’s far more glamorous and beautiful in person. So this is the kind of woman Oppa loved. That’s why he could never love me.’

She’d thought she’d let go of all feelings for him, yet her heart ached sharply.

Ah Rin found Min Yu Jin’s gaze deeply unpleasant.

Just then—

Perhaps sensing the commotion, Yoo Hyun’s voice called out from the kitchen where he’d been preparing for opening.

“Ah Rin, what’s going on?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“I heard a noise.”

“No, Oppa. I was just talking to myself.”

She didn’t want Yoo Hyun to see her like this.

Ah Rin’s expression wavered.

“I won’t leave until we’ve talked. What are you going to do? If you insist on staying put, I don’t mind talking right here.”

Madam Jeong saw her chance.

Outwardly calm, inwardly she was seething. To keep her rebellious son in check, she’d recently exploited a weakness of Secretary Shin—one of Jae Hyuk’s secretaries—to turn him into her informant.

Recalling Secretary Shin’s call from yesterday morning, she glared at Ah Rin.

[The Vice Chairman is going to Jeju Island tomorrow.] [Again? Just to see that woman?] [No. This time, he’s meeting her directly.] [What? Meeting her?] [Yes, that’s correct.] [Are you sure? Absolutely certain?] [Yes. I confirmed it with Team Leader Han.]

She had to interfere before Jae Hyuk met Ah Rin.

She’d wanted to rush to Jeju Island yesterday, but couldn’t leave Seoul due to an event she was hosting.

After hastily leaking the engagement article about Jae Hyuk and Yu Jin, she’d taken the first flight out this morning to confront Ah Rin.

“That insolent girl—daring to sway my son! I’ll cut her off completely so she finally comes to her senses!”

Madam Jeong ground her teeth furiously.

“So whether we talk now or an hour from now, the situation won’t change. I don’t plan to waste much time on you either—I’ll make this quick.”

Madam Jeong’s eyes fell on Ah Rin’s trembling fist, and the corner of her mouth twisted upward. Min Yu Jin, who had been silently observing everything, wore the same smug expression.

Ah Rin realized she had no choice.

“Let’s go outside and talk.”

She didn’t want Yoo Hyun to witness this scene.

“Please come out quietly.”

Ah Rin removed her apron and walked toward the door, following Madam Jeong and Min Yu Jin.

As she opened the door, the two women stepped out first. Ah Rin glanced toward the kitchen where Yoo Hyun was.

Thankfully, he remained inside, still working.

“Oppa, the signboard fell over in the wind. I’ll prop it back up and tidy the garden before coming back in.”

Ah Rin called out toward the kitchen. Immediately after—

“Alright, Ah Rin. Be careful not to hurt your hands.”

Hearing Yoo Hyun’s reply, Ah Rin let out a sigh of relief.

She heard Ah Rin leave. As the door closed, Yoo Hyun emerged from the kitchen, his expression dark as he stared at the door through which she’d just exited.

[This is the timeline separator]

That same late afternoon.

They stayed open later than usual today.

“Oppa, I’m sorry.”

Ah Rin had accidentally baked far more than usual.

“I already said it’s fine.”

A moment later, after finishing closing duties, Yoo Hyun turned to look at Ah Rin.

“Ah Rin, are you all done over there?”

“…Ah, Oppa. Sorry. What did you say?”

“What’s got you so lost in thought all day?”

Ever since Madam Jeong’s visit, Ah Rin couldn’t think straight. No matter how hard she tried to erase it, Madam Jeong’s words kept echoing in her mind.

[Don’t you dare think Jae Hyuk hasn’t divorced you out of lingering feelings. It’s all because of my orders.]