Wishing for Salvation (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
To shake off her thoughts, Seo Yoon tried to do some housework but couldn’t endure her feverish, lethargic body and lay down on the bed for a moment.
Drifting into a light sleep, she heard the intercom ringing repeatedly and checked the screen.
—Open the door.
It was an unwelcome visitor even more frequent than the monthly family gatherings.
“Shameless woman. Just how many apartments do you plan to leech off? You’ve really got some nerve. And that Tae Kang Hyun—what a joke. What’s the point of acting like he’s the most exceptional man on earth when he’s clearly blinded by your pretty face and totally taken for a fool?”
Though draped head to toe in luxury brands and affecting an air of elegance with her chin held high, the words spilling from her lips were no different from those of a common street thug.
Facing the woman who’d tracked her down even to her new apartment just a month after moving in made bile rise in Seo Yoon’s throat.
“What brings you here this time?”
“What do you mean, ‘this time’? I came because he kept nagging me to get rid of you. Honestly, kid, you’re such a pain. Why won’t you just listen? Are you some kind of parasite? Why don’t you know your place and stop dragging everyone else down? Is the money you’ve gotten from sponsorships not enough? What exactly is your problem?”
“I’m tired too, Mother.”
“Mother? Who on earth told you I’m your mother!”
“Oh—sorry. Ma’am.”
Koo Se Hee, burdened by the insecurity of being Chairman Tae Seok Joong’s second wife, flared her eyes wide open.
“Ha! You’ve really grown bold, haven’t you? That quiet, submissive child who used to just whimper with her mouth shut is now daring to talk back to me?”
“It’s already been four years. Aren’t you tired of the same old script?”
“I wouldn’t have to act like this if you’d just leave him alone! Listen, Tae Kang Hyun got engaged three days ago—to someone else. They’re getting married next year. You know deep down it’ll never work out between you two anyway.”
Since she hadn’t yet told Kang Hyun herself, she hadn’t wanted to tell Koo Se Hee first—but she was utterly fed up with this irritating verbal sparring.
Seo Yoon, feverish and breathing out hot air, finally gave the answer all the elders of the Seo Won family had been waiting for.
It looked exactly like surrendering to the enemy and raising a white flag.
“I know. That’s why I’m going to break up with him. I’ll leave—on my own.”
***
Feeling as though a long-held obstruction in her chest had finally cleared, Koo Se Hee left Seo Yoon’s apartment and dialed Chairman Tae’s number to deliver the good news.
“Chairman!”
—Just state your business briefly.
Her face, which had been glowing with anticipation of praise for accomplishing something her husband had long desired, instantly hardened into a sour scowl.
Couldn’t he have just responded pleasantly for once?
His irritable tone, which always left her speechless, filled her with deep annoyance.
“I met Han Seo Yoon. She says she’ll leave soon.”
—Good. Well done.
“Yes. I’ll be heading back after having lunch with Se Jun.”
—Keep a tighter rein on him. He’s squatting in a role far beyond his station and acting like a thug—whether it’s womanizing or throwing his weight around. If I hear even one more complaint, you’ll be kicked out alongside him. Congressman Park seized on that exact excuse, calling me nothing but a fool doling out cash!
No sooner had Se Jun’s name—Se Hee’s younger brother—left her lips than an angry roar crashed down like thunder.
Years ago, through Chairman Tae’s matchmaking, Se Jun had married the youngest daughter of Congressman Park. But since then, he’d dragged in constant scandals—infidelity, blatant abuse of power, even assaulting employees.
Because of this ill-chosen son-in-law, the congressman’s political career had suffered a major blow—and, ironically, he’d responded by increasing the amount of sponsorship money he received from Chairman Tae.
Chairman Tae had expelled Se Jun from the conglomerate and instead set him up with a modest film production company, despising his brother-in-law so deeply he wouldn’t even let him set foot near the Seo Won family.
“I’ll make sure he understands—”
Before Koo Se Hee could finish her reply, the call ended.
Furious and on the verge of hurling the bag in her hand, Se Hee quickly restrained herself.
It just so happened that the bag she’d carried out today was a limited-edition luxury item she’d waited three years to get.
Even though she lived for the joy of spending money, the contempt and humiliation she received from Chairman Tae were nearly unbearable.
“That thing? What’s Se Jun got to do with it? For an old man falling apart at the seams—”
Chairman Tae Seok Joong’s remarriage had been solely for Tae Kang Hyun’s sake.
After doctors diagnosed him with an alarming lack of emotional capacity, they’d urgently arranged a second marriage to create a “perfect” home environment.
It was essentially the same as having given Kang Hyun a gift—Seo Yoon.
The woman Chairman Tae had chosen was the eldest daughter of a mid-tier construction company CEO—whose business was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Background didn’t matter. Koo Se Hee bore a striking resemblance to his late wife in her youth.
Of course, regardless of the remarriage, it was Seo Yoon who had truly set Kang Hyun back on the right path.
Seeing Se Hee approaching with an irritated huff, the chauffeur hurried over and opened the rear door for her.
“To Se Jun’s company.”
“Yes, Madam.”
***
Chairman Tae placed his disconnected phone on the desk and walked toward the reception sofa.
“He says he’ll meet Se Jun. Why does he always call for no good reason?”
“I see.”
Kang Hyun, who hadn’t even been asked but was already naming the other party, gave a disinterested nod toward Chairman Tae and handed him a black document folder.
“This is the prenuptial agreement drafted with Flora Hotel. Please review it.”
“Oh, right.”
Kang Hyun referred to his fiancée as “Flora Hotel.”
His marriage was a perfectly calculated business arrangement.
The prenuptial agreement itself wasn’t about marital life at all—it was packed with clauses concerning investments and corporate agreements.
“You’ll need to initial the third section. It states you’ll never lay a hand on Seo Yoon for the rest of your life.”
His tone was as cold and procedural as when giving instructions to subordinates.
“Hah!”
“I’ll even get it notarized. Should you violate the terms, the marriage will be immediately nullified, and you’ll transfer all your shares in Seo Won Construction to me. Since the engagement ceremony has safely concluded, this will take effect as soon as you sign.”
“Do you really distrust your own father that much? I won’t go back on my word.”
Though Chairman Tae continued to pressure Seo Yoon to leave, he tried to reassure Kang Hyun, even letting his disappointment show plainly on his face.
He was willing to use any means necessary to push Seo Yoon away—but he had no desire to estrange his son.
It was the one selfishness he’d passed down to his only child.
“If Seo Yoon is removed, this contract becomes impossible. Don’t forget that.”
“Fine, fine. But will I at least get to see my grandchild?”
“Article 3 on page two details it clearly: physical contact will occur only when absolutely necessary—during the engagement, the wedding, and select public events or press conferences. I have no intention of consummating the marriage. If the situation absolutely requires it, I may provide sperm—but only if you’re willing to pay the appropriate price.”
Another sigh escaped the chairman’s wrinkled lips. His son, half his blood, always thought in ways far outside the bounds of normalcy.
“How is Seo Yoon doing?”
“That’s a breach of contract. Don’t remember her face or her name.”
Damn stubborn kid.
“Alright, alright.”
He was the chairman’s beloved only son—yet a complete anomaly, bearing no resemblance to either his father or his emotionally warm mother.
***
Upon arriving at her younger brother Koo Se Jun’s production company, Koo Se Hee couldn’t bring herself to enter his office. Instead, she nervously chewed her nails outside the door.
The conversation drifting out from inside sounded ominous.
“Darling, why can’t you ever grow up? If you absolutely can’t quit women, meet them secretly! Who told you not to? But why does your father keep getting these photos every single time?”
“I told you—it’s not like that! I was holding auditions for the new movie. How many times do I have to say it?”
“You always make the same excuses! Is fondling some woman’s waist and then ducking into a motel what you call an audition? And who’s this one? Actually, never mind—doesn’t matter who. This time, Father really means it: he’s demanding a divorce. I’ve put up with you this long out of respect for Chairman Tae, but I’ve had enough.”
Koo Se Hee, who had unintentionally overheard everything, squeezed her eyes shut. At that very moment, her conversation with Chairman Tae just earlier came rushing back.
‘Whether it’s womanizing or acting like a tyrant—if there’s even one more incident, you’ll be thrown out right alongside him.’
If Se Jun got divorced, her own divorce would inevitably follow.
Biting her lip hard, Koo Se Hee turned the doorknob.
“Nuna?”
“Oh—hello, Sister-in-law.”
“Let me talk to him. Let’s all calm down and talk this through again, okay?”
“Father’s already made his decision. I intend to follow it. I’ll probably be contacting the chairman myself soon. Excuse me.”
“Wait just a moment, Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law!”
No matter how desperately she called out, Park Yu Ran—Se Jun’s wife—walked out of the office without even glancing back.
“Koo Se Jun!”
“Ugh, seriously. How did this even get exposed? It shouldn’t have been possible!”
Scattered across the glass table were three photos showing Se Jun’s profile and a woman’s back.
“If you really go through with a divorce, what are you going to do? My husband’s furious—he says he won’t stand for it.”
“Ugh, I don’t care. Let’s go—I booked us a nice Japanese place. Is that guy still harassing you?”
Shrugging indifferently as if he didn’t care what happened, Se Jun grabbed his suit jacket.
“He’s not just harassing me—he’s chewing me up and spitting me out!”
“How about you actually use someone once? He’s got high blood pressure and arrhythmia, right? At his age, with those conditions, he could drop dead any second.”
“But all that wealth will just go straight to Tae Kang Hyun anyway—why should I care?”
Se Hee waved her hand dismissively. Causing trouble would only end up hurting herself.
“Exactly! You should’ve just sided with President Tae Seok Gyu from the start. He’s always had a soft spot for you. If Chairman Tae collapses tomorrow, President Tae Seok Gyu might actually be in an even better position.”
Having endured constant humiliation, Se Jun’s resentment toward his brother-in-law ran deep.
In his heart, Chairman Tae was no longer family—just another obstacle.
He was ready to strike back at any opportunity.
As if by prior agreement, another unwelcome visitor arrived that same day to force Seo Yoon to face reality.
“So—now that you’ve seen me in person, have you made up your mind?”
A deep sigh escaped Seo Yoon’s unwell body.
She also felt a sudden surge of irritation.
“Yes.”
“You have no job, no experience earning money yourself—but you’ve received buildings, officetels, villas from Tae Kang Hyun… plus this apartment. Add in stocks too, and your estimated net worth is absolutely staggering. I suppose I won’t need to hand you an envelope of cash.”
“Your staff do a good job. That’s quite accurate.”
“How much time will you need?”
With her chin lifted haughtily, Kim So Ye pulled out her phone and held it right up to Seo Yoon’s lips.
A bright red square indicating recording blinked clearly on the screen.
“Hey, now.”
“We prefer certainty. Given that Han Seo Yoon’s name is already explicitly written in the prenuptial agreement, what’s a little recording like this going to change?”
“I’ve never even seen that contract.”
“Of course—it’s just a formality for me. Because I genuinely care about Kang Hyun.”
“Then you should say that to him.”
“When Han Seo Yoon said she’d step out of the conditions and he declared he wouldn’t marry me unless she was removed—I was so furious.”
Facing Kim So Ye’s outburst, Seo Yoon let out a heavy sigh.
She couldn’t say she didn’t understand the other woman’s feelings.
If anything, the real problem was Tae Kang Hyun himself—clinging to her despite the fact that there was no real love or meaning between them.
“Just say two things: that you’ll break up with him, and that you’ll accept whatever I do if you ever go back on your word.”
Her well-manicured nail pressed the button, and time rushed forward quickly.
Having resigned herself completely, Seo Yoon slumped her shoulders and repeated exactly what the other woman dictated.
Forcing those painful words out—twice—made her stomach twist as though her insides were burning.
One might expect the woman to leave gleefully now that she’d gotten what she wanted—but instead, with an elegant composure, she spoke again.
“I’ve seen your kind before. Usually, people like you say one thing and do another—stooping to vulgar acts without hesitation. If you don’t want to be branded a homewrecker at your young age, you’d better keep your word. No matter how poor you’ve been, never sell your conscience.”
She’d thought she’d grown so accustomed to the constant degradation from the Seo Won family that insults no longer affected her.
Yet alone in the empty living room, Seo Yoon couldn’t stop the tears streaming endlessly down her face.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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