Young Husband 67

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#67

“Fine. Our brilliant son will handle everything himself. I’ll be going now.”

Kang Ye-ryeong turned her back as if she had no lingering attachments. She felt that staying any longer would only raise her blood pressure.

Although Hyun-oh had mobilized all available personnel, she couldn’t relax until Eunsol was found.

She took her phone out of her clutch and opened her contacts, finding and pressing a name she hadn’t called in a long time.

—What a surprise. You’re calling me when you usually just hang up when I call.

“Father must have felt neglected. His only daughter doesn’t understand his feelings.”

—…Ahem.

Kang Ye-ryeong narrowed her eyes at the sound of the fake cough coming through the phone.

She knew her father cared for her, but sometimes she felt suffocated by his expectation that she would still follow his wishes. Since he had moved to Jeju Island to recover after his body had become extremely weak with age, it was also difficult to visit him.

“I called because I have a favor to ask.”

—I’ve already handed over all authority to you children.

Kang Ye-ryeong’s father, Kang Tae-oh, had passed everything he owned to his children years ago, keeping only enough wealth to live a comfortable life in his old age.

“But I know, Father. I know how many of your loyal people still remain in the company.”

—…

The silence was as good as confirmation. Of course, Kang Ye-ryeong had many people under her command as well, but there was inevitably a difference in how her father could mobilize people.

“I told you about Hyun-oh’s spouse, right?”

—Yes. The child you haven’t let me see even a strand of hair from, saying you weren’t ready yet.

Kang Ye-ryeong was a spitting image of her mother, a former Miss Korea. Hyun-oh had also inherited much of Kang Ye-ryeong’s beauty.

However, Kang Ye-ryeong’s father and older brothers were different. They all had such fierce appearances that if you dressed them as bandits, people would believe they were actually from that era.

Especially her father, who despite his white hair and hunched back, had such piercing eyes that ordinary people could barely make eye contact with him.

“I was afraid the child would faint if I showed him to you and my brothers, given how delicate he already is. I was planning to introduce him this year.”

She had postponed it, imagining how frightened Eunsol, who was already intimidated by both her and Hyun-oh, would be upon seeing Hyun-oh’s maternal relatives.

—Has something happened to that child?

Kang Tae-oh seemed to have guessed something despite Kang Ye-ryeong not saying anything specific.

“I almost forgot that I take after you with my sharp intuition.”

Kang Ye-ryeong, who had bypassed the car door being opened by the driver to sit in the back seat, brushed her elegantly waved hair with her long nails.

“I’ve failed in raising my child, Father. Please help me find our new child.”

—Tsk, tsk. I bet you went and threw a fit at my puppy again.

Just as Kang Tae-oh adored Kang Ye-ryeong, he also cherished Hyun-oh among his many grandchildren as if he would give him his liver and gallbladder. Hyun-oh, taking after Kang Ye-ryeong, despised his grandfather’s intense affection to the point of shuddering.

It was especially so because Kang Tae-oh’s affection was of a different kind than what ordinary people showed. It wasn’t for nothing that Kang Ye-ryeong had raised young Hyun-oh like an eagle training its chick by pushing it out of the nest.

He had simply acted according to what he had seen and learned.

—Alright. I’ll have my people look around.

“Thank you. I’ll come down to Jeju soon.”

After ending the call, Kang Ye-ryeong leaned her head back against the headrest and let out a deep sigh.

“…I hope he’s not starving.”

Just then, she saw sleet falling outside the car window. If she had known this would happen, she would have given Eunsol bundles of cash instead of buying expensive items whenever they met.

When she recalled those soft, tender hands that showed he had never experienced hardship despite having been emotionally abused, her eyebrows sank as if weights were hanging from them.

“Hyun-oh, you bastard. If anything happens to our new child, I’ll divorce him from you and make him my own child.”

She felt that even though Eunsol was an adult, he would still be a joy to raise as her child. Judging by Hyun-oh’s behavior as he rampaged out of control, he seemed to have some awareness of his feelings for Eunsol, but it was already too late.

There was no guarantee that Hyun-oh’s behavior would change to be more affectionate after reuniting with Eunsol.

As someone who had fled to survive after becoming covered in wounds, Eunsol might face even worse consequences if he continued living with the unchanging Hyun-oh.

Rather than that, it would be better to legally adopt him as her child and keep him by her side.

As that thought occurred to her, Kang Ye-ryeong’s eyes took on a strange light. As they say, strike while the iron is hot – she turned on her phone and searched through her contacts.

—Yes, Madam.

“Come to my house. I have something to discuss.”

—Understood.

Only after setting up an appointment with her lawyer did Kang Ye-ryeong release the strand of hair she had been twirling around her finger.

“I should have done this sooner. It’s not like I have a desire to see grandchildren.”

People might gossip if she adopted Eunsol as her child.

It was something that didn’t make sense rationally. But what did that matter? If she had been the type to care about others’ eyes, she wouldn’t have married Hyun-oh’s biological father in the first place.

Despite officially registering their marriage, she was called a concubine and chewed like gum on many people’s lips.

“So don’t get sick, just rest well.”

Kang Ye-ryeong spoke in a warm voice as if Eunsol were right in front of her. Guilt even arose as she recalled how noticeably gaunt Eunsol had become recently.

She hadn’t realized how deeply Eunsol had taken root in her heart. The fact that she wanted to see Eunsol happy even if it meant cutting ties with her own biological son was telling.

* * *

“…Lucky, the house is really pretty, isn’t it?”

Eunsol placed the crossbody bag he had been carrying on his shoulder onto the floor, letting out a small exclamation of admiration.

He had escaped from the house like a scene from a spy movie. His back had been soaked with cold sweat from the tension on the way here.

‘I thought they might assign someone to follow me. I’ll stop by the house when things calm down a bit.’

Ryu Jeong-woo had sounded apologetic even during their phone call. Using a disposable phone to avoid leaving records, he had helped Eunsol escape safely without taking any credit.

The person who had brought Eunsol to his new home had unloaded his luggage, carried it into the house, and then disappeared with the car.

Eunsol hadn’t exchanged a single word with him on the way. The man seemed to have received separate instructions from Jeong-woo. Eunsol, too, with his throat tight from tension, hadn’t even thought about making conversation with a stranger.

With mixed emotions, he found the interior of the house even more beautiful than it had appeared in photos.

Eunsol slowly walked around, exploring the house. The two-story house was fully furnished and ready to be lived in immediately.

The most beautifully decorated room was Eunsol’s bedroom on the second floor. Seeing an adult bed and a baby crib placed side by side, Eunsol stood motionless for a long while.

Only after his vision started to blur from the edges did he approach the baby crib. A colorful mobile was already hanging above it.

“…This is really cute.”

From a bright red heart with stars on its cheeks that resembled a unicorn, to stars painted in alternating blue and pink colors.

Items that would appear even more colorful from a baby’s perspective dangled from thin strings, displaying their adorable forms.

Eunsol pressed a button. The mobile began to rotate to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

“I hope you like it. Uncle Jeong-woo bought it for you, Lucky.”

This house and everything in it were gifts from Ryu Jeong-woo to Eunsol.

‘Since I’m like an uncle, I should give a generous gift.’

Jeong-woo truly treated Eunsol like his own younger brother. The sentiment was so gratefully overwhelming that Eunsol had no choice but to accept.

“I want to meet you soon, our Lucky.”

Eunsol stroked his flat stomach as if caressing the most precious thing in the world.

It was fortunate that he could still smile even as hot tears wet his cheeks with each blink.

After touring the entire house, Eunsol unpacked his belongings. In truth, all he had brought from Hyun-oh’s house were suitcases filled with bundles of yellow cash and a bag containing clothes.

Following Jeong-woo’s advice that he should have a few comfortable everyday clothes, he had packed cardigans and pajamas.

“…Fortunately, it still has his scent.”

What Eunsol carefully took out of the bag was a cardigan far too large for his frame.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As if Hyun-oh were standing right in front of him, a fresh scent entered deep into his lungs, dyeing his entire body with a cool, refreshing color.

“…Just for today, I’ll cry just for today, Lucky.”

His thin body collapsed to the floor as if falling. Eunsol buried his face in the cardigan and released the tears he had been holding back.

Now he truly felt the reality of having left Hyun-oh and being alone.

The only trace of Hyun-oh he could feel in this unfamiliar place was the piece of clothing he now held in his arms.

Even this would surely disappear without a trace in a few days. Eunsol desperately inhaled against the cardigan like someone who had been holding their breath for a long time and had just started breathing again.

His short, broken breaths precariously followed the rise and fall of his trembling back.