Love Born of Pity Chapter 98

Surprised by the sudden appearance, Chief Kim calmed his heart, which felt like it would leap out of his chest, and quickly approached.

“Good morning, sir.”

“It is not a good morning. I came knowing that fellow Yeonjae is out, so Chief Kim, you may step out for a bit.”

“Yes, ah……. I, I should leave……. That is, the Director told me, he told me not to leave his side and to be sure to-.”

“The person who would do something to him is that fellow Yeonjae, not me.”

The deep, dignified voice rang out resolutely. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead with a troubled expression, Chief Kim looked back and forth between Kwon Jiho and Chairman Do Seungtae before finally bowing his head deeply.

“I will step out for a moment, Chairman. Please speak comfortably, and call me if you need anything.”

It was a relief that Chief Kim had better judgment than Do Yeonjae. Do Seungtae patted the shoulder of the man who was straightening up from a deep bow, then strode forward. As he sat down opposite Kwon Jiho, who had hesitantly risen to his feet with a wary posture, the younger man’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“I’m Do Seungtae.”

To the man who stated his name out of the blue, Kwon Jiho bowed his waist deeply. His aura was just like Do Yeonjae’s. Seeing as he was called ‘Chairman,’ could he be his grandfather? It was difficult to guess his age due to his magnificently built frame and his face, where the wrinkles were not deep.

“……Ah, hello. I’m Kwon Jiho.”

“Yes, I haven’t heard Jiho’s story from others, but I have looked into you a lot.”

Did you, ah, did you now? Seeing Kwon Jiho flustered, not knowing how to respond to an elder who was boldly stating he’d done a background check on him, Do Seungtae smiled benevolently. It was a completely different demeanor from when he had entered shouting.

“I wanted to see you, so I came. You’re definitely better in person than in the photos.”

“……Ah.”

“That fellow Yeonjae kept hiding you so tightly and wouldn’t show you, so I had no choice but to find out and come myself. I understand you must be surprised. When you get to my age, you tend to act first, thinking you don’t have time.”

“Not at all.”

A small hand rubbed the back of a slender, white neck. If he looked into him……. There would have been nothing in his past worth presenting to others. He felt awkward and ashamed.

Do Seungtae’s gaze fell pointedly on Kwon Jiho. He stared for a long time at his soft and elegant features, then his exposed neck, hands, and wrists. Even at a glance, he looked terribly thin, as if he would break with a single touch. He didn’t seem this bad in the pictures; as expected, he must be suffering because of that fellow Do Yeonjae.

“I heard you’re pregnant.”

“……I’m sorry, Chairman.”

He hadn’t been given permission to use the title, but he answered based on his intuition. It seemed he had come to address the issue of him carrying the child of Do Yeonjae, who had a fiancée for an arranged marriage.

Indeed, who would welcome a family member who was about to have an illegitimate child? Kwon Jiho lifted his hips from the sofa and knelt directly on the floor. He bowed his head so low it nearly touched the ground. He was grasping at straws.

There was no one else here to ask for help. No one would help him. The man sitting before him like a great mountain had surely come to remove him from Do Yeonjae’s side, so he had no choice but to beg, saying he would do whatever he wished.

“It wasn’t on purpose. Truly… it really wasn’t. I tried not to, but it, it didn’t work out. I have caused trouble for the Director and Director Kang. The baby… he told me to have the baby, so if you would please show me generosity… if you could just help me leave the Director, I will never appear before either of you again.”

“……What?”

“I won’t ask for anything. If you ask me to write a pledge, I will. It is shameless of me, but I beg you to please help me leave.”

Do Seungtae’s eyes crinkled as he watched the young thing, whose sorrow was plainly written on his face, trying his best to hold back tears and string his words together as firmly and smoothly as possible.

“Wait, wait. I don’t understand him getting married. That fellow Yeonjae said he would marry Director Kang and not you?”

“……Pardon?”

“That was called off ages ago, you mean to say you didn’t know until now? It’s been so long since he announced he wouldn’t get married, and he didn’t tell you something that important? And after that, he told you to have the baby? I’ve never seen such a crazy bastard!”

He’s… not getting married? He hadn’t heard this from Kang Gyumin or Do Yeonjae. Stunned by this news he was hearing for the first time, Kwon Jiho raised his tear-filled eyes to look at Do Seungtae.

“What on earth is that fellow, that bastard, what the hell kind of bastard is he! If you get someone pregnant, you should get married, does it make any sense to leave them begging that they’ll never appear before you again? To make them say such cold things? I can’t let this Do Yeonjae fellow be! Th-th-this incompetent fool. He only looks fine on the outside, honestly!”

Kwon Jiho flinched at the bellowed roar. Even though he could tell all of Do Seungtae’s anger was directed at Do Yeonjae, his force was so great that he couldn’t help but cower. Seeing the small body shrink even further, Do Seungtae shot up from his seat and helped the kneeling Kwon Jiho to his feet.

“You’re not alone in your body, and the floor is cold.”

“……”

“I’m not sure what I should call you but……. My boy, this is not something you should be doing. And you have absolutely not done anything wrong. In my view, it seems to be only that fellow Yeonjae’s fault, but even if you were at fault, collapsing so easily like this is not a good attitude. It hurts, doesn’t it?”

The hands that sat Kwon Jiho on the sofa and brushed off nonexistent dust were rough, yet gentle.

“I understand what you mean by asking for help, but I cannot help you with that escape of leaving Yeonjae. I want you to become my family and form a bond, I have no intention of letting you raise a child alone. In the first place, what’s an old man like me going to do opposing the marriage of young people.”

“……”

“My philosophy is that if one does something that requires taking responsibility, they must rightfully take it. Why are you talking about taking all the responsibility yourself and just leaving? Tsk, is that fellow really so bad?”

Kwon Jiho’s eyes reddened at the voice that asked as if he was displeased. Even though the reprimand wasn’t aimed at him, he felt his spirit shrink.

“More than that…… I am, very lacking. The reason I received the Director’s help was also……”

“There are no secrets in this world, my boy. It’s absurd for me not to know about the child who will become my family. Also…… that fellow Yeonjae is also hopelessly lacking, so I don’t think that’s a problem to worry about.”

Do Seungtae took the hand that was trembling on his thigh and gently patted the back of the dry hand. He felt nothing but pity for the young thing whose secondary gender was said to have changed due to his grandson’s heinous actions, yet he was too precious to let go of like this.

“I’m curious about your feelings, what you think of Yeonjae. If you intend to find that out, I will help you.”

“……”

“That fellow Yeonjae is clumsy at expressing his emotions. He’s a man who has had so much his whole life that he’s never wanted for anything, tsk. It’s probably because he was the only child in the family, so everyone raised him dotingly.”

Smiling benevolently at the eyes that quietly met his, Do Seungtae raised the knee he had placed on the floor. He wanted to pat the head of the young omega whose deferential attitude was ingrained even subconsciously, but seeing the fear in his eyes, he held back this time.

“I’m not asking you to understand, I just meant that I am not without some responsibility for that fellow being raised so gruffly.”

“……I can’t be alone in this place.”

“Would you like to come to my house? My house has a separate annex you can use quietly by yourself, and also…… to be honest, I can’t leave you alone in a hotel. When you get old, you worry a lot. And that includes worrying about you.”

His gaze settled heavily on Kwon Jiho’s wrist. He frowned slightly as he looked at the place left with a clear scar.

“That fellow Yeonjae has sinned greatly.”

“……”

“I’ll buy you time to be alone. So think about it calmly.”

His way of speaking wasn’t anything special, but the tone was soft and comfortable. Kwon Jiho’s eyes grew heavy with tears, and he nodded.

“Let’s go. As of today, that fellow Do Yeonjae will not cross the threshold of my house. Not until you allow it.”

Do Seungtae told him to come with nothing but the clothes on his back. He said that if he needed anything, he would get it all new for him there.

As Kwon Jiho followed Do Seungtae out of the house, his head kept turning back. Worry piled up layer by layer, wondering if it was really okay to leave so abruptly.

“It’s alright. He may be a scoundrel, but I am his grandfather.”

“……Ah.”

“He won’t charge at this old man.”

Do Seungtae acted as if he didn’t have much time left to live, but Kwon Jiho honestly thought Do Seungtae would live longer than him. He looked that healthy and vigorous. It felt like he had met a real adult for the first time.

“I find myself thinking that it would be nice if my great-grandchild came out resembling you a lot. I think they would be very cute then.”

Do Seungtae was already thinking about where to hold the first birthday party for the child Kwon Jiho would give birth to.

Upon exiting the front door, Chief Kim, who was standing anxiously in a corner of the yard, shot his eyes wide open in surprise and hurried over.

“Are you leaving, Chairman?”

“Don’t come out.”

“The Director said he will be arriving soon.”

“Tattling so quickly. You’re good at everything else, but you lack tact.”

Do Seungtae stopped in his tracks and gave a nod to the men he had brought with him. A group of burly men in black suits swarmed up and stood like a wall right in front of Chief Kim.

“I’m taking the child. Please tell Do Yeonjae that it serves him right.”

With those words, Do Seungtae gently pushed Kwon Jiho’s back.

“Let’s go, to my house.”

Kwon Jiho stepped into the yard. He felt dazed, as he hadn’t been allowed to go outside the front door. Feeling that the weather had gotten quite cold, he wrapped his arms around his body, and Do Seungtae’s coat was draped over his thin shoulders.

“It would be a big problem if you caught a cold.”

“……Thank you. But……”

He could feel the commotion behind him. He was worried about Chief Kim, as he had just passed him being blocked by the burly men, unable to do anything despite his polite requests to step aside. On top of that, it seemed he would have to bear the full brunt of Do Yeonjae’s fiery temper all by himself.

“It’s alright. Chief Kim needs a day off too. He’ll suffer a bit, but I’ll make it up to him with a hefty bonus.”

The main gate opened along with a benevolent smile. A man who had been waiting by the vehicle bowed his head and opened the car door. Do Seungtae pushed his back again, and Kwon Jiho got into the car lightly.

He had followed him out impulsively, but he felt a little relieved.