From Divorce to Dusk Chapter 1.5

“Mother.”

“Jaekyung!”

His mother, who had been sitting in the private room elegantly reading a book, jumped up the moment she saw Jaekyung, hugged him, and then placed her hands on both his cheeks, checking her son’s condition from side to side.

“Let me see. My son… you’ve gotten so thin. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. What are we going to do?”

“It’s nothing. I’m doing well. The dark circles are from staying up all night reading.”

Staying up all night to read was one of Jaekyung’s habits from his teenage years. It had been a while since he last read a book, but his mother, who knew well the Jaekyung who would stay up all night reading several books as a child, simply nodded, held her son’s hand tightly, and sat him down. Jaekyung ordered tea, and even as the tea arrived, steaming hot, his mother looked at her son’s face with pity and caressed his hand.

“Are you really doing well?”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

“You have no thoughts of coming back home?”

“Perhaps because I’m free for the first time in a long while… I’m enjoying it, Mother. I’ll enjoy the solo life a little longer and then come home.”

“Alright, if you’ve decided so, then do as you wish.”

Even his mother, who must have guessed how much Jaekyung had lived holding his breath while belonging to that suffocating family, even if she didn’t know everything, based on rumors and her son’s behavior, seemed unable to tell him what to do anymore.

“Jaekyung.”

“Yes.”

“Does… does Han Seobang… contact you?”

His mother asked, caressing the back of Jaekyung’s hand. His mother still didn’t know why the two of them had broken up. All she knew was that Jaekyung had said he was getting a divorce. However, she didn’t try to find out the reason. A marital relationship is something only the couple knows, but since Jaekyung and Taesuk’s marriage wasn’t one of love, the range of possible reasons was too wide. She probably thought it would be better for Jaekyung not to hear it.

Jaekyung smiled sweetly at his mother’s words.

“Of course.”

It was a lie he had been telling for over 5 years; saying it a few more times wouldn’t change anything.

“Really?”

“Yes, you know how well he takes care of me. It’s just… ah, we’re not a couple anymore, but he said we should remain good friends… we’re doing well.”

“Yes, that’s a relief.”

The desire to tell her everything honestly rose up in his throat, but Jaekyung suppressed it. If he were to tell his mother everything now about Han Taesuk and his family, how he had treated him… what kind of life he had lived, she might collapse from the shock. And she might regret it, blame herself, and be in pain. He didn’t want to see his mother like that. This pain, this sadness, this frustration—it was all something he could bear himself.

“Don’t worry.”

“Yes, you’ll do well, Jaekyung.”

Yes, Mother… I thought so too. That if I try hard and do well, everything will be alright… that’s what I thought.

◆

「Does… Director Han… take care of you?」

His mother, who was handing Jaekyung his bag as he put on his shoes to go to work after breakfast, asked cautiously. Jaekyung hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to answer, and looked into his mother’s eyes. Her face was full of anxiety. If he told the truth, she might burst into tears and beat her chest. She would blame herself for being unable to do anything. After confidently saying he was such a kind person, why…

Jaekyung smiled.

「Of course.」

It was the first lie he told to reassure his mother. He didn’t know then. That he would be telling this lie for nearly six years.

「Really? How?」

Mrs. Lee, while wiping her chest in relief, still seemed unable to believe it and wanted more details. Jaekyung deliberately straightened his clothes and spoke leisurely.

「He texts and calls me.」
I’ve never received one.

「Ah, I’ve been going to the gallery lately, you know? He’s been coming every day for the past four days to ask if I’m okay, if it’s manageable, and to comfort me.」

「That busy person comes every day?」

「Yes, so I told him not to come anymore.」

「Yes, that’s right. Phew… Jaekyung. That’s a real relief. See? I told you, didn’t I? Director Han is a good person.」

「Yes, I think so.」

「The wedding announcement is out today. So, just as your father said earlier, even if it gets noisy, just close your ears and pretend you don’t know.」

「Yes.」

As he had told him yesterday, today was finally the day of the wedding announcement.

「Well then, I’ll be off.」

「Be careful on your way.」

Perhaps because he was nervous, Jaekyung fought back the rising nausea and left the house with a smile. The article would be released at 10 AM. The current time was 7 AM. It was a relief that he would have some time to think and organize things alone in the quiet office.

Arriving at the company, he began to clear out his desk for the last time. Today was Jaekyung’s last day. His subordinate staff didn’t know why Jaekyung was resigning. They would probably find out the reason today…

At first, they didn’t approach Jaekyung easily, thinking he was the ultimate parachute appointment. The only ones who approached Jaekyung were those blinded by power, those with ulterior motives. Jaekyung ignored and rooted out such people first, and instead, he approached the regular employees who didn’t approach him. 

He led by example, showing his diligent side, worked on practical tasks with them, solved problems together when they arose, and shared good things together. After a year of this, they had become so close that the staff would joke that a company run by Jaekyung would be worth working for. Now that he was suddenly resigning like this, everyone seemed shocked. They had firmly believed that Jaekyung would inherit Jaewang Group. So they had asked Jaekyung several times why he was quitting, but he couldn’t give them an answer. There was a clause in the contract that the fact of the marriage should not be disclosed to anyone until the official announcement was made. Therefore, he had no choice but to vaguely say it was for personal reasons.

And an hour after he came to work, they all saw the news article about the marriage between Jaekyung and NI Company’s Han Taesuk and looked at Jaekyung with shocked faces.

「Ah… so this is why you couldn’t tell us?」

「Team Leader, getting married! No, it’s marriageable age… but a bit fast… no, but marriage… and to Han Taesuk of all people…」

「When did you start dating? I’ve never seen you dating, Team Leader…」

The employees, feeling confused, came up to Jaekyung and asked, but Jaekyung could do nothing but laugh it off.

「I’m sorry, that I can’t be with you from now on.」

「Can’t we even have a company dinner? You’re leaving today… and once you go to NI Company, we won’t be able to see you.」

「I know… we should have a drink… but I think I’ll be very busy with wedding preparations.」

At Jaekyung’s words, everyone nodded in agreement. As it was a chaebol family wedding, they seemed to have a prejudice that it would be very glamorous and there would be a lot to do, so he decided to use that.

「You still have to keep in touch with us. You have to make time to at least have a meal…」

Jaekyung fought back tears as his team members kept talking to him, expressing their disappointment. He knew that as an Omega, he had to get married and become a part of another family. But so soon… He wanted to stay here with them a little longer. There were so many things he wanted to do, so many things he wanted to achieve… But it wasn’t as if he was joining NI Company either. He would have to be cooped up in that house, waiting every day for his husband to come home.

「Mr. Haeshin, come on – say goodbye.」

A female employee pushed one of the team members who was in the back and brought him in front of Jaekyung. Gwak Haeshin. A new employee who had joined a year ago and had recently become a full-time employee with excellent performance, a Recessive Alpha. The eyes of the big, bear-like man were brimming with tears.

「Mr. Haeshin, why are you crying?」

Jaekyung was surprised and pulled out a tissue, handing it to him. He clutched the tissue as if it were precious.

「Team Leader, thank you. Really… thank you so much.」

「Thank you. For following me so well.」

「And, and your marriage… congratulations on your marri…」

The man’s throat trembled violently, and he couldn’t finish his words, just kept swallowing hard, and then dropped his head.

「I’m sorry!!」

He suddenly apologized in a loud voice and ran off, pushing through the people. Everyone looked at the man’s retreating back with pity and clicked their tongues.

「Mr. Haeshin really liked you a lot, Team Leader.」

One of his peers from his hiring class said cautiously.

Ah…. He remembered the gazes he sometimes felt from him while working. He thought it was just admiration, but so that’s what it meant. He didn’t know. And it was a good thing he didn’t know. Since nothing had started, he too could sort out his feelings here, couldn’t he? Jaekyung smiled bitterly and finished packing his things into a box. His work here was now done. There was no place for him here anymore.

「Everyone, take care.」

After saying his final goodbyes holding the box, he left the company. He couldn’t stop his team members from following him, and as he was trying to catch a taxi in front of the company, a black sedan suddenly stopped in front of Jaekyung. It was the same model as his father’s car. Hasn’t the driver left yet? That can’t be. The driver went to pick up my father earlier….

「Ah….」

The car door opened, and a man with a towering height got out. All the team members around Jaekyung let out exclamations of admiration. Jaekyung was so surprised that he almost dropped the box he was holding.

Unbelievably, Han Taesuk, that man, got out of the car and approached Jaekyung with a smile. He froze at that smile. While he was confused about how to react, the people behind him all started to whisper.

「My gosh, isn’t that Han Taesuk?」

「Why is he here?」

「Hey, why do you think he’s here? He must have come to pick up the Team Leader.」

「Oh, that’s right. They said they were getting married.」

Right, we are a couple who are getting married. 

But since the marriage was decided, he had never shown this side of himself. Of course the company knows, but he hasn’t asked what I do there, nor has he told me… No, there was no need to go far. We’ve never even properly exchanged greetings, yet he suddenly approaches me with a friendly face and takes the box from Jaekyung’s arms.