From Divorce to Dusk Chapter 6.7

Jaekyung looked at the medicine bag in his hand. No, when on earth did the medicine… he didn’t know.

「Hey, are you really okay?」

Director Ji asked once more, looking at the dazed Jaekyung. Jaekyung nodded his head repeatedly.

「I’m sorry for causing you concern. I’m really okay.」

「Well, that’s a relief then… shall we sit down somewhere and talk for a bit? How about a cafe inside the hospital?」

Since it was a large hospital, there were several cafes inside. Rather than going far while still feeling dazed for no reason, he thought that would be better.

「Yes, I’m fine with that. Oh, have you eaten?」

「It’s already 3 o’clock. There’s no way I haven’t eaten. What about you?」

It was already 3 o’clock. He hadn’t been able to eat yet because he was out of it from getting tests and whatnot… but it was awkward to say he hadn’t eaten yet, so Jaekyung also said he had eaten, and Director Ji led Jaekyung further into the hospital. Even though there were three cafes spread across the basement and the first floor, they passed them all and headed to the 5th floor. There was a cafe exclusively for medical staff, and it was a comfortable place divided into private rooms so that various conversations could be held.

Being guided to the largest private room among them, Director Ji sat down first and had Jaekyung sit across from her. By this point, Jaekyung began to feel worried. What on earth was Director Ji planning to talk about that she had called him all the way here and sat him in this enclosed space? And why, of all places, a hospital? If they had something to talk about, she could have called him to the gallery.

Jaekyung’s question was resolved within a minute of sitting down.

「Ah, it’s been a long time. Mr. Jaekyung.」

Ah… seeing a man hesitantly walking through the door, Jaekyung froze right there. Professor Kim.

「Welcome. Professor. Please sit here.」

The moment Director Ji offered the seat next to her, Jaekyung realized why the director had been so affectionate toward him. And why she had chosen this place as the meeting spot.

「What are you doing? You should greet the Professor.」

His hands trembled and cold sweat broke out all over his body. If he hadn’t known, he might have been able to greet him, but how could he greet the person who had used him as an experimental subject when he was right in front of his eyes? If he thought about what he had gone through because of that incident, he should have flipped the table and run out immediately, but his whole body was shaking so much he couldn’t even do that. Far from a greeting, it was harder to hide his agitation, so Jaekyung kept fidgeting with both hands on top of his knees.

「Oh my, Ma’am, no. A greeting from Mr. Jaekyung? That’s unthinkable. It is I who did wrong.」

Professor Kim spoke glibly to Director Ji while repeatedly bowing his head. I’m the one who should be receiving an apology.

「Mr. Jaekyung, I’m sorry. I… the V-2 to you… But please believe this one thing. I never intended to use you for a clinical trial.」

The professor’s voice trembled, and soon a single tear appeared. This is ridiculous. Who is the one who should be crying right now? Jaekyung bit his lip even harder. As if Director Ji didn’t like that appearance, she suddenly clicked her tongue. Of course, the target was not Professor Kim, but Jaekyung. She was looking at Jaekyung with pathetic eyes.

「I met with the professor and demanded an explanation. I asked why he did such a thing to you. I asked how he could do that to a member of our family, and I was going to go as far as taking legal action. Of course, Taesuk was the same. He wanted to fire the professor immediately.」

And? Why is this person in front of me?

「Professor Kim knelt before me and told me. He said he was wronged, and that he didn’t administer that injection to you with bad intentions. He said he knew you were a truly precious child to our family, and he wanted to make sure you could have a child healthily with good pheromones and hormones no matter what. He said he administered it because he thought V-2, which was developed more recently than V-1, would be better for that. Right? Professor?」

「Yes, yes! That’s right. Why would I harm Mr. Jaekyung? I never had such an intention. I wanted to make Mr. Jaekyung’s body into one that was good for getting pregnant quickly. Weren’t you suffering in your heart?」

No, I never once showed such an intention. I never fretted because I wanted to get pregnant quickly. So what do these two people want to say to me right now?

「It’s just that the drug hasn’t been approved yet, but it’s currently undergoing clinical trials in Canada, and there haven’t been any problems so far. But because a problem occurred with Mr. Jaekyung like this, I can’t tell you how surprised I was and how my heart raced. But it’s not that I didn’t do wrong. Yes. Of course. Yes, I was wrong. I’m truly sorry. If there is anything I can do, I will do anything.」

What are you going to do? What can you do for my body which is now ruined?

Jaekyung wanted to ask, but he couldn’t. It was because of Director Ji, who was smiling gracefully while drinking her coffee. Many things are held in her hands. Even if everything else is set aside, his younger sister’s lifeline is held there.

「Sometimes, forgiving is also a virtue.」

Am I a lesser being than this fraud-like professor in front of me?

「That person… what is that person’s intention?」

If so, what is the intention of the one I am imprinted with, my partner? He is giving me pheromone showers coldly every day, but still, wouldn’t that person have done something? Thinking back to the conversation Director Ji and he had back then, he told her to leave everything to him. If that’s the case, wouldn’t he have done something? Sure enough, Professor Kim looks at Jaekyung with flustered eyes and then looks at Director Ji. Director Ji sighed and placed her tea on the table.

「He said he would leave it to your judgment.」

「…My judgment?」

「Yes.」

No, rather than my judgment, I still hoped he would be on my side. At the very least—Jaekyung lowered his head. He thought while gripping the hem of his clothes tightly. Should I just end everything here?

「Professor Kim, it seems Jaekyung is still having a very hard time.」

Since Jaekyung couldn’t say anything, Director Ji spoke while looking at Professor Kim.

「I’m sure he understood the Professor’s intentions well enough. He’s not a foolish child. So don’t worry and return to the lab. I’ll contact you later.」

「Yes, I, I understand. Th, then Mr. Jaekyung. See you later. I’m truly sorry. This is sincere.」

Leaving behind an apology that wasn’t sincere at all, Professor Kim left the room, and silence dominated. Director Ji stood up from her seat and sat in the spot next to Jaekyung. And she placed that long, white hand on top of the back of Jaekyung’s hand. It’s cold. It’s so cold it’s enough to give him goosebumps.

「I know you’re angry with me. This whole situation must be absurd. If possible, I want to fire Professor Kim too. But if we fire Professor Kim… we lose more than you think. If our family suffers a loss, the ones who will have a hard time in the end are you, your younger sister, and your family. You know that, right? Let’s just overlook it this once. I received the report of your test results on the way here, and I’m glad there didn’t seem to be any major problems other than slight dizziness. Now that you’ve imprinted with Executive Director Han, forget all the bad things and live happily together.」

As if forcing an answer, Director Ji squeezed the hand she was holding Jaekyung’s with. Jaekyung furrowed his brow.

「Yes… I understand.」

When he barely answered while swallowing dryly, Director Ji patted Jaekyung’s shoulder.

「Thank you. Don’t worry about your sister. I’m taking good care of her. Of course, don’t worry about your father either. Executive Director Han will take good care of him.」

「Yes. Thank you.」

In the end, there was nothing he could do other than thank Director Ji. Jaekyung entered the house with a plodding, exhausted gait. Without even listening to the housekeeper calling him, he threw himself onto the bed and just kept sighing. His chest felt tight. How long had he been like that? Along with a knock, the housekeeper’s voice could be heard. she delivered the news that he had returned home from work. He had to receive a pheromone shower as usual, but today he wanted to rest.

「Mr. Jaekyung.」

The housekeeper carefully opened the door and entered.

「Tell Executive Director Han… that I’ll just skip it today.」

They are family, and partners at that, so why is the title like this?

「But you went to the hospital today… shouldn’t you let him know about the results or something? I think he would be happy to hear them.」

The housekeeper still seemed to have a good image of Han Taesuk. Or was she not letting go of her expectations? Besides, a report. It really is a reporting system more meticulous than a company’s. I have to do it. A report. He gave me so many pheromones, of course I have to do it. His mind snapped to attention and Jaekyung got up from the bed. And carrying the documents containing today’s test results, he sat across from Han Taesuk, who was doing something on a tablet in the living room, and held out the documents.

「I went to the hospital today. These are the test results.」

Then, this time, Han Taesuk held out the tablet screen to Jaekyung. It was Jaekyung’s medical record. Suddenly, heat rushed to his face. He had presented the papers, but the other man had already received the reports and was checking everything.