From Divorce to Dusk Chapter 7.3

Ahn Ikseon, the representative who founded ML, approached with a delighted face as soon as he saw Han Taesuk and held out his hand. He even hugged Han Taesuk while shaking hands; he was a young CEO in his mid-40s.

「Hello. Mr. Park Jaekyung.」

After speaking happily with Han Taesuk, his gaze naturally turned toward Jaekyung next. Jaekyung shook the outstretched hand and nodded.

「It is an honor to meet you.」

「I believe this is the first time I’ve seen you since the wedding.」

「Ah, you came to the wedding, yet I couldn’t even greet you properly.」

Had he received the list back then? Ah—remembering that he had only greeted the elders of the family, Jaekyung quickly gave a set but polite response.

「Don’t mention it. I’m the one who should have offered a greeting, but I’m only getting to do so now.」

「Representative Ahn. I think we have to go now.」

Han Taesuk cut in. Representative Ahn laughed as he saw his secretary urging him and let go of Jaekyung’s hand.

「I’ll stay here.」

When Jaekyung spoke while bowing to the back of Han Taesuk, who was following behind Representative Ahn, he nodded as if he understood. Left all alone, he wanted to hide somewhere, but Jaekyung snapped himself to attention. No. Thinking back to what Ian said earlier….

Jaekyung clenched his fists, straightened his shoulders, and looked forward, only to be surprised. Han Taesuk was coming back to him. Then, he lightly dusted off his shoulder.

「Wait just a bit. I’ll come back quickly.」

Jaekyung was startled by the gentle voice he hadn’t heard in months. Even though he knew it was the usual business show… still, perhaps because he missed that kindness, he choked up and held back the tears that felt like they were about to fall, and smiled.

「I’ll be doing fine. Don’t worry.」

Jaekyung also spoke while straightening his tie. People around them began to buzz. It was even more so for those who had heard rumors that the relationship between the two was not good.

‘I thought they said they hadn’t imprinted.’

‘But seeing as I can’t feel either of their pheromones at all, it looks like they have imprinted?’

‘You’re right. I can’t feel Executive Director Han’s pheromones at all. This isn’t just at a level of concealing them.’

‘Oh my, then were the rumors all nonsense?’

Was it thanks to that? As soon as Han Taesuk left, the gazes watching Jaekyung turned favorable, and everyone approached to offer greetings. Their hospitality, which was different from before, felt transparent and ridiculous, but since he had to do what he could for his partner over there, Jaekyung smiled until his lips almost cramped.

And… he responded to every one of their words as calmly as possible. He reflected several times on whether he might make a slip of the tongue while speaking, and sat in the very front of the invited seats, clapping while listening to Han Taesuk’s congratulatory and opening remarks.

When Han Taesuk came down, many people swarmed toward him. Even though his rank was still Executive Director, it was clear to see people trying to make connections and look good to him, as he participated as the representative with the company’s name. There were a few Omegas among them as well.

「A foolish effort, isn’t it?」

Director Ji, who had stood beside Jaekyung at some point, spoke while sipping wine.

「You’ve arrived.」

「Aren’t those Omegas funny? They must know by now that he’s imprinted, but they don’t care and are making a fuss to have Taesuk somehow.」

How should he respond? No, she wasn’t looking for an answer. Jaekyung swallowed, feeling a slight nausea in his stomach.

「Don’t be relieved just because you’ve imprinted. After a year, imprints can be removed. Before that, I hope you take care of your health and strive firmly as the master of the house here.」

「Yes. I am aware.」

‘The brief mercy I gave you, I will now withdraw.’ She really took a long time to say that. Jaekyung smiled and nodded, saying he understood.

「Mother.」

Han Taesuk saw Director Ji and approached. Seeing others also bowing their heads upon seeing Director Ji gave him a strange feeling, as if he had come to the Joseon Dynasty. She treated everyone graciously with her elegant and refined voice, diction, and gestures, while also moving with charisma. He thought Han Taesuk was a great person, but Director Ji was no ordinary person either. To be honest, he lacked the confidence to follow in her footsteps.

「How is your body?」

As Han Taesuk approached and asked, Jaekyung automatically spat out a formulaic answer.

「Ah, I’m fine. So don’t mind me and go talk. I’ll wait here.」

「No. I think we should get going soon. I still have work left.」

As Han Taesuk tilted his head, Secretary Oh checked the time. He looked slightly anxious. Even though it was the weekend, he was buried in work without rest. Was it the aftermath of leaving work early for a month to provide pheromones?

Jaekyung nodded to show he understood, and Director Ji, who had finished her greetings afterward, also moved to head back to the gallery. As the two of them moved, a crowd swarmed in to request greetings. They waved toward them and boarded the elevator. Upon arriving at the first floor, they saw a circular arched staircase leading toward the entrance.

「This is the bad thing about this hotel. Why on earth are the stairs placed here like this? A person with mobility issues wouldn’t even be able to come.」

That was true. Why did they make these kinds of stairs in a hotel? Of course, looking at the displayed paintings, it was something to boast about, but in that case, they could have just made an internal gallery; was there really a need to make the guests uncomfortable like this?

「Ah.」

At Jaekyung’s short sound, Director Ji glanced at him.

「What is it?」

「Oh, it’s nothing.」

Was it an illusion? No. This pain is….

「Right, are you going back to the office?」

Uh, my stomach hurts again. No, why is my heart racing so anxiously? I can’t breathe.

「Yes, I think I must. Assemblyman Choi is coming.」

Assemblyman Choi? Is it Assemblyman Choi from the Minguk Party?

Jaekyung wiped away the cold sweat that was running down as he looked at the backs of the two people descending ahead of him, lost in other thoughts.

「That fellow seems to have something on his mind lately, perhaps because he’s a bit dissatisfied with the party; just handle him moderately. You shouldn’t get entangled with the political side yet.」

His vision was becoming increasingly blurred. The pain in his stomach intensified, and it was a struggle to descend the stairs one by one. He wanted to collapse right then and there. He wanted to hold onto the railing and endure it somehow—what on earth is happening all of a sudden.

「I am aware.」

「Those sly old foxes are like that, why already V-…!!」

It happened in an instant. His body tumbled forward. A brief flipping of the world and darkness—and he closed and opened his eyes at the intense pain he felt. People were in an uproar. He heard screams and urgent voices telling someone to call an ambulance. Later, even those sounds became tinnitus in his ears. Ah, did I fall? Fortunately, the stairs weren’t that high.

「Jaekyung. Jaekyung! Oh my goodness.」

He heard Director Ji’s voice. He blinked his eyes again. Through his blurred vision, he saw her, looking pale as a ghost.

「Ah, I’m okay-ugh.」

「Don’t move! Stay as you are.」

It hurts so much below. He couldn’t feel any sensation from below his waist. More than anything, his stomach. His stomach hurts so much.

「My god.」

Feeling Director Ji let out a startled breath, Jaekyung closed his eyes. He couldn’t hold on any longer.

◆

「Ah….」

Even without a clear field of vision, he could tell. This was a hospital. He really hated it. Why was he here again? Why was he lying down like this again and receiving an IV? He felt like he was going to cry. Then, as he suddenly thought about the reason he was here and remembered falling from the stairs, he moved his toes. He definitely hadn’t felt any sensation below. Did he break a bone? Fortunately, his toes moved well, and there was sensation from below his waist. However, the stinging pain somewhere inside his abdomen remained the same.

「Jaekyung. Are you awake?」

It was a voice he missed. Turning his head with a “could it be” feeling, his mother was there. Jaekyung tried to sit up out of joy but was stopped by her.

「Mother, what are you doing here?」

「You… you….」

She approached and held Jaekyung’s hand tightly, soon tearing up.

「I’m okay. Mother.」

「Yes, you have to be okay. You have to be okay.」

Seeing her looking troubled despite her smile, Jaekyung patted his mother’s back. Actually, he wanted to pull her into a hug, but in this state of lying down, there was no way to do it.

「Oh, you’re awake.」

The door burst open without a single knock. His mother jumped up. Looking toward the door, Director Ji and a doctor were entering together.

「Yes, he just woke up.」

「The Mrs. has worked hard.」

「It was nothing.」

For some reason, his mother bowed and couldn’t meet Director Ji’s eyes, looking like a sinner in front of her. Even though she helped with company matters, there was no need to go that far; why was she acting like that?

「Are you okay???」

「Yes.」

「Do you know how startled I was? Falling suddenly like that… at least the place you fell from wasn’t high, so you’re the only one who is fine.」

「Yes… I’m sorr… y….」 You’re the only one?

Something Director Ji said was strange. The phrase “you’re the only one” meant that at least one more person had fallen with him. No way.

「Is Executive Director Han injured?」

「No. Of course, that fellow did try to catch you, but it was already too late.」

「Th, then, perhaps there was someone below.」

「That’s not it either.」

「Then what on earth….」

「You, you had a miscarriage.」

「Pardon?」

Jaekyung couldn’t understand what he had just heard. What are they saying right now? That he had a miscarriage? Miscarriage? What was a miscarriage? Jaekyung’s eyes darted around as he looked at his mother. His mother looked at Jaekyung with sorrowful eyes and turned her head away.

Ah….

「How did you not know you were carrying a child?」

「I, I thought I couldn’t have children, no, more than that, I….」

He had no memory of sleeping with Executive Director Han. But how could he have had a child?

Jaekyung was so confused. Then he remembered what Executive Director Han had said. The words saying “We imprinted.” He said they slept together then, and even did knotting. No way.

「Back then….」