From Divorce to Dusk Chapter 9.2

Jaekyung smiled bitterly as he walked.

Having nowhere else to go once he actually started walking, he ultimately had to go back home.

And that night, after bleeding heavily for a long time, he collapsed onto the bed as if passing out.

His entire body was in so much pain and burning with a fever that he felt like he was going to die.

However, having no one to ask for help, he wept pathetically by himself and hugged the sachet pouch in his arms that Han Taesuk had given him, which was in his drawer.

It wasn’t because he liked the lavender scent, nor was it because he liked the gift.

It was because his mate’s faint pheromones lingering on it gave him at least a minimal sense of stability.

He’d have to break the bond too.

He’d also have to write an agreement for divorce.

There would be a lot to do.

「Ah.」

Since the man was frantically busy, Jaekyung had thought Secretary Oh would meet the lawyer in his place.

It was because he didn’t come home yesterday, and other than Secretary Oh calling in the morning to inform him about the lawyer, no one had come to pick him up either.

Of course, he didn’t expect to be picked up anyway.

He had wondered if they were going to the internal legal team at the company, but that didn’t seem to be the case, as they arrived at a large law firm in Cheongdam.

It was a law firm that handled the people of NI Company.

It was a place where they had drafted his contract before marriage, and a law firm that those who inherited the bloodline of NI Company could use for personal matters.

Of course, it was a place Jaekyung could use as well, but since he had no reason to use it, he had completely forgotten about it.

Now he’d never have to use it for the rest of his life.

Jaekyung shook his head side to side, and as he entered the law firm’s office, he was startled.

Because sitting opposite the lawyer was Han Taesuk.

「Ah….」

Foolishly, Jaekyung, who was too flustered to find anything to say, merely nodded his head in greeting.

The lawyer sprang up, pointed to the seat next to him to sit down, and Jaekyung sat beside Han Taesuk.

Politely declining the offer of tea, Jaekyung listened intently to what the lawyer said next.

Having failed to properly fulfill the contract, there was nothing for him to receive.

However, as Director Ji had promised, the pledge to take responsibility for Park Jaeyoung’s treatment until the end was left in writing.

After drafting and signing the agreement for divorce, he suddenly felt a sense of futility.

Laughter even broke out at the thought of four years of time flying away like this.

On the other hand, he thought it was a relief that he didn’t waste any more time.

He wondered if he could live a better life than this.

「Then, I have confirmed the drafting of the agreement for divorce. Please consult each other and inform us of the exact procedures, and once it is completed, we will handle press releases and other matters.」

As soon as he knew the work was finished, Han Taesuk stood up from his seat, and Jaekyung stood up right after him.

After saying goodbye to the lawyer, he walked at a considerable distance from Han Taesuk.

He contemplated sending Han Taesuk off first and taking the next elevator, but thinking it would look even stranger if they didn’t ride together, he boarded the elevator that had just arrived alongside him.

Why was the way down to the first floor taking so long?

「Have you eaten?」

「Pardon?」

Just as he was calculating in his head that he could leave like this, say his goodbyes, and head home, Han Taesuk’s voice suddenly broke in.

「3 o’clock… It’s an awkward time indeed.」

「Have you not had lunch, Executive Director?」

「Yes. Have you eaten, Mr. Park Jaekyung?」

「…No.」

「Let’s go then. There is a good place right in front of here.」

「…Okay.」

Just as Han Taesuk said, there was a Korean restaurant specializing in traditional cuisine on the 7th floor of the opposite building.

A neat multi-course Korean meal was served.

Moreover, since each room was separated individually, they could eat comfortably without worrying about anyone’s interruption or gaze.

Of course, looking at the food placed in front of the table, no thoughts crossed his mind.

The food looked delicious, but he didn’t feel like eating.

Though the waiter and the manager were eagerly explaining, Jaekyung let it go in one ear and out the other, looking out the window.

The weather is nice.

「How is your body feeling?」

「…Yes.」

Come to think of it, should he get a house?

His heart wanted to go back to his parents’ place… but that would be difficult.

His father would definitely not let it slide.

It seemed he would have to rent a house and live there for the time being.

It would probably be hard to return to Jaewang Group… and with a break in his career, finding a job wouldn’t be easy either…

Thinking about it, the gallery was nice too.

He liked looking at paintings.

「Mr. Park Jaekyung.」

「Ah.」

At the cold voice, Jaekyung snapped back to his senses.

And he slowly looked at the owner of the voice who called him.

「I-I’m sorry. I was thinking about something.」

「What are you thinking about that you can’t answer after someone called you several times?」

「Just… this and that. Ah, it seems all the food is served. Please go ahead and eat.」

Jaekyung quickly picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a random piece of food, and put it in his mouth.

It tastes like nothing.

He only ate a single strand of bracken, but he felt like he was going to get indigestion.

「I will break the bond in 7 months. That will be safer.」

「Yes. It doesn’t matter to me.」

「If you get a partner within 7 months, please tell me. We can just sever it through surgery.」

「…Yes. Please tell me as well, Executive Director.」

「Don’t state the obvious.」

He should have just declined.

He came along for no reason.

What a waste of food.

「…Is your body okay?」

「Ah, yes.」

「Are there any aftereffects from the miscarriage?」

Miscarriage… Hearing him bring it up after more than a month had passed.

The wound had already healed, but bringing it up only now.

「There are none.」

「That is a relief. Although Mr. Park Jaekyung is older than me, you are still young, so you will probably be able to recover sufficiently. A fresh start will be possible as well.」

「Yes.」

Surely it would be.

This man truly has no feelings or lingering regrets for him.

It’s not that he thought there would be, but still, an Alpha’s possessiveness or obsession over an Omega—especially a bonded Omega—tends to get worse the superior they are.

Yet this man didn’t show any of that at all.

As expected, even that instinct required emotions to accompany it.

「Aside from the agreement for divorce, if you need my help with anything, just tell me. I will help you.」

「…It’s fine. May I be excused now?」

Han Taesuk, who was eating, stopped his movements and looked at the food in front of Jaekyung.

Seeing that he hadn’t touched a single thing other than moving his chopsticks once, he furrowed his brow.

It was clear he felt displeased, but it couldn’t be helped.

Because from now on, Jaekyung had to look after his own body first.

If he ate any more here, he felt he would get indigestion.

「Understood. You may leave first.」

「Yes, thank you.」

Rising from his seat first, he stepped out of the restaurant.

Secretary Oh, who was waiting outside, looked somewhat flustered, but Jaekyung paid it no mind, called the driver he had brought, and got into the car.

The destination was home…

An unfamiliar house that he hadn’t been able to grow fond of for 4 years.

◆

Jaewang Group Affiliates’ Stocks Fall Everyday Across the Board

Fears of Consecutive Bankruptcies for Jaewang Group

Jaewang Industry Provides 10 Billion Won Financial Support to Small and Medium Component Partners. Will They Overcome the Crisis?

Jaewang Affiliate Soul Entertainment Sold to MMO Corp.

Jaekyung sighed at the depressing news visible since morning.

He had no regrets about choosing Jaeyoung, but as the company faced hardship, he worried about the people of Jaewang Group who would be trembling in anxiety.

And one news article stood out particularly large.

Withdrawal of Investment Funds.

From what Jaekyung knew, NI was also one of the investment affiliates, so they were likely trying to pull out simultaneously with the divorce.

By now, his father must have found out about Jaekyung’s divorce news as well.

And sure enough, that night, for the first time since he got married, his father came to Jaekyung’s marital home.

He was visibly very angry and furious.

As soon as he heard his father’s footsteps filled with rage, Jaekyung instantly felt fear rise.

「Park Jaekyung!」

Sure enough, as soon as Chairman Park entered the house and saw Jaekyung standing in front of the entrance, he point-blank struck Jaekyung’s face with his fist.

「Oh my goodness!!」

When the housekeeper, who was preparing to welcome the guest a step behind, tried to approach in shock, Jaekyung quickly reached out his hand to block her from coming near.

「Don’t come over. You’ll get hurt. I will take care of it, so please go inside.」

「B-But.」

「You! Is it true that you’re getting a divorce?! A divorce?! Without discussing a single word with this father of yours?!」

「…It was not a situation where I could tell you.」

「How dare you talk back with that mouth of yours!! Is this a personal matter for you?! Didn’t I tell you repeatedly?! This is business! Even your marriage is all business!! A divorce? Fine, alright. Even I wouldn’t want to bring someone like you into my family after you killed a child twice. But if you had a conscience! You should have made sure that only you took the damage! And that the company could be saved!」

「The company might wobble due to my divorce, but that will only be temporary.」

And if it’s a company that crumbles from a single wobble like that, wouldn’t it be better if it collapsed?

It already held no value as a company then.

「Why, you little brat, still talking back!」

His father raised his hand and slapped Jaekyung’s cheeks two or three more times.

Staggering and taking every hit as his father pleased, he eventually lost his balance and collapsed onto the floor.

Taking this as an opportunity, Chairman Park used both his hands and feet to beat Jaekyung even more violently, as if taking out the frustration he had suffered outside.

He wasn’t originally a person who hit people like this, but it seemed the day of the miscarriage when he hit him at the hospital served as a fuse, making him resort to violence so easily now.

Surely he wouldn’t hit Mother like this too, right?

「You brat! If you had done things properly! It wouldn’t have turned out like this! If you were born an Omega! You should quietly do as the Alpha tells you! You can’t even bear a single child properly?! Just try getting a divorce! That very day, I will pass you off as a second wife to some old geezer!! Though, who would pick up a lacking fellow like you! You useless brat!!」

Clearing his breath, Chairman Park slammed the head of Jaekyung, who was sitting slumped on the floor, with his large, thick hand.

Then, looking down at his son pitifully, he clicked his tongue, crouched down opposite him, and patted his shoulder.

「Jaekyung. Listen carefully. The company is in critical danger right now. At this rate, your mother and Jaeyoung are going to get kicked out too. We’ll have to live like beggars. What are you going to do about Jaeyoung’s treatment? What if he dies like that? The company needs to hold up well so that when Jaeyoung comes, we can hand it over to him. So even if you get a divorce, drain everything you can squeeze out of NI before you break up. Got it?! If that doesn’t work, even sell your body! If Han Taesuk doesn’t work, then even from Chairman Han!!」