Divorce in Bed Chapter 10

Dowon flipped the screen to display other family photos.

“The family of my second-eldest uncle. My eldest uncle’s cleanup crew. Those guys are the same kind of trash.”

He added nonchalantly.

“I crushed them in the political struggle and sent them to the US branch, so you won’t have to run into them for a while.”

“Yo—you did, Mister Dowon?”

“Yes.”

“I see. That’s insane. So cool…!”

No wonder Do Jingyu was throwing such a fit. He must have been anxious because Dowon had utterly destroyed the second uncle’s family. He was probably worried that his own neck would be next.

“No, I mean. I’ve wanted to say this for a while, but you know you’re seriously cool, right, Mister Dowon? Your charisma is literally overflowing, I feel like I need to hurry up and scoop it all up. You’re like a crazy person.”

Yeohwi, whose ‘honesty filter’ had completely opened, made a bit of a fuss. Dowon showed no reaction. He simply ignored him as if he hadn’t heard a word and moved to the next photo.

And the next photo was, of all things…

“…I’ll skip my parents.”

A man and a woman standing side by side.

Unlike the previous high-definition photos that looked recently taken, this one was low-quality and had an old feel to it. Crucially, in the photo, there was a baby wrapped in a swaddling cloth with them.

The mouth that had been spewing flattery shut tight again.

Yeohwi hesitated and hesitated before asking cautiously.

“Is that baby, by any chance…”

“Yes, it’s me,” Dowon answered matter-of-factly.

“Both of them… passed away, right…?”

He lifted his head and stared fixedly at Yeohwi.

“I believe you already know.”

On their first night, Dowon had bitingly criticized Yeohwi for being a total orphan, but in truth, those words applied equally to Dowon himself.

Dowon turned his gaze back to the screen as if he had no intention of continuing this topic.

“Returning to the main point.”

He brought up the photo of Do Jingyu’s son, Do Jin-sang, again.

“That guy will 100 percent pick a fight with you. With his father backing him up.”

Dowon was staring at the screen, but Yeohwi was still looking at him.

Those lifeless black pupils. Those pitch-black eyes that allowed no light and were parched dry.

“I understand. What should I do?”

Yeohwi steeled his resolve.

“When that person named Do Jin-sang picks a fight, I’ll also…”

“You do nothing.”

Dowon cut him off.

“Pardon?”

“Your role is simple.”

Dowon stepped away from the desk and took a step toward Yeohwi.

It naturally recalled the confrontation they had in the morning, but now, an intimidating aura flowed that was incomparable to then—enough to make one’s spine chill. Yeohwi felt as though he truly had become an intern facing a director.

“On the morning of the event, a stylist will come. Wear whatever they put on you.”

“Yes…”

“And at the party, stick by my side, keep your mouth shut, and just smile prettily.”

His cold fingers brushed down the hem of Yeohwi’s rumpled T-shirt. It was the spot where he had spilled milk that morning.

“No matter what you try to do, in the eyes of the board of directors and investors, you are nothing more and nothing less than a stupid and beautiful trophy who is 12 years younger than me. Understood?”

…A trophy.

They were words that made his heart turn cold.

He wavered for a moment, but Yeohwi held his ground with strength.

He had realized something after the day Do Jingyu barged in. He couldn’t reach Dowon by simply putting his emotions and desires first. Dowon wasn’t that kind of person, and for Yeohwi, this was the first and last opportunity he couldn’t afford to miss.

He had said he would do whatever he was told.

So, instead of a hurt expression, Seong Yeohwi gave a wide smile.

As if he were standing in the middle of a lush green field looking up at the sky.

“A trophy? I like it.”

“…What?”

Dowon’s eyes twitched slightly.

Actually, this was a sort of test. He thought that if he said this, Yeohwi would either be discouraged or rebel. If he showed even a hint of that, Dowon intended to leave him behind without mercy and head to the party alone.

But to think he would accept so boldly. For a moment, Dowon was at a loss for words.

“Honestly, I’m confident. I’ll have to show them properly. Just how much brilliance a trophy husband and the spouse of Mister Dowon can radiate.”

“…Look at you talk.”

Dowon clicked his tongue as if it were absurd.

Now, there was no backing out. He had to take this young husband, Seong Yeohwi, to the foundation party.

“But, Mister Dowon.”

Yeohwi tapped the frame of Dowon’s still-on monitor with his finger.

“This cousin named Do Jin-sang, you said he’s stupid and violent, right?”

“And?”

“His inferiority complex seems severe, and looking at his eyes, I think his pride is also strong. People like that usually…”

Grin. Yeohwi’s eyes curved as he smiled.

That smile was no longer that of a bright puppy. A sharp, tenacious side, like that of a predator’s cub who had blocked the front door this morning, could be glimpsed.

“When they get bitten first, they don’t just stay still.”

“…”

The study fell silent.

In the silence, Dowon thought that this brat was more dangerous and feral than he had imagined, and perhaps…

He might be slightly, just a little bit, useful.

His lips formed a faint curve—it was unclear if it was a sneer or interest.

“Don’t get any useless ideas.”

“Hm? What kind of ideas am I having?”

“You said you’d only do what I tell you.”

“Of course. Naturally.”

Yeohwi deliberately showed clear, sparkling eyes and smiled cutely.

“I’ll be your faithful dog, Mister Dowon! Woof woof!”

He even balled his two fists and held them next to his face. His youthful face was pale and pretty, but his fist size was large, so he didn’t look as much like a puppy as intended. More like… a lion cub?

Dowon pushed Yeohwi’s shoulder to send him out of the study.

“Stop acting cute. I loathe dog hair. Get out.”

Yeohwi resisted with his shoulder, trying not to be pushed out easily, and asked.

“Then what? What kind of animals do you like?”

“We’re done talking.”

“No, wait. Don’t send me away like this. Just a little longer.”

“Even the barking is noisy. I said get out.”

“Ugh, Mister Dowon. Am I sleeping alone again today?”

He tried to hold onto the doorframe and resist until the end, but Dowon didn’t show the slightest mercy. Business only, briefly. The intent was clear: the delivery of instructions was over, so get lost.

“It would be ni—no, ah…! Fine, I get it, I get it! Then I don’t mind using separate rooms, but please at least check my texts. Okay?”

The feet treading the carpet slipped, and he was slid out into the hallway. The heavy mahogany door closed. Yeohwi, unable to give up his lingering attachment, stood before it and tapped on the door, whining.

“The texts! You haven’t blocked me, right? I won’t send many! I’ll only send ten a day!”

No response.

“Fine. Exactly five a day!”

No response.

“Three!”

No response.

“One… just one!”

BOOM!

A sound like a hammer came from the door. He had definitely struck it with his fist.

Though startled, Yeohwi didn’t back down and yelled out with momentum.

“Yes! Then I’ll take that as permission for one!”

As he turned toward the bedroom, a smile he couldn’t hide spread across his face.

His heart beat as if it would burst. More violently than someone who had finished a full-course marathon.

Finally, he was taking part in the first gateway—the foundation party—and as Dowon’s partner at that.

‧₊˚🍊༉‧₊˚.

For the few days following the briefing in the study, Seong Yeohwi kept the promise he made to Dowon strictly.

Exactly once a day. One message.

Good morning. The weather is amazing today. The sun is bright but there are some clouds so it’s not too hot. The sky is so blue, too. What kind of weather do you like, Mister Dowon? I’m curious. For me, it’s obviously a clear day!

Make sure to eat your meals. Since coming here, I’ve been eating every meal so well. Today, I made chive pancakes with Mister Park. I’ve been eating so much of this and that, I feel like I’ve gained 5kg? Mister Park said it’s all muscle, but I don’t know. How does it look to you, Mister Dowon? Am I chubby? ㅠ

I went for a walk today. I think I really need to work out. I ran 20km and I feel like my lungs are going to burst. Did I overdo it? I’ll keep practicing to get stronger. Because I’m going to become a cool man. What kind of exercise do you usually enjoy, Mister Dowon? Is it the gym after all?

He sent messages that were almost like essays, a page at a time.

Of course, the number ‘1’ next to all those messages never once disappeared. Dowon continued to perfectly ignore Seong Yeohwi’s personal messages.

But Yeohwi wasn’t anxious. After all, the real conversation would begin tonight, at the party.