Divorce in Bed Chapter 8

The next morning, the air in the dining room was fundamentally different from before.

Dowon sat in his usual spot, but the chair opposite him was cavernously empty.

“…Young Master?”

Mister Park called out to Yeohwi, who was hovering hesitantly at the kitchen entrance.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Ah, I—I am.”

Seong Yeohwi did not have the confidence to face Dowon, thanks to the aftermath of the emotions he felt last night and the intense actions he had committed.

He had planned to stay out of the way in a corner until Dowon left for work, but it seemed he had been caught by Mister Park’s eyes.

Yeohwi approached the table as quietly as a dead mouse, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Screeeech… Even the sound of the chair dragging sounded listless.

‘How should I position myself?’

His legs, clad in gray sweats, twisted this way and that. Usually, he would have shouted “Good morning!” brightly enough to burst eardrums, but today his lips merely twitched before he gulped down dry spit.

Then, reaching toward the fruit plate placed furthest from Dowon, he began to peck at a slice of melon. As if the heat from last night hadn’t faded, his unusually pale nape and earlobes were flushed bright red.

Crunch. Crunch…

The funny thing was, now that he was eating, the food went down just fine.

On the table was a perfect spread of freshly baked baguettes and croissants, avocado toast topped with smoked salmon and poached eggs, Greek yogurt with honey, and a fresh fruit platter.

Despite this, Dowon touched nothing but his coffee cup today.

Eyes and hands wandering aimlessly across the table. Awkward movements. The dissonance was like a puppy that barked loudly every morning suddenly going silent. There was no way Dowon wouldn’t see right through an attitude that changed overnight.

The clumsy behavior of glancing near him while never actually meeting his eyes was, in fact, more irritating.

Dowon set his coffee cup down with a sharp clack.

‘Ha.’

The fellow who used to charge in energetically even when pushed away or ignored is now refusing to even look this way, with only his ears flushed red.

He didn’t even need to guess the reason.

It must be because of the disturbance his uncle, Do Jin-gyu, caused in this house and his own position of being vividly insulted in front of him.

“You witnessed a sight that shouldn’t have been seen.”

A chilly voice broke the silence.

Yeohwi looked up, startled.

“Forget it. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Eh, yes?”

In his flustered state, Yeohwi choked on the milk he was trying to drink.

“Cough, hack! Ugh…”

The milk trickled down his collarbone and onto the chest of his white T-shirt.

“Ack.”

When he rubbed his chest with his hand in a panic, the wet T-shirt clung embarrassingly to his skin. The sight of him with white liquid dripping from his lips was also shameful.

As Yeohwi scrambled to find a napkin, Dowon irritably flicked the clean napkin sitting in front of himself toward him.

Then, looking down coldly at Yeohwi as he hurriedly grabbed the napkin to wipe the stain, Dowon unilaterally announced a heartless decision.

“I never had any intention of having you attend the foundation party from the beginning.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s not a place for you to be. I can make up any reason for your absence, so let’s just say you have a severe case of the flu.”

It was a perfect drawing of a line that left no room for escape. It was closer to a command that allowed no counterargument or appeal.

“Keep in mind that I will be attending all future official functions alone, not just this one.”

Yeohwi’s already large eyes grew rounder. His hand, which had been wiping his T-shirt, stopped dead.

“No, why… why? I feel like it’s a place I should go to, too.”

His voice became urgent of its own accord.

“Won’t you meet that crazy old man again if you go there? If you’re alone, it’s obvious he’ll be even more emboldened to spout nonsense as he pleases. And at such an important event, too.”

Dowon ignored those words and stood up.

There was no hesitation in the way his hands adjusted his shirt cuffs. He quickly fastened his suit buttons and turned away.

“Mister Park, I’ll be late today.”

As Dowon moved toward the long hallway, Yeohwi hurriedly pushed back his chair and followed close behind him.

“Mister Dowon! Wait a moment!”

The long, long hallway. The sound of Dowon’s large strides ahead and the hurried, bare-footsteps of Yeohwi chasing after him in sweats tangled chaotically.

When they almost reached the entrance, Yeohwi, feeling like he was clutching at straws, reached out and pinched the hem of Dowon’s black suit jacket, pulling on it.

Dowon’s steps stopped.

“Can’t… can’t I go too?”

Dowon slowly looked back.

His cold gaze settled on the long fingers gripping his clothes.

The slightly wrinkled fabric and Seong Yeohwi, who was tenaciously pulling at it. Annoyance flickered in Dowon’s glaring eyes.

“…Let go.”

“I won’t cause any trouble.”

“…”

“I’ll stay quiet, really. I’ll do absolutely everything you tell me to do.”

Yeohwi did not let go.

Instead, he clung on even more desperately.

To the point where he himself didn’t know why he was acting this way.

“That party, you’re supposed to go as a couple. And our marriage—of course, it might look strange in others’ eyes—but anyway, Chairman Do arranged it himself. Who would dare talk shit to your face when you came with the spouse the Chairman chose, right?”

“…”

“So, rather… you should be more confident! Instead of looking like you’ve been pushed out of the succession line, act as if there’s something more to this marriage. As if there was a great hidden meaning.”

Dowon tried to swat away the gripped hem of his clothes. At that, Yeohwi seemed to let go, but then he rushed forward and blocked the front door.

Seong Yeohwi stood with his back perfectly blocking the massive, heavy front door of the mansion. Dowon’s brow furrowed fiercely.

“What do you think you’re doing? Move.”

“I said it’s a place I have to go!”

Yeohwi shouted.

He spread his arms horizontally, blocking the door. His presence was more imposing than expected. As if proving his rapid growth, his large frame was by no means inferior to Dowon’s.

“Please trust me. I won’t have any foolish thoughts. I’ll do exactly what you tell me to do. I’ll do exactly as I’m told. If you tell me to shut my mouth, I won’t say a word and keep it shut! If you tell me to keep my eyes down, I’ll only look at the floor and your shoes.”

Yeohwi’s light brown eyes wavered with desperation. A slight trembling was visible. But within that trembling, there was clearly a sticky obsession and heat that hadn’t been there before.

“Haa…”

Dowon placed a hand on his forehead and lowered his face in fatigue.

‘Look at this.’

After showing him the sight of being lectured by Do Jin-gyu yesterday, now he’s trying to climb all over me. Just how easy did he think I was to try and jump in without being able to distinguish front from back?

An unpleasant feeling surged within him, but Dowon did not reveal that emotion outwardly. He simply pressed his throbbing temples, wondering how to handle this uncontrollable brat.

“You’ll do anything I tell you?”

“Yes!”

“Then do as you’re told and move aside.”

“Mister Dowon…!”

Dowon, pressing his forehead, mocked him while stroking one deeply furrowed eyebrow with his fingertip.

“What could someone like you possibly do if you went? You, who cowers even in front of me.”

“Well, I, I probably…”

“Loud momentum, but no substance.”

At those words, Yeohwi screamed out as if venting.

“I can’t help it! Because I’m a greenhorn who doesn’t know anything!”

“What…?”

“I don’t know. I said I don’t know! I don’t know a single thing about you, and honestly, I have no idea how I can be of help to you. So please tell me! I said I’d do as I’m told! I can learn!”

“Watch your language…”

“If you teach me, I can really do a good job! Please trust me!”

“Whew, it’ll be a miracle if you don’t piss yourself at the party. I’m telling you for the last time. Move.”

Yeohwi’s back hit the wall.

When no attempt worked, Yeohwi pulled out his final move.

“…I’m going to follow you.”

This brat…?

Dowon’s eyes narrowed. Yeohwi’s gaze was serious.

“If you keep ignoring me, whether it’s the party, the company, or your office… I’m going to barge in.”

“…”

“Yes. It’ll turn into a mess. If you don’t want that, then go ahead and tie me up in this house.”

Yeohwi’s gaze shone brilliantly with an edge. Those were no longer the eyes of a bright puppy.

Eyes that didn’t know what kind of accident they might cause if let loose.

Eyes that were trying to rummage here and there, and sink teeth into animals and people alike.

In that case, it might be better to put a leash on him in some way.