Wedding Ending Chapter 13

Min Jaeyoon’s face flushed red and purple. He was on the verge of shouting but held it back firmly. Having just been carried off to the hospital and back, he could not afford to commit the exact same mistake.

Secretary Song held the steering wheel robustly. Since he had only heard a rough outline from Secretary Ha the previous day, he hadn’t been able to gauge how severe the situation was. After all, Secretary Ha had said he hadn’t seen it in person either.

However, looking at him now… the situation seemed even more serious than what he had heard. Secretary Song glanced through the rearview mirror. Though his mouth couldn’t be seen, the corners of Kang Seunghyun’s eyes as he looked at Min Jaeyoon were brimming with amusement. Because of that, it wasn’t difficult to surmise the fact that he must be smiling. Secretary Song was someone who had never seen Executive Director Kang Seunghyun smile, nor had he ever dared to imagine it.

No, or maybe that appearance is Executive Director Kang’s true self?

Secretary Song clutched the steering wheel tightly, as if pruning a branch that was branching out willfully on its own.

💍

Inside the Internal Strategic Planning Headquarters Office of Yeonjin Group.

The twenty or so people sitting at a large U-shaped table conversed over the topic that had been causing a stir since morning.

“It’s a relief that it isn’t a major issue.”

“Have we lived our lives only being deceived! No matter how much we kept demanding corrections to the reports, they just wouldn’t believe a person’s words.”

“Have you seen the articles?”

Managing Director Cho, who had entered late and taken his seat, flashed the cell phone he was looking at this way and that. His angular jaw protruded heavily.

“I saw that photo too. The two of them were walking along while holding hands tightly.”

They had tried to shield their entire bodies with umbrellas, but because the scuffle was so fierce, a few photos that were snapped ended up being reported.

“Aren’t they newlyweds. It’s a time when things are at their best. I too in the past….”

The man who had been lost in reminiscence stopped speaking instantly. The door opens and Kang Jion enters.

“Have you come, CEO Kang.”

Even as everyone stood up, they wore bewildered faces. Today’s meeting topic was a matter related to the ‘Eden Resort’ being built on the southern coast. That was something Executive Director Kang Seunghyun was in charge of.

A few people watched as if waiting for the door to open again until CEO Kang Jion sat in the seat of honor. However, Executive Director Kang Seunghyun’s figure is not to be seen.

“Please sit.”

Kang Jion dismissed it shortly. The people slowly bent their knees to take their seats. The earlier buzzing vanished and only a heavy air hovered inside the room. Since they had all seen the articles, they anticipated that Executive Director Kang would come straight here.

“Proceed with the meeting. Executive Director Kang is not in good health, so he cannot attend today.”

“Is Executive Director Kang sick somewhere?”

Director Park asked with a face full of worry. He was someone who had worked together with Kang Seunghyun since the initial drafting of the ‘Eden Resort’ construction. Kang Jion, who was receiving a fountain pen from Secretary Ha, turned his head and wore a smile on his lips.

“Ah, did I say Executive Director Kang? To be precise, his spouse Vice President Min is not in good health.”

Kang Jion added words as if trying to ease the stiffly frozen atmosphere.

“Aren’t they newlyweds? He must be very worried.”

The people couldn’t ask any further and merely exchanged glances.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

At Kang Jion’s words, the surroundings turned dark. Shone upon by a blue light, the architectural blueprints of the ‘Eden Resort’ reaching up to 142 stories unfolded directly ahead.

💍

Three people step inside the 84th-floor penthouse.

Pushing open the inner door and entering the house ahead, Min Jaeyoon moved his feet with a face that felt like he could finally breathe. It was a hellish Christmas he could never forget.

Without even looking back, he headed toward a familiar room. For starters, he wanted to wash up. Because he had bickered so much with Kang Seunghyun the entire way here, his whole body feels limp.

Last night, while contacting Kang Jion, Min Jaeyoon had asked him to give him just three days of time. By buying time like that, he intended to copy and paste every single memory inside his own head into Kang Seunghyun through intensive cramming education. Putting aside their martial bond, Min Jaeyoon was also the person who knew him best among those around Kang Seunghyun. Kang Jion had also fully agreed to that.

Entering the entryway, Kang Seunghyun took a thorough look around the surroundings. Standing behind him, Secretary Song, who had entered together, pointed to one area.

“Over there is Executive Director Kang’s study.”

The penthouse was a duplex building, allowing a view of the Han River at a single glance. Secretary Song, who frequented the place for work, muttered like a person introducing a house to Kang Seunghyun. He also informed him respectively of the locations of the bedroom, bathroom, powder room, large dress room, and three entrance doors that Kang Seunghyun enjoyed using.

The inside of the house, where light poured in from all sides, was mostly made of solid wood materials, creating a feeling of ease and comfort. Kang Seunghyun stared at the central garden built beyond the glass wall. Secretary Song spoke from behind.

“It is a silk tree, which signifies marital harmony.”

As if substituting a nod, Kang Seunghyun tapped lightly against the glass wall. He turned his head.

Right in the dead center of the spacious living room, a large cream-colored sofa had taken up its place. Dispersed among the high-priced decorations placed on the surrounding shelves, wedding sculptures, a hugging pair of rabbits, a fireplace built for interior design, and lightbulbs hanging on a Christmas tree forgot about time and lit up. No matter where one looked, it appeared like the home of a harmonious newlywed couple.

Looking around, Kang Seunghyun’s steps stopped at one spot. He stared intently at a picture frame placed on the floor.

“Why is the wedding photo like this?”

Secretary Song approached as if surprised. Kang Seunghyun rubbed under his chin. He gazed fixedly down at the two people inside the frame. Min Jaeyoon, wearing a white tuxedo, had a displeased air, while Kang Seunghyun, wearing a black tuxedo, was expressionless. However, Kang Seunghyun’s overall evaluation upon seeing that was different.

“I’m rejoicing? While Jaeyoon is feeling shy….”

“…?”

Just where on earth are you looking to say such words… Secretary Song tried to turn his stiff neck but flinched at the pain. Lifting the frame, he stood on his tiptoes.

Having barely hung the wedding photo back in its original position, Secretary Song caught his breath. Bending his waist, he picked up the slippers that were tumbling about carelessly and placed them neatly at the front entrance. And he also restored a well-crafted chair back to its original state in the kitchen.

“Executive Director Kang, where are you going?”

Kang Seunghyun looked back. He was walking toward the room where Min Jaeyoon had vanished. Secretary Song rushed over in a single bound, grabbing him and turning him around.

“There are still many matters I must inform you about.”

“What? Has the house tour still not finished? Forget it. I don’t want to look anymore.”

He had an inkling that what he actually wanted to see lay elsewhere.

“It isn’t that… because of work….”

“Work?”

“Yes… it will just take a moment. This way.”

Secretary Song with great difficulty put Kang Seunghyun inside the study. Turning around after firmly closing the door, Secretary Song flinched. Kang Seunghyun was staring at a piece of paper he had picked up from atop the desk.

If it had been his past self, it would have been difficult for Secretary Song to notice, but it wasn’t the current Kang Seunghyun. Rather, it would be strange not to know. Furrowing terribly between his eyebrows, Kang Seunghyun revealed his discomfort with his entire body.

“Ex… Executive Director. What are you looking at?”

Secretary Song asked cautiously, swallowing hard. Staring at the paper, Kang Seunghyun reads it, cutting cleanly between the words as if he had learned letters for the first time.

“Mu, tu, al, di, vor, ce, con, fir, ma, ti, on, a, gree, ment?”

💍

Splish, Min Jaeyoon, who was soaking his body in the bathtub, buried his face in both hands. As he slowly pulled his hands away, white foam remained on his cheeks.

He looked out the window. Watching the Han River reflecting the light, his chest swelled slightly. How they had escaped the hospital that resembled a battlefield left him with no mental leeway to snap out of it. Starting from the hospital room, Kang Seunghyun had acted recklessly like a child.

—You want me to read this in front of people?

Until dawn broke, Min Jaeyoon had written out the statement of position while tearing at his hair. However, a mountain left to cross still remained.

—Yeah. Because Secretary Song is waiting with the car outside the hospital. You can read it and get right in. He said Secretary Ha would prepare the rest.

Sitting facing each other with the sofa table in the hospital room between them, Kang Seunghyun glances half-heartedly over the paper with his eyes. Min Jaeyoon pushed it a bit further in front of him.

—Look closely. Don’t make a mistake, and make sure to read it exactly like this.

—What are you going to do if I don’t?

Kang Seunghyun assumed an arrogant posture with his back pressed flat against the sofa. He rests his opposite leg over his left knee. He bobbed the tip of his foot wearing a slipper up and down.

The past Kang Seunghyun was a person whose walk, sitting posture, and speech exuded dignity. However, the current Kang Seunghyun was no different from a street thug. The corners of Min Jaeyoon’s eyes quivered finely.

—Are you threatening me right now?