Chapter 31
by Gideon“Sweetheart.”
“Yes, Grandmother?”
“You need to come over. I’m not feeling well.”
Her voice, usually so sharp and clear, sounded completely drained today.
“Where does it hurt? What about Mother?”
“My head feels stiff… and I can’t catch my breath…”
“I’m with Yundo right now—”
Hyewan stopped. How could she say no when Chairwoman Kang, over eighty years old, had called her personally to say she was ill?
“I’ll be there right away.”
Since she had some time, she figured she could stop by her in-laws’ place before heading over.
The appointment time was fast approaching.
Damn these endless meetings…!
It wasn’t like the alumni reunion happened every day. He couldn’t understand why they had to be scheduled back-to-back just today. When Yundo glared at Dong-yeong, the latter averted his gaze, clearly feeling guilty. Dong-yeong was also attending the reunion—they were Princeton alumni, after all—but he looked so relaxed because he didn’t have a partner to go with.
The meeting, which Yundo had been unable to focus on at all, finally wrapped up.
As he hurried to meet Hyewan, Yundo answered a call from Yun-woo.
-Big brother?
“Yeah, Yun-woo.”
-Um… Hyung. There’s something I need to tell you…
Yun-woo sounded incredibly hesitant. To put his younger brother at ease, Yundo replied gently.
“Is it a secret? Now I’m curious.”
-Grandmother called Sister-in-law over to the house. And she sent Mother away on purpose.
Yundo frowned. “Is your sister-in-law at the main house?”
“Yeah. I overheard Chief Ma talking about it. He said they won’t let her stand by your side.”
Yundo could guess what that meant.
Fury surged through him. He couldn’t comprehend Chairwoman Kang’s state of mind—talking about Hyewan behind her back right in front of Yun-woo.
“Yun-woo. I’m coming right now. Just pretend you don’t know anything.”
“Okay, Hyung. Hurry. Hyewan looks like she’s struggling.”
“Got it. Thanks for calling.”
After hanging up, Yun-woo left his room and went downstairs. He approached Hyewan, who was bustling around in a dress, trying to meet Chairwoman Kang’s demanding requests.
“Hyewan.”
“Yes, Yun-woo. Do you need something?”
“I called my brother. He’ll be here soon.”
“What?”
“About Grandma… she’s not actually sick.”
Yun-woo glanced at Chairwoman Kang’s room, speaking as if he were sharing a secret.
“She’s just throwing a tantrum because she couldn’t go to the alumni reunion with you.”
Hyewan had suspected as much. Despite the Chairwoman’s voice on the phone, her complexion and aura felt vibrant and full of life. The Chairwoman’s “deteriorating condition” seemed like a calculated effort to keep her here.
If Madam Park, her mother-in-law, had acted this way, people would say she relied on her eldest son like a husband and was jealous of her daughter-in-law. But why was Chairwoman Kang doing this? Was her love for her eldest grandson so intense that she was jealous of his wife?
“Yun-woo, you should go back upstairs. You’ll get in trouble if Grandma or Chief Ma see you here.”
Whatever the reason, Hyewan had to protect Yun-woo—the weakest link in the Sewon Family.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t be of any help…”
Yun-woo’s shoulders slumped. How can he be so soft-hearted…
“You taking my side like this is the biggest help of all, Yun-woo. So please, don’t think like that.”
“Yes, Sister-in-law.”
“Go on, head upstairs.”
Hyewan sent Yun-woo out of the kitchen first. Jinju-daek, who had been glancing their way, crept closer.
“Young Mistress, don’t believe a word the Chairman says. He’s always been like that. He changes his story to suit himself—that’s why the Elder Mistress suffered her whole life.”
Before Hyewan could even respond, she sensed Chief Ma approaching. Jinju-daek quickly raised her voice.
“Oh, our Chairman must be losing his tiger’s strength in his old age. What a sudden bolt from the blue!”
Chief Ma snapped, her voice laced with irritation. Every time Hyewan saw her, she was struck by how the woman tried to act like the mistress of the house—a role even Madam Park didn’t claim.
“Jinju-daek, watch your tongue.”
“Oh, yes, of course. I should. I’ll be careful.”
Jinju-daek made a show of slapping her own mouth before disappearing inside.
“You should be paying more attention to the Chairwoman’s health. I don’t know what anyone is even doing around here.”
“Isn’t that your responsibility too, Chief?”
Chief Ma’s expression soured, her eyes flashing with indignation that Hyewan would dare to talk back. Before she could retort, Hyewan pressed on.
“Actually, you’re right. You should have been looking after Grandmother more than any of us. After all, isn’t that why she kept you as her personal secretary? I guess you weren’t doing your job properly.”
“Listen here. How dare you—!”
Hyewan cut her off.
“There are established titles in this house,” Hyewan warned sternly. “And you know that better than anyone, Chief Ma. So unless you’re going to address me as the Younger Madam, don’t even think about speaking to me.”
“And our family cares about Grandmother more than anyone else,” she added. “So don’t overstep your bounds, Chief Ma. Just focus on doing your job.”
Chief Ma’s face flushed with indignation as she glared at Hyewan. But Hyewan didn’t flinch, meeting her gaze steadily. If she were going to lose a petty battle of nerves like this, she wouldn’t have even started it.
“Chief Ma! Gyeong-jin!”
Chief Ma was forced to turn away at Chairwoman Kang’s call. Jinju-daek stepped forward, her face beaming.
“Younger Madam, you’re absolutely the best!”
Whether the conflict was big or small, getting into a war of nerves was always draining. Yet, Jinju-daek’s support brought a smile to Hyewan’s face.
“You know how to say things like that?”
“Oh, what’s with that look? I’m secretly a modern woman, you know.”
“What if Grandma scolds you for this?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take your side. Chief Ma—that woman is just plain rude. She’s the same with the eldest ma’am, too.”
Jinju-daek shot a glare in the direction Chief Ma had disappeared.
Less than thirty minutes later, Yundo arrived.
“Hyewan!”
The moment the front door opened, Yundo called her name loudly. Hyewan hurried to his side, pretending to know nothing.
“Yundo, what are you doing here? What about your alumni reunion?”
She felt she had to keep pretending. Ever since she’d married him, she was evolving into a real fox.
Hearing Yundo’s presence, Chairwoman Kang emerged from the room.
“My dear daughter-in-law, did you call him?”
Hyewan quickly replied to Chairwoman Kang, whose displeasure was evident.
“No, I was surprised to see Yundo-ssi here when he should be at his alumni association. He said it was an important day.”
“It is an important day, which is why I came to pick you up. I told you to be on time. What are you still doing here?”
“Grandmother is unwell…”
Hyewan trailed off, but Yundo raised his voice.
“Dr. Hwang and Chief Ma are here. You don’t even know her condition, so there’s no reason for you to be here. Let’s go.”
“You brat! How can I be sick alone without my family?”
“Yun-woo, you know, Mother will be here soon. There’s nothing to worry about with the blood pressure issue. Dr. Hwang, the best internist in the country, is here. What’s there to be concerned about? He said it’s just a temporary problem, didn’t he?”
Dr. Hwang glanced at Chairwoman Kang before replying awkwardly, “Y-yes, that’s right.”
“Then I’ll take Hyewan with me.”
Thanks to Yun-woo and Yundo, Hyewan was able to escape the in-laws’ house. After she got into the passenger seat, Yundo sat in the driver’s seat, started the car, and apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
Yundo was more angry at himself for not anticipating this than at Chairwoman Kang.
“Do you really need to apologize for something like this? Please don’t.”
Hyewan brushed off Chairwoman Kang’s behavior.
“Grandmother is good to me.”
Then Hyewan’s expression turned meaningfully grave.
“But why am I starting to wonder about Grandmother’s true intentions? To be honest, she’s kind to me, but I don’t think she actually likes me. It’s a completely different feeling from how she is with Mother or Young Master Yun-woo.”
Yundo was momentarily taken aback by her question. After catching his breath, he asked cautiously, “Do you think Grandmother has ulterior motives?”
Hyewan nodded slowly, lost in thought. “Grandmother wasn’t feeling sick today. Jinju-daek told me that Grandmother didn’t take her blood pressure medication this morning. That’s why her blood pressure spiked.”
Yundo gritted his teeth.
Damn it!
If Chairwoman Kang wanted to deceive Hyewan, she would have to outsmart her brilliance.
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