Chapter 41 & Chapter 42
by GideonChairwoman Kang was a cruel and malicious woman to Madam Park. After thirty-three years of enduring her, Madam Park knew her all too well. And her son was the same.
Seeing Yundo already so fiercely proud of his child, Madam Park was certain that no matter how hard Chairwoman Kang tried, it would be useless. Yundo would win in the end.
Divorce?
Given his temperament, that was out of the question.
Yundo would never part from Hyewan, the woman who had carried and given birth to his child. Nor would he ever allow his own child to grow up under the shadow of a stepmother, walking on eggshells.
Madam Park put her anxieties aside and decided to focus only on her future grandchild. Though her in-law would surely take good care of Hyewan, she still wanted to show her daughter-in-law some extra care and attention.
“Jinju-daek, is this all the peaches?”
“Yes, Madam Park. I asked for the largest box they had. Does it seem like too little?”
“I noticed Hyewan was eating them so well last time, so I wanted to send her plenty.”
“Should I have Driver Kim go buy some more right away?”
“Would you?”
As Jinju-daek pulled her phone from her apron, Madam Park stopped her.
“No, that’s enough. Let’s just send this much for now. Hyewan has a small appetite, so this will probably last her a while.”
The thought of baby Haetsal filled Madam Park with excitement.
For the past thirty-three years, the seasons had always been faithful. They painted the world in brilliant, ever-changing colors, but this house had remained eternally frozen in winter. Its every corner was a sheet of thin ice, forcing her to walk on eggshells and hold her breath. Even when her husband was alive, this house had never known peace.
A baby…!
The thought of a tiny, fluffy grandchild brought an involuntary smile to Madam Park’s face. Finally, sunlight seemed to be breaking through the gloom of this house—and her own heart.
Jinju-daek asked, “Are you really that happy?”
“What do you mean? Of course I am! I never expected Yundo to become a father. I figured he’d get married eventually, but I just assumed he’d never want kids.”
That was why Madam Park found Hyewan even more precious and grateful.
“I heard the young mistress can’t eat meat at all,” Jinju-daek said.
“Yundo says so. He says she can’t even keep water down. Her morning sickness must be terrible.”
Hyewan called often to check in, letting Madam Park hear Yundo’s voice in the background. Though Hyewan always insisted she was fine, Yundo’s tone suggested otherwise—he sounded completely exhausted.
“I heard she can’t even eat fruit properly, so we’re sending this for her to at least try. It would be embarrassing to face our in-laws if we just sat idly by while our daughter-in-law is pregnant.”
“You’re absolutely right, Ma’am.”
They were chatting softly, pouring their hearts into assembling the fruit basket, when a furious voice boomed from above.
“What the hell are you doing?”
It was Chairwoman Kang. Madam Park and Jinju-daek shot up, their heads snapping up in shock, looking like thieves caught red-handed.
“Mother, you’re here?”
“I asked what you’re doing!”
Sensing the tension, Jinju-daek stepped forward to speak for Madam Park.
“We’re preparing this for the younger Madam… She’s pregnant, so she needs to eat well…”
In an instant, Chairwoman Kang snatched the fruit basket and hurled it to the floor. The melon shattered, and the peaches were crushed. Madam Park and Jinju-daek let out sharp cries of alarm.
“Oh, my!”
“What’s so great about this? Why on earth would you send such a thing!”
“Mother, please calm down…”
“Calm down? How dare you say that to me! You know exactly how I feel about that girl, yet you dare do this behind my back? Do you want to be kicked out of this house too?”
“Mother, please don’t say such things. Isn’t she a precious guest of our family?” Madam Park said firmly. Since it concerned her own child’s child, she found herself naturally energized.
“Nonsense! Emi, how can you be so short-sighted? Yundo is the eldest grandson of the Cha family! Do you think I raised him with such care just to give him to some lowly shaman? Not a chance!”
“Before he’s the eldest grandson of the Cha family, he’s my son! I raised him! I like Hyewan. I have no intention of making them get divorced.”
Yundo, who had seemed like he would never get close, had finally started opening his heart to Madam Park after the wedding. Before that, he had been like a guest who was difficult to deal with, but now he had become a son she could lean on at any time.
“What? Emi, how dare you talk back to me?”
Chairwoman Kang spoke in disbelief, but her words fell on deaf ears.
“This was a marriage you pushed for in the first place, Mother! Even so, isn’t it a relief that Yundo is happy with Hyewan? Please, just leave Yundo alone. He says he’s happy!”
“How dare you!”
Chairwoman Kang threw the coffee on the table at Madam Park.
“Madam!”
Jinju-daek rushed to Madam Park’s side, her eyes wide with shock. The coffee had already cooled, so there were no burns, but the humiliation was searing. Thank God Yun-woo wasn’t home to see this, Madam Park thought.
“I’ve spent thirty-three years trying to instill our family’s values in you,” Chairwoman Kang sneered, her voice trembling with rage and contempt. “Yet you still haven’t learned a shred of manners. What a waste of effort, trying to scrub the filth off you when I brought you in from that hovel. I suppose some things are just bred in the bone, aren’t they? You can’t change what you are!”
“If you interfere with my plans,” the Chairwoman threatened, “not only will that child be kicked out, but so will you. What will become of Yun-woo then?”
Madam Park’s hands shook uncontrollably—whether from fury or fear, she couldn’t tell. A cruel smile spread across Chairwoman Kang’s face.
“Your son has nothing right about him. The Cha family has no use for him.”
Both Yundo and Yun-woo were Madam Park’s sons. But to Chairwoman Kang, Yundo was their eldest grandson, while Yun-woo was merely her son.
Chairwoman Kang smiled meaningfully.
“Since he’s so frail anyway, it wouldn’t be bad for him to live somewhere with a nice view and fresh air.”
A chill ran down Madam Park’s spine.
“Don’t touch Yun-woo!”
“Then you’d better not interfere with my business. Simple, isn’t it? Let’s just keep our boundaries.”
Convinced her threat had taken hold, Chairwoman Kang turned away.
“My headache is starting. Bring me some chrysanthemum tea.”
“Yes, Chairwoman.”
Chief Ma stepped forward and opened the door to her study.
Madam Park’s heart shattered, crumbling like a broken basket. Jinju-daek handed her a clean towel and began scrubbing the kitchen floor.
“Here, ma’am. Please, wipe your face.”
“Thank you.”
Madam Park offered a bitter smile as she took the towel and wiped her face.
“With the Chairwoman acting like that, it’s no wonder your anger is festering,” Jinju-daek sighed heavily, her voice thick with frustration.
Madam Park didn’t even have the strength to reply.
Just then, Chief Ma emerged from the study and strode into the kitchen. She fixed Madam Park with a piercing stare and asked in a sharp, biting tone, “Where’s the fruit for the Chairwoman?”
Chief Ma had never once called her ‘Madam.’ It was as if she refused to acknowledge her status, even in death.
Jinju-daek snapped, unable to hold back any longer.
“What are you standing around for? Open the refrigerator and look! It’s always in the same spot. Do you think it grew legs and ran away?”
Chief Ma raised his voice. “Listen here, Jinju-daek. How dare you raise your voice to me?”
“Ha! The nerve! ‘How dare I’? Even Madam Park doesn’t say a word to you, so what right do you have to use that kind of language? We’re both just employees getting paid by this household!”
“What did you say?”
“Jinju-daek, that’s enough,” Madam Park intervened, her voice weak. She worried that Chairwoman Kang’s temper would flare up and Jinju-daek would be the one to suffer the consequences.
“Chief Ma, do as Jinju-daek said. Look for it in the refrigerator yourself.”
“You look for it yourself.”
Madam Park’s patience finally snapped at Chief Ma’s insolence. She locked eyes with him and said, “Just as Jinju-daek said, you’re an employee in this house. How dare you address me so informally? Is this how a person who’s supposed to have learned grace and manners by her mother’s side speaks?”
Chief Ma’s face contorted. “I answer only to the Chairwoman.”
Madam Park shot back, “The Chairwoman is the one who asked for the fruit. So, since you only answer to her, go and get it for her.”
Chief Ma glared at her, his cold, cruel lips pressed into a thin line. Then he turned on his heel and stormed toward the study. It was obvious what he was going to tell Chairwoman Kang.
Madam Park’s legs gave way, and she sank into a dining chair.
“Madam, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake… Madam, please, have a glass of cold water.”
Jinju-daek hurried to bring a glass of water.
“Why is Chief Ma acting like this to you? It’s like she doesn’t even know who the real mistress of this house is. It’s making my heart ache just to watch. I’m tempted to tell the Vice President about this!”
Hearing that, Madam Park waved her hand.
“Don’t do that. It will only cause a huge fight.”
“I know that, which is why I can’t do anything. I’m just worried you’ll suffer because of it. I’ll clean up here, so please go inside, change your clothes, and rest. You look like you’re about to collapse.”
“Yes, I should.”
Madam Park went into the main bedroom. Every ounce of strength had drained from her body, leaving her unable to even lift a finger. Yet, a sense of relief washed over her. Even if nothing had been truly resolved, the suffocating tension in her chest had finally eased.
So this is what Yundo meant when he told me to speak my mind, she thought.
The reason for Chief Ma’s behavior was Cha Nam-gyun.
When Cha Nam-gyun had wrapped up his life in the States and returned to join Sewon Group, it was before he had met Madam Park. At the time, Chief Ma had already caught Chairwoman Kang’s eye and was working as her right-hand woman. Because of this, Chief Ma seemed to believe that if Cha Nam-gyun fell for her, she would naturally become the Sewon Family’s daughter-in-law. Cha Nam-gyun had told her later that Chief Ma had tirelessly confessed her feelings to him numerous times, only to be rejected every single time.
Nam-gyun said that word got back to Chairwoman Kang, who gave him a severe scolding. She reportedly berated Chief Ma, asking how she dared to covet her son without knowing her place.
Not long after, Cha Nam-gyun and Madam Park met and fell in love.
Chairwoman Kang opposed the match, disliking Madam Park’s background, but Cha Nam-gyun pushed forward with the marriage without batting an eye. In the end, Chairwoman Kang couldn’t bring herself to alienate her only son and accepted Madam Park.
The price for their love was a brutal in-law relationship.
Madam Park suffered through a level of mistreatment from her mother-in-law that she had never even heard of or seen before.
Madam Park had been born as an only daughter to a father who was a high school math teacher and a mother who was a homemaker. Though her upbringing was ordinary, she grew up without wanting for anything, cherished with all the love her parents could give.
Madam Park had always wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a teacher, so she enrolled in a college of education. During the first semester of her senior year, when her biggest worry in life was the stress of the teacher certification exam, she went on a double date with a friend for a little change of pace. That was where she met Cha Nam-gyun.
Their young love burned as fiercely as a fire on dry kindling. They feared nothing.
Ignoring her parents’ advice to wait until she passed the certification exam, Madam Park married him immediately after graduation. She would go on to regret that decision for thirty-three years.
Though she truly loved Cha Nam-gyun, Chairwoman Kang’s in-law harassment was so brutal that Madam Park had wanted to divorce him more than a few times. Chairwoman Kang had even openly told her she was free to divorce. But Cha Nam-gyun had secretly signed a prenuptial agreement, ensuring she would be entitled to none of the assets, nor any rights to their child’s property or custody.
The fact that she wouldn’t be able to see her children after a divorce was a problem, but her lack of financial independence—having married immediately after graduating from college—was an even bigger one.
This was all while her parents were still alive, which made divorce even more impossible. She knew all too well that if she divorced now, after marrying against their wishes, it would break their hearts and spirits.
Now, both her parents had passed away, and the only family Madam Park relied on with all her heart were her sons, her daughters-in-law, and her yet-to-be-born grandchild, Haetsal…
“Cha Nam-gyun, you… do you remember apologizing to me?” she asked. “If you forget that you only ever said ‘I’m sorry’ while your mother was tormenting me, then you really are a terrible person.”
Madam Park spoke softly to her husband’s photograph on the side table.
“You said you’d come back after you’d attended my funeral and comforted the children. Yet you died without even a single word of goodbye. How could you always be so consistently full of empty promises?”
Even now, the memory of the day he died left her speechless with disbelief.
“Repay me this time. Protect our children.”
Her voice dropped even lower.
“If you absolutely can’t, then take me and Mother to be with you.”
Her conscience pricked her at the thought of only taking Chairwoman Kang. Though she worried about Yun-woo after her own death, she trusted Yundo and Hyewan to take care of him.
“Honey, your mother is… truly unbearable.”
Madam Park agonized over whether to tell Yundo about Chairwoman Kang’s plan. She thought it would be better for Yundo to know and prepare, but she also worried that it would only fuel his already deep-seated resentment toward the Chairwoman.
Yundo was still tolerating Chairwoman Kang by including her in his definition of family, but she had no idea how he would react if he ever found out about the verbal abuse she had hurled at Hyewan and Haetsal. The more critical issue was her hope that Yundo would one day succeed his father as the owner of Sewon Group.
What if his hatred for Chairwoman Kang held him back…
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t reach a conclusion.
“Dear, I just don’t know,” she murmured.
Living as a decent human being was proving to be an impossible struggle.
Chairwoman Kang had not only smashed the fruit basket but had also summoned her daughter-in-law to her room, forcing her to kneel for two hours while she lectured her. It was only when her youngest grandson returned home and demanded to see Yundo, his face flushed crimson with rage, that she finally relented and sent Madam Park away.
Even that had irritated her.
It was deeply displeasing that her utterly useless, foolish grandson dared to act so insolent. For now, his pregnancy was a more pressing issue, so she was letting it slide. But soon, she would show him the true power of an elder.
Deciding that the office was preferable to the suffocating sight of her daughter-in-law and even more infuriating grandson, Chairwoman Kang went to work.
The inner circle of executives grew tense as the Chairwoman, who usually only appeared twice a week, began showing up every day. Among them, President Kang Deok-ho visited her office to gauge the situation.
“Chairwoman?”
“Come in.”
“Where’s Chief Ma?”
“I sent him away. He needs some time to himself.”
That’s strange. It was rare for Chairwoman Kang to be alone without Chief Ma.
“Is something troubling you?” Kang Deok-ho asked, sitting on the sofa with a concerned expression.
“No. It’s nothing.”
Chairwoman Kang sighed, rubbing her throbbing forehead.
“Even at my age, I’ve learned that children are the one thing you can never control. Don’t you agree, President Kang?”
For a moment, a murderous glare flashed across Kang Deok-ho’s face. That’s a rich thing to hear from someone who abandoned her own child for profit!
Fortunately, Chairwoman Kang kept her head bowed, missing his expression.
“They say raising children is the hardest job in the world. Still, all my nephews are doing well. What are you so worried about?”
“Doing well, my foot.” Chairwoman Kang scoffed. “They won’t listen to a word I say. I’m only trying to help, yet they do the exact opposite of everything I tell them.”
“Are you talking about the Vice President? His wife is pregnant, so it’s a happy occasion…”
“Don’t you dare say another word!”
Kang Deok-ho fell silent as Chairwoman Kang’s face hardened.
“No matter how good the seed is, if the soil is poor, only chaff will grow. Do you think I let my eldest grandson marry that girl because I actually liked her?”
“Wasn’t it a love marriage?”
“They fell in love after the fact. I would have married them off even if they hadn’t.”
“What do you mean by that? I don’t understand.”
Chairwoman Kang sighed.
“What could I possibly be keeping from you? The truth is, that girl is Yundo’s scapegoat.”
“What?”
“The shaman said if she lived with him for three years, all of Yundo’s misfortune would transfer to her. That’s why I arranged the marriage. I even tricked her into taking birth control, telling her it was a supplement, just to make sure she didn’t get pregnant. But that clever little thing must have figured it out and stopped taking them! And then, she went and got pregnant anyway!”
Chairwoman Kang’s voice rose in fury.
“I should have forced her to take sterilization drugs from the start. This is all my fault, my mistake!”
Kang Deok-ho wasn’t surprised by her vicious words. Chairwoman Kang Ok-seon had always been this kind of person. Still, a scapegoat? Deok-ho’s mind raced.
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