Chapter 41
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.
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