Chapter 52
by Gideon“The reason Cha Yundo’s family agreed to let him marry someone as insignificant as me… it’s because I’m his scapegoat.”
“What are you talking about? A three-year wife? Are you insane? What is this, a cosmetic product with an expiration date? And what the hell is a scapegoat?” Bora demanded, her voice sharp with disbelief.
“It means I’m supposed to take the fall for any misfortune that might befall Cha Yundo.”
“Do you think I don’t know what that means? I’m asking who the hell believes that bullshit in this day and age! Is this because your grandmother is a shaman? Did you find out from Kim Jin-myeong?”
Hyewan shook her head.
“I think they already did their research on me before that.”
“For heaven’s sake…!”
Bora was speechless, thumping her chest in frustration. The sheer absurdity of it all was overwhelming.
“Did that bastard Cha Yundo know about this too?”
“He said he didn’t know when they first met, but found out later.”
“So he married you without a word, knowing Chairwoman Kang’s plan all along? He just stole you away to Hawaii like a thief?” Bora’s fury ignited.
“I’ll kill that bastard! You idiot! I told you from the start that something was off!”
Hyewan nodded, tears streaming down her face.
“What does that damn family take us for? A scapegoat? I’ll burn their whole house down! Did you just stand there and take it?”
“…”
“You fool! You should have slapped him! Who do they think they are, playing such a dirty trick on you?”
Hyewan stared blankly at the window, half-covered by the curtains. Her insides were as charred and black as the night sky, where nothing could be seen.
“What I can’t stand most is… it’s because of our Haetsal.”
“Haetsal?”
“Before I went to Hawaii for the wedding, I was given some vitamins. I only found out today that they were actually birth control pills. They were trying to prevent me from getting pregnant from the very beginning.”
Bora shot to her feet, horrified.
“That’s a crime!”
“Yeah, I know. But that’s what she did. And Chairwoman Kang… she was actually glad Haetsal died in that car accident. I… I can’t forgive her for that.”
“What?! She was glad? The baby died and she was glad? That old hag is completely insane. She’s lost her damn mind! How can someone who looks human do something so monstrous?”
Bora fanned herself furiously, her rage boiling over.
“My blood is boiling. Hyewan, we can’t let this go. Let’s throw them all in jail.”
“Do you think that’s even possible?” Hyewan asked, her voice hollow. She looked utterly exhausted, and the sight of her sent Bora’s frustration boiling over.
“I’m so sick of this!” Bora burst out.
“Bora.”
“What?”
“Don’t tell anyone about what happened today. Please. And if my mom asks…”
“I know, I know! Don’t worry. I’m not that clueless. But what are you going to tell her about switching hospitals? You said she visits almost every day. What happens when she goes to Hankuk University Hospital?”
“I’ll send her a message. She’ll believe me if I tell her I moved to a specialized rehabilitation hospital for now. Later… I’ll figure something else out then.”
“Fine. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, stop thinking and just lie down and sleep. You look like you’re about to drop dead.”
Bora helped Hyewan lie down. She placed a hand on Hyewan’s forehead and gasped in surprise.
“You don’t just have a slight fever. You’re burning up! I’m going to tell the nurse, so just stay put.”
“Okay.”
Bora pulled the blanket up to Hyewan’s neck before leaving the room. She rushed to the nurse’s station and reported Hyewan’s condition.
“The patient in Room 901, Ko Hyewan, has a severe fever. Have you received her medical records yet?”
“We just got them and passed them to the doctor. A prescription will be issued shortly.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The fever should break quickly once the medication is administered.
Bora sat on a chair at the end of the hallway, trying to calm her anxious heart. So much had happened in such a short amount of time. Her mind felt overloaded, and she stared blankly at the floor before burying her face in her hands. A wave of heat surged through her chest.
Ko Hyewan, you idiot. You… why are you always the one struggling? You did nothing wrong, so why does this keep happening to you?
Bora had always assumed Hyewan would only ever know happiness. She believed her friend, having left her own difficult and fierce days behind, would have nothing but a blissful life with her beloved husband. But it had all been a lie. Bora felt a profound sorrow for the reality Hyewan was facing. She couldn’t understand why her smart, beautiful friend had to endure such a thing.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway. She didn’t even need to look up to know who it was. As she lowered her hands, Yundo stood there, gasping for breath. He must have rushed over, as he wore only a jacket over a thin shirt.
Even seeing Yundo’s deathly pale face, Bora felt no sympathy. She glared at him, her voice sharp and accusatory.
“Why are you here?”
“How is Hyewan?”
“Are you really asking that? How can you people be like this?” Bora’s anger erupted, directed straight at Yundo.
“I just can’t wrap my head around it. What you did to Hyewan… no human being should ever do that!”
But Yundo only repeated his question, his voice laced with concern. “Is she in a lot of pain? Is something wrong with her leg?”
Bora’s fury flared even hotter. He actually sounded like he was worried about her. Is he seriously trying to play the part again after using her?
“You’re actually asking? What right do you have to be concerned? If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to even open my mouth.”
The more she spoke, the more her rage billowed like an uncontrollable fire.
“Hyewan told me everything. I want to throw you and the rest of your family in jail for the fraudulent marriage and the forced drugging, but I’m holding back because that’s Hyewan’s decision to make.”
Yundo had no excuses to offer.
“Where is Hyewan? I just want to see her face.”
It’s not like I’m talking to a wall, but all he does is say Hyewan, Hyewan! He should have treated her better in the first place! Bora barely restrained the urge to snap at him. She knew that if she didn’t let him see Hyewan, Yundo would probably stand in the hallway all night.
“This way.”
Bora shot Yundo a glare as she opened the hospital room door. Hyewan was asleep, an IV drip connected to her arm. Bora lowered her voice, her tone a warning. “Hyewan is asleep. Don’t you dare wake her. Just look at her and leave.”
“Bora, thank you. And… I’m sorry.”
They say a married couple shares one heart and mind, Bora thought bitterly. Hyewan and Yundo both have ‘thank you’ and ‘I’m sorry’ permanently glued to their lips.
It only irritated her more.
“Just go on in.”
Yundo gave Bora a slight nod before opening the hospital room door.
He approached Hyewan silently and looked down at her. Lying there motionless, she seemed so small. Was she always this small? he wondered, seeing her with fresh eyes. He wanted to brush the hair away from her forehead, but he held back, afraid of waking her. He clenched his fists, fighting the desperate urge to touch her.
Cha Yundo, you have no right.
“Please…” his voice rasped in a whisper. “Don’t be in too much pain. I’ll fix this. So please… don’t hate me too much.”
He pleaded with her, his voice thick with desperation.
In the end, he left the room without even touching her fingertips. It felt as if his heart were being torn to shreds.
The next morning, Min-suk and Gyeong-ae arrived to visit Hyewan.
“Mom, what are you doing here so early? Auntie, have you eaten?”
“Oh, don’t even ask. Your mother couldn’t sleep a wink all night.”
“Nothing’s wrong, right?”
Min-suk’s eyes were sunken and dark, a testament to her worry after hearing Hyewan had been transferred hospitals. Hyewan forced a smile.
“Mom always asks me if something’s wrong. Of course nothing’s wrong. What could possibly be?”
Hyewan’s heart burned with anxiety as she tried to reassure Min-suk.
Bora, who had spent the night in Hyewan’s hospital room, brought over some fruit.
“Mother, Auntie, please have some fruit.”
“Oh, give that here. You’ll cut yourself.”
Gyeong-ae took the paring knife from Bora’s hand.
“Bora, thank you. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you took the time to visit when you must be so busy.”
“Oh, please, it’s nothing.”
“But why did you change hospitals? And where’s Son-in-law Cha?”
“That’s right,” the aunt chimed in. “Hyewan’s husband is nowhere to be seen. He was glued to her side like glue. Is he on a business trip?”
Gyeong-ae nodded in agreement as she sliced the fruit into bite-sized pieces and arranged them on a plate.
“Ah, well, yes. He’s on a business trip.”
Bora, who often found herself in trouble for being too blunt and lacking tact—always speaking the unvarnished truth—glanced at Hyewan’s expression.
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