Are You On My Side?

Tae-yeon bit her lip hard and drew in a sharp breath.

It was time to summon her courage and tell her not to speak that way. She needed to say that belittling her sick birth mother was unacceptable. That she must not trample on the weak and powerless, painting them as worthless and vile.

Yet no matter how firmly she steeled herself, the words that came out were already decided. Tae-yeon spoke slowly.

“My mother has improved a lot.”

“Who said I care about your mother? I’m interested in what genetic baggage you’ve brought with you. Who knows what effect it might have on our Yun-woo? That’s what a birth mother does, isn’t it? Even if you end up divorced, the fact that you’re Yun-woo’s mother won’t change. So what choice do we have? Besides, you need to stay healthy if you’re going to handle both Hyun-seo and Yun-woo. That’s your job.”

She already knew. It was a phrase she repeated to herself every single day. But hearing it in Oh Jin-hee’s voice somehow made it cut deeper, stirring up resentment.

An uncomfortable expression crossed her face before she could stop it. Oh Jin-hee pounced immediately.

“Don’t tell me you’re putting on airs just because you gave birth to Yun-woo?”

“Pardon?”

“Put on all the airs you want. You giving birth to Yun-woo is no different from a court lady receiving the king’s favor. How could someone like you possibly give birth to our Hyun-seo’s son?”

Tae-yeon closed her mouth, unable to utter a single word.

So this was what it meant.

The part about claiming compensation when you suffered unfair treatment. In other words, getting paid to endure abuse.

A situation where her dignity was ignored and every intention twisted. When she turned toward Icheon-daek, the housekeeper blinked and set a bowl of hwachae on the table.

“The hwachae is especially delicious today, Madam.”

Icheon-daek changed the subject and subtly stepped between them, as though trying to shield Tae-yeon from Oh Jin-hee’s line of sight. Despite the older woman’s efforts, Oh Jin-hee’s attention on Tae-yeon never wavered.

“Icheon-daek, does the girl eat properly?”

“Yes, she eats very well.”

“Then why does her body look like that? It’s impossible to believe she’s someone who gave birth.”

Tae-yeon had never gained weight easily, but after moving to this uncomfortable new “position,” even the little flesh she once carried was melting away. Pretending to be the mother of a child she had not borne, having nonexistent milk sucked, forcing down pig’s trotters she couldn’t stomach—it seemed even her appetite was vanishing.

Icheon-daek smiled warmly and came to her defense.

“It’s because she recovers so quickly. Other mothers are desperate to bounce back the way Madam has. They spend a fortune on postpartum care. It’s wonderful that our madam is naturally healthy and heals fast.”

“Is that so? Then is this what healthy looks like?”

“Of course. This is perfectly healthy. As long as she stays well until the hundredth day, that’s all that matters. Madam, do try the hwachae. It’s truly excellent.”

At those words Oh Jin-hee finally took a spoonful.

“The flavor is perfect. The food in this house is an absolute disaster when you’re not here, Icheon-daek.”

“Still, you must be pleased. The eldest grandson is growing so beautifully. I’ll look after young master Yun-woo a little longer and then step back once he’s bigger.”

Oh Jin-hee nodded, then turned back to Tae-yeon.

“Our Yun-woo is so lovely. Have you thought about moving into our main house?”

“Pardon?”

“So I could see him every day. Living apart like this means you hardly get to see him, doesn’t it?”

She visited three or four times a week. She practically came every day, and even that felt like it was draining the life from her. The idea of living together was unbearable. In her heart she wanted to refuse at once, but she lacked the authority to make that decision.

“I’ll ask Yun-woo’s father.”

“Yun-woo’s father? You’ll have to beg him. Tell him you want to live there. Do you honestly think Hyun-seo would move in? He left before the wedding, remember?”

How terrible must it have been for him to leave? How unbearable, that he had chosen to live separately even before marriage? The thoughts rose unbidden. But she could not voice them.

Better to think of something pleasant instead. She was still searching for a safe topic when Yun-woo’s cry rang out. He seemed to have slept only an hour; his morning naps were never long.

“Oh, our Yun-woo is awake!”

Oh Jin-hee shot to her feet. Tae-yeon felt almost grateful to the baby. The woman had come in and spent a full hour speaking only of what she pleased, exhausting everyone around her.

After Oh Jin-hee finally left, Tae-yeon collapsed onto the bed. She wanted to do nothing at all. Her mother-in-law had sucked every last drop of motivation from her. Though the world saw her as Hyun-seo’s wife’s mother, to Tae-yeon she was simply the chairman’s wife.

So this was what being Choi Hyun-seo’s wife meant. At least it was a contract position—she could be thankful for that much.

Even as she thought it, bitterness filled her chest. While she picked at lunch, a soft chime sounded and a deposit alert appeared.

Ten million won? A sigh escaped her. She could guess exactly why it had been sent. Oh Jin-hee had stayed for three hours today. Treated like a laboratory animal, subjected to talk of urine collection, robbed of basic human dignity—the money was compensation for that time.

Yet could money truly leave a person feeling nothing at all?

She had once worked night shifts because her mother’s hospital bills were so urgent. Now that she was free of those debts, money felt strangely meaningless.

She had never cared for luxury brands or showing off to others. The money Choi Hyun-seo gave her simply sat in her account. With all her living expenses covered in this house, there was almost nothing to spend it on.

At times she wanted to tell him to keep the money if only he would keep Oh Jin-hee away from her forever.

“Is money really everything?”

She muttered the words into empty air, then flopped back onto the bed. The heavy feeling in her chest refused to ease, so she went downstairs again and lifted Yun-woo from his walker where he was grunting with effort.

She spread a wide sheet across the floor and laid him down. In a single smooth motion, Yun-woo flipped himself over. Only days ago he had struggled and flailed, unable to free his arm; now he flipped and pulled it out with ease.

“Yun-woo wins the round!”

She clapped and praised him. Yun-woo beamed with a wide, drooling smile and let out a delighted laugh. Even a baby seemed to feel the thrill of achievement.

“Shall we try again?”

Tae-yeon laid him down once more and recorded a video. He shifted his legs in the direction he wanted to turn, then twisted his whole body in one quick motion. After freeing his arm, he broke into a radiant smile. The entire sequence was captured perfectly.

“Dad needs to see this too. He only ever sees you sleeping. He even goes to the office on weekends.”

Deliberately, Tae-yeon sent the video to Hyun-seo. Since she had endured the verbal abuse and accepted the money, she would faithfully fulfill her roles as mother and wife. And a father, she believed, ought to witness moments like this.

She sent the file through their chat. A moment later the message showed as read.

She waited for a reply, but none came. Apparently he felt no particular emotion at the sight of his son learning to flip.

Even after the usual quitting time, no answer arrived. Tae-yeon disliked how often she found herself waiting for him. Yet after spending the whole day with only the baby and Icheon-daek, she inevitably began watching the door as evening fell.

She felt like a dog tied to a leash. Of course, that leash was money.

Was it fortunate, at least, that the leash was made of money?

Choi Hyun-seo’s arrival time varied wildly. When she had first moved in, he had always come home late. Lately, however, he sometimes appeared early without warning, and on those days he never failed to pull her into his arms.

Tae-yeon usually fell asleep first after their long, drawn-out lovemaking, but today—when both body and mind were exhausted—she secretly hoped he would come home late and sleep in the study. Instead, he arrived early, announcing he would take dinner at home.

Couldn’t he have sent even a single word about the video while riding in the car?

The wave of disappointment was impossible to suppress.

“Welcome home, Director. Our Yun-woo will finally get to see his father’s face. You’re always so busy.”

At Icheon-daek’s greeting, Hyun-seo tilted his head, silently refuting her words.

“Haven’t I been coming home earlier these days?”

“That’s true. You do come home earlier than before. But you’re still far busier than most ordinary people, aren’t you?”

He smiled as he ate. Tae-yeon’s soup bowl sat directly across from him, cloudy with pig’s trotters. She stared at it, fighting down nausea. Hyun-seo’s brow furrowed at the sight.

“Auntie, please take this away.”

“Pardon?”

“I said clear it. I can’t eat while looking at that.”

“I’m fine,” Tae-yeon murmured.

Seeing her speak so softly, Hyun-seo’s eyebrows drew together more sharply.

“I’m not. Auntie, remove it, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Choi Hyun-seo’s command, Icheon-daek took the bowl of pig’s trotter broth away. He fixed the housekeeper with a firm gaze.

“Do not bring pig’s trotters to the table when I am present. And if Tae-yeon says she doesn’t want it, do not force her. She has eaten more than enough already.”