The Father's Mistress
p The interior was bathed in the most luxurious chandelier, its multifaceted lights casting a kaleidoscope of colorful glows in every direction. Beneath that dazzling radiance, the guests had all dressed to the nines, each one stepping into this party with their own hidden motives. Min Tae-yeon smiled, yet she felt an inexplicable emptiness settle deep in her chest.
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p Did that woman, who had given birth to Yoon-woo and then left this world, know that Yoon-woo was being celebrated by so many people like this?
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p In the end, only the dead would feel wronged. The moment she pictured the woman who had loved Choi Hyun-seo and died, her blood turned cold. She thought of Yoon-woo as her own child, yet no matter how hard she tried, she could never love him the way that woman had loved him. It was impossible.
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p In the end, she might never be able to love Choi Hyun-seo or Yoon-woo fully. The thought terrified her. But she had to keep her composure. As long as she lived, she would be Yoon-woo’s mother, his pillar of strength. Tae-yeon straightened her spine and lifted the boy who Icheon-daek had brought into her arms.
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p At that moment, the Chairman took the microphone and spoke.
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p “Everyone, come over here. Let’s see what our Yoon-woo is holding.”
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p Every gaze in the room turned toward the Chairman. Tae-yeon, still holding Yoon-woo, stepped beside him. Hyun-seo followed at once. The picture was flawless—a picture-perfect family.
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p “Alright, little Yoon-woo. Let’s see what you have there.”
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p The Chairman lifted the boy and seated him at the traditional lucky stone table. Yoon-woo reached out his small, neatly dressed hand toward the modern stone table. Because careers had become so diverse, the traditional version of the stone table no longer fit. It held a stethoscope, a gavel, a hammer, money, yarn, and even a bow.
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p Yoon-woo hesitated, small fingers hovering over the items, then chose the stethoscope.
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p “Wow, our Yoon-woo is going to be a doctor when he grows up? Doctor! Grandpa will open a hospital just for you!”
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p The Chairman beamed with delight. His face flushed crimson as he greeted everyone around him. Of course, Hyun-seo and Tae-yeon received their share of the attention as well.
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p The sudden applause and congratulations made Yoon-woo burst into tears. Icheon-daek immediately carried him to the family lounge set up beside the venue.
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p While all this was happening, Tae-yeon’s gaze drifted naturally toward Kim Soo-yeon and Yoon Ji-won. But then Hyun-seo leaned close to her ear and whispered.
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p “Look at that woman over there. Remember her.”
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p “Excuse me? Who?”
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p She was a woman in her late forties, vibrant and beautiful, with a face that looked strangely familiar. Tae-yeon racked her brain trying to place where she had seen her, but the memory refused to surface.
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p Hyun-seo answered for her. “The owner of the classic Korean restaurant, Jukheon. My father’s mistress.”
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p “Pardon me?”
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p Tae-yeon’s eyes widened in shock. The moment their gazes met, she lowered her voice at once.
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p “So the Chairman’s… mistress?”
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p The word “mistress” refused to leave her tongue. Of course it did. How could she say something so casually when she stood right beside the Chairman, with Oh Jin-hee standing right beside him? How on earth had the Chairman brought her here?
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p Tae-yeon felt a surge of embarrassment. Hyun-seo answered her unreadable expression with perfect calm.
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p “That’s right. This is someone you absolutely cannot have here. But the Chairman invited her. He does these absurd things sometimes. Do you know how many mistresses I’ve had to deal with? I’ll have to sort this one out properly this time as well. So remember it. Come here gently, give a few congratulations, and don’t get carried away.”
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p “Yes. I understand.”
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p Hyun-seo stepped away the instant Oh Jin-hee moved to another part of the room and approached the Chairman.
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p “You shouldn’t bring this woman here.”
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p The Chairman cleared his throat. His son was scarier than ever these days.
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p “You need to draw the line somewhere. If this keeps up, your mother will find out.”
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p “My mother likes Jukheon, too.”
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p “That’s because she doesn’t know the owner is the Chairman’s mistress. If this gets out, the entire party will be ruined.”
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p His voice dropped low. The Chairman cleared his throat again. He was once again astonished by his son’s information-gathering ability. Now that he had his son’s leash, he wondered what new demands would come next.
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p “I’ll leave soon.”
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p “Then just meet her separately. Why come to an official gathering if you want to see her?”
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p The Chairman said nothing, yet the obvious was obvious.
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p “Fine. Just leave it to me. I’ll take care of it.”
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p “Father, do you have to create another child like me again? Or do you just want to see the face of a son like me?”
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p At those words, the Chairman’s face twisted in discomfort.
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p “Do you really want to talk about Myung-seo right now? Here, in front of me?”
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p “What can’t I do? I have to lose forever. Don’t forget.”
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p The words struck like a knife. The Chairman’s head bowed. Hyun-seo pressed the point once more.
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p “Send that woman away at once.”
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p The Chairman nodded and walked toward the woman. From a distance, Hyun-seo spotted Tae-yeon. She was standing with two women he did not like—Kim Soo-yeon and Yoon Ji-won. His expression turned icy, then instantly thawed.
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p He walked straight toward the trio. The moment Tae-yeon looked up, a smile curved his lips.
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p “Beautiful women gathered together, what are you talking about? What’s so interesting? Yoon Ji-won, it’s been so long.”
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p “Uh-huh. I’ve been handling affairs at the foreign branch. I returned this year.”
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p “Oh? Nice to meet you again. I think I should take my wife with me. There’s someone I need to greet over there. Come on, Tae-yeon.”
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p His voice was gentle, affectionate, the perfect husband. Tae-yeon greeted the two women and followed him. Hyun-seo draped his arm around her shoulders, clearly displaying the picture of a devoted husband that everyone should see.
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p As they walked, she asked.
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p “Is Yoon Ji-won your first love?”
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p “No. I don’t even know how many times it was. My first love was kindergarten.”
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p Hyun-seo’s flippant answer made her turn her head to the side. He caught her chin, turned her back, and made her look at him.
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p “Listen carefully, Tae-yeon. I’ve loved many women like Yoon Ji-won, and none of them were special. Even if they were special, so what? It doesn’t matter.”
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p It sounded like he was mocking her for asking. Tae-yeon straightened and said firmly.
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p “I wasn’t asking with any special meaning, Director.”
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p Hyun-seo’s face froze for a split second. Then he whispered right against her ear.
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p “You’re jealous, Vice President Min.”
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p Tae-yeon gathered strength in her eyebrows and replied.
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p “I’m not jealous.”
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p Before she could stop herself, her voice cracked. Hyun-seo tilted his head, eyes narrowing, and took her wrist. He pulled her into the lounge where Icheon-daek was waiting with Yoon-woo.
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p “Excuse me a moment. I need to talk to you.”
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p “Yes, yes. Yoon-woo, let’s go.”
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p Icheon-daek carried the boy out. Tae-yeon felt her mind spin, tears stinging her eyes.
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p She had not forgotten that he was her superior. Or rather, she had momentarily forgotten. But she could not simply accept such disregard.
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p In this quiet lounge, with the two of them alone… it was wrong.
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p But that thought slipped away entirely. Tae-yeon stared at the floor, fists clenched. She had thought Yoon Ji-won was Yoon-woo’s birth mother. His first love. If that was not the case, then who was Yoon-woo’s real mother?
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p That woman whose belly was swollen with the shadow of death, who had poured every last ounce of strength into giving birth to him— who was she? The woman felt mocked by the man named Choi Hyun-seo.
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p “Hey, Miss Min Tae-yeon.”
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p His tone was sharp, like he was calling a subordinate into the office. But Tae-yeon did not turn her head or answer.
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p “Min Tae-yeon.”
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p “Why? Why did you call me? Are you playing boss now—Vice President, then Director? Who do you think you are? Yoon-woo’s mother? But Yoon-woo’s real mother is…”
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p Before she finished, Hyun-seo covered her mouth with his hand.
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p “What are you trying to say right now?”
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p The cold, sharp voice sliced through her. Tae-yeon felt as though she had been doused with ice water. He took one step forward. She stumbled back two steps. Her back hit the wall. Still covering her mouth, he planted one hand against the wall and leaned in, their faces only inches apart.
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p “Listen to me, Min Tae-yeon. Our contract has only been in place for about a year. What’s the problem?”
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p `My loving you is the problem. I can’t keep pretending this is just a contract, just a subordinate relationship. I can’t keep lying beside you at night, waking up beside you, eating with you, raising Yoon-woo together, and pretending it’s enough. I can’t do it anymore.`
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p Every cell in her body screamed. But she could not speak. Tae-yeon closed her eyes. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She had expected him to scold her more, yet his large hand reached out and gently wiped the tears away.
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p “Miss Min Tae-yeon.”
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p When she gave no reply, he spoke again.
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p “What do you want me to call you? Vice President Min? Director Min? Tae-yeon.”
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p The soft “Tae-yeon” slipped into her ear like warm honey. She lifted her gaze. Her eyes were completely wet, blurred as if they were submerged in water.