The Divorce Stamp
Taking Yun-woo and leaving!
Tae-yeon clenched her fists tightly. She could understand it. A woman who had been with both her son and all her relationships could truly feel hateful. But how could someone who had loved Yun-woo with such devotion turn into this overnight?
“Mother, but you loved Yun-woo.”
Don’t you remember how you doted on our Yun-woo, calling him your grandson?
“Yes, I did love him. I loved him thinking he was Hyun-seo’s son. If I had known he was Myung-seo’s son, I wouldn’t have even glanced at him. Of course, I wouldn’t have let him into this house.”
Oh Jin-hee’s words made Tae-yeon’s body tremble. The grandmother who had adored this child so much had changed overnight. Her affection for the family had vanished completely.
“But Father…”
“Stop it. I’ll handle my own husband. You must divorce him and raise the child yourself. He’s your child. Do you really think I’ll let you raise a child with not a drop of blood from Hyun-seo?”
Oh Jin-hee’s eyes were terrifying. Bloodlust emanated from them. Tae-yeon quietly bit the inside of her cheek to steady herself. She needed to calm her head clouded with anger. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
Oh Jin-hee continued her venomous tirade.
“You tried to push that dead boy’s child into this house? It was useless. I would have done nothing if I had known. Yun-woo can do nothing. I will prevent him from doing anything. Do you want to try which one of us wins?”
She was the incarnation of greed and narcissism. Tae-yeon had no desire to fight Oh Jin-hee. How could she ever win against her? She said nothing.
It was better this way. She had found out everything now.
Tae-yeon nodded.
“I understand. Since things have come to this, I will leave.”
She would leave. She would think things through and prepare to raise Yun-woo properly.
“Good. You thought it through. Leave before Hyun-seo comes.”
“I understand. But even if I leave now, it won’t be completely over. Director Choi will find out somehow and we will have to go through a proper divorce later.”
“I already brought the divorce papers. Here, the agreement is ready. Stamp it. After you stamp and leave, I’ll stamp mine later. I’ll handle the rest.”
She hadn’t expected him to prepare the divorce papers. She didn’t want to face Choi Hyun-seo’s face anyway.
“I understand.”
Tae-yeon stood and took the seal, stamping it where Oh Jin-hee told her to. Oh Jin-hee rose sharply upon receiving the agreement stamp.
“You still have a shred of conscience left. I never imagined you’d be exposed like this.”
“There’s something I’m curious about. Why did you decide to redo the parentage test?”
She had heard they did the test before and that Choi Hyun-seo said not to worry.
Oh Jin-hee said with a triumphant smile.
“I knew Hyun-seo that he wasn’t Myung-seo’s son. That’s why he brought the results of the parent-child test between me and Yun-woo instead of the self-confirmation results. Chairman Choi was satisfied, but I wasn’t. Something felt off. If it felt even a little off, it was very off. That’s what I learned living this long.”
She rattled off her own philosophy, pride shining through her eyes as she glared coldly at Tae-yeon.
“I see.”
“Yes. You felt it too. Something was strange. You didn’t act like a daughter-in-law but more like a subordinate. Your feelings weren’t there. At first I thought it was because you were from a staff background, but look at how strange you are now. To live with Hyun-seo’s son as if you were his wife? I’m speechless. I don’t want to talk to you anymore. I’m leaving.”
Oh Jin-hee gathered the divorce papers and left the house. On her way out, she left an envelope containing a check and cash. Tae-yeon stared blankly at it.
A moment later Yun-woo entered. Seeing Tae-yeon, he stretched out both arms.
“Mom.”
“Our Yun-woo played well today?”
Yun-woo with his tragic past. Since I’m your mom, don’t worry about anything. I will raise you so no one can hurt you.
Tae-yeon smiled brightly at Yun-woo. Icheon-daek looked at her worriedly.
“Small madam, are you giving yourself an ice pack?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Oh, your cheeks are red.”
“What else could it be when your mother said it?”
“Big madam, sometimes you’re too much.”
“Right? Let’s look at our Yun-woo. Uh-huh, look at him, now he needs a bath. I’ll bathe our Yun-woo.”
In the steamy white bathroom, they floated a duck and bathed Yun-woo.
Yes, Yun-woo, you’re my son. You’re my son. Even if Choi Hyun-seo changes, even if the Choi family abandons you, I’m not like them. You’re my son. Let’s go with Mom.
* * *
Hyun-seo called Chairman Choi. A few days ago, he had promised to let Tae-yeon use the Jeju villa in her name regarding his affair.
“Father, the time has passed. Transfer the shares to Yun-woo’s name as promised.”
“Why the rush? The kid is still young.”
“It’s a promise, so please do it.”
“The shares have already been transferred to Yun-woo’s name.”
“It’s better to transfer them step by step.”
“You’re still young and what are you doing, constantly transferring shares in Yun-woo’s name?”
Hyun-seo didn’t answer Chairman Choi’s words and changed the subject.
“I heard you broke up with that woman. Will you keep Hanjeongsik as is?”
“I’ll handle it. It’s a good Hanjeongsik place.”
“You like Hanjeongsik, right? I don’t like you letting your husband’s mistress walk around freely.”
“Hmmm. Hmmm. I understand.”
Hyun-seo let out a heavy sound.
“This time you slipped it by me, but it won’t be easy in the future.”
That kid is like a ghost. I wonder how much he extracted from my father-in-law using his mistress. Of course I gave it all to my son anyway.
“By the way, domestic trips are taking this long?”
“I finished everything. I’ll head up soon.”
“I see. Anyway, you’re the only one I like. Taking the Jeju land in your wife’s name and transferring shares to Yun-woo.”
“Father, that’s good. It’s transferring shares in the name of his daughter-in-law and grandson.”
“Anyway, divorce first. Property settlement needs to be redone.”
“What kind of ominous words are those? I’ll hear it as a blessing for a good life. Thank you. I won’t tell Mother. It’s already all sorted. But if you do it again, I won’t hide it from Mother next time.”
Normally Hyun-seo and Oh Jin-hee couldn’t be on good terms. Compared to Oh Jin-hee who doted endlessly on her only son, Hyun-seo felt no affection for his mother. Chairman Choi knew that too.
“You don’t usually like your mother but side with her when it suits you?”
“That’s a different matter.”
“Harsh one.”
Chairman Choi smiled as he spoke, knowing Hyun-seo was reliable. When it came to work, he was a ghost. He was careful with his own family. In every way, he was an excellent successor candidate.
* * *
Hyun-seo had finished restructuring the Busan branch and was walking around the factory. Since he had been stalling for time by claiming it was a work trip, he came to Busan for his last check-up.
Standing in the sea breeze, he wondered what he should do first when he returned to Seoul. First, he needed to reestablish their relationship.
He would also talk about his brother and the debt of the family’s old relationship. If it was Min Tae-yeon, she would probably understand and accept it. Above all, since she would live as Yun-woo’s biological mother, there was no issue becoming one family.
Her mother’s health had improved, so Tae-yeon would no longer cry, and everything seemed to be going well. Suddenly, fear struck him.
Is this okay? Can we really be this happy?
If I raise Yun-woo as my own son, won’t that be enough?
While he was thinking that, he received a call from Oh Jin-hee.
“Yes, Mother.”
—Hyun-seo. Now you have to harden your heart. I don’t know how you were fooled by that fox of a woman to make Myung-seo’s son your son, but I have the divorce papers stamped.
Hyun-seo felt ice in his veins and goosebumps broke out. If Oh Jin-hee knew, there was nothing he could do. How did she find out?
“What are you talking about?”
—I know everything. That woman seduced you with Myung-seo’s son. She married you thinking he was your child. You must have known later too. How could she seduce my brother? Or maybe Myung-seo said it before he died out of resentment. The Miwoo Group is all yours. They were kicked out. So that’s why the child was born and came to you? He wanted to make Yun-woo the successor of our family.