Could it be due to the bright sunlight streaming in through the wide windows? The seasonless orchid on the windowsill was in full bloom.
The scent emanating from the orchid was subtle like the fragrance of spring. It wrapped around the office like a seductively enticing perfume.
On the wide sofa, two men, one with the face of 30 years in the future and one from 30 years ago, were sitting facing each other, furrowing their brows in the same manner.
Do Ha had sought out Chairman Chae as soon as he arrived at work.
“I sent him to Seochodong. I will step down from my position.”
“I heard. Your mother called during the breakfast meeting.”
Chairman Chae’s expression involuntarily darkened at the memory of Young Suk shouting in a loud voice earlier.
“Father. I would like to leave as soon as tomorrow.”
Do Ha said, looking at Chairman Chae with an expressionless face, hiding his emotions.
“I also got a call from the newborn. But she said she went to her parental home, not Seochodong.”
“Her parental home? That can’t be.”
Do Ha asked in a hollow voice.
It seemed like he could hear the thin string that connected him to Hyun Seo in the prayer room suddenly snapping.
“She told me to tell you.”
Chairman Chae scrutinized Do Ha’s expressionless face.
While others might not notice the change in his expression, as his father, he could see it. His son wore the face of someone who had been hurt.
Feeling guilty that his son’s pain was entirely his fault, Chairman Chae felt uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry. As you know, we brought your mother home because of you, and we failed to set a good example. Even though we’re technically married, we’ve only given you pain by not acting like a couple.”
“No, it’s not like that. I will step down now.”
“Do Ha, it must be hard, but let’s let Hyun Seo go.”
“Father.”
“Do as she wishes for now. She’s suffered a lot since coming to our home.”
Chairman Chae felt sorry for his son and daughterinlaw. He wanted to see them living happily together.
“……”
“You’ll take good care of her, but make sure she doesn’t struggle living alone.”
“I will take my leave now.”
As Do Ha stood to leave without a response, Chairman Chae added another word with a regretful expression.
“I understand your feelings, but now that things have come to this, liberate her from your mother as soon as possible.”
However, Do Ha turned around without a word, opened the door, and left.
Let Hyun Seo go.
His father’s words hit him like a powerful punch, delivering a great blow.
His head was spinning, and his stomach felt queasy.
Do Ha couldn’t focus on his work all day because his father’s words, telling him to let go of Hyun Seo, kept circling around his head like a bird that had left its nest.
Do Ha, who had returned to an empty home that no one greeted, looked around the room where Hyun Seo, who used to welcome him, was no longer present.
Everyone else was there except for his wife.
Why did the house feel so empty, and why did this room look so wide and hollow?
Do Ha flopped down on the bed fully dressed.
It was an action he had never taken before, but he didn’t even have the energy to sit.
It felt as though all the vibrant energy in the house had been taken away by Hyun Seo.
She didn’t even go to Seochodong. Is it really over?
Shouldn’t they have another conversation at least once?
Do Ha didn’t want to admit that Hyun Seo had completely left him.
His chest felt heavy as if something was pressing down on it. Eventually, he jumped up impulsively and grabbed his car keys.
However, as he aimlessly headed toward the door, he stopped, pondered for a long time, and eventually returned to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Why is this house so suffocating?”
In an empty room, he grumbled to himself until the night became dark.
.
.
.
In the end, Do Ha found himself blankly staring at the front gate of his wife’s parental house.
He must have been out of his mind. He had no memory of how he got here.
The house was dark, his wife must have been asleep.
He wanted to see her face, but he couldn’t wake her up.
Do Ha leaned against his car, directing his gaze towards the part of the house where he believed his wife was.
Somehow, it felt as if warmth was emanating from the house.
This house held the warmest memories in Do Ha’s life.
It was the place where Hyun Seo, who always greeted him with a bright smile, and Hye Soo, who always supported him warmly and kindly, lived.
To Do Ha’s eyes, this house was always bathed in bright sunlight, overflowing with happiness. He felt he could be happy just being together here.
Therefore, whenever he passed by the house, he would slow his steps, wondering if they might invite him in.
Lost in thought, he noticed that it was already dawn.
However, Do Ha remained still, blankly staring at his inlaws’ house.
In a bustling small café, there sat a man who seemed out of place.
It was Chairman Chae, who had personally come to the neighborhood where his daughterinlaw, who had left home, was staying.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
