OMS 58

Madam Song bit her lower lip hard as she looked at the photos. The pictures delivered by her secretary showed Lee Hee-soo leaving the hospital with her mother. Lee Hee-soo, who had said she was going to the department store with Driver Oh, had actually gone to the hospital that day. Behind the photos was a medical report.

“Is this…true?”

Madam Song’s face contorted as the secretary lowered his voice.

“The doctor there is very strict, so it was difficult to get information. We bribed a nurse and found out she received treatment under the name Lee Seon-jae, not Lee Hee-soo. Seon-jae is Lee Hee-soo’s half-brother who’s currently in America.”

Of course, she knew that. Where did she think that study abroad money came from? Madam Song pressed her forehead as if she felt a headache coming on. Lee Hee-soo is pregnant….Her thoughts immediately went to her husband upstairs. Surely he hadn’t…

Madam Song nervously bit her lip.

“Who’s the father?”

“We couldn’t figure that out. However, as you know, given Ms. Lee Hee-soo’s complicated personal life, you should keep in mind that it might not be CEO Kim’s child.”

Madam Song squeezed her eyes shut. The chances of Kim Jun-han being the father were low. If anything, it could be Kim Tae-han, the second son. Though he was her own son, she knew well that he harbored feelings for Lee Hee-soo, his sister-in-law.

“Should we investigate further?”

“Leave it for now. I’ll handle it.”

After the secretary left, Madam Song let out a long sigh. She had been suspicious of Lee Hee-soo’s symptoms, but pregnancy…While other mothers-in-law would jump for joy, this wasn’t the case for Madam Song. She couldn’t allow a child to be born without knowing who the father was.

Yet at the same time, anxiety sprouted in her mind—what if the child was her husband’s? Lee Hee-soo had said nothing happened, but one never knows. Madam Song rose from her seat and went to Chairman Kim’s study.

When she opened the door, she saw Chairman Kim reading. After the accident, he had become a completely different person. His manner and personality had changed so much that while she had worried at first, now she was concerned he might return to his old self.

“What brings you here?”

As Chairman Kim asked, Madam Song sat on the sofa, setting down a tray with tea.

“Just came to see your face.”

Chairman Kim sat down opposite her, and Madam Song observed him carefully. Chairman Kim had been particularly fond of his daughter-in-law, Lee Hee-soo. No, more than fondness—he had shown desire. She remembered how he used to look at Lee Hee-soo. Though he hadn’t undressed him, his eyes had committed all sorts of indecencies. But now he was a different person. Even when he saw Lee Hee-soo, he only looked at him with simple appreciation.

Chairman Kim picked up a teacup and savored its aroma.

“The fragrance is lovely.”

Madam Song’s lips quivered. Lee Hee-soo is pregnant. Do you have any idea whose it might be? While she was conflicted whether to say this out loud or not, Chairman Kim spoke first.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

At his warm gaze, Madam Song shook off the anxiety flooding her mind. Yes, the current Chairman Kim loves me. Just like when we were passionately in love before. Madam Song walked around the table to Chairman Kim’s side and carefully rested her head on his shoulder. Then she caressed his hand.

“Have you been in touch with Chairman Jung recently?”

“Chairman Jung?”

“You said you’d arrange for Tae-han to marry their youngest son after his divorce. It would be good to move quickly on that…”

Chairman Kim made a troubled expression.

“Does it have to be that way? Jun-han seems to be opening his heart to Lee Hee-soo…Wouldn’t it be better to wait and see?”

“You know what kind of person he is. What if he gets pregnant?”

Chairman Kim’s face hardened, and Madam Song didn’t miss her chance.

“I’m just saying. We need to prevent such worst-case scenarios.”

Chairman Kim cleared his throat and gently pushed Madam Song away. When she frowned, he got up from his seat, went to his desk, and brought back a book to show her.

“The book you chose for me was very impressive. Especially this part.”

Opening to a bookmarked page, Chairman Kim read aloud. It was a story about relationships, saying that while all relationships form in their own time, sometimes they take the long way around to meet. Seeing the underlined passage, Madam Song’s heart softened and she smiled slightly.

“You’re reading to me because you’re uncomfortable.”

“Not exactly, I just wanted to read to you.”

Madam Song’s eyes flickered. Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t remember the last time her heart had raced looking at her husband. But now…She let out a soft sigh and leaned back against her husband. As she closed her eyes, Chairman Kim picked up the remote and turned on some music. It was a piano piece that Madam Song often listened to. To others, they would look like a perfectly happy couple.

However, Madam Song’s mind was filled only with thoughts of Lee Hee-soo.

What should she do about that cunning man…?

***

The car bounced over the speed bump, causing the instructor in the passenger seat to frown.

“Fail. You’d fail if you did this in the test. You need to slow down at speed bumps. Why do you think they’re called speed bumps?”

Park Dong-sik gritted his molars. He was tired of calling Driver Oh whenever he needed to go somewhere and feeling like he was under surveillance, so he decided to get a driver’s license. But first, he had to complete the required number of practice sessions both in the lot and on the road.

He thought it would be easy, but driving as he usually did brought constant nagging from the side. While backing up to park, he placed one arm on the passenger seat and steered with the other hand, which finally made the instructor lose his temper.

“Good grief, what are you doing?”

“Backing up.”

“During the test, use both hands. What kind of student cockily steers with one hand?”

“…”

“Turn around again. Quickly.”

What difference does it make if I use one hand or two? Can’t exactly talk back to someone my own age. After finishing the drive as instructed, Park Dong-sik got out of the car, breathing heavily, and saw Driver Oh approaching from where he had been waiting. Receiving his coat and bag from him, Park Dong-sik took out his phone from his pocket as he walked to the car.

There were five missed calls from Chairman Kim.

What’s this about? At this hour…I told her I’d be at driving school.

Seeing Driver Oh glance his way, Park Dong-sik put the phone back in his pocket. Then, using the bathroom as an excuse, he got away from Driver Oh’s sight. Sitting on a secluded bench next to the bathroom to check his messages, he received a call from Chairman Kim.

[Lee Hee-soo, where are you?]

There was urgency in Chairman Kim’s voice.

“I’m at driving school. Just finished. Why?”

[Come home quickly! The Madam knows!]

Park Dong-sik jumped up from his seat.

“Knows what? That you’re Kim Yoon-ah?”

[No. That you’re pregnant! She came to me earlier today and brought it up subtly, so I got suspicious and searched her room. I found your medical records and photos there. You got treatment under Lee Seon-jae’s name, right?]

Park Dong-sik rubbed his face. Damn it. He recalled the doctor who had promised never to disclose patient records. Maybe he should punch him next time. As he sighed, a group of test-preparing students rushed by. Driver Oh was waiting by the car at the academy entrance.

Park Dong-sik bit his lip firmly.

“Okay. Calm down first. I’ll handle it when I get there.”

[Lee Hee-soo…]

“Don’t worry too much. It’s bad for your health.”

After hanging up, Park Dong-sik habitually searched his pocket. Instead of cigarettes, he found gum. At times like this, a cigarette would help ease his mind. Just thinking about Madam Song’s inevitable outburst made him feel tired.

She seemed slow when she was being conned, but she had surprisingly sharp moments. Yet strangely, she didn’t notice that her husband was a different person. Or perhaps she preferred the changed husband. Lost in these thoughts, Park Dong-sik got in the car and headed straight home.

Whether from the driving practice or the pregnancy, drowsiness kept overwhelming him. To feel sleepy in this type of situation…After drifting in and out of sleep repeatedly, he finally came to his senses to find they had arrived home. As he was entering the annex, Park Dong-sik stopped. There were unfamiliar shoes at the entrance.

Ignoring them and going in, sure enough, Madam Song was sitting prominently in the living room. Her outfit, makeup, and hairstyle were more formal than usual. While others might find it elegant, to Park Dong-sik it seemed like a show of force.

Park Dong-sik smiled sweetly and greeted her.

“Mother, what brings you here?”

“Sit down. I have something to say.”

Park Dong-sik sat down, pretending to be calm. She dismissed the staff. Once they were alone, she took something out of an envelope beside her and held it out. It was an obstetrics medical record under the name Lee Seon-jae.

“I know everything, so don’t play dumb.”

Looking at the document, Park Dong-sik brazenly asked, “What’s this?” In response, she took out a business card from her wallet and placed it on the table. She slid it forward and urged him with her eyes. At a glance, he could see it was for an obstetrics clinic.

“I’ve made an appointment. Go get the abortion.”

Park Dong-sik gave a hollow laugh.

“Why are you doing this suddenly?”

“I heard you asked for surgery right away but were rejected and were looking for another hospital. I’m helping you. The doctor is skilled and discreet. He promised to do it cleanly without complications. So go get the abortion with peace of mind.”

Park Dong-sik picked up the business card and ran his tongue across his front teeth. Madam Song, taking this as acceptance, stood up, and Park Dong-sik ripped the card in half. Her face turned fierce as she looked down at him.

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry because it’s not your husband’s child.”

Madam Song trembled and grabbed the teacup in front of her. She threw it at Park Dong-sik, but with so little tea left, it pathetically dripped onto the table. Park Dong-sik quickly moved his more than half-full cup aside. Then he gestured toward the trembling Madam Song.

“Please calm down and sit. Nothing will change if you try to finish me off here.”

“F-Finish you off? How dare you use such vulgar language!”

“Since you know everything, I’ll be frank. It is this family’s bloodline.”

Madam Song’s cheek twitched.

“But I’m not sure if it’s Kim Tae-han’s or Kim Jun-han’s.”

Her mouth fell open at his brazen attitude. She collapsed back into her seat, her legs giving way.

“You! How can you say such things without batting an eye!”

“It’s already happened. Would crying while saying it change anything?”

“So? You’re determined to have it? You’re set on destroying our family?!”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll leave.”

“What…?”

“After having the baby, I’ll secretly leave this house. Raise the child here. Even if you hate me, it’s definitely your grandchild.”

“How can I believe that! Besides, if Jun-han or Tae-han finds out it’s their child, do you think they’ll let you leave?”

“That’s why I’m telling you in advance. I’ll escape, secretly.”

“…”

“But you’ll have to give me money.”

“Money?”

Park Dong-sik went upstairs and brought down a contract from the safe to show Madam Song. Her eyes widened impossibly. A contract existing without her knowledge? She checked it carefully out of suspicion and found her son’s signature was exactly right. Plus her husband Chairman Kim’s signature too.

“So your plan to have the baby…was about money?”

“Yes.”

“How could you…my goodness…”

“Isn’t this good for you, Mother? You can get rid of the Lee Hee-soo you hate to see, and get a cute grandchild as a bonus. Ah! You can even arrange a new marriage for your eldest son as you wanted. Someone like Kim Jun-han with his good looks could easily remarry even with five children.”

Madam Song placed both fists on her knees, trembling. Her gaze moved from the contract to Park Dong-sik. Seeing Park Dong-sik’s firm expression, she seemed to waver. Noticing this, Park Dong-sik drove the final nail into the coffin.

“Make your choice. Whether to give it or not. Otherwise, I’ll go straight to Kim Jun-han with a deal.”