OMS 68

Park Dong-sik was lying on the living room sofa when he got up at the sound of a door sliding open. Kim Jun-han was coming out of the bedroom. Despite what happened last night, he looked impeccable as ever. Watching Kim Jun-han with his coat draped over his arm, Park Dong-sik spoke up first.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. You’re up early.”

Park Dong-sik picked up a document envelope from the table and approached Kim Jun-han.

“I waited to give you this.”

Kim Jun-han took the envelope and pulled out its contents. It was divorce papers and a settlement agreement, with Lee Hee-soo’s signature next to their name.

“Is there anything else I need to do?”

Kim Jun-han silently looked at the documents before putting them back in the envelope.

“No. Nothing else.”

“Oh, I’ll go to the hospital with Kim Yoon-ah. You’re busy so you probably don’t have time, and also—”

“I’ll go.”

Park Dong-sik smirked.

“Why? Don’t you trust me?”

“That’s not it—”

“If you don’t trust me, come and check yourself. You can even come into the operating room.”

“That’s not what I meant. We’re still legally married, so I think it’s appropriate for me to go as the guardian. And—”

Kim Jun-han stopped speaking and lowered his eyes. His expression was completely unreadable.

“I’m sorry. For making you make this choice.”

Ah…you shouldn’t say things like that. Something hot arose inside him at these unexpected words. I’m not Hee-soo, and I wasn’t really married to this person, so why am I feeling these emotions? Park Dong-sik tried his best to appear nonchalant.

“It’s fine. Actually, I was overwhelmed at the thought of having a baby. How could I, who was a beta, give birth and raise a child? It doesn’t make sense. Don’t worry about it.”

Kim Jun-han hesitated briefly before checking his wristwatch.

“Let’s talk more after work. I need to leave now.”

“Okay. Take care.”

Park Dong-sik waved lightly with a smile, and Kim Jun-han nodded before heading downstairs. Outside, Secretary Choi was waiting and opened the car’s back door while checking his complexion. He seemed worried, noticing signs of poor sleep on the CEO’s face.

As they waited for the car to start after closing the door, Secretary Choi in the driver’s seat handed over a tablet. “Sir, take a look at this.” Kim Jun-han took the tablet and checked the screen. It showed detailed information about a villa-style house.

“Time was short so I couldn’t diligently look into many options. You know actor Lee Min-sung? He used to live there. He put it up for sale when he got married, and both the condition and location seem good. If you like it, I can go check it out personally this afternoon.”

“Isn’t the house too small?”

“Won’t Hee-soo be living alone?”

Kim Jun-han was silent, and Secretary Choi looked back to check on him.

“Should I look for something bigger?”

“No. This is fine. When they move, have security guards posted for a while and make sure reporters don’t lurk around. Also, find someone to help with housework. It’ll be hard for him to manage everything alone.”

Silence. Looking up, he saw Secretary Choi watching him silently through the rearview mirror.

“What?”

“Nothing…”

“What do you mean nothing? You gave me a strange look just now.”

After hesitating, Secretary Choi shared his honest thoughts.

“I was just curious…is it normal to take care of such things during a divorce? I apologize.”

At those words, Kim Jun-han turned off the tablet screen and tossed it aside.

“We’re late. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As the car started moving slowly, Kim Tae-han appeared in the distance. He was walking toward the guest house where Lee Hee-soo stayed, his expression solemn like someone about to enter battle. Kim Jun-han pressed his temples wearily and called to Secretary Choi.

“Seung-hyun. Go get him.”

As Secretary Choi stopped the car and unbuckled his seatbelt, Kim Jun-han stopped him. “Never mind. I’ll go. That bastard probably can’t see straight right now anyway.” Getting out of the car, he strode after Kim Tae-han. Hearing footsteps, Kim Tae-han stopped and turned around, deeply frowning.

“Aren’t you going to work?”

“What about you? Why are you going that way? What about your work?”

“I have nothing to discuss with you.”

“Stop this nonsense and come with me.”

Before he finished speaking, Kim Tae-han turned completely to face Kim Jun-han. The place he was hit yesterday had split open, leaving a small wound by his mouth, and his face looked haggard as if he hadn’t slept a wink last night. But his eyes were as fierce as ever.

“Did you sleep with Hee-soo yesterday?”

“Yes. It’s my child.”

“Are you getting divorced?”

“Even if I divorce, you can’t marry him. Don’t bother dreaming pointlessly.”

“Why?”

“Haven’t you thought about what the media will say? The company’s image?”

“What does that have to do with me?! I told you. I’ll live far away. I said I’d disappear from your sight forever!”

“No. If you really want to, do it after I’m dead.”

A murderous glint flashed in Kim Tae-han’s eyes, and Kim Jun-han twisted one corner of his mouth into a smile.

“I see your target just changed from Father to me.”

Surprisingly, Kim Tae-han, who had seemed completely unmovable, quietly went back to his own quarters. Kim Jun-han watched him before returning to the car. As he fastened his seatbelt and ordered them to depart, Secretary Choi carefully observed him.

“Is it okay to leave him like that?”

“Leave him. His anger is at its peak right now.”

The car departed, and as he watched the guest house recede, his thoughts tangled like thread. While ruminating on yesterday’s events, the car circled the garden and was passing through the evergreen path. Then, from far away came a loud vrooming sound.

Secretary Choi, looking through the rearview mirror, made a surprised “Huh?” sound. Just as Kim Jun-han turned around sensing something wrong, BANG! With a violent impact, the car screeched, leaving skid marks on the ground as it spun around completely.

After barely managing to stop with the brakes, Secretary Choi, who had hit his head on the steering wheel, turned around pale-faced and panicked. Fortunately, Kim Jun-han had cushioned the impact by blocking the front seat’s backrest with his arm.

“Sir, are you alright? Just now—”

Kim Jun-han glared ahead with a frown. There, a red sports car was stopped in front of them. After a moment, with a revving sound, the sports car reversed, and its driver’s window smoothly rolled down. Despite the hood being crumpled like paper from the collision, Kim Tae-han smiled with the happiest face in the world.

“Sorry, brother. I was distracted and didn’t see you. That’s why I told you to change your car color. Said it was too dark to notice, didn’t I?”

***

The continuously jingling bell stopped, and the fortune-teller slowly opened her eyes. Candles burned ceaselessly on both sides, and Madam Song sat in front with an anxious expression on her face.

“There are two.”

Madam Song clapped her hands with an open mouth.

“How amazing! That’s right. They’re twins.”

Madam Song was genuinely impressed. She had visited many shamans, but this fortune-teller had the most mystical abilities among them. After hesitating, she carefully asked her next question.

“Can you…see who the father is?”

The fortune-teller closed her eyes for a while, then shook her head. “The spirit doesn’t know that either. We’ll know when they’re born.”

“Should…the babies be born?”

“What do you mean?”

Madam Song heaved a deep sigh.

“You’ve seen my daughter-in-law’s condition. Actually, at first I thought about having them divorce and terminate the pregnancy, but it didn’t feel right to do something so terrible to the children just because of that bloodline. Plus, yesterday they suddenly made a strange request to me. I’m feeling uneasy about it, so what do you think? Would there be any problems if the babies are born?”

“There won’t be any problems. In fact, these children will bring fortune.”

“Fortune…?”

“Yes. I briefly saw through my divine mirror that precious children will be born. They will be the ones to make Daesan Group the number one company in Korea. So whatever request your daughter-in-law makes, accept it for now. It will be an act of virtue for you, madam. That virtue will be passed down to your descendants.”

At those words, the worry disappeared from Madam Song’s face and her mouth opened wide in amazement. “My goodness, really?”

“However…”

The fortune-teller paused mid-sentence, and Madam Song waited with a tense facial expression. “However?”

“It would be better not to keep your son and daughter-in-law close. There’s something between them that could affect the children if we’re not careful. Keep them separated as much as possible until the birth.”

“Hmm, as expected.” Madam Song nodded her head. She opened her bag and placed a thick envelope on the table.

“I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I’ll be going now. Please pray a lot for my grandchildren to be born safely.”

Madam Song bowed respectfully with clasped hands before opening the door and leaving. As soon as Madam Song disappeared, the fortune-teller let out a small sigh and took out her mobile phone from the drawer. When she called somewhere, a refined voice with incongruent speech came through the receiver.

[Hey, fortune-teller.]

“I did as you asked. The rest is up to you now.”

[Thanks. This makes me glad I saved your life.]

“I didn’t tell any lies.”

[I know. They say fortune-tellers get punished for lying. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.]

“Mr. Lee Hee-soo…”

[Yes?]

“I’ve been thinking…You were originally Park Dong-sik before becoming Lee Hee-soo. Though the shell is Hee-soo, the inside is Dong-sik, so shouldn’t we have checked the compatibility based on Park Dong-sik? If you could tell me your exact birth date and time—”

[That’s enough.]

“Pardon?”

[What’s the point of checking a dead person’s fortune? Whether Park Dong-sik or Lee Hee-soo, there won’t be any involvement with the Kim brothers anymore, so don’t worry about it. Anyway, really thank you. If things work out well for me, I’ll build you a three-story temple. Promise.]

“Never mind the temple, just take care of yourself.”

“Yeah, I will. Thanks, fortune-teller.” 

The call ended, and the fortune-teller silently looked down at the disconnected phone. Despite her unease, the envelope Madam Song left caught her eye. Opening it, her eyes widened slightly. The rich really do spend differently. She smiled faintly before putting the envelope in the drawer and tidying herself up while waiting for the next client.