AOA 126

The elderly lawyer explained several ways. After discussion, we decided to establish a corporation under my aunt’s name.

Immediately afterward, I met my younger sibling and aunt. I already hinted to them that if I divorced Baek Mugyeong, I might have to go abroad for a while.

But when I said I had to leave as early as next month, both of them looked startled. My aunt, who worked at a company, said it was wasteful to quit right away and tried to back out.

I had no choice but to reveal that my biological father might cause trouble, that I had already been threatened. I said it was dangerous, and I apologized for putting them at risk because of me.

This time my younger sibling and aunt were greatly shocked. My aunt cursed, calling my father a lunatic, a bastard who should drown in a cesspool.

“Because of that kind of trash, you’re suffering. Don’t worry. It’s fine.”

She said it was fine, but it would not be. I explained as best as I could so they would not worry. I said I had enough money, that I could stay overseas for about a year and then return to Korea, or that we could even emigrate for good.

I revealed the source of the funds. I also said I needed documents because the company had to be created under my aunt’s name to manage the money.

My aunt asked if she would become the boss, and she was delighted, saying thanks to me she could travel abroad. But my younger sibling reacted differently. Since I mentioned that my biological father might cause trouble, his face turned grim and he shut his mouth tightly.

In the end, I pulled him aside and comforted him, telling him there would be no problem, it would be alright. Then he, who had said nothing until now, suddenly began to cry with tears falling heavily.

“What’s this? Why are you crying?”

“Hyung. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“Because of me. Because I need surgery, you married a man. Even now we can’t leave right away because of my surgery. Hyung…”

My kind, clever sibling had always been smart since childhood. He never complained, he quietly did everything he had to. Seeing him cry like this made me pity him, made me feel tender, and guilty too. He had nothing to be sorry for. It was all because my biological father was vile.

“Who says it’s because of you? The one trying to hurt people over something like this is the bad one. You know it. A proper adult wouldn’t use the son he lost as a child. He wouldn’t threaten the people who raised that son.”

“But…”

“It’s alright. I’m the one who’s sorry. Because of that man, you’re going through pain you don’t need.”

“No. No, hyung.”

We kept saying sorry to each other until my sibling cried again. My own eyes stung too, but I held back. In front of him, I had to be a reliable brother, someone strong.

“Done crying? Come, eat kiwi. It’s sweet.”

I kept comforting him, telling him it would be fine, when my aunt’s loud voice rang from outside. My sibling, who had just stopped crying, suddenly chuckled.

I held back the urge to tease him with the old saying that laughing after crying makes hair grow on your butt, and instead patted his shoulder.

“Let’s go eat kiwi.”

“Yeah.”

I renewed my vow to protect my family no matter what as I watched my sibling rub his reddened eyes.

***

My relationship with Baek Mugyeong had collapsed, but daily life continued. I still finished classes at school, dropped by the academy, and came home as usual.

Of course, unusual matters intruded because the situation had changed. I handed necessary documents to the lawyer, and I stayed busy selling paintings to Hong Sehwan, chairman of HGK Group.

A week passed quickly. On the following Sunday, I had to attend the charity bazaar hosted by Im Songyoon of the Hope Association.

Before regression, after marrying Baek Mugyeong, I was dragged to these bazaars soon after, constantly harassed with trivial chores.

But after regression, I made excuses to skip the gatherings, or if I was forced to attend, I only showed my face then slipped away quietly.

I wished to skip this one too, but circumstances didn’t allow it. Both my stepmother and biological father would be there. I had to be mindful of him at least.

Above all, the accident at Baek Jinseok’s birthday banquet remained an issue. No article or video mentioned it, but gossip spread mouth to mouth. According to Choi Jaeha, the rumors in circulation had been noisy.

Regardless, people of the Daesong family acted as if it had been nothing more than a trivial happening, and continued living their lives as usual.

For that reason, today’s charity bazaar was held even more grandly than last year. Im Songyoon attended, of course, along with most of the women and omegas of the Baek household.

In such a setting, skipping it alone was impossible. So I planned to greet people briefly, then withdraw quietly, and went to the bazaar.

“Wow, it’s really crowded.”

“Yeah.”

As soon as we entered the banquet hall, Choi Jaeha, who came with me, spoke up. I nodded vigorously.

The Hope Association’s 15th annual charity bazaar was being held in the large banquet hall of the Reclaston Hotel.

Originally the Hope Association began as a small social circle where wives and daughters-in-law of businessmen, led by Im Songyoon, enjoyed cultural activities. Later they started volunteer work and the group turned into an organization for supporting children and adolescents.

Since Im Songyoon, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Daesong Group, was at the center, the scale of the charity bazaar was immense. Well-known celebrities showed up, reporters with cameras also filled the space.

Luxury bags, shoes, jewelry, and household items, no longer used or out of fashion, went up for sale. Works by young artists, paintings and crafts, were also displayed.

There were choir performances, recitations, and art exhibitions by children and adolescents supported by the Hope Association. A popular singer sang a congratulatory song.

When the atmosphere ripened, the banquet hall became packed with people. The hotel must have put effort into climate control, yet the hall heated up with body warmth.

“Let’s finish quickly and get out.”

“I’ll go greet them. Just wait a moment.”

“Wait for what? We can go together.”

“Alright.”

I went with Choi Jaeha to find Im Songyoon. Today’s plan was to greet Im Songyoon and the elders of the family, then leave the bazaar quickly.

But plans never go as intended. Im Songyoon picked a quarrel the moment she saw me.

“By the way, where’s Mugyeong? You two were always together.”

“I heard he’s busy with work. He’ll come greet you if he gets time.”

It was a lie. Since the day I knelt before Baek Mugyeong, I had neither seen his face nor spoken to him. I did sleep last night at the Carva Hotel where he stayed, but that was all.

“I see. I heard Mugyeong moved out and is staying at a hotel? You should keep your husband in check. You’re still newlyweds.”

Only then did I realize she already knew, and deliberately brought him up. Wives around her looked curious. Discord between a couple was always a favored topic.

I felt annoyed, but not flustered. Excuses only dragged one deeper.

“We had a big fight. It’s better not to see each other for a while.”

I replied calmly, as though nothing mattered. The fight with Baek Mugyeong was true, and agreeing not to see each other again was also true.

The reply was impertinent, but they would dismiss it as youthful hot blood. As expected, they said things like young people have too much energy, it’s only a phase, and they reacted lightly.

Im Songyoon also laughed gracefully and said that could be the case. But she didn’t let me go. She handed me trivial errands under the guise of requests, saddled me with bothersome chores.

I carried them out silently, I was used to it. While moving foldable chairs beside me, Choi Jaeha muttered where she couldn’t see.

“She’s pestering you in a weird way. Just like a nightmare mother-in-law.”

“This level is manageable.”

Before regression I worked the whole day at the charity bazaar’s information booth. I hauled large and small items, never able to sit down. Compared to that, carrying bulky but light chairs was nothing.

“This is what?”

“Moving chairs, not too difficult.”

“She acts like this even when I’m here, it’s obvious how she’d be otherwise. Who would want ties with in-laws like that?”

“Hahaha. Let’s just finish and leave.”

Quick-witted Choi Jaeha said smart words. I swallowed a bitter laugh, then suddenly wondered if Im Songyoon’s attitude had anything to do with being conscious of him.

After regression, she barely harassed me. I already knew what could happen and avoided in advance. But now I realized that wasn’t the only reason. Unlike before regression, I rarely attended gatherings like this alone. To be precise, Baek Mugyeong was with me.

Even for Im Songyoon, openly tormenting me in front of Baek Mugyeong would have been hard.

That thought weighed on my chest. Before regression, Baek Mugyeong always skipped these events. Yet this time he appeared regularly.

It might not have been for me. But I couldn’t deny it had helped.

I suddenly started to think about Baek Mugyeong again. These days all thoughts turned toward him with the slightest trigger. My sleepless nights also stemmed partly from thoughts of him.