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chapter 32
He giggled for a long while, then took out a fresh cigarette from his pocket and lit it.
“Do I look like trash right now?”
“…….”
“Do you think Seodoheon would be any different?”
“Yes.”
“You’re so naive.”
“…….”
“That bastard is a devil. Born a devil! Damn it.”
I began to understand why Kang Jae was so enraged. Years of accumulated inferiority, emotions that could never be resolved in a lifetime, had erupted starting from the recent press conference.
“I guess you tried to interfere with Mr. Doheon, but it didn’t go as you planned. As usual.”
Kang Jae lifted his head at the unexpected words.
“What?”
“The emotions you feel seemed like inferiority to me.”
Kang Jae’s heavy hand gripped Yeonseo’s neck. His gaze was so threatening that it filled her with fear. Her trembling body couldn’t control itself.
“Ugh.”
She finally heaved, unable to hold back the gagging she had suppressed. Yeonseo covered her mouth with her palm.
Kang Jae’s gaze shifted suspiciously. As the strength in his grip loosened, his arm dropped.
“I just don’t feel well…”
Kang Jae looked at her with a vacant expression. Seizing the opportunity, she ran toward the bathroom. Fortunately, he didn’t follow.
Her shirt was drenched in cold sweat. Crawling back to the bedroom, Yeonseo finally laid down. Was something wrong with her body? She felt truly strange.
Knock, knock.
Just as she closed her eyes to rest, someone knocked at the door. Her heart raced—could it be Kang Jae? She didn’t answer.
“It’s Paju-dak! I heard you weren’t feeling well, so I brought some porridge.”
Paju-dak hadn’t been visible earlier. How did she know Yeonseo was sick?
“Come in.”
Yeonseo forced herself upright, pale and weak. Paju-dak entered, looking genuinely concerned.
“Oh my, how are you… Please, eat a bit.”
She placed a tray next to the bedside table. On it was a bowl of steaming seaweed porridge.
“Just one spoonful. I’d feel better seeing you eat something before I leave.”
“Thank you.”
Just as Yeonseo tried to scoop some into her mouth, another gag reflex hit her.
“Ugh… sorry. I’ll eat later, later.”
“That young lady, could it be….”
Paju-dak tilted her head with a meaningful look.
Yeonseo took a deep breath and leaned back on the bed. The gagging stopped.
Only then did Paju-dak remove the serious look from her eyes.
“Oh dear. Shouldn’t you see a doctor? You’re so frail; if it gets worse…”
“I’ll go if it’s the same tomorrow. But….”
Until now, even if she had questions about Geum Seonae, it had been difficult to call Paju-dak from the kitchen.
“……Can I ask you something, suddenly?”
“Of course! Ask me anything!”
It felt like this might be her last chance to ask what she wanted.
“You said you’ve worked here a long time, right?”
“Yes, I started young, over thirty years ago! Everyone was so young back then… Time is relentless…”
Yeonseo turned to sit facing Paju-dak.
“Do you know how Mr. Doheon’s biological mother passed away?”
“Oh, you mean the young lady’s mother? I see… Well, even the news was just a few lines. They had to keep the death quiet.”
That could be a significant clue.
“Kept quiet?”
“Yes. Ms. Geum Seonae was involved too, and if it got in the media, it would have been a big deal. That’s probably why.”
Yeonseo was surprised internally but tried not to show it. She calmly asked again, though her stomach churned.
“You said my mother was involved?”
“Oh, yes. After that accident, she came in as the lady of Myeongseonjae! The accident itself had no evidence, but for a while, people even speculated foul play. The disputes in chaebol families can be scary, you know?”
The mention of possible murder stuck in Yeonseo’s mind. What if it was all Geum Seonae’s doing? How would she find evidence?
“Ms. Geum Seonae was such a dignified person, so the public sentiment wouldn’t have been favorable. Before she came into Myeongseonjae, she used to be turned away at the front gate, clutching the hands of a small child who knew nothing.”
“Was that child the young master?”
Paju-dak nodded silently.
“Yes, Master Kang Jae. At first, he didn’t speak at all! His gaze was unusual. Mr. Doheon kept talking to him, which eventually made him open up.”
“…….”
“Mr. Doheon, too, must have suffered greatly losing his mother, but he was such a deep-thinking child. He didn’t even resent the new stepmother and her son who suddenly came in. I would have ignored them…”
“I see.”
Yeonseo pictured young Doheon, trying to act mature while suppressing his longing for his mother. How bruised and pained his heart must have been. If only he had someone he could rely on and cry freely with, he could have grown more like a child.
She realized it mirrored her own childhood—after her mother left, she hadn’t wanted to trouble her father. She had never cried freely then.
“Oh dear, I’ve talked too long! When I think of her, I can’t help it… She was really warm and kind. How could such a person have had that accident?”
“I understand your feelings. Just one more question, if I may?”
Paju-dak, who was about to leave, stopped.
“Ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“So…”
Yeonseo wanted to ask about the day her grandmother passed. No one had told her the truth about that day.
She forced her lips open.
“My grandmother. The one who worked as a gardener.”
“Oh yes, I know her well.”
“Do you know who was at Myeongseonjae on the day she fell?”
Paju-dak tilted her head.
“Why do you ask?”
Yeonseo tried to appear casual.
“I just… miss her so much. I want to hear as much as possible about her.”
“Oh, I see. That makes sense.”
Fortunately, Paju-dak’s guard seemed to lower.
“That day, it snowed heavily, right? A blizzard, I think…”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Everyone left work early. Only I and gardener Shim Yunseon were there.”
“Just the two of you?”
Paju-dak lifted her eyes, recalling the memory.
“Oh, that day I heard the sound of high heels and thought Ms. Geum Seonae had returned, but it was my mistake. Only she wears heels here. The weather was so bad; I must have misheard.”
“…….”
“I had been in the kitchen and thought to have some warm tea with the gardener. But she was gone, already off work. Usually, she wouldn’t leave without a word… but that day must have been urgent.”
“…….”
“Then I heard the news and was very shocked.”
Yeonseo’s lips trembled slightly. Her suspicion about Geum Seonae hardened into conviction. She couldn’t fully trust Paju-dak’s words, but every piece fit.
“……Do you remember how grandmother was that day?”
“Hmm.”
Paju-dak touched her chin, rubbing it thoughtfully.
“She didn’t look well at all, as if some misfortune had occurred at home. I wanted to talk with her over tea. I should have called her earlier.”
Yeonseo’s gaze fell to the floor. If things had been slightly different, would her grandmother still be alive by her side?
“Oh dear, I must prepare the sea goddess soup for President Seo tonight! If you have more questions next time, feel free to ask.”
Paju-dak turned and left, opening the door with quick steps. Left alone, Yeonseo shivered like a leaf and muttered:
“……I need to find evidence, evidence!”
Though she was certain, everything remained circumstantial. She needed physical proof—concrete evidence that Geum Seonae killed her grandmother.
Time was limited. The contract would end soon, and she had to find proof before that.
With only Kang Jae and the servants around, this was the right moment. Yeonseo stepped out like a ballerina, quietly and gracefully.
The rooms of Seo Jinbae and Geum Seonae were far away, and she had to pass through the living room. She held her breath, glancing around.
Kang Jae lay on the sofa. She couldn’t tell if he was awake or asleep, so passing by carelessly wasn’t an option.
After thinking for a moment, Yeonseo cautiously approached him. If he was awake, she planned to distract him with a lie and move on.
