The Widow's Son and the Venomous Mistress

Hye-na lowered her head slightly.

Her voice lacked strength.

“Stroke… She suddenly collapsed… When we arrived at the hospital, she was already… never regained consciousness.”

Her words were short, but the shock and emptiness compressed between them were fully present.

“...”

Yeon-woo could not continue.

“You must have been shocked.”

“I don’t know.”

Hye-na shook her head.

Her gaze fixed on a point in empty space.

“Even now… I can’t believe it’s real.”

Her final words trembled faintly.

His eyes moved again, returning to the inner mourning hall.

‘-54? That’s a number I’ve never seen before.’

“M-mom… you must have loved my dad very much?”

Yeon-woo asked quietly, his gaze still fixed on the widow.

Hye-na nodded, answering.

“Yeah… really… They were a couple everyone said had the best marriage. Dad loved Mom… and Mom would do anything for Dad…”

Her voice suddenly caught.

“Our mom… she’s so pitiful…”

“The emptiness must be enormous.”

Yeon-woo muttered.

“She’s grieving so much…”

Hye-na closed her eyes.

“If I stay with her, I’ll suffocate too.”

Then something new came to mind.

The young appearance of a mother whose age should not allow it stirred curiosity again.

“You’re her real mother, right?”

Hye-na looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“She looks… too young.”

Yeon-woo said honestly.

“Our mom… she’s really beautiful even now? If we walk around the streets together, everyone would think we’re sisters… She gave birth to me at twenty.” ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ “Ah…”

Yeon-woo nodded with clear understanding.

“Good thing. Hye-na takes after her mother…”

***

By evening the funeral home began to fill with people again.

Professors, juniors, and classmates from the university Hye-na attended had come to pay their respects.

Yeon Jeong-ho’s professor was among them.

Yeon-woo helped guide the mourners and showed them to seats.

He moved quietly in his black suit, maintaining a somber expression.

Hye-na greeted the professors and thanked them.

When one of them pointed at Yeon-woo and asked who he was, she introduced him as her boyfriend.

At that moment…

Yeon-woo felt the professor’s hostile stare.

Among the professors who had come with Yeon Jeong-ho, one woman stood out.

She possessed a calm, elegant beauty, appearing in her late thirties to early forties.

She was quiet, but her presence was undeniable.

More interesting was how Yeon Jeong-ho treated her.

He displayed his usual arrogance toward others, yet toward this female professor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his tone softened and his movements became cautious.

From his attitude, their relationship seemed one of superior and inferior.

“What is this? That woman…”

But Yeon-woo’s curiosity vanished when more mourners crowded around.

After a while, focused on responding to the visitors,

Suddenly…

He realized Yeon Jeong-ho and Hye-na were no longer visible.

Looking around, they were nowhere to be seen.

A sinister feeling rose in him.

“Hye-na…”

Yeon-woo called her name in his mind and activated the Connect function.

Soon Hye-na’s position appeared with GPS-level accuracy.

It told the exact floor, room, and location.

‘B2 parking? No car, yet she’s in a car? Whose car?’

The ominous feeling grew stronger.

Yeon-woo immediately headed to the underground parking lot.

‘Could it be… Yeon Jeong-ho? At a father’s funeral? Doing something weird?’ The thought arrived, followed by another: ‘If that bastard…’

Fluorescent lights barely illuminated the underground parking lot.

Cars lined the spaces tightly.

Yeon-woo walked quickly between them, checking inside each vehicle.

His breathing quickened.

‘Where are you, Hye-na?’

Then, from a parked black luxury sedan ahead, movement was caught.

The passenger door opened,

And someone staggered out.

Hye-na.

She ran toward Yeon-woo frantically.

“Oppa!!!”

And threw herself into his arms.

Her body trembled.

“What happened?”

Yeon-woo asked, gripping her shoulder.

His eyes scanned her face.

Her lips were slightly swollen.

Her mourning attire was a little disheveled.

“Hye-na!!! What happened!!!”

“N-no… nothing…”

Hye-na shook her head, whispering, but her voice trembled.

Fear gathered in her eyes.

At that exact moment,

A key-turning sound came from the black sedan she had run from.

The headlights flashed on, and the car sped rapidly toward the exit.

Yeon-woo instinctively turned to chase it.

“Don’t!”

Hye-na said softly and grabbed his arm tightly.

Yeon-woo turned and looked her straight in the eye.

His gaze was cold.

“Was it the professor?”

Hye-na stayed silent for a moment.

Fighting back the tears in her eyes, she nodded quietly.

“Done to you?”

Yeon-woo shook her shoulder, asking loudly.

“No…”

Hye-na tried to deny it,

But her body language and condition spoke everything.

“If you lie, I won’t leave you alone!!!”

Hye-na trembled at the words.

She shook her head.

“N-no… really.”

She took a deep breath.

“Of course… I tried to fight back. He forcibly kissed me… but I resisted till the end. I kicked him madly, scratched him with my nails…”

Her voice suddenly lowered.

“Just… I saw him checking the car interior. In the moment he hesitated, I seized the chance, opened the door, and ran out.”

“You bastard…”

A curse naturally spilled from Yeon-woo’s lips.

“A professor… coming to the funeral, and turning his own student into…”

“Oppa!”

Hye-na gripped his hand more tightly and said.

“Please… don’t treat me emotionally. That’ll drag the person down. I told you—he’s not an ordinary person…” “You bastard… ah!!!!” Yeon-woo shouted in frustration. He looked Hye-na over again. “Really… you’re okay?” “Yeah… really…” Hye-na looked up at Yeon-woo. “Really, I’m glad… Having oppa with me…” “I’m sorry. I couldn’t come faster.” “No… But how did you know I was here?” “I didn’t know… Now I’m connected to you. I can know where you are.” “Thank you, oppa… And… I love you.” Yeon-woo stared at Hye-na’s teary eyes and swollen lips while trying to suppress the burning rage in his chest. *** Yeon-woo and Hye-na walked back up to the funeral hall quietly. “Hey… Hye-na. The female professor who came with Professor Yeon Jeong-ho… who is she?” “Ah… Professor Yoon Yeo-jin. Why?” “Nothing special. Just…” Yeon-woo trailed off. “She seemed to be treating you professor a bit harshly…” “Right? I was also surprised. Professor Yeon… treats people like there’s nothing in the world to fear… but only toward that professor was he a bit special.” Yeon-woo nodded and left. “Go in first. I’ll make a call and leave.” “Yeah…” Yeon-woo went to a quiet corner of the corridor and took out his smartphone. He searched contacts for ‘Eun-ju’ and called. “Hello?” “Yeah. In-laws. This is… Yeon-woo.” “Yeah. What’s up?” “By any chance… do you know Professor Yoon Yeo-jin?” “Professor Yoon Yeo-jin? I know her… that fox-like woman…” “Who is she? Professor Yeon seems unable to move…” “Chairman Yeon Tae-jong. That is, Professor Yeon’s father and my father-in-law. She’s his mistress.” “Eh? Mistress?” “Yeah. She’s almost like a wife.” Yeon-woo’s eyes sharpened. “Really? Are you sure?” “Of course. How he got her… my father is completely hooked on her. And… her father is the director of HB Hospital.” “HB Hospital? The largest hospital in the country?” “Yes. But why?” “I just… met them at the funeral hall with Professor Yeon…” “Ah… must be Hye-na’s father’s funeral…” “Yeah…” “Should I go too?” “Wow… you’re quick. You’re even handling the funeral of the husband’s in-law…” “Haha… right?” “Well… got it.” “It feels like you’re plotting something…” “Well… it won’t harm you.” “You don’t know that…” “Okay. I’ll hang up.” “By the way… when will we meet?” “Why? Miss me?” “Tch… why? Don’t you miss me?” “No… I was planning to visit you soon. I’ll contact you this week.” He leaned against the corridor wall, quickly organizing his thoughts. ‘Yoon Yeo-jin… mistress of Yeon Tae-jong. Good… if I use her…’ *** After some time, the mourners gradually left one by one. Night had deepened, and the funeral home grew silent. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Time had passed midnight, heading toward 2 a.m. Hye-na approached and whispered to Yeon-woo. “Seonyeong is driving me home for a bit. I rushed out too quickly… I need to gather things…” She looked at him with a tired face and continued. “Come with us!” “No… oppa… has no car.” ‘This… right… Hye-na has a car. A useless boyfriend, huh.’ Yeon-woo thought inwardly. “Oppa… take care of my mom a bit. Actually… Mom is the one I worry about most.” Yeon-woo nodded. “Okay. Be careful.” After Hye-na left, the funeral home grew even more desolate. Hye-na’s mother still stared at the memorial photo with sad eyes, only muttering blankly. She looked fragile, as if she would collapse at any moment. Yeon-woo quietly sat beside her. The young widow’s appearance was pitiful. And the number -54 floating in the status window bothered him greatly. ‘Right… she lost her husband, so grieving naturally. But… her grief seems excessive and dangerous.’ Yeon-woo thought. ‘If I adjust the value just a little… won’t it bring some comfort? For a short time…’ Yeon-woo looked at her status window and adjusted the number. ‘Twenty would be about right? Emotion Value manual mode conversion. Goal value 20. Increase 5 points per minute.’ [EXECUTING.] “M-mom… you should rest a bit. If this goes on, mom might collapse too. Come inside for a while and rest.” She looked up slightly at Yeon-woo. With powerless eyes she said she was fine and lowered her head again. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But due to Yeon-woo’s continued urging and the rising emotion value, she eventually tried to stand up to move.

Then, losing balance from dizziness, she nearly fell.

Yeon-woo caught her waist and supported her.

He felt her frail body.

“Mom. Be careful. I’ll support you, this way…”

Yeon-woo slowly escorted her into the family waiting room prepared inside the mourning hall.