Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Family (3)
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"So, you're saying that the lady of the house will be staying outside the city for the time being?"
"Oh, come on, just call me Rachel."
A mature beauty with a refined air turned to me with a bright smile.
Here's how she ended up coming all the way to our church.
"Rachel Lumen, the chairman's wife, has decided to publicly announce her death."
To protect the secret of the miracle, they'd chosen to hide the fact that her terminal illness had been completely cured.
To make that happen, she inevitably had to vanish from the world for a little while.
Rachel continued her explanation.
"I'll hide out in the outskirts until the funeral is over, then return to his side under a new identity later."
"Will you be okay with that...?"
"I've been given a second life. What's a mere name compared to that?"
Her smiling expression showed not a shred of regret.
Rachel spoke in a light, unburdened tone.
"Anyway, I can't go back right now, so I was looking for a place to stay when a good idea popped into my head."
The outskirts district. It was the perfect spot to hide away from prying eyes.
A place where the chairman's influence could reach if needed, yet one that even corporations ignored.
With so many rootless, identity-less people around, one more stranger blending in wouldn't draw any attention.
"And since Eve is here, I figured I'd visit the church while I'm out this way. I'm curious about the saintess who healed my body and the god she serves—what kind of being they might be."
That was the story.
And just like that, I'd gained a chaebol wife as a new neighbor and follower.
I'd been a bit flustered when I spotted her in the church courtyard, but she had come here precisely to protect my secret.
Even more, right after her recovery, she was enduring the discomfort of staying in the outskirts, separated from her husband.
It suddenly felt rude to treat such a person with any burden or suspicion.
So I said,
"Welcome to our church, Ms. Rachel. If there's anything you need during your stay, feel free to ask me."
Rachel smiled warmly in response.
"Perfect timing—I have someone I'd like to introduce you to."
At her glance, a sturdy-looking man appeared from somewhere and bowed before me.
With his short-cropped hair, thick build, and resolute face, the man greeted me concisely.
"I'm Alex Shawn. Pleased to meet you."
Rachel added her introduction.
"Mr. Alex is the head of my security team. He'll be staying in the outskirts with me from now on."
He immediately asked me,
"If I may, could I speak with the church's security chief? I'd like to discuss coordination for protection."
"That's..."
"You can leave that to me."
Esty, who had approached us unnoticed, answered on my behalf.
The two exchanged a brief handshake and stepped aside to begin a professional discussion.
In the meantime, Rachel naturally linked her arm with mine and drew close.
"Shall we take a little walk?"
The sudden soft touch of her body against mine.
Caught off guard by the affectionate contact and the closeness, I stiffened up completely and could only let her lead me away lightly on my feet.
We arrived in the church courtyard.
It was working hours, so no one else was around.
In the quiet scene, she spoke softly.
"Once again, thank you so much. I'll never forget the grace Eve showed in saving my life."
Her voice was filled with sincerity. After a moment's hesitation, I replied,
"No, it wasn't that big a deal for me."
And that was the truth. It wasn't like I'd thrown myself into a collapsing building like a firefighter to save someone, or risked medical lawsuits as a trauma surgeon performing grueling, hours-long operations.
All I'd done was pray for a short while. If that alone could save a dying person right in front of me, turning away would have left me sleepless with guilt. In a way, it might have been something I did for myself.
At my response, Rachel gazed at me intently before suddenly pulling me into a tight embrace.
Her body trembled faintly.
"Eve, how about becoming my daughter?"
"Pardon...?"
"The truth is... while married to him, I've always dreamed of having a kind, gentle daughter just like you."
She released the hug and stepped back slightly. The wistful sadness on her face as we faced each other was poignant.
Rachel spoke in a bittersweet tone.
"Did you know? I can't have children. It's a side effect from the drugs used during my treatment. If I'd known, I would've tried something before my body got this bad..."
She added forlornly.
She felt she'd failed in her wifely duties and was always sorry to her husband, who in turn hurt even more seeing her guilt.
"He probably suggested you as an adoptive daughter out of that same feeling."
The faded sorrow and bitterness on Rachel's face tugged at my heartstrings, filling me with pity.
So I decided to tell her something she didn't yet know.
"Um... Ms. Rachel. Now, the two of you should be able to have children."
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"...What?"
I calmly explained to her. Among the believers I'd healed of serious illnesses through miracles, there had been several suffering from infertility. And the light of the miracle always cleanly cured not just their main ailment, but any other issues as well.
Upon hearing me, she froze in place for a moment.
Then, tears silently streamed down her face. Flustered, I asked,
"A-Are you okay?"
"Yes... I'm just so happy. So incredibly happy..."
She whispered in a voice choked with sobs.
"I never once imagined I could have my own child... You've given me back my life, and now even hope..."
Her body swayed as if all strength had left it. I hurriedly supported her, and Rachel buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing like a child.
I silently stroked her fragile back, slowly and gently.
Only after a long while did she stop crying. Looking at me with reddened eyes, she said once more,
"...Thank you, Eve."
Rachel took several deep breaths to compose her overwhelming emotions.
Finally, with the gentlest gaze imaginable, she tenderly caressed her belly and murmured to me,
"Still... for our baby growing up in this harsh world, having a truly kind big sister would be wonderful..."
With that, she gazed at me steadily.
It was a look filled with an expectation I'd never received before.
"......"
"........."
Her earnest gaze felt so burdensome that I instinctively turned my head away.
"......"
And kept it that way until Esty and the security chief returned from their business talk.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And so, our church gained a new neighbor. One who was a bit overwhelming but liked me a great deal.
But at the same time, it brought new worries.
'If they stay at the church, they'll inevitably learn about the 'miracles.' The chairman and his wife might be fine, but... can we trust even their security escorts?'
What if they figured out the secret and leaked it outside?
"...Um, Esty. Can we trust Ms. Rachel's security team?"
To my voiced concern, she replied simply.
"Major corporations only hire vetted personnel for their security departments. VIP protection teams are the elite, screened even more rigorously. Especially if they're directly under the chairman's office—no need to doubt their skills or loyalty."
Indeed, that devoted chairman wouldn't have sent his wife to the outskirts with just anyone.
Still, when I couldn't fully shake my worries, Esty added,
"Employees at top-100 city firms already enjoy the best perks. Even if someone promises a betrayal payoff, they know their value comes from the company. And the moment they betray it, there's no reason for anyone to pay them anymore. So they won't fall for temptations easily."
"Even if they harbor disloyal thoughts, corporate employees are bound to the company in every way matching those perks. Healthcare, education, housing, communications, transport, finance... They access all infrastructure with company privileges. Those benefits are protection—and surveillance. Any rash move gets them caught by internal affairs immediately."
"Beyond that system, there are far more direct controls too. Like the 'kill switch' once implanted in my body. Even without extremes, a group like Lumina surely has one or two ways to keep employee actions in check. So no need to worry too much."
Her detailed explanation was convincing. Without that level of internal control, the world would long since have been monopolized by a handful of megacorps.
"I see... You're right."
Listening to Esty eased my mind a bit. But it also sparked another impression.
The things she'd described... didn't quite sound like someone else's business.
'Esty knows the inner workings of such corporations... Where on earth did she come from?'
A question I couldn't yet voice aloud.