Chapter 550: A Married Woman's Tearful Confession
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 550: A Married Woman's Tearful Confession
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of someone rapping on the door began to echo through the room.
"Who is it?" Sun-woo asked, turning his gaze toward the door.
"It’s me... Young Master."
A soft, elegant voice drifted in from outside.
"Come in."
Upon hearing the voice, Sun-woo responded in a calm, level tone.
Creeeeeak.
With his permission, the door swung open to reveal a noblewoman.
She wore slightly heavy makeup that exuded a subtle sensuality. Her features were strikingly beautiful, radiating a natural, mature allure. She was dressed in high-quality yellow silk that clung to her figure, accentuating her graceful curves.
The woman was none other than Hwangbo Yu-yeon.
"It feels like it has been a while, Young Master."
Entering the room, Hwangbo Yu-yeon offered Sun-woo a polite greeting.
"I suppose it has. So, what brings you here?"
Sun-woo acknowledged her greeting curtly and moved straight to the point. His voice was low and heavy.
"…This doesn't seem like a conversation to be had while standing."
Perhaps intimidated by his cold tone, Hwangbo Yu-yeon spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Sigh... Fine. Please, have a seat."
With a look of reluctant resignation, Sun-woo gestured for her to sit.
"Thank you."
After a brief nod, she walked over to the table and sat down.
Thud.
Sun-woo sat directly across from her. He stared at her in silence, his gaze utterly dry and devoid of emotion.
...This boy... he’s angry with me.
Facing his attitude, Hwangbo Yu-yeon could tell immediately. She knew Sun-woo was deeply upset with her.
Ah...
She let out a silent lament. She didn't fail to understand his feelings. He surely hated her—the woman who had shared a deep affection with him, only to turn away so coldly. She understood it all too well. After all, she was the one who had ruthlessly rejected his heart.
However, understanding his reasons and dealing with her own feelings were two different things. She felt hurt. Sun-woo’s cold treatment stung, making her feel foolish for even caring.
"So, what is it? You left as if we were never to see each other again," Sun-woo remarked bluntly.
"I came because I have something to ask..." she replied, her voice trailing off. Her hurt feelings naturally made her tone lose its strength.
"What is it?" Sun-woo asked, his voice flat and monotone.
"What happened between you and Ran?"
She looked Sun-woo straight in the eye as she spoke.
"I’m not sure what you’re talking about," Sun-woo replied with a nonchalant expression, feigning ignorance.
"Don't try to play dumb. Ran has been in a deep depression ever since she met with you. No one would consider that a mere coincidence."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon knit her fine brows slightly. She didn't appreciate Sun-woo’s blatant attempt to dodge the question when she already knew the truth.
"I have nothing to say on that matter. Why don't you ask Lady So-ran yourself?"
"I did! I asked her over and over! But she won't give me an answer!"
Her temper flared, and her voice rose.
"Then doesn't that mean Lady So-ran doesn't wish to speak of it? Why are you trying to pry it out of her?"
"That child hasn't touched a drop of water for days! Her eyes are sunken, her cheeks are hollow, and she’s on the verge of collapse! How can I, as her mother, just stand by and do nothing?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s voice grew louder in her agitation. She was frustrated by his coldness and his apparent disregard for her maternal instincts.
"It’s overprotection. If you leave her be, she’ll get over it on her own."
"She is stubborn! If I leave her like this, she might actually starve to death!"
"The human will to survive is stronger than you think. Don't worry. If she truly reaches the brink of death, she’ll find a way to eat on her own," Sun-woo said calmly.
"What do you know about that child to speak like that!"
"It’s true I don't know Lady So-ran very well. We haven't known each other long. However, I know from long experience that your current behavior is overprotective. She is an adult now. Stop coddling her and keeping her tucked away in your arms; let her fly on her own."
"I don't want to hear that from you!"
"If you don't want to hear it, then leave. I have no desire to raise my voice in a conversation like this either."
Sun-woo’s face contorted into a deep scowl. He looked visibly annoyed, and that expression was enough to push Hwangbo Yu-yeon over the edge.
"Why are you talking to me like that?"
"Like what?"
"You’ve been rude and harsh since the moment I walked in!"
"And tell me, is there any reason I should be polite and gentle with you, Madam?"
"What!?"
"What exactly is our relationship right now? Aren't we on opposing sides, supporting different candidates? How can you expect me to be polite and gentle toward you?"
"........Young Master... Jang..."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon stared at him, looking utterly shell-shocked. She had never expected him to use a word like "enemy" to describe her.
"How... how could you say that to me..."
She spoke with a wounded expression, a deep sense of sorrow surging from within. Though things had become awkward after they crossed the line, he was a man with whom she had shared a profound emotional connection. He was her benefactor, someone who had provided immense comfort and practical help during her most difficult times.
And yet, that man had just defined her as an enemy. How could she not feel wretched?
"Is there any reason I shouldn't say it?"
Sun-woo mocked her with his words.
"............."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon looked at him, her face crumpling. Anyone could see she was filled with grief.
"Why are you looking at me with such a sad face?" Sun-woo asked impassively. "Wasn't this the kind of relationship you wanted, Madam?"
He glared at her with cold eyes.
"Ugh..."
That icy gaze pierced deep into her chest, as if stabbing her right in the heart.
"Do not expect kindness from me ever again. Do not expect consideration. Do not expect a single shred of goodwill!" Sun-woo declared with finality.
"Sob... huff... ugh... sob..."
Hearing his freezing words, Hwangbo Yu-yeon finally burst into tears. The sharp blades of his language had cut her to the core, and the pain was unbearable.
".........."
Sun-woo simply watched her cry, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.
"Waaaaah! H-hic... waaaaaah!"
Eventually, she broke down into full-blown sobs. The distance she felt from him—his refusal to comfort her even as she wept—was too much to bear.
"Waaaaah!"
She cried piteously. This was the relationship she had asked for—a dry, detached one where they remained indifferent to each other. But now that Sun-woo was actually showing her that indifference, she was overwhelmed by sorrow.
He had become just like Lee Jae-won. Just like her indifferent husband, who hadn't shown her a lick of interest since she became pregnant with So-ran. The feeling of being abandoned once again plunged her into absolute despair.
She regretted it. She hated her past self for asking him to act as if nothing had happened. She resented her past self for intentionally avoiding him to create distance.
"Waaaaah!"
Her wailing grew louder as a complex mix of regret, sadness, and despair took over her entire body. She wanted to stop. She wanted to stop crying and regain her composure immediately, but the tears wouldn't stop. The emotions were simply too overwhelming to control. So she cried and cried, hoping her tear ducts would soon run dry.
".............Sigh... This is driving me crazy."
Watching her, Sun-woo finally let out a lamenting sigh. He stood up and walked over to the weeping woman.
Grab.
He pulled her into a sudden, firm embrace, tucking her small frame against his chest.
"..........Hic....hic......."
Startled by the sudden hug, Hwangbo Yu-yeon began to hiccup. She was too shocked by his unexpected action to do anything else.
Pat, pat, pat.
Sun-woo began to gently pat her slender back. He channeled a warm, soft internal energy into her.
Vrooooom.
As his internal energy flowed through her, her tensed body began to slowly relax.
"............."
Her hiccups subsided and soon stopped altogether.
"I am sorry, Madam."
Once she had calmed down, Sun-woo looked down at the woman in his arms and apologized.
"W-why..."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon looked up at him with a bewildered face. She couldn't understand why he was comforting her now. He had clearly told her not to expect any kindness or consideration. So why was he holding her so warmly and soothing her? He had even cured her hiccups. It made no sense to her.
"I couldn't stand it anymore... seeing you cry like that."
Sun-woo looked at her with an expression filled with deep pity.
"Haven't you cried enough in your life? How could I just leave you like this?"
"........Sob... What are you doing... really... sob..."
Thump, thump, thump.
Hwangbo Yu-yeon raised her small fists and began to feebly beat against Sun-woo’s chest.
"I’m sorry for saying those harsh things."
Stroke, stroke.
Sun-woo stroked her hair as he spoke.
"I really... thought... you hated me..."
"How could that be? How could I ever hate a woman as lovely as you, Yu-yeon?"
"First you hurt me... then you give me medicine... if you’re going to hate me... then hate me until the end... If you hold me like this again... what am I supposed to do... I can't even hate you... You’re mean... You’re so mean..."
She spoke reproachfully through her tears, though her voice was filled more with relief and joy than actual resentment.
"I’m sorry. But I couldn't help it. I still like you so much, Madam... no, Yu-yeon."
"Sob... ugh... huff..."
Tears began to fall again, but this time they were different. His warm words had struck a chord deep in her heart.
"I love you... Yu-yeon."
Squeeze.
Sun-woo pulled her into an even warmer embrace.
"I... hic... I love you too... Sun-woo..."
She buried herself in his chest as she spoke, finally deciding to be honest with her own heart. She loved him. She loved the man who had been her pillar of support when she was mentally pushed to the brink. She loved the man who had saved her from despair when she couldn't find the money she needed. She loved the man who whispered his love to her until the very end.
The two of them remained in that embrace for a long time, as if they would never let go again.
*
"Yu-yeon, aren't you hot?"
Sun-woo asked, looking down at the woman still clinging to him.
"I’m not hot."
She answered immediately.
"I think I’m a bit hot."
"....Do you... want to get away from me?"
Hwangbo Yu-yeon looked hurt as she asked him back. The idea of pulling apart seemed to shock her.
"We can't exactly talk about Lady So-ran like this, can we?" Sun-woo said with a troubled expression.
"..........."
Hwangbo Yu-yeon fell silent. She knew he was right.
".....Fine."
She reluctantly began to pull away. Leaving his warm embrace was painful, but she decided she could endure it for the sake of her precious daughter.
"Good girl."
Stroke, stroke.
As she stepped back, Sun-woo praised her while stroking her hair.
"........Don't treat me... like a child... I am... older than you, Young Master."
As he stroked her hair, Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face turned bright red, and she tried to put on a stern expression. Of course, despite her words, she didn't actually push his hand away.
"My apologies. You look so young that sometimes I feel like you’re my younger sister."
"....Your jokes... are too much... Sun-woo..."
She gave him a bright smile, clearly not hating his flattery.
Stroke, stroke.
Sun-woo stroked her head a couple more times before returning to his seat.
"Yu-yeon."
He called her name, his expression turning serious.
"Yes, go ahead."
"Are you sure you won't regret this?"
"Regret what?"
"You will definitely regret hearing what I have to say."
Sun-woo’s tone was grave.
"Do you still want to hear about Lady So-ran?"
"......I want to hear it. If things continue like this, Ran’s health will be ruined... I can't... I can't just watch that happen."
She looked at Sun-woo with a firm expression. She couldn't guarantee she wouldn't regret it, but she didn't want to run away. She was So-ran’s mother, after all.
"Sigh...... If you insist, then I have no choice."
Sun-woo let out a long sigh. Then, he looked Hwangbo Yu-yeon straight in the eye.
"Lady So-ran confessed her feelings to me."
He spoke in an incredibly calm voice.
"I rejected that confession, and Lady So-ran has fallen ill due to the pain of a broken heart."
"What!?"
Shock washed over Hwangbo Yu-yeon’s face at his words.