Chapter 4
"Kim Seobang..."
In the empty room Kim Seok-hun had left behind, Lee Yeon-seo discovered a pile of crumpled tissues scattered around the trash can while trying to tidy up. The faint scent of night-blooming flowers rising from them filled her face with pity and sorrow.
"This many... all piled up like this?"
Far more traces than she had imagined. The stains were thicker than expected, and their considerable weight pressed against her palm. Taking everything together—
"At least three times... How long has he been holding himself back?"
It broke her heart. He was only thirty. As a young son-in-law who had spent his newlywed days at that age, his situation was perfectly understandable. What she understood even more clearly, however, was the part that involved her own daughter.
"If Seul-ah chose him, then Kim Seobang must also..."
She knew. Because Seul-ah took after her.
"Seul-ah never holds back... so of course it would have been even worse for him."
Tears slid down her cheeks. Knowing the reason only made the pain sharper. Her son-in-law, Kim Seobang, had not loved her daughter Seul-ah merely as an object of lust. That was why he had tried to end his own life after she left. He had lusted because he loved, and loved because he desired. Understanding all of it made the situation unbearably tragic.
But there was nothing she could do.
"I can't be the one to help him... What should I do? Kim Seobang, tell me—what am I supposed to do?"
She had no answer. No solution came to mind. She had already suspected that Kim Seobang possessed a sex drive as powerful as her daughter's, and now she had confirmed it with her own eyes.
"Haah... Ejaculating three times or more just from masturbation must be so difficult..."
It was far harder to climax that many times alone while fantasizing about her daughter than it was to actually have sex. Yet her son-in-law had done exactly that.
"Should I... buy women for him with money? On a regular basis?"
She had more than enough wealth. She could live in luxury for the rest of her life without lifting a finger. But was it truly right to purchase women to satisfy her son-in-law's desires? And what if those desires became twisted?
She had seen plenty of people in her lifetime who had committed crimes because of such warped lusts. There were safety concerns as well. If a woman with a sexually transmitted disease hid it and accepted Seok-hun's passion, the consequences could be disastrous.
"No... That method is out of the question. Then what? Should I introduce him to someone?"
Buying women with money was unacceptable. In that case, should she arrange a new romantic connection for her son-in-law?
"But if I do that, then I..."
That was unacceptable too. She had only just managed to rebuild this family. Doing so would mean losing it all over again.
"What am I supposed to do...? By the way, what kind of woman does Kim Seobang even like?"
Suddenly, Lee Yeon-seo found herself curious about her son-in-law's tastes. Her daughter resembled her in appearance and in the intensity of her sexual appetite. The differences lay in body type, personality, and the fact that, like her, Seul-ah refused to suppress her desires.
"He must prefer women with small breasts, right?"
While their faces were similar, their figures were complete opposites—breasts, hips, everything. Based on that, the son-in-law who had loved her petite daughter enough to want to die with her would surely prefer small breasts like Seul-ah's over burdensome, oversized ones like her own.
"Should I check?"
Still curious, she slowly turned and powered on Kim Seok-hun's computer. Since he had masturbated, traces would likely remain. Though she was his mother-in-law, she was only thirty-eight. She belonged to a generation familiar with computers, so she began searching for his history.
"As expected, nothing on the desktop."
She scanned the wallpaper the moment the monitor lit up, but saw no folders labeled Geese or Brown-eared Bulbul. Still—
"If he did it at dawn..."
Considering the time Kim Seok-hun had masturbated, he probably hadn't had time to erase the evidence. She launched the Tiger Player icon on the desktop and clicked play.
Click—
"O-oh my…!"
The moans from the video were far louder than she expected. A middle-aged woman was being mercilessly thrust into by a young man, crying out in ecstasy, while—
At the young man's words, Lee Yeon-seo covered her mouth and bowed her head in shame.
Click—
"S-something else…"
The video was unbearably embarrassing. Especially the roles the actors were playing. Mortified, she right-clicked and selected Recently Played Files. The moment the list appeared—
1. The Mother-in-Law Tastes Better Than the Wife
2. The Divorced Wife’s Mother-in-Law Came Over
3. Indulging in the Mother-in-Law’s Massive Breasts
4. Mother-in-Law Wearing Shapewear
5. Under the Mother-in-Law’s Skirt
6. Fallen for the Mother-in-Law’s Huge Tits
7. The Son-in-Law Who Became His Mother-in-Law’s Plaything
"Th-this… is Kim Seobang’s taste?"
The mother-in-law had confirmed her son-in-law’s preference. Every single title revolved around a mother-in-law. After playing each one, Lee Yeon-seo became certain.
"He likes women with big breasts? That’s the complete opposite of Seul-ah."
Completely opposite tastes. Her daughter had a petite chest. Yet every video featured the exact opposite.
"Could the shock of the divorce have changed his orientation? Yes, that’s possible… but why did it have to be…"
It was too similar to her. A mother-in-law with enormous breasts and wide hips. A mother-in-law who replaced the wife.
"Don’t tell me… he wants me? But that can’t happen, Kim Seobang…"
No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, she could not deny that her son-in-law’s desires were aimed directly at her.
"He’s just… projecting Seul-ah onto me. That must be it… definitely…"
No. It couldn’t be. He must be seeing his ex-wife in her. It had to be that way. She and Kim Seok-hun were mother-in-law and son-in-law. Even though he had divorced her daughter, their fundamental relationship had not changed. So if she replaced her daughter…?
"Replacing Seul-ah… me?"
Without realizing it, Lee Yeon-seo swallowed hard.
Gulp—
She had said with her own mouth that she would take her daughter’s place. That was why she had moved into this house, cooking meals and doing laundry, believing she was substituting for Seul-ah. Thanks to her, her son-in-law had grown brighter day by day. Flesh had begun to return to his once-gaunt frame. She had been happy. Seeing him regain his vitality and improve little by little filled her with joy. Even though it had only been a few days, the change was enough to make her glad and content. She was happy she could stand in for her daughter. Happy she could protect her only son-in-law.
But—
"Was I… really replacing Seul-ah?"
Had she truly been acting as her daughter’s substitute as his wife? No. The most important part of marriage was mutual love, and the greatest, most important, and simplest way to confirm that love was through sex. She claimed to be replacing Seul-ah, yet she had neglected the most crucial act.
"Still… that part is…"
Because she had not taken over that role, her son-in-law had resorted to masturbation, and she had ended up heartbroken at the sight of the evidence.
"No… Even so, that can’t be. How could I possibly do that with Kim Seobang…? How could I dare…?"
She lacked the confidence. Not confidence to satisfy him in her daughter’s place, but the belief that she herself was enough.
"Haah… I don’t know. Kim Seobang… what am I supposed to do?"
In the end, unable to decide or choose anything, the mother-in-law let out a bitter sigh, turned away, and left her son-in-law’s room. To push the thoughts from her mind, even for a little while, she threw herself into cleaning.
Meanwhile, Kim Seok-hun, who had visited the sauna after a long absence, caught up on lost sleep in the resting area and only began preparing to head home when noon arrived.
"I slept way too long. Mother-in-law’s probably worried."
Completely unaware of what his mother-in-law had seen or what she was agonizing over, the road home felt lighter than it had in a long time.
Ding— Click—
"Mother-in-law, I’m home."
Upon returning, Kim Seok-hun naturally called out to Lee Yeon-seo. At the sound of his voice, she emerged from the kitchen with a bright smile.
"You’re back? Where did you go?"
"Ah! I went to the sauna for the first time in a while. I hadn’t washed properly in so long…"
"Oh my, really? Good for you. Are you hungry?"
"Yes. My stomach is practically glued to my spine. What’s that smell?"
"Hehe, I made some japchae and braised short ribs."
"Wow, really? No wonder it smells so delicious."
The strong aroma that stimulated his appetite after so long drew Kim Seok-hun straight into the kitchen. When he saw the dishes being set on the table, his eyes glazed over with delight and he swallowed hard.
"Wow… I get to enjoy this kind of luxury! Seul-ah’s cooking was honestly terrible."
"Oh? Was it?"
"Yes! As expected of you, Mother-in-law! The mother-in-law really is better than the wife!"
"Eh…?"
She flinched. The words Kim Seok-hun had casually uttered while admiring the food on the table matched the very first video title she had seen in his room a few hours earlier.
"S-Seul-ah’s place… me?"
"Yes! Mother-in-law, it’s delicious!"
"Mmm… Th-thank you."
Her face flushed bright red, but Kim Seok-hun, completely focused on the food, didn’t notice.
"He really is eating so happily."
"Yes, Mother-in-law! It’s incredibly, incredibly delicious. You’re the best, Mother-in-law!"
"Eh…? M-me? Oh, Kim Seobang, you… you’re making me embarrassed."
Watching his mother-in-law, who was surprisingly weak to praise, Kim Seok-hun enjoyed a thoroughly satisfying meal.
Meanwhile, Lee Seul-ah, who had abandoned Kim Seok-hun, was—
"What?"
"Of course I am."
"Seok-hun is a good man. He’s big down there and great in bed, but he left me lonely."
Despite her younger sister’s scolding, Seul-ah remained defiant.
"If you’re so worried about Seok-hun, why don’t you go spread your legs for him?"
"I’m hanging up."
Beep—
Lee Seul-ah ended the call as if she had nothing more to say.
"Haah, what are you doing? Why aren’t you coming in?"
"Haha! You really are something else."
"If I’m so great, then hurry up and fuck me♡"
"I’ll take the front!"
"Fine, I’ll take the back!"
She was burning with hot desire together with two men.
And somewhere else, her younger sister muttered—
"That crazy bitch!! What? Telling me to go to Brother-in-law…? Hmm… He really is pitiful, though."
A rather unexpected thought had taken root in her mind.