Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Whispers in the Mansion
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Ilha Group Chairman Oh Cheolho's mansion.
As usual, the elderly maid was preparing an elaborate dinner spread exceeding seven courses alongside the lady of the house, Oh Seolhwa, when she accidentally dropped a bowl she was carrying.
Clang!
The bowl shattered, but the maid felt as if her own heart had broken. She'd only recently learned that the dish bore an unheard-of brand name and cost nearly a million won, which made the shock even worse.
Unable to control her trembling hands, she bowed her head deeply right away.
"Oh, dear me... Oh no, what have I done. Ma'am, I'm so, so sorry..."
"It's fine. Calm down."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Oh Seolhwa barely glanced at the broken bowl as she gave the maid a quick look.
"You're not feeling ill anywhere, are you?"
"N-no, ma'am. I'm not unwell."
"Hm. All right, then. It'd be too much hassle to hire and train a new maid from scratch. Do we have another one just like this?"
"I-I'll go check, ma'am."
Relieved by the lady's gracious tone, the maid hurriedly rummaged through the cabinets and drawers. But nothing turned up.
"It, it seems we don't, ma'am."
"Is that so? Well, nothing to be done, then. We can't keep using that ugly set—the picture wouldn't match. So, as encouragement not to make the same mistake again, take all the dishes with the same pattern home with you."
"Y-yes? Oh, but..."
Flustered yet thrilled, the maid stammered incoherently. Meanwhile, Oh Seolhwa walked over to the massive display cabinet in the distance and inspected the usable pieces as she spoke.
"An incomplete set defeats the purpose, maid. That's why they're so expensive—they form one complete picture when all laid out on the table."
"Oh dear, this is all my fault..."
"Enough whining. It's really fine. I'll overlook it once more. But there won't be a next time."
Her voice remained gentle.
Still, the maid swallowed hard without realizing it. Her throat felt tight. She suddenly wanted to run, but thinking of her debt-ridden son, she clenched her fists.
"Of course. I won't make a mistake next time."
"No need to say that."
"Pardon?"
"Because if you slip up again, you're gone. Actions speak louder than words."
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
The maid bowed her head low and stole a cautious glance at Oh Seolhwa.
At 23, she'd given birth to Oh Hanam, a man of remarkable standing even among Korea's elite... A Japanese woman.
She'd married Chairman Oh Cheolho under the name Yukino Hana, then changed it to Oh Seolhwa. The second daughter of the Yukino Group. Her taut skin and beauty made it impossible to believe she was 50—it was almost ghostly.
Despite living far longer herself, standing before this woman made the maid's liver shrink and herself feel small.
'Putting that aside, if I resell just the ones I got today...'
She was mentally calculating the dishes' value against her son's loan interest when the phone rang.
"Maid! Phone for you! Ngh!"
Watching Oh Seolhwa effortlessly hoist what looked like an incredibly heavy dish set, the maid's heart skipped a beat.
"Oh, ma'am! Let me handle that..."
"Never mind that! The phone, the phone!"
"Y-yes, right away!"
The maid rushed over and picked up. After hearing the caller out, she gulped.
"Wh-what did you just say? H-hello? Hello?"
Tu-tu-tu.
The line had cut off ages ago, but she pretended otherwise while gauging Oh Seolhwa's reaction. Soon, Oh Seolhwa finished moving the dishes, rubbed her neck, and approached.
"Is the chairman not coming home tonight either?"
"Oh dear, yes... His secretary called. He has people to meet late again..."
Oh Seolhwa nodded nonchalantly.
"Can't be helped, then. Will you join me for dinner tonight, maid?"
"Of course, ma'am. Can't let all this delicious food go to waste. Freshly caught abalone today, oh my."
"Hee-hee. Take home whatever's left, like always. Actually, there will be leftovers—we don't have big appetites like that man."
"I'm so grateful, ma'am. Thanks to you, my boy is thrilled every day."
The maid, who'd been tense, relaxed again.
It was all thanks to Oh Seolhwa.
Maybe that's why she got a bit carried away, overdoing it more than usual.
"Honestly, the chairman's too much. You prepare breakfast and dinner every day for such a beautiful lady as yourself, and he still stays out whenever he feels like it."
She regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. Fortunately, Oh Seolhwa didn't seem upset.
"Thanks for saying so. But, maid."
"Yes?"
"That's his job, too."
The maid flinched.
It was time to chime in supportively, but her lips wouldn't move.
Instead, Oh Seolhwa kept talking on her own.
"Meeting all sorts of people steadily... Even at his age, it's impressive enough to make you say so. That's why Oh Cheolho still shines."
"..."
"He sparkles, so women keep flocking to him."
"..."
"The key is who owns that gem. Hee-hee, I'm actually glad these days. He calls ahead on nights he won't make it home? It's all because he's jealous of our brilliant son occasionally calling me."
The maid looked baffled.
Oh Seolhwa shrugged as if it were nothing new.
"Speaking of our brilliant son brings her to mind. There's Oh Hana, the chairman's daughter from another woman. I wonder how she's doing now."
"D-daughter from another woman?"
This was like some morning soap opera...
Unlike the trembling, flustered maid, Oh Seolhwa stayed calm.
"Yes. When I first saw her, I couldn't think well of her."
"Why not?"
Oh Seolhwa sighed deeply.
"She seemed twice as dim-witted as I'd imagined. And she wasn't even that young—17? 18? Around there. I'd steeled myself to accept her anyway. Tsk."
"..."
"Our son had no choice but to tutor her on the chairman's orders. But with no news... She's a real handful, it seems. I'm seriously considering stuffing her with cash and shipping her overseas before she tarnishes the family image."
"R-really?"
That was the best supportive response she could muster.
Watching the quaking maid, Oh Seolhwa smiled kindly.
"Oh dear, I've kept you standing at the table with all this uncomfortable talk. Sorry—sit and eat."
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
The maid started with the fresh abalone and savored exquisite fish flesh that drew gasps of delight with every bite, yet had no leisure to truly enjoy it.
Her throat kept closing up.
"By the way, I'm chattering away because he's not here. Normally, I have to stay quiet at the table when he is. I'll give you a bonus later, so bear with me, maid."
"Oh, of course."
"Hee-hee. You called him harsh earlier. He's mellowed a bit lately—must be the times. It used to be worse. Back then, I'd rise at dawn alone, with no maid or allies, preparing over ten courses..."
One thing was clear.
This was the kind of woman who ran a top household.
Today, too, the maid had to listen to Oh Seolhwa until the meal ended.
Mentally exhausted, but the pay made it worthwhile. Picturing her son's happy face, the maid dutifully chimed in as best she could.
Stunned by the unexpected words, Oh Hana's mouth gaped wide.
In that moment, Han Aebom spoke up.
"You must've felt something was off, too. All that creampieing, and no pregnancy yet. If it were just one girl, maybe. Could be her issue. But three? No, even before that."
Locking eyes with Han Aebom, Oh Hana shuddered reflexively.
"You've lived with Hyunwoo the longest here, so you know best. It's not just contraception—his stamina, his libido. Right?"
You're not that dumb, are you?
That look left Oh Hana speechless for a moment. She glanced sideways—Yoon Sua was nodding as if it were obvious.
It was a shock.
Gasp! Shit. Was I the only one blissfully thinking he was just amazing?
Oh Hana was genuinely shaken.
Honestly, she'd long forgotten about Kim Hyunwoo sleeping with bar girls.
It was that big a shock.
Thinking back, a man's dick didn't suddenly get that vigorous at 29.
Why... why did it take Aebom unnie spelling it out for me to realize?
As she puzzled it out, Oh Hana clamped both hands over her mouth.
Why? Because she was that much of an idiot.
Crazy! I... I really was a fool.
Her high school days at the bottom of the class? She'd always chalked it up to lack of effort... Even if her brain was dim, real study would've gotten her to average at least. Those convictions crumbled.
"W-wait. I'm dizzy..."
"You okay, Hana?"
"No, not okay. For real."
Oh Hana leaned her head back against Yoon Sua's chest. Even resting on the soft cushion, the world spun.
Another shock.
She'd firmly believed she had the strongest mentality in this studio apartment. Turns out hers was the frailest.
"Ugh, I'm going nuts. Feels like everything I've clung to is collapsing."
Seeing Oh Hana half in panic, Han Aebom spoke dryly.
"Kids like you who've read one book are always the loudest, most confident."
"Oof! That hit my bones. Feels like it really struck deep."
Clutching her ribs, Oh Hana shot up.
"Hold on. My head's still a mess. Let's go one by one."
"Fine. But first—no more casual talk. Me using it with you is only because you insisted. Don't forget—I never permitted it from you."
"Yes, unnie..."
Oh Hana thought:
That level of stubbornness would make a bull weep.
"Anyway! Yeah. Hyunwoo oppa's a bit unique? Special? What word fits...?"
Seeing Oh Hana's newfound lack of self-confidence, Han Aebom let out a small sigh.
"Both work. And don't worry about my feelings. In my eyes, you're not sharp enough to change like Hyunwoo."
"So I'll be a fool forever... Argh! Anyway, assuming oppa's special, from what you said about official wife and all, you're already thinking marriage?"
She figured it'd be a tough question.
But Han Aebom didn't waver a bit.
"Right. I've told Grandpa already. Everything's riding on this man. Even if Hyunwoo and I don't work out, I'll never meet another before I die."
Crazy bitch.
That phrase popped up first hearing Han Aebom.
I thought that described me.
For the first time in her life, Oh Hana realized proverbs rang true.
The one that came to mind: Empty carts rattle loudest.
And she was that empty cart.