Where Is the Pregnant Woman?
The television was deep into the election-night coverage of the 15th presidential race.
"—The exit-poll results for the 15th presidential election will be announced shortly. Exit polls were conducted at 120 polling stations across the nation’s cities and provinces, surveying three thousand voters. The margin of error is……"
Everyone had gathered at the Pyeongchang-dong Residence to watch. Hwang Do-beom approached Chairman Lee Tak-hyeon.
"Who won?"
Counting had not even begun, and the exit polls themselves had yet to be released. Yet even at this hour the Ilhyeon Group already knew the outcome.
Hwang Do-beom answered in a voice loud enough for everyone seated in front of the television to hear.
"Candidate Kim Dae-sang’s support is confirmed at just over forty percent. The gap with the ruling-party candidate is roughly 1.5 percent."
"1.5 percent……"
Lee Tak-hyeon’s mouth twisted into a crooked smile as he nodded.
"He paid a steep price for his pride."
Everyone in the room knew exactly whose pride the Chairman meant.
"And the man who bolted from the ruling party—how much did he pull?"
At Lee Jeong-eun’s question Hwang Do-beom gave a bitter smile and turned.
"They say he secured nineteen percent."
"Nineteen percent?"
Lee Jeong-eun clicked her tongue.
"That’s not just steep—that’s ruinous. Kim Dae-sang ought to buy that defector dinner at least."
"Dinner? If that candidate hadn’t split off, most of those nineteen percent would have gone to the ruling party. Honestly, failing to keep him inside the tent and still losing—that’s almost impressive in its own way."
With the gap between Kim Dae-sang and the ruling-party candidate a mere 1.5 percent, the fact that a third candidate from the broader ruling camp had taken nineteen percent left both Lee Jeong-eun and Lee Sang-jong stunned.
Lee Chang-jong, determined not to be left out, tossed in his own remark.
"But even with the IMF bailout exploding, the combined ruling-camp vote still came in close to fifty percent. Doesn’t that feel pretty remarkable too?"
"Our situation’s a little special. We’re still technically at war—can’t be helped."
Cha Yeong-su joined the conversation as well.
While they traded comments, the television announced the exit-poll results.
The broadcast stressed that 1.5 percent fell inside the margin of error and that no premature prediction should be made. Inside the Ilhyeon Group, however, the conclusion had already been reached before a single ballot was counted.
"Send Candidate Kim Dae-sang a congratulatory telegram—and add that I would like to meet him as soon as his schedule allows."
"Yes, sir. I’ll contact them at once."
Lee Tak-hyeon rose the moment Hwang Do-beom acknowledged the order.
"I’m tired. I’m turning in. Stay and watch if you like."
"Father, already? The television said the result might still……"
"It won’t change."
He spoke with near-absolute certainty and turned away. Lee Jeong-eun pouted at his retreating back.
"If there’s nothing left to see, we could at least talk company business while we’re all here. How much longer are we supposed to sit around doing nothing? Chang-jong, don’t you feel the same? Aren’t you going crazy?"
She had expected the count to drag on for four or five hours. That was precisely why she had come to Pyeongchang-dong tonight—determined to corner her father about when she might return to work. With everyone forced to sit together for hours instead of bolting after a quick weekend meal, the moment had seemed ideal. Yet Lee Tak-hyeon had simply declared there was nothing left to see and left.
Having come with purpose and gained nothing, Lee Jeong-eun felt the frustration rise.
"Oppa. Oppa, say something for me. The eldest brother is supposed to look after his little sister—who else will?"
She turned the plea toward Lee Mun-jong. The situation was too desperate for pride.
"Hey, Oppa. Get me back into the company, okay? Please?"
If she could not extract a firm answer from her father, she would settle for one from Mun-jong. She pressed him again. Yet Lee Mun-jong had sat in silence since arriving at Pyeongchang-dong, his face grim, offering not a single word.
"What, you don’t even want to talk about it? Why won’t you answer me?"
His silence stung; her voice turned barbed. Beside her, Cha Yeong-su tugged anxiously at her sleeve, but she ignored him and kept the sharp edge trained on her brother.
"Oppa, is talking to me that distasteful? Why leave a person hanging like this—because I’m a broken kite with a snapped string and not worth looking at?"
Even the barbs failed to draw a response. Lee Mun-jong simply stood.
"I’m leaving too. Do as you please."
"You’re leaving?"
"The result is already decided. What’s the point of watching?"
He turned on his heel.
"At least say something before you go……"
Lee Jeong-eun called after him, but he never looked back.
"Then I’ll take my leave as well."
Kim Seong-ho rose next. Lee Jeong-eun clicked her tongue at the sight of even the youngest son-in-law departing.
"This family is a complete mess. Now the youngest son-in-law gets up and leaves while the elders are still sitting?"
"Honey, don’t be like that. He must be busy."
Cha Yeong-su spoke up in Seong-ho’s defense. Lee Jeong-eun’s eyes narrowed into axe blades as she glared at her husband. Unfazed, Kim Seong-ho simply bowed and turned away. Lee Jeong-eun aimed her sarcasm at his retreating back for everyone to hear.
"Just because you’ve been doing well lately doesn’t mean you can forget your manners. Sooner or later everything comes back around. This isn’t your house—it’s ours. Don’t forget a son-in-law is only a guest."
Kim Seong-ho answered the taunt with a quiet smile. The smile only irritated her further; she scowled and looked away.
"—Counting for the 15th presidential election has just begun. The first returns are coming in from Siheung. With 0.3 percent of the ballots tallied there, Candidate Kim Dae-sang……"
Leaving the television’s fresh count behind him, Kim Seong-ho walked out of the Pyeongchang-dong house.
"Hyung-nim."
He crossed the courtyard quickly and called out to Lee Mun-jong just as the older man was about to climb into his car. Mun-jong paused with the door open and looked back.
"What is it?"
"Hyung-nim, get in first."
"Get in? Where do you think I’m going?"
"Arguing over whether the surgery went well or not is meaningless now."
"You—how do you……"
Lee Mun-jong’s face went white with shock. His hand trembled on the door frame. Kim Seong-ho spoke in a gentle, persuasive tone.
"Please get in first. We’ll talk once we’re moving."
The earlier protest about destinations died unspoken. Mun-jong climbed into the car; Seong-ho followed and instructed the driver.
"To the office."
"The office?"
Mun-jong stared at him in confusion. Why the company at this hour?
Seong-ho answered calmly.
"If we talk anywhere else, the Chairman will notice. It’s far more natural if we go to the office and later say we were formulating a response to the election results."
Mun-jong nodded.
"Yes…… that would be better."
Satisfied that he had been persuaded, Seong-ho told the driver to head for the company and patted Mun-jong’s shoulder.
"Hyung-nim, I’m here. You can rest easy."
Mun-jong looked at him with an expression that could not decide whether Seong-ho truly knew or not. He said nothing, only stared. Seong-ho smiled and thought to himself:
In the last life I was blindsided and took the hit without ever knowing. Not this time. I’ll move first. Only then will all of you dance in the palm of my hand.
He kept the thought locked away and simply smiled at Mun-jong.
The company building at midnight was utterly still. Every employee had gone home to cast a ballot and watch the returns; no one remained. Only the office of the Head of the Restructuring Headquarters blazed with light.
Kim Seong-ho set a cup of coffee he had brewed himself in front of Lee Mun-jong and took the seat opposite.
"No secretary, no one else in the building, so I made it myself. I hope it’s to your taste."
"It’s fine. Coffee isn’t about the taste anyway……"
Mun-jong took a sip.
"This is good enough."
He drank two more mouthfuls, set the cup down, and then simply stared into it, unable to begin. Seong-ho watched him for a moment, set his own cup aside, and spoke first.
"Where is the pregnant woman?"
"What?"
Mun-jong’s lips trembled as he looked up.
"You…… you know? How the hell did you……"
"Hyung-nim, how I know is not important. Where is the pregnant woman right now? Have you spoken with her? What does she want?"
"Why would I need to talk to her?"
Mun-jong turned his face away.
"Hyung-nim, this is not the time to dodge. Meeting the pregnant woman first is more important than anything."
"What did you say?"
"Only by meeting her can we prepare a response—whether the child is yours or not."
"It isn’t my child."
"Exactly."
Still facing the evasion, Seong-ho pressed on with quiet persuasion.
"That’s precisely why it matters. That woman will keep insisting you are the father. To prove otherwise we need a DNA test. What will you do if she refuses the test and simply demands recognition first? And have you considered what happens when the Chairman finds out?"
"That……"
"You haven’t thought it through, have you?"
Seong-ho sighed. Mun-jong’s voice came out defensive.
"I haven’t had the presence of mind……"
"I expected as much. Of course your judgment is clouded. Leave it to me. I’ll handle everything."
"You’ll handle it?"
"Hyung-nim, this is a race against time. With every nerve focused on the election, the Chairman still doesn’t know a pregnant woman exists. But once today passes, his attention will swing back to you, and then he will learn every detail."
"It is not my child!"
Mun-jong roared. Seong-ho did not so much as flinch; his voice stayed level and calm.
"What does that matter? Someone is trying to smear you. If the Chairman hears the story, he will be furious—that much is certain."
"Then…… what am I supposed to do?"
"Secure the pregnant woman as quickly as possible. Once the child is born, run a DNA test under our control and prove it is not yours. Not by the Chairman’s hand—by ours."
"By our hand?"
Mun-jong was beginning to yield. Seong-ho raised a hand.
"We must take the lead. That way, even when the Chairman eventually learns of it, we will have something to say. And if by some chance it turns out to be genuine……"
"It can’t be genuine!"
He clung to the denial until the end. Watching him, Seong-ho thought:
Yes—keep denying it to the bitter end. That way, when the child is born, your guilt will only grow heavier.
He knew the attitude would make everything worse, yet he pretended otherwise.
"Understood. We’ll proceed on the assumption that possibility does not exist."
Mun-jong exhaled in relief. At least someone was finally listening; the crushing pressure eased a fraction. Seong-ho stood. Mun-jong looked up.
"Why are you getting up?"
"The plan is set. We have to move as fast as possible, don’t we? Hyung-nim—after today it will be too late."
Mun-jong’s eyes widened; he nodded and rose as well.
"Yes. If not today…… there won’t be time."
Standing face-to-face, Seong-ho looked him straight in the eye and asked again.
"Where does she say the pregnant woman is?"
Unlike the last life, he intended to seize the initiative—and that meant getting the pregnant woman into his own hands.