Chapter 28
Bora’s face was pale as she sat across from the doctor.
The doctor, who had been lifting and lowering his glasses while examining the chart, let out a small sigh.
“These days, medical technology is very advanced. And considering the Chairman is quite healthy for his age, he should recover well with surgery and treatment.”
“Right? It’s not in a terribly bad state, is it?”
After Kang Moon’s disgraceful incident, Chairman Han had been admitted to the hospital. While he was there, he decided to undergo the health checkup he had long postponed.
For his age, everything else looked good—but he was diagnosed with stage-one colon cancer. And Bora was the first to learn of it.
“It’s fortunate he had the checkup this time. If it had progressed to stage two, at his age, it could have been very dangerous.”
“That’s true. He’s so healthy, we might never have known.”
Encouraged by the doctor’s positive words, Bora felt somewhat reassured. She returned to the hospital room and carefully spoke to Chairman Han, who was unknowingly preparing for discharge.
“Grandfather… I think you’ll need to stay in the hospital a few more days.”
“Why? I’m itching to go home.”
“They found a tumor in your colon. They say you’ll need surgery.”
“What? A tumor?”
“Yes. It’s nothing too serious… but they say it needs to be removed through surgery.”
“Bora.”
“Yes?”
She looked at him, startled when he called her name.
“You’re saying it’s cancer?”
“Huh? N–No, I mean, yes—”
Bora was terrible at lying. Her face had already stiffened before she even entered the room.
Chairman Han sighed, as if he had expected it.
“At my age, there’s no such thing as a person without at least one illness. I’ve lived long enough.”
“What are you saying? It’s just a polyp—well, technically stage one! It’s early. They said if you have surgery and treatment, you’ll be completely cured. So please don’t say things like that!”
At his self-deprecating words, Bora raised her voice in protest.
“The residents at our senior town all live with various illnesses too. But I see every day that with proper treatment and healthy habits, even elderly people get better. So please don’t talk weakly like that. Starting today, I’ll monitor you even more closely. You’d better prepare to become even healthier!”
With both hands planted firmly on her hips, Bora looked unusually strict and determined.
A faint smile tugged at Chairman Han’s lips as he watched her.
Would Se-eun have looked like that if she had stayed by my side?
He suddenly thought of the daughter he had cut ties with long ago.
He had sent her to France to study fashion. Then, out of nowhere, she announced she wanted to marry an African man.
He had opposed it fiercely, saying it would only happen over his dead body. In response, she declared they should sever ties—and truly walked away without looking back, choosing her own life.
Perhaps it really was time for him to die; regrets from the past flooded him like a rising tide.
What I regret most… is turning Kang Moon and Kang Yoon into what they are now.
He even wondered whether he should reveal the secret about blood ties he had intended to take to his grave.
“Grandfather. Did you hear me? Hello?”
“Yes, yes. I understand. I’ll have to live long—if only because I’m afraid of my granddaughter-in-law.”
“You must live long. If you say weak things like that, I’ll be very upset.”
“Alright, enough nagging. Could you go home and bring me some books from my study? Since I’ll be staying longer, I’ll need a few things.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back. Please write down what you need.”
He scribbled a short list and handed it to her. Bora promised to return quickly and left the room.
“At least I’m fortunate to have such a pretty and capable granddaughter-in-law in my later years. I just wish I could see Se-eun again before I die…”
But finding Se-eun was not easy. She had disappeared completely.
He had assumed she was in France, but when he inquired about her through an old friend over ten years ago, he learned she had moved to the United States.
“It’s all my fault. I should have just let her live happily…”
Life is short, and regret is long.
Thinking he had realized that far too late, Chairman Han picked up his phone.
“Ah, Attorney Kim? It’s me. Have you been well? I need to draft a will. No, nothing serious. I’m just getting old—it’s about time I prepared. I’ll draft something roughly, so come by when you have time and take a look.”
When Bora arrived home, she stepped inside holding the note Chairman Han had given her.
“…It’s been a while.”
She spotted Kang Moon standing there—he had been hiding in his room for days—and greeted him first.
“…Grandfather?”
“He’s okay. No—he’s not okay.”
“What do you mean by that?”
If you’re going to speak casually, do it. If you’re going to be formal, then be formal.
Bora shot Kang Moon a sidelong glance at his inconsistent tone.
“Grandfather has colon cancer. Fortunately, it’s not severe, so they say he’ll be fine after surgery and treatment… but at his age, there are no guarantees.”
Kang Moon’s face hardened.
At least he looks worried. As his grandson, he should reflect on what he’s done.
Bora brushed past the stunned Kang Moon and entered Chairman Han’s study.
As she searched for the books listed on the note, Kang Moon disappeared—likely returning to his room.
“Bora, you’re here?”
Carrying books and miscellaneous items, she stepped out to be greeted by Jin Hyun-sook.
“Yes. Grandfather needs to stay in the hospital a bit longer, so I came to pack some things.”
“Wasn’t he being discharged today?”
“Well… he was diagnosed with stage-one colon cancer, so he needs surgery.”
“What? Colon cancer?”
Seeing Jin Hyun-sook’s face turn pale, Bora quickly waved her hands.
“But it’s early stage! Thankfully it’s not serious!”
“Still… oh my… he’s always been so healthy, and now cancer…”
“The doctor said with surgery and proper care, he’ll be fine.”
“Ah… I’ve been so distracted by Kang Moon lately that I haven’t paid enough attention to Father… What should I do…”
“Oh no, it’s not your fault. And it’s early stage, remember? I’ll take good care of him at the hospital, so please don’t worry too much.”
Bora supported Jin Hyun-sook, who looked as if she might collapse, and helped her sit on the sofa.
“People his age overcome things like this all the time. Medical care is excellent these days. So please don’t worry too much. He’ll live a long life.”
“Yes. He must… Oh, the herbal medicine Father ordered has arrived.”
“Herbal medicine?”
“Yes. The kind that helps you conceive.”
“Ah…”
Bora’s ears instantly turned bright red.
Oh no… I feel guilty for no reason.
There had been no clause about having children in the marriage contract.
Neither Bora nor Kang Yoon had considered children—though they had thought about the marital relationship itself. After all, children didn’t suit a marriage with a fixed term.
“Here, try it.”
Jin Hyun-sook snipped open the corner of a transparent pouch decorated with images of medicinal herbs and handed it to Bora.
A brownish liquid with a familiar yet unfamiliar herbal scent wafted up.
“Ah… I’m not very good with herbal medicine…”
“Still, this one is excellent. I drank it when I conceived Kang Moon.”
That made Bora want to drink it even less—but she couldn’t say so and accepted the pouch.
“Ugh…”
Holding her breath, she gulped it down, her brow tightly furrowed.
A small smile appeared on Jin Hyun-sook’s lips.
“Just as Father says, prioritize having a child. You never know what tomorrow brings. He should see his great-grandchild while he’s still alive.”
“Yes… I understand…”
Bora forced an awkward smile, making a promise she knew would never be fulfilled, silently apologizing in her heart.
“Then I’ll head back to the hospital. Please call me if anything happens.”
“Alright. I’ll visit tomorrow.”
After Bora left the house and Jin Hyun-sook returned to her room, Kang Moon finally emerged from the first-floor bathroom.
“…What a mess. What a mess.”
His eyebrows twisted as he looked at the box of tonic on the table.
“Have a child? Who says?”
A cold gleam darkened his eyes with a vile shadow.
Picking up the herbal tonic box, Kang Moon walked out the front door.
This garbage?
He might as well feed it to a dog.
