Chapter 10
âWhat are you talking about? Youâre really leaving the house? For real?â
Youngsuk couldnât understand what was happening. Everything had unfolded so suddenly.
âYes, Mother. And I wonât say thank you for everything. I just hope you stay healthy and live a long, long life.â
âYouâre not joking, are you? You didnât plan this together to trick me and move out, did you? Donât even dream of it. As long as Iâm alive, there will be no separation.â
Hyunseo let out a small laugh. She clasped her hands together, stood up straight, and put on a gentle, perfectly polite smile.
âMother, thereâs absolutely nothing like that, so please donât worry.â
Youngsuk felt uncomfortable with Hyunseoâs unusually calm and confident attitude. Seeing Driver Park carrying luggage up and down the stairs, it really did look like they were leaving.
Spotting Doha coming down the stairs with a suitcase, Youngsuk asked him urgently.
âDoha, is this real? Sheâs really leaving, isnât she? Youâre not actually getting divorced, are you?â
âYes.â
Doha answered with a single word.
Youngsuk pressed him, frustrated by his vague response.
âYouâre not trying to fool me, are you?â
âNo. For now, just let her do what she wants.â
Doha spoke bluntly, his face expressionless.
Youngsuk felt flustered. She had thought Hyunseo had changed latelyâspeaking up calmly instead of staying silent. But divorce?
Our Doha used to love her to deathâŚ
âIf you leave now, donât even think about coming back to this house. Weâre a respectable familyâwe donât allow people to come and go as they please. If you apologize now, Iâll forgive you.â
âMother, Iâm truly touched by your wordsâbut I wonât be coming back, so thereâs no need to forgive me. Goodbye.â
âOh, Iâll live perfectly well without seeing you. But since youâre leaving on your own, donât you dare cling to us for alimony. I wonât let it slide.â
Youngsuk was already drawing a line, worried Hyunseo might demand money.
âMother, pleaseâjust stop!â
Doha finally snapped, but Youngsukâs mind was elsewhere.
She has nothing. If she files a lawsuit, she might take somethingâŚ
Hyunseo simply smiled faintly.
âI wonât be asking for alimony. I already signed the divorce papers and gave them to Doha, so you donât need to worry.â
Youngsuk turned to her son and raised her voice.
âYou heard that, Doha. If you give her a single won, I wonât stay quiet. She did nothing but lower our familyâs dignityâdonât you dare give her money.â
Doha stared at his mother in shock.
âMother, why are you like this? This is our issue. Iâll handle it.â
Hyunseo stepped in, smiling with quiet scorn.
âI may not have much, but I do have property my mother left me. I wonât starve even if I rest for a while. Iâm still youngâI can live well anywhere. I worked hard even in this house, so why wouldnât I manage elsewhere?â
âYouâ! Are you done talking?â
âYou fired all the housemaids because of me. If you canât hire someone today, youâll have to do the housework yourself. Or call your beloved future daughter-in-law. Goodbye.â
Hyunseo smiled brightly and bowed politely, then headed for the door.
Just before leaving, she suddenly turned around.
âOh, right. Motherâyour precious son will be a divorced man now. Didnât you like Chairman Choiâs second daughter? If sheâs still unmarried, maybe ask if sheâd like to become your daughter-in-law. Or was it Chairman Kwakâs third daughter?â
She spoke sweetly, deliberately provocative.
âYou mentioned so many families I canât even remember them all. I hope you find the perfect daughter-in-law after I leave and live happily ever after. Though I wonder which family would send their daughter to a house like this.â
Youngsukâs legs buckled. Her blood pressure surged, her neck stiffening.
Her own son didnât even stop his wifeâhe only tried to restrain his mother.
âThat woman is cheating! She must have another manâotherwise how could she dare leave like this!â
âMother, not all women live like you do. Donât judge me through your lens. I respected you only because you were Dohaâs motherânot because you deserved it.â
Hyunseo struck a long-buried nerve.
Youngsuk went speechless.
Everyone who knew her past knew the truthâbut no one dared mention it. She had lived pretending to be a refined lady.
For the first time, her daughter-in-law had exposed it outright.
Youngsuk collapsed onto the floor.
After throwing her final bomb, Hyunseo walked outside. Doha followed.
âIâll come with you to Seocho-dong.â
Hyunseo looked at him for a moment.
âNo. Just go with Driver Park. You should go to work.â
âCall me when you arrive.â
âNo. Iâll keep my phone off today. Just text me once the divorce is filed.â
Doha held her hand tightly, an ominous feeling creeping in.
âIâll talk to my parents as soon as possible and come to Seocho-dong.â
âDonât push yourself. Just text me when itâs done.â
As the car pulled away, Doha stood frozen.
He finally realizedâthe one person who had always been on his side had closed her heart.
Unlike the crowded waiting room, the exam room was quiet except for the babyâs strong heartbeat.
âThe babyâs heart is healthy, butâŚâ
The doctor tilted his head, staring at the monitor.
âDoctor, please get a clear picture of the center. I need to show my mother-in-law that itâs a boy.â
Hyemi said excitedly.
She had rushed in early for a 3D ultrasound. After hearing it was a boy, she had already received giftsâincluding an alligator-skin Hermès Birkin.
She was hoping for a Chanel crossbody next.
After the exam, the doctor handed over the photos.
âThe baby is growing well. And you should prepare pink clothes.â
âWhat? Pink?â
Hyemiâs eyes widened.
Her husband, Juhyuk, stared at the photo.
âDoctor, where exactly is it? I need to explain it to my mom.â
The doctor laughed awkwardly.
âWell⌠the baby is a beautiful little princess.â
Hyemiâs face drained of color.
âYou said it was a boy!â
âThat can happen sometimes. But I donât think thereâll be any reversal.â
Outside the room, Hyemi panicked.
âWhat do I do? What do I tell Mother?â
âI like daughters too,â Juhyuk said cheerfully. âIf she looks like you, sheâll be pretty.â
Hyemi glared at him.
âDo you not know how obsessed she is with grandsons?â
âIâll talk to her. Iâll say daughters are better.â
Hyemi wasnât convinced at all.






