WRL 7

Chapter: 7

An Affair Like a Tattoo

Oh Jinhee hated that most of all. The fact that she had once been a mistress—and that because of it, Hyunseo was still the subject of whispers even now. That was why she at least wanted to bring in a daughter-in-law from a respectable family.

She had said it so often that Hyunseo’s ears must have grown calluses. If she wasn’t from a proper family, don’t even look at her. Don’t waste your time on women who throw themselves at men with nothing but their bodies, fluttering in like moths to a flame in the name of love.

And yet, despite believing in him—despite having such a smart, admirable son—he had ultimately fallen for a woman who had nothing but her body to offer. Jinhee thought it better not to look at her at all; she felt as if she might slap her across the face if she did. So she stood in front of the child for a long moment and said to Chairman Choi Pilseung,

“You go upstairs and see her. Then come back down and we’ll leave together. I’ll stay and spend some time looking at my grandson.”

“All right. I’ll go up and come right back down.”

Jinhee felt relieved when she saw that the child in front of her looked exactly like Hyunseo had as a boy. If he had resembled the mother—whose face she had never even seen—she might not have felt any affection for him.

But the child, at least, came to her immediately as her grandson. He reminded her of Hyunseo as a child—the only beacon of light that had sustained her life until now.

With a knock, Chairman Choi Pilseung entered the room. Taeyeon, sitting up to receive him, didn’t know what to do. She had never imagined the day would come when she would face the chairman in this state.

“Hello, Chairman.”

Sitting up straight, she greeted him politely. In a deep, weighty voice, he replied,

“Chairman? You should be calling me Father now. After giving birth to my grandson, how can you still call me Chairman?”

His words carried warmth, but his tone and eyes did not. His gaze felt cold and distant. Taeyeon clearly sensed it. He was a difficult man.

“Yes… Father.”

“That sounds better. I saw the baby. Yoonwoo, was it?”

“Yes. We’re registering his birth tomorrow.”

“I see. And what about the marriage registration?”

“We plan to do that tomorrow as well.”

Watching Hyunseo speak to Chairman Choi about the marriage registration, Taeyeon quietly inhaled. He hadn’t said a single word about that to her. She had vaguely assumed it after signing the contract, but the details of her own life had been entirely absorbed into Choi Hyunseo’s plans.

So that’s it. Tomorrow I become that man’s wife—and that child’s mother.

Listening to Hyunseo speak, Taeyeon felt anew what this contract truly meant. Her head grew heavy and she lowered it when the chairman’s voice rang out again.

“The baby is very handsome. You did well. I heard he came a little earlier than expected?”

“Yes. So he’s a bit small—under three kilograms. But he doesn’t need to be in an incubator, and they say he’s healthy.”

“That’s good. They say it’s better to give birth small and raise them big. The doctor told me there’s nothing wrong, even if he was born small.”

“Yes.”

“He looks like you.”

The chairman looked satisfied. Beside him, Taeyeon kept her lips tightly closed. She was relieved the baby resembled Hyunseo. Ever since Yoonwoo was born, thoughts of that woman had been pushed aside by thoughts of Yoonwoo and what lay ahead.

That woman—with the large, clear eyes and gentle smile.

She had thought she would never be able to forget her. But since Yoonwoo’s birth, she hadn’t been able to think about her at all. Perhaps it was better to forget her completely.

“So when are you being discharged?”

“Tomorrow.”

“So soon?”

“Yes. There are no complications, so I’ll leave after two days like the other mothers.”

“I see.”

“I’ll recover at home. Please send Icheon-daeck.”

“Very well.”

Without further comment, Chairman Choi looked at Taeyeon once more and nodded.

“Take care of yourself.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“Mm.”

After he left, Taeyeon let out a long breath. Her body felt limp, as if it had frozen and thawed. Hyunseo returned after seeing the chairman off and looked at her, half out of it.

“Assistant Manager Min, I guess you’re not as good at acting as I thought.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not my major. It’s beyond my abilities.”

Hyunseo gave her a strange look.

“You do have some acting ability. As long as you focus on the situation and don’t confuse your role, you’ll do well. Still, what you showed wasn’t bad—but consider it encouragement to try harder.”

It felt like being evaluated after a project presentation. Taeyeon looked at him and asked about what she had just heard.

“Are we registering the marriage tomorrow?”

“It’s safer to do it quickly. We’ll submit the marriage and birth registrations together.”

“Yes.”

It was a one-sided notice. She had expected it from the moment she signed, yet somehow it left a bitter taste. Choi Hyunseo was steering her life. She had been the one to grant him that right. She was learning firsthand how hard it was to earn money.

“Once you’re discharged, Icheon-daeck will take care of Yoonwoo, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes.”

“She’s been at my family home since I was little. She’s a good cook and took care of me growing up. I think she’ll take good care of the baby.”

“I understand. Um… may I call you if I need something?”

“Do that. Though I doubt there will be any reason to contact me separately.”

It sounded like a warning not to call for personal matters.

“Yes, Director. I understand. But in case something urgent happens…”

“Urgent matters are usually handled by the people around you. If it’s about Yoonwoo, Icheon-daeck will be there. For anything else, Chief Hwang can help. If it’s something truly urgent beyond that, then call.”

It might have been kinder to simply say not to call at all.

The next day, she saw him in front of the neonatal unit during visiting hours. When she went down to see the baby, Choi Hyunseo was already standing there. The look in his eyes as he gazed at the child was so tender. It reminded her of how he had looked at that woman when she was dying.

What was he thinking as he looked at the baby?

The child left behind by the woman he loved. Was she really dead?

She was so curious. And whenever she thought about whether that woman was alive or dead, Taeyeon felt a jolt of fear.

Did she want Yoonwoo’s biological mother to live—or to die?

Get a grip. My thoughts don’t matter. They have no impact. I’m not here because I wished for this to happen, or because I wanted Choi Hyunseo’s woman to die. This is work. I just changed jobs.

And yet sometimes, when she wondered if that woman had died, she was frightened by the possibility that part of her wished it were so. Taeyeon approached him at the neonatal unit and bowed her head.

“Hello.”

She intentionally didn’t say “Director,” but he turned to her and said quietly,

“Isn’t that a bit awkward for a morning greeting to your husband?”

“I’ll correct it.”

“That sounds just as strange.”

Having nothing to say, Taeyeon bit her lip and turned to look at the baby. Yoonwoo seemed even more handsome than yesterday. His once-reddish face had lightened, his features becoming bright and distinct. His thick eyebrows, like Hyunseo’s, stood out more clearly.

“The father is very attentive. He comes morning and evening to see the baby.”

At the nurse’s comment, Taeyeon smiled faintly. He hadn’t visited her room last night—but he had come to see the baby. Of course he had. There was no reason for him to come see her on purpose.

Her existence was for Yoonwoo. She had been hired to present, publicly, the image of a child being raised by a proper birth mother. So why did she feel hurt?

“You’re being discharged today. A nurse will give you instructions shortly.”

“Yes.”

Hyunseo, who had been listening quietly, turned to Taeyeon.

“Have a safe discharge. I’ll see you at home.”

“Yes.”

He left for work after saying goodbye. Taeyeon watched him until he disappeared into the elevator.

If he wasn’t going to make her heart flutter, he shouldn’t have been so handsome. What was she even doing? Was she doing the right thing? At least she didn’t have to worry about her mother’s hospital bills anymore.

To escape these tangled emotions, the only way was to force herself to focus on that fact—that her mother’s medical expenses were covered.

Hyunseo’s house, which she visited for the first time after discharge, was nothing like she had imagined. She had assumed it would be an apartment. She hadn’t expected a young man living alone to reside in a detached house like this. She had never been to such a wealthy home in her life.

As Taeyeon opened the gate and climbed the marble steps, a thought surfaced.

Does Choi Hyunseo really not remember me?

She vividly remembered every part of his body—the firm chest, the taut muscles, the powerful weight beneath his abs. Whenever she recalled the hot tremor she had felt when their bodies became one, warmth pooled low in her stomach.

He had gripped the back of her neck with one hand, touching her as if he knew every inch of her body. His lips, hot against her chest. The scenes etched into her eyelids would not leave, tormenting her endlessly.