Chapter 5. Return
It was cowardly, but Yua chose to run away.
They said it was a respiratory illness that caused the child’s bronchial tubes to contract and block the airway. That was the cause of death.
“I’ll handle it.”
She had always thought he was cold and heartless.
But Lee Jun, so accustomed to making decisions, took care of all the funeral arrangements on behalf of Yua, who stared blankly into space with empty eyes.
He even went as far as to shield her from hearing or seeing anything related to Sejin’s death.
“…It’s over.”
Still, Lee Jun’s words kept echoing in her ears.
During the day, Yua would lean against the jujube tree planted for Sejin, and at night, she curled up like a shrimp on the child’s bed, staring into the darkness without sleeping.
Lee Jun didn’t try to push or console her—he simply stayed by her side in silence.
“I hate you…”
If only he hadn’t existed, if only they hadn’t gotten married, she wouldn’t have known such sorrow and pain.
“I loathe you. Every time I see you, Kang Lee Jun, I get chills. You disgust me.”
He shouldn’t have suggested that kind of contractual marriage in the first place.
She told him to just leave her alone.
They shouldn’t have met at all.
Words of blame for him poured endlessly from Yua’s mouth. Even though she knew in her head that it wasn’t his fault, she couldn’t stop herself from saying hurtful things.
She needed someone to blame for the deep and consuming grief. Anyone would do.
“…Rest.”
His voice, laced with emotions she couldn’t distinguish—pity, compassion?—provoked her.
Even though she kept spewing hateful words, Yua also hated herself for not being able to stop.
Hateful Kang Lee Jun, unshaken Kang Lee Jun.
His stoic demeanor, showing not even a trace of sorrow, disappointed and deeply saddened Yua.
The more that happened, the more she longed for Sejin.
It was the day they held the 49th-day memorial service for the child at Bomunsa, where Chairman Kang often went for peace of mind.
“Do you want to wait in the car?”
She hated the piercingly clear blue sky, and she resented the sight of married couples holding their children’s hands while visiting the temple.
Instead of answering Lee Jun, Yua turned her head away.
As leaves rustled against each other, she suddenly heard an auditory hallucination of Sejin calling her, and she wrapped her arms tightly around her shoulders.
“Mommy…”
Sejin appeared in front of Yua regardless of time or space.
In a playroom filled with colorful ball pit balls, he would throw a blue ball with a laugh, or sit across from her at the table, picking out broccoli from bulgogi with a fork and smiling sweetly.
“Sejin…”
Yua still couldn’t let the child go from her heart. She probably never would.
Chairman Kang, who had lost his grandchild, climbed into the car with slumped shoulders and white hair fluttering.
As the car disappeared into the distance, kicking up pale dust, Yua gazed blankly after it, then lifted her head to look at the lush green landscape of the mountain.
Standing on the 108 uneven stone steps, Yua looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
Then it happened.
With the urgent sound of footsteps behind her, Sejin’s voice rang clearly.
“Mom… Ah…”
At the frightened tone in the child’s voice, Yua instinctively turned her head—and her body tilted and fell.
As she floated in midair, falling down the stairs, the only things she remembered were the sound of Sejin’s voice playing from a phone recording, a pair of black shoes, and a bitter laugh.
And a familiar scent.
Wallpaper on the ceiling.
A crooked wall clock.
A dog-shaped pen she had thrown away long ago, now missing one ear.
“Is this a dream?”
Why had she woken up in the bed of the servant quarters?
Was this a life-flashing-before-her-eyes moment?
Even after slowly closing and opening her eyes again, the ceiling remained unchanged. Fixating on it, Yua suddenly sat up in shock.
“It’s… not a dream?”
The room looked exactly like before.
Objects she had long forgotten were scattered everywhere—things she had thrown away at Lee Jun’s insistence after marriage.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the room, checked the date on the calendar, then dropped onto the bed with a loud thud.
It was a dream, after all.
“Is it a wish… or a nightmare?”
Of all days, it had to be the day Lee Jun first proposed the contract marriage.
If only it had been one day earlier or later.
Placing her arm over her eyes, Yua took a deep breath.
“Well… I’ll wake up soon.”
Dreams always end eventually.
Soon, there would be a summons from Chairman Kang.
Yua bit her lip hard.
“In this dream, I’ll never start anything with Kang Lee Jun.”
Yua, who remembered the key events of the future, now held her greatest weapon.
And she planned to use it to avoid ever falling for Kang Lee Jun.
“Never again… no more love.”
Her previous life had left only scars.
“She must still be in shock.”
At the soft, mature voice, Yua fiddled with her fingernails.
“Ha… This is absurd.”
As she had remembered, there was indeed a summons from Chairman Kang. Lee Jun, seated beside her, lazily crossed his long legs.
“Everyone’s busy with the engagement ceremony today, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
He had once insisted on brushing his hair back to appear more mature, but now it hung over his forehead, looking unfamiliar.
Across from them, Chairman Kang’s greying hair still had strands of black. Yua remained disoriented.
The dream wouldn’t end—it was vividly continuing like reality.
Then, Chairman Kang looked at her and asked,
“I called you here to confirm something. I thought Lee Jun was getting engaged today to Jaehee from Hanseo Daily. But now he says you two are in love?”
“Ah…”
“Is that true?”
Hearing his tone and seeing his face, memories came flooding back.
Chairman Kang’s slouched shoulders were half straightened, and Lee Jun’s sharp gaze was even more intense.
The large, intimidating office doors, the three cooled tea cups, and Lee Jun’s impatiently raised eyebrow.
Yua remembered what came next.
“First, let me express my condolences to Secretary Yoon for her efforts and sacrifice. I’ve heard that you both found comfort in each other after losing your fathers in the accident. On a day like this, I see no reason to oppose.”
Reciting his words flawlessly in her head, Yua shivered.
She had heard these exact words four years ago.
And the 24-year-old Yoon Yua, unable to refuse Chairman Kang’s proposal, entered a contract marriage with Kang Lee Jun—and later had Sejin.
She felt like the past was repeating itself in front of her eyes. And the cold look from Lee Jun still stung.
Chairman Kang spoke again, his tone composed.
“Get married to Director Kang… to our Lee Jun.”
Yua’s father had died in a car crash, steering away to avoid a dozing driver crossing the line.
Most would instinctively steer to protect themselves, but Yua’s father had tried to shield his boss—Lee Jun’s father—who was in the back seat.
As a result, Lee Jun’s father survived in the ICU for six months, giving the Taegyeom Group time to finalize their succession plan.
“Secretary Yoon did a great job. She gave us time to settle taxes and inheritance issues.”
After the accident, Lee Jun took over as heir, overcoming opposition from his aunt.
Though no one doubted his ability, rumors about his personality circulated—spread by his aunt.
Chairman Kang believed Lee Jun’s sharpness was a business asset. But to quell the stock market rumors, he needed a good public image.
He had arranged an engagement with Jaehee from Hanseo Daily. But on the day of the event, Lee Jun opposed it.
“We’re in love. I’ll only marry someone I choose.”
Chairman Kang smiled with crinkled eyes.
Showing a more human side that people liked wouldn’t be a bad move for the group’s image.
[Taegyeom Group heir to marry chauffeur’s daughter!]
[A company that stands by its own.]
[Romance of the century – overcoming class difference.]
He planned to use even his grandchild’s marriage to polish the group’s image.
To Yua, who had lost her entire family, it seemed like a decent offer. Hanseo Daily could be compensated in another way.
Chairman Kang was certain she wouldn’t refuse.
“I… I don’t want to.”
But Yua answered him with a firm expression.
Lee Jun was equally stunned.
“You… don’t want to marry our Lee Jun?”
“No, Chairman.”
He hadn’t misheard.
Chairman Kang looked at her in disbelief, then turned toward Lee Jun. A scoffing smile twisted on Lee Jun’s lips, provoking the chairman further.
“You’re laughing? You think this is funny?”
With trembling hands, he reached for the jade Go stones beside him.
The smooth, milky white stones slipped through his wrinkled fingers. He almost threw them at Lee Jun, but held back.
“Ahem.”
Perhaps he decided not to embarrass his grandson. Chairman Kang cleared his throat and continued.
But his disappointment was clear.
“I thought he was flawless. But… is there something wrong with him, like the rumors say…?”
