Impossible Romance - Chapter 58

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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58.

As autumn deepened, the maple leaves in the Family Estate Garden blazed with even more breathtaking color. Chairman Kwon shifted his gaze from the window and noticed Han Seon-young seated before him.
“I heard from Ahn Jun-young that you’re looking for Jo Hwabek’s paintings. I brought a list—would you take a look and see if any of them appeal to you?”
Han Seon-young slid a catalog with crisp, high-quality reproductions across the table.
“Mm.”
Chairman Kwon leafed through the catalog one page at a time, examining each piece.
“Several are in our Gallery’s collection, and the rest are scattered across a few places. I’ve heard there’s an exhibition planned for next spring. You might consider waiting until then to make your purchase.”
Han Seon-young added her explanation in an even tone. Her relationship with her husband Kwon O-min was strained, but she got along reasonably well with her father-in-law Chairman Kwon. Sometimes she found him far easier to talk to than her husband, who seemed incapable of understanding her.
“He asked you to pass this on to me?”
“Yes.”
“That fool.”
Chairman Kwon flicked the catalog onto the table with a dismissive gesture.
“Did you ever ask him to do this?”
As Han Seon-young thought of Kwon O-min wasting her time, heat flared through her chest. Her incompetent husband had clearly misunderstood Chairman Kwon’s intentions and created another mess.
Han Seon-young felt a headache threatening to return and clenched her teeth.
“It seems he was looking for an excuse to go to you.”
“Pardon? What do you mean? You know how he is.”
Chairman Kwon naturally knew about Kwon O-min’s infidelity. They simply chose not to openly acknowledge it between them.
“He’s finally shown his true colors. The worthless fool—now he’s even using me as an excuse. I was willing to overlook it, but seeing your face, I realize I can’t anymore.”
“Ah, yes.”
Han Seon-young’s mind reeled momentarily at the sudden shift in Kwon O-min’s behavior.
“And Mother.”
“Yes, Father?”
“I apologize for raising such a worthless son.”
Han Seon-young was so startled by Chairman Kwon’s apology that she momentarily lost her words.
Chairman Kwon, who had wielded and managed the massive Seonjin Group with an iron grip, was known as a tiger of management—sharp and merciless even to his own family.
“If you say such things, Father, I hardly know how to respond.”
Han Seon-young, flustered, nearly broke into a cold sweat.
“I’ve never had the face to look at you, having raised such a disappointing son.”
“That’s Ahn Jun-young’s fault, not yours, Father. Please don’t say such things.”
Han Seon-young answered, uncertain where to place herself. Even as she faced this unfamiliar side of her intimidating father-in-law, her mind continued to turn, wondering if there was some hidden agenda.
“When I was young, my own son seemed the finest to me, and no daughter-in-law could measure up. But living this long, I’ve learned otherwise. There is a daughter-in-law more capable than my own son. That fool of a son was right when he said he had to marry you.”
“What? Ahn Jun-young said such a thing before the marriage?”
Han Seon-young’s eyes widened. She had always believed it was a loveless, strategic marriage—she never dreamed Kwon O-min had said anything like that.
“So you should trust your son’s judgment too. Don’t wait until you’re old like me to regret it.”
At Chairman Kwon’s words, Han Seon-young felt as though struck by lightning—her mind suddenly cleared. She thought she understood his true intention in summoning her today.
Chairman Kwon, who had shown no interest whatsoever in his children’s marriages, apparently knew everything that was happening behind the scenes. But the other party was the Villa caretaker’s daughter.
“Father, even so, the family status doesn’t match at all. There are people watching—surely this can’t happen.”
“Heh, that’s just what you think. What others say doesn’t matter. Besides, I’m friends with that villa keeper, so his granddaughter is my friend’s granddaughter too.”
“Still, even so….”
“I won’t force you. After all, he’s your son, not mine. But if you want to get a warm meal from your daughter-in-law later, you should think carefully about it.”
Chairman Kwon winked and smiled. Whether it was Chairman Kwon, Kwon O-min, or Kwon Seok-ha, they all had a knack for smoothly glossing over even serious matters like slippery eels.
“You’re right, Father. I’ll think about it.”
Han Seon-young let out an involuntary laugh.
Indeed, when her son had made up his mind, what good would it do to object now? Jun-hee, whom she’d watched since childhood, was clearly a good girl—nothing like the children these days.
Most of all, how could she possibly break Kwon Seok-ha’s stubbornness once he’d decided on something? He never wavered.
“Mother, go look at Jo Hwabek’s paintings and bring back a few pieces. Your eye is discerning enough.”
“Understood.”
Han Seon-young bowed quietly and left the Study Room.
As she recalled Chairman Kwon’s appearance from when he’d once been more fearsome than a tiger, a bittersweet feeling washed over her.
‘Has his vigor faded, or has he grown more flexible with time?’
She thought of her own aging face reflected in those passing years. The thought that she too might become so stubborn about her children’s marriages made her heart feel desolate.

***

I ran with all my might, but ultimately failed to catch Ahn Jun-young. The moment he saw Jun-hee, he bolted, and catching a man fleeing with such desperation was beyond my ability.
Watching Ahn Jun-young flee like that left Jun-hee’s heart heavy with unease. Even if it was because of money he’d borrowed from Kwon Seok-ha, running away like that didn’t suit Ahn Jun-young. He was the type to approach Jun-hee directly and demand money outright.
‘Where am I?’
Jun-hee looked around.
In my single-minded pursuit of catching Ahn Jun-young, I’d run several blocks away from the Company. The ice in the coffee I was holding had completely melted.
Jun-hee looked for another cafe nearby. It didn’t matter for me, but it seemed better to get fresh coffee for the other staff members.
A fairly neat cafe came into view in the direction of the Company. Small potted plants placed beneath clean glass windows caught my eye.
As I turned to enter and buy fresh coffee, I froze solid. My mother was inside the cafe. And she was with Kwon Seok-ha.
The moment I saw them both, I couldn’t think. I instinctively seemed to understand what was happening, but my feet wouldn’t move.
‘No, why are the two of them together?’
Just then, someone grabbed my arm.
“Hey, come here!”
A hushed, urgent voice—it was Ahn Jun-young. After fleeing so desperately before, he now approached and dragged Jun-hee away from the cafe into a narrow alley.
“Oppa, what’s going on? And why is Mom with the Executive Director?”
In the empty, narrow alley, Jun-hee demanded answers with a serious expression. Before Ahn Jun-young could even speak, dread and foreboding filled her. Could those dark suspicions actually be true?
“I was told not to tell you.”
Ahn Jun-young scratched his head and hesitated.
“Who? Who told you not to tell?”
Jun-hee’s heart grew urgent. Her heart raced, and she felt like she was losing her mind.
“Who else? The Executive Director. Just pretend you don’t know and let it go. It’s easier for everyone that way.”
Ahn Jun-young spoke slowly in a pitiful tone, trying to convince Jun-hee.
“Tell me what? Say it now. Otherwise, I’m going straight to the Executive Director.”
Jun-hee couldn’t let this situation pass.
“Look, I… borrowed some money. From the Executive Director.”
Ahn Jun-young lowered his gaze toward his feet, aware of his own shame as he glanced at Jun-hee.
“Why on earth? Why would you do that? There are plenty of places to borrow money. What’s the point of keeping a bank if you don’t use it? Why the Executive Director of all people!”
Jun-hee’s voice pierced the air. Though she’d anticipated something, the sheer absurdity of it made her cry out loudly.
“It wasn’t my idea! Mother suggested it.”
Ahn Jun-young shifted the blame onto his mother, Lee Sook-hyun.
“What do you mean by that?”
“You have to promise me this stays secret. You won’t tell the Executive Director, right?”
Ahn Jun-young demanded a promise first, as though he were about to reveal something momentous.
“Fine.”
Jun-hee dragged her hands across her face. Was there truly no bottom to this pit of degradation?
“Mother found out you’re living with the Executive Director. So she asked him for money in exchange for keeping quiet.”
“Money to keep quiet?”
“You’re going to be his second wife anyway, and men like him marry their real wives to other women. That means we’d be left as laughingstocks. So she asked for compensation. Something like a dignity maintenance fee.”
The moment Jun-hee heard Ahn Jun-young’s words, her face drained of all color and her lips trembled uncontrollably.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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