Impossible Romance - Chapter 60

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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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60.

Dawn light filtered softly through the curtains, casting the bedroom in pale gray. In the quiet stillness, only Jun-hee’s gentle breathing filled the space.
Kwon Seok-ha gazed down at Jun-hee sleeping peacefully in his arms, her breathing soft and even. He found her unusually eager affection endearing, yet something about it stirred an ache in his chest.
‘What’s troubling her?’
This version of Jun-hee, so different from her usual self, made him uneasy—like a child from his past hiding something from him.
Like a single flower blooming defiantly from the edge of a winter cliff, you are both poignant and precious to me. No—precious and poignant.
Knowing how she endures and survives, I want to give her nothing but complete happiness. That is my deepest wish.
So I’m grateful that she’s finally opened her heart to me, yet why does this anxiety keep gnawing at me?
I instructed Lee Sook-hyun and Ahn Jun-young to keep their money demands secret from Jun-hee—knowing it would hurt her. These are people who would sell their own blood for money, so I’ll honor that promise.
Regarding her mother, Han Seon-young, I requested backup support from Grandfather. Chairman Kwon had laughed as if he expected this and said nothing more. Yet seeing that he didn’t object at least, I had no doubt he would help.
I felt a sense of accomplishment, thinking we were almost there. But Jun-hee’s behavior today—the way she clung to me—unsettled me. Unlike usual, she seemed to be trying too hard to appear cheerful. And the tears in her eyes as she held me…
‘Don’t worry.’
I stroked Jun-hee’s hair, whispering silently to her. Even under my gentle touch, her brow furrowed as if she were caught in a nightmare. Tears still glistened at the corners of her eyes, not yet dry.
I brought my lips to her tear-stained eyes. I would take all the tears she had shed—and all those she might shed in the future.
Holding that fervent wish close, I embraced her again. Deep in sleep, Jun-hee willingly nestled into my arms and continued her rest.

***

Time passed swiftly. As autumn’s pleasant walking weather gave way to crisp winds, fallen leaves scattered across the streets. Soon, snow would fall upon the bare branches.
Leaving the Company, Jun-hee headed toward Seonjin Gallery. She was going to meet Han Seon-young. Unlike her first visit here, summoned by Han Seon-young’s call, today Jun-hee had requested the meeting herself.
Passing through the Gallery, Jun-hee exchanged a silent greeting with Kim Secretary, whom she now knew well, standing before the Director’s Office. Familiar with Han Seon-young’s schedule, Kim Secretary guided Jun-hee inside without a word.
Upon seeing Jun-hee, Han Seon-young nodded lightly as if she had expected this, then gestured toward the Sofa.
“Would you like some tea?”
As always, Han Seon-young offered Jun-hee tea.
Yet Han Seon-young’s demeanor had shifted subtly. The coldness Jun-hee had felt before seemed less pronounced now. Sensing something unusual, Jun-hee spoke slowly.
“Yes. I’ll have what you’re having.”
“You heard her. Prepare it.”
Han Seon-young instructed Kim Secretary, then turned to Jun-hee. Kim Secretary bowed respectfully and quietly left the room.
“I was actually planning to contact you. What brings you here?”
Han Seon-young leaned back against the Sofa, her posture relaxed as she asked.
Jun-hee bit her lip once, then released it. Despite all the practice on the way here, the words wouldn’t come as planned. She needed courage.
“Please… give me money.”
“Money?”
Han Seon-young’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Yes. Not a loan—just give it to me.”
“I’m having trouble understanding. What are you saying?”
“If you give me the money, I’ll break up with the Executive Director. Actually, I’ll leave far away and never show my face again.”
Once the words left her mouth, shameless words tumbled out effortlessly. Yet the heat burning at the back of her neck from shame was unavoidable. After all, she was doing the very thing she had always despised most.
“No, wait—didn’t you two come at me determined to get married? And honestly, I was starting to reconsider my position too. So what is this?”
Han Seon-young spoke with an incredulous expression.
Just then, Kim Secretary was entering with tea arranged on a tray.
While she set the tea before them both, silence settled over the Director’s Office. Neither Han Seon-young nor Jun-hee wanted this sordid transaction to leak outside.
Han Seon-young studied Jun-hee. She could see her trembling with her hands clenched tight, clearly forcing out the words. She was demanding money while pretending to be composed, but only people accustomed to such things did that.
How had someone like Jun-hee emerged from a family like Lee Sook-hyun and Ahn Jun-young?
Kim Secretary set down the tea, bowed politely, and left. Then Jun-hee opened her mouth.
“I’ve reconsidered. I’ve realized it’s more beneficial to take the money and part ways.”
After finishing her words, Jun-hee pressed her lower lip firmly.
“Ha. You expect me to believe that? I don’t particularly like you, but do you think I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours? What happened?”
Han Seon-young asked in a sharp tone.
“….”
Jun-hee lowered her head and stared only at her own hands.
“Does Seok-ha know?”
When Han Seon-young spoke Kwon Seok-ha’s name, Jun-hee’s head snapped up.
“No. And he doesn’t know I came here either.”
“So you’re saying you did this all on your own?”
Seeing the shock on Han Seon-young’s face, Jun-hee felt she needed to bare her resolve. That way it wouldn’t reach Kwon Seok-ha’s ears.
“Since you’ll find out anyway, Director, I’ll be honest. My family went to the Executive Director again. The reason is obvious. In a situation like this, I think it would make the Executive Director happier if I left. Then my family won’t trouble him anymore either.”
Jun-hee continued speaking quietly, steeling herself not to cry multiple times.
“Please tell the Executive Director that I took money from you and left. Make it seem like I’m a vulgar person blinded by greed. Actually, I am vulgar. That way he can forget about me and start fresh with someone else.”
Once she laid it all bare, she actually felt relieved.
But Han Seon-young didn’t seem to feel the same. She looked at Jun-hee with a somewhat shocked expression.
“Isn’t this backwards? I’m supposed to give you money and you’re supposed to leave. You’re asking for money to leave, and for my Seok-ha’s sake no less. Ha….”
Han Seon-young covered her mouth briefly with one hand, then lowered it.
She had wanted so badly to separate Jun-hee from her son, but now that it was happening this way, she felt unsettled. The conviction only grew that perhaps Jun-hee was the woman most suited to her son.
Leaving solely for Kwon Seok-ha’s happiness.
“Then what about your family?”
“I’ll cut ties with them. I’ll live somewhere no one knows. I won’t appear before the Executive Director either. So please help me. Someone else is more suited to him.”
Now that she seemed to have settled her heart completely, Jun-hee lifted her head with a calm tone.
Han Seon-young didn’t know how to respond. She was someone who had never been flustered by anything until now. But when it came to matters concerning her son, it was different. If Kwon Seok-ha found out about this later, would he really stay quiet?
“I’m grateful you’ve come to understand my position now, but I don’t know. I think I’ll hear resentment from Seok-ha later.”
“No. Once I’m out of his sight, the Executive Director will be able to move on too. So please help me. Make it look like I disappeared after taking the money.”
Jun-hee’s expression became desperate as she spoke.
This was the only way she could part from Kwon Seok-ha. More than anything, it was the only path to survive her family’s tyranny.
If she were to marry Kwon Seok-ha instead, her mother and older brother would come around even more emboldened. Jun-hee didn’t want to trouble Kwon Seok-ha with such things.
“I’ll give you the money. But I want to pretend I don’t know anything. As you say, with time, Seok-ha will settle his heart too. That’s what first love fever is like.”
Han Seon-young thought this might also be an opportunity.
“Yes. And….”
Jun-hee hesitated, unable to bring herself to voice her final request.
“Don’t worry about your brother. He’s almost fully recovered now, so I just need to check in on his treatment during my commute. More importantly, focus on yourself from now on. You need to live well too.”
Han Seon-young’s words were sincere. She felt guilty for how harshly she’d treated Jun-hee, and her heart wasn’t at ease.
“Thank you.”
Jun-hee bowed her head. She couldn’t hold back the tears streaming down her face.

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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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