To My Brother’s Friend - Chapter 72

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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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Chapter 72
The two of them decided to return to Seoul.
It was Hee-jo’s wish.
She wanted to stay close to her brother’s memorial hall, and above all, she couldn’t ask Kwon Yeol to abandon the company he had devoted his entire life to because of her.
Moreover, Hee-jo herself genuinely missed her work at the Cultural Foundation.
There remained a lingering sense of guilt for having left so abruptly without proper notice.
“Is it really true? Grandfather has accepted me?”
At Hee-jo’s question, Kwon Yeol wrapped his arms around her shoulders and soothed her.
“Yes. He said to come back together. He said he regrets it deeply because everything falls apart without you.”
Hee-jo rolled her eyes at the exaggerated jest.
Kwon Yeol found even that gesture endearing, pulling her close and placing a tender kiss upon her hair.
His warmth did calm her heart, yet the fear of what lay ahead remained.
But she knew she could not live apart from Kwon Yeol.
She didn’t want him to abandon the life he had built over decades for her sake, nor did she want him to sever ties with his family because of her.
Fortunately, Han Young-sook also genuinely supported Hee-jo’s choice.
“Teacher will organize things and come up next week.”
“Yes. I promised to come pick her up myself.”
Han Young-sook insisted she couldn’t let Hee-jo go alone in her condition.
She decided joyfully to pack her things, saying that returning to Seoul to welcome the child at Hee-jo’s side was more important than remaining in her hometown.
The hometown house, once renovated, would serve as a villa.
It was Han Young-sook’s thoughtful consideration—a place they could visit whenever they wished once the child was born, a “country grandmother’s house.”
After being discharged, Kwon Yeol and Hee-jo made their way to the dock, warmly seen off by the island village people.
“I wish we could’ve stayed longer with you, teacher. It’s really sad to see you go like this.”
“Young people should go live in the city. Still, seeing you and your husband make up and leave happily—my heart feels at ease, you know.”
“It’s fortunate he’s a good man, but… if anything happens, please contact us. We can always arrange a safe place for you.”
Hee-jo laughed aloud at that.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“…I promise to make Hee-jo happy so that such a day never comes.”
Kwon Yeol bowed respectfully.
Though they had known each other only briefly, they had grown deeply fond of these people, and with reluctance, the two boarded the ship.
The figures waving from the receding dock grew smaller and smaller.
It was sorrowful, but they would surely return here again.
Hee-jo gently rested her head on Kwon Yeol’s shoulder.
He embraced her with a vast warmth, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
It was a shelter so cozy that even the cold sea breeze could not reach her.
* * *
News of the pregnancy threw the Beom Residence into absolute upheaval.
“Is that really true? I’m having a great-grandchild?”
Beom Hun-young, whose expression had been bewildered, let out a small cough as if suppressing his overwhelming joy.
But the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward, impossible to conceal.
“Ahem. For someone in that condition, you’ve traveled quite far. What if something happens to you?”
“If you wish to see Hee-jo, you’ll need to apologize first.”
“…How can I apologize or not apologize without seeing her face?”
Deep down, I had grown fond of Hee-jo, and I had already resolved to accept her as family.
The fact that this rare girl who had captured my heart carried the bloodline of my eldest grandson completely disarmed the seasoned chairman’s defenses.
At the sight of Grandfather unable to suppress his emerging smile, Jae-yeol chuckled.
“Our Chairman Beom seems quite delighted, I must say. Your lips keep curling upward?”
“You brat! Where did you learn such disrespect toward your grandfather?”
“But scolding with that expression doesn’t scare me one bit. Now that your son has returned to his place and you have a grandchild, surely you can marry me off now, right?”
Beom Seok-jun, who had been smiling at the bickering between father and son, approached Kwon Yeol and patted his shoulder.
“Congratulations, Kwon Yeol. This is truly wonderful news.”
“Congratulations, brother. I never thought you’d become a father.”
Jae-yeol interjected at Seok-jun’s words.
“From today on, I’ll be praying. Please, let my nephew inherit only his mother’s looks. If he takes after you and says ‘Uncle, the deadline for my allowance has passed,’ in that stern way of yours, I’ll be too terrified to even visit my nephew.”
Amid the warm atmosphere, only Madam Jung could not smile easily.
When her eyes met Kwon Yeol’s as he exchanged greetings, she flinched, then let out a long sigh.
“…So you’ve gone ahead and done exactly as you pleased. Does it feel refreshing to have your way against your mother?”
“If you have no intention of treating Hee-jo as family, then the three of us will live alone for the rest of our lives.”
At this chilling declaration, the family members’ jaws dropped in unison.
Kwon Yeol was not one to speak empty words.
Had not the entire group, along with his family, experienced his execution just recently?
Reading the resolve in her son’s eyes—prepared even to sever ties with the family—Madam Jung finally lowered her gaze.
“…People will think I’m trying to do something to that girl. Just have her come. I need to see her face before deciding whether to accept her as family or not.”
Though her tone was blunt, it was a clear declaration of defeat.
In truth, Madam Jung’s heart was equally complicated.
Rather than exhausting herself with petty conflicts between similar families, it was a practical calculation that docile and virtuous Hee-jo would be better.
Above all, she did not wish to be swayed by an arrogant and selfish child like Kim Jung-yeon ever again.
And not long after, Madam Jung would come to feel keenly that her choice had been right.
Large-scale embezzlement and corruption at Soyoung Mulsan, along with the shameless acts committed by Kim Jung-yeon, began to be revealed to the public one after another.
Unaware of her own future, when the Jinri Society would praise her endlessly, saying “There is no other precious, well-mannered, capable, and adorable blessing in this world who genuinely respects and follows her mother-in-law like our Hee-jo,” Madam Jung merely snorted and fidgeted with her teacup.
“Sigh, what a fate I have. How did I end up giving birth to such a stubborn child….”
With bitter feelings, Madam Jung earnestly wished in her heart.
That Kwon Yeol would have a child who resembled him just as much, so he too would suffer.
* * *
Though we had returned to Seoul, the two of us headed not to the annex at Jeoksanwon, but to Kwon Yeol’s Apartment where Hee-jo had originally lived.
It was because of Kwon Yeol’s stubbornness—to wait until Hee-jo’s heart was completely at ease and the family was ready to welcome her with sincerity.
“It would be fine to go greet them.”
“I’m not ready yet.”
Kwon Yeol gently brought the back of Hee-jo’s hand to his lips.
“When your heart is truly at peace, we’ll go. There’s no rush.”
Noticing her own lingering fear of others’ gazes, Hee-jo bit her lip at Kwon Yeol’s considerate gesture.
“And there’s a family I need to greet first.”
Today, they had come to Bonganndang where Hee-jae slept.
“How’s your stomach? Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes. It’s quite strange, actually. The food Han Teacher made sometimes feels uncomfortable, but food made by Han Teacher’s relative seems fine.”
At those words, Kwon Yeol’s expression became indescribable and subtle, but soon he wrapped his arm around Hee-jo’s shoulders with a faint smile.
“Let’s go in.”
They made their way toward Hee-jae, who rested quietly in the innermost part of the Memorial Hall.
“Brother, I’m here.”
Hee-jo greeted the photograph of Hee-jae, who was smiling brightly.
“You probably already know, but… your nephew is on the way.”
Hee-jo gently caressed her belly, which had begun to swell ever so slightly.
“Watch over him for me, Brother. The way you always watched over me.”
As Hee-jo smiled with glistening eyes, Kwon Yeol, holding her in his arms, gazed directly at Hee-jae’s photograph and spoke softly.
“I will love and protect only Hee-jo for the rest of my life. Since you took away such a precious sister, I will dedicate everything I have and do my best. I promise you.”
After a brief pause, Kwon Yeol barely managed to speak in a low voice.
“…Brother.”
At the awkward, reluctant tone that followed his solemn confession—as if he still couldn’t quite get used to it—Hee-jo finally burst into laughter and wiped away her tears.
A cool breeze drifted through the open window, gently passing between the two of them.
As if Hee-jae himself were answering.
To my brother’s friend
Fin.

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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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