Chapter 18
After hanging up the phone, Yunseo looked bewildered at the shopping bag handed to her.
It was from the hotel bakery, a place so popular that people lined up at dawn for sandwiches, and during holidays, gift orders closed a month in advance.
Seungwoo had personally gone to France to hire a pastry chef, paying several times their usual salary. Since then, he managed the bakery strictly every month, making it one of the top bakeries in the country.
“Is this… for me?”
“Not for you. For the front desk staff.”
Yunseo’s wide eyes shrank back. She opened the bag to find a variety of desserts: slice cakes, madeleines, and brioches.
“You said thank you for today,” Seungwoo said, looking at her with curiosity in his eyes.
Thinking about the meaning behind his gaze, Yunseo realized he might still be suspicious of her. Perhaps giving gifts even to the front desk staff made his suspicion stronger.
“You know the idea was mine, right? I told you I came up with it after seeing the little scuffles between staff and customers. I bought sandwiches for the staff today as thanks, so I think that’s why you’re doing this.”
After explaining in detail, Seungwoo’s suspicious look softened.
Did that go over well?
“How’s your body?”
Yunseo watched quietly, and Seungwoo spoke again.
“Oh, it’s fine. Thankfully. But why so many tests today?”
“It’s better to do it in advance, just in case.”
Seungwoo avoided her gaze. That confirmed it for Yunseo—it really was about pregnancy.
“Yes. My mother keeps mentioning it, and after my contract work ends, I should prepare as well.”
His eyes lifted to her with renewed curiosity.
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh? Oh… pregnancy, wasn’t that what we were discussing?”
“What?”
Seungwoo’s lips curved into a subtle, ambiguous smile. Yunseo blinked quickly and shook her head.
“No… maybe I made another mistake.”
“Do you want to?”
Yunseo, embarrassed, tried to change the subject, but Seungwoo teased her. Do you want to? Yunseo didn’t know how to answer.
Being married, she believed it was natural. It was her role.
To be by his side, give him children, and produce an heir. Otherwise, why would he have married her?
So pregnancy wasn’t about what she wanted. It was something she had to do, not something she chose.
Seungwoo’s unexpected question froze her in place. She bit her lips in silence.
At that moment, the door opened like salvation.
Dr. Yun entered.
“Oh, Dr. Yun. Thank you for your concern,” Seungwoo said, striding forward to greet him.
“No, of course. How are you feeling, ma’am?”
Dr. Yun looked at Yunseo, who felt embarrassed. Was this treatment fit for a princess for such a minor injury?
“I’m fine. I don’t think I need to be admitted.”
“You should rest for at least a day without moving. Even at home, continue therapy to recover quickly. Otherwise, it might seem healed but relapse.”
“Yes, thank you for the prescription.”
Seungwoo looked like the world’s most devoted husband. Yunseo swallowed a bitter smile.
She wished Dr. Yun and Seungwoo would leave soon. Now that she was admitted, she just wanted to rest alone. Just as Haejin had suggested.
“And the extra bed might be uncomfortable. The VIP room is full, but I’ll arrange a regular bed. Basic toiletries should be provided, and call if you need anything.”
Dr. Yun said something unexpected.
Yunseo, sitting confused, quickly realized its meaning and turned pale.
Dr. Yun assumed Seungwoo would stay with her here. But Yunseo had never thought that would happen.
“Oh, don’t worry, Doctor. I manage fine anywhere.”
Seungwoo noticed too and answered calmly.
“No, the president can’t sleep on that kind of bed. I’ll have a spare bed brought in as soon as possible. Also, I arranged plenty of breakfast for you before work tomorrow morning.”
Dr. Yun smiled brightly, almost expecting praise for his foresight.
“Thank you for taking care in advance.”
“No problem. Also, thank you for supporting children in the hospital’s cancer ward. Many children are receiving treatment thanks to your donation. And the nursing home support as well.”
Yunseo looked between Dr. Yun and Seungwoo in surprise. She knew the group supported charities, but hadn’t realized Seungwoo personally contributed.
“Yes, well… we can talk about donations later,” she said.
Seungwoo looked embarrassed and avoided her gaze. Dr. Yun laughed heartily and nodded.
“Sorry, I had to mention it. Even though the president usually does everything quietly. But the lady of the house should know how much he does for our hospital. I’ll leave now. Enjoy your time, sir and ma’am.”
After Dr. Yun left, a brief silence followed.
“You can go,” Yunseo spoke first.
“I’ll take care of the rest.”
“They’ll gossip. ‘President Jeong Seungwoo left his wife at the hospital and went home.’”
Seungwoo said softly, looking at her.
Yunseo’s face was completely flustered, unable to believe this situation. But Seungwoo’s expression and voice looked oddly pleased.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll go.”
“Will people really gossip like that?”
“Hospital is society too. Hankook University Hospital collaborates with our group in many areas. Soon the group will hear about it. You okay with that?”
She couldn’t be okay with it. She didn’t want him known as a heartless husband neglecting his wife.
“Is the bathroom over there?”
Seungwoo strode into the hospital room bathroom. Yunseo exhaled quietly, watching his back.
Meanwhile, Juseok stared at Seon-yeong with tension in his eyes.
Seon-yeong narrowed hers, studying him.
“So what do I gain?”
Juseok and Seon-yeong learned about each other through Seungwoo. Juseok had followed his high school best friend Seungwoo around, so Seon-yeong, trying to get close to Seungwoo, couldn’t avoid knowing him.
She once tried to approach Juseok to get closer to Seungwoo but failed.
So Juseok knew how desperate Seon-yeong was to get close to Seungwoo. He also knew she wasn’t fond of Seungwoo and Yunseo’s marriage.
“Divorce Jeong Seungwoo and Choi Yunseo.”
“What?”
Seon-yeong’s eyes widened.
“Is that possible? Really?”
Even back then, when she begged Juseok to help her get close to Seungwoo, he, loyal to Seungwoo, refused. He followed Seungwoo faithfully and eventually became his secretary, tied to him for a living.
So Seon-yeong no longer expected to get close to Seungwoo through Juseok. He had no reason to help her.
“Then?”
“How?”
“I can’t tell you everything. It’s too risky now.”
Juseok crossed his arms, watching Seon-yeong.
“I’ll keep my mouth shut. I won’t tell anyone.”
Seon-yeong gestured as if zipping her mouth, but Juseok shook his head.
“You keeping quiet won’t solve it. There’s one more person deeply involved here.”
“Who?”
“Jeong Seungwon.”
Seon-yeong’s eyes widened.
“This plan will never fail. Sure, it’s messy to get involved in sibling rivalry.”
“So what happens? Seungwon is Seungwoo’s older brother. Weren’t they supposed to fight over management? How does this relate to a divorce?”
Juseok cleared his throat.
Even revealing this far was dangerous. He couldn’t reveal more—the plan’s ultimate goal was to harm Seungwoo.
“Right. The management fight. But Seungwoo won’t stand still. When his neck is at risk, he’ll find someone strong to side with him. Someone like your family.”
Seon-yeong’s eyes widened.
Her family wasn’t a chaebol, but most were in the legal field. Her grandfather was a Supreme Court Chief Justice, her father a former Prosecutor General now a law professor.
Seungwoo gaining allies there would be ideal.
“But Seungwon wouldn’t want that.”
“I’m on your side, not Seungwon’s. Once Seungwoo divorces, I’ll leave everything else. Yunseo will be mine.”
Seon-yeong’s eyes widened, her lips curling in a smile. She shook her head in disbelief.
“Why are they all obsessed with that woman? She’s nothing special.”
“Anyway, you just hire the person we get as your assistant. The assistant will handle the rest.”
“What will I do?”
“That’s a secret. It won’t harm you, and the results are guaranteed.”
Juseok knew the truth: it wouldn’t work. Seungwoo would never divorce Yunseo because he truly loved her. But Juseok would never reveal that. Seungwoo would die, and then his goal would be achieved. He would take Yunseo for himself.
Whatever Seon-yeong did afterward didn’t matter.
The incident would be disguised as a suicide, so Seon-yeong would see it as unavoidable.
“What will you do?”
Seon-yeong furrowed her brows. Juseok had changed. The old Seungwoo lackey was gone. Why was he so obsessed with Choi Yunseo? That jealousy flared again.
“Good.”
Seon-yeong nodded boldly.
