Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 12

“Mom, I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything. Something urgent came up. I gave the juice and snacks I bought to the caregiver I met. I’ll visit again soon.”

Yeonhee said awkwardly, glancing at Junhyeok, who was sitting beside her.

He was diligently pressing the accelerator, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

His face was unreadable, making it impossible to know what he was thinking. That alone sent a wave of tension through her. Just then, Yeonjeong’s voice came through the phone.

—You can take your time coming to see Mom, so just rest well after work for now. Your face looked terrible.

Yeonjeong was concerned only about her.

That made her feel even heavier, unable to even say goodbye properly.

Still, there was no other choice.

‘I think I have to go home. Father said he’d come with me, and it seems right to visit him once after the honeymoon, so I agreed. If I don’t go today, he might show up unannounced.’

These were the words she had to hear after crying in Junhyeok’s arms for a long time and finally regaining her senses.

If she had her way, she would have refused to go.

But even that was part of the contract she had made with Yoon Sera.

Moreover, if she didn’t go today, he might come looking for her separately, which she wanted to avoid even more.

“Don’t worry about me, just focus on Mom’s recovery. If there’s nothing urgent, I’ll go again tomorrow, so make sure you eat well. Okay?”

—You’re the one who should focus on eating well and not worry about Mom. Alright?

“Okay. Mom, I think I have to hang up now. I’ll call again.”

Yeonhee ended the call and placed her phone on her lap.

An awkward silence filled the car.

Yeonhee furtively glanced at Junhyeok. He was still looking straight ahead.

As she watched him, her thoughts became a tangled mess.

Now that she had encountered him in the VIP ward, she felt she had to address Yeonjeong’s words at least once, but she couldn’t figure out how to start.

“Um……”

After much deliberation, she finally made a sound. But she couldn’t utter a single proper word, let alone a word of thanks.

“I’m sorry for moving you to a different room without telling you.”

Yeonhee stared at Junhyeok, her eyes wide open.

Sorry? What was he sorry for?

“I thought you might feel burdened if I told you beforehand, so I instructed them to proceed with the arrangements first.”

Yeonhee’s lips moved silently. The words of gratitude welled up in her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

She didn’t have the nerve to say them. No matter the circumstances, she was the one who had run away without a word to Junhyeok. Could she really accept help like this?

Furthermore, the apology for moving the room without telling her was something he could say only because he had considered her feelings first.

Yeonhee took a deep breath.

“No. Thank you, really……”

The voice, finally conveying her feelings, was tinged with a wistful emotion she had long suppressed.

The car, which had been maintaining a steady speed, stopped at that moment. It happened to be a red light.

She felt Junhyeok’s gaze, which had been fixed straight ahead, shift.

“Don’t say thank you. It’s only natural.”

Yeonhee lifted her head. She saw a familiar face, and more familiar eyes, clearly.

It was the same ten years ago.

Junhyeok’s eyes had always held only her, and the way he looked at her was deep and sincere, without exception.

“I can do more than this.”

“……”

“If it’s for you, there’s nothing I can’t do.”

Yeonhee held her breath. The words, which might have sounded like boasting from anyone else, felt incredibly trustworthy coming from Junhyeok’s lips.

Her heart, already beating fast, pounded even harder. So much so that she completely forgot where she was going with Junhyeok.

“We’ll arrive soon.”

The car, which had stopped, began to move again.

The large hand that had been holding Yeonhee’s hand intertwined its fingers with hers, persistently.

Yeonhee glanced once at their joined hands, then looked up.

“I’ll handle things so that you’re not put in a difficult situation as much as possible, but you should still be on guard. Father is a more cunning fox than I am.”

She didn’t need the warning; she was already tense enough.

Junhyeok knew that as well. Yet, if he was emphasizing it again like this, there must be a clear reason.

Yeonhee swallowed dryly, trying to steel her resolve.

Then, Junhyeok’s voice, which had stopped, pierced her ears again.

“You just stay put. We’ll eat dinner and leave right away, just until then.”

“……”

“Please endure, just until then.”

The tone, whether it was a command or a plea, was Junhyeok’s unique way of speaking, specifically to Shin Yeonhee.

That’s why Yeonhee knew better than anyone.

Junhyeok was now pleading with her, more desperately than ever.

That alone was reason enough for her to endure and hold on for him.

Yeonhee looked straight ahead.

The car was now entering an uphill road lined with luxurious mansions.

“Welcome. Junhyeok, welcome too.”

Yeonhee carefully took off her shoes, her face etched with tension. Then, she bowed politely.

“Hello, Mother-in-law.”

She greeted them, trying to sound as calm as possible. Fortunately, Junhyeok’s mother wore a much kinder smile than Yeonhee had expected.

That sight made Yeonhee’s heart ache.

This was the family that had threatened to ruin the lives of her loved ones, yet they seemed so welcoming to Yoon Sera.

Yeonhee tried to hide her bitter feelings and maintain her composure. At least now was not the time to indulge in sentimentality.

“Father, we’re here.”

Following Junhyeok, they headed to the center of the living room, where Chairman Jeong was seated on the most prominent spot on the antique sofa.

For a moment, a spark of interest flashed in Yeonhee’s eyes. She had been curious all along. How formidable must the person be who had ordered such terrifying threats against her?

But the Chairman Jeong she met in person was beyond anything she could have imagined.

An overwhelming aura emanated from him, enough to make her feel intimidated just by meeting his gaze.

“It seems your honeymoon was quite enjoyable. So, did you have fun too, my new daughter-in-law?”

Chairman Jeong’s voice, which came unexpectedly, was directed precisely at Yeonhee.

Yeonhee swallowed dryly without realizing it. Her tense lips wouldn’t move as she willed them to.

She tried to stay calm. Then, she managed to force out a voice that felt like it wouldn’t come.

“……Yes, Father-in-law.”

She left only a short answer and lowered her gaze. Otherwise, she felt her tense inner state would be revealed instantly.

But the fingertips of her hands, hanging down, trembled uncontrollably. Moreover, she felt as if her whole body would shake if she relaxed even a little.

Yeonhee took a breath, trying not to show it. At that moment, Junhyeok, who had been by her side, stepped in front of her and gently squeezed her hand with his other hand, which was behind his back.

Simultaneously, Chairman Jeong’s voice reached Yeonhee’s ears.

“Really? Your face doesn’t look good at all. Did something happen in the meantime? Sera’s complexion looks terrible after just a few days.”

Startled, Yeonhee’s eyes widened, and she looked up.

Fortunately, Junhyeok’s body shielded her, so her flustered expression wasn’t revealed, but her mind was suddenly jolted awake.

Junhyeok, who had noticed Yeonhee’s state, skillfully cut in with a response.

“Perhaps it’s because the sleeping arrangements are unfamiliar, she hasn’t been sleeping well. I told her we should postpone our visit because her condition wasn’t good due to that, but she insisted that we must keep promises made to elders, so we had no choice but to come.”

“Ho ho, you rascal. You’ve gained quite some boldness since I last saw you. This is why it’s important to bring good people into the family.”

A hearty laugh followed his words, which were filled with evident pleasure.

Yeonhee bit her lower lip. Chairman Jeong’s words about bringing good people into the family echoed in her ears.

Why was Yoon Sera treated so favorably, even getting married, while Shin Yeonhee wasn’t even allowed to date?

She wished she didn’t know the reason, but she knew it all too well, and it made her heart ache.

Suddenly, she felt a tightening grip on her hand. Looking down, she saw Junhyeok’s hand on her own.

She knew it was meant as comfort. But somehow, this time, even his warmth couldn’t console her.

Chairman Jeong’s words kept replaying in her mind.

Yeonhee let out a soft sigh.

“The Busan branch issue, is it proceeding as planned?”

At the sudden voice, Yeonhee forgot she was chewing her rice and looked up.

“I was actually planning to go down there myself to check the site.”

Junhyeok’s businesslike voice followed. He sounded perfectly natural, as if Chairman Jeong’s intimidating presence was nothing new.

Yeonhee couldn’t tell if the food going into her mouth was rice or something else.

“That’s a good idea. It’s better for you to handle the branch issue yourself rather than receiving reports from subordinates. Don’t drag it out; schedule your business trip as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Yeonhee could only blink, not even thinking of picking up her chopsticks again.

Her demeanor was excessively submissive.

Seeing that even the formidable Junhyeok couldn’t defy him, the head of HN Group must be truly powerful.

After Junhyeok’s reply, a quiet mealtime resumed.

Yeonhee stared blankly at the rice bowl in front of her.

Half of the rice served to her was already gone, and Junhyeok had said they would leave right after dinner, so she just had to endure a little longer.

But if she could, she wanted to get up and leave immediately.

She felt suffocated. She had never found a meal with someone so difficult to bear.

This must be why Junhyeok had said what he did.

Please endure.

How had Junhyeok endured his entire life?

For herself, who was merely sharing a dinner table, every minute felt suffocating. But how had he lived his whole life with such thoughts?

Although she hadn’t heard a single word of his inner struggles, she somehow understood why he had remained silent about his family.

“Ho ho, well, our Sera must be disappointed. Her husband has to go on a business trip right after getting married.”

Chairman Jeong’s words, directed at Yeonhee out of the blue.

Yeonhee twitched her shoulders but quickly erased her surprised expression.

“No, Father-in-law. It’s for work, so of course, she understands.”

She even managed a smile, pretending to be at ease. Somehow, she felt Sera would have responded like this.

As if pleased with her answer, a smile touched Chairman Jeong’s lips.

“Since Sera is so understanding, I can feel less guilty as the head of the group. However, I still feel guilty as her father-in-law, so if you feel lonely while Junhyeok is away on his trip, feel free to visit anytime. I’ll gladly treat our Sera to a delicious meal.”

Yeonhee responded by curving her eyes into a crescent shape instead of speaking. Soon, Chairman Jeong’s gaze shifted away. Only then did she let out a faint sigh she had been holding back.

It was truly like sitting on thorns.

She desperately wished to return home with Junhyeok as soon as possible.

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