Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 32

Yeonhee opened her eyes, which had been closed, and looked at Junhyeok.

Then, she saw him reach out to her with a serious gaze.

“Now, the use of this data depends on how you use it.”

Junhyeok’s hand clasped her small, trembling hand.

At that moment, a warmth spread through her hands, feeling like the warmest in the world. Strangely, the tremor in her hands stopped instantly.

Yeonhee lifted her head to look at Junhyeok.

Her chest already felt a pang.

“It could become tremendous data to bring down RM Foods, or it could just be a piece of paper.”

“……”

“What’s certain is that if we expose the tampering with food ingredients and link it to the Bonheur issue, even with Chairman Choi Sookhee backing them, RM Foods won’t be able to recover easily.”

The voice that pierced her ears was calm. To that extent, Yeonhee felt breathless.

She felt she knew what he was trying to say without hearing more.

So, she couldn’t easily give any answer.

“Do as you wish. If you can’t decide right away, it’s fine to think about it slowly. I intend to continue investigating this matter regardless of you. In any case, the relationship with Bonheur is something that needs to be sorted out.”

Yeonhee’s pupils darted wildly. She felt a firm resolve in Junhyeok’s words.

He seemed to have already prepared himself mentally. Even knowing he would be affected if he handed this data to her, he had given her a choice.

“If I release this data, then what happens to you?”

Yeonhee asked in a trembling voice.

She already knew what his answer would be.

Yet, she asked about his well-being, perhaps out of a sliver of guilt.

Yeonhee felt like her heart was tearing.

Even that felt too shameless, but even while thinking that, she couldn’t bear how sorry she felt for Junhyeok.

An inexpressible sense of futility washed over her.

She had never intended to hurt him, yet the reality of always having to hurt him felt so cruel. And she loathed herself even more for never being able to overcome that reality and simply accepting it.

Shin Yeonhee was always like that. She was always a selfish woman in front of Jung Junhyeok, who tried his best to care for her.

And this time was no exception.

Just as Jung Junhyeok was no exception.

“I can’t say it won’t affect the brand image immediately. I might have to undergo a prosecutorial investigation as a witness. Even so, it’s not a problem I have to shoulder. The person who embezzled funds is someone else, so they can deal with that problem, and I……”

“……”

“I just have to work hard, as I always have.”

He was once again offering a sacrifice for Shin Yeonhee.

When she first left him, she hadn’t known he was a man capable of such things.

The decision to leave him wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t as difficult as not knowing he was that kind of man.

But now, it was different.

Yeonhee knew better than anyone how far Junhyeok was capable of going.

“Yeonhee, you don’t need to consider my position. What I need is you, and as long as you are by my side, that’s enough.”

If that were the case, she shouldn’t make a choice that would hurt him this time.

“……I’m sorry, Junhyeok.”

But Yeonhee, in the end, chose the path of revenge by hiding behind Junhyeok and using him.

Yeonhee bowed her head like a sinner. At the same time, tears trickled down her eyes.

She couldn’t bring herself to face Junhyeok.

Because she was too sorry, too guilty.

She hated her selfishness for being unable to make any other choice, even while guessing how far he could sacrifice.

Yet, she couldn’t back down.

Right now, she wanted to destroy Choi Sookhee more than anything.

Even if it meant using Jung Junhyeok to do so, she couldn’t quell the burning desire for revenge that had already ignited.

She couldn’t forgive Choi Sookhee.

“If there’s a price I have to pay for having you, I’ll gladly bear it. I’m confident I can overcome anything. So……”

“……”

“So don’t worry about me, Yeonhee.”

Junhyeok whispered, a soft smile forming.

Her already heavy heart began to feel even heavier.

Yeonhee couldn’t hold back and poured out her sorrow.

Even so, she couldn’t pull away Junhyeok’s hand that was tightly gripping hers.

That was as good as confirmation.

Her resolve to use Junhyeok, if necessary, for her revenge against Choi Sookhee.

Yeonhee couldn’t bring herself to lift her head in the end.

“So I can go in now, right?”

Sera sat in the car parked in the hospital parking lot, listening to the voice on the phone.

—Yes, Miss. The employee we bribed just contacted us saying they’ll start their shift rotation from 2 PM. We’ve let them know you’ll be arriving around then, so they’ll act discreetly when you give the signal.

“Understood. Thank you for your hard work.”

Sera replied briefly and put her phone into her bag.

The lobby she had just entered was noisy with patients.

She understood that a university hospital would be crowded with patients and their guardians, but it wasn’t a welcome situation.

Sera hurried into the elevator. As she left the lobby, her scattered thoughts seemed to regain their original composure.

If it were any other time, perhaps, but today, at least at this moment, she had to be sharp.

Sera took a deep breath and stepped out of the elevator.

Finding the hospital room number, she had received from Secretary Lee was not difficult.

A sturdy man in a suit standing in front of one particular room made it obvious to anyone that it was Shin Yeonjeong’s room.

Sera stopped walking at a suitable distance.

The sound of her heels, which had been echoing in the hallway, suddenly stopped, and as if sensing something was amiss, the man standing in front of the room looked up.

Sera gave him a bright smile.

The person bribed through Secretary Lee seemed quite perceptive.

The man nodded twice, then walked away, passing by Sera with a poker face.

Sera’s lips curved upwards.

They say starting is half the battle, and with such a smooth start, she already felt like she had received a positive answer for today’s endeavor.

“Good. Then, shall we begin?”

Sera left a rather meaningful soliloquy and started walking again.

The sound of her heels echoed through the hallway.

It was sharp enough to cut if brushed against.

As if unaware, Sera did not slow her pace.

The sound of her heels eventually stopped after the sound of the hospital room door opening and closing echoed in the hallway instead.

“Oh my, isn’t that Yeonhee? What brings you here without notice?”

As Sera entered the room, Miyeong, who was sitting next to Yeonjeong, spoke with a welcoming face.

Sera didn’t particularly like being called Yeonhee by Sera, but she didn’t let the smile on her lips fade.

“I was just passing by. Is everything alright?”

“Oh, of course. What could possibly be wrong? If there were, I would have contacted you, Yeonhee, long ago.”

Miyeong seemed to have no doubt that the person facing her was Yeonhee.

However, Yeonjeong herself showed no sign of welcome and remained silent.

Sera sensed that Yeonjeong suspected something but pretended not to know and approached Miyeong.

“You must be having a hard time. The weather is so nice today.”

“Isn’t it? The sunlight is so good, we were just talking about how warm it feels today, Mom and I.”

“On days like this, a walk is perfect.”

“Really? Then shall we take Mom out for a walk-in front of here?”

Miyeong eagerly took the bait, not understanding the meaning behind Sera’s words.

Sera was delighted by Miyeong’s reaction.

The wide smile on her lips was proof of her feelings.

Sera nodded her head firmly while pretending to agree with Miyeong.

“No. I think it’s still a bit too chilly for Mom to go out, but it would be nice for you to go for a walk. Please go for a walk. You should get some fresh air like this. I’ll stay here in the room.”

Although she said it with a smile, a strange nuance in her tone seemed to push Miyeong out.

Miyeong, sensing something belatedly, put on a reluctant smile and gathered her outer clothes.

“I actually had some business at the bank, so this works out well. I’ll be back in about an hour, is that okay?”

“Of course, naturally. Please be careful.”

Sera welcomed Miyeong’s outing, her eyes curving into crescents.

After exchanging a glance with Yeonjeong, Miyeong busily walked towards the room door.

Sera’s gaze followed Miyeong with every step.

Sera turned her back to Yeonjeong and watched Miyeong’s last moments of departure with her own eyes.

The moment the room door closed, silence instantly fell.

Yeonjeong was the first to break the silence.

“Who are you, Miss? You don’t seem like our Yeonhee.”

Yeonjeong, who had been silent all along, immediately suspected Sera’s identity.

It was quite strange, and the way she affectionately called Shin Yeonhee’s name, which seemed insignificant to Sera, was laughable.

Sera had no intention of hiding her feelings.

“Does a child born from a different womb still count as a child?”

“……”

“You have quite sharp eyes.”

Sera turned around and looked at Yeonjeong, a smile completely different from before gracing her lips.

It was an obvious mockery.

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