Affectionate Obsession - Chapter 33

“What is the reason for your visit?”

Yeonjeong asked in a monotonous voice.

It was not difficult to tell that Sera’s smile was a sneer. However, it did not hit her hard.

Her life, which had not been smooth sailing, was not one to be easily shaken by something of that magnitude.

Moreover, she was already facing death, which could come at any moment.

For her, this was a level she could endure with great composure.

“Aww, your reaction is so dull. I thought you’d be really surprised to see me.”

Sera spoke as if complaining, then sat down on a folding chair.

Her attitude was enough to provoke someone, yet Yeonjeong remained calm.

“I don’t know why you would think that.”

“Why? Look closely. I look exactly like you, Shin Yeonhee. Aren’t you surprised? I was very surprised when I first saw Shin Yeonhee. I thought, how could there be someone in this world who looks so much like me?”

Sera chattered about her feelings when she first saw Yeonhee, her face as bright as a child’s.

Sera, in turn, became annoyed by Yeonjeong’s unchanging attitude.

A sinister smile curved Sera’s lip. Shin Yeonhee and Shin Yeonjeong had a strange resemblance, despite not being of the same blood.

That made Sera’s heart grows even more venomous.

“I came because I have something to say about Shin Yeonhee.”

Sera stated her purpose, maintaining her crooked smile.

For a moment, a look of tension appeared on Yeonjeong’s face.

Only then did satisfaction fill Sera’s heart.

She began to feel a growing desire to talk enjoyably.

Clang.

The sound of breaking glass pierced the air sharply.

Yeonhee looked at the scattered glass shards at her feet with a surprised expression.

It was strange. She had only poured water to quench her thirst. Her hand hadn’t slipped, yet she dropped the glass cup as soon as she grabbed it.

It happened so quickly, and it was so bewildering that Yeonhee couldn’t easily regain her composure.

Moreover, she felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Why did I drop the glass?

Yeonhee chided herself for her carelessness and bent down to sit.

As she picked up the larger shards to gather them in one place, a sharp pain suddenly seeped into her fingertips.

“Ah…!”

A groan escaped her lips involuntarily. At that moment, a hurried voice came from the phone pressed to her ear.

“Hello? Yeonhee. Is something wrong? Huh?”

To Junhyeok’s voice, full of worry, Yeonhee instinctively shook her head.

Then, realizing belatedly that he couldn’t see her shaking her head, she spoke.

“No. I just broke a glass while trying to drink water. I was a bit startled. Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you hurt? I’ll send someone to your place, so don’t touch anything and just leave it.”

“It’s fine. Why would you send someone home for something like this? I’ll clean it up myself, so don’t worry. I’m okay.”

“Don’t be stubborn and listen to me. What if you get hurt?”

Yeonhee couldn’t help but smile as she bit her bleeding finger, amused by Junhyeok’s overprotectiveness.

She knew this wasn’t the time to be so carefree and smile.

But the smile didn’t fade.

She didn’t know how long it had been since she last smiled. She had been crying constantly due to a series of shocking events that had left her unable to regain her senses.

It felt like she had shed all the tears she would cry in her lifetime over the past few days.

Even though the situation hadn’t improved, Yeonhee decided to savor this moment of relief.

After all, she didn’t know when she would be able to smile like this again once this moment passed.

First, she needed to stop Junhyeok from sending people to her home.

“I’m really okay. I’m not hurt. It’s more inconvenient to have people come to my house, so if you’re doing this because you’re worried about me.”

There’s no need to.

That’s what she intended to finish saying.

But before she could finish her sentence, an unfamiliar sound reached her ears.

Yeonhee pulled the phone away and looked at the screen. A call was coming in from the caregiver looking after Yeonjeong.

What could it be all of a sudden?

Yeonjeong tilted her head, forgetting what she was saying, and relayed a different message.

“Junhyeok, I’ll call you back. The caregiver is calling.”

“Okay. Don’t forget to call me right away if anything happens.”

“Okay. I’m hanging up.”

Yeonhee ended her call with Junhyeok and touched the screen a few times.

“Hello? Ma’am. What is it?”

Then, she answered Miyeong’s call warmly.

“……Don’t say such absurd things. My Yeonhee, my Yeonhee…!”

Yeonjeong said in a trembling voice. Her eyes shook as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have, and her already pale complexion turned even whiter.

Sera watched her intently, her expression unchanged.

Yeonjeong looked like she was about to collapse, but it was exactly as Sera had expected, making it all the duller.

Sera let out a sigh, her face full of boredom, and scratched her temple as she replied.

“I don’t know which part of what I said is absurd. Do I look like someone with too much free time, Shin Yeonjeong? To come all this way just to spout nonsense?”

Her voice held no venom.

Yet, every word she spoke in her cheerful tone pierced Yeonjeong’s heart.

Sera knew. She knew that everything she said would inflict a fatal wound on Yeonjeong.

She also knew very well that there was no need to speak in a meaningful tone to warn her.

Even a casual remark would be shocking enough for Yeonjeong.

To Shin Yeonjeong, Shin Yeonhee was like a daughter, even if not her biological child, whom she had raised as her own for her entire life.

The news that this daughter had sold her life for a few dollars to save her mother’s life was bound to be shocking.

Yeonjeong’s expression reflected this.

Her face showed that she couldn’t possibly bear the sudden shock.

Sera felt confident that she didn’t need to exert any more effort.

Sera uncrossed her legs with a haughty air and met Yeonjeong’s gaze again.

“I wish everything I said was a lie too. Do you think I enjoy saying this? I know very well that this is not something to say to someone who is suffering.”

A voice tinged with belated sympathy escaped her lips, but no words could comfort Yeonjeong.

“But what can be done? Shin Yeonhee is recklessly trying to steal my place without knowing her limits. I know it’s a childish method, but if I can’t resolve it on my own, I have to find her mother. As a mother, surely you won’t just stand by and watch this situation?”

“……”

“Shin Yeonjeong, please scold Shin Yeonhee sternly. They say you shouldn’t covet a tree you can’t climb. But this isn’t just looking at a tree you can’t climb; she’s trying to climb it and take my place.”

Sera muttered as if talking to herself, looking at Yeonjeong with pity. Suddenly, her eyes turned cold.

Just thinking about Yeonhee made her feel disgusted.

“That’s right. No matter how eerily similar we look, how can that woman be me? It’s preposterous, isn’t it?”

As she spoke, she couldn’t comprehend why she had to endure such humiliation because of a mere woman.

Thinking about how her pride had been crushed at Junhyeok’s newlywed home a few days ago ignited her anger.

But even so, it wasn’t Yeonjeong’s fault.

If Yeonjeong was at fault, it was…

“They say good upbringing is important for a reason.”

“……”

“You should have paid a little more attention when raising her. Character education doesn’t cost money.”

The sin of not properly educating Shin Yeonhee’s character, that was all.

“In any case, I think I’ve explained it clearly enough to Shin Yeonjeong, and the rest can be left to you.”

Sera cast another pitying glance at Yeonjeong, who remained lost in thought, unable to speak.

It was pathetic that she didn’t even realize she was being looked at that way.

But it couldn’t be helped. Since Yeonhee wouldn’t listen to her no matter what, she had no choice but to resort to this method.

Sera gathered her bag and stood up.

Glancing at the time, she saw there was still some time left before the hour she had spoken with the caregiver.

However, she had no intention of filling that time completely.

For Yeonjeong’s sake, it would be best for her to leave now.

She figured Yeonjeong would need time to think.

“Perhaps resolving this matter on my end is the most peaceful way. If Shin Yeonhee continues to be stubborn, I can’t guarantee what will happen next. So, Shin Yeonjeong, please persuade Shin Yeonhee well.”

She spoke the words, “I can’t guarantee what will happen next,” with genuine sincerity.

If this matter couldn’t be resolved through Yeonjeong, the next step would be to inform Sookhee.

While Sookhee was an infinitely kind grandmother to her, behind that kindness lay a ruthless nature that even she couldn’t imagine.

That was why she tried to avoid informing Sookhee whenever possible.

Sera furrowed her brow and shook her head. Since it hadn’t happened yet, she didn’t want to think about what might happen next.

Moreover, Shin Yeonjeong seemed to be quite precious to Shin Yeonhee. Therefore, if Yeonjeong persuaded her, Shin Yeonhee would have no choice.

Having reached that conclusion, Sera turned her back without hesitation. Then, she left the hospital room.

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