Perfect Possession - Episode 18

A child’s chair had already been set up in the dining room. Only three place settings were on the table, and no one else was in sight.

“Where is everyone else?”

Seo-yeon asked Jaehoon, noticing that there were no meals prepared for Seong-jun and Jae-moon, who had come with her.

“Jae-moon thought it would be less confusing to eat only with us rather than with a lot of people. I think so too. They’re eating in another room.”

Jaehoon finished speaking and carefully sat Tae-yul in the chair. Even though everything was new and awkward, Jaehoon was doing well without making any mistakes.

Seo-yeon neatly placed the food for Tae-yul on the table attached to the high chair.

“I didn’t know what he would like, so I made a variety of dishes. I cooled the soup down a bit in advance.”

Mrs. Kim said as she put down the beef radish soup that she had made.

“Thank you.”

Seo-yeon sincerely said, grateful for her thoughtfulness. Seo-yeon placed the baby bowl on the inside and looked at Tae-yul. The high chair table was wider than she had expected, so it didn’t seem uncomfortable for Tae-yul to eat.

After setting up all the food for Tae-yul, Jaehoon pulled out a chair for Seo-yeon to sit.

“Can I eat after watching Tae-yul eat?”

She asked, turning to Jaehoon.

“Do as you please.”

As Seo-yeon was about to move her chair closer to Tae-yul, Jaehoon came over and moved the chair next to the high chair. She picked up the animal-shaped spoon as Jaehoon sat across from her and said to Tae-yul.

“Can Tae-yul use a spoon? Or should Mommy feed you?”

Whether he wasn’t used to being fed, or whether he didn’t understand what Seo-yeon was saying, Tae-yul tilted his head briefly. Then he held out his hand. It seemed like he wanted the spoon.

What would it have been like if she had given birth and raised a child normally? Seo-yeon might have made a fuss over the sight of her 16-month-old child quietly holding out his hand for a spoon, thinking he was so admirable.

But as Seo-yeon placed the spoon in Tae-yul’s hand, she had to try hard to hide her tears out of guilt. She would have been happier if he had just snatched the spoon away.

“Mommy can feed you, you know.”

Tae-yul put the rice in his mouth without a word. Seo-yeon quickly deboned the fish braised in soy sauce and placed it on the child’s spoon.

Tae-yul ate well without complaining once. He didn’t refuse any of the side dishes Seo-yeon put on his spoon and brought them all to his mouth.

Before she knew it, Tae-yul had finished a bowl of rice and put down his spoon. Seo-yeon, wondering if he was done eating because the food was gone, wiped the rice grains from Tae-yul’s mouth and asked.

“Does Tae-yul want a little more?”

“There’s pudding.”

Mrs. Kim brought out the pudding she had made for Tae-yul, as if he shouldn’t eat too much.

“He might get sick if he eats too much all of a sudden.”

“I didn’t think of that. He was eating so well.”

Seo-yeon smiled brightly, touching Tae-yul’s stomach.

“Our Tae-yul’s tummy is full. Let’s stop eating rice and eat pudding.”

She put down a tray with pudding made from tangy apple mango, watermelon, and grapes. Tae-yul stared blankly at the orange pudding and suddenly looked at Seo-yeon.

“Why? Do you want to know how to eat it?”

Tae-yul blinked.

“Just scoop it up with a spoon and eat it. Like this.”

Seo-yeon scooped up some pudding and put it in Tae-yul’s mouth. Tae-yul smacked his lips and started eating the pudding with a blank expression.

He widened his eyes every time he ate, as if it was delicious. Seo-yeon couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“Now, stop and eat too.”

She looked at Jaehoon sitting across from her. Mrs. Kim was taking away the untouched rice and soup and replacing them with new ones. Jaehoon had been waiting for Seo-yeon to feed Tae-yul before eating.

“You should have eaten first.”

Butler Park set down Seo-yeon’s cold rice and soup again.

“Eat.”

Even when they were dating, Jaehoon always considered and cared for Seo-yeon. He only picked up his spoon after seeing her eat. Seo-yeon was happy with his unchanging consideration, but her heart ached.

Seo-yeon lamented her stupidity for resenting and doubting such a man. If she hadn’t done that, how beautiful and happy would this scene have been?

She had resolved to look ahead without regret, but she had lost so much that she hated herself.

“It’s a good place for children. So, you don’t have to worry so much.”

Seo-yeon, who was about to pick up her spoon, looked at Jaehoon. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what he meant. As always, Jaehoon saw through her heart.

Even though she thought she wouldn’t, Seo-yeon was worried every moment that Tae-yul wasn’t being properly cared for at the orphanage.

“I’ve decided to sponsor them on the condition that they do their best for the children who come there in the future. It’s compensation for taking care of Tae-yul. If they had neglected my child even a little, I wouldn’t have made such a decision. I thoroughly investigated and found out the facts, so you can believe it.”

“Thank you.”

“I don’t want to hear you say thank you. It’s about my child.”

When Jaehoon said, “It’s my child,” rather than, “It’s also my child,” it felt like a sharp needle was piercing her heart. But it didn’t change her mind.

No matter what criticism she received, Seo-yeon would stay by Tae-yul’s side. She looked into Jaehoon’s dark eyes and said calmly.

“My gratitude is sincere. And I have the right to say it.”

Jaehoon raised his eyebrows at Seo-yeon’s words. It was as if he was finally facing the Min Seo-yeon he had been with.

“You don’t have to exercise that right every moment.”

Jaehoon’s stiff voice changed. Seo-yeon hid her surprise and continued eating. A moment later, when Jaehoon got up from his seat, her gaze instinctively went to Tae-yul.

Tae-yul was fidgeting with his pudding-covered fingers. He frowned, as if he didn’t like the stickiness. Seo-yeon’s brown eyes trembled greatly.

Seo-yeon was happy that Tae-yul, who had only shown small changes in expression, was now showing a face that clearly showed his dislike. She looked for a napkin to wipe Tae-yul’s hands.

But Jaehoon had already taken the wet towel that Mrs. Kim had handed him and was facing Tae-yul.

“Let me wipe it for you.”

Even though he could have wiped it on his clothes if he didn’t like it, Tae-yul only awkwardly stretched out his fingers and fidgeted. Jaehoon wiped his hands with the wet towel so as not to startle Tae-yul.

They were plump, small hands. He never imagined that the day would come when he would wipe his son’s hands.

They were small hands that seemed like they would break with just a little force. The thought that these hands had been flailing around in search of parental warmth overwhelmed him with a pain he had never felt before. It was so painful that it was hard to breathe.

“I’ll do it.”

A calm voice that soothed people’s hearts. The voice that Jaehoon had always wanted to hear was right next to him. He looked at Seo-yeon. Her eyes showed that she knew the pain he was feeling.

“…It’s okay.”

Jaehoon answered quietly and carefully wiped Tae-yul’s hands.

“Finish eating and then wash up.”

Tae-yul stared blankly at Jaehoon. Then he picked up his spoon again and ate the pudding. It was impossible to know if he understood his words.

He had returned to his expressionless face, but it was clear that Tae-yul was relieved.

Jaehoon reached out to stroke his head, but he couldn’t touch him and returned to his seat.

“You can touch him.”

“I don’t want to disturb him while he’s eating well.”

“I’m glad he eats anything well.”

Jaehoon didn’t answer Seo-yeon’s words. She had also thought that he might just be eating because he couldn’t complain about the food.

But if they only saw Tae-yul’s every action as painful, it seemed like both of them would become emotionally tattered.

“I want to think of what I see as good. If you say I’m trying to get comfortable too soon, I have nothing else to say, but I don’t want to be in pain in front of Tae-yul every time. He might speak tomorrow, but it might take much longer than that.”

“He’ll open his mouth soon. I’ve decided to believe that.”

Jaehoon said, putting down his spoon. Just then, Tae-yul finished his pudding and put down his spoon as well. Only then did Seo-yeon realize that he had been eating for Tae-yul, even though he didn’t want to.

“Jae-moon wants Tae-yul to stay at home for a few days and then go to the center when he’s settled. He thinks they can take care of him more professionally there.”

Seo-yeon took off Tae-yul’s bib and listened to his words quietly as she cleared the dishes on the table.

“We’re going to set up a separate space for Tae-yul at the center. We’ll have tight security for the time being. I’m also thinking of hiring a nanny to take care of him.”

Seo-yeon’s movements, which had been lifting Tae-yul out of the chair, stopped completely. Without realizing it, she tightened her arms around Tae-yul.

It felt like the blood flowing through her body had dried up in an instant. To Seo-yeon, Jaehoon’s words sounded like, “Now that we’ve found our child, please leave.”

She gathered as much reason as possible to hold on to her mind, which was turning white.

“I need to wash him and put him to bed.”

Seo-yeon’s resolve remained unchanged, but the moment she heard his words, she felt like the reality she had feared was unfolding before her eyes, and her heart was constricted.

But she decided to only think about being by Tae-yul’s side until he spoke and smiled. She was willing to become a shameless woman without conscience for Tae-yul’s sake. Seo-yeon was going to tell Jaehoon her feelings tonight.

“Mrs. Kim, please help me.”

Jaehoon said to Mrs. Kim.

“Yes, I understand. Let’s go.”

Jaehoon, who had been staring intently at Seo-yeon, who was standing as if frozen, said briefly.

“Come to the guest living room after you put him to sleep.”

It was the living room closest to Tae-yul’s room. Jaehoon didn’t want to leave Tae-yul’s side for a moment either.

Seo-yeon said she understood and left the dining room.

‘Tae-yul, Mommy will be by your side. No matter what the cost.’

Seo-yeon finally smiled at the sight of Tae-yul yawning sleepily.

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