Perfect Possession - Episode 23

“Tae-yul… Our Tae-yul is awake?”

Surprised, Seo-yeon raised her voice without realizing it, then quickly lowered it. She smiled brightly at Tae-yul, approaching him so as not to startle him.

He looked up at Seo-yeon with eyes still heavy with sleep. For a moment, his face was bewildered by the unfamiliar surroundings, but when Seo-yeon smiled, he seemed relieved and exhaled.

“Mommy woke Tae-yul up, didn’t she? I’m sorry.”

Seo-yeon reached out to Tae-yul but didn’t scoop him up right away. She thought the child might be more startled if she did that while he was still sleepy. She gently touched Tae-yul’s clenched fist and asked,

“Can Mommy hold you? I’ll help you go back to sleep.”

Tae-yul didn’t pull his hand away, but he looked around, his fist still clenched. His slightly long hair was pressed down by the pillow, sticking out in a way that made him look so adorable that she couldn’t help but smile.

But Seo-yeon was worried that Tae-yul might get scared and cry, so she fiddled with his small hand, only following her son’s gaze.

After looking around for a while, Tae-yul’s eyes widened when he heard people’s voices through the open window.

“Daddy is putting up Tae-yul’s swing right now. That’s why it’s a bit noisy. Do you want to see it, Tae-yul?”

At the words “want to see it?”, Tae-yul’s eyes sparkled, and he suddenly sat up and hugged Seo-yeon. In that instant, she swallowed her breath. A surge of warm emotion welled up in her heart, as heavy as the child’s weight.

How could she compare this warmth to anything? The feeling of her child embracing her was an experience she wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. She spoke in a bright voice as she got off the bed.

“It’s a swing made of a huge and wonderful tree.”

Seo-yeon safely supported Tae-yul’s back and went to the window. Tae-yul still didn’t say anything, but he wiggled the hand that was wrapped around her neck as he leaned out and looked down.

“See the swing over there? Let’s go ride it in the morning when the sun comes up.”

Jaehoon, who was saying something to the workers, suddenly turned around. Seo-yeon waved her hand when their eyes met.

“Daddy!”

Tae-yul, who had been quietly watching Seo-yeon wave, surprisingly pointed outside with his finger. The way the tip of his finger wiggled showed that he wanted to go out.

Seo-yeon was so grateful that Tae-yul was gradually responding to her words that she said with a happy face,

“Shall we go out if Tae-yul doesn’t go back to sleep?”

Then, Tae-yul quickly turned his face to Seo-yeon and nodded. He only lowered his chin once, but it was clear that he was expressing his desire to go out.

“Okay, let’s go out. But it might be a bit chilly in the early morning, so let’s put on some clothes before we go out.”

Seo-yeon found Tae-yul’s gown among the things she had brought yesterday and put it on him. She loosely tied the string and held Tae-yul again.

“Shall we go? My son.”

It wasn’t easy for Seo-yeon to say the words “my son.” But she wanted to let him know, “I am your mother,” so she deliberately used the word “son” often.

Jaehoon quickly approached when he saw the two people standing by the window coming outside.

“Did we wake you up because it was noisy?”

“I don’t know. But he doesn’t seem to mind. He said he wanted to go outside.”

Seo-yeon nodded slightly as Jaehoon looked at her.

“He nodded when I said we should go out.”

“That’s a relief. At least he’s expressing his intentions.”

Tae-yul craned his neck and stared intently at the swing, as if he understood Jaehoon’s words.

“Not yet. I’ll let you ride it when it’s all done. I just need to adjust the level.”

He explained the last part while looking at Seo-yeon.

Seo-yeon showed the swing to Tae-yul and explained it to him in simple terms.

“He’s checking to see if it moves straight and well.”

The wooden swing was carved by hand. Small animals were carved into the backrest. Next to one of the handles, there was a cushioned bar that could be brought forward to become a safety bar.

“You didn’t have much time, how did you get it?”

After asking the question, she realized it was a foolish thing to say. Seo-yeon had never seen Jaehoon fail to get something he wanted. She chuckled and looked at Jaehoon, who shrugged his shoulders.

“You can find anything if you look for it. It’s for Tae-yul to ride, I can’t just put up anything. Will he come to me?”

Jaehoon, who had been looking at the swing, turned to Seo-yeon and asked. He seemed to want to hold Tae-yul. Tae-yul, whether he knew Jaehoon’s heart or not, was too busy looking at the swing to notice.

“I don’t think he even knows who he’s being held by right now.”

Seo-yeon said, looking at Tae-yul, who was completely absorbed in the swing.

“I don’t like it that way. It feels like I’m forcing him.”

“Um, then try reaching out your arms. That’s what I did.”

Jaehoon glanced at Seo-yeon once, then shifted his gaze to Tae-yul. She saw Jaehoon looking nervous for the first time. He reached out his arms, trying not to startle Tae-yul, and said,

“Does Daddy want to hold you?”

Tae-yul leaned into Jaehoon without hesitation, making his worries seem pointless. He quickly held Tae-yul. A great wave surged through his heart as small arms wrapped around his neck. It was a feeling of relief, an indescribably cozy feeling.

Darkness was receding from the eastern sky. Seo-yeon had hoped that Tae-yul would sleep a little longer, but seeing him swallow his breath every time the swing was completed, she thought she should let him take a nap later.

Finally, the swing was completed. As Head Butler Park left with the workers, Jaehoon approached the swing with Tae-yul.

“Do you want to try riding it?”

Tae-yul stared intently at Jaehoon, then quickly nodded, lowering his chin as he had done in the room.

“See? He understands everything.”

“So it seems.”

Jaehoon sat Tae-yul on the swing and lowered the safety bar. Tae-yul turned his body from side to side, fiddling with the animal carvings, then wiggled his feet back and forth.

It seemed like he was trying to push the swing. Jaehoon pushed the swing just enough so that he wouldn’t be scared.

It could be seen that he was tightening his grip on the safety bar as the swing moved. Jaehoon stayed by Tae-yul’s side, holding the swing’s safety device.

When the swing went forward, Tae-yul’s body leaned back tightly. Conversely, when it went backward, he brought his chest to the safety bar. After doing that a couple of times, he leaned back and comfortably enjoyed the swing.

After enjoying the swing for a while, moving his feet back and forth, the corners of Tae-yul’s mouth slightly turned upward. His dark eyes sparkled like jewels, and he looked back and forth between Jaehoon and Seo-yeon. It was as if he was saying that it was so much fun.

“He likes it.”

Seo-yeon’s voice trembled.

“I can see that he likes it.”

Jaehoon’s voice was also more subdued than usual.

“Did you get any sleep?”

Only then did Seo-yeon worry about Jaehoon and ask.

“A little. Let’s stop riding it now and go inside. We can ride it again in the morning.”

“Yes. Um, are you going to the company today?”

She asked, watching Jaehoon pick up Tae-yul and take him off the swing.

“I’m going to meet Mother.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

Her peaceful heart suddenly fluttered. Seo-yeon tensed up, remembering Mi-ryung’s cold appearance.

“I have no intention of hiding it. Don’t worry. No matter what she says, my mind won’t change. You just need to take good care of Tae-yul in this house. I’ll take care of the two of them, myself.”

“I trust you. But if there’s anything I can do, please tell me anytime.”

Seo-yeon had also guessed that Jaehoon would confront her head-on. It would be impossible for him to retreat or take a detour.

But she didn’t want to hide and let Jaehoon face all the storms alone. His steps, which had been heading into the house, stopped for a moment. He turned to look at Seo-yeon.

“You will be my wife and Tae-yul’s mother. So, don’t ever give in to anyone. No matter who comes and says what.”

Seo-yeon looked at Jaehoon and nodded.

“I will never give in. I promise.”

“That’s good enough. I liked how you never lost your spirit in any situation when you were my secretary.”

‘Liked.’

Seo-yeon repeated the word in her mind. She thought that one day she might hear the words “I love you” from his lips. With that thought alone, Seo-yeon was confident that she would never give in, no matter how she was treated at the Do-young residence.

“Don’t worry and do what you want to do.”

She really wanted to say those words.

“I will protect my family more safely than anyone else.”

“I know.”

Jaehoon stared intently at Seo-yeon, who was unadorned but possessed a beauty that was unmatched in the world. He thought that he couldn’t do without this woman after all.

Meeting Mi-ryung was a great stress for Jaehoon as well. But seeing her smiling softly at him, it felt like nothing.

Jaehoon handed Tae-yul to Seo-yeon and went up to his room. Seo-yeon knew very well how tiring it was for Jaehoon to deal with Mi-ryung.

She felt sorry and pitiful that she had to leave everything to Jaehoon.

“Tae-yul, shall we sleep a little more? Or shall we see Daddy off when he leaves? Ah, the word ‘see off’ is too difficult. It just means saying ‘Have a good trip, Daddy.'”

As Seo-yeon spoke, she lowered her head without realizing it. Then, Tae-yul, who had been quietly watching, nodded his head and followed Seo-yeon.

She was so happy that she felt like she was going to jump, and she unknowingly took her face to Tae-yul’s cheek and rubbed it.

“I’m so grateful that our Tae-yul answers everything Mommy says. Then let’s go to our room, wash our faces, and say ‘Have a good trip, Daddy.'”

Seo-yeon smiled brightly and took Tae-yul into the room.

***

Mi-ryung, who had put down her teacup, looked at Head Butler Jang with sharp eyes. Soon, her gaze turned to the clock hanging on the wall. It was just past 7:30.

Jaehoon had rarely come to the main house at such an early hour. Moreover, he had come voluntarily without even contacting her.

Mi-ryung had an ominous premonition that a storm was about to break. The first person who came to her mind was Min Seo-yeon.

Mi-ryung, who was convinced that Jaehoon had met Seo-yeon after throwing away the marriage proposal with Seo Mina, the eldest daughter of Jay Group, like a piece of luggage, was unbearably angry. But she calmed her anger and looked up at Head Butler Jang calmly.

“Bring him to my room without Chairman Han knowing.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Mi-ryung raised the corners of her lips and smiled coldly. She was determined to get rid of that child from Jaehoon this time.

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