Perfect Possession - Episode 51

As Jia entered the cafe, two blocks away from the company, she scanned her surroundings. She was worried that people Sung-joon had assigned might be following her.

 

When she was sure no one was tailing her, Jia felt relieved and went inside.

 

As soon as she stepped in, she saw Mina, and Jia barely managed to suppress the frown that threatened to appear on her face. Mina’s attire was not suitable for a neighborhood cafe.

 

Jia had specifically told her to dress as if she were taking a stroll around the neighborhood, but Mina was wearing an all-black pantsuit with a wide-brimmed floppy hat of the same color.

 

‘Is she crazy?’

 

Jia frowned at the stares Mina was attracting and approached her.

 

“You’re a bit late.”

 

“No, I came early.”

 

Mina’s tone had changed to a lighter one. Jia didn’t feel too burdened, as she was meeting Mina today to carry out the orders given by Mi-ryung. Perhaps that was why she couldn’t help but comment on Mina’s outfit.

 

“Sister, you’re not going for a walk like that, are you?”

 

“I have a funeral to go to right after meeting you.”

 

‘Even less appropriate as funeral attire.’

 

Jia forced an awkward smile, unlike her inner thoughts, and ordered a coffee haphazardly.

 

“What’s going on? Did you find out Jaehoon’s schedule?”

 

“Sister, that’s not the problem right now.”

 

Jia put on a shocked expression and stammered, on the verge of tears.

 

“S-sister. If the Do-young family finds out I told you this, I might get kicked out. But sister, we’re supposed to be sisters, and I thought you should know this more than anyone else. That’s why I asked to see you.”

 

Jia repeatedly used the word “sister” as she spoke, finally shedding tears.

 

“What is it?”

 

Jia’s eyes widened as if she were making a big decision, and she grabbed Mina’s hand tightly.

 

“I’m telling you this knowing I might get kicked out of the Do-young family. Don’t be shocked. Jaehoon has a son.”

 

Jia was startled when the hand she was holding turned cold in an instant, and she quickly let go. She was greatly surprised inside. The Mina she knew was someone who always got what she wanted.

 

That included people. The only person she hadn’t been able to make her own was Jaehoon. So, Jia and Mi-ryung had planned, thinking that Mina wouldn’t back down with just this much.

 

Jia would drop hints to Mina so that she would take action herself.

 

“S-sister?”

 

“Could you say that again?”

 

“Well, Jaehoon registered his marriage with a woman secretly from the Do-young family. That woman had a son without him knowing.”

 

“So, you’re saying he married that Secretary Min? And he has a son?”

 

Jia was shocked. There was no way Mina could know about the relationship between Seo-yeon and Jaehoon, but the mention of “Secretary Min” made her heart sink. Jia carefully watched Mina’s reaction and continued.

 

“Yes. It wasn’t a wedding, just a marriage registration, I think. But the elders don’t accept the marriage. Right now, the matriarch is bedridden, and the chairman is furious and wants to kick Jaehoon out of Do-young immediately. Sister, I think…”

 

“Quiet! Be quiet. Let me think.”

 

Mina clenched and unclenched her hands a few times, then took off the floppy hat she was wearing and placed it on the table. Her eyes were unusual. After a moment, Mina looked at Jia and said,

 

“Find out Jaehoon’s schedule as soon as possible. And tell the madam that I want to meet her.”

 

“The matriarch?”

 

Mina stood up and looked down at Jia with a cold expression.

 

“I want to hear it clearly with my own ears. I can’t wait long, so contact me this afternoon.”

 

Jia watched Mina leave the cafe with a cold face and felt offended. Who would lie about something like this? She also hated Mina for not trusting her words.

 

“Just because I gifted her a bag, she’s looking down on me? Fine, go ahead and try. I’m doing as I’m told because I have no choice, but it won’t be easy.”

 

Jia muttered with an upset face and got up from her seat.

 

 

Mi-ryung turned her gaze away from Mina and lifted her teacup.

 

“We have absolutely no intention of accepting that child. And since Jaehoon’s son is of the Do-young bloodline, we plan to take him in.”

 

“Would Jaehoon leave his son with the family?”

 

“Who knows? It can’t be helped even if he doesn’t want to, can it?”

 

“I’ll raise him.”

 

Mi-ryung paused the teacup she was bringing to her lips, then drank the tea again. A sly smile appeared on her lips.

 

“There’s no need for that. Raising someone else’s child isn’t easy.”

 

“I went to the United States right after graduating from elementary school. While I was there until I graduated from college, my mother only came to see me for graduation and entrance ceremonies. Even though she was my own mother. Isn’t that how everyone lives?”

 

Jaehoon had also studied abroad for a long time and returned. They had met frequently while he was taking over Do-young, but before that, she had only gone to see him for big events, like Mina. Rather, her in-laws had met Jaehoon more often and traveled with him.

 

“You’re right, too. But it won’t be easy. I’m sorry to say this, but she’s coming on so strong that we can no longer persuade her.”

 

“I’ll do it. Don’t worry.”

 

Mina glanced at the tea Mi-ryung had poured and then looked back at her.

 

“I’m not doing this because I covet the Do-young Group. I saw Jaehoon a few times at social gatherings during his time studying in the United States. Of course, we never talked or anything, so he probably doesn’t even know who I am. The reason I’m telling you this is that my feelings for Jaehoon are by no means light.”

 

Mi-ryung liked Mina more and more. Her eyes were similar to the eyes she had when she risked everything to catch Chairman Han. Mi-ryung put down her teacup and lightly took Mina’s hand.

 

“Thank you. I feel like I can finally breathe. And I’m sorry. For making you shoulder this burden.”

 

“Please give me your thanks again after Jaehoon and I get married. And it’s not shouldering a burden, it’s taking back Jaehoon, who I thought was mine.”

 

Mina subtly pulled her hand away from Mi-ryung and stood up.

 

“Then I’ll be going now.”

 

Mina nodded lightly and left the living room. Mi-ryung couldn’t hide her bewildered expression and glared at the door she had left through.

 

“I’m only putting up with this arrogance this time. Once I separate you from Jaehoon, then we’ll talk again.”

 

Mi-ryung had no intention of putting up with Mina acting haughty in front of her, no matter who she was. She put down her teacup with a clatter.

 

 

“Dada, wawa?” (Daddy, water?)

 

“Tae-yul has a water cup in his hand.”

 

Tae-yul, who had been playfully following Jaehoon as he headed to the dressing room to prepare for work, said while holding his water cup.

 

“Tata, Tae-yul.” (That’s Tae-yul.)

 

Seo-yeon watched in amazement and looked at Jaehoon.

 

“Did you hear that? He’s saying his name. Just now, when I said, ‘Tae-yul,’ he said, ‘Tae-yul.'”

 

“Really?”

 

Jaehoon knelt down in front of Tae-yul with a surprised face. He put his hand on Tae-yul’s chest and asked seriously.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“Tae-yul.” (Tae-yul.)

 

Jaehoon smiled brightly and picked up Tae-yul, who answered as if he had been waiting for the question.

 

“Our son knows his name, too. Wait, should we ask about our names?”

 

“No way, he wouldn’t know.”

 

Seo-yeon thought that there was no way he would know since they had never called each other’s names in front of Tae-yul.

 

“Let’s ask. Tae-yul, what’s Mommy’s name?”

 

Jaehoon pointed at Seo-yeon with an expectant face.

 

“You’re late. Hurry up and get dressed.”

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Tae-yul glanced at Seo-yeon, then looked at Jaehoon and drank his water as if he had no interest. Seo-yeon burst out laughing and pushed Jaehoon into the dressing room.

 

“Stop it and hurry up and get dressed. You’ll be late for work.”

 

“Seo-yeon, your name is easy to pronounce, so if I teach him, he might say it…”

 

Jaehoon couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings and said as he carried Tae-yul into the dressing room.

 

“Do you think he’ll immediately say ‘Seo-yeon’ and follow along?”

 

Seo-yeon said firmly as if it were impossible and opened the closet to get the suit he would wear.

 

“Really?”

 

Jaehoon sat Tae-yul on the sofa and took off the clothes he was wearing.

 

“Min Seo-yeon, it’s easy to pronounce.”

 

It was then. Tae-yul, who had been drinking water without saying a word, took the straw out with a pop sound and blinked as he looked at the two of them. His adorable lips parted slightly, and a word he had never heard before popped out.

 

“Yeon.”

 

Jaehoon and Seo-yeon stopped their movements and turned to look at Tae-yul. The two of them looked at each other with surprised faces and sat down close to Tae-yul.

 

“Tae-yul, who did you just call?”

 

At Jaehoon’s question, Tae-yul pointed at Seo-yeon with a smile and said loudly.

 

“Mommy. Yeon.”

 

Jaehoon couldn’t say anything and looked at Seo-yeon. Seo-yeon was just as surprised. She couldn’t believe that he had heard Jaehoon say it once and followed along. But the feeling was the best.

 

“Tae-yul, did you just call Mommy?”

 

Seo-yeon asked with a bright smile. Tae-yul smiled brightly, threw himself at Seo-yeon, and said clearly once again.

 

“Yeon.”

 

“Oh my, he really called me.”

 

“Congratulations. Does it feel better when your son calls you than when I call you?”

 

“What are you saying.”

 

Seo-yeon glared at Jaehoon’s joke and picked up Tae-yul.

 

“Thank you, Tae-yul. Let’s call Daddy’s name next time. Han Jaehoon.”

 

Perhaps because the pronunciation was difficult, Tae-yul pretended not to hear and pointed to the water cup on the sofa.

 

“Wawa.” (Water.)

 

“Daddy can wait. About a week?”

 

Jaehoon seemed envious and said without smiling as he handed him the water cup. Seo-yeon comforted him with a cheerful voice.

 

“Instead, I’ll call you a lot, Jaehoon.”

 

“That’s not comforting.”

 

Jaehoon said with a grin and put on his shirt, saying to Seo-yeon,

 

“Secretary Heo will take you, so come out on time.”

 

“Um, what’s going on?”

 

“It’s a secret.”

 

At Jaehoon’s words to come out for a while when Tae-yul was napping, Seo-yeon made a promise to meet him. It was the first time she was going out alone since Tae-yul came, so she was worried, but Jaehoon was also important to Seo-yeon. She helped Jaehoon prepare for work with a curious face.