The Cruel Beast’s Desire - Chapter 28

He spat out vulgar words without hesitation.

The phone against my cheek felt hot. Whether it was because of the voice digging into my ear or the phone against my cheek, a fire blazed through my entire body.

[You’re not even denying it. Or can’t you?]

I really, really hate you.

You showed up out of the blue after seven years and easily said you had to protect your love.

I really, really hate you for spitting out whatever you want to say so easily.

“Even if I say something, you’ll just think what you want. That’s why I’m not denying it. It’s useless.”

[Kang Hayeon.]

Calling my name in such a low voice, you’re really bad.

I barely stood up with the determination to destroy you, but you shattered even that with such a beautiful daughter.

Even a single bean sprout brings back old memories.

Tae Yoonjae.

“You’re really bad. You won’t even let me say what I want.”

I heard a long sigh over the phone.

“Why do you keep making people… why do you keep making people like this? You could have just told me what time to talk and hung up!”

[Say it.]

“I can’t see you today. See you tomorrow after dinner.”

[Not that.]

It felt like we weren’t speaking the same language, even though we were.

[Say what you couldn’t say… tell me. I’ll listen.]

You didn’t even give me a chance to speak, and now you’ll listen?

What will change if you do?

I wasn’t foolish enough to be moved by the charity you were bestowing on a defeated soldier who didn’t even have the strength to fight you.

“Tae Yoonjae.”

Hayeon barely managed to say his name.

“Just be… Ee-eum’s dad.”

[Okay, I’ll just be that… not after dinner. That’s time I spend with Ee-eum. Until she goes to sleep.]

“Then, when?”

[10 o’clock. I’ll come.]

He not only cut off Hayeon’s words and notified her, but also hung up the phone unilaterally.

“Haa… I really, really hate this.”

Hayeon put the phone, its screen now black, down on the table as if throwing it. She sincerely wanted to eat alone tonight.

But she had no choice but to be dragged away by Ee-eum, who came to pick her up in time for dinner. She didn’t want to ruin the mood of the child, who was happy that the whole family was finally eating together.

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had faced Yoonjae at the dinner table in this house.

The bean sprouts were on the table as a seasoned dish that Ee-eum liked. Mrs. Lee put down the bowl of soybean paste soup and gave a meaningful smile.

“It was a unanimous vote for soybean paste soup today. Did the executive director’s taste change, or did our Miss Kang’s skills improve?”

Hayeon felt a twinge of guilt for no reason.

“His taste didn’t change. He’s just siding with Ee-eum in celebration of my discharge from the hospital.”

“Dad, that’s a lie!”

Ee-eum immediately pointed out.

“You said we should have what Teacher wants to eat today.”

The child naturally made an excuse that it was what Hayeon wanted to eat.

Hayeon didn’t know what to do and just rolled her eyes, feeling Mrs. Lee’s gaze on her.

“Teacher also doesn’t like bean sprout soup because it’s bland.”

“She likes seasoned bean sprouts more.”

Hayeon quickly added, picking up the seasoned bean sprouts with her chopsticks.

“When you look at it, Miss Kang’s taste is completely like a child. She likes sour things, too.”

I couldn’t argue that it wasn’t true.

“By the way, how did the executive director know that Miss Kang likes chicken noodle soup?”

Hayeon’s hand stopped at Mrs. Lee’s words. When she looked up at Yoonjae, he was eating as if nothing was wrong.

“Secretary Kim told me.”

I guess I had a small expectation for the chicken noodle soup I enjoyed so much last time. Blaming myself for being disappointed by Yoonjae’s answer, Hayeon chewed and swallowed the rice that wouldn’t go down.

“Secretary Kim knows everything, anyway.”

“What’s chicken noodle soup?”

Ee-eum, who had been listening quietly to the adults’ conversation, asked.

“Ah, it’s noodles made with chicken… it’s a cold dish.”

“Teacher, is it good?”

It seemed like Ee-eum hadn’t tried it yet.

“Yeah, it’s good. It’s sour and has a lot of chicken in it.”

Hayeon explained briefly, as it was a light conversation during dinner.

“Dad, I want to try that too. Chicken noodle soup.”

“You heard Mrs. Lee, right? It’s a cold dish.”

“I can just eat a little.”

He gave her a small piece of ice cream last time, and it seemed like he was being careful about cold food, too.

“You can’t catch a cold.”

Yoonjae, who was always kind to Ee-eum, was firm this time. Hayeon couldn’t interfere in the conversation between father and daughter, so she just watched quietly.

“Don’t eat it either, Dad.”

It was the petulance of a child who didn’t get what she wanted. Hayeon finished her meal, holding back a laugh that was about to burst out.

Thanks to the innocent child, the dinner time, which seemed like it would be uncomfortable, passed without incident.

“Dad, read me five books today.”

“That’s two more than yesterday.”

“It was too hard to pick just three.”

Hayeon tried not to pay attention to Yoonjae and Ee-eum, who were holding hands tightly and going up to the second floor.

Whether it was because Hayeon had told him to just be Tae Ee-eum’s dad, Yoonjae was just a kind dad throughout the meal.

It was the image Hayeon had wanted, but every time she saw Tae Yoonjae as a dad, her heart felt like it was being scraped.

Tick-tock.

The sound of the clock ticking grew louder and louder in my ear. Hayeon had been looking at the clock for over an hour.

All of Hayeon’s nerves were focused on 10 o’clock.

Exactly 10 o’clock. I heard the sound of footsteps at regular intervals. Unlike last time, it wasn’t across the garden, but through the passage connected to the swimming pool. The closer it got, the louder the sound became.

Hayeon sat still until Yoonjae sat on the sofa opposite her.

“Start whatever this consultation is.”

Unlike at dinner, Hayeon’s throat was dry from the cold gaze, and she could only open her mouth after swallowing hard.

“I’ve never taught a child before. What do you want me to do?”

“Spend time with her. You can take her for a walk, and when she gets healthier than she is now, you can start exercising lightly. You may not have taught a child before, but you know what’s good for building basic physical strength.”

Hayeon sighed without showing it.

“As you can see… she’s sensitive and precocious.”

I heard that most children who have been sick since childhood are precocious. Ee-eum, whom I met today, was like that too.

Hayeon listened quietly to what Yoonjae was saying.

“Maybe it’s because she’s at an age where she’ll have a lot of secrets… she’s hiding a lot of things. Be a conversation partner for her besides me or Chief Jang.”

“If she needs someone like that… why don’t you call a play therapist or a counselor?”

An expert would be much more helpful than me, who only knows about exercise. He couldn’t not know that, but Yoonjae’s eyes looking at me were clearly displeased.

Yoonjae, who sighed lowly, asked in a stiff tone.

“Didn’t you read the paper Secretary Kim gave you last time?”

“I read it. It said that if you receive a blood transfusion from someone who has a good relationship with you, there are fewer side effects… I know that’s why you want me to spend time with Ee-eum. But I’m not a child psychology expert.”

“I never asked you to be an expert.”

All I got back for saying something to help was a cold look.

“Rather than spending meaningless time with me…”

“Do you hate being with Ee-eum that much?”

Hayeon didn’t expect Yoonjae to be so critical of what she said.

“That’s not it. I was just saying that to be of some help to the child. Like I said before… I’ve never taught a child before. I’m an amateur.”

“I’ll decide whether it’s helpful or not.”

Hayeon sighed deeply. She didn’t deliberately hide her frustrated feelings.

Yoonjae treated her coldly as always.

“Is there anything else to discuss?”

He deliberately emphasized the word “discuss.” I don’t know what he’s so unhappy about that he’s been cold ever since we sat down in the living room.

I should have finished the conversation when we were on the phone earlier. I was filled with belated regret, but now I just wanted him to leave my space quickly.

Hayeon quickly brought up the next item on the agenda.

“Does Ee-eum know you were a swimmer?”

“She knows. She also knows I was a medalist.”

Hayeon knew what it was like the day he won that medal. She also knew what happened to the two of them after that.

Hayeon bit down on the inside of her cheek.

“Ee-eum asked me earlier if you were my friend, but I couldn’t answer.”

He just stared at Hayeon without saying anything.

“Secretary Kim probably knows everything… I don’t know what to say if Mrs. Lee or Chief Jang asks…”

Hayeon couldn’t stand Yoonjae’s silence, so she deliberately didn’t stop talking.

“She asked me if I had known you for a long time… I couldn’t answer that either.”

“Wasn’t it that you wanted to hide it?”

In the end, Yoonjae stabbed Hayeon with sharp words.

If I stayed with him any longer, the old emotions that I had barely calmed down would become intense again. Hayeon wanted to finish the guardian consultation quickly.

“Then, I’ll say we were colleagues who trained together on the national team.”

“Colleagues?”

At Hayeon’s words, he turned his head and burst out laughing.

I thought I had gotten used to his ridicule, but I guess not. Even if I tried to clench my fists and endure it, his cold gaze was too hard to bear.

And the vulgar words he spewed out. I couldn’t stand it because it felt like he was treating me vulgarly as well.

“Were you just fucking… colleagues?”

“Tae Yoonjae…”

“It’s not like we only had sex back then. We rolled around together recently, too. Here and there.”

His gaze moved from the living room sofa to the master bedroom.

“I pretended not to know that you were wearing a swimsuit and summoning old memories to seduce me, so do you still see me as Kang Hayeon, the pushover?”

Hayeon couldn’t stand it any longer and got up from her seat first.

“I can’t do this. Let’s stop here today.”

As Hayeon turned her body, Yoonjae grabbed Hayeon’s wrist and sat her down next to him. And he grabbed Hayeon’s face with a strong force.

“Likes colleagues, huh.”

“Hic.”

“I would never have sex with a colleague.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, distorted with pain.

“You’re really bad.”

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