Divorce Contract C36

Chapter 36

Go Igyeol gave a bitter smile as he tugged the blanket closer at the immediate refusal, a rejection that came without the slightest hesitation. He had expected as much, but every time it was confirmed, it felt as though his heart shattered into pieces.

Slowly, he turned his body, giving Dohyeon his back. The sight made Seo Dohyeon want to pretend he did not hate him, to overlook his wrongdoings. He looked so fragile it made Dohyeon want to forgive him. There was even the wild urge to unleash his pheromones.

Dohyeon’s gaze swept over the emaciated, bony frame, and he clenched his fists tight. He reminded himself he must not waver. The reasons to hate him were more than plentiful.

When Igyeol’s pregnancy reached twenty-six full weeks, Seo Jeongjae’s anger finally erupted. Word reached Dohyeon that his grandfather was furious that neither he nor his spouse had shown their faces at family gatherings. Dohyeon’s brow creased deeply as Yoon Jaeseon explained that the chairman found their months-long absence offensive.

“It seems we can’t put this off any longer. What should we do?”

“……”

“At this point, anyone can see that Go Igyeol-ssi is pregnant. The chairman may be pleased to see him… but…”

Even Jaeseon struggled, because he, too, did not believe the child belonged to Dohyeon.

“We’ll have to go.”

“…Ah.”

“But somehow, we must hide it. Do you have any solutions?”

“…In his current state… it may be difficult to conceal.”

Dohyeon exhaled a long sigh. Even if the child were born, since it was not his, the family would never leave Igyeol be once the truth was revealed. It had to be hidden at all costs. Once the baby was delivered, it could be quietly sent abroad, never to be known to any of the relatives.

“We’ll do our best to disguise it. If we take him now, he looks so unwell that it should at least stop them from asking us to join meals for a while. Just find a way to keep the belly hidden.”

“I’ll look into some professional disguise companies. Specialists in this sort of work. I’ll choose a few and bring them in.”

“It feels like too much, but I won’t stop you. Go.”

Dohyeon waved a hand, dismissing him to act as he saw fit. Jaeseon bowed politely and left the executive office.

While Dohyeon conducted back-to-back video meetings and reviewed documents, Jaeseon returned with a handpicked prosthetic artist to see Igyeol. When he rang the bell, Kwon Heekang opened the door.

“What brings you here, sir?”

“I’ve come on the executive director’s orders. Where is Go Igyeol-ssi?”

“I think he’s still asleep. He rarely wakes up at this time…”

Heekang glanced toward the bedroom, lowering his voice. Jaeseon sighed at the news. The last time he had seen Igyeol, his condition had looked dire, and it seemed unchanged.

“Has his appetite improved at all?”

“…No. He hardly eats. Recently he can’t even manage bread, only a little cereal. He won’t touch fruit anymore either. It’s very worrying.”

“I see. Please continue your duties.”

Rather than press Heekang further, Jaeseon approached the bedroom door and knocked. When no sound came from inside, he considered opening it himself—only for it to open from within.

“…Ah, good day.”

“Hello.”

Fresh from washing, Igyeol appeared, his hair damp, his figure gaunt. The disguise artist standing behind Jaeseon involuntarily furrowed his brows. This was the pregnant spouse? The man looked barely twenty. Out of habit, his gaze swept him head to toe—pretty as a doll, yet so terribly thin, with only his belly protruding incongruously.

“You’ve been told to prepare for a visit to the main house.”

“…Seo Dohyeon-ssi said so?”

“Yes.”

“…I understand.”

Unconsciously, Igyeol dropped his gaze to his belly. There was no way to conceal it now. What excuse did they intend to use?

“What about my stomach?”

“Just a moment.”

Jaeseon’s reply was to wait. He spoke briefly with the disguise artist, asking that the stomach be made as inconspicuous as possible. The man answered it would take some time but could be done. He stood Igyeol in the middle of the living room, relieved that his belly was smaller than average, and laid out his tools.

“You’ll need to wear something loose on top.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ll be binding your abdomen now. Tell me if it hurts.”

Igyeol nodded. The man lifted his shirt slightly. At his look, Igyeol held the fabric himself and turned his head away. His body was so thin the ribs jutted out, and here and there were bruises, large and small—not from blows, but from someone gripping him too hard.

The artist’s gaze flicked up at him. Igyeol stared blankly into space, expressionless. He thought it odd. Living in such a luxurious home atop an expensive district suggested the spouse held considerable status and wealth. Then why conceal the pregnancy? But curiosity was dangerous. He forced the thought away and focused only on his task.

“Does this hurt?”

“…No.”

He wrapped the bandage tightly, layer upon layer, compressing Igyeol’s stomach until it seemed smaller.

“How about now?”

“Yes, I’m fine… just a bit tight.”

“And now?”

“…Still just… a little tight.”

Arms held awkwardly at his sides, Igyeol glanced down. His belly had noticeably flattened. Fear pried open the mouth he had kept shut tight.

“Will the baby be all right like this? It feels… too compressed. I’m fine, but the baby might not be. Are you sure this is safe?”

“It’s fine. You won’t be wearing it long. Actresses often do this for filming. It won’t be a problem. Don’t worry. We’re almost finished. Does it feel unbearably tight?”

“…No. Just… a little uncomfortable.”

With worried eyes, Igyeol shook his head.

“Now for the vest. It’s a compression vest.”

“…Do I really need to wear that too?”

“You were told it mustn’t be noticed. Better to be thorough. With this, no one will suspect, even from the side.”

Bound so tightly, Igyeol turned in a circle for them. Both Jaeseon and the artist nodded in satisfaction, forgetting entirely the bruises they had glimpsed before.

“With clothes on, no one will notice.”

“Exactly. I didn’t expect it to work so well, but I think because his belly is small, it’s even less obvious.”

Listening to their light remarks, Igyeol bit his lip. He knew there was no choice, but the fact that no one seemed to worry about the baby hollowed him out. His belly was not flat, but not so large as to be unmistakably pregnant either. Was the baby really all right like this?

“We prepared clothes for today. Here.”

Jaeseon handed over a shopping bag. Inside were a short-sleeved shirt and beige trousers.

“The shirt is one size larger than you usually wear.”

“…Thank you.”

Taking the clothes, Igyeol went into the bedroom. Behind the closed door, he rubbed his tightly bound stomach. Breathing felt constricted, but he told himself it couldn’t be helped. If it was only for a few hours, he could endure. Still, his belly, waist, chest—everything felt uncomfortable. More than himself, he feared for the baby. He hurried to change.

When he emerged again, the artist was gone. Only Heekang stood off to the side, gazing at him with pity.

“They said the executive director will arrive soon.”

Jaeseon frowned as he looked at Igyeol, who now appeared as though wearing someone else’s clothes. Just one size larger, yet the shirt sleeves fell past his elbows. Around his wrist was a dark bruise like a band. How had that happened?

Unconsciously, Jaeseon pressed his fingers against his brow and sighed. Was that also his superior’s doing? Had he struck him? Surely not… and yet, looking at this fragile, breakable figure, he could not be certain.