Divorce Contract C20

Chapter 20

Even after they returned home, Go Igyeol had to bear the full weight of Seo Dohyeon’s anger. From early evening until the depths of dawn, Dohyeon held him fast. When he was finally released, limp and drained after Dohyeon had sated his every desire, Igyeol was already half out of his mind.

His eyes were raw and red from being rubbed sore. He couldn’t even properly say that he was in pain. All he could do was yield silently, waiting until Dohyeon’s anger had ebbed. At times, his gaze brimmed with resentment and flicked toward Dohyeon, but that was all.

It was only after he stepped out onto the terrace, downed a can of beer, and chain-smoked two cigarettes that the turmoil in Dohyeon’s chest finally settled. Igyeol had said he would stop seeing Na Seonwoo, and if it was Igyeol, then he would keep his word.

“Phew.”

Contrary to the weather report that claimed spring had warmed, the wind was still chilly. Dohyeon recalled the sight of Igyeol entering the restaurant, soaked from the rain. The seasons changing had always made him fall ill, and Dohyeon thought he might catch a cold.

Igyeol’s condition had been poor for days. His body, strained by that evening spent with Na Seonwoo and Na Seunghui, had yet to recover. He shuffled only between the bed, the bathroom, and the living room—until finally, he stepped out into the yard.

The wind wasn’t as biting as before. Standing still, staring up at the sky, Igyeol recalled a bitter realization.

He corrected a misconception he’d had before: Seo Dohyeon didn’t respond because he cared when he cried—he only acted according to his mood. When Dohyeon had been in good spirits, he’d granted his requests generously. But if his mood soured, then whether Igyeol cried or not, he would simply act as he pleased.

He had expected it, but facing the truth still stung. Sweeping his wind-tossed hair back, he laughed bitterly. Out of habit, his hand rose to his lower stomach. It was now clearly beginning to swell. When he lowered his gaze, the curve was undeniable, visible even to his own eyes. Hadn’t they said the uterus was now about the size of a fist?

“……”

His hand trembled. How much longer could he hide this? How much longer could he deceive? Clothes could conceal the bump, but once they came off… could he escape? Or would he vanish like smoke before then?

The aftermath of that night had left him bedridden, but today he resolved that he would go out and sell what he had. Dohyeon wouldn’t be home for hours, so he had time. If asked where he had gone, he would say he’d gone for counseling at an academy—he disliked excuses dragging on, but it would have to do. Even as he rehearsed excuses in his mind, a heavy gloom dragged him down. He wished he could simply fade away like dust.

Even though he had carefully packed accessories with their certificates, they fetched less than he expected. Especially the diamond-set necklace. The jewelry shop owner scrutinized each necklace and bracelet, then quoted a surprisingly low price—so low that even Igyeol, who didn’t know market values, thought it a loss.

Though she boasted that no other shop would pay as well as hers, she seemed anxious he might walk out without selling.

“Jewelry’s always expensive when you buy it and cheap when you sell it. That’s how it is, not just yours.”

“…Ah.”

“Honestly, I gave you a fair price.”

When he’d left home, he’d planned to shop around for the best offer, but standing in the store, weighed down and aching, his resolve crumbled quickly.

“I have more besides these.”

“These aren’t all wedding gifts?”

“…No.”

“Then what? If they’re not wedding pieces, were they passed down?”

Her probing words made Igyeol take off his cap and smooth his hair. Unlike when she had been eager to haggle, she now seemed worried about potential trouble after purchase.

“My husband bought them for me.”

“All of these expensive things? So many?”

Startled, she asked again, and Igyeol regretted not dressing better. Avoiding her persistent stare, he lowered his head, searching for an excuse. A sob story would work best. If his voice sounded heavy, the lie might pass.

“…Every time I caught him cheating, he bought me these. He’s rich. Older than me, too.”

“Oh my goodness…!”

“He cheated again this time. I can’t even stand to look at these jewels anymore.”

“A dog never quits its habits! To think he’d cheat on someone this young and pretty—absolutely shameless, tsk tsk! And older, too!”

He worried the story might have been too dramatic, but she seemed convinced. Then again, reality was always stranger than fiction. His own life was proof: unlike drama protagonists who, after hardship, found happiness, Igyeol only kept sinking further into misfortune. Moving his hand from his thigh, he pressed at the corners of his eyes.

“Leave him before there are children. Hmm?”

“…That’s the plan. If I ask for a divorce, he’ll probably demand all these back, so I’m selling them first. I don’t want to take them with me.”

“Yes, yes. That’s wise. Oh, how did you end up with such a scoundrel…”

“…Because of money, of course.”

Clapping her hands, the shopkeeper said she’d suspected as much, eagerly agreeing with his tale, blaming money for everything.

“You said you had more? Bring them all. I’ll buy them all, even if it ruins me.”

“…Do you take watches, too?”

“Even if I didn’t, I would for you. Just bring them. When will you come?”

“…Tomorrow.”

After some hesitation, Igyeol said he would return with more tomorrow. Waiting days between sales would be safer, but who knew how circumstances might change.

“You want me to transfer the money? Just sign this receipt.”

“Yes… here.”

He handed over the account number he’d prepared in his phone memo. The woman, wearing reading glasses, held his phone to her ear and tapped in the details. When she showed him the calculator to confirm the total, Igyeol nodded. With a few presses, the transfer was complete, and she let out a satisfied sigh.

“See you again, then.”

“I’ll bring more tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes. Come again tomorrow.”

Smiling broadly, she even walked him to the door. Igyeol bowed politely, then headed straight to the language academy he’d scouted earlier.

“Ha…”

He wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do. He planned to register, then use the credit card Dohyeon had told him to spend as needed to pull out cash. Whatever he spent, Dohyeon wouldn’t notice anyway. Should he withdraw a large amount at once? The sun beat down hot, though the breeze was still cool, making him squint.

He sighed repeatedly as he entered the academy building, when suddenly the phone in his pocket buzzed. Without checking the caller ID, he answered.

“…Hello?”

– It’s me.

“…Ah? Oh, um, hello.”

The greeting came awkward and stiff. He even bowed slightly before flushing with embarrassment. As if Dohyeon could see him, a soft laugh came through the line.

– I thought you’d be asleep. Seems you went out.

“…I’m feeling better today, so I just stepped out for a bit.”

– What are you doing.

“I came to a nearby language academy. I’m thinking of registering if the consultation goes well. But… how did you know?”

Igyeol glanced around unconsciously. Was he being watched? No, Dohyeon wasn’t that sort of man. But the only thought in his head was how Dohyeon knew he had left the house.

– I came home. You couldn’t even open your eyes this morning—I thought you might be really sick.

“…I’ll come back right away.”

– Do your consultation and come back slowly. No need to rush.

“No, it’s fine. I can come again tomorrow. I’ll be right there.”

He heard both the words that there was no need and the reminder to be careful. Pulling himself out of the building, he turned immediately toward home. As soon as the call ended, he shoved the phone into his pocket and all but ran.

Walking without thought, he suddenly found himself in a familiar alley. Realizing he was nearly home, his steps slowed. When he stopped completely, his breathing was ragged.

“Haah… ha… hff, hhh…”

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and rested before walking again. As the gate came into view, his pocket buzzed once more. Curious, he pulled out his phone. The name that appeared—Na Seonwoo—made his heart pound as if it might leap from his chest.

It was because he remembered Dohyeon’s voice from that night, telling him never to meet Seonwoo again.