Divorce Contract C29

Chapter 29

When Seo Dohyeon thought of reuniting with Go Igyeol, the boiling turmoil in his head quickly cooled. He was calmer than ever. Even as his eyes were fixed on documents, nothing had been sinking in until now. But he sat back down, reading through the papers with leisure, signing them as smoothly as flowing water.

His condition, which had been dragging at the floor, began to lift. He set the fountain pen down and checked the time. In just a few hours, he would be able to see Go Igyeol again. The faint headache that had plagued him nonstop finally subsided, leaving his head clear. It was then—tok tok—a knock that sounded somehow unpleasant, followed by the abrupt opening of the door.

“Uh, Vice President.”

“What is it.”

“…They said they lost Go Igyeol-ssi.”

At the urgent report, he felt something split open inside him with a sharp crack.

“Did I… hear that correctly?”

“…I apologize.”

“Then where is Go Igyeol.”

“They’re searching right now.”

His mind, which had been perfectly clear, turned hazy again. Until just hours ago, Dohyeon had believed he was about to reunite with his omega. He couldn’t even process the words spilling from Yoon Jaeseon’s mouth and kept asking again and again.

“Lost him?”

“…He realized he was being tailed.”

“And so?”

Yoon Jaeseon flinched under that terrifyingly low voice. Though it hadn’t been his personal mistake, the act of reporting it left him shaken with fear.

“And so what. Tell me the next part. How you’re going to find him… Shit, I’ve poured money into this like water, and all I’m hearing is that you lost him. Do you even care what state I’m in, sitting here hearing this?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Director Yoon. What I want to hear is that you’ll find him, no matter what method you have to use.”

Yoon Jaeseon swallowed hard. It had already been a month since Go Igyeol left Dohyeon.

“Did you confirm the identity of the person he was with?”

“Yes. A woman named Shin Eunsuk, who was very close to Igyeol’s mother, Seong Ijin, during her lifetime. She was also close with Go Jeongsik. When he was a child, Igyeol often spent holidays with Shin Eunsuk.”

“And after that.”

“After his parents died in the accident, there was no further contact. No phone records either. It seems likely they reached each other through public telephones or some other method.”

Hearing that uncertain explanation, Dohyeon let out a derisive laugh. What was most absurd was that Igyeol had escaped using such a sloppy method and they still hadn’t caught him.

“Director Yoon.”

“Yes, Vice President.”

“I’ll wait three more days. And after those three days, I have a strong feeling we won’t be seeing you around here anymore.”

“…I will find him, no matter what, and bring him back.”

It didn’t sound like Dohyeon intended to wait at all. His fingers, which had been tapping rhythmically against the desk, stilled.

“I’ll have to visit Ms. Shin Eunsuk myself.”

“I’ll prepare immediately.”

Yoon Jaeseon bowed deeply, quickly leaving the office to have a car readied. He was glad he’d taken the precaution of recording Shin Eunsuk’s address and phone number. Summoning the elevator, he waited until Dohyeon approached, jacket already on.

“You had the address beforehand.”

“I received it in advance.”

“Make sure she’s properly watched.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dohyeon loosened the choking tie around his neck, tilting his head as if suffocated. Just when he thought he had Igyeol firmly in hand, he had slipped away again. The disgust was unspeakable.

By sundown, Dohyeon arrived to find Shin Eunsuk busy welcoming guests. He stood in silence until she finished showing them to their room and chatting with them. When she came down the stairs smiling, he blocked her path.

“Hello.”

“Oh… hello? Are you here for a room? I’m sorry, but we don’t accept same-day walk-ins here.”

“No, that’s not it. I came because of Go Igyeol-ssi. Pleased to meet you, I’m Seo Dohyeon.”

The well-groomed, handsome man smiled gently, his voice low and polite.

“…And you are?”

“Oh, I’m Igyeol’s spouse. Did he not tell you about me?”

“He did mention being married… but why are you looking for him here? He and I haven’t contacted each other in years.”

“……”

Shin Eunsuk recalled her phone call with Igyeol. He had begged her, if a man came looking for him, to say she knew nothing.

“We’re not family or anything…”

“He told me he owed you a great deal, so I wanted to come personally to thank you. He’s safe at home, resting well thanks to all your care. I just came to express my gratitude.”

The smooth lie made her gaze tremble.

“He insisted I come thank you, Ms. Shin. He said he must repay your kindness. He nearly developed eclampsia, but after receiving a pheromone shower, he finally fell asleep. We were delayed because it would have been dangerous to move him any further.”

“Eclampsia?”

“If he had gone much longer without a pheromone shower, even the child would have been in danger. But he’s stabilized now, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Shin Eunsuk was not shrewd enough to handle a man like Seo Dohyeon. Hearing that Igyeol had been unwell but was now fine thanks to timely care, she sighed in relief, her anxiety eased.

“He really left? He even called earlier… I was so worried, truly.”

“He’s probably sleeping now. I heard he didn’t manage to pack his things.”

“That’s right. He left so suddenly… I just finished packing his things earlier. One moment, I’ll bring them out.”

Throughout, Dohyeon’s soft smile never wavered. His polite demeanor and gentle tone made Shin Eunsuk wonder why Igyeol had left him to come here.

“Here. There wasn’t much, so the bag is small. But why exactly did things…?”

“He’s grown sensitive with the pregnancy. We quarreled over something trivial, and he took it to heart. I should have handled it better—my fault.”

The small black bag she handed him was familiar—it was the same one Igyeol carried to the academy. Smiling, Dohyeon accepted it and signaled with a tilt of his chin to Yoon Jaeseon, waiting behind him. Yoon stepped forward and neatly stacked ginseng, meat, and fruit by the door.

“This is fine, no need, but if Igyeol wakes up, please give me a call.”

“Thank you for taking such good care of him.”

Despite her repeated refusals, Dohyeon even pressed a fat envelope of money into her hands before bowing deeply.

“I’ll be going. Next time, I’ll come with Igyeol.”

“All right, take care. Sorry again for pretending not to know you earlier. I only did it out of worry for Igyeol, not for any other reason. Please take good care of him. He’s such a tender-hearted boy…”

“Please, don’t see us out.”

Yet Dohyeon, still smiling smoothly, allowed himself to be escorted all the way to the car. Watching her wave as the car pulled away, he hardened his expression. Her guileless innocence only confirmed that Igyeol had been alone. Pressing his temples out of habit, Dohyeon pulled the bag onto his lap.

How little must he have had to bring, that the bag was so light? Pulling the zipper open, he found a few T-shirts he hadn’t even realized were missing from home, some pillowcases, several pajama tops. Bewildered, he drew them out one by one.

“Ha.”

Dohyeon, certain there had been something between Na Seonwoo and Igyeol, grew conflicted staring at the faint trace of his own pheromones lingering in the items. Why have a child at all, when they couldn’t even share a pheromone shower properly? What was so precious about that brat? What kind of relationship was it, that it was worth all this?

“Any sign of contact with Na Seonwoo?”

“None.”

“No communication at all?”

“None whatsoever.”

“Hm.” Dohyeon exhaled slowly through his nose. Was Seonwoo in the dark, or had he truly not wanted responsibility? Had Igyeol confessed the pregnancy to him last time they met? He would only know for certain once he had Igyeol back. Judging by the situation, Seonwoo most likely hadn’t wanted the child. Given Igyeol’s nature, he wouldn’t have resorted to something illegal to erase the baby. In the end, fleeing from Dohyeon to raise the child must have seemed the only path.

“He can’t have gone far.”

At the low voice, Yoon Jaeseon turned his head to check Dohyeon’s face.

“Sir?”

“He left his money and belongings behind. Where can he go? Tell those idiots looking for him to quit thinking and just use their bodies. He’ll be holed up somewhere nearby. Have them search every lodging in the area. Focus on the shabby, rundown ones.”

“Understood.”

His temper flared. Just when he thought he had him, Igyeol had slipped through his fingers again. Anger burned.