Divorce Contract C37

Chapter 37

Even if one were to say that matters between a husband and wife are theirs alone, Seo Dohyeon’s actions felt far too much. Even if he were angry, how could he treat someone like that…? And with Igyeol’s wrist so plainly exposed, the family would inevitably suspect that something was wrong between them. The ever-suspicious madam of the house would surely send someone to bribe Kwon Heekang first.

“That clothing…”

“…Yes?”

Yoon Jaeseon judged that it would be best for him to change his top immediately.

“You should change into something long-sleeved. The bruises on your arms… should be covered.”

“Ah. Do you think so?”

Sweeping back the hair that had fallen forward, Go Igyeol checked the clock on the wall. He did not know exactly when they would leave, but it seemed it would be soon. Nodding at Jaeseon, he headed back to the bedroom. In the dressing room, he pulled on a long-sleeved shirt, checking carefully that it covered his wrists.

His mind was entirely occupied with one thought: how to manage to eat the food that would be set before him without incident. His morning sickness had subsided somewhat, but there were still only a few things he could stomach.

As he straightened his collar and stood blankly in front of the mirror, he suddenly remembered something. Stepping quickly to the bedside, he picked up two pheromone supplements, placed them in his mouth, and swallowed them down with water. It was fortunate he had remembered before leaving for the family home.

He rubbed the water from his lips and set the cup down just as he heard the sound of someone outside. Dohyeon must have arrived. Moving quickly to leave, he was startled when the door burst open.

“…Hello.”

Because it was so rare to see his face in the daylight, Igyeol found himself greeting him instinctively. Bowing his head deeply, he caught the expression of exasperation on Dohyeon’s face.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

Dohyeon turned first, and Igyeol quietly followed behind him. Yoon Jaeseon immediately checked to make sure there were no exposed parts of Igyeol’s body, while Heekang, standing by, did not miss his chance. As Igyeol walked weakly past him, Heekang slipped a tumbler into his hand.

“Here, drink this in the car.”

“…Thank you.”

Without asking what it was, unable to waste time, Igyeol accepted it as it was pressed into his hand and followed after Dohyeon. Glancing back at Heekang, he bowed once more.

Dohyeon drove himself. Sitting in the passenger seat, Igyeol endured the suffocating pressure in silence, focusing only on breathing. It had been a long time since they had exchanged the ordinary conversations that once passed easily between them.

As they drew closer to the main house, Dohyeon kept his eyes on the road but turned his head slightly to address Igyeol.

“Will you be able to eat?”

“Yes.”

“It won’t take long.”

“Yes.”

Replying softly, Igyeol turned to look out the window. It had been so long since he had seen the scenery flash past. Cooped up in the house, he had not even realized how hot the days had grown. Watching the sunlight glint off the leaves, he suddenly remembered the time he had spent with Shin Eunsuk, walking all day through the back mountain when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It had been beautiful. He remembered vividly the face she had shown him when she broke off a double blossom and held it out to him.

It had been so good. It felt like long ago, yet it had not been. That time with her now seemed like a distant past. He missed her. He longed for her. And then it struck him that he had not once reached out to her since his return. Of all things, how could he forget that? He could see clearly in his mind how worried she must be.

He wanted to ask Dohyeon to let him call her right this moment. But he could not bring himself to speak so rashly. Dohyeon had made him confirm several times when it was acceptable for them to have any conversation at all. After some hesitation, Igyeol cautiously opened his mouth.

“Um…”

At his small voice, Dohyeon turned his head. Hesitating, Igyeol finally continued.

“I promised my aunt I would contact her, but I don’t know where my phone is… Could I borrow yours?”

“You mean Shin Eunsuk?”

“How… did you know?”

“She was the one who hid you. Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t know?”

At the cold tone, Igyeol’s shoulders flinched. Shin Eunsuk had not hidden him. She had simply taken care of him without knowing why. She had given him a room, prepared him delicious meals, and shown him every pretty thing she found.

“She… She didn’t know anything.”

“Of course, I’m sure she didn’t. I already thanked her myself, for taking such good care of you during that time.”

“…I’d like to thank her myself as well.”

“That won’t be possible.”

The blunt refusal was unmistakable. Igyeol bowed his head in acceptance, pressing his chest with his hand as if to quell the ache there. He wanted to lower the window for some fresh air, but instead his fingers only fidgeted atop his thigh. Dohyeon’s gaze flicked between his dissatisfied face and the spot where his belly, now carefully bound flat, rested. It was astonishing how well hidden it was, and at the same time, distasteful.

“I’ve already said you’re not well, so don’t force yourself to eat. If you can’t, then don’t.”

“…Yes.”

Now he understood. That was not about his health, but a cover to conceal the pregnancy. Watching the scenery outside, Igyeol gave a faint smile and nodded, murmuring so softly that his voice nearly scattered in the air. Dohyeon’s brow furrowed at the sound. Ahead, the gates of the family estate began to come into view for the first time in nearly two months.

While Dohyeon’s face twisted with irritation, Igyeol’s body went rigid with tension. He told himself that with the careful concealment, there was no way they would find out—but what if they did? Letting out a shallow sigh, he clenched his trembling hands tightly together. He had taken two supplements. It would be fine. Nothing would happen. As he reassured himself, Dohyeon parked the car.

“Get out.”

The icy voice snapped him from his frozen state. Undoing his seatbelt, Igyeol opened the passenger door and took a long breath against the stifling compression around his torso. As Dohyeon rounded the hood and caught sight of it, his expression hardened again.

“Endure it, even if you hate it. I hate you too, but I’m enduring.”

He was too weary to deny it anymore. That sigh just now had been because it was difficult to breathe—but even if he explained, he would not be believed. Resigned, Igyeol followed him. Dohyeon climbed the steps to press the intercom. Standing below, Igyeol drifted for a moment into thought. Why, of all things, did he now recall the day he had begged for Dohyeon’s pheromones and received a sudden, urgent kiss?

Rubbing his cheek to banish the memory, he lifted his eyes as the gates swung open. Quietly, he moved forward. Beyond the steps, the outdoor terrace facing the garden was set with a table. On fine days, meals were often taken outside—today must be one of those days.

“Oh my, you’re here! Do you know how long it’s been?”

A bustling voice rang out. Igyeol lifted his bowed head and saw Im Yeonhui. The moment Dohyeon saw his mother, he placed a hand on Igyeol’s back, steering him forward as though in escort.

“Oh my, look how thin our Igyeol has gotten. I heard you were unwell, but you must have been really bad. And why didn’t you call? I worried so much.”

“Hello, Mother. My phone—”

“Igyeol lost his phone. If you need to contact him, do it through me. Don’t trouble him.”

Naturally, Dohyeon cut the conversation short. Though she looked astonished, Yeonhui smacked her son’s back playfully, remarking that he had become such a doting husband, and turned away. Meanwhile, Igyeol hurried to greet Seo Jeongjae and Seo Taehyuk, whom he had not seen in a long time.

“At last you show your face.”

The displeasure in Jeongjae’s booming voice was clear. Even the servants bustling with dishes flinched at the sound.

“I apologize. Igyeol has been very unwell. His strength has waned, and he hasn’t been recovering well, so it has been difficult to bring him outside.”

“Sit down. My neck grows sore.”

At Jeongjae’s words, Yeonhui gave an awkward smile and gestured for them to sit. She kept trying to lighten the mood, her gentle voice smoothing the edges, siding with the younger ones, saying the children were embarrassed. Taehyuk, intent on placating Jeongjae, did not rise at all.

“So it seems your claim of illness was no lie.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What kind of sickness makes a face so haggard?”

Though his face was stern, Jeongjae’s voice was heavy with concern. The moment he saw how drastically Igyeol had wasted away, the suspicion that his grandson and his wife had stayed away simply out of defiance crumbled into nothing.

“I told you he was ill. It was contagious, so for a time even I couldn’t stay with him.”

At Dohyeon’s words—“for a time even I couldn’t stay with him”—Igyeol flinched, stung.

“You’ve been to the hospital? You’re sure you’re better?”

Jeongjae reached out his hand. Instinctively, Igyeol lifted the one he had resting on his thigh. Holding his bony hand, Jeongjae studied it for a long while.

“I scolded you without even knowing you were sick.”

“I’m all right now.”

“You’ve grown so thin. What kind of illness could strip you of so much weight?”