Divorce Contract C38

Chapter 38

Pity in his gaze, Seo Jeongjae rubbed the small hand in his grasp, then shot a glare at Seo Dohyeon, who sat beside Go Igyeol. Dohyeon was met with reproachful eyes, as if demanding how he could have let Igyeol’s health decline so drastically.

“You must eat well—eat properly and stay healthy.”

Patting the back of Igyeol’s hand, Jeongjae offered words of blessing more fitting for a holiday gathering. For the first time in a long while, Igyeol smiled genuinely and thanked him.

The meal had been laid out in full, but Jeongjae showed no intention of releasing Igyeol’s hand. He continued to fret over him, rubbing the back of his hand gently. Uncomfortable, Igyeol averted his gaze. Trapped by that grip, unable to free himself first, he glanced anxiously at Dohyeon.

Just as Dohyeon opened his mouth to interject, the sleeve caught on Jeongjae’s fingers shifted, revealing a pale wrist so thin it looked as though it might snap. Dark, belt-like bruises stood stark against skin white as paper. At the sight, Jeongjae shot to his feet with a shout.

“You—! You damned brat, what is this? Huh? What the hell is this on the boy’s arm?!”

His finger jabbed toward Dohyeon. The sudden eruption of anger and shouting left Igyeol just as bewildered. He blinked up at Jeongjae, only to be yanked upright by a thick hand, his sleeve yanked back.

“What did you do to leave his arm in this state?!”

It was only then that Igyeol realized Jeongjae’s fury was because of the bruises. Im Yeonhui’s startled expression and Seo Taehyuk’s pinched brow pressed him into panic. He jerked his sleeve back down to cover his wrist and babbled out excuses.

“G-Grandfather, it’s not what you think.”

“What do you mean, not what I think! What exactly isn’t it?!”

“When you’re sick, even the slightest bump leaves a bruise. This one—Dohyeon just caught me when I nearly fell. He felt terrible about the mark it left.”

“Speak plainly! There’s no need to hide something like this! Is that bastard Dohyeon hitting you?”

Though Igyeol tried to explain calmly, Jeongjae’s anger refused to cool. He asked the question directly. Dohyeon gave a derisive laugh and turned his head aside, while Igyeol vehemently denied it, raising both hands in protest.

“No! Absolutely not! Grandfather, you know better than anyone he isn’t like that. He always—always treats me well. It’s true.”

“Then why the bruise?! If it wasn’t from fighting, then how—”

“I’ve never once fought with him. We already went to the hospital, and they said it wasn’t anything to worry about anymore. It’s really fine.”

At Igyeol’s earnest explanation, Jeongjae’s anger gradually eased. With a cough, he glanced at the chair that had toppled back in his outburst, and Taehyuk quickly righted it.

“Then why won’t that bastard open his mouth and say so himself?!”

“Dohyeon, he—”

Flustered, Igyeol stammered as if to defend him again, but Jeongjae gently patted his shoulder and urged him to sit.

“Enough. Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What have you to be sorry for? Sit. Eat. I ought to take you to the hospital myself.”

“…What? N-no, there’s no need. I’ve already been. Truly.”

Igyeol bowed his head in apology, flapping his hands in panic, then finally managed to sit. His face was still flushed, but seeing Jeongjae pick up his spoon without further suspicion, he exhaled in relief. Yeonhui looked displeased for a moment, but quickly masked it. Igyeol dipped his head slightly toward her in a gesture meant only for her eyes—an apology for the commotion.

“Eat plenty, Igyeol. Your body’s weakened, that’s all. If you eat well, you’ll recover quickly. How frail must you be, for the slightest grip to leave bruises like that. Tsk.”

“Yes, I’ll eat well. Please, you should too.”

Putting on a deliberately bright tone, Igyeol pushed a glass of water toward Jeongjae. Dohyeon watched silently.

His grandfather had always doted on Igyeol, more than on him, even—citing an old friendship with Igyeol’s grandfather. Dohyeon had known it before the marriage, but now he was reminded once again.

All the more reason Igyeol’s pregnancy must never be discovered. The old man would never forgive him if he knew the child wasn’t his blood.

Even while his heart was burdened with hatred for Igyeol, Dohyeon felt weary at the thought that he also had to devise ways to shield him. With that heaviness, he picked up his spoon.

“Both of you, eat plenty. All right?”

As if to clear the air after Jeongjae’s outburst, Yeonhui’s gentle voice chimed in. Igyeol nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and looked over the spread. Not a single dish appealed to him. Still, he picked up a piece of galbi that Jeongjae had placed on his plate, tore it into small bits, and forced himself to chew.

The tender meat dissolved easily in his mouth, but the greasy tang of beef made him frown. At least it wasn’t bad enough to spit out. Despite trying to ignore it, the bandages and compression vest wrapped tightly around his belly made every breath a struggle.

To give the impression he was eating heartily, Igyeol moved his chopsticks often. Even small bites piled up on his plate, and his mouth filled with more than he realized.

“You’re eating well.”

“Everything tastes wonderful.”

“Good. You should come more often. How nice it is to eat together as a family. This old man won’t live forever, after all.”

“I’ll come often now that I’m better.”

Smiling as he replied to Jeongjae’s affectionate scolding, Igyeol forced himself to taste everything that was pressed onto his plate.

After much trouble, the meal finally came to an end. The table was cleared, replaced with neat arrangements of cake, cookies, fruit, juice, coffee, and tea. Among the fruit sat peaches—what Igyeol had been craving all along. Since that dawn encounter with Dohyeon, he hadn’t tasted any. The sight alone made him swallow.

“Peaches are in season. These are from the orchard we contract with. Try them. If you like them, I’ll send some to your home.”

“It’s just me and Igyeol at home. Who else would eat them? Don’t bother.”

Dohyeon dismissed Jeongjae’s offer curtly. Igyeol, however, felt as though he could eat box after box. Grasping the fork, he eagerly speared a piece. Who knew when he’d get another chance? The juicy flesh melted in his mouth, sweet beyond compare. His nose stung with the emotion of it.

Under Yeonhui’s lead, the conversation flitted from topic to topic. All the while, Igyeol busied himself with the peaches. Noticing how quickly and greedily he ate, Dohyeon caught his arm and tugged lightly. Leaning close, his lips brushed Igyeol’s ear, his voice low enough for only him to hear.

“Igyeol.”

“Yes?”

“Restrain yourself. You look like a starving ghost, eating like that.”

“…Ah…”

The phrase “like a starving ghost” made his face burn. Hastily, he set down his fork. To be scolded even here at the family home—when peaches were the one thing he’d longed for so badly—it was crushing. So very crushing.

Ignoring the yearning in his eyes, Dohyeon turned back to the family’s conversation. Igyeol sat in silence, staring at the peaches, swallowing down his saliva. Jeongjae, seeing this, slid the plate closer, but Igyeol did not touch his fork again.

“We should head back before it gets too late. You must be tired.”

“Yes. No need to see us out, please rest.”

Sensing the mood, Jeongjae rose first, followed by Yeonhui and Taehyuk, faces lightened. Dohyeon, as always, took hold of Igyeol, helping him up and steadying him with a hand at his back. Watching fondly, Jeongjae once again couldn’t restrain himself.

“You need to be more careful with Igyeol. How roughly must you grip him to leave marks like that? Even if he insists you don’t fight, I don’t believe it. I’ll let it slide this time because he says so, but take heed.”

“I told you, it isn’t like that. Why won’t you believe me?”

“Don’t quarrel. Treat him well. Treat him kindly, and fortune will come.”

“…I’ll handle it. Please, go inside.”

Dohyeon brushed off the admonishment, moving his feet.

“Drive carefully. Why didn’t you bring Jaeseon along, instead of driving yourself?”

The nagging went on until Dohyeon chuckled, prompting Jeongjae’s booming laugh in return. At his urging to stop following them, Jeongjae halted at the steps, watching the pair descend.

“Drive safe. Take good care of Igyeol.”

“We’ll see you again. Sleep well.”

Turning back, Igyeol bowed deeply. The once-stern expression on Jeongjae’s face softened into a benevolent smile as he waved.