Divorce Contract C48

Chapter 48

Igyeol knew that whether he had given birth to the child safely or suffered a miscarriage, Dohyeon would not tell him either way. He knew it in his head, yet accepting it was difficult. So this is what it feels like when one’s heart collapses. Every time Igyeol checked his smooth, flat belly, his vision went black. No more tears even came.

What had he expected from this man? That he would acknowledge the child as his own, not just someone else’s? Or that he would at least visit the newborn once? Or perhaps the truth?

The skin on the inside of his wrist peeled again. The more Dohyeon grabbed to stop him, the more Igyeol clawed at the restrained spot in pain. Dohyeon tried to pry his hand away, and Igyeol raised his short nails. With no choice, Dohyeon pressed the nurse call button again, and soon a nurse rushed into the ward.

“He suddenly says it itches. Are there side effects of the painkiller that could cause this?”

“Uh… yes, sometimes patients do complain of itching. Does it itch a lot, sir?”

“…It itches. A bit…”

“Oh dear, you’re bleeding… I’ll dress the wound first. It may sting a little, please hold still. Sir, please make sure the patient doesn’t scratch any further.”

The nurse left the ward again. Igyeol, while sneaking his hand cautiously under Dohyeon’s gaze, was caught again. It was strange. Wherever Dohyeon’s hand touched, it felt like bugs were crawling beneath his skin.

“Ugh… ah, no….”

“Igyeol-ssi.”

“Don’t touch me, please… The feeling… ugh, it’s horrible.”

His gentle eyes, not the least fierce, turned to Dohyeon. Hugging the wrist that had been touched, Igyeol turned away. He wished the man would just leave, yet he looked as if he was about to speak again. He did not want to hear a single word.

“Hah… this is.”

Dohyeon also could not understand Igyeol’s behavior. Who was the one that had committed the wrong, yet here he was playing the victim. If it came down to it, the one who could demand compensation for psychological damage was him. With irritation, Dohyeon swept back his unstyled hair.

“No matter how much I try to understand, I just can’t understand you, Igyeol-ssi.”

“……”

“I’ve been carrying out our contract faithfully. So what exactly is the problem? Tell me.”

“…I want to go home. When can I be discharged?”

At his cold question came a naïve reply. Igyeol acted as though he did not want to continue the conversation on that subject. Dohyeon was dumbfounded at the innocent face looking up at him. When he let out a scoffing laugh, the ward door opened again.

“I’ll redress it quickly. The doctor will be here soon. If the itch continues, he’ll prescribe an allergy shot, so please describe the symptoms clearly when he arrives.”

The nurse disinfected Igyeol’s wrist and the back of his hand and applied a moist bandage. She reminded him once more that constant scratching would leave scars, coaxing him like a child. Igyeol obediently nodded as if he understood.

“It doesn’t… itch anymore now.”

“That’s a relief. If it becomes uncomfortable again, press the button. By the way, have you gone to the restroom yet?”

“…No. Not yet.”

“You’ll need to start with slow movement, so try walking back and forth in the ward often with your guardian.”

When the nurse left, the ward became quiet again. Dohyeon looked at Igyeol and spoke first.

“Do you think you can walk?”

“…Right now… I think I’d rather lie down.”

“Then shall we talk about it again?”

“Talk… about what?”

He avoided, though clearly knowing what was being asked. Dohyeon furrowed his brows, his habit whenever something displeased him.

“You said when I touched you, it felt horrible.”

“……”

“I don’t know why you make it seem like I’m the only monster here. Isn’t it rather that I should find you more repulsive? Yet I don’t show it, do I.”

At his toneless voice, Igyeol muttered softly, “Ah, that.” He did not want to continue the conversation. Biting his swollen lips, he trembled in fear of how Dohyeon, who still misunderstood him, might shred his heart. His light brown eyes flickered with unease.

“Do you still feel wronged?”

“……”

“What exactly is so wronged, so horrible, about you?”

Hearing the voice that accused him, Igyeol looked down at the hand with its bandaged wrist and hand back, and the bruises that had not faded from his arm.

“…I wish… it truly hadn’t been so.”

“What?”

“I wish… that what you said, Dohyeon-ssi, had been true, that it was all my fault. That way… I could just accept everything you say, even treating me like cheap trash, all of it… as deserved.”

“You’re still going on about that.”

When Dohyeon asked if he wasn’t tired of repeating the same thing, Igyeol lifted his head.

“…You never listened, never believed me. You said… that I was the one who ruined our relationship?”

His eyes, emptied of emotion, turned toward Dohyeon. Igyeol gave a faint smile. Then, when his head drooped, dried eyes suddenly brimmed over, tears dripping onto his pale hand.

“The one who ruined our relationship wasn’t me… it was you.”

“Igyeol.”

His thin shoulders trembled, his breath rough as if suppressing sobs. Clenching his fists, Igyeol slowly raised his head, his face soaked in tears.

“You say you’ve been fulfilling the contract faithfully? Ah… yes. That’s the kind of person you are.”

“Igyeol.”

“You don’t have to tell me… anymore. I don’t even care now. You’re right, Dohyeon-ssi. What does it matter to me anyway.”

“……”

“Then all that’s left is our divorce, isn’t it.”

Rubbing his eyes roughly with the back of his hand, Igyeol turned his head. Biting his lip hard, he looked up at the ceiling. He had to suppress the sudden urge to open the window and throw himself out before Dohyeon’s eyes.

The attending physician on rounds asked Igyeol a few questions, and Igyeol gave half-hearted answers.

“Hmm… if there’s anything uncomfortable, you must tell us right away.”

“…Yes.”

“And guardian, may I have a word with you outside?”

Peering at the chart, the doctor looked toward Dohyeon. Dohyeon gestured to Yoon Jaeseon to remain in the ward and went out first. As he waited, leaning casually by the door, the doctor came out. When the slowly swinging door fully closed, the doctor spoke.

“These are the results of the gender, traits, blood type, and genetic tests.”

“Let me see them.”

“Yes, if there’s anything you’d like us to pay particular attention to, please don’t hesitate to let us know.”

“I will.”

The doctor bowed politely to Dohyeon and walked lightly down the corridor. Dohyeon did not open the envelope right away. He felt uneasy. It was only a thin paper envelope, yet it felt like standing before Pandora’s box.

For what reason? Irritated, he swept back his hair and moved to open the envelope, when suddenly the phone in his pocket buzzed insistently. A rather unfamiliar name appeared on the screen.

“…This is Dohyeon.”

The voice that rang loudly through the receiver belonged to an old man—still vigorous, no doubt. It was Seo Jeongjae, who had gotten reports that Dohyeon had not appeared at the company for several days, now raging and ordering him to come to the main house at once. Though he had not gone to the office, he had handled all his responsibilities. Somehow the word must have leaked again. This time, Dohyeon resolved to uncover the secretary’s mole his grandfather had planted.

“I’m on my way now.”

— Come at once! Right now!

Dohyeon slipped the envelope he had intended to check into the inside pocket of his jacket and returned to the ward. Perhaps earlier than expected, for Yoon Jaeseon, who was talking with Igyeol, looked up at him in surprise.

“Have you committed a crime?”

“N-no, sir!”

“Then why are you startled?”

“I apologize.”

Still looking out the window, Igyeol heard Dohyeon tell him he had to go to the main house for a while. Igyeol frowned briefly, then raised his upper body from the bed.

“Do I need to come too?”

“I’ll go alone.”

“…Ah.”

At that reply, Igyeol lay back down and turned his back completely. Only Yoon Jaeseon looked at Dohyeon with an awkward expression.

“I’ll accompany you.”

“No, Manager Yoon, you stay here.”

“Shall I give you the keys?”

Taking the car keys from his pocket, Yoon Jaeseon respectfully placed them in Dohyeon’s hand. The words of caution—drive safely, come back well—came from Yoon Jaeseon, not from Igyeol. Dohyeon’s expression crumpled at once.

“Manager Yoon, I think it would be best if you refrained from unnecessary conversation with Igyeol-ssi.”

“Understood.”

“I would prefer it that way as well.”

Dohyeon turned on his heel. All the way out of the ward and toward the parking lot, a strange discomfort clung to him. For his grandfather Seo Jeongjae to summon him merely for skipping the office seemed excessive. Surely it wasn’t just that. Was there another reason?