Divorce Contract C59

Chapter 59

Seo Jeongjae, too, found the situation uncomfortable. Before him, Go Igyeol had dropped to his knees, bowing his head again and again, apologizing and confessing to wrongdoing that made no sense.

“I came because I heard you gave birth. I was worried about you, not here to reprimand you.”

“…I’m sorry, Grandfather. I’m truly sorry.”

“What exactly are you sorry for…? I don’t understand why you’re doing this. What have you done wrong, hmm? Is this because you hid the pregnancy? I’ll admit, I thought poorly of that at the time, but you gave birth safely in the end, didn’t you? Then why on earth do you look like this, hmm? Why does the new mother look so devastated?”

Hearing only concern in Seo Jeongjae’s gentle voice, Go Igyeol slowly lifted his head from where he had nearly pressed it to the floor. Why was he not angry? How could he show no outrage, when this was not even his grandchild’s baby?

“It’s Dohyeon’s child, isn’t it? Yours and his?”

“…What? Mine and Seo Dohyeon’s?”

“Yes, of course. Yours, both of yours. That precious child.”

Tears he thought had dried stung his eyes once more. Meeting Seo Jeongjae’s gaze briefly, Igyeol turned toward Seo Dohyeon over his shoulder and shook his head.

“No. No, Grandfather, you’re mistaken. It’s not Seo Dohyeon’s. It’s not his child…”

“…What?”

“It’s not his. I… I made a mistake, I acted carelessly, and that child… isn’t his. Forgive me. I’ve done wrong, I’m sorry, forgive me!”

“What are you saying—what nonsense is this?”

Dropping his forehead again almost to the floor, Igyeol’s posture stunned Seo Jeongjae into standing, bewildered. Seo Dohyeon, who had waited frozen in the center of the room, now strode to his side. Kneeling, he pulled him upright.

Watching, Seo Jeongjae lashed the papers he held before Dohyeon’s eyes. The genetic results were clear—99 percent probability. Then why deny it?

“What on earth does this mean! Why is he saying such things? Is the report wrong?”

“And why have you come just now? I told you—we’ll handle this between us.”

“Then what happened? Why would he say something like this?”

Seo Jeongjae threw the report at Dohyeon’s face before whirling back toward Igyeol.

“Igyeola.”

“…I’m sorry, I’ve done wrong. I wronged Seo Dohyeon too. Forgive me. I’ll leave quietly. I already signed whatever documents Madam brought. I won’t trouble anyone again. Forgive me.”

Stammering through trembling lips, he made his vow. Seo Jeongjae gripped his shoulders, and despair ripped through him at the young man’s pitiful manner.

“Why would you say it’s not his? Did you not see the results? Or haven’t you even seen the child?”

“I… no, I—I don’t want to. Grandfather, I’m fine. They said they wouldn’t tell the baby that I gave birth. They promised to keep it a secret. So why… why?! W-why, whyyy…!”

“What on earth… what have you done to him?”

His tears fell endlessly. He rubbed his swollen eyes raw, staring weakly at the paper scattered across the floor.

[Genetic Test Report]

…

Probability of Paternity (%): 99.999 999 756 016 2

Seo Dohyeon hastily snatched up the fallen report, crumpled it in his hands, and shoved it back at his grandfather. Igyeol’s eyes slowly lifted from the floor upward.

“…Ah…”

You knew. You already knew everything, and yet…

His broken gaze trembled. The echo of Dohyeon’s voice was still there in his ears, asking with that cruel sneer: did he want to call the child his after using and discarding him? Hearing again the cold words calling him vulgar, filthy, but saying he was convenient enough to use. Just when had Dohyeon seen the document? How long had he known—and how long had he meant to keep hiding it?

“Why is he like this? Dohyeon, what’s wrong with him?”

Seo Jeongjae was overwhelmed with confusion as he watched. Igyeol covered his face, unable even to weep aloud. Dohyeon quickly laid him back on the bed and hit the nurse call.

“Igyeola.”

“I… hhh—I really thought you didn’t know. I thought… I really thought you didn’t…”

A nurse rushed back with a syringe. The room filled with Igyeol’s agonized breathing, broken by sobs, until the sedative was administered. She felt pity for him—every day she saw this new mother in tears. And yet, looking around, she saw not a single item prepared for postpartum care. A waste, she thought bitterly. What use was the private, expensive room when even the basics were undone? Without a word, she left again.

The two men waited in silence until Igyeol drifted into hazy sleep, his tears still glistening across his cheeks. Only when his eyes shut completely did Seo Jeongjae finally move. Standing apart, he faced his grandson.

“What happened between you two? What’s going on?”

“There was a misunderstanding. I’ll clear it up myself. But you should have at least phoned before coming.”

“What do you mean? Did you, too, think the child wasn’t yours? Was that it?”

Dohyeon said nothing. He simply looked away. Seo Jeongjae pressed his forehead in dismay.

“What a foolish mistake. And now what will you do?”

“I’m still deciding. I don’t know how.”

“What does it mean, him saying he thought you didn’t know? Good lord.”

Clicking his tongue, he shook his head at his obstinate grandson.

“Does Yeonhui not know, either? Eh? Don’t tell me.”

“She doesn’t answer my calls. How would I tell her?”

“And why… why hide it in the first place? Look at the disaster you caused!”

“Leave. Don’t come back until I contact you. And tell Mother—if she raises her hand against Igyeol again, I won’t sit still. Or tell her you won’t, if she won’t hear it from me. She listens to you.”

Pressing his temple hard against the pulsing headache, Dohyeon moved first, as though ushering his elder out.

“Yeonhui struck him?”

“Enough. Go.”

“You insane, worthless brat.”

For the first time, Seo Jeongjae’s fury spat out curses, and his cane smacked across Dohyeon’s back. Calling him a fool, swearing at him as he marched out of the ward.

“If you separate from Igyeol, you’ll inherit nothing. Mark my words.”

“……”

“Disgraceful child. Pitiful child.”

Dohyeon turned his head away harshly. He who had once schemed to cast Igyeol out of the country now reversed himself upon learning the baby’s bloodline.

From a chair at the wall, Yoon Jaeseon sprang to his feet. But even he seemed hateful in Seo Jeongjae’s eyes. He had left this fool at Dohyeon’s side not to hide things, but to report them. He had failed to fulfill his duty. The secrecy, the excuses, the evasion of meetings—it all seemed more disgraceful in hindsight. Seo Jeongjae’s glare froze Yoon Jaeseon’s breath. His voice thundered.

“Manager Im!”

At once, Im Gangho stepped forward from outside.

“Let’s go.”

“I’ll escort you.”

They strode away. Yoon Jaeseon bowed deeply toward their backs as they vanished down the corridor.

“Secretary Yoon, you too, go.”

At Dohyeon’s quiet voice, Jaeseon straightened. His superior, leaning against the wall, rubbed hard at his eyes.

“Are you not going?”

“I’ll go in now.”

“Fine.”

“Please rest.”

“Yes.”

With a wave, Dohyeon re-entered the ward. Hearing no footsteps of departure behind, he figured Jaeseon must also be drained, resting before leaving.

He dimmed the lights and stood over Igyeol’s sleeping form. His pallor was stark. His cheek was still bruised, his ear gauze stained from scratching. The once-beautiful face was now wan, worn down by all he shouldn’t have endured.

“…Hhh.”

If only he’d spoken honestly from the start. It was all he could think. If only there had been honesty, they might have found a way. If only he hadn’t left in silence, but tried to speak. Perhaps he still wouldn’t have said yes to the child, but it would be better than this.

His hand hovered midway to his face before stopping abruptly. Instinctively, all the blame had fallen on Igyeol. But in truth, the reason for his silence was Dohyeon himself. His treatment of him had caused all this. Bitter self-hatred twisted inside him. He pulled his hand back, covering his mouth. Seeking a way forward—was this just madness for absolution?

The child had never been part of any contract. Before learning of the pregnancy, children had been a burden, unthinkable. What if a child was born—he had never even imagined the question.

‘Pitiful, born of nothing but lust. If I ever did want a child, it wouldn’t have been with Go Igyeol. The best genetics matter most.’

It was himself that had settled his resolve to leave.

‘Igyeol will never bear my child.’

Had there been, then, a flicker of regret in his voice, when he’d said it? He couldn’t recall. Igyeol had always hidden his feelings, and Dohyeon had never cared to see them.

‘…I won’t forgive you either, Seo Dohyeon. No matter how you apologize, I won’t.’

Now, at last, Dohyeon understood. At last he knew exactly what those words had meant.