TO 13

Chapter 13

Taehyuk ran a hand down his face in frustration as he read through the documents on his tablet.

“Is… is something wrong?”

At the executive’s hesitant voice, Taehyuk looked up. The man stood there with his hands folded neatly, looking completely utterly terrified, like someone trying to appease a harsh master. Taehyuk raised an eyebrow, silently asking what he meant.

“Well, it’s just… your expression has looked uncomfortable for a while now…”

Only then did Taehyuk realize he hadn’t been paying attention to the report at all.

It was a document that required his absolute focus. Rows of cash assets, bad debt allowances, current liabilities, and unappropriated retained earnings were listed in a dizzying clutter, while red and blue graphs crested like waves across the screen.

“If there’s anything missing, please just say the word. I’ll revise it and resubmit right away—”

“No, it’s not that.”

Taehyuk pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger before setting the tablet down. The executive, who had been standing tense and hunched over, finally let out a small breath and lowered his shoulders.

“Let’s take a break. Ten minutes.”

Taehyuk stood up. As the executive backed out of the CEO’s office, he wiped his forehead with a handkerchief that was already soaked through with sweat.

“Haah.”

Taehyuk turned to look out the floor-to-ceiling window. Below him, silver skyscrapers stretched up like ancient prayer poles. He sat at the very top of it all. It wasn’t simply because he had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, either. His father, Junghyun, was not a lenient parent. In fact, because Junghyun held such a high position himself, his standards were impossibly strict. He never showed favoritism just because someone was his child. Junghyun was like a tiger that threw its cubs off a cliff, acknowledging only the ones strong enough to climb back up on their own. Even as the only son of a family with few heirs, Taehyuk received no exceptions.

Because of that, Taehyuk had to fight tooth and nail to climb up to his father’s level. Getting close to him was nothing like a normal father-son relationship.

Only a man with successful management results, a flawless family, and a perfect reputation as a businessman, husband, and son could ever earn Junghyun’s approval. To become that kind of person, Taehyuk had always maintained laser-sharp focus.

In that high-stakes life, there was simply no room for an emotion like love to creep in. It was a life ruled entirely by reason, not feeling.

Yet right now—at a moment when he needed to be more logical than ever—the only thing filling Taehyuk’s mind was Seo-ah.

Am I that starved for her?

He recalled that night, when he had thrown himself at her like a madman who had just discovered desire for the very first time. The more he lusted after her and poured himself into her, the hotter his passion burned. It was like a fire using Seo-ah as its fuel.

Seo-ah hadn’t been able to leave the bed until the next morning.

Worrying that she might be sick, Taehyuk had lifted the blanket, but she had only groaned softly and pulled the covers back over herself.

Did she… get pregnant?

Taehyuk’s eyes darkened heavily. On that night, as he poured himself into her like a crashing wave, that thought hadn’t crossed his mind even once.

Knock, knock.

The sound broke through his thoughts. Taehyuk turned around. His secretary stood at the door, bowing politely.

“Sir. You have a visitor.”

Taehyuk pulled his hand from his pocket and checked his watch. The break he had suggested was almost over.

“I don’t believe I had any external appointments scheduled for this afternoon.”

“Well, that is…”

“Mother?”

Stepping out from behind the secretary was Seunghi, dressed in a pale gray hanbok top and a flowing, jade-colored skirt.

“I’m sorry, dear. I know you’re busy. I had a quick meeting nearby and thought I’d stop by to see you before heading home. If you’re too occupied, I can leave.”

“No, it’s fine. Secretary Kang, tell the executive we’ll delay the meeting just a bit longer.”

Taehyuk offered her a seat. Seunghi walked over with quiet, measured steps and sat down. The soft sway of her skirt with every movement carried a refined grace.

“I hope I’m not taking up too much of your precious time.”

“Not at all. I was actually planning to visit you soon anyway, Mother.”

“Is this about what happened over the weekend?”

Seunghi’s voice stiffened slightly.

“I received the dishwasher you sent.”

She gathered her skirt and cast him a sharp glance.

“Still, sending just a dishwasher without even making a single phone call first…”

“Didn’t you say the old one broke? I just thought doing dishes by hand would be hard on you.”

Taehyuk spoke calmly. Knowing full well what he was implying, Seunghi let out a quiet sigh.

“Yes, fine. I fired Mrs. Kim.”

Taehyuk raised an eyebrow.

“I had no idea either. I didn’t know she was bossing the poor girl around like a harsh mother-in-law every single time.”

Seunghi let out an exasperated scoff.

“Treating her like a servant when even I don’t treat her that way! It’s utterly absurd.”

Taehyuk remained silent.

“That day, you were acting so out of character that I got upset and took Mrs. Kim’s side in the heat of the moment. But after you left, I asked around about what happened. It turns out Mrs. Kim made the poor girl wash the dishes every time she came over. Honestly, when the tiger’s away, the fox thinks he’s king.”

“You really didn’t know?”

“Of course not! I thought she was just helping out lightly with the cleanup. And I believed that much was fine. No matter how many servants you employ, you have to know how to do the work yourself to know how to direct others. I intended to teach her step by step from the beginning.”

Taehyuk looked at her with doubtful eyes.

“I apologize for what happened that day. I will also apologize to her personally.”

Seeing her apologize so meekly actually made Taehyuk lose his edge. As Seunghi gently pressed her silk ribbon and lowered her gaze, there didn’t seem to be a shred of falsehood in her demeanor.

No—if anything, it was a familiar sight. It was the submissive version of Seunghi who could never stand tall in front of Junghyun, barely daring to breathe loudly. Seeing her like that made a corner of Taehyuk’s heart soften.

“Please… be kind to her. I’m asking you.”

That was the absolute most Taehyuk could bring himself to say. Seunghi gave him a gentle, fond look.

“I had no idea you cared for your wife this much. Honestly, how did someone as sweet as you come from your father’s bloodline?”

Seunghi said, gently patting the back of Taehyuk’s hand.

“It’s true that I was neglectful under the excuse of being busy. So please, Mother, look after her for me.”

“I know young people nowadays hate hearing about how things were back in my time, but as you know, that’s how I learned to manage a household too. You remember how terrifying your grandmother was, don’t you?”

Taehyuk let out a soft sigh. His late grandmother had been a total dragon. He was well aware of the long, painful years Seunghi had spent walking on eggshells under that mother-in-law. Taehyuk still remembered how Seunghi used to sneak into his room, hiding from his grandmother just to wipe away her tears. She had wept so softly that not even a sob could escape her lips.

‘The only reason I endure all of this is because of you.’

That was what Seunghi had told him every single time. Back then, Taehyuk had felt suffocated by her obsessive love.

That was when he learned that anything in excess becomes a burden—even if it’s a mother’s love.

“I know how hard it was for you. But because you know how painful that kind of treatment is, shouldn’t you be able to understand Seo-ah even better?”

“Alright, alright. What I hated enduring, I shouldn’t inflict on others—is that what you’re saying?”

Seunghi offered a warm smile.

“Forgive your mother this once, dear. It’s my first time playing the mother-in-law, so I’m bound to make mistakes.”

Seunghi reached out her hand to him. Taehyuk took it. To the eye, it was a fair and delicate hand, but against his palm, he could feel the calluses only he knew were there—medals earned from years of harsh domestic duty.

“I’m counting on you, Mother.”

“You look busy, so I’ll be on my way now.”

“Won’t you stay for a cup of tea?”

Seeing him offer tea so late, Seunghi narrowed her eyes playfully.

“Now that you’ve finished standing up for your wife, you finally notice your mother, do you? No, it’s fine. I have somewhere to stop by on my way back, and I don’t want to take up any more of your busy time.”

“Where are you…”

“I’m planning to drop by to see Seo-ah. Since you left in such a hurry over the weekend, you didn’t even take the side dishes with you. I spent all day slaving away to make them for you.”

Taehyuk grimaced in apology.

“I plan to see her and apologize for what happened over the weekend too. So you just focus on your work. Leave the household matters to the women.”

Speaking with a gentle smile, Seunghi looked completely like the mother Taehyuk had always known.

“M-Mother…”

The moment Seunghi stepped into the living room, Seo-ah felt her blood run cold. Exuding a chilly aura, Seunghi swept her gaze across every corner of the house.

“It seems spring has suddenly arrived in this place. Why are there so many flowers?”

The house was filled with flowers that Taehyuk had been buying and bringing home every single day after work. Seunghi’s gaze as she looked at them was displeased.

“You left like that on the weekend and didn’t even bother to make a single phone call?”

Seunghi spoke as she settled onto the sofa.

“I’m so sorry. I tried calling several times, but you didn’t answer…”

“So just because I didn’t pick up, you stopped calling altogether? You should have kept calling until I answered.”

Seunghi had intentionally ignored the calls Seo-ah made, purely out of spite.