CH 54

The warmth of his hand seeped into her body, and the comfort it brought her helped her calm down. She yawned, her eyes closing shut sleepily. Suddenly, she felt something drop on her thigh, and her eyes shot open.

“Sleep,” Muyeol said as he covered her body with his coat.

His words were like a spell; her eyes closed on their own, and she was immediately lulled to sleep. They reached the penthouse soon, and Muyeol looked at Yiyoung after parking the car. It seemed she always snored when she was exhausted. Muyeol unbuckled his seatbelt before getting out of the car and opening the door for the passenger seat. Yiyoung’s body slumped when the door opened, but Muyeol quickly caught her in his arms.

“Oh…” she mumbled.

“We’re home. Just sleep.” He firmly wrapped his coat around her and then gently lifted her. Her head lolled against his firm shoulder. And for a moment, Muyeol stood in place, simply listening to her breath. Out of nowhere, his heart started pounding, and he could not, for the life of him, figure out why. It was such a weird, unusual feeling.

He adjusted his hold so she could rest more comfortably, and then started walking. Somewhere along the way to the door, he realized that he liked holding her in his arms.

* * * 

Yiyoung looked at Muyeol, confusion evident in her eyes. In her nervousness, she had practiced different expressions that she would display throughout the day, but the sudden change had made her forget all about them. 

However, Muyeol was just as puzzled. “Just stay here for a bit.”

“Okay,” she said.

Muyeol signaled Yiyoung to sit down on the couch before following after Madam Choi, who had abruptly walked into her bedroom. He stood in front of the door and announced, “Grandmother, I’m coming in.”

When Muyeol entered, Madam Choi was putting an eye solution in her eyes with a dropper.

“Do you have something to tell me?” Madam Choi’s voice was gentle like always, but she did not seem like her usual self. 

Muyeol spotted a huge bag sitting in the corner of her room and questioned, “Where are you going?”

“Since my goal has been fulfilled, I want to rest now,” she explained.

Muyeol had already expected this. It was only a matter of time until Mr. Cha found out about his marriage, and Madam Choi needed to be away to avoid any disputes with her son.

“Please endure it for just one year,” Muyeol said calmly. 

“Yeah? You know what I’m worried about, right?” Madam Choi dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

He knew it. She did not want him to turn out like his father.

His voice turned cold, “I told you it can’t be done in any other way.”

“I never expected her to be your partner,” Madam Choi commented.

Muyeol turned to the living room where Yiyoung was sitting. Then, he looked back at his grandmother. “She’s the only one I could trust.”

Madam Choi’s heart thumped at his response. It was her first time hearing him utter the word ‘trust’ in a positive context, and it had taken her by surprise. The boy had never been able to trust anyone, after all. 

When Yiyoung had walked through the door, relief flooded Madam Choi, so much so that she had run to her room with tears in her eyes. Not wanting them to see her tears, she had used the eye drops to disguise them. “She’s also the one who stayed by your side for the longest time.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know how you persuaded her, but—”

“Grandmother. Please don’t expect anything.”

His words were sharp, but Madam Choi kept herself calm. “I think she is a nice person.”

“I agree with you. But don’t expect anything,” he said firmly, as if he could read her mind.

Having already prepared the document for the transfer of stocks, Madam Choi handed it to Muyeol. “You know you are mean, right?” 

“I’m sorry,” was the only thing he could say. 

Madam Choi put on her coat and stood up. Muyeol followed, picking up her bag for her. Yiyoung jumped to her feet as the door opened, watching as the two walked toward the entrance with luggage in tow. Yiyoung carefully walked after them. 

Madam Choi paused, turning around to look at Yiyoung. “I wish you a blessing.” 

“Yes, Grandmother! Thank you.” Yiyoung smiled.

Madam Choi desperately wanted to believe that they would be blessed through this marriage. Even if Yiyoung wasn’t telling the truth, she wanted to believe her; her beautiful smile, and her words.

Madam Choi turned to Muyeol, about to say something, but he interrupted her, “Please have a safe trip, Grandmother.”

Madam Choi mourned as her grandson took away her chance to properly wish him luck. Her face crumpled, looking like she was on the verge of crying.

But Yiyoung put an arm around her. “Muyeol’s a fool for talking so harshly. He’d be perfect if he just talked a bit more softly. But Grandmother, you know Muyeol is always sincere at heart, right?”

Yiyoung’s impression of Muyeol left Madam Choi in awe; her words were a great comfort to the old woman.

“You’re more than what Muyeol deserves. I used to think he wasn’t a lucky boy, but…” Madam Choi held Yiyoung’s hand firmly.

Yiyoung smiled at her in response.

After Madam Choi left, Muyeol and Yiyoung left the house, too.

“Are you going straight to the hospital?” he asked.

“I should. I need to get ready and work my shift so the other doctors can leave. Where are you headed?”

“To the company.”

“Okay. Let’s work hard and live well. But about your grandmother’s trip… Was it planned?” 

“Probably.” Muyeol looked straight ahead.

“What do you mean?” 

“She’s going on a trip to avoid Mr. Cha, so I guess you could say it was planned.”

The answer shook Yiyoung to her core. How cruel was Mr. Cha? Just imagining what he had done to Muyeol made her nauseated. She couldn’t believe he treated his own mother the same way.