TMYRA Chapter 23

He Will Never Let Go

 

Bo-kyung was extremely busy.  

 

She couldn’t afford to meet Soo-ah while being uncertain about when Ihan might cast her aside. At times like this, connections were the most important asset.  

 

She busied herself flitting from place to place, strengthening her social ties. Believing this was the only way to secure her position, she once again prepared to go out.  

 

Most of the social gatherings Bo-kyung carefully selected to attend were held at fine-dining restaurants. Under the guise of appreciating classical music or art, attendees would flaunt their wealth, arriving in luxury cars dressed in expensive designer clothes.  

 

Those with more money and power looked down on those who had less, while those hoping to gain even a scrap of their favor played the role of loyal attendants, eager to please.  

 

Bo-kyung’s goal was to be at the very top of that social hierarchy. Today’s gathering was at a hotel restaurant. Draped in luxury from head to toe, she lifted her chin high and stepped inside.  

 

“How has everyone been?”  

 

She spoke in a bright, high-pitched tone, but the expressions of the seated women were odd. They kept glancing at Bo-kyung before turning back to their own conversation.  

 

“Can you believe it? I heard Minister Jang’s house is in a celebratory mood right now.”  

 

“People have been speculating for years that they were infertile, but I guess that wasn’t the case after all.”  

 

Bo-kyung forced a smile and inserted herself into their conversation.  

 

“What are you all talking about so enthusiastically?”  

 

One of the women shot Bo-kyung a displeased look.  

 

“You mean you haven’t heard? But I thought you spoke with your son almost every day?”  

 

“Of course, we talk every day. Ihan is such a devoted son. I even spoke to him yesterday. What is it that I supposedly haven’t heard?”  

 

The women exchanged knowing glances before one of them smirked.  

 

“I suppose you two aren’t as close as you claim. So it’s true that CEO Min Ihan doesn’t really consider you his mother. Even we, who barely know him, have already heard that Minister Jang’s daughter is pregnant. And yet you didn’t know?”  

 

“Jang Yoon-ha is pregnant?”  

 

Bo-kyung’s voice rose without her intending it to.  

 

“Yes. If even we, who barely have any connections to them, know, then surely everyone who matters has already heard. You said you talked to him yesterday—are you sure that conversation even happened? Seems odd that he wouldn’t mention such an important thing.”  

 

About two weeks ago, when Bo-kyung called Ihan, he had been with her at the time. Listening to the conversation, it seemed like they had been trying for a baby. And now… they actually succeeded?  

 

Her vision darkened, her mind going blank.  

 

Soo-ah should have had Ihan’s child first. And now, without even finalizing his divorce, he had a child with his legal wife?  

 

This was a disaster.  

 

“Now that I think about it, didn’t you say your connection to CEO Min Ihan is the reason you attend these gatherings? But if that connection isn’t as strong as you claim, doesn’t that change things?”  

 

One of the women, who had never been particularly fond of Bo-kyung, took the opportunity to attack her.  

 

Bo-kyung’s hands and feet trembled, but she forced a bright smile.  

 

“Of course, I knew. Ihan went to the U.S. to see Yoon-ha, and I was aware of how much they struggled to conceive. But you know, it’s not really my place to discuss my child’s shortcomings so publicly. It would be inappropriate to go around spreading rumors about my own son’s supposed infertility. I knew about the pregnancy, of course, but Ihan asked me to keep it under wraps. You know how it is—if you announce a pregnancy too early, something bad might happen. Besides, there are some things in a family that are better left unsaid.”  

 

As she spoke, a few of the women’s expressions softened.  

 

“Are there problems between CEO Min Ihan and Jang Yoon-ha?”  

 

Seeing the interest spark in their eyes, Bo-kyung seized the moment to stir the pot.  

 

“Well, as you know, Ihan’s marriage was arranged. Since it wasn’t a love match, he’s not particularly fond of Yoon-ha. But she’s the one clinging to him. Now that she’s pregnant, who knows what will happen?”  

 

“But didn’t CEO Min Ihan recently receive a large amount of business funding from Minister Jang? A meticulous man like him wouldn’t accept money without careful consideration.”  

 

It was that woman again. Bo-kyung’s personal nemesis.  

 

Her and her husband were both university professors, lacking real wealth, yet she acted so haughty. Bo-kyung had made a point of putting her in her place a few times before.  

 

And now, she was taking her revenge.  

 

“You should face reality instead of interpreting everything in a way that benefits you. CEO Min Ihan doesn’t even see you as his mother. Are you sure you’re not getting ahead of yourself? If that lifeline is cut, what will you do then?”  

 

Bo-kyung couldn’t hold back any longer and stood up.  

 

“Watch your mouth. You have no idea how Ihan treats me.”  

 

“Let’s not argue. Both of you, calm down.”  

 

“I have a busy day ahead. I’ll be leaving now. See you next time.”  

 

Humiliated, Bo-kyung turned and stormed out of the restaurant.  

 

How dare they say that to me? Min Ihan is obsessed with my daughter. It doesn’t matter if Jang Yoon-ha is pregnant—Ihan loves Soo-ah!  

 

I’ve been with enough men to know. Just by looking into his eyes, I can tell. Min Ihan will never let Soo-ah go. He will be obsessed with her for the rest of his life.  

 

And what does that mean?  

 

That every bit of JS Group’s wealth belongs to me.  

 

What do those women know?!  

 

She repeated those thoughts over and over again, but unease crept into her heart.  

 

Since that day, Ihan had not answered her calls or reached out to her. Before, he would have rushed back the moment he wanted to see Soo-ah, but this time, he didn’t. Bo-kyung sensed that something was happening, but there was nothing she could do about it.  

 

Jang Yoon-ha.  

 

If only Jang Yoon-ha hadn’t gotten pregnant. If only that child didn’t exist. That single thought consumed her mind.  

 

***

 

Soo-ah had not stepped outside for nearly two weeks.  

 

She had failed twice in her attempts to escape. Seo Mun-hwon found her no matter where she went. In the end, both times, he had won.  

 

As promised, Soo-ah had to surrender her freedom and remain in his grasp.  

 

Unlike Soo-ah, who was exhausted by her two failed attempts, he showed no interest in her, as if he had forgotten about her entirely. Fortunately, he seemed to be busy with work, rarely coming home, so Soo-ah barely had to see his face.  

 

So, she stayed locked inside the house.  

 

It wasn’t just the disappointment and frustration that made her lose the courage to try again. Another reason was the lingering heat in her body after being with Seo Mun-hwon.  

 

She told herself over and over that it was nothing, that her relationship with him would have no effect on her.  

 

But despite her assertions, her body had changed because of him.  

 

Like flowers blooming in spring, her lips were stained red with the traces he had left, refusing to fade easily. A fever with no apparent cause made her body flush every morning and night.  

 

When she thought of Seo Mun-hwon, a secret ache spread between her inner thighs. The problem was that the sensation was not just pain. A strange pleasure and an unknown heat coexisted, leaving Soo-ah confused.  

 

At times, she would recall his seemingly gentle touch, his voice, and even his scent.  

 

It was just a first experience, just a first man—it didn’t matter. I’m fine.  

 

No matter how many times she repeated it, the traces Seo Mun-hwon had left behind refused to disappear from her body and mind.  

 

She didn’t want anyone to notice how she had changed. Especially not Seo Mun-hwon.  

 

That was why she deliberately refused to leave her room. She ate the meals the staff brought her and spent her time painting or working on her projects.  

 

She needed something to focus on, and her eyes naturally fell on her painting and tapestry work. Her graduation piece was nearly complete, so she poured herself into it.  

 

She trimmed the protruding threads with scissors, pushed them inward, and wove them together with the rest.  

 

After organizing each strand one by one, she was working on the knotted threads at the back when, at the tip of her scissors, a man’s eyes flashed through her mind.  

 

The stifling pain she had felt when his large, sweat-drenched body had pressed down on her, and the intoxicating desire that had spread when his red lips grazed her ear, suddenly surfaced and disturbed her thoughts.  

 

The heat of their tangled skin, the distant bliss that had enveloped her body when she took him in— The more she tried to shake them off, the more stubbornly they clung to her mind, constantly bringing him back to her.  

 

Each time, Soo-ah would suppress those thoughts and dive deeper into her work, trying to maintain her composure.