Chapter 6. The Place Cha Yuri Left Behind

Late that morning, two black sedans pulled up in front of the mansion one after another.

Jaeheon's family had heard that Cha Yuri was back, and they'd shown up without warning.

Butler Kim headed for the entrance while the staff hurried to prepare tea and refreshments for the unexpected guests.

By the time Seoyun came downstairs, Yuri had changed out of the silk robe she'd worn at breakfast and into a fitted cream-colored dress.

Her hair was swept over one shoulder, leaving the red marks near her collarbone clearly visible.

A teacup had already been set at Jaeheon's right.

Yuri's place.

As Butler Kim reached for the teapot, Yuri covered her cup with one hand.

"No sugar for me, please."

Without looking up from his newspaper, Jaeheon pushed a glass of warm milk toward her.

"Don't drink coffee on an empty stomach."

Yuri wrapped both hands around the glass and smiled.

"You still remember that, Oppa?"

She glanced across the table at Seoyun and swept her hair back.

"Even last night, you kept telling me not to overdo it. You still remember exactly what I'm sensitive to, just like you used to."

The housekeeper setting down a plate paused.

Jaeheon didn't deny it.

He simply turned another page.

They'd been apart for years, yet he still remembered even Yuri's smallest habits.

Then the sharp click of high heels echoed from the hall.

"Yuri!"

Park Junghee swept into the dining room.

Her eyes met Seoyun's for a brief moment, but she walked straight past her and took both of Yuri's hands.

"My goodness. It really is you. How did you get so thin?"

"Mother..."

"Why are you crying? You're alive. That's all that matters."

Kang Minju hurried in behind her and threw her arms around Yuri.

"Yuri! I couldn't believe it even when Oppa told me yesterday."

As Minju pulled away, her gaze landed on Yuri's neck.

"Oh my. What happened there?"

Yuri made a show of pulling her hair down to cover the marks.

Minju glanced at Jaeheon and laughed.

"Oppa, you could've taken it a little easier. You said Yuri isn't well."

"Minju..."

Yuri's cheeks reddened.

"What? It's written all over your neck. Why bother hiding it?"

"Minju. That's enough."

"What's enough?"

Park Junghee glanced at the marks and gave a knowing smile.

"They're both grown adults, and they spent the night under the same roof. Our Jaeheon must have been very happy to have her back."

"Mother, please. Not in front of Unnie..."

Yuri looked embarrassed, but her hand never left Jaeheon's arm.

Park Junghee turned to Seoyun.

"Why? Did I say anything that isn't true?"

Her gaze traveled pointedly down to Seoyun's stomach.

"After three years of marriage, Jaeheon has been patient enough. What family would put up with a daughter-in-law who can't even give them a child?"

The dining room went still.

"If he'd married Yuri, they'd probably have two children by now."

"Mother, please stop. You're going to hurt Unnie."

Yuri pretended to intervene while drawing Jaeheon's arm closer.

Park Junghee scoffed.

"Why should you worry about her? You're back now. It's time you took back your rightful place."

She lifted her chin toward Seoyun.

"Three years of playing lady of this house is more than enough. Shouldn't you give the master bedroom back to its rightful owner?"

Just then, Chairman Kang Taejun entered the dining room.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Chairman."

His eyes immediately landed on the water in front of Yuri.

"Take that away. Cold water upsets her stomach."

A staff member quickly replaced it with warm tea.

Park Junghee ordered rice porridge for her, and Minju asked for the fruit Yuri used to like.

Before long, Yuri's place was crowded with warm porridge, tea, and fruit.

Even Jaeheon refilled her milk when the glass began to empty.

Only the tea in front of Seoyun was left to grow cold.

Three years of marriage.

Not once had anyone asked what Seoyun liked.

Yet after years apart, every one of them still remembered how warm Yuri's water should be.

Yuri rested a hand on Jaeheon's arm as naturally as if it belonged there.

He didn't remove it.

A moment later, Jaeheon looked at Seoyun.

"Seoyun. You know where Yuri's medicine is. Go get it."

Seoyun slowly raised her eyes.

"Why should I?"

Jaeheon's brow tightened.

"Han Seoyun."

Yuri's hand quietly slipped from his arm.

Park Junghee set down her teacup with a sharp clack.

"How dare you talk back to your husband?"

Seoyun didn't even look at her.

Park Junghee's expression hardened.

"Jaeheon, you're hopeless."

She patted the back of Yuri's hand.

"Yuri is alive and back where she belongs. How much longer are you going to keep living like this?"

Jaeheon's eyes shifted to his mother.

Park Junghee tilted her chin toward Seoyun.

"When are you going to divorce her?"