chapter 15.2

“The bones are well attached. I don’t think you need to visit the hospital anymore.”

Yeonhwa lifted her empty wrist. Days ago she wanted to take the bandage off because it made her feel uncomfortable. Now that the bandage had come off, she felt bittersweet. Yeonhwa knew well what made her feel that way. She was worried that Geonwoo would hand out the divorce papers. Yeonhwa, who had her lightened hand on her knee, asked the doctor.

“Can the bones stick back together so quickly?”

“Yes and it was also thanks to the patient getting enough rest.”

The doctor removed his gaze from the X-ray picture of Yeonhwa on the monitor.

“ Are you feeling sick? Your face looks very tired.”

“No I am not.”

Yeonhwa put her hand on her face, and lost in thought.

She recalled the sleeping business with Geonwoo made her uneasy and tired. Then she shook her head and stood up saying it was okay. Yeonhwa, who grabbed the doorknob to leave the doctor’s office, suddenly turned back. When the doctor tilted his head, she spoke with hesitation.

“I have a favor to ask…..”

****

Thirty minutes later, Yeonhwa arrived at the hose and opened the front door. Ahnseong, who was cleaning in the living room, looked into the hallway.

“Madam, did you come early?”

“Fortunately, the road from the hospital didn’t have traffic.”

Ahnseong nodded and Iooked at Yeonhwa’s right hand and frowned.

“Oh, Your hand didn’t get better ?”

“No, I need to wear the bandage a little longer.”

When Yeonhwa raised her hand up with a new bandage, Ahnseong’s face turned sad.

“Probably your wrist is so thin, it will take longer to heal than others. “

Instead of answering, Yeonhwa smiled a little, passed Ahnseong and entered the room. Sitting at the end of the bed, Yeonhwa looked down at her newly bandaged arm.

“Doctor, can you re-band my wrist?”

“You don’t need to. Do you feel pain in your wrist?”

“Somehow it still hurts a little.”

“Coward.” A gruesome monologue spread in the room. Yeonhwa was afraid that Geonwoo would abandon her when she got all better. If he found out that her arm had healed, the favor that had been going on would come to an end. She wanted to get attention from him a little longer if she could. She wanted to be loved.

******

At that time, an unwelcome guest came to Geonwoo’s office. Secretary Kim put the teacups down in front of Geonwoo and Youngsook who were sitting on the sofa. As soon as secretary Kim left the office, Youngsook asked a question.

“How is your wife?”

It was a dry tone that felt like a grain of rice. Just sitting face-to-face with Youngsook made Geonwoo feel extremely tired.

”Her arm is not well yet.”

“Are you saying she still doesn’t remember you? She had been discharged from the hospital for some time now, but she still can’t remember?”

When Geon-woo gave no answer, Youngsook dragged her hand and struck the armrest of the sofa.

“That’s why you can’t have a child within this year?”

“Yeonhwa’s well-being is more important to me.”

“Do you think you married her to serve her like a Queen? Do you think I don’t know you have to use a separate room because Yeonhwa wanted it?”

Two months ago, Youngsook came to visit their house without notice. She learned that the two were using separate rooms. Youngsook was very angry and left the house in a mess.

“It’s what I wanted. I wanted to use a separate room and I wanted to not have children.”

Youngsook lit her eyes and trembled her fists.

“You think you can fool me if you talk around like that? My eyes never deceived me.”

“I have nothing more to say, grandmother. I am going.”

“Do you dare to stand up?”

A voice that was uplifting resonated in the room, but Geonwoo didn’t bat an eye. Rather, his eyes were colder and sharper.

“You don’t have to come here to talk about Yeonhwa.”

“This guy….because it’s my job to do.There is no reason to lose time to an ungrateful woman who can’t even recognize her husband.”

Young-sook frowned on her forehead and said firmly to Geonwoo.

“Choose.”

“What do you mean?”

“Divorce Yeonhwa. I will find someone else who will be devoted to you.”

Geonwoo’s eyes trembled. And the words of Youngsook that followed were enough to make him feel resentful.

“Or, I will get you a surrogate mother. She will give birth to a child and you can live with Yeonhwa with that child.”