Chapter Text
The marriage life of Yoon Hyejin was so perfect. Being with her beloved husband and two year-old son, it's not too exaggerated to say she was one of the luckiest women in the world.
Hong Dusik, her husband, was the vice-mayor of Gongjin. He was mainly in charge of several infrastructure improvement projects. Thanks to his past experiences from being the area chief for many years, Gongjin had developed significantly and became more well known to others. Hyejin was very proud of her husband. Not only from all of the achievements, but also how kind, genuine and humble to everyone around him.
But right now, she was uncomfortable and slightly frustrated.
Recently, it was the hot topic in Gongjin's group chat about Dusik and a beautiful woman from Seoul. She was about 40 years old and was assigned as the architect for the new bus terminal project in Gongjin. The villagers searched for her profile and surprisingly found out that she's a widow with one daughter.
Due to Dusik's duty, he had to work pretty close to this woman. And there were many times that her daughter clinged around him. Although Hyejin was not the credulous type from all the gossip and she completely trusted her husband, the curiosity still echoed in her head.
She did observe Dusik but did not sense anything suspicious from him at all. Everything looked normal. He always hugged her before leaving home and gave her goodnight kisses before bed. And, he was very happy playing with Hyunjun, her son, every night. So, she tried to be mature and did not want to start any unnecessary drama with Dusik.
"Look! Here's another photo of them" Miseon called Hyejin to look at her phone "Don't they stand too close?"
Hyejin got up from her seat and looked at the photo "They were just working together, see? Dusik was looking at a floor plan, he was not looking at her at all."
"Although I'm a woman, I must say she's very pretty," Miseon gazed at the photo. "From here, she seems very polite. But who knows, deep inside she might be the opposite."
"Pyo Miseon! Did you try to make me feel jealous?" said Hyejin
"You've already been jealous since the first time you heard the gossip" Miseon chuckled since she knew her friend so well "By the way, have you asked Chief Hong about this?"
"Not yet. I don't believe it is true.” Hyejin replied “I completely trust my husband. He’s always being professional during work. And back at home he was not acting suspicious at all. He’s enjoying playing with Hyunjun as always, and didn't mention anything about her.”
“But it has been three weeks already, and the photos still keep coming up.” said Miseon “I think we should do something about this, Hyejin-ah. I know deep inside you can’t put this down.”
Hyejin sighed and looked out of the window. Her friend was right.
“Fine, what should we do then?” Hyejin turned to face Miseon, crossing her arms.
Miseon smiled before typing her phone “Let’s ask for alliance.”
—-------------------------------
“Yah, we look like the badasses in Ocean’s 8.” Yunkyung whispered excitedly
“What’s that? An old period drama?” Namsuk asked
“It’s Sandra Bullock’s movie about a beautiful girl gangster!” Yunkyung whined “Unnie, you don’t subscribe to Netflix?”
Hyejin just sighed sharply. She was now hiding behind the bushes in the park with Miseon, Namsuk and Yunkyung. According to the info shared on group chat, Dusik and the target woman would walk through this park before heading back to the city hall.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this” Hyejin murmured to herself
“This is more fun than I thought,” Miseon said while holding two tree branches. She read the time from her watch “They should be here soon.”
With fast instinct, Namsuk was the first one shouting out “Look! Here they are”
Hyejin and others squatted down. She immediately saw Dusik and the woman, indeed walking together. But they kept their distance from each other. The woman looked really polite and shy.
“Hey! Is that her daughter?” Yunkyung pointed to the girl, she was around the same age as Bora. She was walking beside the woman, and staring at Dusik non-stop.
“Hyejin-ah, don’t you think it’s weird?” Miseon asked
“Weird?”
“This woman might have feelings for Chief Hong, but I think the daughter absolutely got a crush on him.” said Miseon “She looks so evil.”
“I agree, look at the way she stares at him” Namsuk commented “Aish, kids these days.”
“Let’s move closer, shall we?” Yunkyung suggested “I want to hear what they are talking.”
They stepped closer carefully, hiding behind the trees. Hyejin could hear Dusik and the woman discussing something related to the design of the bus terminal. Dusik just talked to her politely, nothing suspicious happened.
“Seems like everything’s normal” Hyejin whispered
However, Hyejin’s eyes suddenly widened when the girl pushed her mother against Dusik’s chest. She was about to shout out loud, Miseon immediately put her hand on her mouth.
“Aeri! What are you doing?!” the woman suddenly replied. Her whole face was red. “I’m sorry Vice-mayor Hong.” She quickly stepped away from Dusik and bowed to him repeatedly.
“Vice-mayor Hong, my mom spent a lot of time on her make-up.” Aeri smiled “She always does it whenever she has to see you, you know?”
“Wha..what are you talking about?!” the woman exclaimed
“But it’s true! Eomma totally has a crush on you” Aeri continuously added “She even spent time choosing what she should wear today.”
“That’s enough, Aeri!” the woman shouted before giving another bow to Dusik “I’m very sorry Vice-mayor Hong, she was just talking nonsense.”
“It’s ok, Ms. Song.” Dusik replied politely and turned to the girl “Aeri, you should not push your mother like that, okay?”
Aeri simply nodded, but the satisfying smile still showed on her face. Hyejin did not recognize that she fisted her hand tight.
“Aish, this girl is such a villain.”
“See? I told you. She looks so dangerous.” Miseon held Hyejin’s shoulder and continue looking at them “Hyejin-ah, they’re walking to the bench”
Hyejin’s eyes focused on Dusik and the woman. She saw her bent down to talk to her daughter.
“Aeri, can you go and buy some water for the Vice-mayor?” said the woman
“Okay, Eomma ” Aeri smiled widely “I know you want to be alone with him”
Ms. Song blushed and signaled her daughter to stop talking. Aeri, finally, walked to the small kiosk to buy water. Right now, there was only Dusik and the woman sitting together on a bench.
“Hey, don’t you think the atmosphere looked so romantic?” Miseon whispered
“I think so. She intended to do it.” Yunkyung knitted her eyebrows. She kept staring at both of them. The sun was about to settle down, making the romantic mood.
“Everyone, look at her” Namsuk shouted “Is she… crying?”
Instantly, Hyejin turned to them. Her eyes widened when seeing the woman covered her hands with her hands, and out of nowhere, started to sob right in front of Dusik. Hyejin was so confused, there were many questions running in her head.
‘What in the world is happening now?’
Hyejin turned to look at her husband. He did nothing but only sitting still, his face showed mixed emotions which she couldn’t tell.
“Aigoo, what is she trying to do?” Namsuk whined “I’m so confused now”.
“Me too. Do they start talking? I can’t hear them from here.” Yunkyung said with frustration
“I will move closer,” said Namsuk. She quickly sneaked closer, but unfortunately she stepped on a crumpled empty can on the grass.
“Opps”
The sound was so loud that Dusik and the woman turned to her.
“Namsuk Noona ?” Dusik gasped, he raised his eyebrows “What are you doing here?”
“Oh! Chief Hong, what a coincidence!” Namsuk was flustered and pretended not to hear anything. “Don’t…Don’t mind me, I just passed by and… Aish, why do my armpits get wet again. Oh no …”
Miseon hopelessly looked at the scurry Namsuk, she sighed from behind the trees “Her acting skill is so bad, she will get caught for sure.”
“Miseon-ah” Hyejin clenched her fist, her patience had already reached the last limit. Immediately, she stepped out before Miseon could stop her.
“I’m enough for this,” said Hyejin with a cold tone of voice.
Dusik was shocked when seeing his wife.
“Hyejin…”
“Dusik-ah, I can’t believe you…” Hyejin was so angry that she could not find any words to say. She lowered her head and was about to cry.
“It’s not what you think, Hyejin-ah!” Dusik quickly ran to Hyejin as fast as he could. But she avoided his touch and stepped back.
"Hyejin-ah, don’t do this." Dusik begged her.
Hyejin looked up, facing him with a very sad face. Dusik felt his heart hurt like a sharp knife cutting through it.
“Hyejin, please…”
" Eomma , what happened?"
Everybody turned simultaneously towards the direction of the voice. Aeri just returned with two bottles of water in her hands.
"Who are these women? They look hideous" Aeri said after she saw Hyejin and the others walk out from their hiding place.
"Hideous? Yah! Be careful of your mouth, little girl" Yunkyung was about to smack her but stopped beforehand.
"All of you must be a fangirl of Vice-mayor Hong." Aeri said arrogantly "That's why you're following us. But aren’t you too old auntie?" She pointed to Namsuk.
"That's very rude" Hyejin replied, she was about to lose her temper. "Listen, you should not speak like that to us because I am his…"
Abruptly, before the situation got more serious. Dusik immediately touched Hyejin's shoulder, silently telling her to stop.
"Please let me deal with this," said Dusik, then he gave her a nod and walked to Aeri.
"Vice-mayor Hong, who is she?" Aeri asked and instantly turned to Hyejin. "Is she your sister or something? But both of you are not so alike."
"That's enough Aeri!" The woman shouted to her daughter "I'm terribly sorry Vice-mayor, and all of you" She apologized to everyone.
Aeri thought she figured out "Oh, is she your girlfriend?"
"Aeri!"
"It's ok Ms. Song, please allow me to explain to Aeri" Dusik said calmly and tried to hold his emotion. He just wanted the story to end now. Pursing his lips, he started telling Aeri.
"She is not my girlfriend."
Aeri formed a winning smile on her face. She pulled her mother’s sleeve "You see Eomma ? There was no chance of them dating ..."
"She's my wife." Dusik quickly finished his words
"Ehh?" Aeri and her mother gasped
"Aeri, Ms. Song. This is Dr. Yoon Hyejin, the town dentist and my wife."
There was a silent tension all around. Aeri froze after hearing words from Dusik.
"Hahaha, you can’t fool me Vice-mayor Hong” Aeri fakely laughed.
“It’s true,” Dusik simply confirmed. He knew his words would hurt Aeri’s feelings, but he had to let her know the truth.
Aeri felt her body and her voice was shaken “No, it's not true. It..it can't be" Then she closed her eyes and shouted. “You’re lying! Because…because…”
“Aeri” Dusik sighed with concern
“Because Vice-mayor Hong, you’re supposed to marry my Eomma !” Aeri suddenly cried out, her voice was so loud that everyone in the park turned to her. Everyone was so stunned.
“What did you just say, Aeri?” Ms. Song grabbed Aeri’s wrist
Aeri continued crying, she clenched her shirt in her hands “ Eomma ’s a lot prettier! She cooks really well too! Her hamburger is the best and..and…”
Dusik felt pain inside, he could not stand watching this anymore. He leaned down to Aeri “Aeri, I’m sorry. But I can’t do that.”
Aeri cried so hard like a broken dam, she shouted straight to Dusik “Why not?! You’re the one that I… Vice-mayor Hong! You dumb!”
But before Dusik could say anything, Aeri quickly scurried away from him, from everyone.
“Aeri!” Ms. Song cried and immediately ran after her “Aeri! You must not run. Aeri!”
Suddenly, she saw Aeri stopped running. The girl fisted her hand above the position of her heart, her face was in pain. Her eyes widened when seeing her daughter collapse on the ground.
“Aeri!”