Chapter 29: Love Even an Poor Man

After finishing all the reports I needed to send out, I stared at the monitoring screen.

With only the weather forecast left, I gathered the scattered scripts together.

Almost done.

Seo-Rin, standing in front of the green chroma-key, returned to the studio after the staff’s cue.

Her face was determined, and she ignored me completely.

Then, moments before the broadcast began, we locked eyes—hers burning with fury.

[Let’s move on to the weather.]

Her clear voice carried through the studio as she delivered the forecast.

Once the weather segment ended, today’s news concluded safely.

“Good work, everyone.”

“Thanks to you too, Anchor.”

“You handled that breaking news so smoothly.”

There were many news reports today, plus an unexpected special report, but it all went remarkably well.

“Was it natural? I thought it was better than I thought.”

The studio was filled with a rare harmonious atmosphere as compliments were exchanged.

Unlike the sharp-tongued programming staff, the news team members treated me similarly as before.

“You didn’t just do okay—you were excellent. The gap felt seamless.”

I laughed with the gathering staff.

Behind me, I heard someone ask, “Shall we all grab a drink after tidying up?”

“Great idea. Seo-Rin, want to come?”

The director and staff surrounded Seo-Rin, who slowly collected her scripts.

She stiffened, hesitant.

“Ah… um, I’m abstaining now.”

“Abstaining? On herbal medicine or something?”

“Seo-Rin’s quitting alcohol? She used to be our go-to social butterfly.”

Surprised, they looked to her; she flashed a strange smile, then glanced at me and replied, “Yes. Sadly, I can’t drink anymore.”

Why is she talking while looking at me?

The way she bonded with others was always thanks to her drinking.

She must have just stopped.

“Our celebratory drink is going to feel empty now. Anchor Yoon, will you join?”

Their gaze turned towards me.

“I’ve got plans tonight. Maybe another time.”

I answered with regret, gazing at them, then looked back towards Seo-Rin—but she was gone.

…

When I arrived at the lobby, Jae-Ha called me. I hurriedly left the broadcasting station after hearing him urging me.

• • Have you left work? I hope you didn’t forget me.

“How could I forget you, Jae-Ha? I’m on my way—almost there.”

I rushed from the station as he playfully pressed for time.

“Where are you?”

• • I am not visible? But I can see you.

Spotting his car a few steps away, I hurried toward it.

“Yeo-Jin unnie.”

Startled, I froze.

“You scared me.”

Seo-Rin emerged from the darkness, and I inhaled in relief.

“You waited for me in a place like this?”

It was well past 11 p.m.

From inside the car, Jae-Ha watched us with a curious expression. He shook his head at me, a silent no, and gently tapped his phone.

He’s telling me not to hang up?

I nodded faintly, slipping my cellphone into my jacket without ending the call.

“I… wanted to tell you something.”

“Well, spit it out. It’s late, and I’d like to rest.”

After the trials with Seo-Rin today—the cake, the restroom confrontation—I felt drained.

She raised a peculiar smile, fidgeting.

“Unnie, I’m living with your fiancé. Or I guess… ex-fiancé now.”

I blinked, stunned.

As speechless shock washed over me, she continued, “Thanks to you.”

She spoke matter-of-factly—claiming credit for living with him. Struck by disbelief, I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

She frowned, uneasy with my reaction.

Living with my ex-fiancé now? She waited here just to tell me this?

“And…?”

I scoffed, ready to ignore her comment. I knew his options—he wouldn’t return to his family’s place, so I could only assume he stayed either at his place or hers.

Anger was gone—now it was just absurd.

“Are you okay with that? He is living in my house?”

“If you’re just going to complain, I’m leaving. I’m tired.”

I turned toward Jae-Ha’s car, ready to go. Then, Seo-Rin’s voice trembled behind me.

“I’m… pregnant.”

“…What?”

Her words stopped me cold.

Was this why she waited in the station parking lot?

I half-turned to face her again, voice shaky, “What did you say… pregnant?”

We both held our breath.

Time seemed to slow.

It couldn’t be.

“I—I’m carrying Oppa’s child!”

Her voice fell over me again like a shockwave.

Carrying his child?

In a flash, my peaceful marital world shattered.

Memories of the past—painful, haunting—rushed back.

That can’t be…

My lips pressed together, biting down hard. My heart pounded—exploding in my chest.

This isn’t the future I knew. An unborn child in five years, now—why?

The sting of betrayal surged despite changed circumstances.

She confirmed it—twice over: she is carrying his child. She had become the shameless mistress who would show no shame.

Anger, hot as boiling blood, surged like it was flowing backwards through my veins.

Her words—I’d told her to have him—now twisted back at me.

I stepped forward, disbelief etched on my face… And then I halted.

There she was, wearing a curious smile.

“Unnie, you said it yourself, didn’t you? To enjoy it while it lasts.”

“…Ha.”

“But what do I do now? He’s the father of my child. This isn’t a relationship that can just end with a bit of fun.”

Sure of her victory, Seo-Rin smirked arrogantly.

The urge to grab her by the collar and throw her down surged within me.

How can she so nonchalantly say she’s pregnant?

Of all people… Chae Seo-Rin.

You—of all people—shouldn’t be doing this to me.

“Oppa won’t leave me.”

It was what she had said to me earlier today.

So that’s your card, huh?

It was her answer to the provocation I had made. I took a deep breath. The fury inside me began to settle.

“He may not be sincere with you, Unnie, but with me… he is. Our child is the proof of our love.”

She brushed back hair matted from sweat. The cold breeze against my cheek brought back my scattered reason.

“You… just because you’re pregnant…”

Seo Ji-Han.

Even in my past life, you tormented me like this, and now in this one, you’ve come to entangle me again.

If I could see the thread that bound me to them, I’d tear it apart and shred it to pieces.

Clenching my hands, I imagined exactly that.

“It finally feels like things are back in place. I always pitied Oppa, having to marry someone he didn’t love.”

As if her words were genuine, Seo-Rin smiled with sickening sweetness—then that smile disappeared.

“You know this already. Oppa is someone who’s deeply attached to his own blood.”

“…”

“So you know he won’t be able to leave me easily, right?”

Yes…

He had been indifferent in our marriage, but to blood ties—he was obsessively loyal. Especially his own flesh and blood. There’s no way he’d abandon it.

They’d end up married soon enough.

But would that marriage really be happy?

Seeing Seo-Rin full of pride, unaware of what lay ahead, was pathetic.

To clutch a rotten rope and call it salvation… She looked downright laughable.

“Did you really want that man so badly?”

“…”

Can you still love Seo Ji-Han when he has lost everything?

I imagined Seo-Rin, vain and greedy, facing a man no longer heir to Hojin Group.

That future would be excruciating—just as mine had been.

Go ahead. Love a ruined, empty-handed Seo Ji-Han if you can.

“If you want him that badly…”

I smiled at Seo-Rin, who was looking up at me.

“Take him.”

I didn’t need that man anymore.

Just then, the sound of a car door opening—Jae-Ha was approaching from a distance.

His eyes, which once held amusement, now turned cold.

“Weathercaster Chae Seo-Rin.”

His voice was low and sharp—one I had never heard from him before.

Seo-Rin, stunned to see him suddenly appear, widened her eyes.

She hadn’t expected him here.

“Seems like I just overheard something massive.”

“Ah, I…”

She fumbled for words.

“You failed the audition and now can’t even manage your image?”

He smiled coldly, then added, “What if someone else had heard that you’re in an affair? That kind of thing, spoken so openly?”

His gaze raked over her with disdain.

Then he passed the frozen Seo-Rin and walked toward me.

“Let’s go.”

Jae-Ha reached out and took my hand, guiding me to his car. I followed, dumbfounded, then looked down at our clasped hands.

He wasn’t holding my wrist or sleeve. He was holding my hand.

Did he even realize that?

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Before we got too far, he turned back toward Seo-Rin. Her eyes were trembling, darting between him and me.

“It seems the threshold of my family home has gotten real low while I was gone.”

Seo-Rin stared up, confused.

Jae-Ha narrowed his eyes and mocked her.

“Since when could just anyone step into the Madam’s seat of Hojin Group?”

It was as if he said, How dare someone like you even try?

Seo-Rin’s expression crumpled at the humiliation she clearly understood.