Chapter 104.2

Chapter 104.2

Miran pouted.

“What kind of logic is that? You’re just saying whatever fits.”

“Why? Is that man really that different from you?”

Once again, Miran muttered under her breath, caught right on target.

“So annoying. How do you always know everything?”

“…Because I’m your mother. Now tell me, how different are you two, really?”

“You probably wouldn’t believe it even if I told you. The truth is…”

Miran told her everything that had happened, leaving out only how she met André and the fact that they’d been living together in New York.

Juran listened quietly, deep in thought, then asked sharply,

“You’re sure he’s not some con artist?”

Miran gave a bitter smile.

“I’m sure. But if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d have doubted it too.”

“No matter how rich or noble he is, you can’t be someone’s mistress. A person has to have boundaries. Not even for three months… three days would be too much. After how I raised you, how could you even think of that?”

Juran slammed her fist on the table, trembling with anger. Then after a pause, she asked carefully,

“But… are you sure he’ll really get divorced in three months?”

Almost immediately, she waved her hands in the air.

“Oh no, forget it. That’s nothing to get greedy about. Anyway, what did he say when you told him you were coming back to Korea?”

Miran bit her lower lip and met Juran’s gaze, her eyes unsteady.

“Well… I didn’t get to see him. As soon as I talked to you, I panicked and flew out right away. I just left him a note.”

The truth was, she was afraid that if she saw André’s face, she wouldn’t be able to leave. She would end up regretting it later.

“Oh dear. He must be shocked, finding you gone all of a sudden.”

“…You think so?”

Miran pressed her trembling lips together. Seeing that, Juran asked,

“And you? Are you okay? It’s really over between you two?”

Miran let out a shaky sigh and nodded firmly.

André suited someone like Lorraine far more than her. Even if it was only a three-month contract marriage, she couldn’t believe anyone could sever such a bond that easily.

No one knew if those three months would turn into three years or thirty. But if she had to live in a foreign country where she could barely communicate, waiting endlessly for André under the title of “mistress”…

They would both end up miserable.

“I was the one who liked him first, and I liked him more. So I think I gave it everything I had. It hurts, but I don’t regret it.”

Juran gazed at her quietly, then reached across the table to stroke the back of her hand.

“You’ve really grown up, my Miran.”

Holding back tears as best she could, Juran finally broke down, thick drops falling as all the emotions she’d kept buried burst out.

“Mom… you know… that man and I live in completely different worlds. He’s so far above me that I can’t even dare to want him.

“Caterpillars are meant to eat pine needles. I’ve eaten Western food almost every day, and now I can’t even look at it. He’s the kind of person who grew up eating fine French cuisine, so I couldn’t even bring myself to say I wanted Korean food.”

When Juran silently patted her hand, Miran’s sorrow swelled up, and she spilled everything she’d meant to keep to herself.

“He was always too busy to go on a proper date with me, but he went on two dates with the woman he’s supposed to marry! She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and looked so elegant—like Grace Kelly. They looked so perfect together that I couldn’t even feel jealous. That’s when I finally understood what people mean when they say their insides rot.

“When I moved into the dorm, it was crawling with cockroaches. Everywhere I went, the air-conditioning made the rooms freezing, and even in summer the marble floors were so cold my feet went numb. Oh, and there were rats the size of my arm running around the New York subway. The platforms smelled like sewers.”

Ranting without pause, Miran sniffled and added,

“Of course, there were really fun and amazing times too… but I missed you every day. I’ll work hard and make money once I become a flight attendant, so when you get your surgery and get better, let’s travel somewhere nice and live together forever.”

Juran snapped to attention and gave her hand a sharp smack.

“Hold it right there! That’s not how it’s going to be. You’re going to meet someone better, fall in love, get married, and have a kid who looks just like you. Don’t say such nonsense.”

“Ugh, I don’t care! I’m going to live with you forever, just wait and see!”

Miran threw her arms around Juran and clung to her playfully.

“Ugh, stop it, that’s gross!”

But even as she said it, Juran laughed softly and patted the back of Miran’s head.

—

Exactly two o’clock in the afternoon.

André stepped out of the Rolls-Royce and stood with his arms crossed in front of the language academy’s entrance. He scanned the people coming out, moving only his eyes.

Two ten.

Two fifteen.

As the minutes passed, his impatience grew. When Miran still hadn’t appeared by two twenty, he pushed the door open and strode inside. Just then, a familiar face was walking toward the exit.

“Oh? What brings you here…”

Recognizing André, Hyunjung froze and murmured in surprise.

“Is Miran still inside?”