A Madman in Love-Chapter 76

Suin was in turmoil.

Fighting against the flood of emotions, she struggled to maintain her composure while enduring Jaehee’s hot breath against her ear and the heat of his body pressing against hers.

Her heart ached as if it were being torn apart.

Barely managing to support his unconscious body to keep him from collapsing onto the floor, she bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood.

"Intern Kwon… carry the Executive Director on your back."

"…Yes!"

Jongin, who had been frozen in shock, hurriedly followed her orders.

Jaehee, now securely carried on Jongin’s broad back, was transported to the underground parking lot and carefully laid down in the back seat.

Having seemingly exhausted all his remaining strength, he did not regain consciousness even by the time they reached the hospital.

Suin handled everything calmly.

After reassuring Professor Seo Seongyeok and Madam Kim Myung-rye, who had turned pale with worry upon hearing about Jaehee’s disappearance from his hospital room, she immediately called for his attending physician.

"He temporarily lost consciousness due to a fever. His vitals are stable, so we should monitor his condition for now."

Taking note of the doctor’s diagnosis, Suin then left the VIP ward.

Even though she wanted to stay, she couldn't.

"Chief, I’ll drive."

As they reached the hospital parking lot, Jongin, noticing how unsteady Suin’s steps had become, promptly took the driver’s seat.

Only then did Suin finally lift her cold, tired eyes.

She forced a smile.

"Thanks."

***

Jaehee woke up late in the afternoon.

After re-examining him, the doctor confirmed that his fever had been caused by psychological stress and recommended extending his hospitalization for rest and recovery.

Seo Seongyeok and Kim Myung-rye were deeply distressed.

"As soon as that kid came to, he went straight to Suin. I mean, really—pulling out his IV on his own and everything…"

"Even in his delirium, he was desperately calling for her."

Kim Myung-rye hadn't been able to eat a single bite.

Seo Seongyeok, worried she might collapse instead, tried to console her, but her priorities remained firmly on her grandson.

"It’s that stubborn girl, Suin, who’s refusing to accept our Jaehee, isn’t it?"

"I don’t think that’s the case…"

Although Kim Myung-rye placed the blame on Suin, Seo Seongyeok shook his head.

Having already suspected that the woman he had seen with Jaehee at Poppy Park was Suin, he couldn’t help but feel bitter about the situation.

It was frustrating.

"I just feel bad for them. Suin didn’t look well either—her complexion was completely pale."

"Well, of course she’d be worried now that Jaehee’s this sick. Even if she’s a sharp-tongued little thing."

"Mother-in-law, why do you keep calling Suin sharp-tongued? You’ve been saying that since they were kids."

"Because she knows exactly how much Jaehee adores her, yet she refuses to acknowledge it! How could I not be annoyed?"

Unable to hold back, she suddenly exploded in frustration.

Even after venting, she still seemed disgruntled, muttering, "That insolent girl!" with a deeply wounded expression.

Seo Seongyeok asked cautiously,

"Mother-in-law, do you want Suin to accept Jaehee? She could end up as your granddaughter-in-law, you know?"

Considering how she had opposed even his own marriage to Ilhwa, he had assumed she would be just as firmly against Jaehee and Suin.

But—

"And why would that be a problem?"

She answered without hesitation.

Seo Seongyeok felt a slight twinge of disappointment, but what she said next made him agree.

"If it’s Suin, we’d be lucky. She’s beautiful, intelligent, capable, and respectful to elders. Where else would you find a girl like that nowadays?"

"That’s true."

"And honestly, the only person who can keep our flighty Jaehee under control is Suin."

"You’re right about that as well."

"Most importantly, Jaehee is absolutely crazy about her. How can we ignore that when our grandson is practically wasting away over her?"

"That’s true, too."

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

Seo Seongyeok nodded in agreement—only to have a dark shadow cross his expression.

Noticing his hesitation, Kim Myung-rye asked,

"What’s on your mind?"

"I like Suin too, but… Ilhwa seems to oppose their relationship."

"Ilhwa?"

Her eyebrows twitched.

The frail, wilted demeanor she had worn moments ago instantly straightened, as if transforming from a weak blade of grass into an unyielding oak tree.

A fierce storm brewed in her eyes.

"So that’s why my precious grandson has been suffering? Because his mother is against it?"

"Well, you could say it’s a kind of lovesickness…"

"This woman is going to drive me mad!"

"People have died from lovesickness before, you know… but it wouldn’t go that far, right, Mother-in-law?"

"Oh, we’ll see about that!"

"Wait—Mother-in-law!"

Seo Seongyeok had been rambling absentmindedly when he suddenly realized—too late—that she was already storming out like a general marching onto the battlefield.

With the determination of a warrior ready to claim her enemy’s head, she charged forward, and Seo Seongyeok knew there was no stopping her now.

***

That was true.

At this moment, in Kim Myung-rye’s eyes, the enemy was Woo Ilhwa.

"You’re the problem? Because of you, our precious Jaehee is suffering like this!"

Woo Ilhwa, having barely survived her first round with Jaehee, had canceled her entire afternoon schedule and was resting. But now, out of nowhere, she was dragged into a second round, this time against Kim Myung-rye.

It wasn’t even a tournament.

"Why are you opposing two perfectly good kids? Who do you think you are?"

"Mom… I already have a headache as it is. Let’s talk later."

"I have always respected your cold, rational nature. Even though you are my daughter, I’ve always trusted your excellent judgment. That’s why, when you sent Jaehee to America on your own, I swallowed my tears and endured it. Because it wasn’t a bad choice for his future."

"Mom…"

"But this time, no. I can’t overlook your selfishness!"

"Mom! Why are you doing this too?"

"Why? Because the boy is suffering so much he’s on the brink of collapse!"

There was nothing but deep love for her grandson in her sharp reprimand.

Though Woo Ilhwa shouted back, overwhelmed by the barrage of scolding, Kim Myung-rye’s fury only soared higher.

Her temples throbbed as she unleashed her resentment and reproach.

"Are you even his mother? You don’t understand his heart, and now you’re hurting him even more!"

"Hah."

"And on top of that, how dare you oppose Suin? Of all people, you!"

Woo Ilhwa, who had sighed out of frustration, suddenly froze.

"You used Suin as much as you pleased, squeezing every bit of use out of her!"

The name Suin was her Achilles' heel.

[Suin, don’t think about anything else. Stay by my side for a long time.]

Just as her mother had said, hadn’t she whispered such sweet words, keeping Suin by her side all this time?

And yet...

"Now that she’s meant to be with your son, she’s suddenly not good enough?"

"…"

"Just how prestigious does a girl’s family have to be for you to approve? Is your greed so insatiable that nothing will ever be enough?"

That wasn’t it…

It wasn’t just greed…

There was the betrayal of Suin’s father, the stark difference in social standing, the inevitable gossip that would haunt them… so many reasons...

But was that the real truth?

Or was she just justifying her own fears?

"You went ahead and married the man you wanted, didn’t you? Even when your father and I said no to Seo Seongyeok, you fought tooth and nail, saying it was love. And now you want to tear them apart?"

"…"

"Don’t do this. Unless you want to be resented for the rest of your life."

Leaving behind that final warning, Kim Myung-rye walked out of the chairman’s office.

Woo Ilhwa stood frozen in place for a long time.

It took more than thirty minutes for her stiff body to finally move.

"Everyone, go home."

"Chairwoman, allow me to escort you."

"I want to be alone."

She dismissed Oh Daehwi and the driver who had been waiting to accompany her and left Hyesung Group alone.

And she walked.

It felt like she had suffered a crushing defeat in a fight where there were no winners.

The guilt piercing her heart was unbearable, like sharp thorns digging into her flesh.

"Hah."

After walking for a long while, she hailed a taxi.

Her destination was a secluded retreat. It was as good as running away.

"Bring me my whiskey."

"Understood."

She placed her order for the whiskey she had left in their care and turned off her phone.

Everything in the world felt exhausting and pointless.

She poured the whiskey into her glass and drank.

Unlike usual, she drank too fast, too much. She didn’t stop.

One glass.

Two glasses.

"Hah."

The whiskey, which had been nearly half-full, was soon emptied. Yet the heavy stone pressing on her chest didn’t lighten.

Drunk, she leaned her head against the back of the sofa and closed her heavy eyelids.

She hated it.

Herself.

***

The incident of Jaehee storming into the chairman’s office in his hospital gown was swiftly covered up.

Suin had made sure to silence any potential witnesses in advance.

Jaehee’s absence stretched on.

Though his fever had subsided, the doctor insisted that his condition was primarily due to overwork and stress, and therefore, he remained hospitalized for rest.

Thanks to that, an entire week passed without further trouble.

But in the complexities of human affairs, true peace never lasts.

—Chief, this is Team Leader Moo Sehoon from the Owner Risk Team. There’s something urgent I need to discuss with you.