Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 165: Inevitable Death

Father Lee quietly watched his wife as she hurriedly got herself ready to go out. He was a bit surprised when he noticed she was about to leave the house, since has been spending most of her time at home lately, taking care of him. He was yet to ask her about her health since Dan-Han mentioned it to him. He knew she despised bothering people most especially her family when she had a challenge. He was waiting for the right time to ask her.

“I’m sure you’re not hosting your usual tea party and you haven’t received an invitation for a social gathering. So Mrs. Lee tell me where you’re going to without your husband” Father Lee asked with a small smile as he watched her from the bed where he was reading a newspaper.

“To see my daughter-in-law” She replied without looking at her husband as she continued to dress. Father Lee chuckled at her reply. Daughter-in-law? When did that son of his find a woman?

“Choi Mi-Ok?” He asked with a raised brow. He still hasn’t told her of Chairman Choi’s idea of a surprise engagement for the children.

“No” She firmly replied. She paused and turned to her husband, with surprised eyes, “There’s her too?” She had absolutely forgotten about Mi-Ok since she saw Eun-sun. That sweet girl has overtaken her heart. She was going to scold that silly son of hers for not looking after her well. What’s that how she’ll treat her after she dies?

“I have a better candidate in mind” She cheerfully said to her husband, as she hurried to comb her hair. She smiled to herself when she remembered Dan-Han’s attitude towards Eun-Sun...it was epic!

She knew her son well enough, he considered women as morally repugnant and he couldn’t be bothered about them. But now he was smiling at a woman and had left work just to stay by her side. How fascinating!

.....

She had a good view of Eun-Sun at heart and she was sure whatever made her son act that way to her had to be love or something similar to that. It was definitely love, she concluded.

There’s no smoke without fire. And whatever smoke that existed between her son and Eun-Sun, she was going to fan it till it booms. But first, she had to go check up on that little angel and find out what was wrong with her.

“So who could she be?” Father Lee indulged her, though he was curious. There shouldn’t be another vixen in disguise lurking around somewhere, trying to walk her way into his son’s life through his wife again. He knew his wife was simple at heart and could only see the good in people. Hence why she made that mistake that had affected their son’s life several years ago.

“Don’t bother yourself about that. I’ll sure get our son a good wife like me” She confidently declared.

“See you around old man Lee,” She said as she waved him goodbye before leaving the bedroom. Father Lee smiled at his wife’s bubbliness. She wasn’t going to change, most especially when it comes to meddling with their son’s life. But what could he do? When he has been tamed senseless by her.

Mrs. Lee hurriedly packed up the food she had prepared and left for the hospital.

.....

Mrs. Lee first stopped at Jae-Hyun’s office the moment she arrived at the hospital.

“Mother” Jae-Hyun smiled and sprang to his feet when she walked into his office. She was looking as beautiful as ever.

“Jae-Hyun my son, how are you doing?” She asked with a smile.

“I’m fine. You can’t wait to see her right?” Jae-Hyun teased.

“Of course. I came running as soon as you called. Where is her room? I don’t want to call that cold boy, you know how he is” She complained.

“Don’t worry I’ll take you there” Jae-Hyun said as he picked up his phone and walked around the desk.

“Wait, I want to talk to you about something,” Mrs. Lee said in a serious tone.

“What is it?” Jae-Hyun couldn’t help but look serious when he saw the look on her face. He hoped it wasn’t about her health. He had advised her to stay in the hospital so she could receive the best of care, but this stubborn woman would not listen to him. She’d rather run around making people happy with her sunny attitude than look after herself.

“I want to do my last outreach. I want us to revisit all the places we’ve been to, and check up on all of them. Then we should spread out to new places and provide more medical services. What do you say?” Jae-Hyun had been her right-hand person in all her outreaches. Dan-Han used to be an active member of it, till the incident happened years ago and he also had to take over the company thereby dividing his attention.

“But that would be too stressful for you. Your body can’t undergo such stress. I can’t allow it. As your doctor I refuse and as a son, I still say no” Jae-Hyun firmly told her. She has always considered him as a son just as he has always seen her as his mother, so she should at least listen to him.

Mrs. Lee smiled. She appreciated his love and care towards her, but this was what she wanted to do. She dropped her bag and walked closer to him, cupping his face with her hand.

“Jae-Hyun I wish I can listen to you, but I’m sorry I can’t. Even if you keep me locked up here and provide me with the best of medical care, my death is inevitable. So let me do what I love for the last time. I believe this was why I was created to this world...to bring happy smiles to the faces of people. Whether I die now or in the next fifty years nothing changes. You and I know life isn’t about how far but how well. I want to live a good life and spread much joy with me so that when I leave here, I’ll do that with a happy smile. I might have a short life but I’ll live a fulfilled one, and that’s all that matters. So relax and let’s spread some goodwill okay” She said with a sweet and happy smile, but Jae-Hyun wasn’t happy at all. He was torn on the inside and he badly wanted to cry.

She was such a good person and he wondered why she had to have a short time. She had barely three months and here she was still wanting to do more good.

“What about Dan-Han and your soon-to-be daughter-in-law, don’t you want to be with them? If you stay here and receive your treatment you’ll at least have more time with them” Jae-Hyun tried to persuade her. Going on this outreach would take a toll on her health and something might happen to her. Something she might not come out from. He was a doctor and he knew better.

“Dan-Han and Eun-sun will be fine. Am I not spending time with them now? Just smile okay. We all will be fine” She assured him, placing a motherly kiss on his head, while Jae-Hyun reluctantly nodded his head. He knew there was nothing he could do to change her mind.

“Now tell me about that girl have you found her? Any information about where she might be?” Mrs. Lee asked. This was her major reason for coming to see him.

Shaking his head, Jae-Hyun replied, “No” while Mrs. Lee sighed resignedly.

“It’s been so long since we started looking for her. Why haven’t we found her yet?” Mrs. Lee hissed.

“I don’t know. Maybe she’s dead. She couldn’t even remember where or when she had her daughter. Mother, I think it’s time we let this investigation go”

“No. I promised her I’ll help her find her daughter and I want to keep to my word. Let’s continue with the search, I’m sure something positive will come out soon” She said confidently. Jae-Hyun sighed inwardly as he nodded his head.

This woman was just too full of positivity, if only everyone was like her, the world would sure be a better place, Jae-Hyun concluded in his heart.