The Lie That Became Routine

“Mm….”

Thinking it was the alarm, he pressed the stop button several times.

But as the ringing continued, Jaekyung was forced to open his bleary eyes and look at his phone screen—then he froze.

The caller ID read “Mother.”

He shot up in bed, sitting upright, and checked the clock on his phone.

It was one in the afternoon.

Jaekyung quickly drank a glass of water and cleared his throat.

The call still hadn’t ended.

She must be worried sick.

He didn’t want to worry her any longer, so he hurriedly pressed the call button.

“Hello.”

[Jaekyung.]

A woman’s warm voice breathed out a sigh of relief as she called her son’s name tenderly.

[Do you know how worried I was? I thought something had happened.]

“I’m sorry. I was reading while listening to music, so I didn’t hear the phone.”

[Really? You’re not sick or anything?]

“No, I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”

[You say that, but it’s been a month since I’ve seen your face. I’m going to see you today. Where do you live now?]

Ah, so it’s finally come….

“My place is still messy….”

[It’s been ages since you moved. Then I’ll come with the housekeeper. We’ll clean together—]

“Oh, no, Mother. I can’t make her go through that trouble because of me. Let’s just meet outside. I’ll invite you over next time.”

[Jaekyung.]

“Yes, Mother? Please.”

[…All right.]

If he didn’t agree to meet, she’d probably hire someone to find his address.

So Jaekyung quickly offered a compromise.

They decided to meet at a tea shop in Gangnam that his mother liked.

After hanging up, Jaekyung checked the clock again.

It was now 1:05 p.m.

My god, how long did I sleep?

He’d come home at 7 a.m., collapsed into bed without even showering, and slept straight through till now.

Maybe age really was catching up to him—he couldn’t pull all-nighters like he used to in his twenties.

It had only been three weeks since he started the job, and he still wasn’t used to it.

His body felt heavier and more exhausted every day.

On his one day off each week, he didn’t go anywhere—just slept the whole time.

His body and mind both grew dull and weary, and dark thoughts crept in more often.

Maybe today’s outing would do him some good.

Groaning, Jaekyung dragged his tired body to the tiny half-bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and turned on the shower.

He caught his reflection in the mirror—pale and haggard.

The first week at the convenience store night shift hadn’t been too bad, but now everything felt heavier.

Still, it wasn’t that he hated the job or his manager.

He thought that if he just kept his head straight, he could even come to enjoy it.

After showering, he tossed several supplements into his mouth along with pheromone and heat cycle suppressants.

Even though his mark was permanent and heat cycles wouldn’t cause serious trouble, there was no harm in being careful.

“Maybe it’s just conditioning.”

He gave a bitter laugh as he packed the bottles away.

For five years, he’d heard that same phrase over and over—“Mind your conduct.”

It carried countless meanings.

And even now, after the divorce, it still applied.

It meant: Stay marked.

Even though he was no longer married, his connection to that family made him something to be managed.

“Don’t think about it.”

As his mood began to sink again, Jaekyung shook his head, scattering the thoughts away.

Since he’d be seeing his mother for the first time in a while, he wanted to look healthy.

He went to the salon for a blowout, bought new clothes, and dressed neatly—like the eldest son of the Jaewang Group should.

“Mother.”

“Jaekyung!”

His mother, who had been reading elegantly in the tea room, jumped up the moment she saw him.

She hugged him tightly, cupped his cheeks, and looked him over anxiously.

“Let me see. My poor boy… You’ve lost so much weight. Look at the dark circles under your eyes. What are you doing to yourself?”

“No, I’m doing fine. The dark circles are just from staying up reading.”

Reading late into the night had been one of Jaekyung’s old habits.

He hadn’t read much recently, but as a child, he devoured over ten books a week.

Knowing that, Mrs. Lee nodded, holding her son’s hand as she sat him down.

He ordered tea, and as the fragrant steam curled upward, she gazed at him with worry and stroked his hand.

“You really are doing well, right?”

“Of course. Don’t worry.”

“Are you not thinking of coming home?”

“Maybe it’s because I’m free for the first time in so long… but I’m actually enjoying it, Mother. I’ll come home after a while.”

“All right. If that’s what you want.”

Mrs. Lee didn’t know exactly how suffocating life in that house had been for her son.

But from what she’d seen and heard, she could guess.

So she didn’t dare tell him what to do anymore.

“Jaekyung.”

“Yes.”

“Does Han-seobang… ever contact you?”

She stroked the back of his hand gently as she asked.

She still didn’t know why the two had divorced.

All she knew was that Jaekyung had said he would.

She didn’t ask for reasons—marriage was something only the couple could understand.

And since theirs hadn’t even been a marriage of love, there were too many possible reasons to count.

Not knowing was kinder—to both of them.

Jaekyung smiled faintly.

“Of course.”

It was a lie he’d been telling for over five years now.

A few more times wouldn’t make a difference.

“Really?”

“Yes. You know how well he used to take care of me. Now… well, we’re not married anymore, but we agreed to stay friends. We’re fine.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The truth burned in his throat, begging to come out.

He wanted to tell her everything—about Han Taeseok, about that house, about how he’d been treated, how he’d lived.

But if she knew, she might collapse from shock.

She would blame herself, regret everything, and fall into pain.

He didn’t want that.

He could bear this pain, this sadness, this suffocating weight—alone.

“Please don’t worry.”

“Yes. You’ll do well, Jaekyung.”

Yes, Mother… I thought so too.

If I just tried hard enough, if I just did everything right—
I thought everything would be okay.

◆

“Does Director Han… take care of you?”

As Jaekyung slipped on his shoes to leave for work the next morning, his mother handed him his bag and asked cautiously.

He hesitated for a moment, meeting her anxious eyes.

If he told the truth, she might cry, might clutch her chest, blaming herself for not protecting him.

She had once said so confidently that Han was a kind man.

So Jaekyung smiled.

“Of course.”

It was the first lie he’d ever told her—just to ease her heart.

He hadn’t known then that it would become a lie he’d tell for nearly six years.

“Really? How?”

Still doubtful, she pressed for details.

Jaekyung smoothed his clothes deliberately and answered with calm ease.

“He calls and texts me.”

He had never received a single one.

“Oh, and lately I’ve been going to the gallery. For the past four days, he’s come every day to check in—asking if I’m doing all right, if I’m managing.”

“That busy man comes every day?”

“Yes, so I told him to stop.”

“Good, good. I’m glad, Jaekyung. See? Didn’t I tell you? Director Han is a good person.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

“They’re announcing the marriage today. Just do as your father said—keep your head down and act like you don’t know anything.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Just as he’d said yesterday, today was the day of the wedding announcement.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Take care, my son.”

Holding back the nausea that kept rising from his nerves, Jaekyung smiled and left the house.

The article would be released at 10 a.m.

It was now 7 a.m.

At least he’d have a few quiet hours in the office before it broke.

When he arrived, he began clearing out his desk for the last time.

Today was his final day at work.

His subordinates didn’t know why he was resigning.

But they’d soon find out.

At first, they’d treated him with distance—just another parachute hire, a man dropped in from above.

The only ones who approached him were those hungry for power or favor.

Jaekyung ignored them, pulled weeds from the roots, and reached out to the ordinary employees instead.

He led by example, worked hard, solved problems together, and shared every success.

After a year, they joked that if Jaekyung ever ran a company, they’d all gladly follow him.

That’s why his sudden resignation came as a shock.

They’d believed he would inherit Jaewang Group.

When they asked him why, he couldn’t answer.

The contract had forbidden him from revealing the marriage until the official announcement.

All he could say was that it was for personal reasons.

An hour after they arrived, the article dropped—
announcing the marriage of Jaewang Group’s Jaekyung and NI Company’s Han Taeseok.

Every face in the office turned to him—
stunned.