Divorced, But Under One Roof - Chapter 1

2021.12.02.

The sight Hae-in knew best of her husband was his back. Not that she minded; it actually brought her comfort. Watching him from behind allowed her to feel at ease, to observe him without pressure. Once, she had hoped that someday she might lean on that strong back, but now even that wish felt pointless. With her eyes fixed on the dark night outside, Hae-in turned to check the time. Eleven o’clock. As usual, her husband was coming home late, and tonight was no different. The phone call she had received earlier left a dull ache in her head all day.

“Are you not affected at all by the fact that your father had to kneel in front of the chairman to beg? You should be pleading with Chairman Yoon to solve this financial crisis, not letting your father do it. How could you put him in that position?”

Her stepmother’s voice had been sharp, as if accusing Hae-in of making her father kneel. She hadn’t known, but apparently, it had happened. How dire must things have been for him to do that, despite the company’s troubles? Not long after, her half-sister called.

“Do you think your responsibilities end with being married? You didn’t marry him on your own merit. How can you just sit there?

Talk to him and ask for financial help. Don’t just live comfortably on your own.”

Her half-sister, who never addressed her as “sister” and always used “you,” shared blood but lacked any true bond. The company’s decline was largely due to her stepmother and stepsister’s actions. Their scandalous behavior had made headlines, tarnishing LB’s reputation—a brand once celebrated in contemporary fashion. The business struggled financially afterward. Contrary to what her half-sister claimed, Hae-in wasn’t ignoring the problem. Just last year, at her stepmother’s urging, she had asked her husband for investment assistance. Her father’s gratitude had brought some relief, but she couldn’t shake the thought that to Ji-hoon, she might be nothing more than a burden. Sighing deeply, she rested her head against the window. Even after marriage, her family’s demands and the pressure she brought on her in-laws weighed heavily on her. She couldn’t live like this anymore.

How long had she paced the living room? The familiar beep of the door lock was followed by the sight of Ji-hoon stepping inside, dressed in a black suit with his hair swept back in a sleek style. Yoon Ji-hoon—her husband, who sometimes made her heart race and sometimes filled her with quiet resentment. His sharp features were softened by delicate lines, making him appear youthful and refined. But his distant, cold demeanor kept people at bay. For the past four years, Hae-in had greeted him with a calm, customary tone.

“You’re back?”

Ji-hoon gave a slight nod and replied with his usual indifference.

“Yeah. If I’m late, don’t wait up. I told you there’s no need.”
He loosened his tie as he moved past her, his eyes meeting hers only briefly before they shifted away. Sometimes he’d go to the dining room for water, but not tonight. With the formalities exchanged, it was time for them to retreat to separate rooms. But tonight was different. As Ji-hoon’s figure receded, Hae-in called out urgently.

“I need to talk to you.”

Ji-hoon stopped in his tracks and turned, a rare look of surprise crossing his face.

“What is it?”

Hae-in knew she had to break free from this long, dark tunnel. Watching his indifferent back, being tethered by her family’s demands—it all had to end. It was the best course for both of them.

“Let’s get a divorce.”

The silence that followed was thicker than usual. Ji-hoon, stunned by the unexpected words, at first thought he must have misheard. But the determination in Hae-in’s eyes made it clear he hadn’t.

“Did I hear that right…?”

“Yes. Divorce.”

The word was clear and final. Ji-hoon, who preferred certainty, felt the weight of it and sought confirmation.

“So, you’re saying…”

“Yes, a divorce.”

“That kind of divorce? The one people mean when they…”

“Yes, that kind.”

“You mean the literal definition, as it’s commonly known…”

“Yes, exactly that.”

“You’re asking for that divorce, from me, right now…”

“Yes.”

Ji-hoon repeated the question several times, tilting his head slightly in confusion. The shock of facing divorce was one thing, but there was something else that stood out to him.

“Do you have a habit of interrupting people…?”

“Sorry. I’m just in a hurry.”

Ji-hoon frowned. She was speaking quickly, as if she couldn’t wait. And now she was saying she was in a hurry to divorce? What was this?

“What’s so urgent about a divorce? Is something going on?”

“It’s not about that. We don’t have much time to talk, so I wanted to be clear from the start.”

Hae-in felt guilty for bringing it up so bluntly, but it was necessary. Ji-hoon’s schedule was too demanding, and who knew when she’d have another chance to speak. She needed this divorce finalized quickly, before her family’s troubles impacted his company.

“Clear, you say…”

Unsure how to take in the situation, Ji-hoon unbuttoned his cuffs and asked as calmly as he could.

“Was there an issue between us?”

First, it was necessary to understand why she was asking for a divorce. Truthfully, he believed they had been doing well enough. Granted, their definition of “doing well” wasn’t conventional, but it was what they both wanted, a relationship where they coexisted without being a bother to each other. And now, divorce? Ji-hoon’s eyes were filled with confusion as he looked at Hae-in.

“It’s not about you. This is entirely my issue. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I know I’m not at fault, but I don’t think you are either…”

“It’s not about right or wrong…”

This wasn’t how she wanted the conversation to go. Caught off guard by his question, Hae-in averted her gaze, uncomfortable. Even as she prepared to bring up divorce, she hadn’t been sure how he would react. They weren’t like a typical couple. Over the past three years, they had hardly spoken to one another. Part of her had thought he might even feel relieved, but for now, he seemed more bewildered.

“I’m sorry. This isn’t something I should have brought up so suddenly, but I hardly get a chance to sit down and talk to you.”

“I get that, but to mention divorce so abruptly… I don’t know how to take this.”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve thought about this for a long time. I really want a divorce. Please agree to it.”

Despite the sincerity in her eyes, her tone remained calm. This wasn’t an impulsive decision; she had pondered it enough. They had been married for three years: two years she had spent yearning for his love, and one year spent resigning herself to the absence of it and contemplating divorce. Now, it was no longer a choice but a necessity. But for Ji-hoon, the idea of divorce felt abrupt. Divorce wasn’t something resolved with a few exchanged words.

“Can we sit down for a moment?”

Ji-hoon, trying to manage his turmoil, took a seat on the sofa. Looking at Hae-in sitting across from him, he asked in a measured tone.

“What’s the reason for needing this divorce so urgently? You said it wasn’t sudden, so you must have a reason for deciding this.”

Guilt weighed heavily on Hae-in’s chest, but she couldn’t answer. She had liked him, but it was a lonely affection. Now, the marriage only promised to burden him with her family’s troubles. That wasn’t something they could share or resolve together.

“I just want to find my own life. That’s all there is to it.”

“Am I preventing you from doing that?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“…?”

“It’s just that right now, I don’t feel free.”

“I’ve never restricted your freedom.”

“…”

“So, what you’re really saying is that you don’t want to be tied to me as a married couple anymore, right?”

Hae-in’s silence was the only answer to Ji-hoon’s bitter question. No matter how she framed it, that was the conclusion—an end to their marriage.

“It’s late tonight, so let’s rest and talk again tomorrow.”
Feeling as though he was pushing the conversation further than he should, Ji-hoon stood up and left the room. Back in his own room, he felt a wave of confusion wash over him. The Shin-On Group, run by Ji-hoon’s family, was a company known for its luxury handbags, scarves, necklaces, and other accessories. Recently, they were branching out with a new hotel project in Jeju. A few years ago, when their women’s fashion line began losing profits, Ji-hoon’s father had reached out to Hae-in’s father, the president of LB. What had begun as a merger proposal turned into a marriage arrangement, leading to Ji-hoon and Hae-in’s union.

At the time, their reasons for marrying were clear. Ji-hoon needed an excuse to fend off his mother’s pressure for him to marry, and Hae-in needed a shield from her stepmother and half-sister. Once they understood each other’s circumstances, the conversation flowed easily, and marriage was a practical solution they both accepted. They had agreed to live their own lives under one roof, so why was she now asking for a divorce? And why did it seem so urgent? Using “freedom” as the sole reason felt too vague. Ji-hoon hadn’t anticipated this moment, although he couldn’t say he was entirely surprised. Their
relationship was superficial, bound to break at some point. But he hadn’t expected it to come so suddenly, so unannounced.

Ji-hoon’s mind spun with questions. Earlier that day, he’d heard that Hae-in’s father had visited his own father at the company. Could something have happened during that meeting? He took out his phone and called his assistant, the line taking a moment before a slightly annoyed voice answered.

“Director, you just got home, and now you’re calling again?”

“There’s something I need you to check.”

“According to labor laws, after work hours, you’re not supposed to—”

“Quiet. President Joo visited the office today, right? Find out what happened during that meeting.”

“Pardon? Why the sudden interest?”

“Hae-in… well, just find out.”

“Well, I hadn’t planned to mention it, but President Joo…”
What Ji-hoon heard from his assistant was as shocking as Hae-in’s divorce request. Her father had knelt before Ji-hoon’s father. Could her pride have been wounded hearing that? He knew about her family’s financial troubles but had never imagined it would come to this. Leaving his room, he walked toward Hae-in’s room, a strange sense of urgency propelling him. Standing outside her door, he hesitated, raising a fist to knock but finding it hard to follow through. Should he knock or not? If she opened the door, what should he say? If it was pride that had driven her to this, he wanted to tell her there was no need. But maybe she didn’t even know about it yet. The divorce could be for an entirely different reason. Perhaps she just couldn’t bear to live with him anymore.

As he stood there lost in thought, the door opened, and Hae-in appeared, surprised to find him standing in the hallway.
“Oh, what are you doing here…?”

“Well, I…”

Ji-hoon froze, unable to say anything, just staring at her. His raised fist lingered awkwardly in the air, clenched tight as if he was ready to strike something—something he didn’t even notice.

“Um, could you put your hand down if you’re not planning to hit me?”

Hae-in’s light, lilting voice snapped him out of his stupor. Hit her? As if he would ever do such a thing. Did she think he looked like the kind of man who would? Ironically, the one who felt as if he’d been hit was him, ever since she mentioned divorce. He was losing his grip on his calm, but Ji-hoon drew a deep breath, releasing his clenched fist and speaking evenly.
“Sorry. I wasn’t here to hit you.”

Hae-in’s eyes widened at his apology. He was serious. It had just been a flippant comment, but seeing Ji-hoon’s earnest expression made her feel slightly flustered.