When The Phone Rings-Chapter 62

For years, she had meticulously prepared for Baek Saeon’s funeral.

To reclaim that name for her son.

But—

The moment she faced her son, who laughed bitterly as he said, “Grandfather killed me…”

Sim Gyu-jin had been struck by a harsh realization.

Ah…

It wasn’t the lie about her son drowning in a swimming accident that shocked her.

The real blow came from within.

When she had first heard of her son’s death, the feeling that consumed her wasn’t pain—it was liberation.

Liberation from the burdens of motherhood.

As this truth surfaced, she wept without understanding why, stroking her son’s rough, unkempt face.

To hide her guilt as an unworthy mother, she chose to hate others more fiercely.

Hatred had been her shield, allowing her to forget her flaws and focus solely on revenge.

And yet, here she was, back at square one.

She’d tried to rehabilitate her son, to reintegrate him into society, but he inevitably spiraled back into violence.

Her resolve had only hardened: Baek Saeon’s funeral.

That goal had never wavered from beginning to end.

"I have no use for a troublesome biological son or a capable impostor."

"…!"

Heeju’s pupils quivered with unease.

"I don’t need either of them."

Sim Gyu-jin’s gaze narrowed, as though peering into the ruined building’s depths.

The negotiation phone ending up in her daughter-in-law’s possession was an unforeseen complication. Heeju’s accident hadn’t been part of the plan either, nor had her son’s erratic cruelty and obsession with reclaiming a stolen name.

Foolish boy.

He’d been killed once by his grandfather and still believed in familial bonds, still naive enough to cling to the name Baek Saeon.

"The title of ‘mother’ disgusts me," she said flatly.

The press conference had been unexpected, but Sim Gyu-jin had always planned to destroy the memorial hall herself. This was just a slight acceleration of her timeline.

"As a crisis negotiator, I’m quite capable. But as a mother, I’m a sinner. Why should I continue to bear that burden?"

Tears rolled down her face as she clung tighter to Heeju, her words dripping like venom.

"A mother isn’t someone who sacrifices herself. She’s someone who survives by any means necessary."

Her voice, bitter and gnawing, sounded almost demonic.

"Today is that day. The day I reclaim myself."

"…"

"The day I’ve waited so long for—I should be smiling, shouldn’t I?"

Heeju’s chest tightened under the weight of it all.

Who had borne the greater silence?

Whose silence had been deeper, darker?

Her heart pounded wildly, the cruel truths suffocating her. Yet amidst the chaos, only one thought consumed her.

Where are you?

Who’s by your side right now?

All this time, who’s been there for you?

She wanted to tear through the silence that had surrounded him, to let him know.

Unlike everyone else, her silence had been love.

With all her strength, Heeju shook off Sim Gyu-jin’s grip.

‘Even if you discard him so cruelly, I will find him.’

She wanted to run to him, as fast as her legs could carry her.

***

The black mourning clothes reflected in the mirror looked unfamiliar.

"……."

Heeju stared blankly at her reflection before securing a white pin in her hair. She pushed it in too deep, and her scalp suddenly throbbed.

When she tried to pull it out, a tangled clump of hair came with it.

Frustrated, Heeju gritted her teeth and yanked the pin free, flinging it onto the floor.

Even small inconveniences sent her into a fit of irritation, her tears welling up unbidden. But the funeral company staff didn’t leave her alone.

"The color portrait is 90,000 won for the deluxe version, 70,000 won for the standard. Full ceremonial set A costs 300,000 won, while set B is 250,000 won."

"……."

"The floral arrangements: Set 1 is 2 million won, Set 2 is 1.8 million won, Set 3 is 1.5 million won. The cheapest option, Set 8, is 550,000 won."

"……."

"As for the urn…"

The long stream of numbers blurred into the background.

Heeju didn’t have time to grieve properly. Every decision fell to her shoulders.

She’d never prepared a meal for him, never picked out his tie, yet now she had to choose his hearse and urn. The thought made her nauseous.

"Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Baek Saeon Dies in Explosion"

"One Dead, Multiple Injured in Memorial Hall Blast"

"President Orders Immediate Investigation into Explosion"

The man had vanished as if he’d been erased from existence.

It still felt like a dream.

"……."

The stinging scent of flowers filled the air. Endless condolence wreaths poured in.

The private family funeral barred most visitors, but the paparazzi cameras flashed incessantly outside the entrance.

Meanwhile, Sim Gyu-jin had disappeared without a trace.

According to her sister, the documentary screening had exposed every secret of the late Baek Jangho’s family.

The bodies found near the fishing pond, Baek Jangho’s crimes, and the scandal surrounding Sim Gyu-jin’s negotiation consulting firm—all laid bare.

The revelation that Baek Jangho had killed his grandson, concealed the truth, and replaced him with an illegitimate child shocked the nation.

The downfall of a revered political titan.

The world was in upheaval.

And yet, here she was, alone, left to watch over the funeral.

They truly were terrible people, to the very end.

"Heeju."

Through the flashes of paparazzi cameras, her family arrived.

Chairman Hong, her mother, and her sister entered with dark, somber expressions.

After paying their respects, they sat in silence, unable to hide their shock at the sudden tragedy.

"What will you do now?"

As they gazed at Baek Saeon’s portrait, her mother spoke up abruptly.

"Now that you’ve suddenly become a widow, how are you going to live?"

"……."

When Heeju remained quiet, her mother thumped her chest.

"Didn’t I tell you? Half of my luck rubbed off on you, but why did you have to inherit my knack for losing husbands?"

Her mother’s furrowed brow deepened.

"Just do what Chairman Hong says."

"……."

"You won’t lose anything by listening to me. Let Chairman Hong introduce you to a new man, and help out with the business."

"……."

"We’ve taken a hit too because of Candidate Baek."

Heeju stared at her mother’s familiar words with a blank expression.

She still hadn’t seen her husband’s remains, which were said to be unrecognizable fragments. She couldn’t even bring herself to cremate someone who’d supposedly been blown apart in an instant.

And yet…

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What is she saying right now?

In that moment, the chains her mother had wrapped around her shattered completely.

"What am I supposed to help with?"

Her parched voice rasped, cutting through her mother’s tirade.

"…What do you expect me to help with?"

Her mother’s face twisted in surprise, her pupils dilating.

"You… you…"

"Mom."

"……!"

"Stop spouting nonsense."

Her voice, hoarse and cracked like a drought-stricken field, resonated with defiance.

Standing alone in mourning clothes, she felt she had nothing left to fear.

To stay silent was to live with an empty sheath, incapable of wielding a blade. She’d endured that for far too long.

For her, silence had been submission, a means to earn her mother’s approval.

But now she knew better.

Her pounding heart pushed her forward.

Unsheath your sword. Reclaim your lost words.

Grow up, Hong Heeju. Even if it hurts, even if you’re scarred, wade through the mud.

It was okay to do so.

It had to be done.

"Don’t even think about using me for Chairman Hong’s business."

Her reddened eyes blazed as she shot back.

"You… since when did you start talking back…?"

"Don’t use me for anything."

"……."

"What are you, my pimp?"

Her mother’s face flushed red with indignation, her breaths coming in sharp huffs.

"You… you…! Is that how you talk to your mother—"

"Why not?"

Heeju stood abruptly and gripped her mother’s shoulders tightly, leveling her gaze.

She was severing the spell that Kim Yeonhee had cast all those years ago.