Chapter 5: Lee Mihyun’s Gaze
Lee Mihyun—wife of Ha Ilwoo, and mother of Ha Dohoon.
She was the picture of elegance, like a chaebol wife in a movie or drama. Raised in a wealthy household, she’d once worked as a news anchor. After going on a formal match date at the right time, she married Ha Ilwoo. Though it was a marriage based on mutual benefit rather than love, she found it satisfactory. Love and happiness were never things that interested her anyway.
Her happiness came from maintaining her career and public image.
That satisfaction only grew after she gave birth to Dohoon. A beautiful and intelligent child who resembled both herself and Ha Ilwoo perfectly.
But Ha Giyeon... was not the same.
Unlike her planned first pregnancy, Giyeon had not been expected. Her morning sickness was brutal, and the labor even worse. People say that the child you bear through pain becomes the one you cherish the most.
For her, it was the opposite.
Giyeon looked nothing like her or her husband—neither in appearance, temperament, nor intelligence. She felt no affection. In fact, something about him repelled her. Unlike Dohoon, whom she personally raised and cherished, Giyeon was left to a babysitter. She gave him no attention.
"Mom..."
Yet the boy had persistently followed her around, as if begging for affection. He would bring her tea or coffee, constantly entering her room. She found it irritating and eventually snapped.
"Didn’t I tell you not to do that?! Are you pretending not to understand me?!"
She’d had a headache and couldn’t even remember what she’d said. All she remembered was that the child had stopped coming into her room after that—and she was glad. She figured it was for the best. Even without her attention, he was growing up in a good environment. There wouldn’t be any problems.