Secretly Married to a Chaebol Alpha-Chapter 218: A LITTLE FIGHT

"HONEY, I’m going to work."

Garam heard Song Sihyuk, but he kept his mouth shut.

He didn’t even open his eyes.

"Honey, I know you’re awake, and I know you’re still upset," Song Sihyuk said gently, placing a kiss on Garam’s forehead. "I was being too dismissive last night, wasn’t I?"

Yes, you were!

"I still don’t like the idea of adopting a child when our little family is already complete, but I’ll give it some thought," Song Sihyuk said carefully. "I know that you didn’t bring it up lightly. Even so, I also want you to think more about your decision, honey. Moreover, have you told Gunwoo about your sudden interest in getting him a younger sister?"

Oh...

Garam slowly and hesitantly opened his eyes, his heart wavering a little when he saw how serious Song Sihyuk looked.

It wasn’t that his husband didn’t take him seriously.

Actually, it seemed to be the opposite.

I can’t blame Hyung— I suddenly brought up adoption. So, in his eyes, I’m probably the one who’s not taking this entire thing seriously.

However...

"Hyung, like I said last night, I’m not doing this out of whim," Garam said in a serious tone. "I really felt attached to the baby girl that I felt the need to adopt her. But you’re right— we should think about this more carefully. And I need to ask for our Gunwoo’s opinion, too."

"Yeah, you do that for now," Song Sihyuk said, kissing Garam on the forehead. "Let’s revisit this conversation later, honey."

***

"WHEW. Giving Bam a bath sure is tough."

Garam chuckled after seeing Song Gunwoo’s state. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

It was the weekend, so his son was at home.

He doesn’t like going out if he doesn’t have to, so he’s at home instead of playing with his friends.

Anyway, Song Gunwoo had just given Bam, his slightly old tuxedo cat that they rescued from a shelter a few years ago, a bath in the bathroom. Hence, Song Gunwoo looked like he had just gone swimming with his clothes on.

He really likes taking care of his beloved cat on his own, even though help is available.

"Go ahead and change your clothes, Gunwoo-ya," Garam said, smiling at his son’s sorry state. "I’ll make hot chocolate for you."

Song Gunwoo’s face beamed.

Yes, his son didn’t like sweets that much.

But he loves the hot chocolate I often make for him.

"I’ll be quick, Dad!"

True enough, Garam had just finished making hot chocolate for Song Gunwoo when his son— now wearing warm and dry clothes— joined him at the dining hall.

He served their drinks with biscuits.

"Dad, did you fight with Daddy?"

Garam was surprised by his son’s question, but his surprise only lasted for a moment.

Well, my son has always been quick-witted.

"Did your daddy whine to you?"

"No, but Daddy had this scary look on his face when he said goodbye to me earlier," Song Gunwoo said. The child’s tone might be light, but it was obvious that he was quite nervous. "Daddy tried not to let it show on his face much, but he can’t hide his pheromones from me."

"Oh, I see."

"It must be Daddy’s fault again. Don’t forgive him until he apologizes properly, Dad."

Pfft.

"Gunwoo-ya, it’s actually my fault this time."

Song Gunwoo looked genuinely surprised. "Are you sure Daddy isn’t gaslighting you, Dad?"

Garam burst out laughing. "Gunwoo-ya, your daddy will get brokenhearted if he hears you."

"Daddy can’t blame me," Song Gunwoo said, shrugging. "He has hurt you many times in the past, Dad. That’s why I’ll always be on Dad’s side. I’ll support your rights and wrongs, Dad."

Aww.

That made Garam smile.

And that encouraged him to bring up the topic that started his little fight with Song Sihyuk.

"Gunwoo-ya, listen..."

"Yes, Dad— I’m listening."

And that was how Garam told Song Gunwoo everything about the baby girl he wanted to adopt.

"Aw, she looks cute," Song Gunwoo said while looking at the baby girl’s pictures that Garam saved on his phone. And then his son frowned as if he remembered something unpleasant. "I can’t believe her relatives didn’t want to take her in. It’s not like they’re dirt poor. Plus, the baby’s parents left a huge amount of life insurance proceeds for her."

Yeah, they already knew that much about the baby girl.

When Garam asked Jung Han, Song Sihyuk’s aide, to run a background check on the baby girl, Jung Han included the parents and the relatives in his investigation.

"The baby girl won’t be a burden financially since her parents left her a huge amount of life insurance proceeds that her guardians could use, but raising a baby isn’t easy," Garam said carefully. "Most of the relatives she has have adult children already. That’s probably why they couldn’t be bothered raising a baby at their old age."

"Ah, I see," Song Gunwoo said while nodding. "I guess I’m still small-minded since I didn’t consider that."

"Gunwoo-ya, we come from a place of privilege. There are things that are easy for us because we have money. But that’s not the case for everyone."

"Yes, Dad. I’ll keep that in mind."

Garam smiled, and then he asked his son carefully: "Gunwoo-ya, what do you think about me wanting to adopt a baby girl without discussing it first with you and your daddy? Do you think I was being selfish?"

"No, not at all, Dad," Song Gunwoo answered without missing a beat. "Actually, I’m happy to hear that you wanted to adopt a baby."

"Really?"

"I’ve always wanted to have a sibling, Dad. I’m jealous of my friends who have siblings they get along with. I’m especially jealous of Chul and Sung because they have a princess as adorable as Woohee," Song Gunwoo said, smiling. "I also want a sibling. A little sister, if possible."

"Do you not mind even if your potential little sister isn’t related to you by blood?"

"Why does it matter? Family is family, Dad. If you decide that the baby girl is my little sister, then I’ll treasure her as my little sister."

Aww.

Garam was touched and was also proud of his son’s maturity.

If only Sihyuk Hyung had the same mindset...

"Are we going to adopt the baby girl, Dad?"

"I want to, but it might not be possible anymore."

Song Gunwoo frowned. "Because Daddy doesn’t want a child who’s not related to him by blood?"

Garam just smiled because he wasn’t sure if that was really the reason why Song Sihyuk didn’t want to adopt a child.

Moreover, he didn’t want to talk badly about his husband in front of their son.

Hence, he changed the topic.

"Setting that aside, there’s also one more problem," Garam said, changing the topic. "The baby girl has already been taken in by her father’s youngest cousin, after her other relatives fostered her for a few days. Her father’s youngest cousin is going to manage her parents’ life insurance proceeds until she becomes of age."

"That sounds like good news, but you still look worried, Dad."

"Well..." Garam scratched his cheek. "According to Jung Han-ssi, the baby girl’s new guardian is kind of sketchy. He often fights with his wife..." He trailed off when he realized that he shouldn’t be talking about such things to his son. "Anyway, I can’t help but worry. If I’m going to give up on adopting her, I’d like to make sure first that she’s in good hands."

"Then let’s pay her a visit, Dad."

"Huh?"

"Uncle Han has the baby’s address, right?" Song Gunwoo asked, his face beaming. "I want to meet her in person, Dad."

Garam blinked, and then he smiled at his son’s brilliant idea. "Why haven’t I thought about it first?"

***

"CHAIRMAN Song?"

"What?" Song Sihyuk responded to Jung Han, his most trusted aide, without looking up from his computer as he was reading some pretty important emails. "Make it quick."

"The madam and the young master have gone out to meet the orphaned baby girl..."

Tsk.

Song Sihyuk lifted his head. "Who accompanied them?"

"Uhm, that’s why I’m here, sir," Jung Han said awkwardly. "The madam and the young master left the house on their own. It seems like they deliberately escaped their bodyguards. Team Leader Choi called earlier to let us know."

"What?!"

To be honest, this wasn’t the first time Lim Garam and Song Gunwoo ran away from their bodyguards.

But, every time it happened, it never failed to make Song Sihyuk worry to death.

I know that they hate being followed by bodyguards, but it’s for their safety...

"I’ve already sent Team 1 to follow the madam and the young master, sir," Jung Han said quickly. "Please don’t worry too much."

"I don’t think I’d be able to stop worrying about my wife and son, even after my death," Song Sihyuk said, then he got up from his seat and grabbed his coat. "Let’s go."

***

THE BABY girl’s uncle and his family lived in a poor neighborhood in Seoul.

It wasn’t a safe place, to say the least.

In fact, the old and rusty gate wasn’t even locked. Hence, they could see the shabby house behind it.

Moreover...

"Dad, I can hear a baby crying," Song Gunwoo said in a cold voice. "But the lights in that house are turned off. It doesn’t seem like someone is at home, except for the baby."

That was what Garam thought, too.

After all, they rang the doorbell several times already.

And, yet, no one answered.

"Gunwoo-ya, let’s go," Garam said, clenching his jaw tight. "Let’s check if the baby is truly alone inside."

***

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