Prenup of a Third Son novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Waiting Room

Bo-ra took Seo-yeon's arm and walked her down the hill to the subway, because Seo-yeon had stopped being able to tell which way was down.

On the train Bo-ra said, "What are you going to do?"

"Ask her," Seo-yeon said.

She found Yu-na's account that night. Pale photos, white flowers, a lot of coffee cups.

She sent her one line.

"I know what the March room is for."

Yu-na didn't answer for three hours.

At two in the morning Seo-yeon's phone lit up on the mattress beside her.

"Monday. 10am. Cheongdam Women's Clinic, 4th floor. It's the only place she doesn't follow me."

The fourth floor was all pale pink walls and soft chairs.

Women sat in pairs with their husbands or their mothers, holding little paper numbers. A television played a cooking show with the sound off.

Yu-na sat alone in the corner in a white coat, sunglasses on her head.

Seo-yeon sat down next to her.

"You look awful," Yu-na said.

"I slept on a mattress over a printing press."

"I heard." Yu-na didn't smile. "Tae-joon says you gave up your apartment. He thinks it's very dramatic of you."

"Tae-joon thinks a lot of things he doesn't say."

That almost got a smile.

A nurse called a number. A couple stood and went through the swinging door, the man carrying her bag.

Yu-na watched them go.

"Ask," she said.

"The March room," Seo-yeon said, very low. "Tell me I'm wrong."

Yu-na took a long breath.

"You were supposed to be the bride," she said. "You know that, I suppose."

"I know that."

"She liked you for it." Yu-na laughed under her breath. "No family to speak of. A mother who'd be grateful."

"A career she could take away. She said you'd make a beautiful, quiet daughter-in-law."

"And clause nine."

"That's why it was Jeju. Far from Seoul, far from anyone who'd take your call."

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