Hee Won doubted her ears.

What did I just hear?

That her friend’s girlfriend said she loves Mr. Kang Woo?

“So you’re saying that Lucas’ girlfriend said she loves Mr. Kang Woo?”

“That’s correct.”

“That’s absurd. How could such a thing…”

The more she heard, the harder it became for Hee Won to breathe.

“I told him it was nonsense. I told Lucas not to say such useless things. I told Lucas to stop talking bullshit and get lost. Then.”

[I can’t go back. I’ve already told Lucas.]

Emily said to Kang Woo with venomous eyes.

[Are you crazy? You told Lucas?] [Yes. I told him that you were the one I loved from the beginning! I never liked Lucas for even a moment.]

Hearing those words, Kang Woo felt like he had fallen off a cliff.

[I’ll explain to Lucas myself. Don’t you ever show your face to me or Lucas again. It’s disgusting and filthy. If you appear before us one more time, I won’t just send you away with words.]

“I told her it was absurd and kicked her out of the house. I told her never to appear before my eyes or Lucas’ again. I went to find Lucas right after sending her away, but it was already too late. When I arrived, Stacy grabbed me and said tearfully.”

[Elder brother Kang Woo, he’s gone. His phone has been turned off since yesterday. What should we do? His condition wasn’t good to begin with.]

“Lucas had a congenital heart condition. It had improved as he grew up, but he was different from normal people. My friends and I spent days searching for Lucas.”

After two hellish days had passed.

“We found Lucas completely drunk in a back alley in New York. He was stumbling, barely able to stand, but he recognized me. He said.”

[Why didn’t you reject her? Why didn’t you reject Emily when she said she loved you? You should have said no. I’m your friend, why on earth!]

“I said it wasn’t true, that I never did such a thing, that I rejected her. But Lucas, who had already lost his reason, wouldn’t believe me. He believed that Emily wouldn’t have wavered if I hadn’t given her any hope… I had no words for Lucas who was blaming it all on me.”

[She said it wasn’t me she loved, but you. It’s all your fault she fell in love. Leave me alone! You’re not a friend.]

“Friends tried to stop Lucas, but it was no use. He wouldn’t listen when told to go home. I was angry in my own way too. I had known Lucas for a long time, and I resented him for not believing me. So I said something I shouldn’t have.”

[I told you it wasn’t true. But Lucas, you’re not listening to me.] [Are you saying Emily loved you when there was nothing between you?] [That’s right.] [No, you must have seduced Emily.]

In a situation with no answer, Kang Woo finally uttered words he would regret for life.

[Fine. Think whatever you want.]

“Hearing those words, Lucas stared at me blankly. Then he said.”

[It seems you have no intention of listening to me now. Even if it’s not true, you won’t believe me no matter what I say. Just cool your head first. Let’s rest today and talk later.]

“So I left Lucas behind. And the next morning, I received a call.”

[Lucas is dead.]

“Lucas was found under the Hudson River bridge. The cause of death was…”

Kang Woo bit his lower lip hard, stopping mid-sentence.

His emotions seemed to be welling up as he took a breath and continued.

“…”

“There was a small note written where he had jumped.”

− You should have made excuses to me anyway. I hate you.

“It was nothing but resentment towards me. Stacy didn’t wake up for 4 days. His parents fainted. A happy family crumbled in an instant. All because of me…”

Deep guilt was etched on Kang Woo’s face.

“If I hadn’t pushed him away that day, if I had held onto him and apologized until he accepted it, things might not have ended up like that.”

Perhaps finding it difficult to suppress his rising emotions, Kang Woo lowered his head.

No? It wasn’t.

It wasn’t his fault.

‘Anyone can see that woman was the bad one! And that Lucas guy who didn’t believe his words.’

How could they say such blaming words when Mr. Kang Woo didn’t do anything wrong?

Why should Mr. Kang Woo bear the consequences of what they did?

Are they saying he should suffer for life? What is this?

Are they really crazy?

Hee Won’s anger surged up.

She felt like she was going to cry.

Hee Won reached out her hand to hold Kang Woo’s cheek and lifted his face.

The corners of his eyes were red and swollen.

This person has been in pain like this for his whole life.

Unable to even cry, all alone like that.

He’s been living with guilt for something that wasn’t even his doing.

“No. It’s not your fault, Mr. Kang Woo.”

Even if it might not reach Kang Woo, she wanted to tell him.

That it wasn’t his fault.

“That Emily woman is the bad one. Lucas is pitiful too, but he didn’t believe what you said. You told him it wasn’t true. So it’s not your fault.”

“…Miss Hee Won.”

Kang Woo’s eyes shook violently as he looked at Hee Won.

“What kind of soulmates are they talking about?”

Hee Won felt sorry for Kang Woo who must have swallowed his anger alone, not daring to express it.

“When they didn’t even believe you, what kind of kindred spirits or lifelong friends are they? They dumped everything on you. That’s not even friendship.”

Hee Won stroked Kang Woo’s reddened eyes as she continued.

“Don’t be hurt because of people who don’t love you. That Lucas person only trusted you that much. So, don’t live with guilt. It’s not your fault, Mr. Kang Woo.”

At Hee Won’s words, Kang Woo bit his lower lip hard. His lips trembled before he opened his mouth. A deeply cracked voice leaked out between his lips.

“…No one has ever said such words to me. Lucas’ parents and Stacy said I killed him. Even my friends didn’t say anything. No one…”

His voice gradually became wet, as if his emotions were welling up.

Hee Won shook her head vigorously from side to side, hoping her feelings would reach Kang Woo.

“I’m not disappointed in you because of something like that, thank you for telling me when it must have been difficult.”

Looking at her like that, he gave a faint smile that only Hee Won could barely recognize.

“From now on, I hope you’ll only look at people who love and cherish you more, Mr. Kang Woo. You’ve suffered enough with guilt, so I hope you’ll stop feeling guilty and stop suffering now.”

She sincerely wanted to comfort Kang Woo.

Because even after hearing the whole story, it didn’t seem like he had done anything wrong.

“Miss Hee Won…”

Kang Woo’s eyes wavered greatly. He rubbed his face against her small hand and continued speaking.

“…Thank you.”

He kissed the palm of her small hand while gazing at her. The spot where his lips touched felt as hot as if it had been burned.

She couldn’t take her eyes off his intense gaze that seemed to pierce through her.

“I want to say the same thing to you, Miss Hee Won.”

“…”

“I feel the same way. I wish you would tell me when you’re sad, hurting, troubled, and even embarrassed.”

“…Mr. Kang Woo.”

“Someone you can call family, a relationship where we comfort each other.”

Hee Won looked at Kang Woo. The emotion flickering in his eyes was unfamiliar.

There was a thought quickly passing through her mind.

Could it be?

That Mr. Kang Woo…

It was something she hadn’t dared to imagine, certain she would be hurt by his response.

“Isn’t that what a married couple is?”

The thought was:

Does Mr. Kang Woo like me?

No way.

That can’t be.

How could someone like Mr. Kang Woo who has everything like someone like me?

It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, Seong Hee Won.

Mr. Kang Woo is an adult.

There’s no way a child like me could be enough for Mr. Kang Woo.

I don’t think I can be a woman to him.

It’s clear, but I want to be a woman to Mr. Kang Woo.

Her heart surged up.

Hee Won tried desperately not to misunderstand.

‘Mr. Kang Woo and I can’t be a perfect married couple. But he told me the part he least wanted to talk about. So, instead of being disappointed that we’re not really a couple, I should just do what I want to do now.’

Until now, Hee Won had hesitated, thinking they weren’t really a married couple… should I say something like this?

But now she didn’t feel that way at all.

Because they had become close enough to talk about the parts of themselves they didn’t want to show.

Just as he had told her, she felt she could tell him everything too.

“…Mr. Kang Woo.”

After hesitating, Hee Won opened her mouth.

“If there’s talk of divorce at our house later, can you ask me first?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

Kang Woo’s face hardened instantly at her words.

“What do you mean by divorce…”

“…My father came to visit.”

Hee Won decided to be honest.

“Since our marriage wasn’t a normal one, I think there must have been some conditions exchanged. That’s natural. It was a kind of political marriage after all.”

“That’s…”

As Kang Woo tried to add something, Hee Won cut him off.

“May I speak first?”