“You’ve handled a lot in three years.”

Ji Wan’s bedroom, which he uses as if it were his own room.

Tae Sung was lying on the bed with only the mood light on, looking through case files he had brought from his home.

Why were the cases he had taken on for three years so complex and dangerous?

Tae Sung closed the case file he was holding.

A presence he hadn’t thought about for a while came to mind, causing deep wrinkles to form between his brows.

“Do Yi Young…”

Hwa Young’s younger sister, whom Tae Sung had known since he was very young.

Tae Sung’s eyes turned ice-cold as he uttered that name.

Yi Young always wanted to be of great significance to Tae Sung.

She wanted Tae Sung to be conscious of her, to never take his eyes off her, and to be the only one who could embrace Tae Sung.

Only Tae Sung knows what she did to make that happen.

That the traffic accident that happened to Yi Young 10 years ago wasn’t a simple accident.

That the fire at Tae Sung’s friend Yu Ri’s house 8 years ago wasn’t a simple fire.

Even the sudden pregnancy of the fiancée from the family where marriage was first discussed 5 years ago, with another man’s child.

Only Tae Sung knows that these were not simple tragedies.

“Huu…”

As the unpleasant presence came to mind, Tae Sung’s breathing grew cold.

He didn’t know how Do Hwa Young had found Ji Wan, but from the moment information about Ji Wan reached Yi Young, he couldn’t predict what dangers might approach.

Fortunately, Hwa Young, who detests Tae Sung terribly, would not reveal this place, if only to avoid her younger sister coming to make a fuss.

However, he couldn’t be at ease believing in an uncertain hope.

Definitely, some measure had to be taken.

As his worries deepened,

Knock knock―

The door opened with a knocking sound.

Quietly entering the room was Ji Wan, who had finished preparing well.

Tae Sung’s stiff expression consciously softened when he faced her.

“Are you coming in voluntarily now?”

“Come on, I’m going to sleep in another room today.”

Ji Wan, who answered primly, approached the bed where Tae Sung was.

In her hand were ointment and bandages.

“Are you hurt somewhere?”

Tae Sung asked.

Ji Wan chuckled at him and answered.

“Not me, you’re the one who’s hurt. You cut your hand on the teacup shards earlier, right? Let me see.”

Ji Wan pointed with her eyes at Tae Sung’s injured hand.

Tae Sung obediently showed his finger, saying as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“It’s just a slight scratch.”

Ji Wan’s eyes lingered long on Tae Sung’s thumb.

It certainly wasn’t deeply cut, and the bleeding had stopped, but first aid was necessary.

“The thumb is a frequently used finger, so it’s better to put a bandage on it at least.”

Saying so, Ji Wan held out her palm in front of Tae Sung.

Tae Sung looked at Ji Wan with eyes asking what she wanted.

Ji Wan wiggled her outstretched hand as if urging and answered.

“Give me your hand. So I can apply ointment and put on a bandage.”

“Can’t you just grab it?”

“Are you trying to give meaning to it again, saying I grabbed first or whatever?”

Tae Sung, whose intention was seen through, raised the corners of his mouth and obediently offered his hand.

Ji Wan carefully grasped his wrist and applied ointment to the wound.

Unlike her usually brusque manner, her touch was delicate and attentive.

Tae Sung, who had been staring down at her, asked softly.

“Are you always this fussy over small things?”

That wasn’t what he had wanted to say, but some mischievous comment slipped out.

Ji Wan, not minding at all, finished wrapping the wound with a bandage and answered.

“I have to fuss. Whether big or small, an injury is an injury.”

“Isn’t it a waste of bandages for something this minor?”

“Geez, you could just say thank you instead of picking a fight.”

Right. That’s what I was going to say.

For some reason, it just wouldn’t come out easily.

Tae Sung quietly watched Ji Wan, who once again easily guessed his true feelings.

Ji Wan, completely unaware of his gaze, focused solely on applying the bandage.

And then, without realizing it, she spoke of her own deeply personal pain.

“My dad also started with just indigestion at first. We lived thinking he had just eaten something bad, but when he got a health checkup the next year, it turned out to be blood cancer.”

“…”

“At first it was stage 2, so we thought it wasn’t too bad. But this damn cancer wouldn’t go away for 7 whole years. Just kept moving around. So I don’t see the difference between being a little sick and very sick. This way I feel better.”

This was the first time she had spoken so in detail about herself.

Tae Sung, who had been listening quietly to her words, asked in a serious voice.

“So that’s why you needed money? Enough to accept the title of a divorcee so desperately?”

After asking, he thought it might be a question that could hurt her pride.

Sure enough, Ji Wan’s hand paused briefly as she was applying the bandage.

But she soon resumed finishing her task, and only after completing the first aid did she lift her head to face Tae Sung.

“Yes. That’s why I need money. Desperately enough that the title of divorcee doesn’t matter at all.”

It was the most sincere expression he had seen on her face so far.

As Tae Sung silently stared at her, Ji Wan grinned and smiled innocently.

“Are you nervous now? Worried I might tell you to pay the balance quickly and leave?”

“What?”

“Don’t worry. Despite how I look, I have a soft spot for patients. It reminds me of my dad.”

From the beginning, Tae Sung wasn’t someone who would leave even if told to.

But Ji Wan continued as if doing a great favor.

“I’ve been always going on about money and showing that I don’t want to live together, but I’m thinking of letting you stay until you fully recover. Ah, on the condition that you don’t introduce me as your wife to the people in this neighborhood.”

“Until I recover?”

“Yes, it’s bad enough to lose three years of memories overnight from a head injury, but to be kicked out by a woman who claims to be your legal wife on top of that? How miserable would that be?”

“…”

“If you need a place to stay, use it as a motel, if you need a place to hide, use it as a bomb shelter. At first, I wanted to kick you out as soon as possible because Joo Tae Sung was so scary, but as I kept seeing you, I got used to it, and I’m enjoying the delicious breakfast too… Well, I’ve somewhat adapted.”

An unexpected inner thought from a woman who had always been pushing him away.

Tae Sung’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

This house was the only place he could stay, but he hadn’t thought it would be a permitted shelter.

Ji Wan was so willingly offering to create a place for Tae Sung at an unexpected timing.

Tae Sung’s eyes, having received formal permission, showed a subtle expression.

Ji Wan, meeting those eyes, grinned and asked.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you grateful?”

Only then becoming aware of his own expression, Tae Sung let out a small laugh and lowered his head.

He regained his composure with a dry face rub, and answered with his characteristic shameless expression.

“Of course I’m grateful. I’m on the verge of tears from emotion.”

Those words were sincere.

It was a bit awkward to reveal sincerity so nakedly, so he answered jokingly as if half in jest.

Fortunately, seeming to have fallen for his not-so-serious attitude, Ji Wan immediately pouted her lips.

“Tch, you’re mocking me. Of course, I’m not your real wife. You’ll naturally realize this when you regain your memories, Joo Tae Sung. When that time comes, you might cry from genuine gratitude.”

It was a fact he already knew and a feeling he was already experiencing, but he decided not to reveal it for now.

It’s because, as she said, we’re not a real couple after all.

Ji Wan, having finished the first aid, picked up the first aid kit.

Quickly rising from her seat, she faced Tae Sung and gave a simple greeting.

“Well then, sleep well. Let’s talk about the interview next time since today has been hectic.”

Tae Sung responded by nodding his head towards her.

The space was once again left alone after Ji Wan departed to her own bed without lingering.

Tae Sung stared down at his thumb, neatly wrapped with a bandage.

And he thought.

About the reason he almost emotionally wavered over a single bandage like this.

It didn’t take long for Tae Sung, who had been pondering with an indescribable expression, to come to a conclusion.

Someone who fussed over and cared for wounds that weren’t even revealed…

Come to think of it, it was a first.

For Tae Sung, who had to stand alone his entire life without anyone’s help.

* * *

The dark night had settled over the grand mansion of the EL Group.

A large bedroom where sophisticated white-toned luxury furniture was stylishly arranged.

Bzzz― Bzzz―

The vibration sound rang out in that quiet room.

Yi Young, who had been sitting quietly on the bed just exhaling cloudy electronic cigarette smoke, picked up her phone and pressed the call button as if she had been waiting.

“You’re late? I guess life has become comfortable.”

Her sharp response was completely different from the gentle and quiet atmosphere during the morning family breakfast.

But the man on the call seemed used to her like this, starting with a rebellious retort.

―You’re being picky. You want quick results after dangerously investigating a prosecutor of the Republic of Korea?

“Isn’t that why you’re paid handsomely?”

―Ha, who says they’re paid handsomely? Rather, I’m devoting myself without even receiving hazard pay.

A sneer crept onto Yi Young’s lips upon hearing those words.

The person she was talking to informally was Kim Moo Hwan, her college classmate who works at an illegal detective agency.

They met as college classmates, but Moo Hwan, whose eyes were only on ‘money’, was a materialistic man who followed her wallet around, volunteering to be her errand boy.

For such a person to speak of devotion. What an absurd thing to say.

Yi Young exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke and got straight to the point.

“What about Joo Tae Sung? I heard he finally left his house today. Did you meet him?”

As soon as his name was mentioned, curses burst from Moo Hwan’s mouth.

―Damn, don’t even mention that bastard.

“Judging by how you’re talking, I can guess the result, but why?”

―I heard he finally showed up, so I placed four tails around his house, but we couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Joo Tae Sung’s car’s rear end.

“If you blocked the entrance to the officetel parking lot, shouldn’t you have met him somehow?”

―That’s why I’m saying it’s strange! It seems he parked his car somewhere completely different and only his body came and went through a different place than usual. Looks like he already anticipated he would be here?

It meant they had come up empty-handed again this time.

A chilling air settled on Yi Young’s youthful face.

“To think you can’t even catch prey that walked into the trap on its own… Your qualifications should be revoked.”

If Joo Tae Sung hadn’t been caught, there was nothing more she wanted to hear.

Yi Young, thoroughly deflated, was about to hang up without even a closing remark.

Sensing the mood, Moo Hwan urgently called out her name.

―W-wait! Do Yi Young! There’s incredible news before that!

Yi Young’s finger, which was about to press the end call button, paused in mid-air for a moment.

Yi Young didn’t bother putting the phone to her ear, quietly waiting for what would follow.

―I got this news by catching a hospital staff and using my own money. That bastard Joo Tae Sung. His head is broken!

It was an ominous piece of news.

Yi Young’s eyes sharpened once again.

“What do you mean broken.”

―They said it’s dissociative amnesia! Apparently he’s lost three years worth of memories from his head! That bastard can’t remember anything right now!

“What…?”

Information they had never heard despite exploring the hospital numerous times.

At this completely unexpected development, one corner of Yi Young’s mouth twisted upwards.

It was a faint but distinct smile of relief.