Han Soeun. I hate you too.

But judging that growling here would make it look even worse, Taejun replied gracefully with a heavy heart.

“Yes, it seems that way. Listening to you, it makes sense.”

Taejun clearly saw it. The corner of Jang Eunpyo’s lips had dried up oddly.

This kid, I warned him, and now he’s completely twisted.
Originally, he was a person without much expression, but until yesterday, he at least gave off a somewhat decomposed impression. Overnight, that warm image disappeared, and he became a firm man who subtly knew how to yield to his superior.

Taejun gently clenched and loosened his fist under the table.

Malhee had been waiting all day for Heewook to come home.

The loan shark to whom Heejin borrowed money mentioned a group of illegal debt collectors. If she didn’t make 1.1 billion within a month, something might go wrong with her body.

Now, it had been about two weeks, leaving less than two weeks.

The money she had saved, suffering from illness and staying in the hospital, had been completely forgotten, and only one house remained, which was heartbreaking to sell. To sell the house within two weeks, she would have to sell it urgently, which meant she wouldn’t get a fair price. So, Malhee had no one to rely on but her son.

Her perpetually busy son, who she thought would come home after 10 o’clock today, unexpectedly arrived home at 6 in the evening. It was said that he left work without completing the working hours.

“Son, you came early today?”

“Yeah.”

Her son, who seemed to wait for her all day long, as if she were invisible, responded vaguely. Heewook gave a brief answer and headed to his room. Somehow, his son’s appearance, as if he had been drinking in the daytime, looked sly and cunning. Concerned, Malhee immediately followed Heewook to his room.

“Son, have you checked on the loan?”

“I don’t know! Handle the mess you made, Mom!”

Lately, he had shown the most ruined state, but even so, he had never raised his voice so much. Feeling anxious, Malhee cautiously brought up Soeun’s name again.

“Is it still because of Han Soeun?”

“Yeah. So, don’t tell me what to do.”

“How on earth did she mess you up that you still can’t get your act together? Huh?”

“I don’t know! Because of Han Soeun, my life is ruined. I’m quitting my job too. I know that much.”

“Why! Why would you quit such a good job?”

However, the argument quickly escalated. No matter how much she thought about it, the only place where money could come out was her son’s workplace. Yet, her son said he would quit the job.

“Why are you like this? Why? Did something about the surgery spread rumors in the company? What are people saying to you?”

There were no rumors about the surgery yet. The name ‘Yang Heewook’ briefly appeared on an internet bulletin board, but the traces disappeared quickly. However, it was only a matter of time before Heewook’s past became known in the company. As soon as Kim Taejun took control of Yulgyu Law Firm, a collision was inevitable.

“…I’m going to change jobs. I’ll just change jobs.”

“…….”

“So, you won’t be able to get a loan for a while. Look for money somewhere else.”

With Heewook’s hopeless answer, Malhee wanted to sit down and cry. But she gathered her strength and stood up.

A tilting household, a son who lost vitality without realizing it, reporters who threatened her private life for a short time yesterday but everything started with Han Soeun. If Han Soeun had persistently resisted marrying her son from the beginning, none of this would have happened.

After finishing her work in the TF team, Soeun had dinner with Bobae and parted ways. Bobae had comforted her about yesterday’s events and the difficulties Soeun had faced alone during that time. Of course, Bobae suggested having dinner with Eunpyo as well, but Eunpyo brushed it off and left first.

While becoming closer to Bobae, Soeun became more distant from Eunpyo. Still, when Taejun showed the fireworks video, Eunpyo seemed to speak well. However, it might have been burdensome for a situation to arise where Soeun and Eunpyo would be alone together.

‘I should talk to Eunpyo properly tomorrow.’

Thinking this, Soeun walked home. The alley, covered in spider webs, was eerie. Somehow, it felt like she could hear footsteps following her with each step. Approaching her home, her walking pace quickened. In between, a voice interrupted.

“Soeun-ah.”

Startled, she twisted her body.

Yang Heewook’s mother, Mrs. Kim Malhee, stood tall in front of her house.

A long time ago, Malhee had visited Soeun’s house, saying she would bring kimchi. Honestly, Malhee’s kimchi was more impressive than the couple ring Yang Heewook had given her. Perhaps that gratitude became a decisive reason for Malhee’s long-term support.

Back then, Malhee’s sudden visit was just appreciated, but now it sent shivers down her spine.

Soeun stood still without saying a word, so Malhee approached first. Fortunately, no one else was around. It seemed Malhee came alone.

“Aren’t you worried about my health?”

“…Are you healthy?”

“Do I look healthy to your eyes?”

What was she supposed to do?

It felt like Malhee had already decided on an answer and was asking, so Soeun couldn’t find words to respond. Since she had already broken up with Yang Heewook, she couldn’t invite her inside, but leaving the alley and sitting in a cafe seemed awkward. So, Soeun decided to end the conversation here.

“How did you come here?”

“I came because I felt sad. Is that not allowed?”

Malhee poured out her resentment, sounding truly sorrowful.

“I always treated you like my daughter, how could you leave without even saying goodbye? Maybe a child can be this cold.”

“We broke up hastily with Yang Heewook. If it weren’t for him, we could have remained friends.”

“How can we be just friends? We shared the most precious thing between us!”