While moving the selected five watches, a shabby envelope hidden on the edge of the display shelf caught her eye. To close the drawer properly, she had to take out the envelope first. Soeun carefully took out the envelope to avoid damaging it.

As she checked the front of the overturned envelope, Soeun’s pupils shook slightly.

Embassy of the Philippines in Korea. Ms. Han Soeun.

The neatly written envelope was sent from the Philippine Embassy.

‘Why would this person…’

The heart that had already fallen below was now lying motionless underfoot. Although she was briefly surprised, the doubt didn’t linger for long.

This person knew everything about me from the beginning.
“I was afraid I would find out about Dad.”

Soeun opened the envelope with trembling hands. Another shock awaited her inside.

As you inquired and requested, the Philippine Embassy has gathered information about your father, Han Honggyu. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that Han Honggyu passed away in April.

Sigh. A sigh escaped.

Tears streamed down her cheeks like nimble wounds. In her mentally shattered state, she couldn’t even comprehend the meaning of tears.

Dad is gone.

The feeling of losing even the faintest hope she held vanished. It truly hit her that she was alone in this world.

Why did you hide even this, why?

She felt the impulse to shake him awake and ask, but strangely, she didn’t resent him.

Unknowingly, she now understood his desperate heart. This kind of mail could have been easily torn up and forgotten, yet he had stored away even the conflicted times.

Kim Taejun’s first concern was ‘Han Soeun’s hurt.’ He had built a defensive wall around her, worrying if she would be in pain or shocked.

She couldn’t bring herself to hate this pitiful man.

Leaving a letter for Taejun in the living room, Soeun returned to the bedroom and picked up his phone. Since the fingerprint recognition was on, she brought the phone to his sleeping thumb, and the lock was quickly lifted. Soeun immediately went into the photo gallery.

Taejun’s face in the pictures he took seemed even more beautiful than in reality.

When did I make this expression? I never made this face even when looking in the mirror.

The lovely face, seemingly raised only by beauty and love, felt unfamiliar, as if it wasn’t hers. Soeun deleted every picture of her face taken by him.

Despite shedding only a single tear at the news of her dad’s death, tears flowed incessantly when she checked the pictures he took of her. Memories are so frightening. Even her emotions were a first for Soeun.

The person who made me cry with a few affectionate words, who made me cry when cutting the liver, who made me cry when betrayed by the man who made me cut the liver.

The person who made me cry because I loved him too much. The owner of my tears.

The faint light outside the door cast a clear shadow over his face. Even as tears filled her eyes, the peaceful sound of his breathing made her smile.

“I love you.”

Soeun quietly uttered the words she couldn’t bring herself to say while he was awake. It was a small voice to prevent it from entering his dreams.

Soeun stepped outside, cutting through the midnight air. The cold wind against her face cooled her heated head.
The car was waiting near the apartment. A few days ago, the person she had seen in Oh Gapsu’s office, Director Lee Hansung, came out to greet her. He checked Soeun’s bag, which she had moved to Villa 403, and opened the car door for her. As soon as the door closed, the car started moving.

Director Lee Hansung immediately handed Soeun a plane ticket.

The ticket was a one-way transfer from Incheon to Tokyo, Tokyo to New York. The ticket to Tokyo was for economy class, while the ticket from Tokyo to New York was for business class. It seemed like there was a calculation that Taejun might trace her if she boarded a direct business or first-class flight from Incheon to New York. Chairman Kim Jaepil was meticulous in every aspect.

Perhaps due to dried-up emotions, or perhaps not wanting to show discomfort, Soeun remained silent. However, the person she left behind, growing distant behind her, continued to weigh on her mind.

“Sleeping pills won’t harm your health, right?”

“That’s not something Soeun should worry about.”

“Yes, I suppose.”

Even this brief conversation ended neatly.

A little later, as Soeun stared out the window without energy, Hansung asked her if she wanted to make a call.

“The chairman wants you to call him. Would you like to?”

Already making a call without asking.

Soeun showed an uncomfortable gaze and accepted the phone handed over by Hansung.

A voice like a generous Buddhist monk, the chairman’s voice. Soeun reported to Chairman Kim Jaepil in a businesslike manner.

“Mr. Kim Taejun has left his house and is on his way to the airport.”

A voice that sounded compassionate. Yet, it was a voice that did not allow her to resist.

Is that place really a good one? The person I love the most is here.

His kind words, as if cheering for her future, made her feel uneasy. In the end, Soeun, who was hardened by evil, let out her innermost thoughts.

“To be honest, I don’t believe that Mr. Kim Taejun killed someone. He didn’t do that to me. He never did anything like that. No matter how much I think about it, I conclude that he is definitely not that kind of person.”

I’m going to say everything I want to say. What is there for me to regret in leaving everything behind?

“I’m just trying to understand it that way because Chairman says so. I understand that you want to detach your grandson, even to the point of making him a murderer.”

I want to be loved too. In a country like this, I need to be respected. As long as you oppose, I can never be happy. Because you can’t change an adult.

“To Chairman and Mr. Kim, I’m sincerely sorry for causing such great pain.”

So, I’m leaving. Not because I want to overcome you.

“I apologize for causing such deep wounds to Chairman and Mr. Kim.”