She completely emptied the house?

Going inside, he opened the wardrobe and drawers, but there was nothing. She took only her belongings and left the furniture.

Taejun went outside and pressed the doorbell of the neighboring house.

After a short wait, a woman in her forties came out.

“Who are you?”

The woman, who looked at Taejun and greeted him with a warm gaze, which soon turned into a friendly one.

“Sorry all of a sudden. I’m looking for a woman who lived next door. Have you heard anything about where she might be going?”

“Well, who knows? Two days ago, I did see her throwing away a lot of stuff. It seemed like she was putting clothes in the clothing donation box too.”
“I’m sorry, but may I ask for the contact information of the building owner?”

Taejun politely requested while suppressing the uneasiness in his trembling heart. After a moment, the woman came out with her phone and provided him with a contact number, asking in a curious voice.

“She seemed like a decent young lady. Did she borrow money and not pay back, and that’s why she left suddenly?”

“No, it’s not like that. She left suddenly, and I’m a bit worried.”

Taejun bowed politely to the woman and turned around, contacting the building owner. The somewhat indifferent building owner who answered the call repeated twice that Han Soeun had hurriedly vacated the house and barely managed to sell it yesterday.

After hanging up, Taejun’s gaze descended to the mailbox as he descended the stairs. In the mailbox of Soeun’s apartment, unit 304, there was a piece of mail. It was the mail he had personally requested from the Philippine Embassy. The mail contained information that Soeun’s father had passed away, and the inheritance could be collected through certain procedures.

Taejun was about to take the mail but placed it deep into the mailbox again and got into his car.

His entire body felt as heavy as a brick. Although he wanted to think rationally, he couldn’t calmly analyze the situation.

Taejun took out the note from his pocket again. No matter how many times he chewed on each sentence, every reading felt fresh and astonishing.

“Does this make sense?”

Did you really leave because you were tired of my persistence?

Because you were shocked by the fact that I hid the letter from the Philippines? Just like that?

No. It was an unreasonable story.

I offered you the house and even my bank account. Would I believe your words that you left with just a few watches?

I know you. You are not that kind of person. Never.

You told me everything. You’re not someone who would suddenly leave like this.

Perhaps this is someone’s conspiracy.

Two people came to mind. Yang Hee-wook and the aunt.

Yang Hee-wook. It was most likely that he threatened Soeun in a sinister way. Because I said I would kill him, his hatred must have exploded. On that day when he bravely came to find me, there might have been cameras or microphones that I failed to check. Using them, he might have threatened Soeun to make her leave me.

At what point did Soeun decide to leave me?

Last weekend, when I returned from a business trip to the Philippines and asked to meet, she refused, saying she wasn’t feeling well. And when I visited without saying anything, she looked bewildered.

Did something happen while I was away on a business trip?

Taejun contacted the counselor he had assigned to tail Yang Hee-wook.

[Yes, sir. Hello.]

“Thank you for your hard work. I have two requests.”

[Sure, please go ahead.]

“Please summarize Yang Hee-wook’s activities for the past two weeks until today in as much detail as possible.”

[Yes, I will do that.] “And one more thing, Miss Han Soeun disappeared suddenly today. There was no notice. If any clues are found regarding Han Soeun’s whereabouts, please inform me immediately.”

[Yes, understood.]

“Thank you then.”

After finishing the call with the counselor, Taejun realized that an uneasy feeling still lingered. Yang Hee-wook might be cunning and crafty, but he wasn’t a perfect guy.

Could Yang Hee-wook cleanly abduct Han Soeun like this? It was an inexplicable occurrence.

Then the second possibility was with the aunt.

On the way back after the event that lasted until late at night, Taejun received a call from Seokhwa. Taejun promised to wait for her in front of his house. Why would his niece, who rarely contacted him unless necessary, call so late at night, especially on a weekend?

Seokhwa could be sure that something significant had happened. And that something was likely related to Han Soeun.

Without stopping anywhere else, Seokhwa went straight home and met Taejun in front of the house.

“Aunt.”

“Yeah, Taejun.”

Even under the subtle lighting, the resolute expression on his niece’s face was vivid.

“Han Soeun is missing.”

The voice, trying not to reveal emotions, crackled like dry firewood.

“… Missing?”

“Exactly. I woke up, found a letter, and she was gone. The house was already cleaned up.”

“…”

“Did Aunt mention anything?”

“No, I haven’t seen her. Really.”

“Aunt, it would be better to tell the truth.”

His niece, who had turned away coldly when she claimed we were not even a family, now had a much harsher gaze than before.

A chill ran down his spine.

The niece who once vowed to protect a woman now seemed indifferent to exposing her only aunt without hesitation.

“I’m not lying. Taejun. I really am not.”

Seokhwa had to assert her innocence with all sincerity.

“I promised you, didn’t I? I can’t help you, and I won’t tell anyone.”

With a face where affection had evaporated and suspicion-filled eyes, Taejun opened his mouth again.

“Then is it Grandfather?”