Hotel Lounge.
Seorin glanced at her wristwatch, waiting for someone. As the time approached, the person she was waiting for revealed themselves.
“I’m sorry. Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I came early.”
It was Sodam. However, unlike a few days ago, she couldn’t meet Seorin’s eyes and kept her head down, as if she had committed some great sin.
“Sodam, you’ve done nothing wrong. But why can’t you look me in the eye?”
“I just… I don’t know. I feel sorry for no reason.”
“There’s no need for that. I’m really fine.”
Two days had passed since Taejoon left. Of course, saying she was fine was a lie. Even though people were in the same place, her room felt cold, almost icy, without him.
She couldn’t sleep at night. Due to that coldness, her whole body trembled for two days.
Later, she found out. That was loneliness.
She missed him terribly.
But Seorin judged that if she didn’t pull herself together in this situation, she might lose everything.
Everything she had.
She couldn’t lose Kang Taejoon.
The desperation not to lose him lifted her up again.
So, she came out with the documents: the stock transfer agreement left by Taejoon, the divorce agreement, and property division sent quickly by Sodam.
She had to act. With all her strength, she intended to do everything she could.
“I’ve looked at the additional documents Sodam sent.”
“Yes. It was the representative’s instructions, so I had no choice. And if you tell me the date, I’ll send someone to organize the representative’s clothes and belongings.”
“There’s no need for that. His things should stay where they belong.”
At Seorin’s firm words, Sodam swallowed dry saliva.
How could she remain so calm in such a confusing situation? If it were Sodam, she would have lost her composure. And she would have unleashed unspoken curses and slander on the person who left.
But Seorin, reflected in Sodam’s eyes, looked so rational.
It was both heartbreaking and admirable.
“I’m sorry. It’s because I didn’t take good care of the representative. I want to give a clear answer to President Jang, but I don’t know anything, so I’m just pounding my chest every day.”
“I don’t need to know the reason you’re not telling me… Should I tell Sodam? I didn’t even expect that.”
“But… you know? Our representative really loved President Jang a lot.”
“…”
“I don’t think that love has changed. I know very well how Representative lived during the eight years since President left.”
“At that time… Were you by his side?”
“Yes.”
“How was it?”
Now that she empathized with the pain left by the departed, she wanted to know about Taejoon’s past. How he lived during the eight years she was away.
Sodam opened her mouth numbly.
“He didn’t live like a recluse. Instead, he ran without rest, almost crazily obsessed with something. Thanks to that, we have The MG today.”
“… ”
“But he couldn’t love. He couldn’t give such affection to anyone. When he suddenly changed after seeing you again in Korea… that’s when I knew. Ah, this person… he’s someone specialized for one person. Specifically, for a woman named Baek Seorin.”
It hurt.
Why didn’t they let her know about that love until now?
Every moment in the past turned into regret.
“So, please don’t suspect that President’s love has changed. Because the President is a person specialized for you.”
“I don’t doubt that. That’s why I can’t sign these documents.”
Seorin took out a yellow envelope from the table, speaking with an emotionless tone.
“All it needs is my signature, but I won’t sign it. Not until I see Taejoon’s face.”
“…”
“So, Sodam, there’s nothing more for you to do here.”
“What?”
Sodam asked with wide-open eyes.
“I mean… what I’m saying is… there’s no need to organize things here. Your place should be by Kang Taejoon’s side, not here.”
“What do you mean…”
“He said that. Because he loves, we have to part. It’s not some drama… If someone else said such an excuse, he would have dismissed it as an unreasonable explanation. But he couldn’t do that. The words seemed so sincere… it was rather frightening.”
“…”
“Why press someone so much in love that they have to part? What reason could be so terrifying that it turns such a devoted person away? I’m worried, Sodam. I’m afraid that reason might devour even him.”
At Seorin’s words, Sodam’s mouth slightly opened.
She had never thought that far. That the reason they had to part might devour him too.
Surprised, Seorin reached out to Sodam. Then, placing her hand on the back of Sodam’s hand, she carefully spoke.
“I came here… to ask about that reason. So, until then, stay by his side.”
“…”
“The reason that presses him, I’m afraid of it. I’m afraid that it might devour even him.”
Seorin’s voice pierced into Sodam’s heart like shards.
At the same moment, Taejoon, without sleeping, was examining the financial statements of Ocean Shipping.
He had no choice but to leave Seorin, but that didn’t mean he gave up everything.
He had to protect her.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
