It was a more tremendous shock than when I first discovered the affair. I couldn’t believe this was reality, with my husband holding another woman’s hand and spouting nonsense like ‘My love has become a mistake.’

“Lee Seung Oh. You’re about to get caught for adultery and divorced. Can’t you grasp the situation?”

“So you choose, Yoon Seo Ha. Whether we really divorce, or continue living as a couple.”

They had been friends and lovers since they were very young. That’s why Lee Seung Oh knew too well how much Yoon Seo Ha loved him.

This was the source of his filthy confidence.

“If you’re going to talk about living as a couple or not, let go of that hand first.”

“No. I can’t let go of this hand.”

Knowing all too well that Seo Ha wouldn’t be able to leave him, Seung Oh instead gripped Ji Soo’s hand even tighter.

“Seo Ha, you have a lot. Ji Soo only has me. Whether we divorce or not, I’ll love and protect Ji Soo until the end.”

“Oppa…”

Moved, Lee Ji Soo’s eyes welled up with tears as she gently leaned her head on Seung Oh. Was it my imagination that I saw something like a victorious smile at the corner of her mouth?

Seo Ha felt her mind go blank. Where had all her earlier confidence gone, leaving only rock-bottom misery? The time they had lived together and memories of love cut through her heart like a rusty saw blade.

“Wait, honey. We-”

It was just as Seo Ha, half out of her mind, was about to open her mouth.

Behind Lee Seung Oh and Lee Ji Soo, who had become the lovers of the century with tightly clasped hands, a familiar person appeared.

‘Secretary Ryu?’

No matter how many times she blinked and looked again, it was still Ryu Kyung Jun. He was sitting alone on the sofa with his legs crossed, staring this way, and when his eyes met Seo Ha’s, he raised the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

As if doused with cold water, Seo Ha’s mind suddenly cleared. She’d rather tie a yellow rubber band around her waist and bungee jump from the 63 Building than show Ryu Kyung Jun the pathetic sight of her clinging to Lee Seung Oh here.

“We, what?”

Seung Oh urged. Seo Ha took her eyes off Kyung Jun and took a sip of the now cold coffee. The caffeine kicked in quickly, making her mind much clearer.

“… We’re getting a clean divorce, right? Don’t sue for property division later. Most of it is premarital property anyway, so it’s not subject to division.”

Seung Oh’s expression became a bit dull.

“I agree it’s tiring to hear nagging from someone you’re no longer with. Let’s tell both our mothers after all the paperwork is done and on the day you submit your resignation.”

“Re-resignation?”

This time, Lee Seung Oh’s voice trembled. Seo Ha shrugged her shoulders, just as he had done earlier.

“Why are you so surprised? Surely you weren’t planning to continue working at my mother’s company after getting divorced for having an affair with our housekeeper’s daughter?”

He must have been living with the iron-clad belief that he would inherit Kang Yoon Company someday. What a pathetic life plan.

“Let’s not touch the company. You always said we should clearly separate public and private matters.”

“Stop talking nonsense, Lee Seung Oh.”

Seung Oh flinched at Seo Ha’s curse, which he was hearing for the first time in his life.

“What did you say?”

“I get it that you’re a beast, so shut up and go get your seal. For both the divorce papers and your resignation.”

“Oh, young lady! That’s going too far!”

As Ji Soo raised her voice, panting, Seung Oh calmed her down and glared.

“Yoon Seo Ha. Were you always such a vulgar woman?”

“No matter how vulgar I become, I’ll still be more refined than you and your lover.”

Seo Ha dismissed Lee Seung Oh’s meaningless criticism with one word and stood up.

“You don’t have to smile secretly like that, Lee Ji Soo.”

Hearing her name called, Lee Ji Soo clung tightly to Seung Oh.

“That man isn’t a dragon risen from a stream, he’s just a stream. I wonder if he’ll even have enough money to rent a single room after paying me alimony?”

Lee Seung Oh’s face contorted more than she had ever seen before. The expression of Lee Ji Soo, who looked at him in bewilderment, was also worth seeing. It felt like some of what had been stuck in her solar plexus was finally coming down.

“He’ll probably cheat again. The first time was easy, so the second will be a piece of cake. I hope that woman is a bit better than Lee Ji Soo.”

After throwing out words that were more like certainty than a curse, Seo Ha held out her palm to Seung Oh. She could still feel his gaze from the sofa, blatantly staring at her.

“Hand it over.”

“What?”

“The car key. We’re taking our own property, remember? Did you already forget?”

Lee Seung Oh gritted his molars and took out the car key. Seo Ha snatched it away, hooked the keyring on her finger, and threw a farewell smile.

“Take care. Did I mention that you two make a great couple?”

Click, click.

The cold sound of high heels tapped away between the elegant classical melodies.

“O-oppa.”

Left behind, Lee Seung Oh stared blankly at the exit door with his thought process halted, until Ji Soo’s voice brought him back to his senses.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of m-me…”

On her lap was the bag that Seung Oh had given her not long ago, preciously placed. While Yoon Seo Ha hadn’t been particularly pleased with this bag, Lee Ji Soo carried it around like it was the most precious treasure in the world.

He liked that. It made him proud. Next to Yoon Seo Ha, he had always felt inferior and shabby, but with Lee Ji Soo, he felt like a ‘real’ man, more splendid and dignified than anyone in the world.

-‘A woman should live thinking she’s not good enough, no matter how great she is. That’s how a man’s spirit stays alive. Our Seung Oh should have met someone like that…’

Ok Soon’s words were absolutely right. Yoon Seo Ha, who was too accomplished, was a woman whose very existence not only crushed but annihilated a man’s spirit.

“It’s okay. Don’t cry, Ji Soo.”

Seung Oh picked up a napkin and wiped the tears that had formed in Ji Soo’s eyes.

“B-but, I was moved. When y-you said you l-love me.”

“Where did all the times I said I love you before go?”

“I-I always d-didn’t quite believe it.”

Ji Soo fidgeted with her fingers shyly.

“You know. Someone as g-great and wonderful as you c-couldn’t possibly be s-serious about someone like m-me… Especially with s-someone as beautiful and capable as young lady Seo Ha by your side.”

Yoon Seo Ha was beautiful. While Seo Ha’s nickname changed from ‘Top of ㅇㅇ Middle School’ to ‘Goddess of ㅇㅇ High’, and ‘Miss ㅇㅇ University’, Seung Oh also received attention alongside her. As ‘that guy next to Yoon Seo Ha’, or ‘Cinderello’.

“You’re the pretty one. Not Yoon Seo Ha.”

Seung Oh said forcefully, as if denying that memory. A happy smile gently appeared on Ji Soo’s face.

“I-I’ve never heard that from you before. I only ever g-got teased.”

“Teased? Why would you?”

“F-for my stutter. For being ugly. And…”

Ji Soo bowed her head deeply and mumbled.

“F-for being poor…”

Overcome with emotion, Seung Oh ended up hugging Ji Soo tightly.

“It’s okay. Now that oppa’s here, forget all that.”

“Oppa, I-I’m fine.”

Ji Soo, sobbing a bit more than before, gently pushed Seung Oh away.

“I’m happy because I know you r-really love me now. I can live happily from now on just with that memory. So go now. Go to the young lady and apologize, tell her you were out of your mind and talking nonsense.”

“Lee Ji Soo. What are you saying?”

“Let’s break up. Don’t give up so much because of s-someone like me. You should be with the young lady, living in a nice house, driving a nice car, and becoming the company president later.”

After stammering through her words, Ji Soo stood up abruptly.

“I’ve been h-happier than I deserved until now. I’ll never forget. Th-thank you, Seung Oh oppa.”

“Lee Ji Soo!”

Ji Soo violently shook off Seung Oh’s grasping hand and ran out of the cafe. Seung Oh sat dumbfounded, unable to chase after her.

What Ji Soo said was extremely realistic and obvious. What would be left if he got divorced by Yoon Seo Ha now? He’d lose the house, the car, the company, and even Ok Soon would have to leave the house they’ve been living in.

The thought of living in a cramped house, struggling like when he was young, after boasting about being the son-in-law of the CEO and occupying a good position, was terrifying.

“Damn it, Yoon Seo Ha!”

The arrow of resentment flew unexpectedly towards Yoon Seo Ha, who had been so resolute.

They had been together from kindergarten to university before getting married. During that time, Seung Oh had done his best, adjusting all his schedules to Yoon Seo Ha, and there wasn’t a single second when Yoon Seo Ha didn’t love Lee Seung Oh.

“Divorce? Without even asking why I met another woman. Without even thinking about fixing her own faults. No, not even knowing what she did wrong, and suddenly talking about divorce? Did she find another man? How could she to me…!”

As he was agonizing, clutching his head, Seung Oh noticed the bag placed next to him and stopped talking.

That foolish woman must have left it behind, intending to return even this. Inside the bag were a worn-out sky blue wallet with frayed threads and a lipstick he had bought her recently.

Seung Oh opened the wallet with trembling hands. The contents were just one check card, three 10,000 won bills, and a sticker photo they had taken recently.

“… Ji Soo.”

Seung Oh stood up abruptly, firmly grasping Ji Soo’s bag in one hand and the sticker photo in the other, and went outside. As he ran and ran towards the direction of Ji Soo’s house, he saw Ji Soo walking listlessly with slumped shoulders across the 8-lane road.

“Ji Soo!”

When he let out a lion’s roar with all his might, drawing from his core, all the passersby were startled and looked this way.

“Lee Ji Soo! Look here! Lee Ji Soo!”

But Ji Soo didn’t turn around. Whether she didn’t hear or was pretending not to hear.

Becoming urgent, Seung Oh recklessly ran onto the road and crossed the median strip.

-Screech!

-Honk honk-!

“Hey, you crazy bastard! Are you trying to die!”

Cars honked from all directions and drivers hurled insults, but none of that mattered.

“Lee Ji Soo!”

Ji Soo’s eyes widened in surprise as she raised her head.

“Oppa…?”

“Ji Soo!”

Seung Oh, who had miraculously crossed the 8-lane road without getting hit, tightly embraced Ji Soo with his arms that were somehow still intact.

“I love you, Ji Soo! Forever!”

“Oppa, sob, sniff…”

Ji Soo cried and stood on her tiptoes. Their lips met like perfectly fitting puzzle pieces. With the drivers’ curses as background music, as they kissed in the middle of Gangnam-daero, the two became the protagonists of a heart-wrenching and romantic movie.

“I’ll protect you. I’ll treat you like a princess and love you for life. Let’s not break up. Ji Soo.”

As Seung Oh licked the tears from Ji Soo’s eyes with his lips, he thought.

Just Yoon Seo Ha needs to disappear. If only Yoon Seo Ha would vanish from this situation, he could keep everything.

The money, the social status, and the person he loves.