“…I understand, Do Hee.”

Lee Su Rin’s flustered expression was evident. As if forgetting the calm act she had been putting on like breathing, she answered awkwardly at the unfamiliar sight of Do Hee that she was seeing for the first time.

However, Min Hae Yeon didn’t care how Lee Su Rin reacted. Because Do Hee, who was trying her best for her sake – her lady, was more important. Hae Yeon firmly squeezed Do Hee’s hand that she was holding once, signaling that it was alright, then let go.

When she lifted her gaze, Lee Su Rin, who seemed to have regained her composure, slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Hae Yeon. It must be a memory you want to forget, but I thoughtlessly brought it up.”

‘…Ah.’

Hae Yeon, who let out a sigh inwardly, bit the inside of her lip. As soon as she heard Lee Su Rin’s words, she realized that what she had anticipated as a possibility was true.

On top of kindly adding that it was a memory she wanted to ‘forget’, Hae Yeon also knew Lee Su Rin’s true nature well, so the sense of incongruity she felt from the apology just now was very strong.

It was bitter. It was something she had been prepared for since going to the hospital, but in the end, Lee Su Rin had noticed.

‘She knows that I have lost my memories.’

Moreover, Lee Su Rin didn’t stop there and was appealing that fact to her. However, there was no way to know if Chairman Yoon Myung Gil and Han Yoon Seo were also aware of that fact.

Hae Yeon turned her gaze and stared at Han Yoon Seo across from her. Seeing Yoon Seo, who was just quietly drinking tea and acting without any particular expression in this situation, it didn’t seem like she particularly knew.

If Han Yoon Seo had noticed that Lee Su Rin was freely giving away information that could be the sister-in-law’s greatest weakness in this situation, there was no way she would react like that. Hae Yeon flexibly countered Su Rin.

“It’s alright. As the lady said, it’s all in the past.”

“Thank you for accepting my apology, Ms. Hae Yeon.”

“Enough with the serious talk now! Let’s go back to chatting.”

At Do Hee’s words, Yoon Seo responded with a laugh.

“I didn’t say anything, lady.”

The awkward moment was brief. When Lee Su Rin made a saccharine apology to Hae Yeon, the optimistic Do Hee, as if finding the current situation boring, quickly changed the subject, and Yoon Seo casually went along with it.

Hae Yeon shifted her gaze to the teacup. The pretty pink lips parted again after the music flowing indoors slowed down. Putting down the cup that had much less coffee, Hae Yeon spoke as usual.

“I’m going to the restroom for a bit.”

“Yes, go ahead, new elder sister.”

Hae Yeon, who gave a slight smile to Do Hee who kindly replied, left the table. Passing through the underground hallway of the department store where the music didn’t stop, Hae Yeon entered the restroom and brushed back the hair draped over her forehead. As she stood in front of the sink to at least wash her hands, the door opened and someone entered.

The owner of the slender legs below the dangerously thin and high stiletto heels was Su Rin.

Lee Su Rin’s beautiful eyes were fully reflected in the large mirror. Hae Yeon didn’t turn around and brought her hands close to the faucet. As she entrusted her hands to the water flowing from the automatic sensor and lowered her eyes, it was then.

“I thought there was no one as shameless as you.”

As Lee Su Rin slightly tilted her head, her well-maintained, glossy hair flowed elegantly as if it would make a sound.

Su Rin, who had the artificial arrogance of always being conscious of others’ eyes engrained in her body, approached even now, flaunting her unique elegance.

As Hae Yeon, who had no intention to answer or care, indifferently lowered her gaze and just washed her hands, Su Rin’s words continued.

“But to think you lost your memories. Ah, seeing you forgetting everything and living comfortably alone, perhaps being shameless is fitting after all.”

“So?”

“Ha!”

The sound of Su Rin’s laughter was heard. It was an absurd laugh at Hae Yeon’s calm counter-question. Hae Yeon’s face as she quietly turned to the side was composed.

No matter what she was trying to do this time by following her all the way here, Hae Yeon was fed up with Lee Su Rin, who acted like a close elder sister while moving without considering Do Hee’s circumstances.

Above all, Lee Su Rin had no right to even mention her losing her memories. Hae Yeon was now smiling brightly as she continued.

“The fact that I lost my memories is not a reason to break up with Mr. Do Ha, and it’s not even something you can comment on, is it?”

“……”

Hae Yeon spoke very slowly as if to make sure each and every word was accurately conveyed to Lee Su Rin.

In contrast, Lee Su Rin’s expression changed quickly. The beautiful face became expressionless unlike earlier. Making no expression with the extravagantly made-up face created an eerie sense of incongruity, but Hae Yeon reached out toward Lee Su Rin without being moved.

“Besides, aren’t you, who acts as my husband’s harmless friend’s younger sibling in front but moves shadily like this behind, more shameless?”

Without taking her eyes off Lee Su Rin, Hae Yeon elegantly pulled out a tissue located behind her and turned her body to wipe the moisture from her hands. Music still flowed even in this space.

Under the violin melody, Hae Yeon, who faced Lee Su Rin’s expression, flinched and frowned.

“Well?”

As the corners of her mouth slightly rose in contrast to her vermilion lips, sensuality exuded. Lee Su Rin, who finally made Hae Yeon turn around, subtly lowered her gaze somewhere and moved her red lips.

“Wouldn’t I be better than you, who can’t give anything to Mr. Do Ha and only causes trouble despite being unable to?”

Reflexively, Hae Yeon clenched her fists tightly. Whether it was due to Lee Su Rin’s arrogant gaze or the words she said, she was engulfed in unpleasantness to the point of being unable to distinguish the cause.

Hae Yeon’s long eyes were fixed solely on Lee Su Rin without a single blink. Receiving that gaze fully, Su Rin slowly tilted her head and moved her steps beside Hae Yeon. From a distance where their skin would touch if she moved even a little, Lee Su Rin whispered lowly.

“Have you ever checked under Mr. Do Ha’s clothes?”

“…!”

Hae Yeon felt like she had been harshly slapped on the cheek. At least in that moment, her body trembled, unable to hide the agitation.

Because she didn’t expect Lee Su Rin to blatantly ask about the part she had been aware of all along. Leaving the frozen Hae Yeon, Lee Su Rin raised her head again and smiled nobly. As if she had said nothing just a moment ago. She even had a face that looked like she would give a kind hug.

“That’s why it’s like this, talking to someone who knows nothing.”

With a generous face and a gentle smile as if doing a good deed, Su Rin left the restroom, leaving Hae Yeon behind.

Even after Lee Su Rin had completely disappeared outside, Hae Yeon stood still. The classical music was cut off intermittently like a broken radio.

Swish.

“!”

Only at the sound of water right next to her did Hae Yeon come to her senses. Hae Yeon, who had been out of it for a moment to the point of not knowing when someone had entered, hurriedly returned to where the group was. Her heart was pumping and stirring like crazy.

Hae Yeon desperately tried to gather her emotions so as not to be caught with that startled heart. However, Do Hee’s worried gaze and Yoon Seo’s puzzled gaze let her know that she had not properly managed her emotions.

‘Stay calm.’

In the awkward atmosphere, Hae Yeon continued the conversation. Fortunately, Do Hee didn’t ask what was wrong, and the four people who had been conversing got up not long after.

How she had driven, in what state of mind she had come all the way here. Before she knew it, when she came to her senses, she was in front of the house.

The anxious gaze was directed toward the study. Hae Yeon, who walked almost running, opened the door roughly enough to be considered violent, and opened the laptop like a robot without even changing clothes.

“…Let’s review, review what I organized again.”

Hae Yeon, who spoke her mind out loud to no one in particular, moved the mouse.

Rattle, click.

Without properly turning on the lights, Hae Yeon stared intently at the laptop screen shining in the darkness. On the screen, the data she had investigated so far was displayed. Hae Yeon clicked on the most recent one.

It was content that cross-referenced existing data and lost memories based on the doctor’s opinion.

“From March to November……”

Hae Yeon’s eyes glowed in the dim light. It was a great fortune that she didn’t forget the content of Do Ha’s contact accident article even though it disappeared, as she was confident in her memory.

The chronological order of the memories Hae Yeon lost was the Hanwoomul gathering, the contact accident that occurred in April after that, and Joo Ah’s birthday. Considering there could be some margin of error, she could say she lost memories from around early March to late November.

Do Ha’s company’s stock price also fell starting from April and slowly increased after several months passed. Combining this data, it meant that for several months last year, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, Do Ha was unable to run the company.

His official activities were also after Joo Ah’s birthday, so it was highly likely that the incident occurred between March and November of last year.

“There must be something.”

The contact accident article didn’t contain detailed information. So while it was unknown exactly what happened, the one piece of data that bothered her during the period the incident was presumed to have occurred was that small tabloid article. And above all.

– Have you ever checked under Mr. Do Ha’s clothes?

In the early morning when most were asleep, Hae Yeon was leaning against the headboard of the bed, turning her head toward Do Ha.

Do Ha, who had heard that his wife would be coming home late today, returned late at night after drinking. Even in a drunken state, Hae Yeon barely reassured him who was worried upon seeing her subtly different from usual, and quietly looked down at the sleeping person endlessly.

The reason Do Ha was able to fall asleep first despite having a secret to hide from Hae Yeon was that he knew well her disposition of never wanting to do things that others disliked and rejected. Even if the other person was her husband.

Hae Yeon actually wanted to stop thinking. However, one side of her mind kept reminding her of Lee Su Rin’s words regardless of her will, and the other side suddenly brought up the data she had reviewed before Do Ha came.

“…What should I do, Mr. Do Ha?”

Hae Yeon, who bit her lip involuntarily, trembled slightly. It was impossible not to be bothered by Do Ha, who tried to hide his bare body even when taking off or putting on clothes, or when taking a bath. The reason she pretended to be oblivious was that even if she asked him to show his body, he wouldn’t, and it would only arouse suspicion, and secretly checking felt sinful.

Do Ha hid everything solely for her sake. She thought it was really not right to secretly dig into her husband’s secret, betraying his consideration.

‘No, it’s all just an excuse.’

In the end, she would have to check Do Ha’s body.

Hae Yeon closed her eyes tightly and opened them. She slowly raised her hand, which was so tense that the joints turned white, toward the sleeping Do Ha. She gritted her teeth as she was about to cry at any moment.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

The hand stopped in mid-air. Apologizing several times in a weak voice so as not to touch Do Ha, who was less than a span away, Hae Yeon took a deep breath and finally lowered her hand. When Do Ha’s collar, which he kept tightly wrapped even when sleeping, was caught by her fingertips, she even stopped breathing.

How long had the silence lasted in that state, the moment Hae Yeon moved her fingers a little, the clothes finally came undone with a rustle.

“Ah.”

Hae Yeon, who hurriedly covered her mouth, desperately put strength into her limbs so that sobs wouldn’t leak out. In the end, Hae Yeon, who had been holding her breath until she couldn’t bear it any longer, exhaled all at once and pressed her mouth even harder.

Under the clothes, Do Ha’s skin was filled with scars that she was afraid to even touch.