My Sweet Enemy (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5

Tae In skillfully unlocked it. She had sneakily noted the password yesterday.

She searched for her own name.

Seeing the word “deceased” made something surge up in her throat.

She checked the articles. Airport fashion, board meeting fashion, shareholder meeting fashion—it seemed her outfits had always been a hot topic.

Her past self, who had looked confident and level-headed, felt so different from who she was now that it was like looking at a stranger.

The most recent article was about her death in an accident.

As Tae In closely examined the faces of her grieving family members wailing in sorrow, she felt nauseous.

Her hands also began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Calm down, Seo Tae In—this isn’t the time to fall apart.”

She checked the address book in Yi Kyung’s email inbox.

As Tae In slowly scrolled through the list, she suddenly paused.

taein1225—it was clearly her own ID.

She logged out of Yi Kyung’s account and typed in her own ID.

“What’s the password again?”

After studying the keypad intently, Tae In combined her wedding anniversary with Nok Hyeon’s birthday.

The password was correct.

“What a creepy romantic.”

Tae In had been reading work emails with a disinterested expression when her eyes suddenly widened.

[arin0909 Unnie, I miss you.]

“A Rin? Oh, my half-sister.”

Tae In quickly clicked on the subject line to read the email.

[Mom said she’d bring Ttung-i over if I got 100 on my test, but I missed one question—so I’m upset.]

“Missed just one? Aren’t you a genius?”

Tae In opened another email.

[Today at kindergarten, I spoke without stuttering. But I don’t know why it still hasn’t gotten better at home. I haven’t seen Ttung-i lately—I’m worried.]

“He stutters… Ttung-i, what even is Ttung-i? Ttung-i… Ttung-i… Oh! Ttung-i is a cat.”

The chubby, cheese-colored cat that used to occasionally hop over the tall garden wall.

Suddenly, a strange scene flashed vividly before her eyes.

A wall? Is that our house? What did it even look like? And the garden—what about that…?

A sharp headache struck, and Tae In clutched her forehead before opening the most recently received email.

[I believe deep down that Unnie is still alive somewhere.]

Just then, she heard the sound of a car through the slightly open window.

Tae In logged out of the email account and returned the tablet to its original spot.

“So there really is someone who genuinely worries about me.”

As Yi Kyung entered through the front door, the strong smell of fried food filled the air.

Tae In rushed out barefoot to receive the box, placed it on the table, and took a deep breath.

“How long has it been since I last smelled fried chicken?”

She carefully opened the box. A wave of intense emotion washed over her.

Before that feeling could fade, she grabbed a wing and took a bite.

“Yep, I really do love chicken.”

“But you said you wanted cake earlier.”

Yi Kyung shook her head. Tae In, having perfectly deboned the chicken, licked her lips with a hint of dissatisfaction.

“Something’s still missing… It feels like I’m forgetting something huge.”

“Could it possibly be this?”

Yi Kyung pulled a beer from her bag and handed it to Tae In.

As Tae In reached for it, Yi Kyung quickly lifted the beer upward.

“Ms. Seo Tae In, am I getting old?”

“No, no! Absolutely not!”

“Okay.”

Only then did Yi Kyung hand over the beer.

Tae In drank it with a happy expression.

“Ah, I really do love chicken with beer.”

If she enjoyed so many things, why did she always look so worn out in those news photos?

Tae In found herself wondering again.

“Won’t you have some, Ms. Jung Yi Kyung?”

“You want me to drink alcohol during work hours?”

“Just one drink. Seriously. We’re leaving right after anyway—they won’t find out.”

“You’re a genius, you know?”

Yi Kyung sighed in resignation and pulled out another can of beer.

“But something’s still missing.”

“What else could it possibly be!”

When Tae In kept insisting something was missing, Yi Kyung snapped in exasperation.

“Wait a second.”

Tae In dashed to the fridge and brought out soju and shot glasses—she had found the ones Yi Kyung had secretly bought and hidden away.

Tae In poured a mix of beer and soju into a glass for Yi Kyung and made one for herself too.

“Cheers!”

She clinked her glass against Yi Kyung’s and downed it all in one go.

“Perfect. Have the drumsticks.”

Still marveling at how perfect it was, Tae In generously offered both drumsticks to Yi Kyung.

“Why are you like this to me? Why give me the drumsticks?”

“I need to make a good impression—after all, you’re the person I rely on most right now.”

Feeling an inexplicable unease, Yi Kyung reluctantly put a drumstick in her mouth.

Tae In smiled proudly and then spoke again.

“Alright, now tell me—do I really look like someone with no real friends?”

Late at night, after staff had already left work, the directors—summoned to the managing director’s office—were grumbling while waiting for Nok Hyeon, who had left his seat empty.

Among the executives, the relatively youngest, Director Yoon, cautiously broached the topic.

“Do you think he noticed we’ve changed course?”

At that, Director Hwang—who had been complaining nonstop since entering the office about being swamped with work yet called in anyway—cleared his throat loudly.

“What does that whelp even matter? Just thinking about how he used to grovel under that pup still makes my blood boil.”

The directors had never doubted Nok Hyeon as the rightful successor.

But everything changed after Chairman Kang Cheol Han collapsed.

The problem lay in the will he’d prepared, clearly intended to bolster his favorite concubine and her son.

Now, with the succession possibly shifting, only the directors were left panicking.

Whether young Director Yoon or elderly Director Hwang, everyone floundered, unsure which side to support.

Why on earth did he get involved with a woman who had no roots or class? Tsk.

While they all scrambled to think with their sluggish minds, the door to the managing director’s office opened.

The room’s owner slowly walked in, scanning the faces before him with apparent delight.

Director Yoon rose slightly and gave a brief bow.

The other directors instinctively lowered their eyes, sensing a shift in the room’s atmosphere—even though they’d just been complaining, none dared show it openly.

It was an aura of intimidation, yet completely different from Chairman Kang Cheol Han’s.

He exuded the unsettling calm of a well-fed predator who could snap your neck at any moment.

Unlike the burly and stubborn Cheol Han, he was beautiful and pliant in manner, yet everyone knew a cruel streak lurked behind that pleasant smile.

“Sorry for the delay—it couldn’t be helped.”

Nok Hyeon smiled brightly and took his seat at the head of the table.

“Let’s get right to the point.”

As Nok Hyeon raised his hand, Manager Shim Min Gyu—who had been assisting him in place of Yi Kyung for the past few days—plugged a USB drive into his laptop and played the file inside.

“Secretary Shim, make sure good things are shown big.”

“Yes, sir.”

What on earth is this about? Director Hwang clicked his tongue in frustration.

A huge video appeared on the wall-mounted screen, large enough to fill the entire wall.

The footage showed the summoned directors mingling with women in an enclosed space, drinking and reveling together. Surprisingly, the video ended quickly.

“You all seemed to be having quite the fun.”

Nok Hyeon spoke with a smile still on his lips. As if on cue, the directors’ faces turned pale.

“Shall we watch the next video too?”

“W-wait!”

Director Hwang wiped his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief and shouted.

“Are you calling us here just to blackmail us?”

For an instant, a cold glint flashed in Nok Hyeon’s eyes.

“Of course not. I received a tip—how could I possibly ignore it when someone’s died?”

As if nothing had happened, Nok Hyeon smiled again. Despite his gentle expression, his words were sharp, leaving Director Hwang sputtering like a fish.

“It was an accident! We’re victims too!”

Director Park, who had stayed silent until now, spoke up indignantly.

“I know, I know—you called us here and even prepared this whole setup because of Shim Yoo Ran. I know how vicious that woman is, but…”

Shim Yoo Ran was the concubine of Nok Hyeon’s father, Cheol Han. She’d been desperately scheming to secure her son Kang Ji Un’s position.

Gritting his teeth, Nok Hyeon spoke again.

“I just wanted to make sure none of you fools mistakenly views Shim Yoo Ran as your savior for covering up that incident.”

Director Hwang swallowed hard. The nightmare of that dreadful day came rushing back—getting drunk faster than usual, waking up to find someone dead. He shook his head as if trying to wipe away the memory.

Nok Hyeon stared coldly at Hwang before signaling Secretary Shim, who unplugged the USB drive and handed it to him.

Nok Hyeon placed the USB drive on the table. All the directors’ eyes automatically followed.

“With the board meeting so close, doesn’t this whole incident smell fishy to you?”

“Threatening us like this won’t exactly benefit you, Managing Director Kang.”

Director Hwang spoke, still sweating profusely.

“Well, I’m more worried about you gentlemen. If this ever goes public, you’ll be socially ruined—and I can only imagine how your wives will feel…”

Nok Hyeon spoke with genuine concern, then tightly clenched the USB drive in his fist. It cracked loudly, and broken pieces clattered onto the table.

“Of course, I’m a pacifist. Family harmony comes first—and besides, I’m not exactly a champion of justice. Whatever happens, happens.”

He pressed his fingertips against his throbbing temple and continued in a languid voice.

“You wouldn’t want someone even more inexperienced than a rookie to ruin the company, would you?”

Nok Hyeon still wore that relaxed smile. His tone and manner—whether mocking or polite—irritated the directors, yet none dared voice it.

One thing was clear: this wasn’t a suggestion—it was outright blackmail.

A long silence followed.

Finally, Director Yoon, the quickest to decide, spoke up.

“I understand exactly what you mean. You don’t need to worry, Managing Director.”

It was a clear declaration of allegiance to Nok Hyeon.

“And the rest of you?”

“We feel the same.”

With that, Director Hwang—the de facto leader among them—nodded his head, and all the others followed suit.

Only then did Nok Hyeon lift the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.

“Then I hope your households remain safe and sound.”

Nok Hyeon stood leaning against the rooftop railing.

The weather, sweltering just the other day, had turned pleasantly cool.

“Can’t you just start smoking again? It really doesn’t suit you.”

Secretary Shim—Min Gyu—had appeared unnoticed and spoke as he lit a cigarette.

Min Gyu, Nok Hyeon’s university classmate, had started as his secretary and was now chief of the secretarial office. He’d also assisted Cheol Han before his collapse.

Nok Hyeon stared blankly at the lollipop in his hand, then popped it back into his mouth and rolled it around.

“Someone hates it.”

He recalled Tae In, right after their marriage, politely yet firmly insisting she couldn’t stand the smell of cigarettes—and chuckled softly.

The next day, finding a basket of candies left outside his door had genuinely surprised him.

“Planning to turn everyone against you?”

“My enemies already surround me.”

Nok Hyeon narrowed his eyes, raised the lollipop to point at the tiny figures below, then aimed it at Min Gyu.

“Director Hwang. Director Park. And you.”

Instead of arguing, Min Gyu just sighed.

Though they were the same age and university classmates, Min Gyu had always felt uneasy around Nok Hyeon.

Whether it was his nature or the circumstances, just standing near him felt suffocating from the sheer pressure—yet Nok Hyeon always remained composed, seemingly indifferent to who stood beside him.

“Fine, think what you want. By the way, where’s your loyal dog Jung Yi Kyung?”

“Oh, Jung Yi Kyung.”

Hearing Yi Kyung’s name instantly brought Tae In to mind.

Tae In blushing as she called her his ideal type; Tae In staring at him wide-eyed, silently demanding something; Tae In appearing more devastated over having no friends than nearly dying—those images flashed through his mind one after another.

He hadn’t realized she could make so many different expressions.

And now they were sharing a bedroom, too.

How do you plan to handle me?

Amused, Nok Hyeon checked his wristwatch. If he left now, what time would he arrive in Gapyeong?

“I get that you know your position, but shouldn’t you care a bit more about public perception?”

Nok Hyeon tilted his head slightly. Min Gyu sighed and spoke.

“It hasn’t even been that long since your bereavement—throwing yourself into work like this is a bit…”

“What, creepy?”

Nok Hyeon said it with a faint smile.

“Well, I don’t see it that way—but others might.”

Instead of answering, he casually tossed the lollipop into the trash like a cigarette butt.

Traffic was light, so he arrived earlier than expected.

Yi Kyung’s car wasn’t visible, but the lights inside the villa were brightly on.

Nok Hyeon got out of the car, walked through the garden, and opened the front door.

Bereavement…

Min Gyu’s offhand comment kept echoing in his ears.

If Nok Hyeon and Yi Kyung had arrived just a little later, Tae In would have died.

If she truly had passed away, could he really focus on work like this?

He wondered anew about what Seo Tae In truly meant to him.

A relationship of convenience. A tool to achieve his goals. Nothing more, nothing less.

That’s all it was supposed to be.

Yet…

“Husband’s home!”

Tae In came running down the hallway and threw herself into Nok Hyeon’s arms.

“I told you not to run.”

Nok Hyeon frowned as he noticed the bandage around her ankle, half-unraveled.

The sweet, comforting scent of Tae In—mingled with a faint trace of alcohol—brushed past his nose.

Perhaps having used up her last ounce of strength, Tae In fell asleep right there in his arms.

Seo Tae In—what am I ever going to do with you?

Nok Hyeon picked her up. Every time he held her, he was surprised anew.

Had she always been this light? Her thin, frail frame and visible bruises still made his brows furrow.

He laid Tae In down in the bedroom and covered her with a blanket.

He stared blankly at her sleeping face, her lips slightly parted.

Her tousled brown hair reminded him of a puppy.

Nok Hyeon gently brushed a stray lock from her forehead—and at that moment, Tae In’s hand slapped his away.

Her half-open eyes stared directly at him, then scrunched up in displeasure.

“What are you doing here…?”

Her expression was cold—unrecognizable as the Tae In he knew.

Though her speech was slightly slurred from alcohol, her sharp tone was exactly as he remembered before her memory loss.

Could it be her memory had returned? Or had alcohol triggered some hidden personality?

“You look as if your memory’s come back.”

“Memory? What on earth are you talking about…?”

Tae In pressed her throbbing temples and sat up.

Was she truly suffering memory loss? Was she acting? Or had it all been an act?

There was only one way to find out.

Nok Hyeon leaned forward, bringing his face close to hers.

Her unfocused eyes turned toward him.

And then he pressed his lips to hers.