Only Bad for Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
The moment the elevator doors closed behind the lawyer, Eun Jo sank heavily onto the floor.
She folded the paper she’d already folded twice and held in her hand—[Debt Settlement Agreement]—once more in half, making it the size of a smartphone.
“…….”
Someone might have seen her gulping down cold water, sweat pouring down her face.
Eun Jo glanced around once again.
She hadn’t spotted any familiar faces while speaking with the lawyer. It was peak work hours, so neither the café nor the lobby had many people.
But even she couldn’t be sure if her eyes had been functioning properly.
The documents left on the table. The lawyer’s appearance practically screamed “I’m a lawyer,” as if the words were branded on his forehead.
She probably just looked like a desperate debtor backed into a corner.
It was a scene she definitely didn’t need her coworkers to witness.
In hindsight, his initial suggestion to move seats must have been professional advice.
How could she have known? She’d never been through anything like this before.
“Phew….”
From the police station to the lawyer’s office, every heart-stopping moment replayed in her mind one by one.
And Kwon Jae Ha. That man.
“How can you be like this….”
The moment she thought she’d explode with frustration, she realized she’d already pressed the call button.
The ringtone dragged on. Should I—hang up?
—Hello.
“Um… it’s me.”
—Yes, I know. Ms. Yoon Eun Jo.
She’d dialed the number brimming with resentment and anger, yet hearing his calm voice sent a chill down her spine.
—Did you call just to let me hear your breathing?
A soft chuckle came through the receiver.
“How can you do this? Why… send a lawyer? Do you really have to? Are you afraid I’ll run off with the money?”
—The three of us? Where to? Is that even possible?
He laughed again. She didn’t hear it, but she knew.
“Don’t laugh! How can you laugh after making me feel so embarrassed and flustered?”
—Which part?
“…….”
—Which part made you embarrassed?
“Well, obviously… it’s something between us, something deeply personal… there was no need to involve anyone else.”
—I felt embarrassed too.
“……?”
—The amount was just too small.
“…….”
He surely knew that right now, Yoon Eun Jo’s face was burning red, and her whole body was trembling.
—Eun Jo, I draw up contracts even with family. Granted, I’ve never dealt with such a tiny amount before.
“…….”
—Shall I come see you now? I’ll head over.
Huh? Right now? Eun Jo swallowed hard.
What was this situation… why did his voice suddenly sound so smooth, so slick?
“No! I’m not as free as some people. I have work.”
—Then let’s meet after you get off work.
“I’m… busy until the weekend. My work’s piled up.”
—Then call me whenever. Just like now.
Wait… what was the point of this call again? Eun Jo wiped her hand, which had been fiddling with an empty glass, against her skirt.
—I just thought of a place I’d like to visit.
“Did it sound like I just asked you out on a date?”
—Did I say I wanted to go somewhere on a date?
“…….”
—We’re not meeting in the middle of the street. Unless you’d rather see me at your place.
“Fine, I’ll call you again. I need to… sort out my thoughts.”
—What thoughts?
His tone implied there was no reason left to hesitate.
“Since it’s a contract anyway, I should clarify my position and handle it properly too!”
—Right. Then sort it out well.
“…….”
—Call me. Whenever you’re free, just like now.
.
.
“Hah! Do you really think I called because I was ‘free’?!”
Choosing the stairs over the elevator, Eun Jo shivered, remembering the creditor’s infuriatingly relaxed and composed demeanor.
How dare he think about places he wanted to go while tightening someone else’s noose?
Suddenly stopping mid-step and catching her breath, Eun Jo thought:
She didn’t know where that place was.
But she was certain it wouldn’t be any different from sending a lawyer today.
Enjoying himself by cornering Yoon Eun Jo.
Why? Why do you have to do this to me?
Why should the anger and resentment all belong to you?
★★★
“Come in, sweetheart.”
“Mom!”
The moment she opened the front door, a refreshing voice greeted her.
Pushed around all day, Eun Jo finally stepped into her sanctuary and let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s almost ten—what are you eating…? Go wash your hands first, Mom.”
Eun Jo lightly kissed Da On’s cheek as the child rushed over to hug her, then pulled away.
“It’s only 9:30. We had a very light dinner. And we’re going to finish this, right? Exactly two pieces each, and save the rest for tomorrow. Right, Da On?”
“Yep! Exactly two pieces!”
It was obvious the two had already made that agreement. As she took off her outerwear, Eun Jo shot Min Ah a look.
“Of course. No matter how many times I tell you not to feed the kid junk food late at night, you never listen.”
Ignoring her completely, Da On scampered back to the table with the plate, waving enthusiastically and flashing an adorable smile.
Because of that sweet face, Eun Jo’s stern expression softened.
Da On, more mature and cheerful than kids his age, always got showered with affection.
But because Eun Jo worked full-time, she often couldn’t care for him as attentively as she wanted.
Min Ah’s style was simple: if the child liked something, she instantly shouted “Okay!”
It was such an immature, irresponsible attitude. Eun Jo glared at Min Ah with raised eyebrows.
“Just so you know, tomorrow’s three meals are all doenjang jjigae.”
Min Ah nodded vigorously, pretending ignorance and cheerfully exaggerating.
“Doenjang jjigae? Great! I love it! Load it up with tofu and pumpkin and make a big pot. Da On and I will eat that for all three meals tomorrow.”
“You wicked girl—” Eun Jo rolled her eyes and sank onto the sofa.
“It’s just a figure of speech. Why feed the kid the same thing when you’re home? And why don’t you ever cook yourself? Why are you always whining about missing my meals?”
“Your food tastes better, obviously. You know that. And please, sister, just one verse of nagging when there’s food in front of us—I’ll choke. It’s a rare midnight snack; don’t be so strict. Right, Da On?”
Da On, busy tearing into a chicken drumstick, nodded.
“It’s so unhealthy to eat right before bed. If you’re really hungry, have some fruit or…”
“Yeah, yeah—” Min Ah absentmindedly rummaged through the cardboard box and pulled out a small piece.
“Here, the wing! I really hope you’re not home all weekend, sis. Please! It’s your favorite part.”
“Forget it! I’m not interested.”
As always, whenever the three of them gathered, the small apartment buzzed with noise—bickering, laughter, and drama.
After meticulously stripping every bit of meat off his chicken leg, Da On quickly yanked off his plastic gloves and ran over to Eun Jo.
His tiny belly, round like an overturned bowl, showed he’d clearly eaten his fill.
“Yoon Da On, is that what a ‘two-piece’ belly looks like?”
The child shook his head and flashed four fingers with a bright smile.
“Sunshine, should I give you a kiss? Or will you kiss me?”
“Ah—um, sure? But Da On, our puppy’s lips—uhh—”
Before she could stop him, the child lunged into her arms and left a red mark on her pale cheek.
Mwah mwah mwah—after his tiny lips passed over, she tasted sweet, savory seasoning.
“I love you, Sunshine.”
“I love my puppy too—but no more chicken for a while.”
Eun Jo teased and slid both hands under Da On’s armpits, wiggling her fingers wildly.
“Kahahaha! Mommy—help me—kahahaha!” The child writhed, laughing until he couldn’t breathe.
Even without moving her hands, just holding him, Da On rolled around on her lap.
His laughter effortlessly erased the exhaustion of her difficult day.
Eun Jo laughed happily too.
★★★
For several days, Jae Ha kept checking his phone constantly.
[Yoon Eun Jo]It was a strange new habit that started the moment he saw her name on the screen.
Most important calls came through Secretary Kang, and few people knew his personal number.
He wasn’t the type to enjoy chatting on the phone, and even his close contacts usually went through Secretary Kang for serious matters.
“…….”
The first time he saw that name pop up on his phone screen, he’d been seized by a strange feeling.
For a fleeting instant, he lost awareness of time and place—like he was standing in the middle of a dream.
Now, alone in his office after everyone had left, Kwon Jae Ha was again fiddling with his phone.
There’d been no call since that day.
But yesterday, Jae Ha visited his new apartment and found a small velvet box tucked away in the corner of the dressing room’s accessory display.
A ring.
A simple platinum band from a high-end brand, set with a top-quality diamond.
At that moment during their call, Jae Ha had been gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window at the long stretch of the Han River below.
Why did wintry New York and the Hudson River come to mind then…? Who knows.
Perhaps because every neuron in his brain now spun cleverly only toward making her uncomfortable.
“…….”
Slowly opening his desk drawer, Jae Ha took out a red velvet box.
He’d given it to Yoon Eun Jo once—and gotten it back.
A ring that had lingered by his side like a cursed shackle for six years.
He’d asked himself countless times: why couldn’t he just throw it away?
Where else could he possibly dump it? In the end, hadn’t he dragged it back home, lugging it like excess baggage?
Ha. Jae Ha let out a hollow laugh and stared at his reflection in the dark window.
That dawn when he’d held her in his dream.
The moment he realized he was alone in bed, his feverishly warm skin turned icy cold.
It felt as if someone were squeezing his heart—breathing became impossible.
He pulled back the curtains and opened the window; a blade-like wind cut through his blocked airway.
New York’s dawn, usually blue, was now entirely white with falling snow.
What on earth had he been thinking? Or had he even been thinking at all?
Still in his pajamas, Kwon Jae Ha threw on a coat, slipped the ring into his pocket,
and walked like a madman through the snow-filled streets at dawn—without a scarf.
Clutching the ring tightly in his coat pocket, he walked seven blocks straight to the Hudson River promenade.
Though the snowstorm had quieted by then, he still couldn’t bring himself to throw the ring away.
And now it’s still… right before his eyes.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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