Dong Hoon politely bowed.

Even though she was standing right behind him, the gazes of Hyekyung and her daughter were focused solely on Dong Hoon.

Su Yeon, who was standing far away, nodded her head slightly.

Only then did Hyekyung’s voice reach her.

“Oh, Su Yeon is here too.”

It was a significantly more monotonous tone compared to when welcoming Dong Hoon.

But even that had to be appreciated.

If it weren’t for Dong Hoon, she wouldn’t have heard even this level of voice.

“Come on in. Aren’t you hungry? Dinner is already prepared.”

“Yes. But I’d like to wash my hands. Is there a bathroom…?”

“Oh, the bathroom. The first-floor bathroom was cleaned not long ago, so it smells a lot like detergent. Would you like to go to the second-floor bathroom? Sujin, show Dong Hoon to the second-floor bathroom.”

“Yes, Mom. This way, Oppa.”

Sujin directed Dong Hoon towards the stairs with a composed face.

Dong Hoon looked uncomfortable, but silently followed behind Sujin.

The two of them soon disappeared completely from view.

At that moment, Hyekyung looked at Su Yeon with completely different eyes.

“I’ve been wanting to see you.”

It was a short sentence, but Su Yeon felt her whole body stiffening.

She watched Hyekyung’s back leading the way.

The direction she stepped in seemed unusual.

At the familiar entrance of the hallway, Hyekyung suddenly turned around.

With lips adorned with a bitter smile, she spoke sharply but with a subtle laughter in her voice.

“Don’t you hear Mom calling?”

It was a voice that held a sharp edge but also carried a hidden sense of amusement.

A voice she couldn’t forget, even if she tried to forget.

Su Yeon had to shatter into pieces again in front of that voice.

Unable to conceal her anxiety, she followed Hyekyung.

The place they arrived at, following Hyekyung, was in front of the attic at the far end of the corridor.

Since she first came to this house at the age of four, it had been 25 more years in this house, yet, from the solidly closed door, one could find no traces of time.

There was no difference from the appearance of the door she had first seen at the age of fourteen.

Just that made Su Yeon feel like she was back in her terrifying teens.

A stuffy attic without windows, always emitting a musty smell due to the lack of ventilation.
On the day when I was beaten to the point of almost dying in that room, I had to feel the sensation of my body being soaked in humid and damp air.

But at this moment, that feeling from that time began to emerge from my toes, spreading slowly.

My breathing became rapid.

Even though Hyekyung didn’t physically assault me like back then, my entire body ached.

“Su Yeon. Are you unhappy about coming home?”

“…Oh, no.”

“But why is your expression like that?”

“…”

“Your expression is like you were dragged here against your will, like a child forced to come to an undesirable place. Why is your expression like that? I’m asking, Mom.”

Hyekyung relentlessly pressed on with her unchanged, sharp yet gentle voice.

Su Yeon couldn’t respond. She felt suffocated.

She had to say something, anything.

She had to say something before Hyekyung got angrier.

But her panic-stricken mind couldn’t manage even the minimum response.

It was when tears welled up in her eyes, filled with fear.

Suddenly, unbearable pain surged.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Anyway, In Ho, you really went through a lot during this time!”

“Director, do you know how many times you’ve said that? I started the call as soon as I got on the expressway, and I’m already home. Don’t you know?”

“Has it been that long already?”

“Why does your talk get longer as you get older?”

In Ho complained discontentedly while looking at the elevator indicator showing the increasing floor number.

“Thank you for your hard work this time, In Ma. It’s because I know you’ve been through a lot.”

“Is it really like that, or is it just that you always talk too much?”

“All right, In Ma. You just need to hang up if you want to end the conversation! Visit the company soon. Let’s have a meal together.”

“Got it. But haven’t I finished most of my schedule by now?”

“Yeah. The only thing left is the schedule related to the movie, so you can take a good break for a while.”

As the voice came from the other end of the phone, the elevator stopped.

In Ho hurriedly stepped out and replied.

“All right. I’ll call you later since I’m in front of my house.”

“Okay, got it. Take a good rest.”

“Yep.”

Only after finishing the call did he press the door lock code.

As the lock mechanism released and the front door opened, he let out a deep sigh.

A bright smile bloomed on his face unexpectedly.

“Su Yeon.”

He affectionately called that name that had become a habit now.

But there was no response.

Recalling an unpleasant situation he had experienced before, In Ho wandered around Su Yeon’s deserted house.

“Hmm, she didn’t seem to be in a good mood for some reason.”

In Ho furrowed his brows.

It seemed that Su Yeon had been summoned again by her adoptive parents.

He urgently made a phone call.

Once again, Su Yeon’s voice didn’t reach him.

Now more certain, In Ho bit his lower lip.

He felt restless. Thinking about how Su Yeon had lived for a while after meeting Hyekyung last time made him more anxious.
“For some reason, it feels like I’ve been summoned to my family’s house. Should I go and check? But, on the off chance she’s not there? It might seem needlessly suspicious, and Su Yeon might end up in a difficult situation later. Due to an uncertain intuition, In Ho couldn’t make up his mind. In his mind, the item he had left in the dressing room kept coming up. After contemplating for a moment, In Ho moved his legs as if he were possessed. The thing he brought out in his hand was a scented candle. In Ho silently stared at the scented candle. Although he knew there was a way to return to his original self, he hesitated. Once faced with changing his body with his own hands, complex emotions surged. ‘No, Seo In Ho. Snap out of it. First, I have to save Su Yeon.’ In Ho, shaking his head vigorously, soon held a candle lighter. Then, without hesitation, he set it on fire.”
The fire caught on the wick, and the scented candle began to burn.

A familiar fragrance stimulated the tip of the nose.

In Ho took a deep breath. Then he closed his eyes tightly.

As if waiting, a heavy pain found its way.

In the moment of taking a deep breath, a dizzying shock followed.

When he opened his eyes again, as expected, Hye Kyung was there.

In Ho let out a sigh.