“How was the gift I prepared? Did you like it? I had a hard time creating a result that could meet your expectations after spewing those words at you.”

At Hyekyung’s continued words, Su-yeon’s whole body stiffened.

Because you spat those words at me.

That phrase echoed persistently in her ears, resonating in her eardrums.

It seemed certain that something had happened during the time their bodies were swapped.

So, In-ho might have found out about the flaws she desperately wanted to hide…

While thinking about that, she couldn’t help but be concerned about it.

“When that video starts spreading everywhere and people start talking about it, it should be quite amusing.”

Su-yeon’s eyes, which had lingered at her feet the whole time, involuntarily lifted.

“That… What are you talking about…?”
“You saw it too, so you must know. Those two, it was quite intense, wasn’t it? Did you know? That your husband was meeting another woman behind your back?”

Hyekyung’s artificially composed voice scratched harshly and passed through Su-yeon’s ears.

Su-yeon trembled uncontrollably without even breathing.

It was an unexpected statement.

In-ho, having an affair.

Even if the face in the video was her own with In-ho’s face, she wouldn’t have believed it, even if it was the real In-ho.

The In-ho she knew was never that kind of man.

But that was only her perspective.

Suddenly, Hyekyung’s words began to take shape in her mind.

If the video spread everywhere, and In-ho’s name started circulating among people…

Su-yeon tightly closed her eyes.

Unspeakable fear and anxiety swelled uncontrollably.

‘It hasn’t happened yet. So, don’t be afraid. It’s okay. It’s okay, Choi Su-yeon.’

She repeated the mantra to calm her racing heart, but it had no effect.

Nevertheless, she tried.

To maintain composure.

To avoid falling into Hyekyung’s trap.

But in the end, she couldn’t do it.

In the face of In-ho’s affair, Su-yeon couldn’t react calmly in any way.

Instinctively, Su-yeon reached out her arms and desperately grabbed Hyekyung’s hand.

“Mom. That video, Mr. In-ho has nothing to do with Shin Yoo-ri. Mr. In-ho has no feelings for Shin Yoo-ri. Really. The video is wrong. It must be just someone who looks like Mr. In-ho, similar to Mr. In-ho, and Shin Yoo-ri…!”

“Oh, come on. That’s impossible. It’s a video directly from Shin Yoo-ri. Can there be someone who just looks like her?”

Su-yeon’s breath stopped.

Even the remaining focus in her eyes completely blurred, and silent tears fell.

In the end, it was all her fault.

She should have been more attentive and vigilant, especially considering the body she was in, but she let her guard down and pushed In-ho into a corner.

Su-yeon couldn’t forgive herself for such negligence.

Like a fish out of water, she shook her shoulders, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

She repeated that action countless times, but eventually.

Su-yeon got off the sofa and knelt in front of Hyekyung.

“…Mr. In-ho and Ms. Shin Yoo-ri, they’re not involved. It’s true. I know. Mr. In-ho is really not that kind of person. I know. So please, please, Mom…”

Su-yeon begged with her head bowed under Hyekyung’s feet.

Only then did Hyekyung smile satisfactorily and leaned against the back of the sofa.

“Don’t worry. I won’t spread it recklessly.”

The pretended mercy in her voice was repulsive.
However, Su-yeon didn’t reveal such feelings at all.

If by doing this, she could prevent the spread of the video, she was willing to do whatever it took. So, she hoped that Hyekyung would keep her word and refrain from reckless dissemination.

No matter how determined she was to discard it, both In-ho and TK had been significant supports to her at one point.

So, even if she used the video to blackmail her, she wouldn’t actually harm In-ho.

But Hyekyung had never kept Su-yeon’s trust.

This time was no different.

“How can this be a weapon I can freely wield? Of course, I may never wield it at all.”

“…….”

“Choi Su-yeon, if only you listened well to your mom.”

At that moment, Su-yeon exhaled a disappointed breath.

Instinctively, she tightly closed her eyes.

Tears that clung to her long, lowered eyelashes fell with a muffled sound.

If only she listened well to her mom.

That phrase felt like an iron chain tightening around her neck.

Once again, she started to create new wrinkles on her already bitten lower lip.

Her heart tightened, and an inexpressible pain followed.

It was embarrassing even to utter a word.

“If you’re talking about Su-jin’s marriage, I’ll go out every time you call me. I’ll also talk to Dong-hoon oppa and do my best to help them get married. I promise.”

She readily spoke words of agreement to deceive Eun-in, almost treating Dong-hoon as an accomplice.

Although the sound of values and morality she had accumulated for 29 years crumbled, she resisted, thinking of In-ho’s face.

To protect In-ho, she convinced herself that this was an unavoidable choice.

But it brought her no comfort.

In the end, a sob emanated from Su-yeon, and her entire body trembled.

Hyekyung, who had been watching this sight with pleasure, let out a sneer.

That alone signaled an unusual atmosphere.

Su-yeon slowly lifted her head, which had been pressed down.

“No. That’s not it, Su-yeon.”

With a clear laughter, Hyekyung responded.

Su-yeon stared at Hyekyung with tear-filled eyes, as if she couldn’t believe it.

There was no doubt that what Hyekyung desired was different.

To leave a flaw on In-ho, even to risk losing TK, she did it solely to gain Hankyung.

She thought about it several times, and yet, Su-yeon’s eyes filled with confusion clearly conveyed that her thoughts were entirely wrong.

In an instant, her mind became blank.

“Then……”

Su-yeon’s voice shook with confusion.

As Hyekyung, who had been watching her intently for a very long time, pulled herself up again and stretched out her arm.

Only the index finger reached close to Su-yeon’s face, and soon, the sharp fingernail touched the underside of Su-yeon’s jaw.

With a tingling pain, along with strangely twisted lips, unbelievable words escaped from Hyekyung’s mouth.