Every visible part of the face, as well as everywhere else, was marred with bloodstains and bruise marks, to the extent that no healthy spot could be found.

Suyeon sat on the bed and embraced Inho’s body.

Although she was cautious not to cause him more pain with her touch, she couldn’t help but shake him, fearing he might never wake up.

“Inho… Mr. Inho. Open your eyes. Please, open your eyes…!”

A frightened voice desperately sought him.

“I’m here, Mr. Inho. I’m here, but why, why…”

With each breath, a fearful cry continued to escape, making it so difficult to utter each word. Yet, it didn’t stop.

Worried that he might be wandering in a dream from which he couldn’t return, she whispered in his ear several times.

“I’m here. I really tried my best to come quickly. I’m so sorry, Mr. Inho. Because I was really wrong, please open your eyes. Okay?”

“…….”
“As late as it is, as much as you’ve suffered because of me, I want to hear words of resentment, so please, open your eyes quickly, please!”

Suyeon tried her best to convey earnestness as she sought to grab him wherever he might be.

However, no matter how much she whispered, Inho did not open his eyes.

It felt as if that meant he had embarked on an irreversible path of no return, causing her entire heart to crumble.

“I told you I would be waiting. I told you I would endure it well…! Please, open your eyes, Seo Inho…!!”

Unsuppressed emotions that Suyeon couldn’t hold back poured out.

Without wiping away her tears, she embraced him with all her might.

If only she could bring him back to her side, she held a desperate hope.

She cried for a long time.

At the end of it, an unbelievable sound pierced into Suyeon’s ears.

It was a faint whimper.

Suyeon’s body, which couldn’t stop the tears, stiffened in an instant, and her unfocused pupils slowly found sound.

And finally, her gaze stopped in a place.

“Ha… If someone sees… I… am… presumed dead…”

Inho was there.

He was spitting out words sporadically while wearing an unbelievable smile.

Suyeon’s lower lip trembled.

The tears that seemed to have stopped began to flow again, and, in a short time, all the emotions she had felt rushed out.

“I-Inho, Mr. Inho. Are you okay? Do you recognize me?”

“Of course, ha… you. I’m… okay.”

Inho, claiming to be okay in a state that was anything but okay, made Suyeon’s heart ache even more.

Suyeon cried even more bitterly.

Tears that had flowed down her cheeks gathered at the tip of her chin, and a droplet that couldn’t bear the weight fell onto Inho’s face.

At that moment, tears that had spread in a circle on his cheek began to emit an unbelievable light without flowing down.

The small circle of light gradually expanded, and soon it covered Inho and Suyeon’s bodies.

A brief three seconds.

In a warmth that couldn’t be expressed in words, the two, who had closed their eyes, simultaneously raised their eyelids as if fulfilling a promise.

“Huh…?”

A small sigh escaped Inho’s lips.

Although he hadn’t made any effort to change his position, Suyeon’s face, which had become a mess, appeared before his eyes.

The pain that was felt until just now had disappeared as if washed away.

Only now did they realize that they had returned to their original state.

Inho, who realized this, quickly embraced Suyeon.

“Suyeon! Are you okay? Are you okay?”

“Ha… fortunately… it’s…”

Slowly closing her eyes, Suyeon, who hadn’t even completed a short sentence, let her eyelids fall and weakly let the hand that had reached out to him fall.

“Suyeon! Suyeon!!”

Surprised, Inho shook Suyeon’s body, calling her name continuously, but Suyeon did not open her eyes.

“Officer! I’m here!!”

Recognizing the urgency in the desperate voice, the police, who had rushed over, shouted loudly towards the lower floor.

Soon, the paramedics waiting outside lifted Suyeon onto a stretcher.
Then he headed to the first floor with quick steps. Inho instinctively followed behind. However, just before leaving the house, a voice suddenly reached him, halting his steps.

“Ms. Han Hyekyung, you are under arrest for charges of kidnapping, assault, and coercion.”

“What, what are you saying? Kidnapping and assault? I was just taking care of my sick daughter…!”

Her voice carried an unfairness that was unjustifiable, even considering her excuses and complaints.

Angry eyes turned to Hyekyung. As indignant as her voice, the expression in her eyes was full of injustice. When Inho’s face, as cold as it was, met her eyes, the color drained from his face.

With the tension that rose to his neck, the muscles in his jaw swelled, and emotions that were hard to suppress kept rising.

Inho moved decisively towards Hyekyung. Disregarding the police trying to take her away, he stared fiercely at Hyekyung.

“It would be better to shut your mouth and exercise your right to remain silent. Everything you’re saying right now will be used against you in court.”

“Hey, husband. It seems like you’re misunderstanding something, I really…!”

“Misunderstanding? That’s ridiculous.”

Inho put on a sharp sneer.

Since it seemed like he knew the whole story of the incident, Hyekyung, in contemplation, had no choice but to tightly seal her lips.

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, you’ll find out when we go through the trial. So, straighten up and think about hiring a lawyer. It might be more helpful to your personal information.”

“…”

“You should choose carefully someone with skill. Otherwise, the only thing waiting for your future will be imprisonment.”

“…”

“Well, there may or may not be a lawyer willing to defend you. Let’s go.”

After Inho spat out everything he wanted to say, he retreated without any lingering attachments.

Then the police officers holding Hyekyung’s arms escorted her away.

As if anticipating a pitch-black future, Hyekyung reached out her arms toward Sujin.

“S-Sujin! Sujin! Say something! Sujin!!”

As if a lifeline, Hyekyung desperately clung to her.

But even that was blocked by Inho standing in front of her.

Hyekyung, caught by the police, quickly disappeared from view.

Only then did a rough exhale burst out from behind Inho.

He turned around to gaze at Sujin.

Waiting patiently until Sujin’s breathing stabilized, Inho approached her, speaking in a much warmer tone than when he faced Hyekyung.

“You’ll probably be summoned by the police soon as a witness. Considering Suyeon’s condition is so severe and if there is evidence, even a single room at the end of the hallway would be enough, so no matter what, you won’t be able to escape. You should think about how to handle it. Maybe they’ll demand you attend as a witness. If Suyeon’s condition is too serious and there is evidence, they might not need much more than a single room at the end of the hallway, and no matter what you try, you won’t be able to escape. The choice is up to your sister. Whether to tell exactly what happened in this house, you can do that if you want, or if you still have reservations as parents, you can speak as you wish.”

“…”
“Of course, no matter how your sister testifies, the outcome won’t change. I’m sorry, but I have no intention of being lenient toward either of you.”

Despite the calm explanation, Sujin still trembled and couldn’t meet Inho’s gaze.

It was quite uncomfortable, but Inho patted her shoulder a couple of times and quickly left the house.

He had to go see Suyeon right away.