If she had honestly revealed her circumstances that were not okay, perhaps happiness would have come to them earlier.

Although the nights spent regretting it with tears were countless, now it was different.

She was no longer entangled in those thoughts.

The time stained by mistakes was nothing more than the past.

The man who endured all the hardships and misfortunes to give me a new life was vividly in front of my eyes.

But how could I still cling to the past after receiving such a precious gift?

Suyeon hesitated for a moment, then parted her lips.

“I’m sorry. I thought saying I’m fine was making it easier for Inho.”

“…….”
“But now I know. I was wrong. The things I did to make Inho feel less burdened ended up hurting him…,” Suyeon trailed off with a moist voice.

Watching her quietly, Inho took a deep breath and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I didn’t say that to hear an apology, silly.”

Along the hand that swept her back, a warm breath poured over her entire body.

It gently stabbed Suyeon’s heart.

“There were always enough scented candles to change my mood whenever needed. As you know, we can’t do that now because we’ve run out.”

“……. ”

“That means, if you deliberately act like you’re okay, I’ll have no choice but to fall for it like a fool again.”

Whether he was reminiscing about the past or explaining calmly, his voice seemed to be mixed with a hint of fear.

Once again, it painfully struck Suyeon’s heart.

“So, pretending to be okay like you said isn’t for my sake. Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“…Yes, I won’t.”

“Whatever you say, never forget that I’m always on your side.”

Always on my side.

The words I wished for my whole life flowed through in the voice of the man I loved the most.

Suyeon couldn’t hold back the tears.

Biting her lower lip tightly, she nodded her head against him.

Inho’s touch was so vivid at his fingertips, but perhaps due to the overwhelming emotion, the awareness of reality didn’t come.

But Suyeon believed now.

Because it was Inho who said those words.

The Inho who said those words was the only and unique love in Choi Suyeon’s life.

“I love you, Inho.”

Suyeon gathered all the emotions inside her and expressed them generously.

Then, a pleasant laughter accompanied by a joyful resonance reached her ears.

“I love you more.”

His mouth curved irresistibly, and a dazzlingly beautiful smile blossomed.

It was perfect happiness.

Together with Inho, Suyeon headed not to their newlywed home but to Seoul Detention Center.

In her hand was a brown envelope.

Inside the envelope were the documents she had asked Inho to bring.

Suyeon discovered the Seoul Detention Center in the distance and subtly took a tense breath.

“Why that woman? Why bother. No.”

When Inho first mentioned wanting to meet Hyegyeong, he had immediately opposed with a stern expression.

“If it’s because of parole, you can go through the trial process. Inho, please don’t…”

“Do you think that woman will welcome you? She’s in a rotten state, spreading rumors as poison. Would seeing that ease your mind? No, absolutely not.”

Inho’s determined appearance, avoiding eye contact, didn’t look as formidable as it seemed.
“However, after a long persuasion, he ultimately respected my decision, and today it could happen.

Suyeon glanced at Inho’s face as he was driving. As they got closer to the prison, it seemed his facial muscles were stiffening. Even now, it was clear that meeting Hyegyeong wasn’t something he desired, but it seemed he was reluctantly accommodating my request.

Suyeon carefully held Inho’s hand on the gear. A gap formed between the warm fingers, and soon her fingers penetrated between his.

“If your thoughts have changed even now, speak up. I’ll turn the car around.”

Still, with his gaze fixed straight ahead, he spoke in a somewhat rigid voice. Instead of answering, Suyeon tightly grasped his hand. That alone was enough to convey that her thoughts hadn’t changed. A sigh escaped Inho’s lips. Though she felt sorry for making him uncomfortable, Suyeon didn’t yield. Perhaps this could be their last meeting, and she wanted it so badly.

Seoul Detention Center visiting room. Suyeon sat in the small space, looking at the door attached to the opposite space. It didn’t take long for the door to open, revealing Hyegyeong. Suyeon couldn’t take her eyes off Hyegyeong’s face in a veterinarian’s gown, and her gaze lingered on the handcuffs around her wrists. Sensing the gaze, Hyegyeong glared at Suyeon with a face that couldn’t hide her discomfort.

“How do I look? Does it feel refreshing to see me like this?”

“…”

“They say you don’t collect a black beast’s cub. And that saying is spot on. I just raised you, who was pitifully abandoned by your parents, but my appearance ended up like this.”

Hyegyeong raised her hand, which had been lowered, showing the handcuffs. Suyeon stared at the silver shackles for a moment before lowering her gaze to the brown envelope on her lap.

Inside the envelope was a parole application. Submitting an application agreed upon by both parties would allow them to proceed with parole without going through a trial. It was a clean and straightforward method compared to parole through a trial.

‘I wanted to resolve this issue amicably…’

Of course, she expected that Hyegyeong wouldn’t agree willingly, but it was something she sought with a bit of hope. However, as expected, Suyeon decisively tore apart the neatly placed brown envelope with an unfaltering touch. Then, with eyes full of determination, she stared straight at Hyegyeong.”
“The procedure for parole through a trial was a clean and simple method compared to what wouldn’t even be considered.

‘I wanted to resolve this issue amicably as much as possible…’

Of course, I expected that she wouldn’t agree willingly, but it was something I sought with a bit of hope.

However, as expected.

Suyeon decisively tore apart the neatly placed brown envelope with an unfaltering touch.

Then, with eyes full of determination, she stared straight at Hyegyeong.”