“Are you really going like this? Why don’t you stay and rest a bit more?”

“Lying down makes it hurt more. I just want to rest at home.”

Ignoring Jung Keun’s words to rest more, Seo Woo stubbornly insisted on being discharged.

Her body still felt weak and sluggish, but there was no reason to stay at the hospital any longer. She already knew that even if she remained hospitalized, Woo Jin would not come.

At most, he would just send Director Park to check on her condition. That’s how Woo Jin was gradually drifting away. Until now, it was a truth she didn’t want to acknowledge and had turned a blind eye to. But now it was a truth she could no longer ignore.

“Are you going straight home?”

“Yes.”

Jung Keun glanced at Seo Woo’s face in the rearview mirror, trying to gauge her mood. He had expected her to look for Woo Jin as soon as she woke up, but she hadn’t asked about him even once. That filled Jung Keun with an uneasy feeling.

“Executive Director Seo must be busy these days, right?”

As Seo Woo remained silent, Jung Keun felt like she was a ticking time bomb and spoke up about Woo Jin first. But she still maintained her silence.

“Let’s buy some porridge on the way home.”

“No. Just take me straight home.”

“Why? You should eat something…”

“I’ll order delivery if I want to eat. Right now I just want to lie down in bed and rest.”

Jung Keun nodded at Seo Woo’s words.

The car was silent for a while. But Seo Woo’s mind was noisier than ever, with many thoughts colliding.

She was displeased with Woo Jin’s changed behavior. Although he had married another woman, she had unquestioningly believed his love still belonged to her. Now tiny cracks were starting to form in her heart. And those cracks would soon create a massive black hole that would ultimately destroy her.

What should she do? She had to hold onto Woo Jin somehow.

After their parents passed away early, Seo Woo and Seo Jin grew up together in an orphanage. For Seo Woo, her twin brother Seo Jin was her only blood relative in the world.

They relied on each other so much. Sometimes they fought like enemies, but it was nothing more than typical sibling quarrels.

Her one and only brother. She lost that brother, who looked just like her, in an instant. The only one the desperate Seo Woo could depend on was Woo Jin, who had been very close to her dead twin brother. Moreover, their shared grief over losing the same person formed an inexplicable bond between them.

Seo Woo was able to overcome Seo Jin’s death because of Woo Jin, and Woo Jin because of Seo Woo. That’s why she had never once imagined a world without him.

So she had to get Woo Jin back.

And to get him back, she needed to become ruthless.

The overly nice Park Seo Woo could never win this game.

Until now, she had stayed within bounds, anxiously worrying about causing him any disadvantage. She had fought too honestly. But rather than losing Woo Jin without doing anything, she’d rather play a vicious game.

From now on, it would be dirty play.

* * *

After selecting wine from the cellar to drink with Woo Jin in the evening, Tae Eun entered the bedroom.

She had been meaning to call, feeling uneasy about how things ended with Hye Jin yesterday. But just as she picked up her phone, as if by telepathy, a call came in from Hye Jin.

“Hello.”

[It’s me. Did you get home okay yesterday? Are you feeling better?]

“Yes. I was just about to call you too. I felt bad about leaving like that yesterday.”

[Come on, there’s no need to feel bad between friends. I couldn’t even give you a ride home because of our Dong Woo.]

“No, it’s fine. I’m not a child. I got home safely. And I’m feeling much better.”

[That’s a relief. I was really worried.]

Tae Eun let out a soft laugh at Hye Jin’s concern. It feels truly good to have someone worry about her. At least it gives her the feeling that she’s not left alone in this vast world.

“Is Dong Woo doing well? Is he having fun? I already miss him. I keep thinking of his chubby cheeks.”

[Of course, he’s doing great. He’s taking a nap right now after eating. That’s why I’m able to call you. He’s the supreme master of our house, you know.]

A home with a child. What kind of atmosphere would such a home have?

[But I didn’t know you were so fond of children. Anyone watching yesterday would have thought you were Dong Woo’s mom, not me.]

“Kids… are lovely. All children are angels, aren’t they?”

[Haha… haha… Angels? More like demons in disguise.]

Tae Eun envied even this kind of complaint.

“But Dong Woo is really cute, right?”

[Do you even need to ask? Of course he’s cute. He’s my baby that I had such a hard time giving birth to. How could he not be cute?]

“You had… a hard time giving birth?”

Was it because Dong Woo was a big baby, making delivery difficult? But that wasn’t what Hye Jin meant.

[Oh, I guess I didn’t tell you. Actually… I did IVF, you know.]

Tae Eun’s eyes widened as she held the phone. This was the first time she had heard about Hye Jin trying IVF.

“I didn’t… know.”

[We tried for 2 years after getting married, but couldn’t get pregnant. When we went to the doctor, it turned out I had fertility issues. We couldn’t tell anyone and really suffered in silence. In the end, we decided to try IVF. We succeeded on the second attempt and that’s how we had Dong Woo.]

“…”

[Remember when I couldn’t contact you for a while? That’s why. IVF… it’s really hard on a woman, you know.]

“Is the success rate high?”

[Well, it’s different for everyone. But we’re still young to give up without even trying, right? So we decided to give it a shot, figuring we had nothing to lose.]

“But you succeeded and got Dong Woo.”

[That’s right. So how could Dong Woo not be cute? Even if he took after my husband and wasn’t as good-looking, he’d still be cute in my eyes. He’s the baby I had such a hard time having.]

Tae Eun nodded in agreement, though Hye Jin couldn’t see it. But then Hye Jin spoke urgently.

[Oh no, our house’s supreme master is already awake! Tae Eun, I’ll call you later!]

“Okay. Bye.”

The call ended. But strangely, her heart was pounding, making its presence known vividly.

IVF.

Why had she given up without even considering trying something like that? Was it because Woo Jin said he didn’t want children? No, she had just despaired in the face of compounded misfortunes.

But seeing Dong Woo this time, she realized how desperately she wanted a child.

Tae Eun looked down at her flat stomach. If she told Woo Jin she wanted to have a child, what kind of expression would he make?

The image of his face drawing a firm line whenever the topic of children came up flashed before her eyes, but strangely, Tae Eun wasn’t afraid of that Woo Jin at all. She just felt foolish for giving up without even trying, based on one doctor’s diagnosis.

But why should she be afraid of Woo Jin’s anger?

Even if he said no, she planned to try persuading him up to three times. In the long run, having a child would be the best way to maintain a peaceful marriage. Even if Woo Jin didn’t want a child, the women of the Jang Won family wouldn’t allow it.

But the most important thing in this situation was hope. Hope that it could happen. Until she confirmed that hope, Tae Eun planned to move quietly.

* * *

“Ms. Park Seo Woo finished her IV drip and was discharged this afternoon.”

Woo Jin nodded as he listened to Director Park’s report.

“What was she sick with?”

“They said it was indigestion.”

Again, he just nodded silently to end the conversation about Seo Woo. But he didn’t forget to commend Director Park for his hard work.

“Director Park, thank you for your efforts. In the middle of the night. It must not have been easy.”

“It’s nothing. It’s my job, after all.”

Director Park bowed his head firmly and left the office. Left alone, Woo Jin stared at his laptop monitor, lost in thought.

It’s a relief that Seo Woo wasn’t seriously ill. He could ease some of the burden on his mind.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Seeing the name on the screen, Woo Jin blinked slowly. It was a call from Tae Eun. A call, not a text. Most calls were Woo Jin’s responsibility. In fact, even texts were mostly one-sided from him.

After marriage, Tae Eun never called or texted about personal matters, as if she wasn’t curious about him all day. Of course, there were times when she initiated contact, but that was usually for a reason. For example, asking about his return time or confirming his schedule.

I’m dying of curiosity all day in that big house about what you’re eating and doing, so why aren’t you curious about me?

It was frustrating, but Woo Jin never asked Tae Eun the reason.

For Tae Eun to call now… could it be?

With a sudden thought, he hurriedly answered the phone.

“Yes? What is it? Did Aunt contact you by any chance?”

[Ah, no. It’s not that…]

Woo Jin was relieved by Tae Eun’s denial. As long as Young Ja hadn’t contacted her, it probably wasn’t anything too serious.

[I wanted to ask if you’re really leaving work on time today. I want to prepare wine and snacks.]

“Yes. I’ll be leaving on time today. But is that really why you called?”

Could there be another reason? For example, what I had for lunch today, how many cups of coffee I drank, how many meetings I had, and so on. There were countless things she could ask, but Tae Eun only asked about his leaving time. Woo Jin thought she was really undemanding.

But let’s not complain.

For the heir of the prestigious Jang Won family to whine to his wife about such trivial matters.

The very thought makes me look pathetic.

[Um, I also have something to say after we watch the movie…]

Huh? This was unexpected. Something to say after watching the movie? Can’t she say it before the movie? I’m curious.

“Okay. I’ll try to get home as early as possible.”

[Alright. I’ll be waiting.]

He was burning with curiosity about what she had to say, but he managed to maintain his composure as he ended the call.

There was an hour left until quitting time. Suddenly, he was looking forward to it. No, why stick to the exact quitting time? Should I leave a bit early? As he was considering this, his phone vibrated again.

Woo Jin checked the caller ID, thinking Tae Eun might be calling again, but his brow furrowed.

It wasn’t Tae Eun, but Seo Woo. Normally, he would have ignored the call, but given that she was sick yesterday, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

“Hello.”

[Oppa, it’s me.]

“Yes. Are you feeling better?”

[Yes. I’ve improved.]

Although she said she was better, there was clearly no vitality in Seo Woo’s voice. None of her usual cheerfulness was present.

“Take good care of yourself.”

[I will. But oppa, can we meet today?]

“I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s possible today.”

He answered with a stern expression, but Seo Woo didn’t give up.

[Then when can we meet? If you don’t want to come here, we can meet somewhere else.]

Faced with Seo Woo’s persistence, Woo Jin sensed that now was the most appropriate timing, rather than dragging things out any longer. So he painfully opened his mouth.

“It will be difficult to meet from now on. Have you forgotten? I’m married. I’m a married man. I told you to end this. These meaningless meetings, they’re just a waste of time now.”

[Meaningless… meetings?]

He could sense considerable shock in her trembling voice through the phone. But for Seo Woo, there was no other way than this shock therapy.

It would be difficult now, but things would gradually get better. After all, Park Seo Woo, Korea’s top actress, was that strong of a woman. But that was a misconception Woo Jin could have only because he hadn’t seen Seo Woo’s other side until now.

Everyone carries a devil in their heart.

[I wonder… if Min Tae Eun would think the same?]

“What are you talking about?”

To Woo Jin’s questioning voice, she replied coldly.

[Didn’t Min Tae Eun tell you? We met yesterday.]

Seo Woo had just unleashed the devil within her.