“Even I, who had never been involved in student movements, could tell at a glance. Congressman Chae, did it look like a push of love in your eyes?”

But that wasn’t the end. Miyeon’s shocking revelation was just the beginning.

“One day, my sister said that. She coincidentally met a man in front of Myeongdong Cathedral and fell in love with him at first sight. Later, I found out that the man’s name was ‘Chae Hyeong-sik.’ Oh, looking at your expression, it seems you don’t even remember meeting my sister in front of Myeongdong Cathedral for the first time.”

“Myeongdong Cathedral?”

It was a day in the past when the country’s demonstrations were in full swing.

At that time, Chae Hyeong-sik, who was a judicial trainee, discovered a student bleeding near Myeongdong Cathedral, which had turned into a battlefield due to oppressive suppression. He briefly stopped the bleeding with a handkerchief because he couldn’t just pass by and left.

“That student… was it Soyeon?”

“Yes. And we met again a few years later, but you didn’t recognize my sister at all. She had a hard time knowing that the man she fell in love with at first sight was a ruthless prosecutor. She said it was tough to love a man who was the opposite of her beliefs.”

But Soyeon couldn’t push him away, cold and indifferent as he was. It was not a marriage for the sake of her father’s name, but a marriage she wanted.

“Soyeon… never once, not once, told me that she loved me.”

“Well, have you ever said that you love my sister?”

“That’s…”

“Even if she didn’t say she loved you, she expressed it enough through her actions. But you treated her coldly and indifferently. How can you say you love such a husband?”

“Expressed it through actions?”

“Wow, unbelievable. It was written all over her face, and you didn’t know that?”

Unable to understand Miyeon’s words, Congressman Chae continued to fail to comprehend. Miyeon, as if frustrated, thumped her chest with her fist.

“Fine, let me give you an example. My sister used to make shrimp tempura because she knew you liked it. She would buy fresh shrimp that jumps, peel them herself with her own hands. Our sister, who found the shells disgusting in her maiden days, never touched shrimp without shells. She did it for Jung Taehyuk…”

“No, Congressman.”

Yuri, who had been listening, quickly intervened.

“Representative Jung Taehyuk, you can’t eat shrimp because you have a crustacean allergy.”

Even though Congressman Chae still couldn’t believe it, with an expression that indicated disbelief, Miyeon quickly chimed in.

“That’s right, Father.”

She continued, “Representative Jung Taehyuk, you can’t eat shrimp because of your allergy.”

Despite that, when Congressman Chae continued to show an expression of disbelief, Miyeon sighed loudly and took out a handkerchief from her bag.

“This is the handkerchief you left with my sister in front of Myeongdong Cathedral that day.”

The old handkerchief, worn out from time, still had faint traces of blood.

“Like a fool, my sister kept this until the moment she died. She must have clung to it in her hands. After rigor mortis was released, she opened her hands and found this. She kept it because she was afraid to give it to you; I’ve kept it until now… I hate it now. It feels disgusting.” With forced efforts, Miyeon handed the handkerchief to Congressman Chae and continued speaking.
“Whether you discard it or not, it’s up to you. The same goes for the video. Whether you want to cover up the scandal of an illegitimate child by making your deceased wife into a mistress, do as you please, you trash!”

After finishing her words, Miyeon opened the front door and walked outside. Congressman Chae tightly clenched the handkerchief left behind by Miyeon, firmly sealing his lips.

Yuri, too, couldn’t say anything.

The fact that their deceased mother had predicted and prepared for everything was astonishing. The fact that there was no relationship with Congressman Jung Taehyuk, the shock that she genuinely loved her father from the beginning – all of these were overwhelming.

For a moment, she resented herself for suspecting her mother even for a moment based on Congressman Chae’s words.

Congressman Chae, who had been standing still for a while, sank onto the sofa as if collapsing. With the handkerchief clenched in both hands, he covered his mouth.

“Father.”

Yuri cautiously placed her hand on Congressman Chae’s trembling shoulders.

“… I’m fine.”

“Should I call Assistant Kim to come in?”

“Yeah… do that.”

The incident happened right after that. As Yuri went to call Assistant Kim, who was standing by the front door, there was a dull thud from behind. When she turned around, Congressman Chae was lying pale on the living room floor.

“Father!”

Since he had never collapsed before, Yuri was bewildered.

With a scream-like sound, Assistant Kim and the bodyguards outside rushed in. Checking Congressman Chae’s condition, Assistant Kim quickly wrapped his arm around him.

“It seems like we need to take him to the hospital.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Yuri followed Assistant Kim without even grabbing her coat.

“He should wake up soon.”

Fortunately, the doctor said there was nothing major except for slightly higher blood pressure than usual. Yuri, who had anxiously waited for the test results, could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Assistant Kim went to the National Assembly office for urgent matters, and Yuri stayed in the hospital room.

Motionless, with his eyes closed, Congressman Chae made Yuri recall what her aunt Miyeon had said.

“Even if she didn’t say she loved you, she expressed it enough through her actions.”

Looking back, her mother Soyeon had expressed her love in her own way. Although she didn’t say the words, it was clear even to young Yuri.

But Congressman Chae couldn’t grasp his wife’s expressions of love.

Was the emotional barrier so thick? Yuri wondered if she had looked at her father with distrust, just like Congressman Chae looked at her mother.

As Congressman Chae had never asked Soyeon about Jung Taehyuk, she had never asked him about another man. She should have asked, who is it that you whisper ‘I love you’ to?

Instead of asking, she had only fueled suspicions. It was a misguided start, but if they had sincerely tried, they could have corrected their relationship.

“… Mr. Jeho.”
Yuri muttered to herself and looked at her wristwatch.

“Don’t turn the wristwatch back; could you keep it as it is? You don’t have to ask me to wear it. Just keep it with you.”

Perhaps what she wanted him to keep wasn’t just the wristwatch but the memories they shared? Remember, don’t forget…

Because I love you… Because I love you so much…

But she had tried to forget him.

No, no.

Yuri, who had been silently caressing the wristwatch, shouted loudly to herself.

How could you? How could you forget him?

It was foolish to think she could forget him, almost pathetic.

Now, she had to stop hiding her true feelings.

It was time to open the door to her heart.

She couldn’t repeat the same mistake her parents had made.

With determination, Yuri stood up abruptly.

Although there was no shame in asking him to spare her, she still clearly stated that she would wait. There would be a chance to correct the mistake.