After dropping off Yuri, Jeho realized that she had left her cell phone in the car a short while later. She had forgotten to take it with her after charging it with the cable plugged in. Jeho turned the car around and headed back to Representative Chae’s house.

[Who is it?]

When he rang the doorbell, Yuri’s face appeared on the screen.

He remembered seeing Yuri a long time ago when she was a high school student. Except for her chubby cheeks becoming slimmer, she hadn’t changed much and he could recognize her at a glance. Yuri seemed to recognize him too. When he asked for Yuri, she naturally opened the door.

Entering the foyer, Jeho handed Yuri’s cell phone to her.

“You just need to give this phone to your elder sister.”

“Don’t do that, come in and give it to her directly.”

For some reason, Yuri invited Jeho inside.

“Elder sister is in the study right now. Follow me.”

Taking the lead, Yuri spoke as she walked. For some reason, it seemed like she was in a hurry. As they got closer to the study, Representative Chae’s shouts could be heard.

“What?”

Just as Yuri was about to knock, with a loud smacking sound, they heard someone fall to the floor.

“Where did you learn such bad manners? When you were out playing with some man…”

Representative Chae’s loud, angry voice followed. With an ominous feeling, Jeho opened the door and rushed inside. It was as he expected. Yuri was lying on the floor, covering her cheek with one hand, and Representative Chae had his hand raised high.

The moment Representative Chae tried to hit Yuri again, Jeho swiftly grabbed his arm.

“I’m that ‘some man’.”

Representative Chae looked at Jeho, who had suddenly appeared, with shocked eyes.

“You, what are you doing here?”

“What are you doing, Representative? Do you usually hit people like this?”

“You stay out of this. This is our family matter.”

“No. I think I’m the ‘some man’ you mentioned, so I can’t stay out of it.”

For some reason, Representative Chae had an expression indicating he knew the man in the photo was Jeho. Rather than surprise, he had a perplexed look as he tried to pull his arm out of Jeho’s grip by twisting his body. However, the firmly held arm did not easily come loose.

The man who had been roaring like a fearsome tiger was reduced to a toothless old tiger in front of Jeho. There was a heaven and earth difference in their physiques. Representative Chae struggled against Jeho with a reddened face, while Jeho calmly and lightly restrained him with a composed expression.

At that moment, Yuri, who had fallen to the floor, slowly got up. Only then did Jeho release Representative Chae and approach Yuri.

“Are you okay?”

Jeho carefully helped Yuri up, supporting her as if embracing her. Leaning against Jeho, Yuri nodded. Her reddened cheek was gradually swelling up.

Just how hard did he hit her…? Jeho had to take a deep breath to hold back his surging anger.

“Let’s go.”

He carefully put his arm around Yuri’s shoulder and took a step. Representative Chae, who had been watching with dissatisfied eyes, spoke to Jeho.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something… You’re no longer Yuri’s fiancé. Her fiancé is Director Kwon Minwoo.”

“I know.”

Stopping, Jeho turned his head towards Representative Chae and smiled coldly.

“That’s the case for now.”

Representative Chae didn’t argue. Instead, he gave a brief explanation of the situation.

“Yesterday, you campaigned in Geoje, so naturally someone would have recognized Yuri. They would have seen her entering the resort with you. Fortunately, the person who took the photo was a family member of a party member, so the rumors were contained before spreading.”

“But did you apologize first?”

“Apologize?”

Representative Chae frowned, not understanding Jeho’s words.

“I mean for leaving Yuri without an outer jacket or bag, with only a cell phone.”

“Is that place the end of the world or something? Why can’t she come back alone? In a world where you only need a cell phone.”

If Representative Chae hadn’t been an elder, if he hadn’t been Yuri’s father, Jeho would have punched him in his arrogant face. But he didn’t want to make the situation more complicated.

“I see. So it’s a world where you only need a cell phone.”

Sneering, Jeho repeated Representative Chae’s words verbatim as he supported Yuri and left the study.

Yuri, who couldn’t enter the study and was peeking outside, covered her mouth with her hand in surprise upon seeing Yuri’s red, swollen face. Then, with a frightened expression, she disappeared somewhere.

“Does he do that to Yuri too?”

“…No.”

Yuri replied in a cracked voice. After a brief hesitation, she continued.

“Yuri has a weak body…”

Jeho looked at Yuri with incredulous eyes. Even though her body was much more delicate than Yuri’s.

“Was this the first time you were hit?”

When there was no answer, Jeho abruptly stopped walking. As if he wouldn’t move a single step unless she answered, Yuri reluctantly replied.

“…It doesn’t happen often.”

The first time she was hit by Representative Chae was after she found out about his affair with Mrs. Ahn. She thought he would apologize, but he got angry and told her not to interfere in adult matters. Mrs. Ahn, who was fidgeting next to him, tried to stop him, and Yuri, who had lost her reason at the time, shouted, “Stay out of this, Ahjumma!”

The next thing she remembered was being slapped by Representative Chae and falling to the floor like today. After that, similar incidents happened a few more times.

When she ran away from home recklessly, she was forcibly brought back home in less than a week and beaten by her father. That time, she was beaten so severely that she couldn’t go out for a while. It happened to be during the three months when Yuri was away studying abroad. Representative Chae never laid a hand on Yuri. He didn’t even playfully flick her forehead.

However, Yuri actually felt more at ease being hit. It was better than being treated as if she didn’t exist despite being family.

Jeho let out a long sigh and started walking again. As they opened the front gate and came outside, Yuri ran out, opening the front door.

“Wait a moment!”

Yuri had Yuri’s jacket and bag in her hands.

“Elder sister, take these with you. The assistant brought them yesterday.”

She must have felt bad about Yuri being chased out empty-handed.

“Thanks.”

Yuri looked at Yuri’s red, swollen cheek with a distressed expression. She had noticed that Representative Chae hit Yuri, but today was the first time she witnessed it.

“I’m sorry, elder sister. I should have made an excuse that you called me last night. Just in case.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s fine.”

Yuri glanced sideways at Jeho and bowed her head.

“Please take good care of my elder sister.”

Then she disappeared back into the house.

It wasn’t a coincidence that Yuri invited Jeho into the house. She had sensed something strange and pulled him inside. Because there was no one in the family who could stop Representative Chae. Fortunately, her prediction was correct. Jeho’s appearance had helped them avoid a dangerous moment.

“Let’s go somewhere first. Do you want some coffee?”

Yuri quietly shook her head. Although she didn’t show it, she could taste the salty blood in her mouth. She must have cut the inside of her mouth when she was hit earlier. Forget hot coffee, she didn’t think she could even drink water.

“Can we just… go somewhere far away from home?”

Jeho silently nodded and opened the passenger door for her.

[Timeline separator]

“Damn it… Ah, this freaking bastard!”

Minwoo, who had to go to work even on the weekend, roughly opened the door and entered the office.

“Why, did the errand not go well?”

Department Head Jin quickly approached and asked.

“Seriously, damn it…! Do I have to deal with those little bastards one by one?”

“I apologize. President Park said he would directly visit the chairman.”

“What, the chairman?”

Minwoo’s expression twisted into a scowl as he looked at Department Head Jin.

“No, has this bastard completely lost his mind? Where does he think he’s going!”

Now he’s even threatening me! Does he think I’m that easy?

“This won’t do. Contact Prosecutor Cha.”

“You mean Prosecutor Cha…”

“Yeah, that crazy bastard prosecutor. The one who pounces with fiery eyes when it comes to gangsters.”

“Ah, yes.”

Department Head Jin quickly left the office, and Minwoo sat down in his chair with a thud, loosening his tie.

At times like this when he felt awful, he needed to hear Yuri’s voice. Only she could lift his mood. However, as Minwoo was about to call Yuri, he changed his mind.

After meeting last weekend, there had been no contact from Yuri. She still seemed upset about the photo incident. Yuri’s anger subsided on its own when left alone, and she sorted out the situation by herself. So if he contacted her first and she responded unpleasantly, it would be a big problem.

As a second choice, Minwoo was about to contact Assistant Manager Shin, but he paused for a moment. Constantly dealing with the same woman was starting to get boring. Of course, Assistant Manager Shin was quite useful. Still, as he kept seeing her, he was gradually losing interest.

The only woman who never got tiring no matter how much he saw her, and his affection grew each time, was Yuri. To him, Yuri was his one and only match made in heaven.

Just wait until we get married. I’ll keep you in my pocket.

“Ah, Yuri, I miss you.”

Staring intently at Yuri’s photo on his phone, Minwoo pressed his lips tightly.

Hoping she would get over her anger as soon as possible, anticipating the day he would make her completely his…

[Timeline separator]

Jeho didn’t say a word during the drive. He gripped the steering wheel and silently looked straight ahead. Yuri was grateful for that. If he had said a single word, she might have burst into tears. She didn’t want to cry out loud in front of him.

Turning her gaze to the quickly passing scenery outside the window, the phone in her hand started ringing. It was a call from Mrs. Ahn. She was about to turn it off, but quietly pressed the answer button. She probably needed to talk to her at least once.

“Yes.”

[Are you okay?]

“Yes.”

Holding back the sarcastic response of ‘How could I be okay?’, she answered briefly.

[Your father was very worried last night when you said you’d be late. And then he received the photo…]

She also held back the words ‘So you mean this is all my fault?’ that were about to come out. It would be pointless anyway.

[Stay at Hyunkyung’s place for a few days until your father calms down. I’ll try to persuade him well during that time.]

“I will.”

She couldn’t tell what Mrs. Ahn was trying to persuade him about, but Yuri gave a rough answer and hung up the phone. It was confusing whether Mrs. Ahn was an ally or an enemy, or if she was playing good cop, bad cop. One thing was certain, she couldn’t fully trust her.

The car that had been driving through the city took the highway and headed to a secluded suburb. After driving for a long time, the car’s speed gradually slowed down and stopped in front of a large gate. When Jeho entered the passcode, the gate opened, revealing an unpaved road ahead.

The end of the road led to a hill overlooking the Han River. Jeho stopped the car, turned off the engine, and turned his head towards the passenger seat.

“This is private property, so you don’t need to worry about other people’s eyes.”

He must have seen the scattered photos on the floor when he was supporting her.

“If that’s the case, that’s a relief… Ah.”

Yuri, who was smiling bitterly, groaned softly with a frown. When she pulled her lips, her swollen cheek throbbed. Jeho’s eyes twisted fiercely for a moment. But with his hand, he very carefully cupped Yuri’s cheek as if touching a fragile glass doll.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Tears welled up at the warm sensation of his hand barely touching her cheek. It felt like he was genuinely worried, and an uncontrollable sadness surged through her. But she didn’t want to cry right now. Yuri bit her trembling lower lip as if chewing on it.

“You dummy.”

He smiled softly and whispered in a gentle voice.

“If you want to cry, then cry.”

“…I’m not a dummy.”

A thin, trembling voice flowed out from her barely opened lips.

“If you’re not a dummy, then what?”

Was it her imagination? His eyes seemed to redden.

Please don’t do this. Please don’t look at me with those eyes.

The large hand that had been on her cheek moved to Yuri’s head. He stroked the back of her head as if comforting a child, and brushed up the hair that had fallen down. His touch was so tender that Yuri felt like she was going crazy.

No, stop it. I don’t want to break down in front of you.

Despite holding back, tears soon welled up in the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision. Jeho leaned down and carefully kissed Yuri’s tear-filled eyes. Then he whispered softly.

“Yuri, don’t hold back.”

“…Hic …Sob.”

In the end, Yuri clung to him and burst into tears that she had been holding back.