“…What did you just say?”

Yuri quietly drew in a breath at the suddenly changed atmosphere. Jeho’s face looking at her contorted in bewilderment.

“I’ll leave now. I’ll go as quickly as possible.”

Jeho’s face was so serious as he hung up the phone that Yuri couldn’t ask what was wrong. He pulled her into his arms as she waited silently.

“I’m really sorry, but it looks like today won’t work. I have to return to the US right now. It’s an urgent matter.”

For some reason, he who had always been so strong was trembling faintly. But Yuri didn’t ask what was wrong. Though worried, waiting until he spoke first would be more helpful.

Yuri reached around and gently patted Jeho’s shoulders.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Are we still far?”

“We’re almost there.”

Finally, the foothills where the villa was located came into view in the distance. Not long after entering the private road, they could no longer proceed by car. The gate remained firmly locked, not budging at all.

“It looks like you’ll have to walk from here.”

Minwoo got out of the car cursing and started up the mountain path.

About 20 minutes of walking uphill? Just as he was getting out of breath, the villa came into view. But something seemed off. The villa with all its lights off was silent, with no sign of life.

“There’s no one inside.”

Secretary Nam reported after checking inside the building. With not a single car parked around, it seemed they had gone out somewhere.

“Let’s wait for now.”

Minwoo glared at the villa shrouded in darkness with smoldering eyes.

[This is the timeline separator]

The entire way back to Seoul, Jeho remained silent with a thoughtful expression. Yuri wanted to ask if he was alright, but his complexion looked so unwell that she couldn’t bring herself to. After dropping Yuri off at home, Jeho hurried to prepare to leave for the airport.

“I’ve set up fingerprint and facial recognition for the security system, so you can come and go anytime. Stay here if you want to.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

She waited for him to say how long he’d be in the US, but Jeho said nothing. He gently kissed Yuri’s forehead and left right away.

She didn’t want to be alone in the empty house without him. Yuri also packed her suitcase and headed home.

“Huh? Elder sister? Why are you back so early?”

Yuri greeted Yuri with a surprised face as she opened the front door and entered.

“Yeah. That’s how it turned out.”

Just then, the phone in the living room started ringing. Yuri picked up the receiver without thinking and showed another surprised expression.

“Elder brother Minwoo?”

At the mention of Minwoo, Yuri who was heading for the stairs turned around.

“…Elder sister Yuri? She’s at home now. Why?”

Yuri continued speaking while making eye contact with Yuri.

“Whether elder sister went on a trip or not, those words shouldn’t come from someone who ran away from the wedding. …If you don’t believe me, talk to her directly.”

Yuri handed the receiver to Yuri with a displeased frown. Though she didn’t want to hear Minwoo’s voice in her current mood, he wasn’t one to back down easily if she refused. Yuri sighed and took the receiver.

“You must be busy dealing with work, so why? I said we’d contact each other when you returned to Korea.”

As Yuri spoke in a cold voice, a sigh could be heard from the other end. He was clearly trying to suppress his rising anger. A moment later, Minwoo’s voice came through along with his now normal breathing.

[I’m sorry, Yuri. I called because I wanted to hear your voice. Alright. I’ll be back in 3 days, so let’s contact each other then.]

Minwoo hung up just like that. Yuri returned the receiver to Yuri and headed up the stairs to the second floor, pulling her suitcase.

For no reason, she felt tired in body and mind. All she wanted was to shower quickly and lie down in bed.

[This is the timeline separator]

After receiving a text that he had arrived safely, there was no further contact from Jeho.

She sent a text asking if he was doing well, but he didn’t even check it. He didn’t answer calls either, and when she tried to leave a message, only a notification that the voicemail was full played.

Could something bad have happened?

Though anxious and worried, there was nothing she could do. Looking back, she realized she didn’t even know Jeho’s contact information in the US. She didn’t know whether he went to the west or east coast, where he was in that vast land.

When Monday came, Yuri went to work. Though she still had vacation days left, Jeho’s vacation was only until this weekend.

As she entered the office, an empty seat next to her greeted her.

“Yuri.”

Her coworkers welcomed Yuri with worried faces, but no one asked about the wedding that had fallen apart. Grateful for her colleagues’ thoughtful consideration, Yuri sat down and turned on her computer.

While no one asked about Yuri’s wedding, endless questions flew about Jeho’s absence.

“Isn’t he coming to work today?”

“He suddenly had urgent business and went to the US.”

Sun Young answered their questions instead of Manager Kim.

“What urgent business?”

“I’m not sure. That’s just what I heard from the manager.”

“How long will he be in the US?”

“Well? He’ll have to come back soon because of the ongoing project, right? He should be back next week or the week after.”

Yuri listened to the conversation as she turned on the SketchUp program. Next week or the week after felt like a very distant future. Even though it had only been a few days, the empty space without him felt overwhelmingly large.

[This is the timeline separator]

The nurse on duty who was contacted in the lobby opened the ICU ward door for Jeho. The dozens of ICU rooms were made with full glass fronts so patients could be monitored at any time. Jeho entered the room at the very end of the corridor.

Despite hearing the door open, the woman keeping vigil by the bed did not turn around. Jeho approached behind the woman and gently embraced her shoulders.

“Mother, please go home now. I’ll stay here.”

“No. I’ll stay a little longer. When the attending physician says your father is alright… I’ll go then.”

Mrs. Yoon Ji Sun, Jeho’s mother and the wife of Vice Chairman Kwon Je Woong, patted her son’s hand and quietly shook her head. She was anxious about going home even briefly, in case she missed the final moments.

A few days ago, Vice Chairman Kwon had a heart attack, and unfortunately Mrs. Yoon, who was visiting another state, had to hurry back on a private jet. Thankfully he had passed the critical point, but it wasn’t 100% safe yet. There was still a possibility of another heart attack at any time, and that could be the last.

“…Sob.”

She who had always shown a strong face bowed her head and her shoulders trembled.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I should have stayed by your side.”

“No. What do you have to be sorry for? Don’t say such things. Your father’s condition hasn’t been good for a while now. I just hope your father can go peacefully without pain. That’s all I want right now.”

Jeho remained silent and tightened his arm around Mrs. Yoon. Seeing his mother looking even more gaunt made his heart ache.

“I’ll stay here, so may I ask one favor? Could you take charge of tomorrow’s charity party in my place? I’ve been preparing for it for months, so I’m concerned.”

“I’ll do that.”

Returning home, Jeho went to the study Vice Chairman Kwon had used instead of the bedroom. Sitting at the desk he had used, Jeho tried to recall his father’s scent that was no longer there.

When he first heard news of the accident, he believed he would recover soon. But as the coma state dragged on, the thickness of hope was gradually thinning. And a few days ago, the anxiety had burst.

“Sigh.”

Jeho covered his face with both hands, resting his heels on the desk. While his father was fighting for his life, he had given up the chance to threaten Minwoo for Yuri’s sake.

And even in the midst of all this, he was going crazy missing Yuri. Feeling he wouldn’t be able to bear hearing her voice, he had turned off his cell phone completely and buried it in his suitcase.

What a piece of trash I am.

Just then, the landline phone on the desk rang. Though it couldn’t be, Jeho quickly picked up the receiver. Disappointment flashed across Jeho’s face as he checked the caller ID.

“Hello.”

[Elder brother Jay? I just heard from Mom. You’re taking Auntie’s place at tomorrow’s charity party?]

It was Claire, the daughter of his parents’ longtime acquaintance.

[Then could you bring the album tomorrow? Mom says she left it in the study when she went to see Auntie last time.]

She said it was a green album with gold trim. After ending the call with Claire, Jeho found the album wedged between books on the shelf. While pulling out the album, he accidentally dropped a book on the floor.

“Oh no.”

As he was about to pick up the book and stand up, he noticed a small section near the bottom of the desk made in a slightly different color. Without much thought, he lightly touched it with his fingertip, and with a creaking sound, one side opened to reveal a 5cm deep secret compartment.

Inside was a teddy bear figurine the size of an adult’s thumb.

Could it be?

When he took out the figurine and pressed its belly, a USB connection popped out. He instinctively knew it contained important information. His father must have hidden it.

Jeho quickly connected the USB drive to the computer. It contained various files. Most were audio files. He played one of them.

[Oh, Nal. Have you been well?]

Assemblyman Chae’s voice played.

[Stop here. Don’t try to dig any deeper. You’ll get badly hurt. I’m warning you clearly.]

What is this?

As he checked the audio files, a dark shadow fell across Jeho’s face.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Elder sister, elder brother Minwoo is here.”

With a knock, the door opened and Yuri poked her head in with an indifferent face. It seems he came to the house since she wouldn’t answer his calls. Since they had to meet once anyway, Yuri went downstairs. Minwoo was standing in the living room, looking noticeably haggard after just a few days.

“Let’s talk on the terrace.”

As the two moved, Yuri came out to the terrace with coffee cups. She glared at Minwoo once, then gestured that she should be called if anything happened before going back inside. Minwoo couldn’t easily speak and just stared down at his coffee cup.

Assemblyman Chae had recently told Yuri about his conversation with Minwoo. If he wanted to marry, he should win her heart first? Hmph, that would never happen.

“I regret it turned out this way.”

Yuri spoke first.

“But we weren’t trying to get married because we loved each other anyway. Now neither family wants it. You said the Chairman would be the first to oppose the marriage.”

“That was just Grandfather speaking in anger for a moment. He didn’t mean it.”

There were already rumors circulating to the contrary.

“I heard marriage talks with Taemin Group have resumed. Do as your parents wish.”

“Damn it… I don’t need that kind of woman. The only one I need is you, Chae Yuri!”

Unable to control his anger, Minwoo’s face reddened as he shouted. But Yuri was not shaken at all and brought her coffee cup to her lips.

“You, are you doing this to go to elder brother Jeho after breaking up with me? Get a grip. You can’t be with him now either. What kind of family shares a woman between cousins?”

“Don’t shout. I know that well.”

As Yuri glared coldly, Minwoo flinched and closed his mouth.

“I have no intention of anything happening with Mr. Jeho. So don’t worry about that.”

“Are you serious? You and elder brother Jeho really have no relationship?”

Minwoo asked again with an incredulous face.

“Mr. Jeho is in the US now, right? I don’t even know which state he’s in right now. You do?”

“…Ah.”

Of course Minwoo knew. He had already sent people to track Jeho’s movements.

Oh, things are turning out interestingly.

A smile spread across Minwoo’s lips at this unexpected stroke of luck. Minwoo took out his cell phone from his jacket, searched for something, then held it out to Yuri.

“He’s in Palo Alto right now. There’s a big charity party there, and he attended with his ex-girlfriend.”

In the cell phone screen Minwoo held out, Jeho was smiling face-to-face with a beautiful woman. His gaze at the woman was filled with affection.

Yuri unconsciously pressed her palm to her chest.

Her heart stung as if pierced by an awl.