“Take these with you, sister. The assistant brought them over yesterday.”

Yu Ri seemed concerned about Yul Li leaving bare-handed.

“Thank you.”

Yu Ri looked sorrowfully at Yul Li’s swollen cheek. Although she suspected that Congressman Chae was physically abusive towards Yul Li, seeing it firsthand was a different experience.
“Sorry, sis. I should have lied that you called me last night, just in case.”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

Yu Ri glanced at Je Ho and then bowed her head slightly.

“Please take good care of my sister.”

Then she disappeared back into the house.

Yu Ri inviting Je Ho into the house was not a coincidence. She had sensed something amiss and brought him in. There was no one in the family who could stand up to Congressman Chae. Fortunately, her intuition was right. Je Ho’s arrival had averted a dangerous situation.

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

Yul Li silently shook her head. Although she didn’t show it, she could taste the salty blood in her mouth. Probably her mouth was cut when she was hit. She felt she couldn’t even drink water, let alone hot coffee.

“Just… Can we go somewhere far from here?”

Je Ho quietly nodded and opened the passenger door for her.

“Jeesh, this damn thing!”

Min Woo stormed into the office on the weekend.

“What’s wrong? Did something not go well for you?”

Jin, the manager, quickly approached with concern.

“Really, this…! Do I really have to deal with every little punk?”

“I’m sorry. It’s because Director Park insisted on seeing the chairman himself.”

“The chairman?”

Min Woo’s expression darkened menacingly at Jin’s words.

“Has he lost his mind? Who does he think he is to go there?”

It’s like he’s threatening me now! Does he think I’m an easy target?

“I need to contact a prosecutor.”

“A prosecutor?”

“You know, that crazy prosecutor. The one who jumps at the sight of gangsters.”

“Ah, I see.”

Jin quickly left the office, and Min Woo collapsed into his chair, loosening his tie.

I need to hear Yul Li’s voice when I’m in such a foul mood. She’s the only one who can calm me down. But he hesitated to call her, recalling their last meeting. Yul Li hadn’t contacted him since then. She seemed still upset about the photo incident. Yul Li calms down on her own and sorts things out, so it’s better not to bother her now.

He was about to contact Shin, his deputy, but paused. It was getting boring to deal with only one woman continuously. Shin was quite useful, but his interest was waning.

The only woman who never bored him, whose presence always delighted him, was Yul Li. To him, she was his one and only perfect match.

“Just wait until we’re married. I’ll keep you close to me.”

“Ah, Yul Li, I miss you.”

Looking at her photo on his phone, Min Woo pressed his lips together.

Hoping for the day she would forgive him and become entirely his, he waited with anticipation.

Je Ho remained silent during the drive. He just held the steering wheel and kept his eyes fixed on the road. Yul Li appreciated his silence. If he said even a word, she might burst into tears. She didn’t want to break down crying in front of him.

As she turned her gaze to the swiftly passing scenery outside the window, her phone started ringing. It was a call from Mrs. An. She contemplated turning off the phone but eventually pressed the call button silently. She had to talk at least once.

“Yes.”

[Are you okay?]

“Yes.”

She held back a cynical response, ‘How could I be okay?’ and replied shortly.

[Your father was very worried when you were late last night. Then, after seeing the photos…]

She resisted saying, ‘So it’s all my fault, right?’ Knowing it would be futile.

[Stay with Hyun Kyung for a few days until your father calms down. I’ll try to persuade him in the meantime.]

“Okay.”

Yul Li ended the call, unsure of what Mrs. An was planning to persuade, and whether she was a friend or foe, or playing good cop, bad cop. The only certainty was that she couldn’t fully trust Mrs. An.

The car, which had been driving through the city, took the freeway and moved to a secluded rural area. Eventually, it stopped in front of a large gate. Je Ho entered a code, and the gate opened, revealing an unpaved road leading up a hill with a panoramic view of the Han River. Je Ho turned off the engine and looked over at Yul Li.

“This is private property, so no need to worry about prying eyes.”

He must have seen the scattered photos when helping her out.

“That’s good… Ah.”

Yul Li winced and groaned softly, touching her swollen cheek. Je Ho’s eyes darkened fiercely, but his touch on her cheek was as gentle as if handling a fragile glass doll.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

The warm touch barely grazing her cheek brought tears to her eyes. It felt like genuine concern, and the overwhelming sadness rushed in. But she didn’t want to cry just then. Yul Li bit her trembling lower lip hard.

“You fool.”

He whispered softly, a gentle smile in his voice.

“If you want to cry, cry.”

“…I’m not a fool.”

Her voice trembled as she struggled to speak.

“Then if you’re not a fool?”

Was it an illusion? His eyes seemed to be reddening.

Please, don’t. Don’t look at me like that.

His large hand moved from her cheek to her head, soothingly stroking her scalp and brushing back her fallen hair. His tender touch was almost unbearable for Yul Li.

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

Despite her efforts, tears welled up and blurred her vision. Je Ho leaned in, gently kissing the corner of her tear-filled eyes, and whispered softly.

“Yul Li, don’t hold back.”

“…sob …sob.”