Geon Hak silently looked at Yoon Su Ah, who was hugging him.

“I always promised you. That I would definitely return to your side.”

“……”

“I. I kept that promise.”

The rumors circulating turned out to be true.

When Kim Ri Na came and told him that Yoon Su Ah was coming back, he thought it would be half right and half wrong. She had always changed her words before.

“What exactly happened?”

Su Ah, who was hugging Geon Hak’s waist, lifted her head slightly to look at him.

“…You. Are you not happy at all?”

Su Ah’s lips trembled as she looked at Geon Hak.

“You really came back to Korea for good?”

“Yes. I ended everything cleanly. Of course, father told me to go back and win that person’s heart again. But I said no. For the first time, I. I disobeyed father’s words for you. How about that, Geon Hak?”

“……”

“But why. You don’t look happy at all?”

Geon Hak removed Su Ah’s hands that were tightly hugging his waist.

“Geon Hak……”

“You’re still the same. Doing as you please.”

Geon Hak brushed back his messy hair from his forehead.

“What?”

“You acted as you pleased when we got engaged, and now you’re acting as you please after breaking it off?”

“…Cha Geon Hak.”

“The reason I came here is because I heard you were hurt. Now that I see you, you look fine. It doesn’t seem like you’re badly hurt.”

“Are you the Cha Geon Hak I know? Geon Hak, I hurt my arm too. But you say it’s not a big deal? Who do you think I did all this for? Who do you think I settled everything for…!”

“Then. You should have come back sooner.”

“……”

“If you had, I would have been different.”

Haa. This can’t be happening.

Tears began to fill Su Ah’s eyes. Even though she had returned, he didn’t even blink. Rather, he just looked at her with an annoyed expression.

“The rumor… Was it really true?”

“What?”

“The rumor that you have a woman, is that true!”

Su Ah’s voice echoed through the hospital room.

Geon Hak massaged his throbbing forehead as if he had a headache. Tears that had welled up in Su Ah’s eyes began to fall.

“You. Said you loved me. That I was still the person you loved!”

“Lower your voice.”

“Do I look fine to you? I was almost beaten to death by my father, but still I tried to come back to you! I tried so hard to return to you. How could you have another woman now! I endured that terrible place believing only in you!”

Su Ah clutched her chest and gasped for breath.

“Haa, haa.”

Even when she was young, she would often faint from her own anger. She grabbed her collar and panted heavily. Tears streamed down her face.

“I… can’t be without you.”

“Rest for now.”

“…Don’t go.”

“You’re too excited right now. First calm down and tomorrow we’ll… Yoon Su Ah!”

Geon Hak hurriedly caught Su Ah’s body as she fainted. Once again, she had collapsed unable to control her anger.

Geon Hak ran his large hand over his face.

* * *

It was already almost 12 o’clock, but he still hadn’t come home.

Jae I couldn’t hide her anxious feelings.

Constantly.

She kept thinking about Cha Geon Hak.

Secretary Kim said it was fine, that there was nothing wrong, but she kept worrying about him.

Just in case, Jae I asked Director Lee about work matters, but there seemed to be nothing unusual at the company.

Jae I looked at Ye Na sleeping soundly in bed.

Ye Na, who had been running around excitedly all day, fell asleep as soon as it turned 9 o’clock. For the first time in a while, even Ye Na went to sleep early, but Geon Hak wasn’t here.

She remembered how happy Cha Geon Hak looked watching Ye Na sleep.

‘Is Ye Na asleep?’

‘Yes, Managing Director.’

‘Come quickly, I’ll be waiting.’

A faint smile spread across Jae I’s face as she recalled the happy memory.

Zing―

Jae I quickly checked the phone she was clutching tightly.

When she checked the message, she saw an unfamiliar video. The video was about 5 seconds long. When Jae I clicked on the video, something passed by quickly.

Fearing the video sound might wake Ye Na, she turned the volume all the way down and clicked on the video again.

Huh?

Jae I quickly pressed the pause button. Then she zoomed in on the face of the man in the frame.

What Jae I saw was the image of some woman in Managing Director Cha Geon Hak’s arms.

Jae I’s hand trembled slightly.

The person in the phone video was Cha Geon Hak. Secretary Kim had clearly said he was at the company, but.

He was not at the company, but at a hospital.

“Who is this woman…”

Zing.

This time, not a video but a single photo arrived.

In the photo was written the name of that woman.

“It was that woman……”

She had wondered if it might be.

It really was that woman, Yoon Su Ah.

“Haa……”

It felt like someone was stabbing Jae I’s heart with a sharp knife. This was the reason she had been afraid. All the happy things from today felt like an illusion Jae I had created.

Wee-ing, wee-ing―

When a call came from the number that had sent Jae I the messages and video, Jae I glanced at the sleeping Ye Na once before going to answer the phone.

“……Who is this?”

A familiar voice came through the call.

― You finally answer my call when I use Cha Geon Hak as bait…

“……”

― Even though it’s an unknown number, right, sister?

The person who sent the video and photo was none other than Park Tae In.

― You saw it too, right? The woman Managing Director Cha truly loves. That woman.

Park Tae In knew about it too. How did he know?

“How… do you know about that?”

― Ha, I’m both angry and happy. You’re asking me something for the first time. Because Cha Geon Hak is involved.

“Tell me. How did you know about that?”

― Did you love that man even knowing about that, sister? Now let go of those feelings.

“Answer my question. How did you know?”

― Managing Director Cha told me directly? I saw Managing Director Cha today because of drama filming and he told me. That woman is the woman he loves.

“……”

Jae I’s face turned pale white from shock.

“Did the Managing Director really… say she’s the woman he loves? To you?”

She tried not to cry, but tears welled up.

Even though they were dating and knew each other’s feelings, he had never once told Jae I that he loved her.

Not even once.

― Yes. That’s how he introduced her to me. So you should forget about him too, sister. What’s so great about a man like that, you’re at Managing Director Cha’s house right now, aren’t you?

You seem to know everything about me. You’re still the same.

“Tae In.”

Tae In’s lips closed at Jae I’s gentle voice.

“Just like you love me… I love that person too. And I can’t give up on him. Just like you can’t give up on me.”

― I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part. Don’t block my number. I’ll call again. The more you keep avoiding me, I…

“Alright. I won’t avoid you, so don’t tell me to give up on that person either. He’s the person I truly love.”

― Hang up, sister.

As the call ended, Jae I’s vision blurred. Tears welled up in her eyes endlessly. Her chest felt heavy and it felt like everything was crumbling in an instant.

She had believed.

‘I told you. I like you, Han Jae I.’

The Managing Director likes me.

But, he doesn’t love me.

The one the Managing Director loves is only Yoon Su Ah.

* * *

Tae In, who had finished his call with Jae I, let out a low curse.

Tae In, who was filming a drama and happened to be shooting at the hospital, spotted Cha Geon Hak entering the hospital with an urgent look.

When he saw that the place Cha Geon Hak entered was Yoon Su Ah’s hospital room, Tae In secretly opened the door and took the video and photos.

After going to such lengths to send them, Jae I’s reaction was unsatisfactory.

It was the first time his sister liked someone.

Tae In, who had watched Jae I from the side, knows better than anyone. That Han Jae I wasn’t interested in men. And the first person she came to like was Cha Geon Hak.

Why, of all people, Cha Geon Hak.

What a waste for my sister.

Tae In, who was looking over his script in the van, ran his hand over his face. Her sad voice kept ringing in his head.

‘Tae In.’

It had been so long since his sister Jae I had called his name.

‘I can’t give up on that person. Just like you can’t give up on me.’

If you can’t, I’ll make you give up.

If you can’t do it, I will.

Tae In pressed his eyelids as if tired and turned his head.

He saw Cha Geon Hak exiting the hospital entrance with a cigarette in his mouth. Tae In put on a black mask and got out of the van.

Geon Hak checked his wristwatch.

He hadn’t realized it had gotten so late.

Whoo. He let out a deep breath and took out a lighter from his pocket.

Just then, a familiar man approached Geon Hak.

Geon Hak’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“I heard there was drama filming, but I guess you haven’t left yet. I came out now to avoid running into you.”

“That woman lying in the hospital room, is she the woman you love, Managing Director?”

Geon Hak furrowed his brow at Tae In’s abrupt question.

“What are you doing?”

Geon Hak removed the unlit cigarette from his mouth and massaged his forehead at Park Tae In’s insolent behavior.

“Ha, you’re getting on my nerves in many ways.”

“Stop playing with my sister Jae I and hurting her.”

“Are you acting in front of me right now, Park Tae In? Are you doing some psycho acting, because I have no idea what nonsense you’re spouting.”

“I’ll speak so you can understand. I just spoke with my sister Jae I on the phone.”

With Han Jae I?

A crease formed between Geon Hak’s smooth brows.

“You told me, Managing Director. That my sister Jae I is your woman. So I thought my sister should know where you were, so I took a video and sent it to her.”

Haa.

“…What did you film and send?”

“Your scene with that woman, Yoon Su Ah.”

The cigarette in his hand fell to the ground with a thud, and Geon Hak instantly grabbed Park Tae In by the collar.

“Are you crazy? Or are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?”

“There will be no more of our Jae I being played by your hands, Managing Director. I’m going to take my sister Jae I back.”

Geon Hak slowly closed and opened his eyes while looking up at the sky as if suppressing his anger. Then he stared at Park Tae In in front of him.

“Park Tae In. Do you really want to die by my hands?”