Do-jun had stopped by a sandwich shop before coming home.

After placing an order for Hae-joo’s favorite menu, he stepped outside the shop for a moment.

A refreshing breeze swept through Do-jun’s mind as he took out his phone.

Concerns about whether Hae-joo might be exhausted from this incident poured out with a sigh.

He immediately called Hyun-sung. The ringing tone echoed for a while before finally connecting.

… Chairman.

“Why did you do that?”

… I’m sorry.

This time, Do-jun scolded Hyun-sung.

With a sigh, Do-jun, who had embraced a lot of grief, began to speak.

“At least you should have told me and scolded me.”

I was just frustrated…

It was a immature mistake that Hyun-sung made in a fit of anger.

It was true that he lacked the capacity to bear the consequences of the mistake.

Scolding had no meaning.

Now, the key was to make sure that Chairman Yoo would not be exhausted by this incident.

“Everyone thinks that Hae-joo wrote that post.”

I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. I really… I made a mistake.

Hyun-sung was subjected to violence by Yeong-jae. At that moment, the terror of death surged, almost causing him to lose consciousness.

Do-jun came to the rescue at the worst moment.

Even when he brought Hae-joo home, Hyun-sung had felt relieved, thinking that everything was fine.

But after returning home, the aftereffects gradually appeared. Even when he thought he was fine, the fear that made his throat dry and suffocated him as if he were about to die came back.

“Have you been to the hospital?”

Unable to endure, Hyun-sung went to the hospital before the weekend.

After being diagnosed with panic disorder and post-traumatic stress, he spent his days lying down without being able to do anything.

Just thinking about it felt unfair and anger and injustice overwhelmed him.

Hae-joo, who had suffered without any fault, and Do-jun, who struggled to protect her, both seemed pitiable.

When my throat was dry, the thought that came to my mind was, ‘I am really incompetent.’

As a manager, he had to protect Hae-joo firmly.

But if it weren’t for Do-jun, Hyun-sung might have yielded to Yeong-jae.

His self-esteem collapsed miserably with this incident. His head was dizzy as if it would never recover.

I felt tormented, thinking, ‘Is this all I can do?’

“Hmm.”

It wasn’t right, but in frustration, I ended up having a drink.

“You deleted the post, didn’t you?”

Yes. I woke up later and realized that things were chaotic.

“Yeah. It’s really chaotic.”

I… I made a mistake.

As the sandwich wrapping finished, the clerk called Do-jun.

While still on the call, he received the package of sandwiches he had ordered and walked out.

“Everyone has foolish times in their lives.”

Even Chairman?

“When I was young, I believed that the only way to protect Hae-joo was to fight for her, so how ignorant did I look to others?”

…

“If I had kept doing that, by now, I might have gone to jail or been beaten to death by someone stronger.”

Yes.

“Anything takes time. It won’t happen overnight.”
Hyun-sung couldn’t say a word even if he had ten mouths. GN, properly fueled by malice, was boiling, and sparks could fly anywhere.

“I’ll handle Hae-joo; you just worry about your own body.”

I will take responsibility for what I did.

“Wait until I contact you again.”

After ending the call with Hyun-sung, Do-jun felt a sense of frustration.

The strategy he had been contemplating had become worthless overnight.

It could have easily escalated into a fight with Chairman Yoo in the mud.

That had to be prevented at all costs.

Back home, Do-jun had a meal with Hae-joo as usual. While enjoying their time, Hae-joo, in the midst of taking a break, expressed concern about Hyun-sung.

He had apparently gotten into an accident.

Sure enough, Hae-joo’s pupils flickered with complex emotions.

Do-jun pulled her into an embrace, trying to comfort the bewildered girl.

“Regardless of what happened, let’s see it through to the end. Let’s go together.”

“I’m sorry to Do-jun. It’s always because of me…”

“Don’t say that. You know I live because of you.”

Every night, Do-jun’s deep penetration became a routine.

At some point, his touch became a lullaby, and his wide embrace turned into a warm blanket.

Hae-joo couldn’t remember when she had been alone.

The world without Do-jun was unimaginable, as if the worldview had changed.

“What Do-jun said about that ‘end,’ I’d rather it didn’t exist.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I want to be happy like this.”

His words, ‘Let’s see it through to the end,’ made Hae-joo feel distant.

It seemed like Do-jun had already put down everything he had.

What am I that you have to be in so much pain?

In no time, Do-jun had become Hae-joo’s faith.

Do-jun became Hae-joo itself, breathing and living day by day.

“Why do you love me?”

Hae-joo asked, and as their faces got closer, he gently cupped both her cheeks.