The Sin of Loving Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5

The once-clear pupils instantly swirled into a vortex.

Hae Joo pressed Do Jun, who stood so close it felt as if they might collide at any moment.

“You knew who I was from the very beginning, didn’t you? Am I right!”

“I only asked if I seemed familiar to you.”

Hae Joo’s mind and body tangled in confusion—what if she’d fallen into a malicious trap?

If that were true, she needed to leave this place immediately.

Yet Do Jun’s eyes held no hostility. Instead, he gazed at her with the bright, trusting eyes of a child.

“I don’t know you, Mr. Do Jun. And I certainly don’t know your older brother either.”

“So it really is like that.”

He straightened his posture, disappointment heavy in his voice.

Just as he turned to leave, Hae Joo grabbed his arm.

“Don’t dodge the question. Answer me—how do you know me?”

“Just passing by… that’s all.”

“What did you say?”

“You and I lived in the same area—maybe we crossed paths once?”

“Say it in a way I can actually understand.”

“It really is just that.”

Do Jun didn’t push away her hand. Instead, he lowered his arm slightly, as if allowing her to hold on a little longer.

These small gestures of his occasionally threw Hae Joo into confusion.

He seemed like a bad guy—but somehow wasn’t.

His rough exterior hid moments of unexpected tenderness that made Hae Joo’s withdrawn soul bloom like a flower.

He turned his head slowly. The sharpness had vanished from his eyes, now filled only with Hae Joo.

“If you distrust me that much, you can leave this house.”

“…”

“Whether it’s divorce or separation, I’ll do whatever you want.”

His attitude was clearly different from how he treated Jin Han.

In front of Hae Joo, he was nothing but a large, quiet beast holding its breath.

Was it just her imagination that this very demeanor made her feel like begging him not to go…?

His first impression had been sharp to the point of seeming arrogant. Though he carried charisma tinged with coldness, his gaze toward Hae Joo held warmth, as if carrying heated breath.

It was a subtle vulnerability.

“Don’t feel pressured. Stay here comfortably.”

Hae Joo recalled the movie Edward Scissorhands. The protagonist, with scissors for hands and a unique appearance, had hidden his existence away in a grand mansion.

For some reason, this house gave her that exact feeling.

Though surrounded by high walls and built in a cold, modern style, the interior blended harmoniously with wood.

“Do you live alone in this house?”

“It was originally built for my father, but I moved him to a nursing home recently.”

“I see.”

“Let me show you around.”

“…!”

In the living room, two housekeepers were carrying luggage, and Manager Song was also present.

He could’ve just sent Manager Song, yet he personally took the time to show her around the house.

Whether it was part of some plan or not, it still came as a surprise.

Do Jun, walking ahead, noticed Hae Joo standing dazedly in place and urged her.

“What are you doing?”

“Coming.”

“The first floor is designed for leisure.”

The building had three floors.

No wonder the exterior walls looked so tall from outside—they stretched all the way up to the roof.

On the second floor, he picked one door among several.

“It’s your room, so if you find anything missing during daily life, just tell Manager Song.”

Do Jun opened the door himself. A large window placed close to the garden trees immediately caught Hae Joo’s eye.

From the bed onward, everything clearly showed thoughtful preparation.

Particularly, the soft-glow lighting fixtures blended perfectly with the solid wood furniture.

“This is the walk-in closet. The door on the opposite side connects to my room.”

Half of the walk-in closet was reserved for Hae Joo.

Looking at his mostly monochrome clothing and accessories, Hae Joo asked,

“Did you clear all this out just for me?”

“This is all I own. I’m not interested in shopping.”

“Oh.”

“This is my room.”

Do Jun’s room had only a bed and a lamp.

Though smaller than Hae Joo’s, it felt oddly empty.

“This is your room, Mr. Do Jun?”

“This is enough for me. Come on.”

After leaving the room, they headed to the third floor. The third floor featured an attic-like European design, with distinctive windows and ceilings.

“This is my study and the third-floor terrace. Feel free to use it.”

Each time Do Jun showed her around, Manager Song quietly followed behind. Once the tour ended, he finally spoke up.

“Madam, your meal is ready.”

“Just for me?”

Hae Joo stared directly at Do Jun.

With his back to the terrace, he revealed his unfinished schedule.

“I have to go out again. Might grab a drink.”

He checked the time, claiming he had another appointment.

Even though he still had things to do, he came—so Hae Joo stepped aside.

“I’ll manage on my own from now on. Go ahead with your business.”

“You always talk like we’re strangers.”

“Well, technically, we are. Is there anything else you want?”

“Maybe.”

Jin Han had called Do Jun someone obsessed with money. Suspecting his ambitions could surface anytime, Hae Joo shot back sharply.

“Or should I pay you rent instead?”

Do Jun signaled Manager Song to go downstairs.

Only the two of them remained on the third floor.

“Rent? Pay it to me?”

“Just let me know how much you need.”

“Do you have a lot of money?”

“Enough to take care of myself.”

“Will that be enough?”

“How much rent are you planning to charge?”

Do Jun let out a short laugh.

He swept a hand lightly over his face, took a deep breath, and his chest rose noticeably.

His previously relaxed gaze suddenly tightened.

“I have no child to inherit my assets, and my father’s in a nursing home.”

“…”

“I plan to leave everything behind and disappear after my father passes away.”

“Disappear?”

“Because everything I own now would just become a burden then.”

“Mr. Do Jun…”

“Will there ever be another woman in my life besides you? Legally or not, we’ve been married for three whole years.”

Hae Joo, who had been on high alert against Do Jun, began to soften.

When she first saw him yesterday, it wasn’t just a feeling—there really was no attachment to life in him.

Moreover, his words hardly sounded like something a money-obsessed man would say.

“Choose. Either become a divorcee at your prime in a year—or inherit what I leave behind.”

“Are you saying you’re going to die?”

“I’ve earned money, and even if it was just on paper, I’ve been married. Isn’t that enough?”

“Is that really what you call an answer?”

“I’m just saying I’ll vanish myself once the right time comes. So!”

His voice turned rough and hoarse. He stepped forward and brushed back the hair covering Hae Joo’s shoulders with the back of his hand. The slow, gentle touch made her heartbeat hold its breath.

“Take it all.”

“…!”

“I’ll give you everything. Got it?”

“Don’t act like you’re about to die!”

It was utterly unfair.

Even if someone were your worst enemy, you couldn’t just run away if they were dying.

To Hae Joo, his words sounded like desperate blackmail—more suffocating than being tightly bound, overwhelming her with emotion.

Do Jun roughly ran his fingers through his hair. After a few deep breaths, he calmed slightly and locked eyes with Hae Joo.

“You’re the one acting impatient. What’s the rush?”

“Mr. Do Jun.”

“I really have to go now. Rest well.”

Turning around, Do Jun walked down the stairs.

He left Hae Joo alone again, leaving behind a vast, silent space.

“It feels like I’m the only bad person here.”

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall ever meeting Do Jun before.

Frustrated, Hae Joo rubbed her burning throat. His scent still lingered in the air, coloring every breath she took.

“How annoying.”

The marriage scandal was a disaster for Hae Joo.

To protect the success she’d finally grasped, she had to be meticulous, calculating, and always prepared for any possible crisis.

Compared to that, Do Jun seemed incredibly easygoing.

She didn’t know if he had other motives, but the uneasiness was unavoidable.

“Get a grip.”

After changing clothes on the second floor, she came down to the first to find dinner already served. Do Jun had already left, so she sat alone at the table.

All she wanted was to rest quickly.

Perhaps because the emptiness he left behind felt too large, her mood kept feeling strange.

“Saying you’ll disappear…”

If Jin Han heard those words, he might have been pleased.

But not Hae Joo.

She didn’t want Do Jun to come to harm, even if it meant divorce.

It was thanks to the fifty million won President Park had given her that Hae Joo could even leave home. Despite the scandal causing her distress, she had to acknowledge this much.

Though his words were blunt, Do Jun hadn’t treated her badly.

She assumed he was like a wild beast cloaked in raw energy, simply lacking the right way to express himself.

Her thoughts flowing to this point, her once-resolute soul wavered ever so slightly.

Yet she could still hold on—for now.

For now.

🌟🌟🌟

Do Jun took the car driven by Manager Song and headed straight for Sinsa-dong. Since he was already past the agreed meeting time, impatient calls kept coming in.

“I’ll be there soon.”

Contrary to his words, Do Jun secretly hoped traffic would delay his arrival as long as possible.

Besides President Kim, several wealthy investors who had entrusted large sums to Jino Group had gathered for this drinking session.

It wasn’t about business today.

All were middle-aged fathers with daughters, and they’d been eyeing Do Jun for a while.

They’d been playing a game of who would suggest marrying their daughter to him first—until today, when they got utterly blindsided.

Because the husband in the sudden marriage scandal involving a famous actress turned out to be none other than Do Jun himself.

“Do I really have to go?”

“Just go, nod along politely, and come back.”

He hated leaving Hae Joo alone at home. He wanted to turn the car around right now, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it.

“File the business closure notice for my father now.”

“Understood.”

There was still one debtor who hadn’t repaid President Park yet.

That person was Kyung Ae.

After Hae Joo left home, Kyung Ae struggled to keep her café running and borrowed money again.

President Park knew he’d never get it back, yet he still gave her the money.

Back then, Do Jun had demanded to know why, and President Park replied:

“I gave it to her because she’s a bad person.”

“What?”

“I was afraid she’d go after my daughter who barely managed to leave and torment her.”

“…”

“That woman will borrow more from me and shut up, so it works out.”

After Lee Jun passed away, President Park delayed filing the death certificate as long as possible—he simply couldn’t bring himself to let go of his son emotionally.

While finally processing Lee Jun’s late death registration, he discovered Do Jun and Hae Joo were married.

After much private deliberation, President Park only told Do Jun after his military discharge.

“Do Jun, find that girl even now…”

“No.”

“What?”

“Just leave it. I’ll handle it myself.”

For some unknown reason, Do Jun didn’t correct the mistaken marriage. Instead, resolute and determined, he left home and plunged into business.

“So my father’s tiresome life of endless giving is finally over.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Even now, there were people who mocked him as the son of a lowly loan shark.

He intended to crush those who wore jealousy as dignity, one by one.

“We’ve arrived.”

Do Jun stepped out of the car and tightened his tie firmly.

With his striking looks drawing everyone’s attention, he walked into the gathering of the wealthy.

🌟🌟🌟

Past 10 p.m., Hae Joo finished unpacking her luggage in a hurry.

In the house, silent to the point of desolation, the only sound was tree branches rustling in the wind.

“Is it going to rain?”

The night sky was heavy with dark clouds. Sensing rain was imminent, she closed the glass door she’d left open.

She lay down under the blanket, but sleep wouldn’t come.

Just as she tossed and turned, a message arrived from Jin Han.

[Is it okay staying there?] [Yes, I’m fine.] [President Park Do Jun seems to have quite a personality—worried about you.] [Don’t worry too much.] [Alright. Sleep well, Hae Joo. See you tomorrow.]

Hae Joo put down her phone and forced herself to sleep. She had an important meeting scheduled early the next morning and needed to be in good condition.

At some point, her body grew drowsy.

Just as she drifted off, her consciousness stood right in the middle of the neighborhood where she’d once lived with Kyung Ae.

The dream felt unusually vivid.

People passing by and the buildings around her felt utterly real.

Suddenly, the scene shifted—and a wave of sorrow flooded in.

Before she could even grasp what was happening, a piercing scream stabbed her ears.

“Go die, you thieving whore!”

In the dream, Kyung Ae had been screaming for two hours straight. Hae Joo, suffering in misery, choked back sobs, while Yu Ra covered her ears wearily.

“I didn’t steal anything.”

“Then why is thirty thousand won missing from my wallet?”

“How would I know that?”

Now she remembered what had happened in the dream.

That day, thirty thousand won had gone missing from Kyung Ae’s wallet, and Hae Joo had endured hardship because of it.

She swore she hadn’t taken the money.

But Kyung Ae’s furious rage had pushed her twenty-year-old self into a corner.

“I don’t need someone like you—just disappear! You have to die for me to live!”

Exhausted by the torrent of cruel words, Hae Joo felt drained.

She even mistakenly thought her death might bring her family happiness.

Barefoot, she was chased out onto the streets.

Crying so much her head ached, she soon grew dizzy and just wanted to rest somewhere.

In a daze, she ended up on the rooftop of a seven-story building.

The wind blew fiercely that day, making Hae Joo stagger.

“It’s so hard.”

Her chest felt tight—she just wanted to see the world from a high place.

She hadn’t intended anything bad.

But once she was up there, she got the urge to fly into the sky.

She stepped up onto the edge, her bare feet covered in dirt.

Her eyes lost focus, and there was no one to protect the girl who hadn’t even finished blooming yet.

Just as Hae Joo straightened her back at the highest point of the rooftop ledge—

A sudden gust of wind swept her off her feet.

“Ahh!”

Her weak legs wobbled.

Losing balance, her body swayed dangerously.

In that split second, she reached out her hand—but her body was already tipping outward.

That was when—

“Save me!”

Hae Joo screamed and jolted awake, her eyes snapping open in terror.

When she came to her senses, Do Jun was tightly gripping the hand she’d desperately reached out in her sleep.

Tears welled in her eyes as he pulled her forcefully toward him, wrapping both arms around her tightly to ensure she wouldn’t fall.

“You won’t die. I’ll hold on to you until the very end.”