“Hee hee.”

“Khee hee……”

“Wol, wowol!”

The two children and the large dog were running around on the snow that had accumulated throughout the winter. On the pure white plain, Hyun-woo and Black were playfully running around with Sorin’s son.

Yeonhee, who had taken in the sight, gently curved her eyes and lightly leaned her head on her husband’s arm.

“The kids are having so much fun. We did well coming here, didn’t we?”

“I’m going to Aewol tomorrow anyway, so why did we bother……”

It had been a month since Professor Eom and his wife had come to Korea from Canada. A few days after that, leaving his wife in Seoul, Eunhyuk had politely deferred Chairman Tae’s kind offer to provide him with bodyguards and had discreetly stayed in a quiet rural village on Jeju Island.

The reason why Yeonhee had let Eom Eunhyuk go without a word when he said he would live alone on Jeju Island for a month was not only because her second daughter was in Jeju, but also because she was aware that her husband’s safety would be most jeopardized when the case of his unjust dismissal from the university hospital 10 years ago was fully dealt with by the prosecution.

And now, wasn’t it time to return to Seoul? The date for the investigator, who had accelerated the investigation into the case entangled with Chairman Han, to meet with Professor Eom was approaching right before their eyes.

In such a situation, Yeonhee, who missed her husband and wanted to meet Soyeon, who said she had her last film shoot in Jeju, took Hyun-woo and even Black, whom Hyun-woo cherished very much, and came to Aewol, Jeju from Seoul yesterday and spent a day.

And today, she had decided to go to the aquarium with the children instead of the pregnant Sorin. And before that, she had come to this place where her husband was first.

However, Yeonhee was somewhat disappointed by her husband’s tone of voice, whom she had met after several weeks.

“I was so worried about you that I couldn’t have a peaceful day. So I drove along the winding country roads without even knowing it was hard, but you ask me why I came to you like this?”

Looking at his wife’s fresh expression, Eunhyuk put a gentle smile on his lips.

“Oh, is your fur allergy okay now?”

“When did that go away, you’re changing the subject? You know better than I do, so don’t try to change the subject.”

“Hoot……”

Why wouldn’t he know Yeonhee’s heart as she spoke with tears welling up? Embracing his wife’s lower back gently, Eunhyuk looked at the children running around frantically in the wide yard with warm eyes. And his voice was very emotional.

“It’s only natural to be happy to see my other half after a few weeks. Let’s see each other as much as we want starting tomorrow.”

Tomorrow was the day when Eunhyuk would end his seclusion and request the bodyguard service from Chairman Tae’s security team, which he had postponed.

“Well, that’s fine then. We should get going now. I have to feed the kids lunch too. But I’ll leave Black here, bring him when you come to Sorin’s house. I forgot that pets can’t go into the aquarium.”

“Alright.”

Her expression, which had loosened up, was radiant. Yeonhee waved her hand with a brightened face and called the children.

“Kids, let’s go see the fish now!”

After hurriedly putting the two children in the back seat, Yeonhee started the car towards downtown. As she slowly left the curved road, she tried not to look back.

If she looked, it would only make her heart heavier, thinking that from tomorrow, she could see her husband as much as she wanted, as he said.

Snow in mid-March.

At this time of year when it wouldn’t be strange for cherry blossoms to bloom. Moreover, isn’t this the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula? The weather must have gone crazy.

“Ah. Damn it, it’s snowing so fucking much. Has the sky gone mad?”

It was the moment when he grumbled about the frustration of having to crawl on a slippery road without streetlights on an unfamiliar road.

Thump! Vroom, vroom, woong, woong……

As the car body slid off the road and sank down with a thud, the wheels without chains spun in the air.

Bam!

The man who got out of the car, angrily opening the door, was none other than Han Seung-jae. He walked over, kicking the snow covering his ankles as if sweeping it away, and bent his head down to look under the car.

The wheel that had slid off the concrete road was tightly stuck between the crevices of the rocks.

If only there was a passing car or pedestrian, he could ask for help somehow, but since it was a deep mountain village, the sun set quickly and not even an ant could be seen near the roadside. A large house came into view a few meters ahead, but it was a quiet house that didn’t even reveal a faint ray of light, as if there was no one inside.

“Ah, damn it! What do you expect me to do now! Ha……”

Seung-jae’s thick breath mixed with the light from his cell phone.

‘The plaintiff’s investigation is next week! If I only trust you who are talking big, I don’t think I’ll be able to live my life, so I looked into it separately. Someone said they occasionally saw Professor Eom, whom you had such a hard time finding, on Jeju Island. In a mountain village called Bueoreum or something.’

‘So what. Are you telling me to chase after him to that remote place now?’

‘Then, should I go? Since there are only a few houses, you’ll be able to find Professor Eom in no time if you just poke around a few houses. It’s a place where people rarely come, so maybe it’s a good thing. So hurry up and tie up the loose ends and come back! If you fail, don’t even bother coming up to Seoul. Just stay buried there. Don’t ever let me see you until you die, you incompetent fool!’

It was understandable for Chairman Han to be anxious.

That businessman’s older brother who had disguised his suicide by jumping a long time ago. And Professor Eom, who was fired from the hospital for being involved in that incident. Those two people had filed a criminal complaint precisely targeting and the former university hospital director.

However, the more they dug into both cases, the key suspect would be traced back to Chairman Han. Moreover, if Professor Eom determinedly pieces together the medical records that serve as evidence of the circumstances at that time, it would be exposed in no time. Fortunately, the guy who was brought to Samcheong-dong broke his stubbornness, unable to endure the beating any longer, and withdrew the complaint.

But what about Eom Eunhyuk, whose whereabouts were hidden and couldn’t be caught and beaten? Chairman Han looked 10 years older, constantly anxious that his crimes would be revealed to the world.

“If one guy has withdrawn the complaint, we can take our time with Professor Eom, can’t we?”

In fact, it wasn’t that Seung-jae couldn’t find Professor Eom, but that he didn’t look for him. When the prosecution’s summons investigation proceeded, he would naturally reveal himself, and it wouldn’t be too late to shut him up then. In the meantime, he could also tie up Tae Seo-jun and finish off both of them at once. Anyway, there was nothing more thrilling and fun than killing two birds with one stone.

But his father couldn’t bear it and forcibly pushed him to come all the way here. So on a snowy night, he was dropped off in this unfamiliar place.

However, there was a clear reason why Seung-jae, who would never move without a plan, was standing here. Because he couldn’t let his cunning younger brother easily take away his position as the successor.

But still……

“Ah, the more I think about it, the angrier I get! Even the weather isn’t cooperating, damn it, how am I supposed to find that Eom bastard here! Wow, fuck……”

Bam, bam, boom boom boom!

Unable to control his temper, Seung-jae was kicking the car wildly while spewing out curses that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.

Creak……

“It seems like there’s a problem with your car, would you like me to help you a bit?”

“……!”

No way. This person is……! Is the sky helping me right now?

The person I was looking for appeared in front of me and spoke to me through the half-open car window. The situation was so exquisite and astonishing that Seung-jae was dazed for a moment with a dumbfounded expression.

Meanwhile, Professor Eom, who had parked his car in front of the dark house he had seen earlier, was approaching Seung-jae again. And another person got out of the car with a dog and followed Professor Eom.

“Woof! Grrrrr…… woof, woof!”

Black seemed to dislike Seung-jae very much, barking loudly at him.

“Oh my, why is he suddenly acting like this? Dad, I’ll go in first and calm Black down.”

“Alright.”

As Soyeon went inside the large house’s gate, Eunhyuk approached Seung-jae and asked politely.

“Are you here for sightseeing?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It seems the car wheel is stuck firmly, why don’t you contact the rental car company.”

What kind of fool would make a plane reservation and rent a car under his real name when he’s about to commit a terrible act? If the car becomes unusable, I’ll just abandon it and leave. I’m not crazy enough to let Eom know my current location when I should be in Seoul.

“Ah, yes. I already did, but they said fast service would be difficult.”

Seung-jae told a lie very naturally without even going through his brain.

“This area is very remote and the weather is bad, so I guess that’s why. If it’s alright with you, how about waiting at our house until the service staff arrives?”

An unexpected killing of two birds with one stone. But this combination wasn’t bad either. No, isn’t Eom Soyeon the woman Tae Seo-jun can’t live without? So this development felt even more thrilling to Seung-jae, who gladly accepted the invitation with a bloody smile turned gentle.

“Then, excuse me……”

It’s a 30-minute drive from here to Seongsan Port.

Eom Eunhyuk had picked up Soyeon, who suddenly contacted him saying she had come alone from the Udo filming location to there, and brought her to this house he had rented. At that time, he had helped a man who looked very troubled standing on the road.

As they entered the house, a warm air wrapped around the three people like a blanket.

Soyeon, who brought warm tea to the living room, set the tea down in front of her father and Seung-jae sitting on the sofa. Then she glanced once more at the unfamiliar man with an indifferent expression. He seemed familiar, but there must be more than one or two people who look similar.

While thinking that, Soyeon took out her vibrating cell phone from her pocket.

Soyeon, who had finished filming, left Udo before Seo-jun to meet her father, who would be alone, a little earlier. Seo-jun couldn’t get on the boat with Soyeon because he had to finish filming a few more cuts alone. So, he hung up the phone, promising to meet Soyeon again at Seongsan Port tomorrow afternoon.

Following that, Soyeon’s cell phone vibrated again.

-Mom! Are you with Grandpa right now?

“Yes, Hyun-woo.”

-Then when are we meeting?

“Mom is going to see Hyun-woo with Grandpa and Dad tomorrow. Why, did you call because you miss Mom?”

-Mhm.

“We’ll all meet in just one night’s sleep, so even if you miss me, can you hold out a little longer?”

-Mhm, but Hyun-woo is a bit bored since Black disappeared.

“Still, Hyun-woo must have had fun going to the aquarium with your cousin and grandmother today, right?”

-Yes. I saw a really big whale and it was fun. And now Hyun-woo is happier to live together with Grandpa and Grandma in Korea.

“Is that so? If our Hyun-woo is happy, Mom is even more excited.”

-Hee hee……

Soyeon, who finished talking with her son, made a kissing sound on her cheek as if giving a kiss and put down her cell phone.

It was at the same time.

Seung-jae’s crooked gaze was staring intently at Soyeon, then dropped down to the teacup as if falling.

Perhaps sensing something from that gaze.

“Is there anything you need……”

Soyeon’s voice trembled slightly.

“No. I’m also a fan who supports Eom Soyeon, so I’m amazed to see you in person like this.”

“Is that so. I should treat you even better, if only out of gratitude for this.”

At the words that he was a fan of his daughter, Professor Eom showed a good-natured smile towards Seung-jae.