Nurses gathered in groups at the general hospital cafeteria, whispering among themselves.

“I heard Eom So Yeon and the manager were admitted to the VIP ward. What’s even more surprising is that Tae Seo Jun came with them.”

“Why those two?”

“Apparently Tae Seo Jun himself brought Eom So Yeon who nearly died at the fire scene. Even more shocking is that Tae Seo Jun hasn’t gone home and has been guarding the hospital room for two days straight. Treating Eom So Yeon like a precious treasure.”

“Oh my, oh my, is that true? Are those two that close?”

“This girl, it’s not just about being close! Who would do that unless they’re dating? How could they stick so closely together in one space if they weren’t lovers?”

While such talk spread throughout the hospital over two days, So Yeon remained asleep the whole time. Though she occasionally coughed due to mild carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms and asthma, she otherwise just slept.

Eom So Yeon had overcome three brushes with death in her life so far. The first was an inevitable encounter while giving birth to her child, but the other two were accidents full of questions.

A year ago, she nearly died a tragic death on the spot when the ceiling of a film set collapsed during shooting, and the day before yesterday, she almost suffocated to death, helplessly trapped by toxic gases spewed by fire. And both of those accidents were not unrelated to Yoo Jung Hwa.

Knowing this, what was harder for Eom So Yeon to bear than physical pain was that the misfortune pointing a knife at her was not the end, but the beginning. The anxiety that Yoo Jung Hwa would not stop her evil deeds until she became unhappy in some form.

Whether it was trauma or temporary anxiety, So Yeon wanted to sleep without thinking. She wanted to rely on the comfort of unconsciousness, even if just for a moment. She wanted to relieve the fatigue that had been piling up for so long, even if by doing so.

It was evening as darkness slowly crept in.

“Eom So Yeon…”

His smooth voice resonating softly, his monologue.

“The accident you suffered was because of me… I didn’t even know… Still, I can’t let you go. Even if I’m selfish for this, even if you hate me for it, I can’t help it. Because I can never give up Eom So Yeon…”

“…!”

As she was gradually emerging from sleep, So Yeon suddenly opened her eyes.

W-what did I just hear…

Tae Seo Jun knew what Yoo Jung Hwa had done.

Though her heart pounded wildly in shock because of this, what ironically suppressed her abnormal heartbeat was the gentle, soft touch brushing against her forehead.

“You’re finally awake…”

Glad and pleased just to see her eyes, Seo Jun smoothed back So Yeon’s disheveled hair, stroking it.

“You knew… about the accident? How…”

“From Do Soon.”

Yeo Do Soon, whose carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms were relatively milder than Eom So Yeon’s, woke up first. Then she frequently came in and out of So Yeon’s hospital room, wearing down the threshold.

That’s when he heard it. The fact that So Yeon had suffered greatly from all sorts of big and small misdeeds committed by Yoo Jung Hwa. Seo Jun immediately mobilized his connections skilled in investigation to start looking into what had happened to Eom So Yeon’s personal safety all this time.

Thus, he was able to confirm that Yoo Jung Hwa, who was involved in the set accident early last year, had been cleared of charges without indictment, and that there had been numerous suspicious activities even after that.

If this was just the tip of the iceberg, how much worse would it be if more was revealed?

A button fastened wrong.

Perhaps the beginning was from four years ago, when he forcibly inserted Eom So Yeon between himself and Yoo Jung Hwa at the Elstella Hotel bar.

Seo Jun finally realized then.

That his desire and hasty actions had put a woman in danger. That it had completely turned that person’s life upside down. That he was truly a fool for not knowing at all that Eom So Yeon had been enduring Yoo Jung Hwa’s low-grade antics.

So what words were needed?

Seo Jun felt endlessly sorry. His expression, tangled with those complex emotions, revealed a heavy state of mind beyond mere dejection. So Yeon, who had been quietly gazing at that face, raised her hand and touched his sharply sculpted features.

Caressing Seo Jun’s rough jawline, So Yeon slightly furrowed her brow. As she looked at his face, different from usual, suddenly a corner of her heart tingled.

She had only seen his cleanly shaven face before. He seemed somewhat unfamiliar with dark stubble shadows cast along his jawline. But even this appearance was an immutable law of an incomparably handsome man, to the point of feeling unreal.

“Don’t make that expression. I’m fine.”

So Yeon smiled, even if slightly.

The reason she had no choice but to endure, even while her life was threatened, was above all for the sake of her child. If Yoo Jung Hwa were to be formally indicted and an investigation proceeded, a series of events between Tae Seo Jun’s past woman and current woman would be thoroughly exposed.

The child’s existence, which would be revealed in that process, would cause an uproar in the world. And, if that happened, she thought she and Tae Seo Jun might have to play tug-of-war with the child between them. So Yeon absolutely could not put her child out into the cruel battlefield of adults.

However, now that he knew about the hidden child, there was no reason at all to conflict over holding Yoo Jung Hwa accountable and making her pay the proper price for her crimes. Only now, she was worried about Tae Seo Jun more than the child.

If I tell him about my entangled ill fate with Yoo Jung Hwa… If Tae Seo Jun were to suffer because of it, how could I face him?

So Yeon couldn’t bring herself to speak of Yoo Jung Hwa’s deeds, even if it pained her heart.

But always, everything, he found out first, so this time too, So Yeon was simply at a loss for face before Seo Jun.

“I don’t hate you…”

So don’t give up on me.

“You say you don’t, but it seems even more like you do.”

“I’m telling you I don’t. How could I hate you? You who jumped into that fire to save just me. How could such a man be selfish? If we consider it, I’m the more selfish one for calling and making you take such a risk.”

The sin of loving you as I pleased. The sin of pushing you away countless times when you said you liked me. The sin of not trusting you and trying to hide the child. I’m the one who will pay for those sins as I live on.

“And… I’m sorry for that too.”

“For what?”

“For making you hear about Yoo Jung Hwa from Do Soon.”

Seo Jun, who had been looking down at So Yeon for a long time with deep, dark eyes, raised one eyebrow and parted his lips.

“If I say I’m even more sorry, will you deny it again?”

“Yes.”

“Your resolute answers are still the same.”

“When I’m sorry and saying sorry, won’t you accept my apology?”

Unable to take his eyes off So Yeon. No, not having any intention to do so at all, Seo Jun’s eyes gradually lengthened.

“Do Soon was discharged just now. Your test results show nothing abnormal, but if you feel any discomfort, tell me.”

“Not at all.”

“That’s good. But carbon monoxide poisoning can have delayed brain damage, so you must tell me if anything feels even slightly off. Understood?”

“…Yes.”

As So Yeon answered, slowly closing and opening her eyes, Seo Jun gently cupped her cheek.

“Is there anything you want now?”

“There is.”

“What is it?”

So Yeon nuzzled her face against Seo Jun’s hand and said in a small voice.

“I wish we could go home too.”

“You want to be discharged? At this hour?”

The clock was pointing to 10 PM. As Seo Jun glanced towards the wall clock, So Yeon smiled brightly as if to say what’s wrong with the time and said:

“Actually, I really hate the smell of hospitals.”

If Eom So Yeon dislikes it, then he dislikes it too. Seo Jun overturned his plan to stay one more day at the hospital as easily as flipping his palm.

“Dogok-dong would be more comfortable, right?”

“I want to go to Nonhyeon-dong. Elder brother’s house.”

“Why?”

“I still don’t have much energy. I feel like I still need care. I’m hungry and I’d like someone to feed me too. I mean for you to do all that at your house, elder brother.”

This whiny tone like a child, this sudden burst of aegyo, what is this? Seo Jun’s expression, which had only been heavy until now, was instantly covered with a charming smile.

Seo Jun gathered So Yeon’s belongings and clothes, placing them on the bed, and said:

“I’ll go take care of the discharge procedures.”

“I don’t want to be alone. You have to come back quickly, okay?”

“…”

This woman, did she become a different person after her brush with death? Her aegyo is top-notch. Makes me want to bite her.

Seo Jun stared at So Yeon for a moment before leaving the hospital room.

So Yeon, who had changed out of her hospital gown into her own clothes, turned on her powered-off phone.

[We survived, right? I heard you were discharged. Rest well, and let’s talk tomorrow.]

After sending a text message to Do Soon and looking at her phone more, So Yeon doubted her eyes for a moment.

“!”

Mom sent a picture of Hyun Woo. Seeing the beautiful child buried in yellow roses, tears welled up involuntarily. But that was only for a very brief moment.

“Why are these people here…?”

So Yeon’s heart sank as she saw the middle-aged gentleman and lady standing next to Hyun Woo.

But, as if to add insult to injury.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door, then immediately entered the room.

It was a completely unexpected and unwelcome figure, so So Yeon could only open her eyes wide. But she approached So Yeon with an affectionate expression and tone.

“Why are you so surprised? You’re making the person who came because they were worried feel awkward.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Oh, please leave now!”

Grateful for being saved, staying with her at the hospital, and taking her home, but suddenly remembering the mess her house must be in after being away for days, Do Soon adamantly tried to stop Gu Won Hoo from entering the entryway.

“Is there someone inside?”

“No! There’s no one.”

“Is there anyone you’d contact to come over now?”

“No.”

“Family?”

“I’m usually the black sheep at home, and my mom probably won’t come since my sister tattled everything about the blind date.”

“So, let me come in for a bit. You just got discharged from the hospital. I can’t bring myself to leave you alone.”

“Uh, huh?”

But after a physical and verbal struggle, Do Soon ended up losing.

She deeply regretted not cleaning up regularly, even though it was a house she lived in alone. However, since he had already seen the messy interior and they had even opened up more intimate parts to each other, Do Soon decided not to feel embarrassed anymore.

As if to say whatever happens, happens.

Soon, Do Soon flopped down on the sofa, pulled over the blanket next to her, wrapped it around her body, and lay motionless like a caterpillar.

Even after that, finding the picture of Gu Won Hoo being in this house too awkward, Do Soon continued to treat him coolly, if not coldly. But her eyes couldn’t help but follow him constantly.

Even when she told him to leave it be, Won Hoo pretended not to hear and silently cleaned the house.

“Jeez, it’s a woman’s house, why are you cleaning every nook and cranny… Just do it roughly.”

“Roughly? It’s my principle that someone who needs to rest shouldn’t have their mind disturbed by the environment, Ms. Yeo Do Soon.”

While he made the messy house sparkle and shine, Do Soon kept watching Won Hoo the whole time.

What kind of man is so meticulous? Moreover, his movements as he cleaned every corner of the house were so natural that Do Soon gradually became accustomed to the scene with Gu Won Hoo in it.

“Now it looks more like a place where people live, doesn’t it?”

Won Hoo, who had finished cleaning, flashed a grin showing his white teeth. Then, as if he was in his own home, he casually began unbuttoning his sweat-soaked dress shirt one by one while asking Do Soon:

Even with just a glance through the open door, the room had undoubtedly been transformed into a tidy space. After quickly surveying the living room and kitchen, Do Soon was quite impressed by his excellent cleaning skills, but still replied curtly:

“So, are you saying my house was a pigsty?”

“You know it well.”

“Jeez, even so! If you say that outright, what does that make me?”

“A pig?”

“Mr. CEO, you’re really…!”

“I’m joking, and bragging that I’m a man who’s good at everything.”

“Then you should’ve just said so, why make people feel stung…!”

Oh!

Do Soon’s eyes, which had only been moving her lips while lying on the sofa, grew as big as saucers.

She thought he was just unbuttoning a few buttons, but he took off his dress shirt entirely, revealing a perfect upper body without an ounce of excess fat, which made her feel newly flustered.