“Divorce is not something anyone can do.”

Jae Hyuk roughly ruffled his hair. As if frustrated, he loosened the tie around his neck.

A Rin’s gaze sank deep.

“It’s not an infertility hospital either. Then I don’t know why you’re acting like this. Don’t do this and just talk to me.”

Each of his words was a wound to her.

“You really didn’t know?”

She had shown signs for him to understand.

“You never told me. You have to say it for me to know.”

As he said, she had never directly told him, but she had begged with her whole body for him to understand.

The conclusion was the same. Ban Jae Hyuk had no interest in Choi A Rin at all. He knew nothing about her. No, he didn’t try to know.

A Rin’s heart, which had been hot the whole time, turned completely cold.

That’s when it happened.

“A Rin-ah.”

Thud, her heart sank.

Up until now, he had never affectionately called her ‘A Rin-ah’…

Why at the end are you calling me so affectionately, shaking my heart?

Even though she knew she shouldn’t resent him, A Rin resented him for shaking her up until the very end.

Every time the test results came back negative, she had to endure Madam Jeong’s scolding, be conscious of Jae Hyuk, and bear the insults and contempt of his family.

The hardest part was the look of contempt and hatred in the eyes of the man she loved. Small words and actions piled up, leaving indelible scars.

If you’re not even going to give me love, why won’t you let me go?

You don’t need a shield anymore.

So you can just throw me away.

But why…

[Don’t look at anything, don’t listen to anything, don’t do anything. Just stay there.]

Those were the words Jae Hyuk had asked of her before their marriage.

“I don’t have time.”

Jae Hyuk checked the time before continuing.

“Ha, okay. If you don’t want to talk now, let’s talk later.”

There was no later. It had to end now.

A Rin spoke.

“I’m tired of even saying sorry now. It’s hard to be conscious of other people too. Now I want to live like a human being.”

She no longer wanted to live a life that was killing her.

A Rin had never called him ‘oppa’ after their marriage.

Because it was the last time, and to let him know that what she was saying to him now was sincere.

“So let’s stop hurting each other now. Let’s stop, you and me.”

For the first time since their marriage, A Rin called Jae Hyuk ‘oppa’. At her words, his expression was too subtle to put into words.

“I understand for now. But divorce is not an option.”

“Oppa.”

“…Don’t you start too.”

Jae Hyuk avoided A Rin’s gaze.

“Let’s cool our heads for now and talk later.”

He turned his gaze away from her, ripping up the divorce papers she had thrown on the floor in front of him and tossing them in the trash can.

“I’ll tell Mother we’re having lunch together tomorrow. Go out and cool your head. Don’t worry about money.”

“That’s not what I want.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. I’ll be back.”

Jae Hyuk turned around and never looked back.

So he didn’t know what expression she had as she listened to his words, how much her slender shoulders trembled, how many wounds were on her lips that she had bitten so hard not to cry.

[This is the timeline separator]

As soon as Jae Hyuk left, A Rin slumped down on the spot.

Memories with Jae Hyuk began to flash through her mind one by one.

[Happy birthday, A Rin-ah.]

On her 10th birthday, a birthday that even her parents didn’t celebrate, Jae Hyuk was the first person in her life to celebrate her birthday.

[A Rin-ah, shall we get married when we grow up?]

In the summer when she was 14, for the first time in her miserable life where even her family didn’t give her love, he shared his feelings with her and promised her a future.

[I’ll…try to do something. Don’t cry too much, okay?]

Four years ago, when her father was chased out for stealing Chairman Ban’s property, Jae Hyuk caught up with her and held her cheeks as he spoke.

She hadn’t been in a romantic relationship with Jae Hyuk. But deep down, A Rin believed that when the time came, Jae Hyuk would come for her.

Although she hadn’t heard from Jae Hyuk since that day, she still waited. Believing he would come back.

“Oppa… Jae Hyuk oppa.”

But when they met again, there was no one who smiled at her warmly with sincerity.

[If money is what you want, I’ll give you as much as you want. But don’t expect love from me. Live like a doll. Don’t expect anything.]

It was her misunderstanding from the beginning.

She was the only one who liked him as a man, and Jae Hyuk might have treated her out of sympathy or just as a familiar younger sister…. Even the talk of marriage might have been just child’s play.

His kindness was not toward her as a woman.

“It’s over. It’s all over now. You knew there was a woman you love…”

A large puddle formed under her bowed head. She covered her tearful face with her small hands.

In this lonely place where no one understood her…. A Rin cried alone.

[This is the timeline separator]

Late at night, Jae Hyuk left the main house and got into the waiting car.

“Go to Falls.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Falls was a membership-based place.

Today, Jae Hyuk had a gathering with third-generation chaebol heirs. Although it seemed like playing, it was an extension of work to expand his network.

Jae Hyuk called his mother, Madam Jeong, who had left for a trip to Namhae with her friends this morning.

[Oh, son.]

Madam Jeong’s affectionate voice came through the speaker.

[You said you came home. Are you leaving again now?]

“Yes.”

[Why did you come all the way home when you’re busy. It must have been hard.]

Jae Hyuk was playing the role of the de facto head of the group as his father Chairman Ban’s health rapidly deteriorated, so he was so busy that 24 hours a day was not enough.

Even so, the reason he came home today was because A Rin’s voice didn’t sound good last night.

A headache rushed in, and Jae Hyuk pressed his temples hard.

Not knowing her son’s feelings, Madam Jeong spoke in a bright voice as if humming.

But it was only for a moment.

“I’ll call A Rin tomorrow and have lunch together.”

[…Why.]

Madam Jeong’s voice turned cold at Jae Hyuk’s words.

“What do you mean why. Do I need your permission to call my wife and have a meal together?”

The voice of Madam Jeong coming through the speaker trembled thinly.

[Oh, no. Son. Why are you being so sensitive? Mom was just curious because you suddenly said you’re having lunch.]

Jae Hyuk frowned at Madam Jeong’s words.

It was highly likely that Madam Jeong was involved in A Rin’s unusual behavior. Jae Hyuk thought it would be good to give his mother a warning.

“Mother.”

[Oh? Yes.]

“You haven’t forgotten the promise you made to me before the marriage, have you?”

[Oh?]

“I only go along with your tune on the condition that you keep the promise you made to me.”

[Oh, yes. I know.]

“Why did you go to the hospital? Didn’t you say you would tell me in advance if you went to the hospital?”

Madam Jeong stammered at Jae Hyuk’s question, as if flustered.

[Oh my, no. About the hospital. Dr. Kim said he was going to a conference, so it changed suddenly. You don’t think I took her without telling you, do you?]

“Don’t touch A Rin without my knowledge. It’s the same whether we have a child or not.”

[How is having a child just a problem between you two? You’re the heir to VAN Group, so how can I not intervene?]

Madam Jeong answered in a slightly sharp voice. Jae Hyuk’s voice was also firm.

“Before being the heir to VAN Group, it’s our child.”

[Ban Jae Hyuk.]

“And it’s also my problem that we’re not having a child. It’s not just A Rin’s problem.”

[What? What do you mean? There’s no problem with you at all. And about the grandchild…]

As if there was no value in listening further, Jae Hyuk cut off Madam Jeong’s words.

“There is. So if you’re going to take A Rin to the hospital, I’ll get treatment with her.”

[Son. Right now that’s…]

“So just leave A Rin alone. If you don’t want it known that your son also has a problem with having children.”

[If you really do this, I won’t just sit still either.]

Madam Jeong’s sharp, clanging voice coming through the speaker pounded against his eardrums. His head throbbed more.

“Have you forgotten the reason I go along with your tune?”

[…]

“It’s because you’re keeping the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Choi are not A Rin’s real parents a secret for me. If you break the promise first, there’s nothing I can do either.”

At Jae Hyuk’s words, Madam Jeong became furious.

However, her anger was not directed at her son. Rather than disliking Jae Hyuk who didn’t even recognize his mother, Madam Jeong hated A Rin who caused this situation.

[You, are you doing this to your mother who worked hard to raise you, all for that measly woman?]

Jae Hyuk gritted his teeth at Madam Jeong’s words.

“That measly woman, you say?”

Choi A Rin was the only woman in Ban Jae Hyuk’s life. The only woman who had naturally been by his side at some point.

When they were very young, the proposal Jae Hyuk made to A Rin was not just a simple joke.

Jae Hyuk hated A Rin, but he loved her and that’s why he couldn’t let her go.

“I clearly told you. Don’t shake up A Rin when I’m not around.”

[Jae Hyuk-ah, you really…]

“I have a schedule so I’m hanging up.”

[Hey, Jae Hyuk…]

Beep.

Jae Hyuk hung up the phone.

As the disconnected phone kept ringing, Jae Hyuk turned it off.

“Haa.”

Jae Hyuk let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face. As he closed his eyes while leaning his body, A Rin’s voice came to his mind.

[Oppa, I love you. Can’t you love me a little?]

It was the day he came home late at dawn after a long client dinner. His feet, which were heading to the study, unknowingly turned towards A Rin’s bedroom. As he sat on the bed, A Rin, who seemed to have been waiting, fell into his arms in her sleep.

Thud, Jae Hyuk’s heart sank.

Love, she said. I already love you like crazy.

I love you so much it drives me crazy, so why are you saying this to me?

That day, he felt like his heart was being torn apart by her wet, sobbing voice that clung to him.

[Don’t hate me too much. You’re misunderstanding something. I want to have your child because it’s yours. Because I want to become a real family with you.]

The next day, A Rin didn’t remember what had happened the night before. And there were no other times before or after that when she poured out her heart to him.

But after that day, there were many changes in Jae Hyuk. The feeling of anxiety that always made him doubt A Rin’s heart subsided.

He came to blindly believe in A Rin’s love, that Choi A Rin could never leave Ban Jae Hyuk.

Jae Hyuk thought that since she loved him as he loved her, for now, he should just find meaning in being together.

The reason was simple. His feelings for her were too complicated to simply define as ‘love’.

They say love and hate are just a thin line apart.

Jae Hyuk loved A Rin, but at the same time, he hated her.

He recalled a conversation with Madam Jeong three years ago.

[Marriage, you say. To whom?] [To A Rin.] [A Rin…?] [Yes. I told you too, didn’t I? That the shaman said you can have children according to the fate of your future wife.]

If there was anyone who knew better than anyone else that Madam Jeong believed in superstitions, it was her son Jae Hyuk. She even did strange things like holding a talisman written by that shaman and praying in front of the operating room on the day of her husband’s surgery.

[So I mentioned it in passing, but it seems that the story flowed to Yun Kyung Sook. That woman somehow showed her daughter’s fate to the shaman.]

Yun Kyung Sook was A Rin’s mother.

Jae Hyuk found Madam Jeong’s words questionable, but since superstitions were vague by nature, he just brushed off the question marks in his head.

[They said they would give birth to a child if we give them money. From their side.]

His heart sank in shock.