Prosecutor Jang switched to a more formal address with a smile.

“Seo Yoon’s traffic accident remains unresolved due to the failure to apprehend the hit-and-run driver, so we can start investigating right away. I’ll form an investigation team under me. But Seo Ji An’s death case is a bit tricky. Technically, Seo Ji An is alive right now.”

Yeon Seok, with his legs crossed, held his knees with his interlocked hands.

“Moreover, the body was cremated without an autopsy under Han Seo Yoon’s name, so there’s no useful record. There were rumors of an affair between Gu Se Jun and Seo Ji An, but it seems unlikely that any evidence remains.”

“Seo Ji An bought an ultrasound photo from her pregnant friend,” Kang Hyun shared, pressing his dry eyes with his fingers, relaying what Ji An had told him.

“So, she blackmailed him? Threatening to expose it to his wife unless he divorced.”

“Keep it down.”

“Why do you keep telling me to be quiet!”

As Yeon Seok scolded Yeon Ju, he checked his wristwatch.

“Let’s start with arresting Gu Se Jun since Choi Jun Young, whom Executive Kang apprehended, confessed to causing the traffic accident under Gu’s orders. The warrant will be issued soon.”

Kang Hyun nodded and slowly stood up, his body heavy as a waterlogged blanket.

“I’ll take you there.”

Seok Won, who had been glancing worriedly at Kang Hyun, quickly followed him.

“Go to the main house. Send a few investigators to Seowon Family’s house.”

“Why there?”

“Gu Se Jun doesn’t know Seo Yoon. He probably didn’t know Seo Ji An had a twin sister. Yet, the switch between Seo Yoon and Seo Ji An’s identities happened swiftly. The stepmother must be involved too.”

Receiving his coat from Seok Won, Kang Hyun took out a small medicine bottle from his pocket.

Seok Won, startled, grabbed Kang Hyun’s arm as he swallowed the painkillers.

“Executive Kang!”

“I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow, so don’t shout, it’s jarring.”

A deep sigh escaped from Seok Won.

Though his voice, weary to the core, inflated the worry, he refrained from saying more since Kang Hyun promised to visit the hospital.

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Upon entering Seowon Family’s house, Kang Hyun noticed a line of suitcases in the corridor leading to the entrance and gestured towards them.

“What’s this?”

“Madam’s luggage, sir. You told her to leave…”

Kim, the manager who greeted Kang Hyun, added a brief explanation.

Just then, Gu Se Hee, coming out of the bedroom, froze upon seeing Kang Hyun standing there like a withered tree.

“You’ve packed a lot.”

“Then what? Should I leave everything in this house? Because it was bought with your father’s money?”

“Reorganize it.”

“What?”

“Don’t leave. It’s okay. Just stay here, stepmother.”

“Suddenly, what! Fine, I have no intention of clinging to this house anymore. You come and live here.”
Kang Hyun let out a sneer, twisting his lips. His once hollow eyes now shimmered with a rare light as he fixed his gaze on Gu Se Hee.

“Why?”

Gu Se Hee hastily bowed her head to avoid his chilling stare. A cold shiver ran from her toes to the top of her head. She felt like she would scream if she didn’t forcibly keep her mouth shut.

“Where do you think you’re running off to?”

“Run? Why would I run?”

She tried to appear calm, but her trembling voice couldn’t be hidden. She never learned how to hide or control her emotions. She should have left sooner; her judgment was too slow in this new situation.

“I have no reason to run.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Manager Kim, why are you standing there? Load the suitcases; we’re leaving early tomorrow.”

“Haven’t you heard? Your brother paid someone who just confessed. Gu Se Jun orchestrated Seo Yoon’s car accident.”

Gu Se Hee’s face turned pale, and she stumbled backward. The house fell silent except for her rapid breathing.

“Why would Se Jun orchestrate Seo Yoon’s accident! He didn’t even know her!”

Kang Hyun’s tone, filled with certainty, sent chills down Gu Se Hee’s spine as she wrapped her arms around herself and yelled sharply.

“To be exact, he was instructed to hit Seo Ji An. If only Seo Yoon hadn’t appeared at the place where Ji An was supposed to be, this mess wouldn’t have happened, right?”

His gaze, devoid of emotion, pierced Gu Se Hee like thorns.

“I don’t care what Gu Se Jun did to Seo Ji An. Why did you switch Seo Yoon with Seo Ji An? When did you know Ji An was Yoon’s twin?”

“No, it’s not true. Our Se Jun… Kang Hyun, it’s not him.”

Gu Se Hee kept shaking her head in denial, trying to smile, but her quivering lips betrayed her. Kang Hyun stepped closer, but she couldn’t back away any further.

Feeling as if her throat was constricted, her body stiffened, recalling the image of a woman bleeding on the floor of Se Jun’s penthouse.

Suddenly, Gu Se Hee collapsed to the floor, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Who helped you cover this up? Father? Uncle?”

“I don’t know anything!”

Kang Hyun, squatting to meet her eye level, frowned as Gu Se Hee’s eyes reddened.

Large tears from her eyes wet the marble floor.

“Why are you crying, Mother? I am the one who wants to cry.”

Gu Se Hee’s thin shoulders shrank even more.

“Why did you pretend the alive Seo Yoon was dead?”

Gu Se Hee clenched her teeth to prevent any nonsense from spilling out, fiercely wiping away her tears. She reassured herself that Se Jun would be safe as he had planned to hide.
Gu Se Hee clenched her jaw, trembling with the effort to prevent any nonsense from spilling out. She wiped her tears, assuring herself that Se Jun would be fine since he had decided to hide.

“How could you think of taking Seo Yoon away from me?”

Kang Hyun’s temples throbbed with rage. That day, despite the tragic accident that intertwined their fates, Seo Yoon had both lost and gained. But Kang Hyun had lost everything. The disappearance of Seo Yoon, whom he had firmly believed would be by his side till death, felt like the world collapsing around him.

Gu Se Hee, scratching her manicured nails, turned her face away from Kang Hyun.

“Why Seo Yoon…”

As a tight headache set in, blurring his vision, Kang Hyun staggered, losing his balance.

“Chairman, the investigators have arrived. Let’s go home now.”

It seemed urgent to get some rest.

Seok Won, who came in late, forcibly pulled Kang Hyun, who was still unable to cry or smile.

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Friday morning, Ji An entered the office with light steps, facing the upcoming weekend. She planned to sort out her moving boxes over the weekend, but she also hoped to have dinner with Kang Hyun on Sunday evening.

Just thinking of Kang Hyun made her face flush with embarrassment. Yesterday’s kiss was beyond words.

“Good morning, Manager!”

In contrast to Ji An’s cheerful mood, Seok Won, clutching his phone, paced restlessly around the secretary’s office.

“Ah, you’re here?”

“Yes. Why are you up? Has Chairman Kang arrived?”

“No, not yet.”

Kang Hyun had swallowed painkillers after meeting Gu Se Hee and leaving the Seo Won House. He stubbornly insisted on organizing Seo Yoon’s photos attached to his bedroom despite the pain. He left the Hannam-dong apartment around 10 p.m.

He should have woken up by now, even if he went to bed after midnight. Seok Won’s worry doubled as his third call also went unanswered.

He frantically searched his phone for Mrs. Ko’s number.

[Dash] “Yes, Manager?”

“Mrs. Ko, are you still in Hannam-dong?”

[Dash] “I just left.”

“Has Chairman Kang woken up?”

[Dash] “I’m not sure. I knocked to let him know breakfast was ready, but there was no response, so I left.”

“Okay, thank you.”

After ending the call, Seok Won picked up his jacket from the chair’s backrest.

“Ji An.”

“Yes?”

“Chairman Kang seems very unwell. Was he okay during the business trip?”

“Uh…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Ji An stumbled over her words.