Chapter 35
"Had such a good sleep…"
On the bus, Hee-joo had fallen completely asleep. When she woke, she found herself leaning on Baek Sa-eon’s shoulder, and he hadn’t stopped her the entire way. Embarrassed and unsure of what to do, Hee-joo hurriedly got off the bus, avoiding his gaze.
Brilliantly colored maple leaves. The fiery reds blanketed the entire mountain, set against the clear blue sky.
“Wow…”
Everywhere was a sea of red. Her heart, which had been pounding since earlier, thumped even more violently.
Employees gathered at the foot of the mountain by the resort. This event was a company outing involving the entire publicity department, including the chief, spokesperson, and secretaries. Judging by their attire, they were all seasoned participants of such activities. Hiking clothes, backpacks, trekking poles, hats—everything was in place.
By comparison, Hee-joo looked as if she had casually gone out for a walk. She wore loose sportswear and carried a simple bag.
At that moment, Baek Sa-eon, who was managing the team, walked over and opened Hee-joo’s bag. He glanced at its sparse contents and frowned slightly.
“I knew it.”
Without hesitation, Baek Sa-eon unzipped his own bag and packed water, a towel, chocolate, and a first-aid kit into hers. Then, he removed the windbreaker he was wearing and tied it around her waist.
“Wear it if you get cold.”
The fitted black top clung to his strong frame, accentuating every line of his muscles. Each time he bent over to secure the jacket around her, his shoulder blades shifted slightly under the fabric. It all happened so quickly.
“Wow, Mr. Spokesperson, you’re never this attentive to the rest of us!”
“Yeah, why don’t you check my bag too?”
“Are you playing favorites among the employees?”
The teasing complaints came from all directions. The typically cold and aloof Blue House spokesperson, who was now so attentive to the new sign language interpreter, had drawn countless curious stares.
“Yes, I’m playing favorites,” he replied casually after securing the windbreaker, his tone indifferent.
Baek Sa-eon glanced briefly at Hee-joo before walking to the front of the group to continue organizing.
Hee-joo, flustered, rubbed her ear awkwardly.
And so, the hike began.
“Whew… whew…”
“Why do we put ourselves through this every year…”
“Totally… couldn’t agree more.”
The employees practically crawled up the mountain, their energy draining fast. Gradually, conversations ceased, leaving only the clinking of hiking gear.
A winding stone path. Twisted tree roots and dense underbrush. Rugged steps carved into the steep slope.
This activity, though physically challenging, seemed perfectly suited for the quiet Hee-joo. She focused on nothing but following Baek Sa-eon’s back, which she trailed closely. Soon, she had passed her senior colleagues and moved to the front.
The elderly chief of public relations widened his eyes.
“Wow, our sign language interpreter has incredible stamina!”
Hee-joo could only offer a shy smile, but before long, even the chief fell behind.
“Hee-joo, watch out for that.”
Baek Sa-eon pointed to a sharp stone half-buried in the ground.
Now, only the two of them were left at the front.
Walking ahead, Baek Sa-eon glanced back at her occasionally, his expression showing subtle surprise.
In truth, Hee-joo’s legs were burning, but she felt an indescribable sense of relief.
“Turns out keeping up with him isn’t so hard…”
Hee-joo found herself growing fond of hiking, discovering the simplicity of staying close to Baek Sa-eon.
“You haven’t complained even once.”
He suddenly stopped, gulping down water from a bottle.
“Hee-joo, do I make you uncomfortable?”
The 500ml bottle was emptied in an instant. He crushed it in his hand and asked, his tone firm.
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden…”
“What do I have to do for you to talk to me?”
“…!”
He wiped his sweat-soaked hair back in frustration.
“Is it because of our sign language interpreter? My head is filled with thoughts of what Hee-joo’s mouth might want to say these days.”
“…!”
“I’ve been so careful around you, and now I’m wondering… am I just an idiot?”
His brow furrowed as he handed a fresh water bottle to her.
“From the moment you started crying loudly, I should’ve started questioning things.”
Reluctantly, Hee-joo engaged in an unexpected tug-of-war with the water bottle he wouldn’t release.
At that moment, his sharp gaze pierced through her.
“Hee-joo, there’s a thing in this world called justification. You know, the one who gets hit first is usually smarter.”
The sound of his heavy breathing hung in the cool mountain air.
A mountain breeze blew past. Hee-joo casually snatched the water bottle, unscrewing the cap. She sensed something was off but assumed it was 406 complaining about her actions, making him unhappy. The sweat cooling on her neck brought a faint chill.
“Just letting you know.”
“……”
“Stop bringing trouble upon yourself.”
As she drank, a trace of coldness flickered across the man’s face.
Finally, they reached the summit. The climbing activity that started in the morning culminated in the afternoon at the mountain peak.
“Wow! It’s finally over!”
“Ugh…”
“The view is beautiful… but I’m so exhausted…”
At the summit, there was nothing but the endless sky. Listening to the groans of the employees who arrived later, Hee-joo stole a glance at Baek Sa-eon. The man had grown noticeably quieter. After reaching the summit first, he immediately put on headphones, engrossed in something. Was he working? Even here?
“Alright, everyone, spread out where the view is best!”
The head of the public relations department gathered the scattered employees. An assistant quickly produced a camera.
“Let’s take a commemorative photo! Hold up the banner! Watch the cliff! Don’t push those behind you, and those in front, crouch down a bit…”
The employees, clearly accustomed to such activities, swiftly assumed their positions. Hee-joo, unsure of what to do, decided to keep a low profile, standing in the back row and cautiously revealing her face among the crowd.
“Alright, this is the last group activity of the Blue House Public Relations Department. Seeing everyone together is truly moving! Let’s count to three for the photo! Everyone, raise your right hand in a cheer pose!”
Where the crooked trees met the sky, people raised their right hands energetically, creating a picturesque scene captured in the lens.
“Ah—!”
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air.
All eyes immediately turned in the direction of the sound. Baek Sa-eon hurriedly moved, holding the banner.
“Someone fell off!”
A voice cried out desperately.
Everyone quickly knelt and peered down the cliff. All they saw was a steep drop.
Whoosh—whoosh— The crimson maple trees rippled like waves.
The deadly silent cliff had seemingly swallowed someone whole.
“Hong Hee-joo!”
A single man’s shattered voice echoed through the valley.
The Public Relations Office was thrown into a state of emergency. During the workshop, a newly hired sign language interpreter had accidentally fallen.
“How long have we been trying to contact 119?!”
The Public Relations Secretary shouted into his phone.
“Do you know who I am?!”
He waved his finger at nothing but air, his frustration boiling over.
For an incident like this to occur in the final stage of the president's term was an unthinkable misfortune. For the sake of political stability, they couldn’t provide any pretext for rival parties. Public servant safety negligence was an easy target for criticism.
“The rescue team will arrive shortly.”
At that moment, a hoarse, gravelly voice broke through.
It was Baek Sa-eon, his eyes bloodshot. The Public Relations Secretary noticed him and cautiously spoke.
“Are you calm now?”
“……”
Baek Sa-eon clenched his teeth again, the taste of blood returning as his injured gums tore further. Though he knew such behavior was unbecoming, he spat blood onto the ground regardless.
For someone usually so composed, this was the first time Baek Sa-eon had completely lost his reason. The other employees, wary of his presence, shuffled anxiously at a distance.
He remained at the summit even after the first helicopter rescue attempt failed, seemingly too shocked to speak. He simply stood, dazed.
“Hong Hee-joo, the interpreter—what’s her relationship to you? The staff still doesn’t know.”
“……”
“You look utterly disgraceful right now.”
Hee-joo Hong had vanished right before his eyes. This was something he had never dared to imagine.
“Still no contact?”
“Her phone is turned off.”
“Any other means of communication?”
“……”
A wave of nausea hit him. Absolute helplessness.
Having weathered unstable times, Baek Sa-eon had never experienced such a crushing sense of failure since reaching adulthood. The feeling wrapped around him like unbreakable chains.
He let out a bitter smile.
Why did I push myself to climb so high?
For whom did I make such a decision?
How could you disappear like this?
Baek Sa-eon swallowed the bitterness in his throat and silently closed his eyes.
If it really is you… if my suspicions are true…
Unknowingly, the sun had already dipped behind the ridge.
Chapter 36
——If anything happens, the first to die will be your sister. Because you're the one in the way.
"…!"
——I’m not joking.
Her eyes were darkened with terror. The kidnapper’s words echoed in her mind the moment she fell from the cliff. She flailed her arms, but nothing could be grasped. Everything happened too fast.
"…!"
Her back suffered a violent impact, like being struck by a bomb. Her body collided with branches, then fell again. Instinctively, Hee-joo stretched out her hand, desperately trying to grab onto something, but her palms slipped.
"Uh… uh…"
Her head struck the jagged rocks, and she was sucked into a cavern, crashing heavily to the ground. Pain coursed through her entire body.
"Ha… uh…"
Amid her disoriented consciousness, rough shouts echoed faintly, though whether they were real or not no longer mattered.
I’m here… She gritted her teeth and reached out a hand. However, her vision was engulfed in darkness.
"Ugh…"
A wave of coldness spread through her entire body. The first sensation to return was in her fingers, touching the rough surface of rocks. As her sense of touch recovered, the other senses surged in like a flood. Cold winds slashed through the torn fabric of her clothing like knives.
Her vision blurred, and her head felt feverish. Certain parts of her body were swollen, stinging, and bleeding. Bruises covered her body, and even the slightest movement brought beads of cold sweat to her skin.
When she finally opened her eyes again, night had fallen.
"How long was I unconscious?"
Through the leaves, she saw the pitch-black night sky.
"Where is this place?"
She had fallen through trees growing along the cliff edge and into a cave. But with no sign of rescue so far, it was clear that pinpointing her location was proving difficult.
"Ugh…"
Though no one was to blame, an overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over her.
——Howl, howl, howl…
A beast's cry echoed faintly from afar. Aside from that, every tiny noise in the forest was amplified, making the pitch-black night feel increasingly menacing.
"I’m so scared… I want to go home…"
She knew she couldn’t remain collapsed like this. But her legs felt like they were frozen solid, barely able to move.
"Start by lifting your upper body slowly," she muttered to herself. Groaning, she unstrapped the backpack from her shoulders.
"My phone… I’ll use my phone to notify them of my location!"
Hee-joo rummaged through her backpack and finally found her phone. The rush of relief lasted only a moment—its battery was completely dead.
Because she rarely used her phone, she had never paid much attention to its charging cycle. Now that carelessness had left her stranded in this dire situation.
"Of all times to have no battery…!"
Just as she was on the verge of tears, her expression shifted suddenly.
Hee-joo momentarily forgot the pain coursing through her body. Her mind went blank. Her hand had touched a second phone.
"No… no way…"
A cold realization settled into her heart. But now, her only hope lay with this negotiation phone.
It was the fruit of the devil.
Her heart pounded frantically. This negotiation phone could only call one person. And that person was someone she absolutely must not ask for help.
Because that person was Kidnapper 406. This wasn’t a call for help—it was a threatening call.
"I’m insane. How could I even…"
Realizing that everything was on the verge of falling apart, she cursed under her breath despite the lack of tears.
"…!"
Suddenly, she felt her strength slipping away. Her tongue was parched, her head spinning, and her vision blurred. It seemed she was showing symptoms of dehydration.
"This can’t happen… It’s too dangerous…"
She couldn’t let herself pass out here.
Finally, like clutching a lifeline, Hee-joo pulled out the negotiation phone.
Firefighters and the mountain rescue team had been searching for four hours. Seventeen pieces of equipment and over 50 personnel were deployed to comb the area within 50 meters of the cliff and downstream, yet they found no trace of Hee-joo.
“There was a professor who went missing here once, and they only found his body two days later. He fell from a cliff—turns out it was suicide…”
“Hey, why are you saying such unlucky things now!”
The gathered onlookers whispered among themselves.
From the beginning, Baek Sa-eon had been actively searching alongside the rescue team.
As a former war correspondent, certified by the National Rifle Association, and someone who traversed war-torn regions like his backyard, searching a mountain was nothing to him.
“Excuse me, Spokesperson… have you contacted the family of the missing person yet?”
“Yes.”
“This mountain is notorious for slip accidents. We should at least be prepared… to recover a body.”
“Recover a body?”
Baek Sa-eon repeated the words flatly without blinking.
“Ah, I mean…” The firefighter tried to clarify, but Sa-eon closed his eyes in silence for a moment before speaking. His expression revealed nothing.
“Can the rescue dogs be deployed immediately?”
“They can, but we haven’t received the missing person’s clothing or items.”
“Then let’s start now.”
“What?”
“My clothes are tied around her waist.”
Speaking like a seasoned mountaineer, Sa-eon continued as he ascended.
“Let them smell me. Not just the clothes but also my scent. I’ve been carrying her since the bus ride. Even the scent of the body wash is the same.”
“Uh… shouldn’t we contact her family first—”
“I’m her husband.”
“...!”
The firefighter froze, mouth agape but speechless, lowering his head instead.
Even so, Sa-eon’s expression remained unmoved. His face bore no emotion, like a bleached plaster cast.
Just then, his phone rang. The screen displayed Cheong Wa Dae.
“…”
What pained him most was that even now, he had to manage the media and fulfill his duties as the spokesperson for the Blue House. Somehow, reporters were already swarming his phone with calls and messages.
His pupils trembled with unease.
“Spokesperson, your phone keeps ringing…”
The sound of the vibrating phone in the quiet mountain night buzzed like a wasp, drawing the attention of the rescue team from time to time.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“I’m not answering.”
But Sa-eon wasn’t responding to those general calls. He glanced discreetly at his watch.
“I’m waiting for a call.”
The number you have dialed is either disconnected or restricted. Please verify and try again…
Even emergency numbers like 112 and 119 couldn’t be reached.
The negotiation phone couldn’t make emergency calls at all.
She had even tried dialing the Hand Sign Language Translation Center’s number she remembered, but there was no response.
“Ha…”
In a life-or-death situation, a single phone call could break her. It was both the rope strangling her neck and her sole lifeline.
There was only one number she could call.
But how could she possibly ask for help from the husband who was actively threatening her?
Hee-joo felt herself teetering on the brink of collapse, her nose wrinkling as she stifled a sob.
“Ugh…”
How had she come this far, using threats to hold him in place?
Hee-joo shook her head, trying to regain her composure. The sudden movement made her feel nauseous, but she had to stay conscious.
“I can’t fall here.”
Whether it was about life or death, or divorce, giving up was not an option now.
Beep, beep. Beep, beep.
So, Hee-joo decided to become "Kidnapper 406."
In this moment of crisis, she was no longer Hee-joo—she was 406.
“Ugh…”
The hand holding the phone trembled.
Just don’t answer. No, answer it.
In the instant these conflicting emotions battled fiercely, the ringing abruptly stopped.
—…!
Was it because his low sigh came faster than his words?
Tears quickly welled up in Hee-joo’s eyes.
It was the sound that connected them, but it also carried a sense of something breaking apart. The chaos of noise dissipated, and even the pain seemed to fade. At this moment, only the two of them existed.
—You…
His voice came through the line, choked with emotion, and Hee-joo held her breath for a moment.
His tone was strange, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.
—… No, 406.
That stiff yet trembling voice felt unfamiliar.
However, in the darkness and despair, hearing this familiar voice was like sunlight piercing through, filling her with a strange sense of relief.
"You told me to contact you if a body was found."
She barely managed to suppress her sobs, but her breathing became uneven.
"So, I’m calling you. Come and take it."
—…What’s the situation? Is Hee-joo okay?
But his heart was also in turmoil. Baek Sa-eon took a deep breath, trying to steady his quivering voice.
"You’re not curious how I know all this?"
—406 is always clever; this isn’t surprising. Don’t you know Hee-joo’s situation like the back of your hand? More importantly, are you hurt? How are you right now? Where exactly are you? Has the location been confirmed?
He fired off a barrage of questions, his tone almost interrogative.
Just now… it seemed like something was casually glossed over…
Was that my imagination?
Hee-joo frowned and reiterated, “You know how good I am at tracking, right? Last time, I sent a fake delivery message to Hee-joo’s phone and made her install malware.”
Her vision began to blur, overlapping as if layered several times.
Her stomach churned, and she felt like she was drunk. Even her words started to tumble out nonsensically.
“Uh… that software worked pretty well for surveillance… so I know she received the workshop message, but the location hasn’t changed for over five hours in the mountains.”
—Now’s not the time to talk about this…!
“She must have passed out.”
—…!
His usually calm voice suddenly became sharp and urgent.
Chapter 39
"The prognosis for your concussion looks good. The tests didn’t indicate any other symptoms of shock. Just make sure to avoid inflammation before the IV line is removed, and you should be able to discharge next week…"
No…!
My precious time!
Her anxious gaze darted around the room. Roughly calculating, there were only about ten days left until the date she could file for divorce. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she saw that it was already close to 10 p.m.
She instinctively—
"…!"
But where was the negotiation phone?
A cold chill ran down her spine.
"Ah…"
Her face turned pale as she scrambled up from the bed in a panic. After seeing off the night-shift doctor, she locked the door behind them. Thankfully, she spotted the hiking bag sitting on the desk.
Hee-joo let out a sigh of relief as she rummaged through the bag and found the negotiation phone.
"I hope no one saw it…"
The blank space in her memory from when she had lost consciousness left her feeling uneasy. She plugged the dead phone into a fast charger and waited.
If something’s wrong, the kidnapper will contact me.
Considering his personality, reckless like a car with broken brakes, she felt even more certain.
"…Nothing."
She muttered under her breath, her thumb swiping quickly across the screen. No calls from restricted numbers. Only a long list of missed calls—all from Baek Sa-eon.
—Really? But I was so scared I could have died.
The voice that suddenly surfaced in her mind made her chest tighten painfully. Hee-joo shook her head violently, startled by her own reaction. Although the dizziness made her stagger, she thought it might be better this way—she didn’t need such emotions now.
‘The threatening calls should still work, right?’
Finally, when the clock struck 10, Hee-joo almost unconsciously picked up the negotiation phone.
Beep, beep, beep. Beep, beep, beep.
She anxiously bit her lip, the action bringing back the memory of a forgotten sensation. Cool hands, searing lips against her skin—the vivid intensity of those feelings lingered in her mind, refusing to fade…
—…Hello?
"…!"
The fine hairs on her body stood on end as she rubbed her flushed neck, nervous, before forcing herself to speak.
"…It's me."
The person on the other end chuckled softly.
"—Yes, I know. It’s you, 406."
"You actually have the nerve to answer the phone. Looks like Hong Hee-joo didn’t die after all."
"—Why do you always have to be so sharp-tongued?"
"What?"
"—You shouldn’t say things like that."
His tone grew serious, his voice alone conveying a shift in demeanor.
"What do you mean by that?"
"—According to 406, you almost got into serious trouble. Don’t be so harsh with your words."
It sounded like he had stepped back for a moment.
"I’ve always been a bad person. What are you going to do about it?"
Hee-joo’s heart skipped oddly, but she responded more forcefully.
"—Ah, so now you’re admitting you’re a bad person?"
A helpless laugh suddenly came through the line. Hee-joo felt a tickle in her ear and switched the phone to her other hand.
"Why are you talking like that, brother?"
"—…Ah, brother, really…"
It sounded as if he covered the microphone for a moment, his voice muffled and unclear.
"Why exactly?" Hee-joo shouted in frustration.
"—…Ah, sorry. 406 is just so intimidating."
"What?"
"—I got too nervous."
A strange anger welled up inside her. Was it because of her physical discomfort? Every aspect of his unusual response irritated her.
The lack of his usual coldness, the absence of disdain in his tone.
And most of all, his sharpness toward 406 seemed to have dulled, and that left her deeply dissatisfied.
"You think I’m funny?"
"—It’s not that I think you’re funny; I’m just startled."
"Startled?"
"—I re-listened to all our previous calls, revisited those moments."
"…"
"—I realized that 406’s way with words is much more impressive than I imagined."
The sudden compliment left Hee-joo stunned. She had never expected such recognition, never even dared to hope for it. Unconsciously, she closed her mouth.
"—I’m curious who taught you that."
"…Is it really that good?" she asked, clearing her throat awkwardly.
"—That’s the evaluation of the Blue House spokesperson. Isn’t that credible enough?"
"Y-yes, that’s true…"
His words, though not overtly flattering, put Hee-joo on high alert. She furrowed her brows, trying to discern his intentions. The wound on the back of her head throbbed faintly, and her vision started to blur.
"—406, are you feeling dizzy?"
"…!"
Baek Sa-eon noticed immediately.
"—Your breathing doesn’t sound right."
"It’s nothing, I…"
"—406, you’re probably as tense as I am, right? After spending all of yesterday keeping track of Hee-joo’s whereabouts, you must be exhausted. Lie down while you’re on the phone."
"What?"
"—We’ve reached that level of trust, haven’t we?"
Trust? Trust?
Hee-joo felt herself being drawn in by his words, subtle yet tinged with amusement. She couldn’t resist following his lead.
The complex emotions swirling within her at the thought of a husband gradually aligning himself with the kidnapper threatening his wife were impossible to untangle. She felt uneasy and dissatisfied with the growing sense of familiarity with 406.
Brushing her hair back from her forehead, she forced herself to focus.
"Alright, let’s talk about something 406 likes."
"I’m only interested in teasing my brother."
"I like that too. But don’t we have a deal?"
"What?"
"Why haven’t you sent the photos?"
"…!"
"Photos of Hee-joo."
She gasped sharply.
"That… I’ve changed my mind."
Cold sweat dripped down her back. Speaking those words made her feel terrified, but now there was no turning back.
"I recalculated. Twenty billion isn’t enough. I accidentally discovered a secret about the Blue House spokesperson."
"Oh, is that so? That’s good then."
"What?"
"I’ve also discovered a secret about 406."
"…!"
Her body stiffened instantly, her wrists feeling numb from the tension. Even so, unwilling to back down in this subtle power struggle, she raised her voice.
"If I expose this, you’ll really end up in jail…!"
"Then let’s go together, shall we?"
"What? Go… go where?"
"If that’s the case, why don’t we just go to prison together and share a cell?"
"…!"
Baek Sa-eon’s shameless response left Hee-joo flustered and enraged.
"But," he added in a low, almost teasing voice, "that might be a bit difficult."
"What do you mean?"
"406 doesn’t have that thing, right?"
"…!"
Hee-joo froze, her mind going blank.
"N-no, I have it!"
"That’s just the fixed impression 406 left me with. If you’re upset about it, why don’t you send me a… self-pleasure video? I might believe you then. But you didn’t, did you? You don’t have it."
"…"
She could only swallow hard. The explicit undertones of his words left her feeling both defeated and furious.
"If you’re so confident, take it off and prove it. Let’s see your voice modulator."
"…!"
…What?
"I can hear your voice clearly," he said, his words piercing her defenses.
Wait, wait…!
Hee-joo felt crushed under the weight of his accusations, unable to muster a response.
"Alright, let’s get to the point," Baek Sa-eon suddenly said coldly.
A sense of foreboding swept over her again.
"From now on, don’t call me again."
"What?"
"If you ignore my warning and call again, you’ll regret it."
"What are you—"
"I told you—I like this kind of thing."
"…!"
"If you think you can handle it, go ahead and try."
In an instant, the roles in their confrontation reversed entirely.
‘This is bad…’
She curled up in the corner of her room for the rest of the night, her thoughts tangled and chaotic.
She was certain the voice modulator would never be discovered—absolutely certain. She bit down on her blunt thumb in frustration.
‘But… it seems like he doesn’t know it’s me, right?’
Though his attitude had shifted subtly, the core of his hostility and mockery hadn’t changed. In fact, they had returned to square one, each holding the other’s secrets.
Particularly unsettling was his warning before ending the call.
The negotiations were far from over.
The stitches in her wound throbbed faintly, but what troubled her more was the pounding in her head.
It was early morning, before dawn, and she had spent the night tossing and turning. Suddenly, the door clicked open.
"…!"
Hee-joo instinctively pulled the blanket over her head.
The man who had been the source of her sleepless night walked in, impeccably dressed in a suit.
"Should I force your mouth open to hear you scream again?"
His impatient muttering was loud enough to make her flinch.
With ease, he pulled back the puffy blanket shielding her. Hee-joo avoided his gaze, clutching the edge of the blanket tightly, but then his face came closer, just like yesterday.
His scorching gaze landed on her lower lip.
"This isn’t something I told you to do."
Reflexively, Hee-joo licked her chapped lips, and his brows twitched with displeasure.
"Why are you biting your lip?"
She could only widen her eyes and shift her gaze.
"What exactly did you have to bite overnight?"
"…!"
Hee-joo still found it difficult to speak to him. His penetrating stare was reminiscent of the eyes she had faced at the beginning of every new school year. Those moments where she stammered through introductions, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes fixed on her.
And those expectant gazes turning to boredom.
The cycle repeated itself through her adolescence and adulthood. Now, she felt the same cold dread, her hands and feet turning icy.
Thankfully, Baek Sa-eon didn’t ask again.
Despite the silence hanging between them, it felt more familiar than any words they might exchange.
Ironically, both appeared unnervingly calm.
"I’ve already informed the publicity department that you’re on medical leave. You’ll resume work immediately after discharge."
"…!"
In truth, she had already prepared herself for the possibility that her acceptance might be revoked entirely.
Baek Sa-eon gently flicked her pale nose.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"…"
"Didn’t you say that if I hired you, you’d tell me how you analyzed me?"
He adjusted the IV drip with practiced ease.
"Until I hear that, I’m not letting you go."
The light from the window framed his figure as he stood by it, casting a glow that illuminated Hee-joo’s face.
Chapter 37
"Has she lost consciousness? Is she injured?"
"…I… I don’t know. But with this cold weather… maybe…" Hee-joo's voice trailed off, her words stretching out. He urgently shouted:
"Stay awake!"
"Oh, oh! Hurry and come over… I’m here, in a crevice beneath this cliff…" Her chin began to tremble, teeth chattering incessantly. "Below the summit, under four or five trees… there’s a cave between the cliffs…"
"—Four-zero-six, can you hear me?" His voice grew increasingly tense. Baek Sa-eon's clear pronunciation came through haltingly, like a broken radio signal. No… is it my problem? Her thoughts started to slow.
Baek Sa-eon… that name—I want to call it out. I want to shout his name at the top of my lungs, to vent my emotions, to cry out loud…
"…Hurry." For her, these few words were all she could muster. Then, a sharp, high-pitched sound echoed by her ear.
"—I understand, so don’t hang up the phone."
"…!"
"—Please, don’t hang up until I get there."
"…"
"—I’m begging you."
The moment she heard those words, her throat tightened painfully. The man she had once desperately wanted to divorce… now, the sound of his voice made her feel she wasn’t alone.
"—Search the northeast direction again. We’ll report our movements as we go. Don’t hang up. And…"
He paused, taking a heavy breath.
"—If there’s anything you can think of, let me know. Don’t worry."
"…!"
"—I’ll be there soon."
Bang. Pop—!
At that moment, red flares scattered across the sky.
"—Four-zero-six, you might not be able to see it, but we’re on our way right now."
Even with her blurred vision, she could see the bright flames rising into the sky. She weakly curved her lips into a faint smile.
"—There’s chocolate in Hee-joo’s bag. I wonder if she found something to eat."
"But… I don’t know…"
"—I put an emergency kit in the zippered pocket. At the very bottom, there’s a portable flare. You just need to strike the cover to ignite it. I hope Hee-joo can find it and use it. Four-zero-six, do you think she will?"
Baek Sa-eon’s voice grew increasingly frantic, likely because he was moving quickly, his breathing becoming more labored.
"…W-what?" she responded, her tongue stumbling over the words.
"—I’m asking because Four-zero-six knows Hee-joo."
"If she’s conscious… she’ll probably search for something… won’t she?"
Her vision, growing more blurred, felt like a swamp pulling her under. Hee-joo desperately wiggled her toes.
"—Are you very scared?"
"…!"
Hee-joo hesitated before giving an appropriate response.
"What’s there to be scared of…"
"Is that so? Because I’m scared to death."
"…!"
His voice was as calm and flat as always, almost like a confession. Her heart jolted violently. She moved her aching waist and started rummaging through her bag again. When she finally saw the small emergency kit, strangely enough, it wasn’t her body that reacted first, but her eyes—they burned.
"I thought you didn’t care whether I lived or died."
"…"
"That’s how it seemed back then. That’s why Hong Hee-joo felt so wronged."
"…Did you cry because of that?"
He naturally softened his tone, though it remained stiff, making Hee-joo feel oddly at ease.
"I don’t remember."
Finally, Hee-joo sent out the distress signal. Her flare seemed to be answered; another flare exploded in the sky above.
Woof woof—
The sound of dogs barking echoed from the distance, reverberating like ripples. Trapped in the crevice of the cliff, Hee-joo no longer felt the darkness. She smiled faintly and finished her sentence.
"If you don’t hurry, I… I’ll expose everything. I’ll reveal just how two-faced you are."
"…"
"I really do have solid evidence…"
"Alright."
"What?"
"Please continue"……"
"Make sure to call me."
What exactly is Baek Sa-eon talking about? Even in her hazy state of consciousness, Hee-joo found herself wondering this.
"Hurry…"
"…406, can you hear me?"
"……"
"406!"
threatening me like this tomorrow too."
"Severe dehydration and hypothermia! Quickly, get an IV started! There’s bleeding at the back of the head—schedule a CT immediately!"
The rescue team carefully pulled Hee-joo from the crevice she had fallen into and carried her to the waiting helicopter, which rushed her to the hospital.
It had been a four-hour nightmare.
The man who remained stoic even when faced with bodies torn apart by explosions now trembled at the sight of Hee-joo, covered in blood. His eyelids quivered, and his face, usually as impassive as a ghost, twisted vividly with emotion—almost human.
"Fortunately, there’s no major damage to the brain. Just a ruptured blood vessel. Her head required 10 stitches, and her limbs were stitched 7 and 8 times, respectively. She appears to have fallen into a coma due to dehydration shock, but we’ll conduct further examinations as soon as she regains consciousness," the doctor explained.
Hearing this, Baek Sa-eon slumped into a chair in the hospital room. He wiped his face with his hand and stared at Hee-joo, lying there as though lifeless.
"……"
He hadn’t gone through all this to become a lonely widower. He hadn’t endured this pain just to feel such torment.
"We’re not pretending to be married anymore… We should’ve ended this a long time ago."
Those were the words he had told himself. His fragile pride, which he had once tried to protect in such a pathetic way, was now utterly shattered.
At that moment, knock, knock—someone rapped on the door.
"Please wait there for a moment," Baek Sa-eon responded sharply. He opened the door himself and stepped out. Standing at the doorway, he blocked the entrance, his gaze fixed on the visitor.
"Ah, senior, this…" Assistant Park held out Hee-joo’s dirty bag. "It’s a bit late, but we managed to retrieve it from the firefighters."
Instantly, Baek Sa-eon’s sharp eyes flickered as he turned the bag upside down, dumping all its contents onto the floor.
"Se-senior…?!"
An empty bottle, chocolate, the emergency kit, a towel, a powered-off phone… His eyes scanned the scattered items on the floor with precision.
He looked back at Assistant Park and asked coldly, "Are these all the items?"
"Y-yes. Are you looking for something in particular…?"
"Is there another phone? Apart from this one?"
"Phone?" Assistant Park shook his head in confusion. Baek Sa-eon dropped the topic, pivoting to something else.
"How did the analysis go for the item you submitted?"
"Ah…" Assistant Park looked troubled.
"Assistant Park." Baek Sa-eon’s expression turned firm, his patience clearly at its limit.
"It’s… a bit unclear."
"What do you mean?"
"The result was 79.35%."
"……"
"Although this percentage isn’t enough to definitively confirm a match between the voices, it’s above average, suggesting a significant possibility that—"
"It’s fine," Baek Sa-eon cut him off, his eyes gleaming darkly. "I can confirm the rest myself."
After sending away all the visitors, Baek Sa-eon re-entered the room, now quiet except for the sound of the machines. He needed stronger proof. If her prolonged mutism was truly just a selective condition…
Gently stroking the back of Hee-joo’s injured hand, he murmured, "I need to hear your voice." His gaze remained cold, fixed on her as she lay motionless.
"Don’t run away, Hong Hee-joo."
Hee-joo hadn’t just lost her voice; she’d lost other things too—things only she remembered now, like her birthday.
"Don’t hover around in front of me—it’s annoying!"
Slap!
The sting of her mother’s hand across her cheek burned like a flint striking steel.
"Get out, all of you—get out!"
Her mother was prone to severe bouts of depression, and today was one of those days. It was the anniversary of her younger son’s death—and Hee-joo’s birthday.
A sensitive child, Hee-joo had hovered nearby in concern, only to be slapped and sent running off.
Nowhere to go.
All she could do was hide in the alley, burying her face in her knees.
"When did it start…?"
Not celebrating her birthday hadn’t begun after her brother’s death. It had always been this way.
The moment they moved into the mansion, her stepmother stopped acknowledging it. After remarrying, her mother never celebrated Hee-joo’s birthday, claiming there was no need to flaunt being someone else’s child.
No one asked about her birthday. They prepared grand parties for her sister and a first-year celebration for her brother, but no one cared about Hee-joo’s birthday.
Perhaps that’s how they treated someone who didn’t belong.
"Woof, woof—!"
The dejected child lifted her head at the sound of barking in the distance.
"Woof! Woof, woof—!"
"General…! Stop it, this guy…! Can someone catch it? No, run!"
Hearing the frantic shouts, Hee-joo’s heart began to race. She quickly patted her bottom and stood up. Just then—
"Woof, woof, woof!"
The rough barking grew louder—
"Urgh… growl…"
A pair of blood-red eyes, black fur, and long, sharp fangs dripping saliva lunged at her.
Before she could think, Hee-joo took off running toward the other end of the alley.
"Woof, woof—!"
The excited dog chased her relentlessly. Despite the searing pain in her thighs, she couldn’t stop.
"Ah…!"
The guard dog’s teeth grazed her calf. She ran with every ounce of strength she had left, but her stamina was fading fast. Her pupils, wide with fear, couldn’t take in anything else when suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her under the arms and lifted her up.
"Woof—!"
A sharp, agonized howl echoed as she was pulled high off the ground. Instinctively, Hee-joo clung tightly to the neck of the person who had saved her.
"Ha… ha…"
She met the gaze of her rescuer, breathless.
"……!"
But the stern face wasn’t an uncle’s—it was the boy from next door.
Chapter 38
Baek Sa-eon allowed the lunging dog to bite onto the bag before stepping firmly on its neck to subdue it. Moments later, two burly men arrived, panting, and quickly secured a collar around the dog’s neck.
One of the men, pale-faced, asked shakily, "Are… are you okay? Did the child get hurt anywhere?"
"She nearly lost her life."
Hearing his tense, almost neurotic voice, a sense of relief surged in Hee-joo’s heart. Exhausted, she slumped limply against his shoulder. ‘This might seem a little improper…’ The thought crossed her mind for a fleeting moment, but she couldn’t even move a finger.
Thankfully, Baek Sa-eon simply comforted her small frame silently.
"I didn’t expect this filthy place to be so dangerous. Whose dog is it? Chairman Seo’s? Or Minister Han’s?"
"I’m sorry." The caretaker lowered his head, looking utterly humiliated.
"Haven’t we met somewhere before?"
"What?"
"You look familiar… ah, so this dog belongs to Director Kang."
Baek Sa-eon gestured toward the dog with a slight tilt of his chin, but his eyes remained locked on the man in front of him.
The man’s face flushed red, but he couldn’t muster a single word.
"Director Kang isn’t exactly a dog lover."
"P-please, I’m sorry," the caretaker stammered, bowing repeatedly.
Baek Sa-eon turned away coldly without another word.
Suddenly, a sharp sting radiated across his cheek.
"A dog couldn’t have hit you with its front paw."
He gently touched her swollen cheek, red from her mother’s slap. Hee-joo, utterly drained, breathed faintly, barely holding on. It was the same side of her face her mother had struck.
"You need to learn how to fight back."
"…!"
"Whether it’s your sister or your mother, you have to prepare to fight back, no matter who it is."
He said these words—so defiant and unyielding—without hesitation.
"There will always be a chance for revenge."
Leaning against his shoulder, she felt the coldness in his voice seep through her, carried by his body’s warmth.
"Someone with ambition wouldn’t live quietly like you."
The warmth of his body made her drowsy, the exhaustion lulling her closer to sleep. Perhaps it was because of this warmth that, the closer they got to her house, the tighter she clung to his jacket.
‘But I’ll have to get down eventually…’
Swallowing a sigh, Hee-joo shifted her body, preparing to climb down.
Just as she was about to step out, the boy walking calmly beside her suddenly picked her up again.
"…!"
He walked straight past Chairman Hong’s gates without hesitation.
Hee-joo, startled, turned her head, glancing back and forth between the gates and the boy.
"Happy birthday," he said.
"…!"
Before she realized it, the sun had already set. She stared at him as if rooted to the ground, but the boy stubbornly kept his eyes fixed ahead.
Baek Sa-eon looked up at the sunset-stained sky and said coldly, "Just like your bruised cheek."
"……"
"Red."
The setting sun illuminated one side of his face, making him appear a bit worn.
On an impulse, Hee-joo blew a puff of air toward him.
He frowned, turning his head in the direction of the tickling sensation.
This time, she blew into the air toward the sky. "Ah, ah."
Baek Sa-eon’s lips twitched, lifting into a slight smirk on one side. For once, the face that always seemed so stern finally looked like that of an eighteen-year-old boy.
"Blowing out candles?"
As she gazed at the faint smile at the corner of his eyes, she thought it was beautiful—the sunset-painted sky, the solid embrace…
And the boy’s smile.
This watercolor-like moment lingered on Hee-joo’s retinas for a long time.
That night, Hee-joo was tormented by an inexplicable heat. A longing, admiration, and yearning for someone swirled emptily in her chest. It was on that night that her first period began.
"Ugh…!"
When she opened her eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted her. Before she could process her surroundings, a groan escaped her lips. Her head throbbed terribly, and her limbs were tightly bound in bandages—it was a pitiful sight.
‘What should I do…’
She suddenly remembered—she still had to prepare her presentation! That was the first thought that came to her.
As she groaned and tried to sit up, the door to the hospital room swung open. Baek Sa-eon walked in.
"……"
"……"
Their gazes met, and in that instant, the last of her memories surged back into her mind.
Even in such an extreme situation, she had held on to her identity as "Four-zero-six." She felt a small sense of pride in herself.
She wanted to laugh out loud but worked hard to keep her composure.
"How are you feeling?"
Hee-joo nodded slightly, signaling that she was alright.
"Is that so?" the man murmured in a subtle tone, suddenly locking the door to the hospital room with a soft click. His expression remained impassive as he strode over to the bedside, quickly closing the distance.
"Then, you should be able to handle this."
Before Hee-joo could process his words—
"…!"
He suddenly pressed his lips to hers.
The warmth of the contact was startling. The man gently cradled the back of Hee-joo’s neck, his lips firmly capturing hers.
Reflexively, Hee-joo pushed against his shoulders, but he didn’t budge, solid as stone. In the next moment, his heated tongue slipped between her slightly parted lips.
“Mm…!"
The moist tangling of tongues left no room for resistance. His lips pressed tightly against hers, seemingly intent on consuming her entirely. Teeth grazed against each other, and her slick mouth was filled with the intensity of his kiss.
Unfamiliar with such intimate contact, Hee-joo’s breathing quickened, her hands repeatedly patting against him in protest. Yet, Baek Sa-eon only grew more forceful, delving deeper as his tongue explored her warm mouth, teasing the sensitive roof of her mouth.
"Mm… th-that…!"
Heat welled up in her eyes, tears forming at the corners as ragged breaths escaped her lips. Each time she exhaled the breath trapped in her throat, his expression grew more determined. Baek Sa-eon clung to her relentlessly, his lips pressing against hers, his hands imposing against her soft skin.
The dampness of their contact, meeting and parting, created soft, echoing sounds in the otherwise silent hospital room. When he leaned in even closer, lowering his head deeper, Hee-joo mustered all her strength and pushed him away.
"Stop…!"
The word escaped her in a sharp cry, startling even herself with the suddenness of her voice.
She froze, shocked by the sharpness of her own tone. The unyielding barrier that she had tried to maintain had been forcefully broken, leaving her with an overwhelming sense of shame, as though her most disgraceful secrets had been laid bare.
And the man before her…
He wiped his damp lower lip with the back of his hand, a faint, misplaced smile tugging at his mouth.
"Ah," he murmured, almost as if arriving at a revelation.
"Hee-joo, is this fun for you?"
"…!"
Despite the upward curve of his lips, his gaze was cold, chilling her to the bone. The frigid look in his eyes made her feel an inexplicable chill run down her spine, and she found herself unable to read his thoughts at all.
"When someone asks you a question, you should answer," he said, leaning down until their eyes were level.
"You’re perfectly capable of speaking so well."
"…!"
Baek Sa-eon slowly reached out, gently brushing his fingers along the arch of her eyebrows.
Her pulse seemed to thrum throughout her entire body as she swallowed dryly.
"When did it start? How old were you?"
Her mouth opened, but just like before, no words came out. Instead, cold sweat trickled down her back.
The man gently wiped her warm forehead, his movements meticulous.
"You seem uncomfortable."
"…!"
"If you’re uncomfortable, is that why you can’t speak?"
He pressed his thumb lightly against the delicate skin near her wrist. Though it seemed like only a gentle touch, a dull ache spread across her smooth skin.
"Do you know who found you in the mountains?"
Baek Sa-eon’s unblinking gaze pierced into her.
"Four-zero-six."
"…!"
"The same person who’s been keeping me awake at night with their threats." He raised an eyebrow, his tone laden with implication.
"If it weren’t for that call, I wouldn’t have found you. That stalker—Four-zero-six—told me about the cliffside cave even the mountain rescue team didn’t know about."
Hee-joo lowered her head, avoiding his gaze entirely. At this moment, she couldn’t bear to look at him.
"So now, I’m in a dilemma. I’m not sure what to do," Baek Sa-eon said, his unwavering stare fixed on her pale face.
"Should I hand the blackmailer over to the police, or—"
"…!"
Hee-joo flinched visibly, her body trembling.
"Or should I grant Four-zero-six’s demands?"
His eyes didn’t blink, but the endless darkness within his pupils was profoundly unsettling.
"What should I do with that person?"
Baek Sa-eon gripped her wrist tightly, his hold unrelenting, leaving her unable to move or escape.
Baek Sa-eon stepped outside, his face completely devoid of emotion.
"Stop… please, I’m begging you…!"
The moment that distinct voice reached his ears, goosebumps spread from his ears down to his jawline. It was the exact same voice he had heard countless times on the recording files that had kept him up at night.
—Is it you, brother? Are you waiting for me?
—Please, I’m begging you, I’m pleading, sob—
—Let go, just let go, please.
Four-zero-six and Hong Hee-joo. The threats, the pleas, the rejection of an unfamiliar body—they all came from the same person. Yes, it was unmistakably the same voice.
A blurry wave of emotion surged through him, rising to his head. An uncontrollable excitement coursed roughly through his veins, leaving him feeling as though his entire body was engulfed in searing heat.
Hong Hee-joo could speak. No, more precisely—
"Hong Hee-joo was threatening me."
That same child who couldn’t even do basic addition was now fearlessly threatening him.
Baek Sa-eon lightly ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, which still carried the faint taste of his wife. Then, in a low voice, he began to hum the tune from a police radio broadcast.
"You can ring my be-e-ell…"
The black box recorded everything, including the moment when Hee-joo began to panic. All the analyses were complete—threats and coercion, lingering somewhere between voluntary and forced.
Tilting his tired neck, his expression turned grim.
"What kind of deal did she make with that guy…"
The memory of Hee-joo hyperventilating into the radio and intercom in the black box recordings made him clench his fists.
In the beginning, this had been the behavior of a genuine blackmailer. However, something had shifted—a transaction had been made. Now, Hee-joo was standing on the same side as the arsonist captured on surveillance footage.
Even when the car flipped, her husband suffocated, and her father was injured, she hadn’t asked for help. There was something on the other side that she couldn’t give up.
That dangerous alliance.
"Revert to the state before the political marriage."
Shadows clouded Baek Sa-eon’s face.
Something felt deeply wrong. His intuition cut like a knife—this was a cruel prank. Having once orchestrated such schemes himself in the underground bunkers of the Blue House, he could recognize the signs all too well.
Something felt very wrong.
He needed to extract Hee-joo from this web of threats and coercion.
Then—
"…Alright, I’ll play along with you for now."
"But Four-zero-six’s intentions will never succeed."
He had to draw out the real blackmailer. Recalling the sequence of the office fire, the solution was simple.
When the threatening calls faced a critical disruption, the true perpetrator would reveal themselves.
Chapter 40
She gazed up at him unblinkingly, countless words on the tip of her tongue—questions, emotions, and things she longed to express. Yet, at this moment, all she could do was lightly tug on his suit jacket.
"I stopped by before work to check on you."
His response, as if reading her unspoken thoughts, was eerily precise. It seemed he had deciphered the confusion behind her gesture.
Hee-joo could only scratch her ear absentmindedly as she lay on the bed, while the man slowly met her gaze.
"How does someone who once had so much to say suddenly become silent?"
"…"
"Weren’t you good at singing before?"
"…!"
Though his tone wasn’t particularly kind, every word struck a chord deep within her.
"I think I know why. It’s because of Hong In-a’s ear injury, isn’t it?"
"…!"
"You must have felt wronged."
His voice, low and steady, carried none of the sharpness she had expected. Instead, it was calm and piercing, as if cutting through her carefully built walls.
He gently brushed aside her messy hair, and Hee-joo fought back the sting in her eyes, willing herself not to cry.
"It’s fine. This is okay too," he said, the corners of his lips lifting into a faint, enigmatic smile.
"There’s more than one way for a husband and wife to communicate."
Unnoticed by either of them, dawn quietly arrived, casting its pale light over the room.
The day passed quickly. Her mother and Chairman Hong hadn’t even called to ask about her injuries.
As she stared out the window, lost in thought, her sister suddenly came to mind.
Sister…
Since the accident during their childhood, Hee-joo had grown closer to Hong In-a. Though her sister had initially been wary of her sudden appearance as a stepsibling, the accident had changed everything.
From that point on, the cautious and guarded In-a allowed only Hee-joo, her fellow survivor of the car crash, into her inner circle. The once-proud heiress of a wealthy family became a protective older sister to her unassuming stepsibling.
Why did you disappear, Sister…?
She had once chalked it up to her sister’s mercurial nature and rebellion, but now it seemed more mysterious.
In the long stretches of solitude, her mind wandered endlessly.
Sister…
They hadn’t been particularly close, but their lives had been deeply intertwined, inseparably connected.
What was I thinking when you disappeared?
As her thoughts spiraled deeper, Hee-joo gently shook her head, trying to dispel the growing unease.
She glanced at the clock—it was time to make the call.
"Don’t call me again."
His warning echoed in her mind, but she didn’t care. It was just a phone call—what could he possibly do?
Beep, beep.
The ringtone sounded, and the dullness in her eyes was replaced by a sudden spark of alertness.
Though the person on the other end was a threat, ironically, her only means of communication was with him—Baek Sa-eon.
Click. The call connected.
"Hello?"
Whoosh—
"Hello?"
Whoosh—
Immediately, the unexpected background noise made her tense. But aside from the sound of rushing water, there was nothing else.
…
Hee-joo eventually pulled the phone away from her ear and checked the screen—the call duration was progressing as normal. Frowning, she brought the phone back to her ear, and a sudden chill crept over her.
—Huff… mm…
A muffled groan, suppressed between clenched teeth.
What was that? Had she misheard?
"Hello? Hello?"
—…Uh. Shibal…
"…!"
Her hand went weak, and a sharp jolt of discomfort pricked her ears.
What… was going on?
Hee-joo barely managed to grab the phone before it slipped out of her grasp. Even through the receiver, she could feel the heat seeping into her ear.
"What are you… doing right now?"
Her heart pounded as a sudden premonition flashed through her mind.
Thump, thump, thump—
Unidentifiable sounds of friction filtered through, mingled with the sound of cascading shower water, low masculine groans, and… something that sounded like smacks or impacts.
—Mm… hah…
"Baek Sa-eon, what are you doing right now?!"
—I told you.
The voice squeezed out between his teeth was heated, and she didn’t need to see him to imagine the tension in his clenched jaw.
"—Don’t call me."
"What…!"
"—Hmph… you’ll regret it."
The low, heavy groans interspersed with soft chuckles only grew hotter, as if climbing a staircase of intensity. The unseen became all the more vivid in her imagination.
Hee-joo’s face turned pale as she abruptly sat up in bed.
"Whatever you’re doing, stop it right now…!"
"—Say a little more."
"What?"
"—Before I push in, say something, anything."
"…!"
The rough, hurried tone of his voice was terrifying. She swallowed hard.
"I have something to say. We need to talk seriously…!" she stammered, trying to form coherent sentences, but her words were abruptly cut off.
"—Open your mouth wider."
"What, what?"
"—I said, open your mouth wider."
She had questions about her sister, about the Blue House spokesperson. There was so much to address. Her mind spun in chaos, as if swept by a typhoon.
"—So I can push it all the way in."
"…!"
Shame coursed through her, making her hand tremble.
"—406, you’re shaking so much."
The wet, rhythmic sound of friction quickened, and his heated breaths poured into her ears like molten iron.
"Crazy…" she muttered.
"—Weren’t you so bold back then?"
"…"
"—Try being bold again this time. Take a deep breath."
The faint, humid sound of panting intensified, and Hee-joo felt the heat rising within her. It was as if she were being suffocated, her breath suppressed, her earlobes and the corners of her eyes flushed crimson.
"—When someone gives you advice, you should listen carefully."
"…"
"—Thanks to a disobedient 406, hmph… it’s been a long time since I felt this excited."
"…!"
"—Not even in front of my wife."
The sound of his grinding teeth, mixed with something akin to a primal struggle, filled the line.
"—As a husband, I really am inadequate."
"…!"
"—After all, Hee-joo and I are only husband and wife in name."
The smacking, rhythmic collision sounds grew faster and more uncontrolled.
"—This is the first time I’ve let you hear this, 406."
In that moment, Baek Sa-eon took a deep breath, and all the noise abruptly stopped. Only the rushing sound of water filled the receiver.
Hee-joo, frozen in place, immediately furrowed her brows as if she could almost smell something metallic and sharp.
"Are you… in your right mind right now?" she forced out the words, her voice trembling.
Only then did the heat rise to her head, as if the reality of the situation finally hit her.
What was this? How… could this be happening?
"—…Will you call me again tomorrow?"
His voice, raspy and low, came through as he exhaled deeply. Finally, the sound of the shower turning off cut through the air, and the chaotic rush of water ended. The distinct echo of the bathroom carried over the line.
"You… you…" Hee-joo was completely at a loss.
Is this really Baek Sa-eon?
The man who always appeared immaculate, standing behind the blue podium—was this truly him?
Her face flushed crimson before turning pale once more.
Finally, the water stopped, and the unsettling silence of the bathroom replaced the din.
"—If you call again, I’ll do it again."
"You pervert!" she burst out.
He does this just because he knows I’m a woman?
"—And…"
His lazy, deep voice flowed through the receiver.
"—With a voice this loud, wouldn’t a listener feel excited?"
This is who you really are, isn’t it?!
"Ugh! Someone yank that bastard’s hair out!" she shouted, slamming the phone down to hang up.
Still pale, Hee-joo stormed out of the hospital room, her mind racing. Her chest felt tight, and she headed downstairs to the lounge, drawn by the sound of lively chatter.
"Ah, what’s he doing, abandoning his poor wife like that?"
"Completely out of line, absolutely out of line."
The scathing voices of a few older women, clutching IV poles, reached her ears.
Hee-joo, legs aching, quietly sat in the back row and craned her neck like a turtle, listening in. Her mind felt like it had been thrown into a washing machine, leaving her drained and slumped over.
"A man’s true feelings are often in his lower half."
"Exactly. What’s that poor wife supposed to do?"
"What to do? If he misbehaves, you teach him a lesson!"
Hee-joo startled, unsure if her hands had thrown the phone down in anger or if she had simply ended the call in a panicked frenzy, as though running away.
Her heart still pounded as she sat there, replaying the chaos in her head.
The boundaries felt blurred.
Lately, cable TV weekend dramas often depicted scenes like this—an ambitious man abandoning his wife to spend the night with his mistress.
Strangely, one of her legs wouldn’t stop trembling.
"Ugh—! Ugh, that scumbag! The wife endured for so many years, and he still ran off to another woman!"
"Just wait. He’s definitely going to send flowers and gifts to his wife afterward."
"Exactly, trying to ease his guilt after using his affection in the wrong place."
The older women’s reactions were as intense as a referee blowing a whistle, their voices rising in a chorus of indignation. The IV poles they held swayed as they gestured animatedly, hurling incomprehensible curses.
Hee-joo held her forehead and sighed deeply.
"What on earth… just happened?"
The memory of "Call_9.mp3" felt hazy, like a fleeting dream. Just recalling the sticky, sultry sounds made one side of her head feel like it was melting, and her ears burned with heat.
For Hee-joo, it was an overwhelming shock.
"What did he do to me—or rather, to this 406 he’s never met? Baek Sa-eon…!"
Her face twisted as her breathing grew rapid.
What startled her most was the realization of what she felt—betrayal.
Perhaps this was the kind of night she never wanted to believe in, one that caught the faintest whiff of an impending affair.
Chapter 42
She glanced at the clock, pulled the blanket over her head, and checked the time again, plunging into endless torment. At times, she wanted to confront Baek Sa-eon’s indulgence directly; at other moments, she wished she could remain oblivious forever.
"Ugh…"
Hee-joo bit her nails, letting out a sound of frustration. Her mind felt like a chaotic swirl of alternating hot and cold emotions.
But then…
Beep, beep. Beep, beep.
Her curiosity about Baek Sa-eon, her fear as his wife, and her boiling denial of reality tangled together, ultimately driving her to pick up the phone.
Beep, beep. Beep, beep.
Her heartbeat was more erratic than usual.
‘It’d actually be better if he didn’t answer…’
And then, the ringing stopped.
"…!"
As the call connected, her mouth suddenly went dry.
Am I… trembling?
She held her breath.
"—Why are you calling again?"
His sharp voice rang through, like a rebuke.
"—You’re so scared you can’t even say a word."
Though relieved not to hear the sound of water, the contempt in his tone made her frown.
"—What do you want to see this time? Do you want me to smear a little more of you on myself?"
His cold, slow speech carried unmistakable dissatisfaction.
For a moment, Hee-joo’s eyes flickered.
"If I say a single word, your political career is over."
"—…"
The line went silent for a moment, as though he were gauging the situation.
No, I have to be tougher—cruder. I have to speak like a real blackmailer.
‘If I’ve decided to be a rebellious divorcee, why am I still playing the novice here?’
She snapped back into the role of 406. Even blackmailers had their pride…!
Her stubbornness was her way of denying reality.
It’s impossible. There’s no way Baek Sa-eon could really…
"I told you, you bastard! Didn’t I demand that you meet my terms from the start?!"
"—Ah, so this is how you want to play?"
"Do you really not care if this gets out? Even if everyone points fingers at you?"
"—If we’re doing this, let’s make it more exciting."
Hee-joo’s one-sided shouting was met with Baek Sa-eon’s unshaken responses, making her anxiety grow. The man never lost his rhythm, which only intensified her unease.
"I told you to put things back the way they were!"
Before this conversation could spiral any further into chaos!
Hee-joo bit down on her lip, her jaw clenched tightly.
"Do you really want me to smear shit on your face? How long can a power-hungry man like you endure?"
Her words were deliberately sharp and biting, her anger spilling out uncontrollably.
A faint click of a lighter echoed over the line, followed by the sound of a cigarette being lit. It was as if he were leaning back, calmly enjoying the show.
"If you keep dragging this out, I don’t know what I might do…"
"—Sorry, but I prefer to take my time. I’m not that fast."
"That’s not what I meant! Now… do you know how much dirt I have on you? What if I release all these recordings? What happens to your reputation then? Aren’t you afraid?"
"—Hmm."
"Can’t you show a little fear? I’m 406… the blackmailer 406!"
Her voice pitched high, cracking with emotion. She was losing control, her desperation evident.
This reckless attempt came on the heels of their conversation the night before—a desperate bid to reclaim some semblance of power.
And yet, somewhere deep inside, there remained a flicker of foolish hope—that this might all just be a misunderstanding.
"—But that doesn’t affect me."
"What?"
"—Having a woman I want doesn’t count as a weakness, does it? If it’s a publicly acknowledged relationship, then there’s no issue."
"…!"
A woman he wants?
Each of his words stabbed painfully at her pride.
No country in the world condones infidelity!
Her blood rushed to her neck and the back of her head, but Baek Sa-eon remained calm as he continued speaking.
"—If it’s framed as an invasion of privacy, it could backfire. It wouldn’t harm me much. My reputation might take a slight hit, but I could easily lead a public campaign against digital sexual crimes. Who knows, I might even push for legislative changes."
His shamelessness was unbelievable.
Hee-joo buried her forehead in her pillow, breathing heavily.
Three years of a cold, distant marriage.
To see her husband’s true nature in such a state was an unbearable torment.
She pressed her nose against the pillow, feeling suffocated, before jerking her head up. Her face was flushed, mottled like it had been stained.
"Can a married man behave this way?"
"—No, he can’t."
His reply came quickly, curt yet strangely firm.
"Then why are you…"
"—Because you’re 406."
"What?"
"—I only act this way with 406."
The ambiguous fear in her heart took form, becoming something much more concrete.
"—Let’s get back to the main point," he said.
"…"
"—406, have you ever done it yourself?"
His audacious question left her utterly stunned.
Bastard, bastard…!
"Damn it…"
The curse slipped out, involuntarily. It was the only response she could muster.
Baek Sa-eon chuckled softly.
"—You’re truly impressive. Threatening and swearing—both are your forte."
"Ha…!"
"—Every time we talk, I feel energized."
Hee-joo slammed her face back into the pillow, realizing the extent of the situation.
Baek Sa-eon wasn’t planning to cheat on her unknowingly with "406"—he was fully aware of his intentions.
She thought she had caught him in a moment of weakness but was instead consumed by an uncontrollable despair.
It was more humiliating than the years of neglect she had endured.
Her teeth ground together audibly as anger continued to build.
This wasn’t unfamiliar rage; she was used to it, even if she thought it had long subsided. Now, it welled up again like sediment stirred in water.
"Thinking of playing on your wife’s bed tonight," he said casually.
At that moment, Hee-joo snapped.
"Fine."
The room fell into a heavy, tense silence.
"Then let’s see you try."
Her head felt hot, her mind blank, but one thing was certain:
I’m going to end this marriage.
That resolution remained firm, even as her emotions surged.
Her eyes gleamed, slick with determination.
Let’s see if I can’t handle this mistress of yours.
"Grab the post and shake it," he said, his tone thick with implication.
…If you were in front of me, I’d grab your chest. Lift the underside, and… lick it.
The wet sounds that followed were incessant.
…If this were your chest, that’s what I’d do. But I can’t, can I? Can’t do it. But a man reacts to things too.
I want to spread this across your tongue, deeper even, but—mm—it’d probably scare your innocent self. I just asked you to shake it, who told you to say such filthy things…!
Hee-joo rubbed her burning face furiously.
Within just a minute, her resolve began to falter.
The first sounds she heard were the rustle of fabric and the shifting of sheets.
The unseen made her imagination spiral.
Long legs, firm abs, the defined V-line of his hips—white sheets draped lightly as a man stood strong.
She imagined her husband leaning against the bed, moving rhythmically.
"You always speak ill of me… huh…"
The sound of his throat trembling, the gritting of his teeth.
"It’s probably rough down below too," he muttered.
Her face burned so hot she thought it might catch fire.
The worst part was that Hee-joo’s body was beginning to react as well.
Heat spread from her lower abdomen, rippling outward like waves.
"You didn’t answer earlier," he said, his tone heavy with implication.
"Have you never tried it yourself?"
The low, resonant voice brushed past her ears.
"Have you ever done it yourself, like I have?"
"I… haven’t."
Hee-joo swallowed dryly.
"Has anyone ever touched you? A husband, for example?"
"N-no."
"Ah, no, huh…"
His peculiar tone carried a teasing undertone as he seemed to look down at her, and she couldn’t hold back her retort.
"Have you ever touched your wife?"
…
The other end of the line went silent for a moment, but she could still hear the friction sounds quicken, making her ears burn.
A low chuckle filled the air.
"I’ve never made love to Hee-joo."
His blunt admission made her stiffen.
"My wife still hasn’t shed her baby fat. Sometimes, she still looks like the child she once was. That little girl who barely reached my chest—no matter how much she’s grown, I wouldn’t go crazy enough to lay a hand on her. Tsk… huh…"
His final groan was heavy, laced with irritation.
"Soft things break too easily. But you don’t have to worry—I won’t lose control."
"…!"
"You’re a wicked blackmailer."
The excitement in his voice mixed with an insidious, mocking pleasure.
Hee-joo felt herself sinking deeper, unable to resist the pull of his words.
Right as he seemed to reach his climax, his ragged breathing intensified. His wet, sultry words clung to her ears.
"Have I really done it… in Hong Hee-joo’s room?"
In a daze, she asked, "What?"
Her question earned a soft laugh.
"Yes. And when Hee-joo is discharged, she’ll lie in that bed again."
"…!"
"—You have no idea what I’ve done while inhaling your scent, do you?"
"Why…?"
Her voice came out low and raspy.
"How can someone be so… shameless?"
Rubbing her flushed cheeks, Hee-joo frowned deeply.
"I thought you’d at least care a little about your wife. How can you make these calls to me behind Hong Hee-joo’s back?"
Her voice carried a faint trace of weak resentment, curling around him like ivy.
Baek Sa-eon, though always cold, had never been this vulgar. Even from a non-wife’s perspective, his behavior was deeply disappointing.
At that moment, he seemed to take another drag from the cigarette he had set aside earlier. The faint sound of its filter burning reached her ears, followed by a derisive laugh and the scattering of smoke.
"—For whom do you think I’ve sold my body?"
"What?"
"—It’s unfair. Who else can I rely on or falter for?"
"Ah…"
Hee-joo was still reeling when his voice delivered a final ultimatum.
"—Next time, even 406 needs to strip."
"…!"
"—You’d better remember that."
The call ended with a cold click.
Hee-joo stared at her phone, her eyes tightly shut.
A strange discomfort settled between her legs. Each time she shifted her position, the fabric of her underwear felt damp.
Chapter 41
“What’s going on—!”
The door burst open as if it were about to be torn from its hinges, and Director Han Jun stormed in like an enraged bull.
His gaze quickly swept over the large bandage wrapped around the back of Hee-joo’s head, the scrapes on her hands, and the glimpses of bandages under her loose hospital gown. His face darkened as he approached her.
“Hee-joo, you…”
Hee-joo blinked in confusion, slowly raising her arm.
‘I’m fine. Just lucky.’
She signed calmly, though her gestures were noticeably slower than usual.
“Lucky? You call this an accident…! You nearly lost your life!”
‘Didn’t get hurt too badly, did I?’
“I heard you needed dozens of stitches, and your hands and feet are injured too! These wounds, here, here—!”
As he gently stroked the back of Hee-joo’s hand and her cheek in sympathy, the hospital room door swung open once more. A cold gust of wind hit them before anything else.
“…!”
Director Han turned to look at Hee-joo, sitting obediently in her chair, and then at the man gently holding her small face.
Baek Sa-eon’s eyebrows arched slightly, as if confirming what he saw. His cold gaze fixed on the pair, freezing the atmosphere instantly. Without a word, he closed the door behind him and locked it, his back to the room.
“Good evening.”
His voice was calm as he greeted them, but he reached out and pried Han Jun’s hand off Hee-joo’s wrist, leaving it to drop uselessly to his side.
Director Han’s eyes widened.
“Ah… Spokesperson Baek Sa-eon?!”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Baek Sa-eon replied curtly.
“Ah… ah…” Han Jun stammered, rubbing his now sore wrist.
The room descended into an awkward silence, and Hee-joo froze under the weight of the sudden three-way confrontation.
Director Han was the first to break it.
“Hee-joo, my dear, why would the Blue House Spokesperson visit an ordinary employee—”
“My dear?”
Baek Sa-eon’s voice was sharp, colder than ice, cutting him off mid-sentence. The frigid tone sent chills through everyone in the room.
“Why are you calling her that?”
“What?”
“Calling a woman twelve years your junior ‘my dear’? Was that deliberate? Even if it’s just a habit, it’s remarkably inappropriate to use on first meeting.”
“…”
Han Jun’s face twitched, clearly unprepared for such direct criticism.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t address her that way in the future.”
“Spokesperson Baek, your sudden rudeness is—”
“Listen, as her husband, I don’t appreciate it.”
“What? Wait… what did you just say?”
Han Jun’s expression twisted in confusion, his thoughts grinding like a rusted machine.
“Husband? Husband—?! Hee-joo, my dear, what is this—”
“Let me repeat myself,” Baek Sa-eon interrupted, his brow furrowed as he clicked his tongue. This time, his displeasure was unfiltered.
“Why is Hee-joo your ‘dear’? Use your words. Explain why Hee-joo is your ‘dear.’ The more I think about it—”
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, his sentence trailing off.
Director Han quickly turned to Hee-joo and signed with his hands: ‘What’s going on, Hee-joo?’
‘Um…’
Hee-joo scratched her cheek, avoiding his gaze. She was utterly stunned to see Baek Sa-eon, usually so composed and impartial, acting so emotional during their first encounter.
Her fingers trembled as she repeatedly glanced at him.
Suddenly, Baek Sa-eon grabbed her hand, which had been lightly fluttering like a butterfly.
“She still needs rest. Visitors should leave.”
Han Jun frowned in confusion, still struggling to process the situation, as he stared incredulously at them.
"Spokesperson Baek Sa-eon, are you seriously… our Hee-joo’s husband?"
"Our Hee-joo?"
Baek Sa-eon cut him off coldly once again. "Your mouth truly says whatever it pleases, doesn’t it?"
"What did you say?"
Director Han’s eyes widened in anger.
"How could a Blue House spokesperson lie about something so serious? If what you say is true, I’m sorry, but I can’t accept it. You’ve never shown up before—how can you claim to be Hee-joo’s husband…!"
The more Han Jun spoke, the darker Baek Sa-eon’s expression became, like frost settling over his features.
"Hee-joo, I don’t know the full story, but I can’t acknowledge this man as your uncle or guardian," Han Jun said, turning to Hee-joo with a serious expression.
"Listen, Spokesperson Baek, I’ve watched this girl grow up since she was little. To me, Hee-joo isn’t a woman but a little sister I want to take care of. That’s why I’ve always guided her like an older brother…"
"Older brother?"
Accompanied by a derisive laugh, Baek Sa-eon interrupted him again.
"And yet, this so-called older brother pushed domestic responsibilities onto a girl he supposedly treats as a sister."
"That—that’s…"
"Hee-joo doesn’t need a brother like you. Even if she did, it would be someone better."
"What are you implying?"
"Brother, father, or whatever title you want to claim—"
The two men locked eyes, sparks flying between their glares.
"—they all belong to me."
The argument finally ended when a doctor entered the room, ushering Han Jun out. Even as he was pushed away, he gestured with sign language, saying, "We’ll talk later!"
Hee-joo nodded in acknowledgment, her expression conflicted.
Left alone in the room with her, Baek Sa-eon crossed his arms and tilted his chin slightly upward.
"What did that guy say earlier?"
Hee-joo widened her eyes and grabbed her phone, her fingers tapping the screen with a mix of frustration and restraint. She silently sent a message.
[8:00 PM] Don’t let him see.
His brows furrowed slightly as he read it. Another message popped up.
[8:00 PM] Not worried about your image management?
A trace of reproach lingered in her words.
Baek Sa-eon rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze fixed on her.
"Support is fine, but don’t speak up on behalf of another man," he said quietly, brushing his hand lightly across her cheek—the exact spot Director Han had touched earlier.
"…!"
The brief contact froze her expression.
She hadn’t yet decided what kind of face to wear when looking at Baek Sa-eon. But unconsciously, her head turned toward him, as if drawn by his presence.
Disappointment, betrayal, embarrassment, and discomfort seemed to overwhelm her emotions. On top of that, she had to force herself not to glance toward the front of his pants.
"Why is Hong Hee-joo’s face filled with anger?"
Huff… ugh…
That plain sentence, overlaid with the memory of his unfamiliar groans, only stoked her frustration further. He seemed so cold and composed, yet those sounds…
Even as she tried to maintain her composure, she felt a surge of anger.
‘That kind of Baek Sa-eon—I don’t know him!’
She had thought she understood him better than anyone, having known him since her teens and through her thirties. But she was utterly wrong. She knew nothing about his inner thoughts, nothing about his private life.
They had never been intimate, not even once after marriage. Her husband in name only—she hadn’t even seen his body, yet she had fooled herself into a one-sided infatuation.
Hearing his groans just now made her realize how naive she truly was.
‘I’ve only kissed him, while 406…’
…But I am 406, right?
Except Baek Sa-eon doesn’t know who 406 is!
Which means… he did that in front of a stranger.
A stranger.
The thought made her blood boil again.
"Say what’s on your mind," the man said, breaking the silence.
He had been watching her shifting expressions with great interest, his face clearly expectant, as if eagerly waiting for her to speak.
‘Are you interested in my sex life now, you pervert…?!’
She had so much to say. Are you really the Baek Sa-eon I thought I knew? Have you always been this indulgent? How many times have you done that in front of strangers?
"…"
"…"
Their eyes met, a clash of hidden thoughts.
Hee-joo glared at him, her anger palpable.
"Pretty bold of you, Hong Hee-joo," he said, touching the tip of her nose lightly. "Panting like that in front of me."
Smack!
She slapped his hand away fiercely.
Baek Sa-eon chuckled in mild surprise, rubbing his chin as if trying to suppress his amusement. For a brief moment, his eyes seemed to soften, but when she looked again, his cold expression had returned.
Only Hee-joo’s fury continued to burn.
‘How do I deal with this despicable husband?’
She had been wrestling with that question since the night before. How could she threaten him enough to get a divorce? Or even go further and teach him a lesson he wouldn’t forget?
"If you’ve got nothing to say, I’ll leave," Baek Sa-eon said, glancing at his watch and standing up.
Although she desperately wanted to ask him if he was off to meet another woman, she bit her lip instead.
"I’ll be back before dawn. I have an unmissable appointment."
Even though she had expected it, hearing it confirmed made her chest tighten painfully.
Without thinking, she grabbed her phone.
Tentatively, she sent him a message.
[8:04 PM] I’ve been bored all day… sleep on the cot.
He glanced at the message, tapping the corner of his phone against his chin as he looked directly at her. For once, she caught a fleeting expression of hesitation on his face.
But then he exhaled lightly, raising an eyebrow.
"I’ll entertain you," he said.
"…!"
"Isn’t that what you want?"
Yet, after saying that, he left the room without another word.
Her disappointment in him, the once mature, composed, and dependable Baek Sa-eon, was beyond words.
Hee-joo’s lips quivered slightly as her spirits sank to rock bottom.
Chapter 43
Hee-joo stayed in the hospital for two more days before requesting to be discharged. Although her body still ached faintly, she didn’t have any fractures and was feeling restless being confined in the hospital.
‘The truth is…’
Ever since that strange, unsettling call, her heart had felt heavy, as if weighed down by a stone.
"Is this all your luggage?" Baek Sa-eon asked, carrying her bag.
He hadn’t been pleased about her early discharge, but after reading her message, "I feel suffocated and lonely staying here all by myself," his attitude suddenly softened.
He also knew—during her entire stay at the hospital, not a single family member had come to visit her.
"Rest well at home. I’ll be back as soon as possible."
"…!"
Where is he going?
Hee-joo stared at him nervously. Noticing her expression, he added casually, "My grandfather’s memorial."
Oh…
Her eyes widened in an instant.
The memorial for the late Baek Jang-ho, the man who had done everything except serve as the president.
Baek Jang-ho had been Baek Sa-eon’s grandfather, a revered figure referred to as the "Crown Prince" since childhood. Ever since entering the Blue House, Baek Sa-eon had only ever broken his routine to attend this one family tradition.
Every time he participated in the memorial as the eldest grandson, the event would be caught on camera—a display of tradition and honor.
Great families like theirs weren’t built in a single generation.
The first generation had served as Vice President, laying the family’s foundation.
The second had become a political giant.
The third had been elected to Parliament four times, becoming a formidable presidential candidate.
Now, the fourth—Baek Sa-eon, young and capable—continued the legacy.
‘I want to go too.’
She sent him a message.
Baek Sa-eon raised an eyebrow.
Although she was his wife, Hee-joo had never attended the family memorials. Or rather, she had been explicitly excluded.
Every time she watched him leave for the event, his back turned away from her, she was reminded that she had never been fully accepted into his world.
[6:09 PM] I don’t want to stay home alone.
This time, however, she was determined to stand her ground.
‘He might agree this time.’
Through countless conversations over the years, she had come to understand him.
Whether out of a sense of duty toward his lawful wife, lingering childhood affection, or mere sympathy—she couldn’t quite define his feelings toward her, but she knew he wasn’t as cold as he appeared.
He had always been quietly aware of her.
"If you don’t want to be alone—"
His calm gaze settled on her, making her feel uneasy.
Her brows furrowed momentarily, but she quickly regained composure, still unable to grasp his thoughts.
‘How can someone with such an impassive expression make sounds like that… No, stop thinking about it!’
She quickly turned her head, trying to shake off the inappropriate thoughts creeping into her mind.
Then he tilted his head and asked, "Would it be better if we stayed together?"
"…!"
"In that case, I won’t go."
Hee-joo blinked in surprise at his unexpected offer.
‘No, no way…!’
She had intended to use the bustling family gathering to distract herself from her intrusive thoughts!
Moreover, if he ignored her outright at the memorial, it might help steady her wavering emotions.
‘Him not going would ruin everything!’
[6:10 PM] No, I mean we should go together!
Baek Sa-eon squinted suspiciously at her message, pursing his lips. But when a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, Hee-joo felt as if she’d glimpsed something she shouldn’t have. She quickly lowered her head, pretending not to notice.
His family home was bustling with activity.
The reason his family had become a political dynasty was because, centered around the late Baek Jang-ho, every relative had established themselves prominently in various fields.
From ambassadors to the U.S., governors, mayors, ministers of justice, prosecutors, to members of parliament—every family member had grown on the foundation Baek Jang-ho had laid. Even though he had been gone for years, he remained the heart of the family.
‘Even though it was my idea to come…’
As all the relatives' attention shifted to Baek Sa-eon, Hee-joo’s palms began to sweat.
At that moment, a familiar warmth tightly enveloped her fingers.
"…!"
His hand, intertwined with hers like the roots of a tree, gripped her firmly.
The seamless, unrelenting hold left her breathless.
"Hey, Baek Sa-eon!"
Her ears felt muffled, as if stuffed with cotton, and she couldn’t make out the surrounding voices clearly. Even when cousins came to greet them or elders spoke to him, she could only stare blankly at the hand holding hers ever tighter.
The full contact sent her pulse racing.
"Oh, and this is…?"
Then, unfriendly gazes fell upon her.
She wasn’t the biological daughter of The Mountain View Daily’s owner, nor was she a stepdaughter worthy of note.
The faces of the family elders soured, as if their pride had been wounded. Their expressions, even with the most generous interpretation, couldn’t be described as welcoming.
"At least greet us properly when you arrive…!"
"…!"
The sudden rebuke made Hee-joo’s shoulders jolt.
"No matter how rushed the marriage was, she should have introduced herself to the family beforehand or made a courtesy call…!"
"You don’t have to worry about that. Keep talking about whatever you were discussing," Baek Sa-eon interjected, his brow furrowed as he took a deliberate step forward.
"What did you just say…?"
The relatives froze for a moment, stunned by his response.
His low, steady voice carried an air of undeniable elegance.
"What did this rude brat just say…!"
"I don’t make people do that."
"What?"
His cold gaze shifted toward the source of the remark.
Even a brief meeting of his eyes sent a ripple of discomfort through the group, accompanied by a few awkward coughs.
"When none of your children are forced to do such things, why would my wife be expected to?"
"You insolent brat! Do you not understand decorum or decency?!"
The elder’s voice trembled with anger, but Baek Sa-eon remained unperturbed, his grip on Hee-joo’s hand tightening protectively.
"Oh, decorum and propriety, is it?" Baek Sa-eon chuckled softly and nodded, his expression sharp.
"Those principles that people only bring up when they want to benefit for free."
His cold gaze flickered, like a cautionary yellow light.
"In this world, is there really such a thing as propriety? Put dogs and children together, and they create hierarchies, which are then manipulated through politics."
"…!"
"Uncle, what you really wanted was to use this moment to reaffirm the family’s pecking order and assert your authority. Don’t dress it up as propriety and righteousness."
His words cut like a blade, their edges leaving no room for rebuttal.
"If you want someone to reach out and greet you first, then you must first behave in a way that earns their goodwill. That’s the natural order of things, and it’s the responsibility of someone who expects such courtesies."
The elder’s face alternated between shades of red and green, his frustration palpable.
"A phone call is also a form of power."
"…!"
Hee-joo nervously glanced around, her gaze flitting between the two.
Baek Sa-eon gently stroked the back of her hand, which was still tightly clasped in his.
"First, make yourself someone worth missing. Then wait patiently," he said, his voice unwavering.
Having completely turned the tables in the debate about familial respect, he led Hee-joo away without a backward glance.
Hee-joo followed reluctantly, her heart filled with apprehension.
‘…Can this really end well?’
She had a bad feeling from the very start.
"Ah, you two came together?"
The scent of rich oil wafted through the air as they entered the kitchen.
Dressed in a black turtleneck and matching casual pants, Baek Sa-eon stood out starkly against the warm, bustling atmosphere.
His mother, Shim Gyu-jin, was busy at the stove, so engrossed in cooking that she hadn’t even tied an apron. As expected, no one was helping her. Hee-joo didn’t need to ask to know that her mother-in-law had likely chased everyone else out.
Grilled fish, meat skewers, beef patties, tofu fritters, assorted pancakes, stews, and more—a banquet of offerings filled every inch of the kitchen. Shim Gyu-jin had prepared everything herself, refusing any assistance, as was her infamous habit.
"Hee-joo’s been discharged," Baek Sa-eon said.
"The potted flowers I sent to the hospital—did you get them?" his mother asked.
Hee-joo nodded quickly.
"You could’ve stayed in the hospital for a few more days. Why rush out so soon? Did Sa-eon mention the memorial and force you to leave early?"
Her mother-in-law’s suspicious eyes darted toward her son. Hee-joo waved her hands dismissively, trying to deflect the tension.
"Auntie, do you really think Sa-eon would do such a thing?"
At that moment, her sister-in-law entered the room, holding a small dog in her arms. She stroked its fur absentmindedly and remarked, "The elders have been pestering to see their new niece-in-law. They’ve been so persistent, it’s maddening. And yet, she hasn’t shown even a single hair until now. This girl sure is stubborn."
The sister-in-law’s gaze landed on Hee-joo.
"So why bring her along all of a sudden today? I’m curious."
"She didn’t want to be alone," Baek Sa-eon replied coolly.
"What?"
The sister-in-law froze, her hand pausing mid-stroke on the dog.
"We couldn’t bear to be apart, so we came together. Is there a problem?"
"Ah, no, no, that’s not what I meant…"
The sister-in-law’s face twisted, as though she had heard something utterly bizarre.
"Both you and Sa-eon are peculiar in the strangest ways," she muttered.
Their mother-in-law, Shim Gyu-jin, smiled faintly at her daughter-in-law’s grumbling and said, "I don’t trust anyone else to handle the offerings on the memorial table."
"Understood, understood," the sister-in-law replied.
Back in the days when women were expected to run households, Shim Gyu-jin had been supported by Baek Jang-ho himself to return to her studies. He had allowed her freedom to pursue her ambitions while cradling his eldest grandson in his arms with doting affection.
Just how spoiled had Baek Sa-eon been?
Every weekend, Baek Jang-ho had spent time with him, and until Sa-eon reached middle school, the man never let his grandson out of his sight, no matter the occasion.
During that time, rumors swirled that Baek Jang-ho had orchestrated a genius-level education for his grandson, bypassing the limitations of public schooling.
In both appearance and demeanor, as well as his bamboo-like resilience and political philosophy, Baek Sa-eon bore the closest resemblance to Baek Jang-ho.
The family often referred to him as Baek Jang-ho’s masterpiece.
Naturally, this title made his direct-line uncles bristle every time they heard it.
"Sa-eon, let your wife learn from this," a relative said offhandedly while moving food for the memorial.
Chapter 44
"I mean, if you're going to inherit the ancestral rites, you'll have to handle these responsibilities. Otherwise, where will the family's dignity go?"
"I'm not planning to inherit them."
"What?"
"The ancestral rites—I won't be taking them on."
The decisiveness of Baek Sa-eon's statement froze the air in the room.
"Then… then what do you mean by this? If you don't take over the rites, who will? You're the eldest grandson. It's your duty."
Though Hee-joo often felt like an outsider, she was never excluded from the conversation. The family always found ways to pull her into their disputes.
"If you want the inheritance, you must take on the rites!"
"Then let Uncle handle it," Baek Sa-eon said without missing a beat.
"What?"
"If I were to inherit the rites, I’d abolish them in my generation."
"How dare you say that!"
"Then whoever wants the rites should step up and take them on themselves."
Baek Sa-eon scanned the stunned faces of his relatives, his tone as matter-of-fact as if he were announcing an auction result.
An icy silence blanketed the house.
His mother, Shim Gyu-jin, simply shrugged, watching the scene with interest.
"And why would I make my wife do these things? I didn’t get married to cook for the dead," he added.
"…!"
"Those who wish to reap benefits without effort will not receive the ancestors' blessings."
His sharp words made Hee-joo squirm with embarrassment as the biting atmosphere prickled her skin like static electricity.
"What? The dead?!" The uncle's face flushed crimson as his voice rose.
"You insolent brat…! If not for your father's influence, half the people here would’ve had to wait ten more years to get their promotions or elections!"
"Yes, that seems to be the case," Baek Sa-eon replied coolly.
"But what did you just say? The dead?"
"Are they not?" he replied impassively.
"Respecting the ancestors and overburdening my wife are two completely different matters. I won't do something so foolish."
"You—you…!"
"I don’t even cook enough for my wife, and now you expect her to…" He clicked his tongue, his grip on Hee-joo's hand firm and unyielding.
Hee-joo's heart pounded as her husband defended her, though she kept her expression neutral.
"If you want the family to become stronger than it is now, start by properly disciplining your children. I've heard plenty of stories."
"Humph…!"
Unable to counter him, the relative turned his ire toward Hee-joo.
"This is why we need to find good daughters-in-law…"
Baek Sa-eon sneered.
"If the rites were so important, why did you prioritize financial assets over character when choosing spouses for your two sons? If all you wanted was someone to prepare offerings for ghosts, you should have married them off to shamans instead."
"You wretched boy…!"
The uncle’s jowls quivered uncontrollably, but before the argument could escalate further, Hee-joo tugged on Baek Sa-eon's hand.
He raised an eyebrow at her but chose to remain silent.
"Child," Shim Gyu-jin’s gentle voice broke through the tension.
"Do you see my bag on the table over there? Could you take it up to the study for me?"
Their eyes met briefly, and her warm smile prompted him to let go of Hee-joo's hand.
"My heart nearly jumped out of my chest…"
She quickly fled to the second floor, glancing back at the living room still tense from Baek Sa-eon's declarations.
The quiet of the study was a welcome relief. Surrounded by shelves of books, her tense shoulders finally relaxed.
She unclenched her hands and placed the bag on a chair.
"Ah…!"
Her gaze landed on a few old photo frames sitting on the desk.
Wedding photos, family portraits, award ceremonies—but what caught her eye the most was a chubby picture of Baek Sa-eon as a baby.
Biting her lip, she gingerly picked up the frame.
"So this was him as a child…"
A chill ran down her spine as she examined the photo. Dressed in colorful hanbok for his first birthday, he held tightly onto objects from the traditional grab-and-pick ceremony.
Upon closer inspection, one was a thick, first-generation mobile phone—something only the wealthy could afford in 1988. The other was a toy hammer.
"Wow…"
Hee-joo marveled at the unusual selection.
She quickly placed the frame back down, pretending she hadn’t seen it, and averted her gaze, unwilling to linger on the strange yet telling snapshot of his childhood.
A twinge of guilt tugged at her conscience.
Just as she was about to leave the room, something else caught her eye.
"Huh?"
She frowned, noticing a document among the neatly arranged papers.
It was a flyer for a funeral service company, detailing arrangements for burial items, vehicle support, and staff assistance.
"Why would something like this be here?"
Puzzled, she tilted her head.
However, as she walked out of the study, the question began to fade from her thoughts.
The room was filled with a quiet, subtle fragrance.
While the family elders performed the ancestral rites, Hee-joo sat in the living room, observing the scene from a distance.
Her mother-in-law, who had been covered in the scents of food earlier, now wore a regal purple dress as she poured wine to honor the late Baek Jang-ho. Her eyes were rimmed red as she gazed at the photograph of her late father-in-law, but she gently wiped away her tears and turned toward the others.
"Everyone, start eating. Don’t wait for me."
In the living room, the direct daughters-in-law, nieces-in-law of various ranks, and younger sisters-in-law were gathered together. Sitting among them, Hee-joo felt out of place, unable to relax against the back of her chair. Her discomfort was palpable.
"Sister-in-law, what exactly did Sa-eon eat to grow so tall?"
"Father-in-law was the same height in his youth."
Among this generation of relatives, Baek Sa-eon stood out at 188 cm. Even in a crowd, his height made him impossible to miss.
Having been quietly paying attention to him, Hee-joo pricked up her ears when his name was mentioned.
"He used to be so talkative, full of energy, and a bit of a handful. I never expected him to grow so silent and reserved."
"Sa-eon?" A younger aunt raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Back then, he was brimming with energy, impossible to control."
But in Hee-joo’s memory, Baek Sa-eon had always been somewhat neurotic, teetering on the edge of restraint. That initial impression of him had been so strong that she couldn’t reconcile it with her mother-in-law’s words.
The younger aunt clicked her tongue.
"You raised him like a treasure, sister-in-law. Being the eldest grandson, he was barely allowed outside as a child. Honestly, aside from his first-birthday grab ceremony, I don’t have many memories of young Sa-eon."
"Well, being the eldest son, it’s only natural that he was raised with special care. The responsibility is heavy."
"But perhaps he was overprotected…"
"No, that was Father-in-law’s doing," Shim Gyu-jin interjected with a faint smile.
"He was afraid of criticism, so he personally oversaw every aspect of Sa-eon’s upbringing and education. Father-in-law did me a great kindness, and there’s much I owe him for that."
Hee-joo found these details foreign, prompting her to sit up straighter despite the stiffness already setting into her back. The strain made her shoulders ache, and as she lowered her gaze to massage the tension, her eyes met her mother-in-law’s.
"Child, if you’re tired, go upstairs and rest," Shim Gyu-jin said gently.
"…"
All eyes turned to Hee-joo. The conversation had already shifted to the presidential election, but now she felt the weight of everyone’s gaze. She moved her fingers nervously and shook her head, trying to signal that she was fine.
"Don’t force yourself. Take a break. You’ve just been discharged and haven’t fully recovered yet…"
"She doesn’t need to be here anyway," someone muttered, the words sharp as thorns.
As Hee-joo glanced around, she caught snippets of whispers:
"Ah, so that’s her? The one who doesn’t speak…"
The sensation of being an ugly duckling among swans struck her hard. Feeling awkward, she stood up slowly.
The stares were piercing.
When Baek Sa-eon had stood firmly by her earlier, shielding her from it all, she hadn’t noticed these glances.
Now, walking alone toward the staircase, she found herself replaying the memory of his unwavering support.
He really does care for me… doesn’t he?
The creak of old hinges interrupted her thoughts as she pushed open the door to a rarely used room. The metallic screech echoed in the silence.
Even stepping into a room that Baek Sa-eon had once occupied left her throat dry.
The space carried a lingering presence of him, almost as if he still lived there.
A cold, unwelcoming room.
Running her hand along the wall, Hee-joo felt the chill, like hardened cement beneath her palm, as she ventured further inside.
"So this was Baek Sa-eon’s room," she murmured.
Old furniture shrouded in white cloth loomed ominously. Unsurprisingly, the space had become more of a storage room after he moved out in his early twenties.
Hee-joo wrinkled her nose at the musty scent of dust and plopped down on the bed.
"Huh…?"
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
"…You can see my room?"
Pressing her face to the glass, her nose flattening against it, she realized she had a clear view of the neighboring house.
Specifically, the small room on the second floor of the Hong family residence.
That tiny corner, nestled between the window and the wall, where she used to place her desk and spend countless nights practicing sign language.
Hee-joo felt a strange pang of nostalgia as she stared at her old room.
The language had been difficult to learn, especially under the weight of her mother’s stern gaze, which felt like a lock sealing her voice away.
Even so, her desire for love had driven her to keep practicing late into the night.
"Could he have seen me back then?"
The thought crossed her mind fleetingly before the door suddenly swung open.
"Hong Hee-joo."
"…!"
He didn’t turn on the light but walked directly toward her, his steps purposeful and unhesitant.
In the dark, his eyes glimmered like two clear beacons.
Chapter 45
"You found a good spot right away," Baek Sa-eon said as he sat down next to Hee-joo.
"I like looking out the window from this room. Do you know why?"
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his face, that cold, detached expression as he stared outside. The elegant curve of his profile, sculpted with precision, seemed almost otherworldly. Within those graceful lines lay a past she couldn’t begin to decipher.
"Every time I woke up from a dream of falling into a river, I’d see little Hee-joo over there, working with her hands," he said, his tone distant yet steady.
"A child so restless, she couldn’t even sleep at night."
"…!"
"Even so, I couldn’t understand a word you were saying. It felt like being underwater. Maybe visiting an aquarium feels the same. Or perhaps I was still in the river."
This was the first time she had heard him speak about such things.
"But seeing your hand gestures, it calmed me," he continued.
"…"
"The dream had ended, and I was back in reality."
He covered her hand with his own, his warmth seeping into her skin, sending her heart into a frantic rhythm.
"Teach me a sign."
"…!"
She stared at him, startled, and he tilted his head slightly.
"I’m interested in the language of Hong Hee-joo."
This jerk… Only now he decided to say something?
"When you were little, you always made this gesture."
He lightly tapped his chin with his pinky finger, mimicking the motion.
Hee-joo bit down on the inside of her cheek. She recalled something an old woman had said: cheating husbands would often buy flowers and gifts for their wives.
What a bastard…
It was the first sign she’d mastered as a child, the one she used most often to mask her struggles.
It meant "I’m fine."
"I’ve been waiting," he said, their eyes meeting in the dimly lit room.
"Waiting for you to start the conversation."
Hee-joo pressed her lips together tightly, his intense gaze piercing her.
This was a night laden with unspoken thoughts and unresolved emotions.
As soon as the rites concluded, Baek Sa-eon was about to leave directly when his mother-in-law stopped him.
"You’ve come all this way; it wouldn’t be right to leave empty-handed."
She packed some food for him.
And so, Hee-joo ended up making an unplanned visit to her family home.
"Aren’t you tired? Why the sudden visit?"
Her mother’s gaze was warm and unusually friendly. Hee-joo hesitated as she removed her shoes, feeling uncomfortable with her mother’s enthusiastic hospitality.
Kim Yeon-hee cheerfully accepted the gifts they brought and led them into the living room.
"Is your father-in-law here?" Baek Sa-eon asked.
"Ah, he’s… not here right now," Kim Yeon-hee replied, glancing at Hee-joo.
For a fleeting moment, her expression turned complex. Her elegant dark eyes seemed to carry a mixture of mockery and hesitation.
Kim Yeon-hee was always open with her emotions, but this time her intentions were difficult to decipher.
A vague sense of unease crept up Hee-joo’s spine. Only she, the daughter who had spent years attuning herself to her mother’s emotions, could perceive this subtle shift.
A sudden dryness filled Hee-joo’s mouth, and her mood soured.
Kim Yeon-hee quickly shifted gears and smiled.
"Let’s have some tea first," she said softly, motioning for the two of them to sit down.
In no time, refreshments were prepared. Sitting on an expensive, luxurious sofa, Kim Yeon-hee alternated her gaze between them.
"It’s been over three years since you two got married, and this is the first time the three of us are sitting together."
Hee-joo was just about to reach for her teacup when her wrist was gently caught.
"Drink mine," Baek Sa-eon said, motioning with his chin toward the cup he had already opened and cooled.
"Don’t rush. You might burn your mouth."
His tea was indeed cooler. Hee-joo obediently took the cup Baek Sa-eon offered and took a sip.
Kim Yeon-hee’s eyes flashed with something unreadable.
"Mr. Baek, to be honest, isn’t it boring being with Hee-joo?"
"…!"
Hee-joo froze for a moment but maintained her composure, taking another sip of tea.
"She doesn’t talk much and can’t do much. Being with her must not be a good fit for you, Mr. Baek."
The taste of tea vanished entirely, leaving only the sensation of scalding water sliding down her throat.
It wasn’t unusual for her mother to belittle her in front of family or strangers, but today, Hee-joo’s cheeks burned with humiliation.
"That’s not true at all."
"Hmm?"
Baek Sa-eon set his teacup down firmly on the table.
"Hee-joo is fascinating just to look at. And—"
He leaned forward, his hands clasped on his knees. Though his posture lowered his line of sight, the oppressive aura around him remained undiminished.
With a stern and icy gaze, he stared directly at his mother-in-law.
"This kind of humility makes me very uncomfortable."
"What did you say?"
"Please stop belittling Hee-joo in front of me. Doing so doesn’t give me face; it’s an insult. It’s extremely unpleasant—don’t do it again."
Kim Yeon-hee froze momentarily, stunned by his resolute reproach.
"Mr. Baek, do you… have another woman?"
"Pfft…! Cough, cough!"
Hee-joo sputtered, spitting out her tea.
Baek Sa-eon instinctively reached out, swiftly wiping the drops from her chin. Her face flushed bright red as she coughed uncontrollably.
Her mother narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the couple once more.
"…How strange," she murmured, her tone suggesting something had changed.
"Hee-joo."
Then, with a sharp clink, her mother set her teacup down. She lifted the corner of her mouth into a faint smile.
"In-ah is coming back."
"…!"
For a moment, it was as if Hee-joo had heard a foreign language. The words made no sense to her. Her heart began racing, pounding so hard it felt as though it might explode.
She knew she had heard something, but her mind couldn’t grasp it clearly. Her mother’s words felt like an auditory illusion, fleeting and unreal.
Yet at that moment, the fingers of the man holding her chin twitched slightly, their stiffness unmistakably real.
This wasn’t an illusion.
Hee-joo finally began to understand.
Her sister… was coming back?
She struggled to turn her head, looking at her mother.
"I don’t know what she’s been doing or where she’s been living. But it seems Chairman Hong knows."
Her mother’s voice lowered into a murmur, as if to acknowledge that a father, after all, would still care for his biological daughter.
"I heard she underwent some surgery in Germany, and it took a long time," Kim Yeon-hee said lightly, tapping her ear.
"Her hearing has been restored now."
"…!"
Hee-joo swallowed hard, her throat bobbing visibly.
Her mother shrugged and looked back at her.
"The things you’ve been doing—consider them finished."
Her mother’s smile lingered like a ghostly afterimage in Hee-joo’s mind.
Baek Sa-eon’s real fiancée was coming back.
Her sister was returning.
Longing, wariness, joy, and an overwhelming sense of inferiority all surged at once, threatening to crush her completely.
After dropping her off at home, Baek Sa-eon returned to his office.
Back at her house, Hee-joo felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless pit, consumed by an overwhelming void. She sat in the unlit room, gripping her phone tightly.
"Unni is coming back…"
She muttered to herself, roughly wiping her pale face with trembling hands.
Perhaps she should have stayed in the hospital a little longer.
A deep-rooted fear and unshakable anxiety gnawed at her, relentlessly tormenting her mind.
Had she been gravely misunderstanding something all along?
Even if she didn’t push for a divorce—
"If unni…"
If her sister got involved, the very existence of Hong Rin-ah could completely upend everything.
This realization struck a devastating blow somewhere deep inside her, leaving her utterly powerless.
She could do nothing.
Even though it was past ten at night, she didn’t have the energy to make a call.
Moving even slightly felt exhausting and futile.
The helplessness she thought she had left behind resurfaced, creeping up from her ankles and threatening to consume her again.
"Is there any point in calling?"
Her eyes dulled as despair overtook her.
Ten minutes passed. Then thirty. Forty. An hour…
She lay on her bed, blinking blankly, when suddenly her phone buzzed.
"…!"
Was it… the kidnapper?
Hee-joo bolted upright and rummaged through her bag, finding the phone.
But unexpectedly, the name displayed on the screen was—
"Why…"
Her eyes fixed on the words "Business Husband" glowing on the screen.
Her mind raced, unsure how to react.
The phone felt crumpled in her hand like a discarded piece of paper.
She hesitated, debating whether to answer, and finally swiped to accept the call.
––Hong Hee-joo.
As soon as she connected, his voice poured out like an unrelenting flood.
––Don’t speak. Just relax and listen.
"…!"
It was as if Baek Sa-eon had completely read her mind, his voice firm yet calm as he instructed her.
––Were you sleeping? If so, tap your phone lightly.
"…"
She didn’t respond, and he let out a low hum.
What is this?
––Han Jun.
Hee-joo’s eyes widened in shock. She couldn’t follow the flow of the conversation at all.
Why was Han Jun suddenly mentioned?
––You’re not meeting him alone, are you?
What in the world…!
Frustrated, she tapped the phone screen, signaling her answer.
Silence followed, as expected.
He wasn’t talking in his sleep, nor was he chatting with anyone else.
Then why…
He murmured his thoughts slowly, his voice fading into silence.
Hee-joo ignored his words, her gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling.
As the meaningless silence stretched on, he spoke again.
"I’m coming over."
His low voice lingered for a moment before the call disconnected.
Was he coming back early because 406 wasn’t around?
Her already fragile emotions plunged further into despair at the thought.
Her face twisted in anguish as she reached for her phone again.
There was a perverse satisfaction in indulging her own distorted state, and she fully embraced it in this moment.
The ringtone echoed.
Unresolved emotions bubbled up from deep within her like an overflowing spring.
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