Episode 8
“Mr. Joo-hyuk?”
“Yes. Honestly, when I saw him this morning, I thought he was a different person. He was smiling so brightly—the first time I’ve ever seen him like that. Just watching you walk past made him grin from ear to ear.”
“Ah…”
“Well, of course. How could he not be happy? It’s been six years, hasn’t it? After being apart that long, now you’re finally back together.”
“Yes… something like that.”
Chaerang let out an awkward laugh.
She couldn’t tell this woman the real story, so she just said she had to go abroad to study.
That way, it looked like she and Joo-hyuk had been forced apart right after their wedding, but were now reunited as a loving couple.
Earlier, when she came home after seeing Joo-hyuk off, the housekeeper had given her a warm smile.
Now she understood why.
“At first, I worried. Such a big house, and the boss living all alone. Must’ve been lonely. But now that you’re back, I feel relieved myself. You’ve really brightened up this home.”
“You’ve worked hard until now. Thank you so much.”
“Oh, don’t say that! It’s just a job. But still… It’s true. A house feels warmer when there’s a woman living in it.”
Chaerang smiled politely, but her heart sank a little.
She suddenly imagined Joo-hyuk living here all by himself all those years, and guilt washed over her.
“A happy couple, huh…”
Well, if that’s what Joo-hyuk wanted, she could try.
After all, she had once resolved to even have his child for his sake—helping him wasn’t too much to ask.
Just one year.
Long enough for him to gain the chairman’s trust and fully secure his position as heir.
She’d play her part.
With that thought, she finally relaxed and enjoyed her coffee.
Not knowing what was about to come.
That afternoon, Chaerang finished getting ready to go out.
She was headed to the memorial park where her mom and grandfather rested.
She had wanted to go the very day she arrived in Korea, but things got messy with the divorce issue and moving into Joo-hyuk’s house.
Before leaving her room, she carefully checked her outfit in the mirror.
She wanted to look neat and proper when visiting them.
“All done.”
She checked her bag one last time and was about to step out when her phone buzzed.
“Hello, ma’am.”
It was the housekeeper.
Earlier, she’d rushed out after getting a call that her son had been in an accident.
Chaerang had quickly put her in a taxi to the hospital.
Her chest tightened at the word “accident.”
Both her grandfather and Joo-hyuk’s parents had died that way.
She hated the memories it brought back.
“Is your son okay?”
—“Yes, thanks to you. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious.”
“Oh… thank goodness.”
Her pounding heart calmed down.
—“He got hurt doing some construction work. Wanted to earn his own tuition. He’ll just need a day or two in the hospital.”
“I’m so glad it wasn’t worse. While he’s in the hospital, please stay with him. Don’t worry about things here.”
—“Really? Can I?”
“Of course. Your son’s recovery comes first.”
—“Thank you so much, ma’am. I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Oh, don’t say that. I’m the one grateful to you. You’ve been taking care of Joo-hyuk while I was gone, cooking warm meals when he needed them. That means a lot to me.”
—“I only did my job, but hearing that makes me happy. Then I’ll take some time off.”
“Please do.”
—“Ah, but ma’am… I think I left my wallet behind when I rushed out earlier.”
“Oh, really?”
—“Could you check when you have a chance?”
“No problem. You were cleaning the master bedroom before leaving, right?”
—“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’ll look there and text you if I find it.”
—“Thank you, ma’am.”
After hanging up, Chaerang headed to Joo-hyuk’s bedroom.
“I’ll just grab the wallet and head out.”
She walked in, glanced around, and spotted it right away on top of the drawer.
“Ah, there it is.”
She quickly texted the housekeeper, then turned to leave.
That’s when she noticed the drawer was left slightly open.
Normally, she’d just close it and go, but something tugged at her.
Curiosity.
Her hand reached toward it before she caught herself.
“What are you doing, Chaerang? This is his private space.”
Even if they were married, everyone had a right to privacy.
She nodded and pressed the drawer shut.
But her hand lingered there, unmoving.
“Still… since the housekeeper left early, this spot probably wasn’t cleaned… And Joo-hyuk likes everything neat. Maybe I should tidy it for him?”
The thought spun in her head until finally, she opened the drawer.
Inside were just two medicine bottles.
One was clearly sleeping pills—made sense, it was by the bedside.
“But what’s this one…?”
Before she could check, her phone rang again.
“Yes, this is Chaerang.”
—“Hello, ma’am. This is Park Jung-uk, the chairman’s aide.”
“Oh, hello. Are you here already?”
—“Yes, I’ve just arrived. I can wait outside if you’re running late.”
“No, no. I’ll come out right away.”
—“Take your time, I’ll be in front.”
This morning, the chairman had called, saying he was free in the afternoon and wanted to see her.
She told him she planned to visit her grandfather’s grave first, so he offered to send a car for her.
Before leaving, she quickly snapped a photo of the second bottle’s English label.
She knew snooping like this wasn’t right.
Even between husband and wife, some things should stay private.
But worry overpowered guilt.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Joo-hyuk had been through something painful during her absence.
He’d never tell her outright… but maybe this medicine would reveal the truth.
The car drove out of Seoul, heading through lush green outskirts until it reached the memorial park where her grandfather and mother were buried.
A staff member opened the car door for her.
“Take your time, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Carrying a bouquet of flowers, Chaerang walked inside.
Since it was a weekday, the park was quiet, with few visitors.
Memories of her first visit came flooding back.
She had been about nine, holding her grandfather’s hand.
She remembered seeing her mother’s grave with an empty spot beside it.
Back then, she thought her mother might be lonely, so she’d blurted, ‘I’ll be buried next to her someday.’
Her grandfather had scolded her harshly.
He rarely raised his voice, so she cried and cried, terrified.
Looking back now, she realized he wasn’t angry—he was scared.
Afraid of losing his granddaughter, too, after already losing his daughter.
“Grandpa, Mom… It’s me, Chaerang.”
Now, her mom wasn’t alone anymore.
Her grandfather rested beside her.
Chaerang laid down the bouquet and gently touched the polished gravestones.
“Have you been well? I… I don’t think I have.”
She wanted to say I’ve been fine, but the words wouldn’t come out.
“I’m sorry. I really tried to live well, but… It’s been so hard.”
She pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the gravestones.
Her mother’s name—Myung Soo-yeon.
A name that felt precious, yet so distant.
Chaerang had no memories of her mother before the age of seven, when she passed away.
It was like someone had cut her memories with scissors, leaving nothing behind.
Her grandfather always told her it was normal, that some memories just don’t stick.
But Chaerang longed to recall something, anything, about her mother.
Yet her grandfather would always stop her, saying, “Some things are better left unknown.”
Then he’d remind her of one thing:
“Close your eyes, think of your mom. When your heart feels warm, that means she’s living inside you. That’s all you need to know—that she loved you deeply.”
From then on, Chaerang stopped grieving her lack of memories.
She focused instead on the love her mother had left behind—and on her grandfather, who had filled the void with his own boundless love.
He had been her only family.
She thought he’d always be by her side.
But tragedy had struck without warning.
