VSSSP 10

Chapter 10

Lee Hyun raised her hand and touched her lips. It still felt as though the man’s traces lingered there. What had started as a ticklish sensation had, at some point, turned burning hot. She hadn’t hated the kiss.

Later, she had even clung to him. The man had taken everything from her as if he were gently devouring her. It had been a terrifying kiss that allowed no room to breathe—yet it was sweet.

Because her memory broke off in fragments, she couldn’t recall how they had ended up at the hotel.

The next thing she remembered after the kiss was being on the bed. She had done things with him that she could never have done in her right mind. It had been far hotter than a mere kiss. As she recalled the moment they had shared each other’s warmth, the discomfort between her legs became especially noticeable.

Thinking back on the kiss, she felt she finally understood why people pressed their lips together like that.

Come to think of it, she had never even shared a light kiss with Minseong, beyond holding hands. She had thought that meant he was pure, that he cherished her.

It had all been an illusion.

Lee Hyun shook her head lightly.

She had stayed out all night without any notice. When she went inside, she would have to brace herself for what was coming.

She needed to tell her father that Sua and Minseong had been involved in an inappropriate relationship. Surely, he would call off the engagement.

If Minseong had even the slightest conscience, he would at least apologize. And he would quietly accept the broken engagement.

As she organized what needed to be done, her mind gradually calmed.

By then, the taxi had arrived in front of her house.

“Thank you, driver.”

“Yes, have a nice day.”

After paying the fare, Lee Hyun opened the front gate and walked in with a heavy heart.

The moment she stepped inside, stars burst before her eyes.

Smack!

She collapsed onto the living room floor. Clutching her stinging cheek, she turned her head.

Her stepmother, Nahee, who still couldn’t contain her anger even after striking her, glared at her fiercely.

“M-Mother….”

Smack.

Nahee’s palm struck her other cheek.

“M-Mother… why are you doing this?”

“What? Why? Do you think putting on that innocent face will fool everyone?”

Nahee planted her hands on her hips and screamed.

“Who do you think you are to disgrace my daughter, huh?”

“Disgrace…? That’s—”

“Shut up!”

As if slapping her wasn’t enough, Nahee grabbed Lee Hyun by the hair and shook her violently. Lee Hyun had no idea what had provoked her to this extent, and having been attacked the moment she got home, she was helpless.

“M-Mother!”

“You dare call me that, you little parasite!”

After shaking her by the hair for a long time, Nahee seized her by the collar.

“I fed you and clothed you with my money, and this is how you repay me? You make my daughter cry?”

“I didn’t make Sua cry. It’s a misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding? My daughter said so!”

Once Nahee’s anger exploded, it rarely subsided—especially when it concerned her daughter, Sua.

So that was why Sua had raised her voice yesterday.

Lee Hyun couldn’t continue to endure the relentless violence. She shoved Nahee’s hand away with all her strength.

“Stop it!”

Nahee stumbled backward and fell, her eyes widening.

“Y-You… did you just push me?”

“Sua has been going in and out of hotels with Mr. Minseong. They’ve been in an inappropriate relationship.”

“What? Inappropriate?”

“Yes. Just last night, the two of them were together in Room 2103 of the Raon Hotel. Both wearing bathrobes.”

This time, unwilling to suffer in silence, Lee Hyun raised her voice for the first time.

“And you’re saying I disgraced her? That makes no sense!”

Nahee let out a hollow laugh.

“A young man and woman full of passion can have a little fun before marriage.”

“What are you saying…? Mr. Minseong was the man I was going to marry….”

“He was going to marry you. You’re not married yet!”

“Mother….”

“You’re not even married, and you’re talking about inappropriate relationships? Do you think that makes sense?”

Lee Hyun felt numb, as if her mind had gone blank.

“You humiliated my daughter over something so trivial? Made her cry?”

Smack.

Nahee’s hand struck her again.

Lee Hyun was so dumbfounded she couldn’t even feel the pain.

“Someone like you needs to be taught a lesson!”

Nahee leapt up and began kicking her. Lee Hyun was gradually forced back against the wall. Nahee skillfully avoided her face and kicked her body instead.

Just as Lee Hyun became completely trapped between the wall and Nahee—

A heavy voice echoed through the living room.

“Enough.”

Nahee’s kicking stopped.

Lee Hyun lifted her head.

It was her father.

This wasn’t the first time Nahee had been violent. Whenever she was consumed by anger after listening only to Sua, she would slap her or throw things—always when Professor Seo wasn’t home.

But this was the first time she had kicked her so viciously. And the first time she had used violence while he was present.

Lee Hyun stared at Professor Seo in a daze. Even while his child was being beaten, his expression was indifferent.

Today, she was overwhelmed by shock in more ways than one.

Professor Seo clicked his tongue briefly as he looked toward the commotion.

“I’ll speak to her.”

At his words, Nahee straightened her clothes and stepped back.

“Yes, please do. Make sure you give her a proper warning.”

Professor Seo looked annoyed by the situation.

“Follow me.”

He turned toward his study.

Lee Hyun had seen her father’s back more often than his face. Once he turned away, he never looked back—whether he was leaving the house or entering his study. Each time, she had felt hurt, but she had never shown it.

But today, his back felt unbearably cold.

Suppressing the pain in her heart, which hurt more than the blows, she staggered toward the study.

Professor Seo stood gazing out the window. Even alone together, she had to face his back.

“Father….”

It had been a long time since she had called him that.

“Hmm.”

Though he sighed as if displeased, he didn’t turn around.

“I don’t know if you heard earlier, but Mr. Minseong….”

The sorrow she hadn’t shown anyone else surged up. Her voice trembled.

“I heard.”

At the short reply, tears silently streamed down her face.

Waiting for what would come next, she clutched her torn blouse at her chest, barely holding back the anguish threatening to burst out.

“The wedding will proceed as planned.”

She lifted her head.

“F-Father… what do you mean?”

She must have misheard.

“Minseong is a valuable talent at our research institute. He handles all sorts of difficult tasks.”

Lee Hyun forgot even to blink as she stared at him—at his indifferent back.

“I won’t repeat myself. Marry Team Leader Kim.”

She shook her head.

“No. I can’t do that.”

At last, Professor Seo turned around. She expected anger, but his face only showed irritation.

“I have work to do. I don’t have the luxury to worry about trivial family matters.”

How could this possibly be trivial?

“Yes… you have to go to the lab, don’t you? You always do.”

All the resentment she had suppressed until now poured out.

“If you were truly my father, shouldn’t you scold Mr. Minseong and throw him out of the lab? Isn’t that common sense?”

“Ha…”

He removed his thick glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose wearily.

“Stop acting like a child. You’re a grown adult. Learn to be reasonable.”

“Father, you need to see this clearly. He’s been going to hotels with Sua.”

“Minseong came earlier.”

“W-Who… came?”

Lee Hyun felt as though she couldn’t breathe.

“He apologized. Said it was a one-time mistake and it would never happen again.”

“Why would he apologize to you? And this isn’t something that can be brushed off with a single ‘I’m sorry.’”

“ Sua cried too. Said it was a mistake.”

Only then did Lee Hyun understand why she had been struck the moment she came home.

She remembered what Sua had said at the hotel the night before.

“You think telling Father will scare me?”

“I guarantee, if you think he’ll take your side over this, you’re mistaken.”

“You have no one on your side. Nothing will change.”

Sua had been right.

In this house, there was not a single person who would stand by Lee Hyun’s side.