CHAPTER 4
“Yoonah, are you asleep?”
Joohee quietly opened Yoonah’s bedroom door. It was 10 p.m. After glancing at the bed and confirming that Yoonah was asleep, she gestured to Seo Jeongha.
“I have something to tell you. Want to come out?”
To Jeongha, her aunt was her mother. Ever since her mother died five years ago, that had become even more true. They had been living together for longer than that, so now everyone was used to this life as if it had always been this way.
Joohee set a steaming cup of ogapi tea on the table, adding that she had found some very good ones at the market.
“Looks like Haein is asleep too.”
“That child falls asleep the moment her head touches the pillow. They say you can’t hide your blood—she takes right after her late father.”
“Yeah, uncle was like that. He could sleep anywhere. Remember when we went to Jiam-ri Valley? He slept just fine on a bed of pebbles.”
“Jeongha.”
As she poured the tea, Joohee carefully studied her niece’s expression.
“Yeah?”
“…Actually, I had a dream yesterday…”
“A dream?”
Jeongha leaned closer to the table.
“What kind of dream is it that you’re setting the mood like this? Did someone tell you the lottery numbers or something?”
“…Your father appeared.”
Jeongha’s face quickly fell. Without a word, she pulled her mug closer and leaned back from the table.
“Your father’s memorial day is coming up soon.”
“…”
“Jeongha.”
“Please ask for a memorial mass at the church you go to. And light a candle too. I’ll pay for it.”
“Do you think I’m talking about money right now? It’s strange enough that your brother-in-law appeared after so long. Maybe he’s asking for a drink this memorial…”
“Aunt. Not that again.”
Jeongha firmly shook her head.
“Oh, come on. He’s someone I’ve always been grateful to…”
“I know. I know he paid for your schooling when you were young and helped you get married. I’ve heard it countless times, and I understand how you feel. But I don’t want to offer alcohol. Not as long as I live. You know why. Because of my dad. No… because of me…”
Someone died.
“Why would that be your fault—”
“Aunt.”
“Honestly, it’s not like you caused the accident or dragged your father out of the hospital or performed some ritual. Why would it be your fault? It was purely an accident. Did you hand him the car keys and tell him to kill someone? Did you do anything like that?”
“Aunt…”
“You’ve done more than enough. Your father died, and your mother got sick and passed away because of it. You did everything that family asked of you. Weren’t they rich to begin with? Swimming in money? And still, just to vent their anger, they brought lawyers and took everything down to the last spoon.”
“Aunt, that was only natural. Compared to what my dad did, it was nothing. What do you mean ‘venting their anger’…”
“Jeongha, I…”
“Should I go back in?”
Joohee clicked her tongue and let out a deep sigh.
“You really can’t say anything to this child.”
“…”
“Alright, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I won’t bring it up again. I just thought… if we had a bit more money, wouldn’t it be easier for you to raise Yoonah?”
“I’m working. It’s not like I’m sitting around doing nothing.”
“No, but without a father—”
Joohee started to speak, then sighed and closed her mouth again.
“You’re right. Drink your tea. It’s probably gone cold. They say ogapi is good for the joints. If you want to do brushwork, your joints need to be strong.”
Thinking she should at least listen to this, Jeongha took a sip of the tea.
“It’s good.”
“Good? It’s bitter. Maybe your mouth is even more bitter.”
At her aunt’s teasing glare, Jeongha gave a gentle smile.
—
So… she has a child.
She met a man, dated him, got married, and had a child.
So Seo Jeongha has a child.
Kang Taeyoon slowly traced the rim of his glass, repeating the thought over and over—obsessively, mechanically.
She must’ve been happy.
The small glass filled with a clear liquid. He parted his red lips and swallowed the alcohol.
Scenes with Jeongha as the lead twisted through his mind, fabricated yet vivid—happy laughter, a warm dining table, tender embraces, bright smiles.
At some point, even the thought of a once-heated bed crossed his mind.
Fuck. Whoever it is, they’ve got a strong stomach.
Nausea rose in his throat.
Seo Jeongha. A name that wouldn’t satisfy even if chewed to pieces—he ground it between his teeth along with the alcohol. Everywhere it touched inside his mouth, it reeked of rot.
I told you to live without being noticed. I even said I’d kill you if you showed yourself.
And yet here you are.
“Slow down.”
At the buzzing voice above him, Taeyoon frowned and tilted his head back. Yoo Juntek looked down at him with an exasperated expression.
“Ha… that bastard, Han Jaehyuk. So unnecessary.”
Taeyoon ran a hand irritably through his hair.
“Watch your mouth. He contacted me because he was worried about you.”
“He’s getting a bit too bold these days.”
“Then give Jaehyuk to me. I like him. I’ll move a chair into my secretary’s office. No objections.”
“Go ahead.”
“Well, look at that. Enough with the insincere talk—let’s drink. Thanks to Manager Han, it’s been a while since I’ve had soju.”
Juntek grinned as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Naturally, he pressed the call button and ordered an extra glass and clam soup, clicking his tongue at Taeyoon for drinking strong soju without any side dishes.
“But what’s this? Why soju? You don’t even like it. If you’re drinking soju like this, something’s definitely up.”
“You already know. Why ask?”
“You figured it out?”
Juntek cleared his throat and picked up the bottle. His sharp, narrow eyes looked irritated, and his loosened tie gave off both annoyance and fatigue.
“Here. It tastes better when you drink together.”
Clear soju filled both glasses to the brim.
“Cheers.”
Juntek clinked his glass a bit harder than necessary, as if to say fighting. They drank silently, refilling again and again.
“That woman. You saw her, right?”
While Juntek rolled his small eyes, trying to read him, another glass emptied.
“She says she wants to die. Should I just kill her?”
The way Taeyoon curved his lips into a smile was both chilling and pitiable.
“If you were going to kill her, you should’ve done it back then.”
Juntek refilled his glass again, dismissing the remark.
Taeyoon’s hatred ran deep. Once ignited, it didn’t fade—it only grew denser with time.
He had spent years carefully preparing, finding the weaknesses of those who had destroyed his family. Though consumed by anger, his attacks were never rushed. When he found a crack, he struck—precisely, sharply, deeply. His plans were so meticulous that there was no escape.
Kim Piljong’s life had already been cut off. Next would be Lee Hyunwoo. And in the end, the blade would turn toward his maternal family, the YN Group.
And yet, strangely enough, he had shown Seo Jeongha mercy.
At the very least, he had left her a rental deposit—and he hadn’t pursued her relentlessly until now.
Perhaps it had felt like a small act of charity.
“What did she say? Wasn’t she shocked? Did she recognize you?”
Taeyoon lowered his sharp jaw and nodded slowly.
A woman who couldn’t even speak properly. A woman whose face was so pale she looked ready to collapse, yet desperately endured.
Did she feel shame? Fear? Confusion? Awkwardness?
Or did she curse the world for making them meet like that?
Yeah. The world really is fucked.
Of all things, you show up in front of me.
“Still, how does that even happen? Who would’ve thought she’d be in the film industry? You didn’t know either, right?”
Juntek shook his head.
“You’re not exactly small-time. Even if she stepped into film, she should’ve gotten out quickly on her own. What glory could she possibly be chasing in an industry where you’re firmly planted?”
“She has a child.”
“What?!”
Taeyoon let out a low chuckle.
The woman smiling brightly while holding a child in the snow. The same woman who flinched upon seeing him.
A woman who met a man, fell in love, got married, and had a child—who broke her promise to him and lived happily.
Hatred layered with disgust, growing thicker.
“Well, it’s been eight years. Plenty of time for that. Honestly, from your side, it feels like God doesn’t exist—but from her side, any guilt or remorse probably faded long ago. One troublesome issue in the family is gone. Must feel like pulling out a rotten tooth. Right?”
“So what?”
“Of course it’s infuriating. But it’s been eight years. The tragic one is the victim, and the perpetrator… the actual perpetrator is already dead.”
“Go find Buddha somewhere else.”
Taeyoon picked up the bottle to pour himself another drink.
“If you pour your own drink, they say you won’t get married.”
Juntek snatched the bottle from his hand and filled his glass instead.
“You should be happy too. Even the perpetrator lived happily. You’re the victim.”
“…”
“You should be even happier. Show them.”
It was a cliché, overused line. Everyone seemed desperate to say it.
Might as well sharpen a knife instead.
“Try dating. If you like someone, get married. There are plenty of women who like you.”
“My wedding would turn into a funeral.”
Taeyoon let out a dry laugh.
“Right, you’re allergic to marriage, aren’t you?”
Juntek snickered, his small eyes curving mischievously.
“Come to think of it… you didn’t secretly get married somewhere without us knowing, did you?”
