Chapter 12

From the urgency in the atmosphere, it was obvious that something bad had happened.

As Seoha instinctively leaned forward, Kim Do-hee ended the call and spoke in a subdued voice.

“I’m going to turn the car around.”

“Did something happen?”

Seoha asked with both hands clasped together, and unlike before, Kim Do-hee answered without hesitation.

Given the situation, she didn’t seem to have the time to weigh her words or hold anything back.

“I heard that the dog the chairman raises was seriously injured and taken to an animal hospital. He’s there right now, so we’ll head to the hospital as well.”

Seoha’s expression hardened as she suddenly remembered Junhyuk mentioning that he had a dog.

She had no idea exactly what had happened, but all she could do was hope it wasn’t anything too serious.

They rushed to a large general animal hospital in the heart of the city.

As Seoha entered with Kim Do-hee, the sharp smell of disinfectant unique to hospitals stung her nose.

She could sense Dodam becoming restless, which made Seoha stop in her tracks as well.

“It’s okay. Dodam, we didn’t come here because of you. I’ll stay right by your side.”

Bending down, Seoha stroked the back of Dodam’s neck to comfort her. Dodam seemed to have recognized where they were from the atmosphere and smell, as she hated hospitals.

Anxiety was contagious in an instant.

I hope he isn’t too badly hurt.

Seoha knew all too well.

When someone who had given you unconditional love became sick or disappeared, a corner of your heart would become empty along with them.

Just imagining such a thing already made one side of her chest ache.

Kim Do-hee’s urgent voice cut through Seoha’s troubled thoughts.

“Chairman, what happened?”

At the familiar low voice coming from above her head, Seoha raised her head, which she had lowered.

“There was an intruder near the outdoor training grounds in Zone B. Unfortunately, the bastard attacked him because he happened to be there.”

“What? If someone managed to sneak into Zone B, he couldn’t have been some petty thief. How is Karon doing now?”

A bitter, weary voice escaped like a long-suppressed sigh.

“He suffered stab wounds in three places. The surgery is over, and he’s been moved to the recovery room.”

Seoha, who had been listening to Junhyuk’s explanation from beside them, drew in a short breath.

The injuries were much more serious than she had expected, and the realization shocked her.

More than anything, hearing that he had been stabbed was devastating.

He said it was a German Shepherd, didn’t he?

He must have been naturally brave by instinct, so there was no way he would have simply let an intruder pass.

…So his name was Karon.

Even though she had never seen the dog even once, Seoha couldn’t help becoming emotionally invested and worrying about him.

“Is he going to be okay?”

“Luckily, the important organs weren’t damaged.”

There was no room whatsoever for a third party like Seoha to enter their conversation.

Besides, Han Junhyuk hadn’t even greeted her yet. It would have been awkward for Seoha to step forward and speak to him first.

As she hesitated, unsure of what she should do, Junhyuk gave Kim Do-hee an order.

“Do-hee, go home from here.”

“No. I should drive Ms. Yoon Seoha home.”

Seoha, who had been quietly following their conversation, flinched when her name was suddenly mentioned, her thoughts abruptly coming to a halt.

It made her feel as though she had been caught secretly eavesdropping.

Just as she had been uneasy about all along, there seemed to be no boundary between the two of them.

That familiarity between them kept getting under Seoha’s skin in a subtle way.

“Forget it. Why would you when I’m here?”

Junhyuk’s tone carried an irritated edge, as though he couldn’t be bothered to continue the conversation.

“But I…”

“Go when I tell you to.”

Only then did Kim Do-hee realize the irritation in his voice and change her attitude.

“Understood. Please keep me updated on Karon’s condition.”

Was it just Seoha’s imagination, or did Kim Do-hee’s tone sound somewhat displeased?

Seoha grew irritated with herself for reading meaning into every little thing.

Ever since meeting Han Junhyuk, she felt as though her emotions had been fluctuating more and more wildly, and it was becoming troublesome.

“Ms. Yoon Seoha, I’ll be going first.”

“Yes. Thank you for everything.”

Even as she returned Kim Do-hee’s greeting, Seoha couldn’t shake the discomfort in her heart.

She felt completely out of place, as though she were like oil mixed into water—someone who shouldn’t be here in the first place.

Trying to calm her chaotic thoughts, Seoha took a deep breath.

The one who should be upset right now is him, not me.

I should have just turned around and gone home when they said something had happened.

Seoha kept regretting her decision internally when Junhyuk suddenly dropped down beside her.

Trying not to reveal her complicated feelings, Seoha spoke quietly.

“You must have been shocked. If it were me, I might have fainted.”

“Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with something like this.”

For a moment, Seoha tried to imagine what kind of life he must have lived in the past.

Seeing a beloved dog that had been stabbed was something an ordinary person might never experience even once in their lifetime.

As though he had read the expression on Seoha’s face, Junhyuk gave her the answer she had been wondering about.

“He used to be a police dog before I adopted him.”

“Oh…”

“He retired early because of an injury, but he still hasn’t been able to shake his old habits.”

With a deep sigh, Junhyuk moved.

That familiar citrus scent suddenly swept toward her, making Seoha cautiously shift her body away as she continued.

“It’s probably because that instinct is engraved deep in his bones. The desire to protect something precious to him.”

She didn’t know why those words had suddenly slipped from her mouth.

Maybe she was especially concerned about Karon because she was a pet owner herself. Or perhaps it was because Han Junhyuk looked unusually exhausted.

Maybe it was because she saw something of herself reflected in Karon’s situation.

“Whether it’s a person or an animal, having something you want to protect makes you stronger.”

Seoha herself had even wagered her life to protect herself.

When there was something you had to protect, anyone could become brave.

Yet strangely, Junhyuk showed no particular reaction.

He was the kind of person who would normally have something to say.

Only after a long while did he speak.

“So what is it that you want to protect?”

As Seoha merely moved her lips in surprise at the unexpected question, he continued.

“With that strong determination to die and all.”

Only then did Seoha regain her composure and slowly answer.

“Peace, rest, freedom?”

“Bullshit.”

Seoha flinched at Junhyuk’s sharp retort.

Just then, a member of the hospital staff approached and called out to him.

“Mr. Han. Karon woke up from the anesthesia much sooner than expected. He has a strong will, so we expect his recovery to be quick as well. That’s a good sign.”

The medical staff member’s voice was bright.

It seemed the surgery had gone well.

“Please come this way. Seeing his owner when he wakes up can help him regain his strength significantly.”

At those words, Junhyuk quickly got to his feet.

As Seoha remained seated, intending to wait there quietly, Junhyuk’s voice drifted toward her almost like a muttered afterthought.

“Coming with me?”

Seoha asked again, unable to believe those words had come from the same Junhyuk who had just coldly snapped at her.

“Is it okay if I go with you?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

Junhyuk grabbed Seoha’s arm and pulled her to her feet.

Still dazed, she found herself standing together with him in front of Karon’s recovery room.

It wasn’t difficult to imagine what Karon looked like.

No, if anything, it was surprisingly easy.

A thick, fluffy tail and a sleek body, with a back as solid as smooth rock. Every time he moved, his paws probably made heavy footsteps against the floor.

Back when she lived on the island, there had been dogs raised by a manager who lent money through daily or monthly interest loans and took his cut.

Most of them were beasts kept to intimidate the hostesses in case they tried to run away from the entertainment establishments.

One of those dogs had been a purebred German Shepherd, and one of the managers had bragged endlessly about it.

It had been a long time ago, but the dog’s piercing eyes had left such a strong impression on her that she could still remember them.

She had a feeling Karon would have the same eyes.

Standing in front of the recovery room with her hands clasped together, Seoha made a wish.

I know you must be strong without even seeing you. So get back on your feet soon. Even if he won’t say it, your owner seems pretty shaken.

Seoha hoped that the prayer that had helped her endure and survive her own difficult times would reach Karon as well.

A little later, after coming out into the waiting room with him, Seoha made a clumsy joke to Junhyuk.

She wanted to lighten the heavy atmosphere, even if only a little.

“So we didn’t end up registering our marriage after all. What if Karon was giving us a sign that we shouldn’t do it…?”

“Ha. Why do you talk such nonsense every time you open your mouth today?”