Chapter : 39
“Back home… how many days has it been now?”
Joo-hye lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, counting the days.
Even with a rough estimate, it had already been a week.
During that week, she had been trapped in the house all day.
She had thought she could escape easily, but Daehyun’s constant presence made it impossible.
She hadn’t expected Daehyun to skip work entirely and spend all his time with her—this was completely unexpected.
“Awake?”
A low voice came from nearby.
She barely lifted her upper body and saw Daehyun leaning against the doorframe.
He held a phone in his right hand, probably having gone out to the balcony for a quiet call and returned.
He didn’t seem to have any work problems handling things remotely.
“Come eat. I made it.”
The sight of him cooking with his own hands was startling.
She had never seen Daehyun cook before.
Half in disbelief, she went to the living room—and indeed, there was food neatly prepared as if to show off.
It was simple—stew and some side dishes transferred to plates—but it looked skillfully done.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Still, eat.”
He added softly, concerned about her health, and pulled out a chair, signaling her to sit.
If she refused to eat entirely, he seemed ready to force-feed her.
With no energy left to resist, Joo-hye slowly sat down.
“When will you give me my phone?”
Before picking up her spoon, Joo-hye asked sharply.
All this time, Daehyun had taken her phone, leaving her unable to contact anyone. It was almost like imprisonment.
At least he hadn’t forced himself on her—if he had, she would have felt utterly miserable, wondering if he only wanted a physical relationship.
“I’ll give it back later. Eat before your food gets cold.”
He naturally shifted the topic, which only made Joo-hye resent him more.
Even as she reluctantly ate, Daehyun didn’t leave.
Though he probably had much to do, he deliberately sat across from her, observing her meal.
Eventually, feeling uncomfortable, Joo-hye set her spoon down.
“You’re going out tonight, right?”
“Yes. I have dinner plans with Chae Kang-il.”
“What about Joo-young?”
“She said she’ll come with me. There’s a lot we need to discuss, so it works out.”
Daehyun seemed to realize it was Joo-young who had helped her.
Seeing her stare worriedly at Joo-young, he also met her gaze.
After watching her for a while, he suddenly reached out and stroked her cheek.
“Shall we go together?”
The shamelessness of asking something he clearly didn’t mean annoyed her.
Joo-hye turned her face away and snapped,
“I’m going out too.”
“Okay, let’s go together.”
“I said not together. I mean I’m going alone.”
Daehyun froze as he stood up.
After a moment’s thought, he trudged over to the chair Joo-hye was sitting on.
“That’s not allowed.”
“Why not?”
He lightly lifted her chin with his fingertips.
His eyes darkened as he studied her glaring expression.
“It’s been a week, and yet…”
His thumb pressed gently on her lower lip.
Unable to resist, her lips parted slightly, revealing the faint pink of her tongue.
“Have you thought about it?”
Joo-hye, frozen with tension, let out a small, nervous laugh.
“Thought? About what?”
“About our divorce. Have you reconsidered?”
His calm demeanor sparked a flame of anger in her that she had tried to suppress.
She pushed his hand away with her right hand and replied clearly:
“No. Why would I reconsider? I’m even more certain now. We should get a divorce.”
“Seems like you need more time.”
“Even if you gave me ten years, nothing would change.”
“Ten years?”
Daehyun smirked, lowering his head, closing the distance.
His lips hovered dangerously close.
“I can wait until I die. As long as your mind changes.”
“…What if I die first?”
Her cold words froze the atmosphere.
Even the slightly relaxed look in Daehyun’s eyes turned sharp immediately.
“Even as a joke… there are things you shouldn’t say, Joo-hye.”
Despite his fierce warning, she did not flinch.
She didn’t avoid his approaching lips, only glaring sharply into his eyes.
She could not match his strength; the only resistance she could manage was to go limp like a doll.
“….”
Instead of kissing her, Daehyun quietly held her in his arms.
As Joo-hye, overcome by his strength, staggered slightly upward, his strong palms supported her back.
Through their touching chests, she could hear the rapid beating of a heart.
Joo-hye clenched her teeth, wishing it wasn’t Daehyun’s heartbeat she was feeling.
A heartbeat is supposed to beat anyway; it wasn’t reacting to her.
“Let go.”
Even as she struggled, Daehyun didn’t respond.
He merely rested his chin on her shoulder and caught his breath.
Joo-hye tensed her arms, resisting the reflex to cling to him.
A few months ago, being held by Daehyun would have meant the world to her.
She might have replayed this moment over and over before sleep, feeling thrilled…
“I hate being held by you.”
“….”
“I really hate it…”
Now, she felt nothing.
Eventually, Daehyun left, leaving Joo-hye alone.
She lay back on the bed, enduring the emptiness.
With Daehyun’s staff guarding the hallway, escaping was impossible.
As she sat idly, drowsy, a sudden ringing of the doorbell jolted her awake.
“Ah!”
Startled, she hurriedly got up.
At first, she thought she had imagined it, but loud noises came from the front door.
Instinctively sensing something was wrong, she rushed to the entrance.
“Who’s there!”
No answer came, only loud knocks.
Joo-hye checked the intercom, freezing in shock.
It was none other than Jun-hwi’s face.
“Why is Jun-hwi here?”
There was no time to think.
Jun-hwi pounded on the door, while Manager Park struggled with Daehyun’s staff.
Clearly, the two had teamed up to rescue her and tracked her to this house.
“Jun-hwi!”
Without hesitation, Joo-hye flung open the door.
The moment she appeared, Jun-hwi quickly grabbed her hand.
“Run, sunbae!”
There was no time for conversation.
Jun-hwi dragged her down the hallway. As she ran, she glanced back and saw Manager Park waving, holding off the staff.
The gesture clearly said, “Go ahead first.”
Panting heavily, they made it outside the building. Jun-hwi quickly hailed a taxi.
Once inside, only the sound of their ragged breaths filled the silence.
Joo-hye cleared her dry throat after running non-stop.
“Here… sunbae, take this.”
Meanwhile, Jun-hwi dug through his bag and handed her something.
She hurriedly took it and saw a jet-black phone.
“The person earlier told me to give it to you. You’ll need it.”
Jun-hwi shrugged as Joo-hye stared in disbelief.
Finally, she checked the phone, feeling relieved.
It seemed Manager Park had realized Daehyun had confiscated her phone.
“Thank you.”
“I have a lot to ask, but first let’s get home. It’s too hot out here.”
Jun-hwi gave the taxi driver the address, then wiped the sweat from his hair.
Joo-hye hesitated, then asked only the question she most wanted answered.
“How… did you find me?”
“Jin Joo-young came to the arboretum and told us. She asked if we could visit your house since we couldn’t reach you.”
“What? Joo-young?”
The unexpected ally’s name made her realize quickly.
Since Joo-young had asked, Manager Park and Jun-hwi had come together.
“Joo-young said she’d have dinner with her husband today, so she didn’t come herself…”
“…So she asked us to come instead.”
Apparently, Joo-young deliberately avoided suspicion by not coming, planning to keep Daehyun occupied at dinner as long as possible.
“Rest for now. They’ll arrive soon.”
Jun-hwi closed his eyes, exhausted from running and heat.
Joo-hye stayed quiet, finally relaxing as she looked out the window.
It seemed the second escape had been a success.
