Chapter 9
“See you later. And did you say you’re going to protect my wife? Do it well—don’t let her get hurt.”
Seongtae jabbed a finger at Hanna as he spoke, then glanced at Junhoo before turning and walking toward the aide waiting nearby. Once he confirmed the two had entered the elevator, the tension that had gripped Hanna’s body instantly eased.
“So he’s the one… the owner of the scars on your body.”
Hanna flinched slightly and looked up at Junhoo. He glanced toward the elevator with a faint, amused smile, then took her by the elbow and began walking toward the car.
“Let go of me.”
“Let’s get you in the car.”
When the passenger door opened, Hanna reluctantly climbed in. Staying there or going out for a taxi—and risking another encounter with Seongtae—seemed far worse than getting in the car.
Once Junhoo got in the driver’s seat, the car started moving. As soon as they reached the main road, Hanna spoke first.
“Please stop somewhere appropriate. I’m heading to the office.”
“And where is your office?”
“Do you seriously expect me to think you don’t know? That day…”
Hanna trailed off as she looked at him. There was no guarantee Junhoo had even been there that day, but if he had abducted her, he likely knew at least the location of her office.
The thought made her body tremble again. Junhoo glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“What do you think?”
Junhoo’s question left her speechless. She turned her face away from him. While waiting at a signal, he entered the address into the GPS.
“Ha! Really…”
Hanna felt irritated, as if even Junhoo was deceiving her.
“I don’t know everything. I’ve seen the address before, but it wasn’t exact, that’s all.”
“So you’re asking just to confirm?”
“You could put it that way.”
Hanna was dumbfounded. He looked clever enough, yet she wondered if he was doing it on purpose.
“By the way, Ms. Kang Hanna, your husband is unusual. Most women dislike male bodyguards, yet you show no signs of discomfort. Perhaps he isn’t interested in his wife.”
Hanna said nothing.
“Do you know exactly what the client wanted back then?”
“Of course they told someone to hit me—or even to rape me, right? What else could it be?”
Fuming at his seeming deception, Hanna snapped.
“Something similar. They said it was fine if a bone was broken, or if an arm or leg were gone. And in the worst case, multiple people could attack if necessary. They said that would make me more compliant.”
The blood drained from Hanna’s face. She had long known Seongtae was a despicable human being, but the realization that he had demanded something beyond mere beating made her body shudder uncontrollably.
Her hands trembled so violently that she had to clasp them tightly together. If she weren’t seated, she would have collapsed to the floor.
“I don’t know the exact details, but very few clients would request something like that. Even the acquaintance who received the request said they were shocked and asked repeatedly if it was really true,” Junhoo said matter-of-factly. Yet he, too, had been horrified when he first heard it.
“Apparently, they thought that was the best way to ‘train’ you. Some crazy idiots think that’s the right approach, but even then, I’d never seen anyone treat their wife that way. Later, I found out only one subordinate truly knew what the client wanted, and even he couldn’t speak after hearing it.”
His calm, flat tone made Hanna’s skin crawl.
“Isn’t that a common occurrence for you?”
“You know what I think of you. It wasn’t long ago, but it’s not the case now.”
“So it happened a long time ago, then.”
Hanna pressed her lips together and held her hands tight.
“Actually, even back then, such things didn’t happen. Believe it or not, that’s your choice, Ms. Kang Hanna.”
As they approached her office, Junhoo exited the car first. Hanna hadn’t even realized they had arrived until the passenger door opened.
Startled by the sound, she quickly got out and tightened her bag strap as she began walking toward the office. Junhoo lightly grabbed her arm from behind.
“Why—”
Hanna yanked her arm free in surprise. He released her without protest and handed her something—it was her phone.
“For emergencies. My number is saved as ‘1.’ Whatever happens, call me. I’ll come immediately. I’ll always be nearby.”
“Nearby?”
“The assemblyman knows I’ll be providing close protection. That’s all.”
Junhoo returned to the car, and Hanna stood dazed for a moment, clutching the phone as she entered the building.
She leaned against the elevator wall, her knees still trembling. If what she had heard earlier was true…
‘Seongtae, that bastard… I hope he dies. I really do…’
Hanna had never wished anyone dead before, yet now, for the first time in her life, she felt murderous intent.
Entering the office brought her a slight sense of relief. She needed to focus on work.
Her mind drifted to the envelope the assemblyman had given her earlier. She opened it immediately and counted the money inside, her eyes widening.
The sum was larger than she expected, easing her worries—for now, at least. She even thought that the kidnapping might not have been entirely bad.
But thinking that way made her feel miserable. Still, money was one of the things she needed most, so she consoled herself.
While working in the office, she coordinated her schedule over a call from the publisher.
“Yes. I’ll have it ready as soon as possible. But I think we need one or two more reviews for the manuscript to be perfect. Thank you for your understanding.”
After ending the call, Hanna leaned back. Translation work was exhausting.
Some think you only need to know foreign languages, but that’s not true. You also need mastery of your mother tongue. Literal translation doesn’t work; you must convey the author’s intent in a way that reads smoothly for the audience.
That’s why she had studied literature first when choosing this profession. Chairman Kang had been displeased but hadn’t said much.
His wife, Mrs. Kim, had remained indifferent, as always. Only one person had ever supported Hanna—and now, that person was gone.
She snapped back to reality at the sound of a text message.
“Mr. Park will likely be home late due to work today.”
It was from Seongtae’s personal assistant, who also drove him everywhere. He had likely gone straight to a bar or club.
Hanna considered herself fortunate. On days he came home drunk, Seongtae always assaulted her. She had stopped pleading for mercy long ago. Even when beaten unconscious, she never shed a tear or begged. She had learned that nothing she did mattered.
Sometimes, he had even backed off, calling her ‘too harsh,’ yet Hanna endured every time, biting her lips through the pain.
It had started as a few times, then several, and eventually every time he drank, he would become violent. And now…
Hanna tried not to think about it, but she couldn’t avoid it.
‘Crazy bastard. Perverted freak.’
She knew exactly why Seongtae acted that way. Around a year in, when her mother-in-law, Mrs. Hong, said it was her fault, Hanna had once loudly snapped in front of the household staff.
“This is all your fault! Even after a year, you don’t get it? Are you just wearing your brain for decoration?”
“What do you mean it’s my fault? If a woman gets hit, it’s always her fault? So if Mother gets hit by Father, it’s her fault? And if I hit her, then it’s Mother’s fault?”
“What? What did you just say? Are you crazy? Trying to hit your mother-in-law?”
“It’s not my fault! Why is it my fault that Seongtae can’t have a baby? Why is it my fault he loses his temper in front of me, Mother?!”
That day, Hanna saw Mrs. Hong completely speechless for the first time. From then on, she began subtly shifting blame onto Hanna instead.
