CHAPTER 22……………………………………
“Why? What did I do so wrong?”
Taeo’s voice carried not so much injustice, but a cold irritation.
“Why did you bring me to a hotel room? Without my consent!”
“Consent? You couldn’t even walk on your own. Did you want me to just leave you on the street?”
“…You should’ve contacted someone. My husband — or at least someone else!”
Taeo fell silent for a moment, then let out a low scoff.
“Hana, be honest. If you really hated it, you wouldn’t have come out to meet me in the first place.”
“What?”
“You wanted to see me too. That’s why you came.”
Hana didn’t answer anymore. She tried to open the door.
“Where are you going?”
Taeo asked again.
“Home… I need to go home.”
Hana, breathing shakily, headed toward the entrance. But what stopped her was his voice.
“Hana.”
His tone suddenly changed — low, chilling.
“Can I send these photos… to your husband?”
Hana froze and turned around. Taeo was holding up his phone. On the screen were several pictures: the hotel lobby, the elevator, the hallway… and the two of them together inside the room.
The angle and lighting were deliberate. To anyone who didn’t know better, it was more than enough to cause misunderstanding.
“What… what is that?”
Hana’s voice trembled. Her face turned pale in an instant.
“Insurance.”
Taeo gave a short laugh.
“Just in case.”
“Are you insane? Why would you take those—”
“Why? Because I might need them.”
Yoo Taeo sneered. Any warmth was gone from his face. The gentle expression he once had in college had disappeared, leaving only a cold unfamiliar cynicism.
“You… you planned this from the beginning?”
Hana’s voice shook. She couldn’t believe it. The man who once shared memories with her, who once comforted her, was now looking down at her with eyes this cold.
“Not from the beginning.”
Taeo shrugged.
“But I didn’t expect you to be this naïve. It’s a contract marriage — so why are you trembling with guilt like this?”
His tone was light, but the mockery underneath was sharp as a blade.
Hana’s legs nearly gave out. If she hadn’t grabbed the wall, she would have collapsed.
“…What do you want?”
The words barely escaped her lips, trembling like they’d vanish into the air.
“Isn’t it obvious? Money.”
Taeo stepped closer, his gaze cold and calculating.
“It’s a shame we didn’t sleep together. I could’ve gotten much more. Still… with this, I’d say I can get about a hundred million won.”
“A hundred million…?”
A hollow laugh slipped from Hana’s mouth.
“You bastard…”
“Crazy?”
He scoffed.
“You’re the crazy one, Hana. Married, and yet meeting your ex, following him to a hotel. Is that normal? What do you think your husband would say if he saw this?”
Hana couldn’t speak. She wanted to argue, but no words came.
On the surface, it was true — she had come here.
No excuse could erase that fact.
“What do you think will happen if I send these photos to your husband?”
Taeo shook the phone lightly.
“Oh, and…”
He smirked.
“What if I send them to the press too? An affair scandal involving the daughter-in-law of Ilju Group. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? The clicks would be insane.”
“Please… please don’t.”
Hana’s voice broke. Tears gathered in her eyes and quickly fell.
“One week. A hundred million won. With your family, that should be easy, right?”
“……”
“Otherwise, I’ll release everything. To your husband. To the media. Then what? Ilju Group takes an image hit, Seoga Foods’ stock crashes… What would your father say? Aren’t you curious?”
Hana’s face turned ghost-white. She imagined Gihoon — his furious eyes, his sharp words, the company, the relatives, the public scrutiny.
Everything crushed down on her at once.
“One week.”
“……”
“Remember.”
Taeo opened the door with a cold smile. There was no trace of humanity left in his expression.
Hana forced her body to move. Her weakened legs stumbled.
As she passed through the doorway, his lingering scent made her feel sick.
Each step felt impossibly heavy.
Inside the elevator, her fingers trembled as she reached for the button.
Nothing had happened yet — but it already felt like everything had collapsed.
As the doors closed, Hana swallowed hard. Something hot boiled up inside her.
Anger.
At Taeo. At herself. At this entire situation.
“What do I do…?”
The whispered words scattered into the air.
Her mind burned white, her heart pounding wildly.
Even when she reached the lobby, the dizziness didn’t fade. All she could think was that she had to get out.
Then—
“Hana.”
A familiar voice from behind made her body stiffen. Even before she turned, her fingertips went cold.
Taeo approached, holding something.
“You left this behind.”
He smiled and held it out — her bag.
Hana snatched it quickly.
“Never again—!”
Her throat tightened, the words failing her.
Taeo lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. Just that brief touch made her whole body lock up.
“Don’t worry too much.”
He chuckled low.
“As long as you pay, nothing will happen.”
The words stabbed into her chest like a blade.
Hana shoved his hand away and rushed out of the lobby without looking back.
The moment she stepped outside, cold air slapped her face.
City lights blurred together, and even the sound of passing cars felt distant.
Hana took a deep breath. Her hands trembled faintly.
Tears rose, but she didn’t cry.
Because tears wouldn’t solve anything.
She called a driver service first.
She wasn’t in any condition to hold a steering wheel.
After entering the destination, she lowered her head quietly.
I have to think… I have to find a way somehow.
Her thoughts tangled into chaos — anger, fear, and the crushing reality pressing down on her.
When she arrived home, thankfully, Geonwoo wasn’t there.
Hana stood blankly without even taking off her shoes, then fled into her room like she was escaping and locked the door.
Only when it clicked shut did her breath finally break free.
She collapsed onto the floor.
A hundred million…
The number kept circling her mind.
It wasn’t that she had no money at all. She had emergency funds set aside, just in case.
But that money wasn’t meant for Taeo.
And more than anything…
Would he really stop at a hundred million?
That thought tightened around her throat even more.
Her mouth was dry. Her eyes were closed, but her mind wouldn’t stop.
That night, Hana couldn’t sleep at all.
She stared at the ceiling, checked the clock, closed her eyes, woke again.
Somewhere between dream and reality, dawn arrived.
Two days later, a message came from Taeo.
[Not much time left. You’re getting ready, right?]
The phone in her hand trembled slightly.
Part of her wondered if ignoring him would make him disappear—
But fear crushed her immediately.
He really could send the photos.
In the end, Hana opened the bank transfer screen.
Her fingers shook, and the moment she pressed the send button, her heart sank.
It’s over now… right? Please… please let it end here.
She wanted to believe that.
