II - 51

A cool breeze swept through the muggy air.

Unconsciously, I-ryeong parted her lips slightly and inhaled the refreshing air. Then, she rummaged through her handbag for a hair tie, gathering her long hair into a high ponytail. A few stray strands escaped, clinging to the nape of her neck.

The heat refused to dissipate, even with the breeze. She desperately wished she could chug an ice-cold beer to wash away the oppressive warmth clinging to her body. Just then, she spotted a café.

Redirecting her steps from the mansion toward the café, she entered.

“One iced Americano, please.”

She ordered coffee—something she would have avoided in the evenings due to her sensitivity to caffeine.

I-ryeong settled into the deepest corner of the café. Though it was unlikely, she feared I-jun might spot her on his way home.

On the table sat a glass cup with melting ice and her phone. Occasionally, alarms buzzed, lighting up the screen, but she didn’t touch it.

[...Apparently, the woman hired them because she was afraid of getting caught for adultery.]

The last comment she had read kept resurfacing in her mind, refusing to fade.

She gulped down the half-melted coffee in one go, hoping the cool liquid would wash away the malicious words from her memory.

‘Didn’t she use her body instead of her face? Such a slut.’

But the clarity brought by the caffeine only made the memories sharper.

If only she hadn’t spent that night with him, she might have escaped this ridicule. Her chest burned with regret.

It didn’t matter where or how this rumor had started. What mattered most was whether I-jun knew about it.

“He must have seen it.”

Setting the cup down, I-ryeong picked up her phone and fidgeted with it absentmindedly.

“Or maybe he hasn’t?”

Her wavering heart couldn’t find certainty. Overwhelmed by anguish, she slumped deeper into her chair, curling into herself.

Asking him directly would be the fastest and most accurate way to get an answer—but the thought terrified her. What if he, like the employees, believed the rumors and pointed fingers at her?

Why should she fear something that wasn’t her fault?

She never imagined an incident over a year old would come back to haunt her.

Because she had been innocent, because she had been the victim, she had erased the event from her mind, treating it as a mere hiccup and rushing back to normalcy.

“How frustrating...”

Eventually, she buried her face in her palms and swallowed her bitterness.

She should have left her previous job cleanly instead of fleeing like a coward. The regret was driving her mad.

“Haa...”

After repeatedly inhaling and exhaling sighs, she realized it was nearly midnight.

Hastily leaving the café after the owner announced closing time, she stepped outside.

The darkness seemed to swallow everything whole, as if drunk on the long night. The sudden drop in temperature made her pull her jacket tighter as she quickened her pace.

The alley leading to the mansion felt heavy. Surrounded by upscale homes, the area was eerily quiet, with only the sound of her footsteps echoing.

Climbing the gentle slope left her breathless. She chuckled bitterly at how easy she had once found this walk.

“What a joke.”

Her muttered lament blended with the hollow laughter.

It felt like forcing herself into clothes that didn’t fit, only to burst at the seams under the pressure.

Overwhelmed by the sense that she had ruined everything, she forced herself to take another step when—

Tap, tap, tap—the rapid sound of dress shoes approaching made her tense.

The source of the sound was Team Leader Han Yu-seong. While patrolling the mansion’s perimeter, he had spotted I-ryeong, who hadn’t yet returned, and rushed toward her.

“Team Leader Han?”

Recognizing him under the streetlamp, I-ryeong gave a faint smile.

“The chauffeur was waiting for you. Why didn’t you call?”

“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“The annex is this way. Please follow me. This is Patrol Team 1; the young mistress is heading in.”

After reporting over the radio, he stepped back and escorted her, guarding her as they climbed the alley together.

No words passed between them—only the synchronized rhythm of their footsteps filled the silence.

When I-ryeong moved aside as car headlights illuminated the alley, the vehicle stopped just in time.

“President Seo.”

Han bowed deeply as he opened the rear door. It was CEO Jung-ae, returning late from work.

“So, Team Leader Han is on night duty tonight? You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all, President.”

Only then did I-ryeong realize the car belonged to her mother-in-law. She quickly moved to catch up.

“Are you just now coming home, dear?”

Jung-ae’s piercing gaze startled her. The question felt deliberate.

“No, I stopped by my parents’ house after work. My younger sibling had an issue, so I stayed to handle it.”

Without realizing it, I-ryeong fabricated another lie.

She didn’t know how to atone for using her sibling as an excuse, but for now, it felt like the only choice.

However, Jung-ae’s penetrating gaze and the chilly atmosphere enveloping her made I-ryeong feel trapped. It seemed her lie had been uncovered.

Unable to hide her growing unease, she bit down hard on her lower lip.

“Shall we walk together?”

“...Yes.”

She decided to accept Jung-ae’s offer.

Jung-ae took the first step, and I-ryeong followed, matching her pace as they walked side by side.

Their pace was slow, and I-ryeong struggled to breathe under the mounting pressure. The layers of lies felt like punishment.

The headlights behind them shone brighter than the streetlamps, almost urging her to reveal the truth. Her distress grew heavier with each passing moment.

Just as they passed through the gate, Jung-ae stopped walking.

“Did you resolve your sibling’s issue?”

This time, her tone sounded surprisingly gentle. For a moment, I-ryeong wondered if she was imagining it.

“...No.”

So this time, she spoke the truth: nothing had been resolved. In reality, she was the one who had been wronged. Though she had denied it, no one had believed her.

It had been a lonely fight. Those she had trusted as colleagues seemed to find relief in the fact that they weren’t the subject of the rumors, almost reveling in them.

With no one to trust, she lacked the confidence to fight alone and ended up fleeing disgracefully without resolving anything.

Unconsciously, I-ryeong bowed her head deeply.

“I don’t know what happened, but...”

Her mother-in-law’s warm tone made her lift her head to meet Jung-ae’s gaze.

“It’s best to resolve problems quickly. The longer you drag things out, the more misunderstandings and baseless speculations grow.”

It seemed Jung-ae had seen the bulletin board as well.

I-ryeong’s heart grew heavier, and her eyes welled up with tears. She couldn’t help but lower her head again.

“Team Leader Han, escort her to the annex.”

“Yes, understood.”

Before heading back to the main house, Jung-ae gently patted I-ryeong’s shoulder.

Then, in a whisper so soft only I-ryeong could hear, she murmured, “It’s okay.”

The night was thick with humidity, sticky and suffocating.

Surrounded by lush greenery, the mansion’s landscape was breathtaking. Especially renowned for its beauty in the Dogok-dong area, the CEO’s residence was celebrated for its stunning design.

This was the first time I-ryeong truly took in the view.

Listening quietly, she thought she could hear the chirping of insects. The garden, peaceful past midnight, only added to her inner turmoil.

‘It’s okay.’

Her mother-in-law’s reassurance didn’t feel like a mishearing. At the same time, it seemed to signal that she was well aware of the situation on the bulletin board.

Did it mean she didn’t believe the speculation? Still gripped by fear, I-ryeong couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Jung-ae was the only person who knew about her transfer from her previous company, making her feel even more ashamed. It felt like she hadn’t properly settled her personal life even now.

Her already slow steps grew slower still.

“I’ll bring the cart for you.”

Han Yu-seong, who had been following behind, made his presence known.

“No, I’d like to walk a little more.”

I-ryeong stopped and turned to decline. There were still many thoughts she needed to clear from her mind, and she wanted to walk slowly.

“Oh, Team Leader Han must be busy. I’ll go to the annex alone.”

“That won’t do. The path is dark at night. Allow me to escort you.”

Team Leader Han Yu-seong was likely the busiest person in Dogok-dong, responsible for guarding the vast estate.

“Really, it’s fine.”

“I insist. It’s part of my duties as well.”

His firm tone left no room for further refusal.

I-ryeong nodded in agreement and turned to lead the way. Crossing the garden adorned with meticulously arranged landscaping trees, she took measured steps forward.

Meanwhile, Yu-seong maintained a respectful distance, following a step behind.

The once-clear chirping of insects now seemed muted, likely because Yu-seong’s quiet presence occupied her thoughts.

“I’m sorry for inconveniencing you.”

Unable to bear the silence, I-ryeong stopped and turned around.

Yu-seong, walking steadily, halted as well, nearly causing them to collide.

The previously maintained distance closed, bringing them closer.

“Please don’t think that way. This is my duty.”

“Still, I should have taken the cart as you suggested earlier.”

She regretted refusing earlier. Taking the cart would have saved him time, and the guilt weighed on her.

“I should have insisted more strongly. I apologize.”

“Don’t apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. If anything, I’d feel even worse.”

Unconsciously, I-ryeong smiled faintly.

Her discomfort, which had lingered all evening, seemed to ease just a little.

With a lighter heart than before, she resumed walking. Despite wearing high stilettos, her steps felt as light as if she could run.

“Team Leader Han, how long have you been working here in Dogok-dong?”

Casually tossing the question, she waited for his response—but none came.

In the brief silence that followed, she realized her mistake.

“I’m sorry. That was an inappropriate question.”

Han Yu-seong gazed at her with a gentle smile, accepting her apology.