MHD - 30

Chapter 30. You, Who Made Me This Way

How the hell did this bastard know I called Seo Hee-soo? 

Donghwan’s eyes widened in shock, his pupils quivering like they were caught in an earthquake. 

Come to think of it, was Hee-soo still there? What was she doing now? 

The memory of what he had intended to do to her made Donghwan uneasy about how much Jaehyuk already knew. 

“I never did that,” Donghwan quickly protested, putting on an innocent face. For now, he just needed to get out of this situation. 

“The reason I called Seo Hee-soo today wasn’t what you’re thinking—it wasn’t some malicious intent or anything like that. It was supposed to be a gesture of reconciliation, clearing up past misunderstandings now that Hee-soo is making her comeback…” 

“Donghwan.” 

Jaehyuk’s calm voice interrupted Donghwan’s rambling excuse, which was delivered in one breathless, comma-less sentence. 

Just hearing his name called sent a shiver down Donghwan’s spine. Memories of being scolded as a child came flooding back, vivid and unwanted. 

“Do you really think I wouldn’t know?” Jaehyuk’s dark eyes gleamed dangerously. “You’ve spent years chasing something you could never get, while I’ve had it all along. Do you really think I wouldn’t understand your intentions?” 

Donghwan couldn’t meet Jaehyuk’s gaze any longer. 

“Interfering with auditions by pressuring people left and right, canceling agreements…” 

So he knows about that too? Donghwan thought, feeling a mix of relief and panic. Before he could process further, Jaehyuk continued. 

“Hounding her over things long past, forcing apologies for no reason.” 

Cold sweat trickled down Donghwan’s neck. 

“Even stirring trouble at her agency.” 

This guy has been spying on me? Donghwan’s face twisted in confusion and anxiety. How much does he know? 

“Just stop.” 

Donghwan couldn’t muster a single word in response. 

“Stop everything. All of it.” 

Though Jaehyuk’s tone sounded almost gentle, like he was scolding a child, Donghwan knew better. He was well aware that when Lee Jaehyuk lost his temper, he became someone capable of anything. 

His pride stung, but there was nothing he could do but bow his head. After all, the contract sitting in front of him was worth far more than his wounded ego. 

If Jaehyuk changed his mind and refused to hand it over after dragging him here through his father’s orders, Donghwan would be the only one left humiliated. 

Useless brat. Worthless fool. Siberian wasteland fodder. 

His father’s insults echoed in his ears like a hallucination. 

Donghwan forced out a strained nod. 

“...Alright.” 

But even then, Jaehyuk’s expression remained unsatisfied. What else could he possibly want? Cold sweat poured down Donghwan’s back. Unconsciously, he began shaking one leg nervously. 

“And apologize.” 

When Jaehyuk’s words sank in, Donghwan thought he must have misheard. 

“What?” 

“Go find her and apologize sincerely.” 

“For what?! Are you insane? Since when does the victim have to apologize to the perpetrator?!” 

The absurdity of it made Donghwan laugh despite himself. 

Fine, let’s say he somehow swallowed his pride and agreed. But to go find her and apologize? 

For Donghwan, who had just been mocking Hee-soo moments ago, this was beyond infuriating. 

In a burst of anger, he slammed the contract back onto the desk. 

“You bastard! Are you telling me, Baek Donghwan, to grovel before some washed-up actress like Seo Hee-soo?!” 

At the mention of “washed-up Hee-soo,” Jaehyuk raised an eyebrow. Slowly, he reached out and placed a hand on the contract Donghwan had thrown back onto the desk. 

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine. It’s your choice.” 

As Jaehyuk moved to pull the report toward him, Donghwan hastily grabbed the contract again to stop him. 

“Ugh, damn it! Fine! I’ll say sorry, alright? Happy now?” 

“What exactly are you apologizing for?” 

“Do I really have to spell everything out?” 

“A vague apology isn’t an apology. You need to say it clearly: ‘I’m sorry for what I did wrong. I regret my actions and promise not to repeat them.’ Something sincere like that.” 

“God, you’re driving me insane.” 

Donghwan clenched his teeth, his gaze darting between the contract and Jaehyuk. 

“So what am I apologizing for, exactly?” 

“Calling her with impure intentions. Using your position of power to humiliate her. Sabotaging her work by leveraging your influence. Three things.”

“Are you serious right now?” 

“Yeah. This is actually pretty generous, if you think about it.” 

For a few seconds, Donghwan hesitated. In that moment, Jaehyuk swiftly pulled the contract out from under Donghwan’s hand. 

“If you’re not clear about this, I can’t hand it over.” 

Donghwan shot Jaehyuk a glare filled with frustration and humiliation, but Jaehyuk remained unfazed. 

“Chairman Baek said he wants it by today. What will you do if I change my mind? He might never see it in his lifetime.” 

At Jaehyuk’s words, Donghwan shook his head, his face burning red. He gnawed on his lips repeatedly before gritting his teeth and asking: 

“Just answer one thing. Why are you so obsessed with that woman? There are plenty of women in the world.” 

“None of your business.” 

Donghwan had hoped for some meaningful reason, but the reply was as curt as ever. 

By now, he was genuinely curious. 

What exactly had Seo Hee-soo done to make him act like this? To crush Baek Donghwan—him!—so mercilessly for just one woman? Him? Baek Donghwan? 

His nostrils flared wildly with anger. Suppressing his rage, he asked again: 

“How am I supposed to give a sincere apology without knowing why?” 

“Don’t attach reasons to your apology. Are you going to do it or not?” 

“...” 

The final hesitation silenced him momentarily, but Donghwan eventually relented. 

“Fine. I’ll do it. Isn’t that what you want?” 

“I’ll wait for the follow-up. I’ll hand over the contract then.” 

“Hah.” 

“Leave.” 

When Jaehyuk gestured toward the door with a flick of his chin, Donghwan’s eyes flared with anger. But as his gaze fell on the contract still sitting on the desk, he turned sharply and stormed out of the office. 

BANG. 

The door slammed shut with a deafening crash, but Jaehyuk didn’t even flinch. His calm gaze followed Donghwan’s exit before returning to the contract on the desk. 

“Why are you so obsessed with that woman!” 

It wasn’t obsession. 

Jaehyuk turned his chair toward the window, gazing outside. 

He simply found it unpleasant when someone like Baek Donghwan meddled with his past. If anyone were to torment Seo Hee-soo, it should be him—not some insignificant fool. Watching her being pushed around by others was intolerable. 

This was an insult to him. 

Narrowing his eyes, he stared through the glass. His reflection briefly appeared in the transparent surface. Catching sight of his own grim expression, Jaehyuk let out a bitter smile. 

Why bother coming up with all these excuses? Even self-justification had its limits. 

No matter how he tried to rationalize it, the truth was that he was still acting foolishly. 

“Hah.” 

His gaze dropped coldly. 

Why hadn’t she asked for his help, even when driven to beg Baek Donghwan? Wasn’t begging Baek Donghwan just as pathetic? 

The childish comparison churned his insides. 

How much more broken did she have to become before she came to him? 

If she did come to him in the end, as a last resort with no other choice... 

He wanted her to suffer even more. 

He wanted her to realize, in her desperation and humiliation, that he was the only person left for her to cling to in this world. 

Jaehyuk tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. The realization that such childishness still lingered within him felt strangely new. Chuckling bitterly, he closed his eyes. 

The reason I can’t walk past places where your traces remain is because I still harbor feelings for you. 

But seeing myself like this, and seeing you as you are, makes me furious about everything between us. 

Why do I keep letting myself be dragged back to you? I hate myself for it. 

And... 

I despise you for making me this way. 

I hate you so much. 

A dull ache seared through his chest. Jaehyuk stayed still, allowing the pain to sink in until it eventually subsided. 

As soon as Hee-soo got home, she stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water, standing beneath the stream. Only after drenching her scalp for a while did her senses finally return.

I don’t even remember how I managed to get home. My legs gave out so many times that I nearly collapsed while getting in and out of the car. 

Only after the tension finally eased did I step out of the shower, dry my hair, and sit there in a daze. 

Then my phone buzzed. 

“Hee-soo, please answer me. Okay?” 

As expected, the flood of messages was from Cha Joo-won—but his tone was strangely off. 

Normally, if he couldn’t reach me, he’d leave an avalanche of missed calls and scathing texts. But now, his words were desperate, almost pleading. 

“Hee-soo, should I come pick you up?” 

“Please, help me out here.” 

“How could you do this to me? No matter how much you hate me, this is too much.” 

What on earth was going on? 

At first glance, the situation made no sense. Frowning, I carefully read through the messages one by one. 

“President Baek says he absolutely needs to see you.” 

“Where are you right now?” 

“He says he has something important to discuss with you today. He insists on seeing you today.” 

“If I don’t arrange it, he’s going to kill me.” 

Haa. 

Was he trying to finish what he couldn’t earlier? I opened the voice recorder app to confirm that the conversation had been saved properly. 

Ding dong. 

Just as I was about to check the recording, the doorbell rang. 

I pressed the intercom button and checked the screen—Cha Joo-won’s face appeared. 

“What is it?” 

I glanced at the clock on the wall while asking. It was past 8 PM, the first time Cha Joo-won had visited this late. Clearly, Baek Donghwan had pressured him hard. 

Had he demanded that I be brought to him immediately? 

I swallowed hard. 

[Hee-soo, you weren’t answering my calls, so I sent messages, but I thought you might misunderstand, so I came in person.] 

“Misunderstand… what?” 

What was there to misunderstand? Cha Joo-won had acted like his usual self, and Baek Donghwan had done what he always did. 

“I already went to apologize like President Baek asked. I can’t do it again. Today was really difficult…” 

[No! That’s not it!] 

Cha Joo-won shook his head frantically and leaned closer to the intercom. His face filled the entire screen. 

[It’s not that. President Baek wants to meet you to apologize for what happened today…] 

His whispering lips dominated the screen. 

“What?” 

When I responded in surprise, Cha Joo-won’s lips moved again. In the process, the camera seemed to focus on his lips, blurring the screen momentarily. 

[He said he absolutely must meet you today to apologize…] 

[Ah, damn it, this is frustrating. Move aside!] 

As Cha Joo-won whispered urgently, another voice interrupted. 

[Ms. Seo Hee-soo. It’s me, Baek Donghwan.]