MHD - 84

Chapter 84: The Night of the Awards Ceremony

Just before stepping out of the car, Hee-soo checked the position of her hand holding the dress.

The carefully chosen gown subtly accentuated her figure, so she couldn’t afford to relax even for a moment as she exited the vehicle.

She knew that the moment she stepped out, camera flashes would erupt chaotically, so she wanted to double-check beforehand.

As the car approached the awards venue, the density of the crowd lining the streets grew thicker. Among them were people holding placards with Hee-soo’s name written on them.

Seeing her fans gathered along the street stirred a mix of emotions within her.

All of this was thanks to the overwhelming success of My Hateful Darling, which had resonated deeply with audiences from the moment it premiered.

One million, two million.

With each milestone in ticket sales, Hee-soo offered prayers of gratitude. Even when Yoon-seok excitedly declared that this was already a massive success for a comeback film, Hee-soo still felt detached from reality.

And when the film surpassed five million viewers, Cha Joo-won’s attitude underwent a complete transformation.

Once alternately flattering and mocking her, he now groveled completely, realizing that his leverage over her—her family—was gone.

For context, Hee-soo had severed all ties with her former family, specifically her paternal uncle’s household.

After their business failed and they repeatedly called to plead for help, Hee-soo sent formal notices through her lawyer, cutting off all communication.

Thus, Cha Joo-won’s panic was understandable—he had lost every weapon he once wielded against her.

Hee-soo remained unfazed by his actions. Once her current contract ended, she planned to establish a one-person agency with Yoon-seok and become independent. With Kang Jae-min’s unwavering support, she felt fearless.

“Get ready to step out, Noona.”

Yoon-seok’s voice came from the driver’s seat. Hee-soo met his gaze in the rearview mirror and nodded.

One, two, three.

Counting silently, she opened the car door. As the automatic van door slid open, the red carpet stretched before her eyes, flanked by throngs of people.

“Kyaa!”

The moment she stepped out, cheers erupted so loudly they drowned out all other sounds. Hee-soo greeted her cheering fans with a nod and began walking slowly down the red carpet.

“Hee-soo unnie! I love you!”

A voice stopped Hee-soo in her tracks. Turning toward the source, she placed her hand over her heart and bowed deeply.

“Kyaaaaa!”

The crowd erupted into frenzied excitement. Guided by security personnel who rushed to assist, Hee-soo made her way inside the venue.

“Hee-soo, I think you’re going to win tonight. Definitely.”

Jin Yuna whispered as soon as Hee-soo sat down at their table.

“Well, there are so many strong contenders this year. I’m not expecting much.”

“Nonsense. Who could possibly surpass an actress who’s already won international acclaim?”

As Yuna said, My Hateful Darling had been invited to several international film festivals, following in the footsteps of Paradise Lost. It had already won Best International Film and Best Screenplay overseas.

Though Hee-soo was nominated for Best Actress, she hadn’t won. Still, just being nominated had drawn immense attention domestically.

Many media outlets predicted Hee-soo as the frontrunner for this year’s Chungjo Art Awards Best Actress prize.

But counting chickens before they hatched was unwise. Hee-soo simply smiled shyly at Yuna’s comment. Sensing her hesitation, Yuna pressed further.

“Come on, be honest. Didn’t the organizers contact you beforehand? For Best Actress, they sometimes give advance notice.”

“No, I haven’t heard anything. Guess I didn’t win.”

“Hmm, maybe they don’t pre-announce anymore. Maybe I was wrong. But you prepared a speech, right?”

“Yes, I did…”

Hee-soo hesitated awkwardly, prompting Yuna to wink playfully.

“The speech you prepared? You’ll definitely get to say it tonight.”

“What’s all this talk about speeches? Did you prepare one, Yuna?”

Jae-min, who had just arrived, chimed in as he took his seat beside Yuna. Hee-soo greeted him lightly. Shortly after, Jin Hyuk-chan, the male lead, also arrived and joined them.

The emcees ascended the stage for final audio checks. One by one, the lights dimmed, plunging the venue into semi-darkness.

The awards ceremony had begun.

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“And now, the winner of Best Actress is…”

Before the host finished speaking, Yuna leaned toward Hee-soo and whispered:

“I didn’t win, but you’re definitely going to.”

Her face betrayed disappointment over missing out on Best Supporting Actress.

“Aww.”

Hee-soo shook her head slightly. Meanwhile, the lights dimmed further, and the large screen displayed the names and works of the nominees.

My Hateful Darling – Seo Hee-soo.

Her name reverberated throughout the hall, and scenes of her in the film filled the screen. Seeing herself in a ballet costume felt surreal.

As the names of competing nominees scrolled past, the stage lights brightened again.

The presenter, a veteran actress who had won Best Actress the previous year, stepped forward.

“This year’s Chungjo Art Awards prestigious Best Actress goes to…”

Rustle. The sound of the envelope opening filled the air, followed by a brief silence.

My Hateful Darling – Seo Hee-soo.

Hee-soo, who had been looking down, snapped her head up at the mention of her name. Around her, people gathered to offer congratulations.

“See? I told you you’d win.”

“Congratulations.”

“Congratulations.”

Amidst the flood of well-wishes, a cameraman approached Hee-soo. Following the lens capturing her close-up, she ascended the stage.

Holding the trophy handed to her, Hee-soo stood before the microphone.

Facing the countless eyes watching her, she began her acceptance speech with a trembling voice.

“First, I want to thank the director who gave me this opportunity, my fellow actors, and everyone who watched the film…”

Pausing mid-speech, Hee-soo took a moment to absorb the scene before her.

This was her second time standing on stage to accept the Best Actress award.

Memories of her first win overlapped with the present. Back then, while delivering her speech, she had thought of someone who would feel uncomfortable seeing her succeed.

Smiling brightly, she had proclaimed how happy she was.

Look at me. I survived. Despite everything you put me through, here I am.

That was the message she had wanted to convey through the screen.

Now, standing on stage, she reflected on the hollow shell she had become after that person’s death. She saw glimpses of her past self and recognized how different she was now.

Amidst these swirling thoughts, Hee-soo steadied her racing heart and continued.

“For a long time, I lived like a bruised person. I kept wondering why these things happened to me, questioning endlessly. I often thought, if I had made different choices in the past, would I have been happier? These thoughts consumed me.”

At her words, some in the audience lowered their heads, wiping away tears.

During the time she had secluded herself due to panic attacks, Hee-soo had been rushed to the emergency room more than once. On days when the purpose of life felt invisible, she had even approached the brink of death.

Memories of those days flashed through her mind like a fleeting lantern show, and Hee-soo’s voice began to tremble with emotion. Fighting back tears, she continued speaking deliberately, enunciating each word clearly.

“Through this project, I feel as though I’ve been reborn. While revisiting and confronting the painful memories I tried so hard to forget, I emptied myself. And in that emptiness, I finally saw the people around me who believed in me.”

Hee-soo’s gaze shifted toward Jae-min. Throughout the year-long filming process, he had endlessly encouraged her, lifted her up, and supported her.

“Director Kang Jae-min, who pulled me out of the abyss, and all the staff and audience members—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because of the second chance you gave me, I was able to live again. I will cherish this night deeply in my heart for the rest of my life.”

A gentle smile spread across Jae-min’s face. Good job, his expression seemed to say. He nodded repeatedly, watching her with pride.

“…And lastly.”

Hee-soo raised her head and looked straight ahead.

She knew she had to speak about Jae-hyuk, who was likely watching her now. Opening her mouth to speak, Hee-soo was suddenly overcome by emotion, unable to form words, and tears streamed down her cheeks instead.

In her mind, she saw Jae-hyuk’s calm face during that press conference a year ago.

His strangely serene expression had silently comforted her then.

Ah, I miss him. I really miss him.

Her heart swelled with longing, and she felt an overwhelming urge to run off the stage and find Jae-hyuk.

“I want to make a confession.”

Her trembling voice carried through the microphone, filling the hall. An unusual silence fell over the venue as all eyes turned to her. Her tear-streaked face appeared magnified on the large screen above.

Tears flowed down her cheeks, but Hee-soo didn’t wipe them away.

“I once tried to forget even you, without finding any reason to keep living. But now I know I can’t do that anymore. It seems you are both the end of all my suffering and the beginning of my joy.”

Hee-soo lifted the trophy high with both hands.

“To my beloved, I dedicate this award to you.”