RB - 24

24. Exploiting Your Fragile Opening

“Didn’t you say you’re rich, Jin-hyuk? And that you have a famous lawyer as your brother? How about using some of that now? For good intentions, of course.”

“Miss Han, what exactly do you mean by that?”

Seo-yeon alternated her gaze between Hyeon-ae and Jin-hyuk as she explained her plan.

“Attorney Jung Seung-min from Gahan Law Firm—didn’t I see him on TV giving consultations for divorce cases? What if Attorney Jung handles Hyeon-ae’s divorce case? Of course, Jin-hyuk will cover all the legal fees. Since Jin-hyuk wronged both of us, this is his chance to buy absolution with money.”

There was no question about it. A faint smile finally spread across Jin-hyuk’s previously tense face.

What did he do to deserve that smile? Seo-yeon thought, exasperated. Yet, before she realized it, she found herself smiling along with him, silently cursing her own soft heart. This is why people who grew up unloved are hopeless. Emotional deprivation, indeed.

Hyeon-ae, still dazed by her sudden stroke of luck, pinched her cheek to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“That star lawyer? The one who frequently appears as a panelist on variety shows?”

“Yes, Hyeon-ae. Do you want a divorce? If the conditions are very favorable?”

“Of course! As long as I get full asset division, custody of my child, and proper child support, there’s no reason for me to keep living with that disgusting man.”

“Did you hear that, Jin-hyuk? What happened to me today was truly awful, but life has its twists, like in the story of ‘Saiōnji’ or ‘turning misfortune into fortune.’ Thanks to this incident, Hyeon-ae can successfully get her divorce.”

Interrupting Seo-yeon, Jin-hyuk added:

“And I’ll be forgiven, while Miss Han gets her revenge against those despicable people at JB Company.”

Seo-yeon gave a meaningful smile and turned her gaze toward the window. She had no compassion to spare for her enemy who had once held a knife to her throat. Like a chef contemplating how best to tear apart and cook fresh ingredients, Seo-yeon slowly savored the anticipation building inside her.

Meanwhile, Jin-hyuk had figured out exactly how to manipulate Seo-yeon’s emotions.

She could never ignore someone in need. He needed to tweak his plan slightly. The timing to reveal that he was the boy she met at the orphanage ten years ago had to be moved up.

After sending Hyeon-ae on her way, Seo-yeon sat across from Jin-hyuk. Brushing her hair back, she asked:

“Jin-hyuk, you know who HR Manager Ko’s real affair partner is, right? Who is it?”

“It’s Manager Kim from the finance team.”

A faint smile appeared on Seo-yeon’s lips—not one born of amusement, but rather an expression shaped by betrayal and irony. They say you can’t trust anyone in this world.

“Jin-hyuk, please postpone tomorrow’s meeting to Monday. I think I need to take a leave of absence. After being labeled a homewrecker and slapped, it feels inappropriate to go straight back to work.”

As Jin-hyuk stared at Seo-yeon’s inflamed left cheek, he felt as though a needle had pierced his heart. It was an unfamiliar pain. Had he ever empathized so deeply with another person’s suffering before? What on earth have I done?

With guilt dripping from his voice, he asked:

“If I may ask, what will you do during your leave?”

“I’m going to visit the orphanage. There’s something I need to confirm.”

What impeccable timing. At the mention of the orphanage, Jin-hyuk’s eyes gleamed. Han Seo-yeon can never turn away from someone pitiful. That’s why she embraced that eight-year-old boy waving scissors around back then.

Jin-hyuk decided to willingly exploit her compassion.

“That orphanage—Han Sarang Orphanage, right? Let’s go together. There’s something I need to tell you there. I think you’ll regret it if you don’t come.”

Doubt floated into Seo-yeon’s wide eyes.

“...How do you know the name of my orphanage?”

“I’ll explain when we get there. I also have a connection to Han Sarang Orphanage. It’s a very tragic and heartbreaking story... I feel like I’ll gain courage if I go with you. Please, I beg you.”

The moment to reveal his true identity—the moment to ripple her clear and pure heart with “pity”—had arrived sooner than expected. By some twist of fate, Jin-hyuk had crossed one hurdle. His heavy heart suddenly felt as light as if it had grown wings.

At the same time, in a deserted stairwell of a building...

Click, click, the sound of heels echoed through the stairwell before coming to a stop. Next came Manager Kim’s labored, anxious breathing.

Manager Kim let out a series of painful sighs, as if scratching her throat, and pounded her chest in frustration. She muttered curses under her breath as she deleted call logs and chat histories from her phone.

“Ko Myeong-soo, you idiot! You said you were handling things carefully... What is this mess?”

As her trembling fingers fumbled with her phone, it suddenly vibrated violently. Startled, Manager Kim jumped in place. The caller ID glaring back at her read: HR Manager Ko Myeong-soo.

“Are you crazy? Do you even know what just happened at the office? Your wife showed up!”

Before Manager Kim could finish, HR Manager Ko’s frantic voice cut in:

“I already know everything. Just pretend it didn’t happen—it’ll blow over as a misunderstanding. Right now, the audit team thinks I’m having an affair with Han Seo-yeon. This actually works in your favor.”

At the mention of another scapegoat, Manager Kim’s angry tone softened slightly.

“Really? Why did things turn out this way? Why is Han Seo-yeon suddenly involved?”

“Some idiot tipped off the audit team incorrectly. Anyway, it’s a good thing for you. Don’t act suspicious and stay calm. I’ll handle my wife.”

“Got it. Make sure you handle her properly—I even got caught buying luxury goods! If my husband finds out, I’m dead.”

The venomous quiver in Manager Kim’s voice prompted HR Manager Ko to console his mistress.

“Han Seo-yeon and I will just endure the humiliation, and that’ll be the end of it. I’ll make sure you don’t suffer any consequences—don’t worry.”

What a deeply “devoted” love it was. Comforted by her lover’s sacrificial spirit, Manager Kim ended the call feeling reassured. There wasn’t an ounce of guilt toward Han Seo-yeon in her heart; instead, relief bloomed on her plump cheeks.

“Ah, thank goodness. Han Seo-yeon is strong, and she’s unmarried, so it’s better this way for her anyway.”

A few hours later, there was no need to explain that Jung-hyuk, upon returning to Café R’amant, was far from calm.

Ethan hastily sent the part-time workers home and lowered the shutters early as Jung-hyuk’s rage threatened to shatter every piece of café equipment.

As Ethan cleaned up the shattered remains of glass cups scattered across the floor, he shot Jung-hyuk a sidelong glare.

“Jeez, your temper is something else.”

Jung-hyuk was on the verge of losing his mind because Seo-yeon still wasn’t answering his calls. After a few deep breaths, he growled in a chilling tone:

“You… are you mocking me right now? Hand it over, quick.”

Ethan pouted before pulling a folder from beneath the counter—it contained the investigative report on HR Manager Ko Myeong-soo that Jung-hyuk had requested via text earlier.

Handing over the folder, Ethan couldn’t resist boasting a little.

“It’s not easy for even the best private investigators to dig up information in half a day. But hey, it’s me, so it got done.”

Jung-hyuk snatched the folder with a frosty expression. On the two sheets of paper lay the sordid history of adultery, detailing the exploits of none other than Ko Myeong-soo and Manager Kim.

Jung-hyuk straightened his posture, having been leaning diagonally against the counter. He ran the tip of his tongue along the inside of his cheek. Sensing his foul mood, Ethan cautiously added:

“By the way, some JB Company employees came here earlier tonight. Overheard them chatting while drinking coffee—they said she really did get slapped. Right in front of everyone, too! Slap!”

Ethan mimicked the slap dramatically, like an actor on stage. Jung-hyuk glared at him as if ready to kill.

“…Is this amusing to you? Want to die?”

Maybe I went too far with the joke? Still, no way this backlash will reach me.

While Ethan awkwardly scratched his head, Jung-hyuk checked his phone again. Seo-yeon was still ignoring his calls.

“She’s driving me insane, Han Seo-yeon.”

Swallowing hard like a man parched with thirst, Jung-hyuk bolted out of the café. Ethan’s voice faded into the distance behind him.

Less than an hour later, Jung-hyuk’s sedan slid to a stop in front of Seo-yeon’s apartment. He sent her a text:

—I’m outside your place. If you don’t come down, I’m calling the police.

“Not many women appreciate surprise visits, you idiot.”

Though Seo-yeon lashed out at Jung-hyuk for showing up unannounced, she failed to notice how easily she had climbed into his car without much resistance.

Jung-hyuk’s gaze, which had been fixed ahead, suddenly turned sharply toward her.

“A girlfriend who ignores my calls… makes me want to teach her some manners.”

Jung-hyuk’s strikingly handsome face confronted Seo-yeon. His clean, composed features made it difficult to read his emotions, but beneath them, Seo-yeon could sense the seething anger.

His sharp jawline tilted slightly, stirring her senses. After staring at her for a long moment, Jung-hyuk shook his head and reached out.

“I heard you got slapped. Which cheek was it?”

His fingers brushed aside the strands of hair partially covering her face. Under the moonlight, he gently traced the cheek that had borne the slap.

They said this side, right? Let me see if I can find the mark.

Seo-yeon trembled under his careful touch, feeling as though his fingers left a burning trail wherever they grazed her skin. Each brush of his breath, each whisper, sent shameful shivers between her legs. Reflexively, she pulled her body back, leaving his fingers suspended in midair.