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Closing the study door behind him, Joo-hyuk let out a long sigh. He had come here with great resolve, but in the end, he left empty-handed.
Though he had vowed to kneel if necessary to find her, all he could do was exactly that—kneel.
He knew his father would present conditions he couldn’t accept, and he knew refusing them meant walking away empty-handed. But he couldn’t comply with his father’s wishes, even if it meant finding her, because she wouldn’t be happy about it.
How foolish of him to think his tearful plea might move his father’s heart.
“Choi Joo-hyuk.”
As Joo-hyuk stepped out of the main house to leave, someone called his name from the garden.
It was his older brother, Joo-ho.
When did he get here?
Wondering who had informed Joo-ho about his visit to their father, Joo-hyuk walked over to the table set up in one corner of the garden.
“Did you see Father?”
Joo-ho’s face looked much older than the last time they’d met.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
“You should call or something if you’re visiting.”
“If I’m coming to see Father, just go ahead.”
“I didn’t come to see Father—I came to see you.”
“Me?”
Joo-ho gave a small nod.
“They say your wife has disappeared.”
“...Yes.”
What a house where no secrets exist.
Just how far did reports about him reach, and to whom? Joo-hyuk wondered.
“Whatever Father knows, I know too. You don’t need to make that face. It’s not like I wanted to know.”
“Hmm.”
“Here.”
Joo-ho slid a small folded piece of paper across the table.
“What’s this?”
“The place where your wife is.”
“What?”
Joo-hyuk quickly reached for the paper on the table but stopped himself before picking it up.
“What do you want from me?”
At his question, Joo-ho gave a faint smile.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Yes, nothing.”
That can’t be true.
Still hesitating, his hand suspended mid-air, Joo-hyuk stared at Joo-ho.
“If you need a reason, consider it a wedding gift.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not the kind of person who’d give me something like this without a reason.”
At Joo-hyuk’s words, the faint smile on Joo-ho’s face grew even thinner. Rising from the bench, he pushed the paper closer to Joo-hyuk with his finger.
“Because of Father, both Joo-chan and I ended up resenting you. But we’re victims too, just like you.”
Victims?
Joo-hyuk furrowed his brow.
“Do you think our mother was at peace after learning about your mother and you? Just because she maintained her position as the first wife, do you think she accepted you without resentment?”
“That’s not it.”
Of course, it was obvious their mother had been hurt too. In those days, divorce wasn’t even an option, and she had raised Joo-hyuk alongside her two sons.
Even the kindest person would have suffered from stress or depression under such circumstances.
“And what about us? Do you think we willingly accepted you as our brother without understanding why we had to?”
“…”
“We never hated you or your mother. What’s the point of fighting among victims when the real culprit is clear? Unlike Joo-chan, though, I didn’t want to grow fond of you—for Mother’s sake, I didn’t want to fully accept you.”
Now Joo-hyuk finally understood why his older brother had always treated him coldly, unlike his younger brother.
“Whether you take this or not is up to you, but at least know we’re not enemies.”
Joo-ho patted Joo-hyuk’s shoulder lightly with his palm and then turned to head back into the house.
“Older Brother.”
Joo-hyuk quickly called out to stop him.
“I’ve never hated you—or Mother.”
“…”
“Thank you for helping me.”
Without turning around, Joo-ho gave a slight wave and disappeared into the house.
After the front door closed, Joo-hyuk picked up the paper from the table. Written neatly in his older brother’s handwriting was an unfamiliar address.
He rubbed his face with his palm, then turned to leave.
It was time to go find Sena.
---
Joo-hyuk stepped out of the narrow elevator and stood in front of the motel room where Sena was staying.
He rubbed his face with his hands. He didn’t care about looking perfect, but he had shaved after days of neglect—he didn’t want to appear scruffy either.
Their reunion was bound to be awkward, but he hoped Sena wouldn’t run away again upon seeing him. With that thought, he pressed the doorbell.
“Who is it?”
Hearing Sena’s voice after a moment, Joo-hyuk felt an immense sense of relief. At least her voice sounded okay.
“Who is it?”
When she asked again, Joo-hyuk nodded to the motel owner who had accompanied him upstairs.
“It’s the motel owner. I need to check some facilities.”
“Oh, just a moment.”
Fortunately, without suspicion, the door clicked open. As soon as it did, the owner swiftly turned and headed back to the elevator. His job was done now that he’d received the money Joo-hyuk had given him.
“Ah!”
Startled, Sena covered her mouth with her hand, unsure what to do.
She seemed to want to close the door, but Joo-hyuk already had a firm grip on the handle.
“Joo… Joo-hyuk?”
Her trembling voice matched the quiver of her fingertips.
“How… how did you find this place?”
“If you wanted to break up with me, you shouldn’t have just stamped the papers and left.”
Whether she was scared or simply shocked, seeing her gaunt figure in such a shabby place made anger rise within him. Words contrary to his feelings slipped out of his mouth.
“If you want a divorce, come back and stamp the papers in front of me.”
“I already left the papers with you.”
“I tore those useless papers to shreds.”
At his sharp words, delivered with a piercing glare, Sena’s shoulders flinched.
“Don’t run away like a coward. Stamp them boldly in front of me.”
“Run away? I didn’t run away!”
“You didn’t run away? So you really want to divorce me?”
“O-Of course I do.”
Why was she stuttering?
How had he so easily believed her lies that night when she was clearly this terrible at deception?
“What’s the reason?”
“The reason is... I-I don’t l-love you...”
Her stubborn insistence on lying, even as she struggled to come up with an excuse, made Joo-hyuk feel a surge of anger toward her.
“Han Kang-un.”
At the mention of Kang-un’s name, she froze like stone.
“How long did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“W-What about him?”
“Enough. I’ve already heard everything. You don’t need to keep running.”
Joo-hyuk slowly approached her. As he stepped closer, she backed away until her legs hit the bed, where she stopped retreating.
“So, are you done running now?”
“I told you, I didn’t run away…”
“Enough.”
“I already said I know everything. You don’t need to be afraid of Han Kang-un anymore.”
“But he said if I didn’t disappear, he’d hurt you!”
Joo-hyuk’s mind went blank for a moment at this revelation.
So Sena had left to protect him.
“It’s okay. I’m… I’m fine.”
Overwhelmed by the tears threatening to spill, Joo-hyuk pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Choi Joo-hyuk, stop it! Let go of me!”
“I’m sorry.”
He buried his face between her shoulder and neck as he spoke. At his apology, she collapsed onto the bed, crumbling before him.
“Sob…”
Tears poured from her eyes like a broken dam.
How scared and heartbroken she must have been. How heavy the burden she had tried to bear alone.
Joo-hyuk held her close, gently stroking her back to comfort her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
After her sobs had subsided somewhat, he asked.
“That night, instead of leaving like that, you should have told me everything honestly.”
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“I was afraid of losing myself again after barely holding on, and of losing you forever…”
“What do you mean…?”
Before he could ask further, she shook her head fiercely, signaling it wasn’t the right time.
“I don’t want to talk about that today.”
Her red-rimmed eyes met his.
“I wanted to come back to you.”
“You should have.”
“How could I? Neither of us would have been safe.”
“...”
“I’m sorry.”
Tears spilled from her eyes again.
“Don’t say that. I’m the one who should apologize.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I came too late. I should have found you sooner.”
If only he hadn’t let his pride get in the way and gone to his father earlier, she wouldn’t have suffered like this.
He despised his own foolishness.
“Let’s go home.”
“What?”
“What’s there to ask twice? Let’s go home.”
Her eyes were still filled with hesitation as they gazed at him.
“If you don’t walk out on your own two feet, I’ll carry you out.”
---
When they returned home, Sena finally felt like she had found her sanctuary. Though she had only been gone for a few days, the relief of being back was overwhelming.
She leaned into Joo-hyuk, looking into his eyes—the deep brown irises beneath his long lashes.
Without hesitation, their lips sought each other. She bit his lower lip, and he sucked on hers.
Her mind grew hazy, her breathing quickened. When the need for air became urgent, she gently pushed him away with her palm, breaking the kiss.
Their eyes met briefly in the pause, and then he claimed her lips again.
“Aah…”
His tongue slipped past her parted lips, exploring her teeth, tangling with her tongue, and then retreating.
Through his kiss, he was extracting a promise that they would never part again.
“You’re burning up.”
His feverish voice dampened her ear.
“You’re the one who’s burning.”
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