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“I’ve already promised Yoon Guk my entire life.”
At those words, Han’s face froze into something terrifyingly cold.
“Don’t make me laugh. Since when did you love him so deeply that you’d pledge your life to him?”
Hyun-soo, who had been staring at the floor, lifted her head and stepped closer to the bed. The tension between them was palpable now, their gazes sharp and unyielding.
“You’re right. Since when did I love Yoon Guk that much? It’s ridiculous.”
“......”
“But Han-ah. That’s what marriage is.”
“......”
“Promising your life to someone—that’s marriage.”
Hyun-soo’s voice was calm, measured. Han stared up at her without responding.
“Yoon Guk and I chose each other. It’s already decided. That’s all there is to it—do I need to say more?”
Han exhaled deeply, leaning back against the headboard with a distant, almost desolate expression.
“So what you’re saying is, no matter what, it’ll never be me.”
“...Don’t say that.”
“Answer me.”
“Fine. I won’t apologize, because I’m not sorry.”
Not sorry at all. Han let out a bitter laugh.
“I don’t know when you started feeling this way... but it’s temporary. So—”
“How can you be so sure?”
“......”
“Huh? What makes you so confident?”
Han’s eyes burned with something fierce—anger, maybe. Realizing this conversation was going nowhere, Hyun-soo took a step back, ready to leave the room.
“Where are you going?”
“You seem fine, so I’ll go. I’ll call the adults—someone will come soon.”
“Don’t go. I have more to say.”
“Rest. Take care of yourself.”
“Noona.”
“Goodbye.”
“Noona!”
Hyun-soo turned around, determined not to be pulled back in. But then—
“How far do you really trust my brother?”
That single sentence shattered her resolve.
She hadn’t even taken two steps before she turned back.
“What did you say?”
“I told you. I have more to say.”
“Not that. What you just said—what did you mean?”
“Ah. You mean, ‘How far do you trust him?’”
She hadn’t misheard. Hyun-soo’s eyes flickered uncertainly as she was slowly drawn back in, like a fish on a hook.
“What kind of question is that? ‘How far do I trust him?’”
“Exactly what it sounds like. You only see what’s on the surface, and it hurts me.”
Han’s smirk was infuriating. But Hyun-soo forced herself to stay calm, schooling her expression into neutrality.
“All I’m saying is, my brother isn’t as oblivious or honest as you think.”
“Stop talking in circles and say what you mean.”
“Fine. I will.”
Han straightened up, his smile never wavering. Beneath that summer-leaf grin lurked something venomous—something Hyun-soo didn’t yet see.
“Your sponsorship. I knew it was you from the beginning. I knew everything.”
He probably expected her to be shaken, but Hyun-soo barely reacted. She’d suspected as much—Yoon Guk had hinted at it before.
“You’re not surprised?”
“I’ve considered the possibility. But to hear it confirmed... I’m disappointed.”
Han stared at her, then suddenly laughed. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
“If that doesn’t shock you, how about this? What if I told you I orchestrated the conditions for you to become my sponsor?”
“What are you talking about? ‘Orchestrated the conditions’?”
Han shrugged. Hyun-soo frowned, turning the words over in her mind. Orchestrated the conditions...
“Want a hint? Your father.”
“My dad?”
“Didn’t you think it was strange? His business was doing so well, then suddenly—”
No way. Hyun-soo’s face paled. She took a shaky step forward, gripping the stiff hospital sheets. Her fingertips trembled.
“Are you saying Yoon Guk had something to do with my father’s business?”
“You catch on quick.”
“That’s impossible.”
Her eyes reddened, veins standing out against the whites.
“He was just a high schooler back then. How could he—”
“My father. The great power broker, Chairman Yoon. My brother had him wrapped around his finger. Crushing a small business? Nothing to him.”
“You’re lying.”
“You’d rather believe that, wouldn’t you?”
“Lies. All lies.”
“Noona. Don’t ‘misinterpret’ this. Don’t you remember your own words?”
Hyun-soo’s vision swam red.
After the business collapsed, her father became a wreck before abandoning his daughters and disappearing. Left to fend for themselves, they bounced between relatives, surviving on scraps. And then—like a lifeline—came the sponsorship. To think that all along...!
The realization that her savior was the one who ruined her family made her blood boil. She clutched her chest, teeth grinding.
“And this is just a side note, but... I couldn’t figure it out either.”
“......”
“The fire alarm at the founding anniversary ceremony. Remember? It was ruled a malfunction.”
“......”
“That was my brother too.”
Hyun-soo, already struggling to breathe, looked up with a face drained of color.
“What?”
“This is something only I know. I checked all the CCTV footage the next day. He probably doesn’t know I know.”
“Why would Yoon Guk do that?”
Han sighed and shook his head. He didn’t know either.
“He wouldn’t do something like that as a simple prank.”
“......”
“Ask him when you get the chance. I’m curious too.”
Hyun-soo’s heart pounded violently. The flood of Yoon Guk’s bizarre, twisted actions made her skin crawl.
She took a slow step back, dazed. Han watched her retreat, fingers twitching as if he wanted to grab her and pull her back. But he couldn’t. He’d already started flipping his cards over. Would she still look at him the same after seeing them all? He wasn’t sure. But...
“Even after all this, do you still trust him? Enough to promise him your life?”
He couldn’t just let her walk away—not even to his own brother.
“I... I need to talk to him. I need to hear his side—”
Han’s eyes turned icy. Even after hearing that Yoon Guk had ruined her father’s business and orchestrated their meeting, she still wanted to give him a chance?
The fact that she didn’t immediately reject him made Han let out a disbelieving laugh.
“You really do trust him more than I thought.”
“......”
“Funny. That hurts more than hearing you say you love him.”
Hyun-soo stared down at him, face pale. Han, who had been gripping his own hair, slowly lifted his head. Their eyes met again—his expression cold, resigned.
“I’m not letting you see him again.”
“What?”
“I decided the moment I woke up and saw you.”
What nonsense is this? Hyun-soo’s brow furrowed.
“I was going to take it slow, but... I’ll lay all my cards on the table.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“You don’t have to. Just listen.”
“......”
“After what I’m about to tell you, you’ll never be able to be with my brother again.”
This time, Hyun-soo’s face twisted in irritation. Han’s persistence was crossing into absurdity. Talking about keeping a married couple apart—what was he thinking?
Han glanced indifferently at the stitches on his arm before speaking.
“The fire ten years ago.”
“What?”
“The accident that killed my mother and your mother. The fire at the mansion.”
The sudden topic shift made Hyun-soo tilt her head.
“Why bring that up now?”
“It was me.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“The arsonist. It was me.”
For a moment, her vision flashed white.
Her legs gave out. Han reached for her, but she recoiled violently. His face twisted with something like remorse, but it only made her angrier.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not. You’re lying, right?”
“I messed up. I messed up, Noona.”
“Is it true? Did you really start the fire?”
Han couldn’t bring himself to answer, nodding instead. Rage, dark and violent, surged in Hyun-soo’s eyes.
“You little bastard. You fucking—!”
“I’m sorry. Really.”
“How could you—! How could you do this to me?!”
“I won’t ask for forgiveness.”
“Did you enjoy it? Watching me play the fool, acting like your noona, laughing with you?! How stupid must I have looked? How pathetic?!”
Her voice shook with fury, her entire body trembling. The storm of emotions left her breathless even as she stood still. Han dragged a hand down his face, pained.
“Never. Not even once.”
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