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Sehee thought for a moment. Was there anything about me that could be made into an article? Although it was briefly featured in the economics section, that was months ago. As Sehee urged him with her eyes to speak, Kang-joon slowly began.
“The informant is Chief Jung. He first contacted a small media outlet, then moved on to larger ones. That’s why the call only just came, and I think Sehee can probably guess what the article will be about.”
“I don’t want to guess, but I hate that I can.”
Sehee sighed lightly, her thoughts deepening. If the informant was Chief Jung, Madam Jo’s confidant, then the content of the article was obvious. Madam Jo would be the complete victim of her younger sister and niece, and Sehee would be the villainess, the perpetrator. Has she gone into a mental hospital to take this to the very end? But how is that possible? Madam Jo is in a mental hospital, and visits are not allowed except for Young-guk and me. While Sehee acknowledged Chief Jung’s drive, she wasn’t clever enough to concoct something alone.
“Did Chief Jung plan this alone?”
“I’ve also ordered an investigation. We’ll know in a few days, but the article will be published tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. It meant the reality Sehee had worried about was just around the corner. She had hoped her past wouldn’t tag Pré for life. Her heart felt heavy, thinking this might be the consequence of her inability to give up this man. But she had no regrets and no fear. It was because of her unwavering belief that even if a massive typhoon approached, she would be fine with this man by her side.
“You can’t stop it either, can you? Is that why you’re telling me?”
“I can stop it, but I don’t intend to.”
He can stop it but won’t? Unable to understand, Sehee looked up at Kang-joon. What on earth are you thinking? Pré could be tagged for life. She had a lot to say but bit her tongue. She had to trust this man, and she did. As if understanding her feelings, Kang-joon held Sehee’s hand tightly.
“Your past, Sehee, and our affairs. They could be buried forever, or they might not. There are no eternal secrets. Even if that woman stays in a mental hospital for life, we can’t be at ease.”
“...”
“Especially in this world. I’m a public figure, so if anything flares up, it might be dug into. That’s probably why you refused me, wanting to live a quiet, ordinary life with Pré.”
Unable to say no, Sehee looked at Kang-joon with a hint of resentment. As Kang-joon said, the tiny speck of anxiety lodged in a corner of her heart would never disappear. It would come to mind even when she was happy, or while sleeping, or for no reason at all. But why do you always peer into this heart I try to hide, this ugly flaw, as if through clear water? I hate you for it, but I love you. I resent you, but I’m grateful and I love you. As a flood of emotions overwhelmed Sehee’s eyes, Kang-joon looked deeper into them and continued, “What I worry about most is Joo Sehee, who will live her whole life anxious, unable to even show it to me.”
As Kang-joon meticulously picked out even the tiny speck of anxiety she could have ignored, Sehee closed her eyes. She knew. That Madam Jo being in a mental hospital didn’t mean everything was perfectly resolved. Many people knew her past, and it was only a matter of time before her relationship with Kang-joon was exposed if someone was determined to dig. But she was willing to endure this, thinking of it as the price for wanting Kang-joon and giving Pré a father.
“I want the mother of my child and my woman to be perfectly happy. Even if that happiness requires Sehee to pay a brief, painful price.”
Kang-joon’s unwavering eyes whispered, Trust me and entrust everything to me. And he was certainly a man with the confidence and audacity to back it up. How could I not trust someone like you? Someone who makes it impossible for me not to lean on him.
“So, rather than being anxious your whole life about when you’ll be hit, you’re saying it’s better to be hit early?” Sehee asked playfully, and only then did Kang-joon relax and reply.
“Think of it as a vaccination. It might hurt and be difficult for a while, but I’ll make sure you live comfortably and happily for the rest of your life.”
“But Kang-joon, it’s just me who’ll be hurt and have a hard time, right?” If so, Sehee could willingly bear it. That much pain was nothing.
“Well, Hanshin might also suffer some image damage and its stock could plummet.”
Sehee’s eyes widened, and Kang-joon chuckled, continuing, “That’ll only be for a very short time.”
His smile was so unhurried that Sehee even became curious. What kind of plan could he have devised in just a few minutes after receiving that call? This is why some people must be born intelligent.
“Can I ask what the plan is?”
“No. I’m still formulating it, so it’s not really something I can tell you yet.”
He’s only just formulating it, yet he’s acting so relaxed and confidently telling her to trust him and leave it to him?
“But why are you so confident?”
“Well, why shouldn’t I be confident?”
Kang-joon replied with an expression that said he had nothing to fear. He was a man who had always lived confidently and audaciously, getting what he wanted. She felt it anew: You are so different from me, sometimes you feel strange and awkward. Had that thought shown on her face? Kang-joon smiled gently and said, “What other worries are you gathering up so much?”
“It just feels overwhelming and scary. You and I are so different. Can I really stand shoulder to shoulder with you and keep up? All these worries.”
Sehee didn’t hide the unfamiliar worries in her heart, confiding them honestly. Because it was Seo Kang-joon, and no one else. She felt like it was okay to. “When did I say we should stand shoulder to shoulder?” Kang-joon muttered, embracing Sehee, and continued, “Step on me and rise. Live without fear of the world from the highest place, Joo Sehee.”
Indeed, what am I so afraid of? As Sehee found calm in Kang-joon’s embrace, a voice suddenly came from behind them.
“You two were setting such a serious mood, was it just so you could express affection after making us leave? It’s so unfair for us single people, I can’t live like this.”
She turned to see Jae-woo standing there with an exasperated expression.
“Instead of trapping innocent guests inside the house, why don’t you two just go in yourselves?”
Unlike Sehee, whose face was flushed, Kang-joon shamelessly whispered, Shall we go in? “No,” Sehee replied softly, shaking her head, and pulled away from Kang-joon’s embrace. Just then, Kyung-jin and Jin-kyung also came out of the house with wine. The four friends, who were most precious to each other, gathered around the table again.
“Sehee, can’t you even drink wine?”
“Wine is also a no-go. There’s pressed grape juice, so drink that.” Kang-joon coldly refused on Sehee’s behalf and poured juice into a glass. Clink! With the sound of wine glasses clinking, the proper celebration finally began.
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
“Congratulations, Sehee!”
“Be happy, Sehee!”
A tiny speck of anxiety still lingered in Sehee’s heart. Nevertheless, Sehee’s joyful and happy time began to flow again, just like the serene night in Gangwon Province flowed under a starlit sky, where the stars seemed close enough to touch.
________________________________________
Upon returning from Gangwon Province, Kang-joon suggested that Sehee work from home. At first, she refused, saying she was fine, but on second thought, she realized it might be difficult to endure the unpleasant glances. She was trained to act unaffected, but that didn’t mean she didn’t get hurt. She slept in for the first time in a long while, and as soon as she finished breakfast, Kang-joon called.
[Did you sleep well?]
“Yes.”
[Did you see the article?]
“You told me not to look at it because it would stress me out.”
[Good girl.]
“I told you not to treat me like a child.”
As Sehee snapped back, a pleasant, low chuckle was heard from the other end of the phone. Surprisingly, just hearing his laughter made it feel as if she could see Kang-joon’s face. His gentle gaze and soft smile. That alone made her anxious heart settle.
[If possible, don’t look at it at all.]
“I’ll try.”
Despite her words, she wasn’t confident. It was a different kind of curiosity than her belief that Kang-joon would handle things well.
[Keep trying. I’ll be home early.]
Sehee ended the call and deliberately threw her phone far away. “I’d rather work.” If I work, I won’t think about it. Sehee opened her laptop and started checking her emails.
________________________________________
6:20 PM. Exactly 10 minutes before Kang-joon was due home. Sehee finally checked the articles on her phone. At first, she only intended to check the main page of the portal site, but that particular article happened to be highly ranked. Clicking on one led to a stream of related articles, and her fingers moved on their own. Only after confirming the articles with her own eyes did she understand why Kang-joon had told her not to look. She had expected it, but the article titles were all sensational and a unilateral witch hunt.
[XX Group Heir, with the Illegitimate Half-Sister of His Wife...] [The True Identity of XX Motors CEO’s Fiancée, Exposed by an Associate of Her Aunt.] [Who is the XX Hospital Director Who Fell Victim to the Same Scheme by the Gold-Digger Mother and Daughter?] [The Eldest Daughter of XX Group, Who Lost Her Husband and Company to Her Half-Sister and Was Driven Overseas.]
The name Hanshin was not directly mentioned. But the comments showed that everyone already knew it was about Hanshin and Inno.
“They really pieced together the story terribly.”
But perhaps Hanshin was afraid? Looking at the article, Hanshin was more of a complete victim than Inno Group. By someone like her, a gold-digger. Seducing her brother-in-law to take the place of her ailing half-sister. Amassing significant wealth but hiding it, even using her sick grandmother to persuade her aunt to pretend to be a fake bride. After taking over her half-sister’s husband and company, then driving her overseas. Imprisoning her aunt, who had taken care of her, in a mental hospital for fear of her secret being exposed. Finally, Sehee frowned at the last article title: [The Vixen of the Century Who Will Ruin the Korean Economy.] Of course, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Hanshin was leading the Korean economy. Still, she thought this was a bit much. The nation’s economy shaking because a corporate heir married a gold-digger? What do they take our Korea for?
“Still, they should have stopped this one.”
A faint feeling of resentment made her grumble. All the articles were published with Kang-joon’s approval, and he had even instructed them to be sensational. What on earth is he planning to do to fix this situation after stirring things up like this? She was curious, frustrated, and worried. As Sehee let out a small sigh, she heard the front door open. She watched the hallway, and Kang-joon appeared. Just like in the morning, his impeccably neat appearance was still captivating. Unlike her usual habit of rushing out to greet him, Sehee stayed still on the sofa as Kang-joon approached. He looked down at her with narrowed eyes, then, with an understanding expression, he knelt. Kang-joon looked at her gently at eye level, and Sehee finally burst into laughter, revealing her true feelings.
“That was too much. You should have stopped the ‘vixen of the century’ title.”
“I told you not to look.”
Sehee retorted indignantly, “How can I not look? It’s an article about me.”
“I told you you could look a week later. After I’ve sorted out the situation.”
“And will it be sorted?”
Kang-joon chuckled at Sehee’s skeptical gaze. “Don’t you trust me?”
“I do. But the situation is too...”
“Worst case scenario?”
Kang-joon read the worry in Sehee’s clear eyes. It wasn’t resentment or distrust, but Sehee’s concern and apology that this might harm him. Her feelings were both beautiful and heartbreaking.
“That’s what I want. The worse the situation, the better the effect when it’s reversed and turned around.”
Still, seeing the lingering worry in Sehee’s eyes, Kang-joon decided to tell her one more thing. Because he didn’t want his Joo Sehee to worry.
“Sehee, don’t worry about me, and don’t feel sorry for me.”
Even things seen in passing become pieces on Kang-joon’s chessboard the moment they’re input into his mind, ready to be used for defense or attack whenever needed, whether they are objects or people. With enough ability to manipulate those words as he pleases, whether through persuasion or threats. Kang-joon smiled faintly and gently stroked Sehee’s cheek with his fingertips.
“I won’t do anything, I’ll let someone else resolve it instead.”
“Someone else? Who?”
“You’ll know everything in a week, so trust me and wait a little longer.”
Though she frowned slightly, a little frustrated, Sehee obediently nodded.
“Still, if you feel sorry and grateful, then grant me one wish in a week.”
Sehee eventually laughed and nodded, swayed by Kang-joon’s relaxed demeanor. With Sehee’s absolute trust in his heart, Kang-joon slowly rose.
“I’ll go shower.”
Before entering the bathroom, Kang-joon checked a photo on his phone. It was taken from a distance, but the face was still recognizable. He checked his wristwatch; it was 6:40 PM. That would make it around 3:30 AM there. Kang-joon pressed the call button on his phone. After a few rings, a woman answered with a sleepy voice, and Kang-joon calmly said,
“It’s me, Seo Kang-joon.”
That name, which would fall like a bolt from the blue on the other end.
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