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“Can’t I like you?”
Jinhan didn’t avoid Haejoo’s question.
Looking into her clear, ripe black eyes, he spoke with more sincerity than ever before.
The only painful thing was having to ask Haejoo back about his own feelings. It was because he lacked certainty.
The anxiety that Haejoo would leave him someday tormented him.
“I’m someone who can’t be in a relationship.”
“Haejoo-ssi, even so, rejecting me like this is a bit much.”
“I’ve never had proper emotional exchanges with anyone until now.”
“......!”
“Even the person who gave birth to me was desperate to kill me.”
“Haejoo-ssi, I...”
“As you know, Director, I don’t have any friends. But relationships formed through work are possible.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s business. I’ve endured solely with the goal of survival.”
For Haejoo, this was a mental wound she was revealing for the first time.
The reason she had avoided psychiatric counseling was a vague evasion, thinking that as long as she didn’t harm others, it was enough.
“So, everything I’ve done for you until now, you saw it as business?”
“Usually, people would have noticed, but I didn’t.”
“Wow, that’s shocking.”
“I wanted to succeed and repay you somehow, but an unexpected variable occurred.”
The variable called Dojun was someone Haejoo couldn’t have predicted.
He had barged in without warning, and she was currently not in her right mind.
Especially Dojun’s impulsive behavior at the fashion show was beyond Haejoo’s expectations.
Just thinking about it, she couldn’t understand why people became fools.
“How did you know I liked you?”
“I realized it after leaving.”
“If we weren’t a company executive and an actress, anyone would have seen us as a couple.”
“This might sound foolish, but I thought others saw us that way too.”
“Hoo.”
“I apologize if I caused confusion.”
“Don’t apologize. I hate that even more.”
Haejoo felt like she was stripped bare in front of Jinhan.
Nevertheless, she laid everything bare because the kindness and consideration she had received so far were significant.
“I’m not someone suitable for you, Director.”
Haejoo knew.
That Jinhan was the youngest son of Chairman Yoo, the head of GN.
Recently, Chairman Yoo had been pressuring Jinhan, who was of marriageable age, to get married.
Naturally, the partner had to be a bride suitable for the Yoo family.
“What am I supposed to do if you push me away like that?”
“This is reality.”
Haejoo had received countless advances from men until now.
She attracted attention wherever she went due to her natural beauty, but it was only burdensome.
For Haejoo, romance was like that.
Something that troubled her and caused jealousy from those around her, leading to torment.
She believed she could live her whole life without love.
But when Jinhan, who held absolute influence, said he liked her, Haejoo had to confront it once.
“Have I made you uncomfortable because of me all this time?”
“I was always grateful.”
It was the best answer Haejoo could give.
On Jinhan’s face, who had no choice but resignation, countless emotions flashed.
“Then, is Park Dojun also just business for you, Haejoo-ssi?”
Haejoo’s gaze, which had been averted, turned to Jinhan.
He was struggling to hide his inner desire for that to be the case.
“I’ll tell you that’s how it started.”
“Tell me specifically what you mean.”
“I have many things tied to Dojun-ssi. I plan to untangle them one by one from now on.”
“......!”
“......”
“Please, I beg you, get a divorce even now. It’s not a normal relationship.”
On this point, Jinhan was truly sincere.
No matter how he tried, he couldn’t see Dojun’s utterly incomprehensible actions in a positive light.
“Haejoo-ssi might get hurt.”
Jinhan was confident in his insight to see through people.
The fact that he had succeeded in the jungle-like industry was largely thanks to this talent.
If Haejoo, who had deep trauma, was hurt by someone again, she might not be able to recover.
Jinhan didn’t want that to happen.
“I will take your advice to heart, Director.”
Jinhan’s face flushed as he understood that she meant for him to stop interfering.
At this point, he had no choice but to take a firm stance.
Haejoo didn’t want to leave that place, which looked like hell to others. At least, that’s how it seemed from Jinhan’s perspective.
“Even if your contract with GN Entertainment is terminated and you can’t appear in Director Kwak’s movie?”
“If that’s your decision, Director, I’ll have to follow it. I was the one who broke the contract from the beginning.”
“There’s no need to talk anymore then. I understand your intentions, Haejoo-ssi.”
“Director!”
“Don’t you think about me at all?”
It was the moment Jinhan’s pure, unrequited love, which hadn’t even fully bloomed, was torn to shreds. What was he supposed to do when he still felt this good just looking at Haejoo?
“Pack your things and leave. The company will notify you within a few days, so wait.”
Jinhan left the apartment.
In the end, all Haejoo left him with was a ‘rejection’ regarding personal feelings.
She could have acted more like a fox and used Jinhan.
But Haejoo was not that kind of person in the first place.
Haejoo sat blankly for a long time.
Finally getting up, she started organizing the refrigerator.
“Is actress Lee Haejoo really over now?”
She didn’t want to become weak, but tears were about to fall.
Happiness and unhappiness always struck simultaneously, hurting Haejoo.
This time was no different.
If her life as an actress was over, there was no reason to burden Dojun either.
Just a few days.
Haejoo’s fate would be decided within those few days.
“Why am I always like this?”
Haejoo was just scared of people.
The reason she disliked the power-outaged house was also because of people.
But at a perfect timing, Dojun called.
Clearing her throat, she picked up the phone.
“Yes, Dojun-ssi.”
-Where are you?
“I came to my old apartment.”
-Why did you go there?
“It seems reporters are wandering around this apartment complex too. The director said he’s disposing of the apartment.”
-Anyway... why does your voice sound like that?
“Pardon?”
-It sounds like you’ve been crying.
Dojun’s intuition was frightening.
Haejoo, trying to come up with an excuse, made one up.
“I think it’s my rhinitis.”
-I’ll go there. What’s the apartment name?
After telling him the building and unit number, Haejoo put her belongings in the bag she had brought. Most of them were books and small items.
“This is enough.”
The rest were all things to be thrown away.
Most of the household items were still in good condition, so it was a waste.
Jinhan had said he would handle it all with company expenses, but now that she thought about it, it was likely not the case.
That’s why she felt even more sorry.
“It’s my fault for not realizing it sooner.”
She never thought that stamping the marriage certificate under Kyung-ae’s coercion would come back like this.
She thought she had paid enough of a price, but she hadn’t.
Would she really be cut from Director Kwak’s movie? What reason would Jinhan give for a movie Dojun invested in?
Haejoo’s mind was complicated.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Dojun had arrived in the meantime and opened the door.
“So this is the apartment.”
“Yes.”
This neighborhood was a so-called wealthy area.
Many famous people, whom ordinary celebrities couldn’t even compare to, lived here.
Haejoo had come to such a place as a pauper.
“Why were you crying?”
Dojun walked into the living room.
Haejoo awkwardly smoothed her hair.
“It’s my rhinitis acting up because of the dust.”
“Your eyes are wet.”
“Can’t we just go? I’ve packed all my things.”
She didn’t want to upset Dojun by bringing up Jinhan’s story.
If she was cut from the role, that news would reach Dojun’s ears anyway. Should she tell him now?
She couldn’t decide.
“Let’s go home.”
Dojun picked up Haejoo’s luggage.
Leaving the apartment she would never return to, Haejoo sighed.
The security guard watched the two of them leave the apartment.
Haejoo awkwardly nodded and got into the car.
“Aren’t you going to tell me why you cried?”
“What happens if I do?”
“I’ll find the bastard who made you cry and leave him barely breathing.”
“You’re lying, right?”
“I don’t joke about things like that.”
Eventually, Haejoo leaned her head back and told him about her conversation with Jinhan.
Dojun’s eyes, as he listened, were unsettling.
When the car stopped at a signal, he clenched his fist so hard that his knuckles cracked.
“I don’t like violence.”
“I don’t hit women, so you don’t have to worry.”
“So it’s okay to hit men?”
“Guys can do that to each other sometimes.”
“If you do that these days, you’ll get arrested.”
“It’s better than you crying.”
Haejoo had rejected Jinhan.
Just that fact made Dojun feel like he had gained the whole world.
The only thing bothering him was the aftermath of Jinhan suspecting their relationship and following them.
The fact that Yijun had registered his marriage with Haejoo under his younger brother’s name was indeed a shocking event to anyone who heard it. So, honestly, it bothered him.
He hoped that this would make Jinhan lose interest in Haejoo.
If a fight broke out, there was a high possibility that one of them would have to die for it to end.
“So, he said he wouldn’t cast you in the movie either?”
“I’ll have to wait for the decision.”
Haejoo’s voice lacked strength.
“If I don’t invest in that movie, there’s a high chance GN will do it.”
“I suppose so.”
“What I mean is, don’t get too hung up on it.”
“Is that as easy as it sounds?”
“What can I do for you?”
The car had already left Seoul.
Haejoo, having opened the car window, felt the breeze and changed the subject.
“Did you see your uncle off okay?”
“He keeps wanting to come home.”
“Can’t we just bring him over?”
There would be a caregiver during the day, but the night was the problem.
Dojun had to go to work tomorrow, so he was worried.
“Then let’s just have him stay for one day.”
“Bring him now.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“I don’t mind.”
Dojun’s car passed the village where their house was.
He had already felt heavy-hearted when President Park desperately grabbed him as he was leaving the hospital.
Putting his worries aside, Dojun went to the nursing home.
“I’ll take Father home and come back tomorrow.”
“I’ll ask the doctor in charge.”
Dojun and Haejoo, having first inquired at the nurse’s station, waited for the doctor’s permission.
A moment later, the nurse handed over an outpatient application form.
“Please fill this out.”
They followed the procedure to avoid any future complications.
Only after the final approval did they go to President Park’s room.
“Yijun? Is that you? Oh my, our daughter-in-law, it’s been a while.”
President Park welcomed the two.
For the second time today, Dojun was living as his older brother, Yijun.
“Father, let’s stay at home for just one day and then come back.”
“Hehehe, let’s do that.”
For an extra fee, the caregiver agreed to come along.
Dojun finally brought President Park home.
“You know this is Father’s room, right?”
“Of course.”
The place Dojun showed President Park was his own room.
His original room was on the first floor, but they had to sleep together at night to keep a close eye on him.
As night fell, the caregiver who had been looking after President Park left.
Late at night, the three of them went to bed early.
“Good night.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
Alone in the room, Haejoo tossed and turned.
Jinhan’s words kept lingering in her mind, making her uneasy.
She sighed and sat up.
Just then, she heard a rustling sound outside the door and went to check.
“Uncle!”
“Huh?”
It was President Park.
He had been going up and down the second floor and was now descending the stairs.
“Where are you going?”
“To see the trees.”
“I’ll go too.”
The front door was securely locked.
Still, just in case, Haejoo followed him.
The two went out to the first-floor garden and stood under a large tree.
Tonight, the full moonlit night sky was unusually bright.
“Uncle, I heard that a crazy bastard used to beat up all the guys who liked me.”
“......”
“But strangely, I was drawn to that crazy bastard whose face I didn’t even know.”
“A scoundrel?”
“Huh? You know him too, Uncle?”
Haejoo chuckled.
“How lonely must I have been for that to happen? But when you told me to run away, Uncle...”
“......”
“I liked that too. It felt like someone was on my side.”
Perhaps understanding Haejoo’s story, President Park laughed heartily.
“That crazy bastard never actually showed up in front of me, though.”
“......”
“It was probably for the best. Otherwise, I would have run away preemptively, right?”
During their conversation, the door leading to the garden opened.
President Park, who had been beaming at Haejoo’s story, pointed towards the door.
“It’s the crazy bastard.”
“Pardon?”
“That scoundrel over there. Our Dojun.”
The bright smile faded from Haejoo’s lips.
Turning her head in the direction President Park was pointing, she saw Dojun coming out.
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