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Haejoo was fully awake around 10 AM. Only then did her fatigue dissipate, and her body felt much lighter. Nothing had been resolved yet. But with Dojun by her side, the morning felt new.
“Are you awake?”
Dojun stretched while lying down. As he exerted force to his toes, his hidden muscles became distinctly visible, creating an impressive sight. Haejoo stroked his shoulders and chest.
“Was your body always like this?”
“Some of it is natural.”
“What about your brother?”
“Yijun was similar in height but leaner.”
“He looks exactly like a celebrity.”
“My brother apparently had many people suggesting he enter modeling competitions since he was young.”
“What about you, Dojun?”
“I was my brother’s bodyguard.”
Haejoo let out a small laugh and carefully observed Dojun. His sharp jawline and intensely defined features were utterly captivating.
“Who do you take after more, your parents?”
“I heard I resemble my paternal grandfather a lot. What about you?”
“My dad. You’d laugh if you saw pictures of him.”
After her parents’ divorce, Haejoo lived with her father until he passed away. After kindergarten, she would often wait alone for her dad and fall asleep. At that time, Haejoo was so young. Her father would always whisper, ‘I’m sorry, my daughter,’ to his daughter who fell asleep without eating dinner. Haejoo always loved her busy father.
“From now on, I’ll cherish you.”
Dojun rose from the bed and pressed his lips firmly to Haejoo’s cheek. For her, who had regained her strength overnight, he ordered food first. For brunch, they had kalguksu (knife-cut noodles).
“Why don’t you have rice, Dojun?”
“Don’t worry about me, just eat deliciously.”
Today, her morning sickness was less severe. As Haejoo hungrily slurped down the kalguksu noodles, Dojun shared some from his own bowl.
“About the dream I had...”
“Yes?”
“I think I know what it means.”
“What do you think it is?”
“I have a feeling it might be a son.”
“---!”
“I think he’ll be quite unique.”
Haejoo also felt a strong conviction that Dojun’s premonition wouldn’t be wrong. She put down her kalguksu bowl and asked seriously.
“What were you like when you were young, Dojun?”
“Well, I was a neighborhood boss.”
Dojun scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Unlike Yijun, who loved books, Dojun enjoyed sports and hung out with friends.
“Let’s look at the ultrasound picture again.”
“Here.”
Dojun’s gaze, as he carefully examined the ultrasound picture, was extraordinary. He uttered various exclamations before coming to a conclusion.
“Well, it’s not twins.”
“If it were twins, the hospital would have told us already.”
“Why did three puppies merge into one in the dream?”
Dojun wanted a daughter who resembled Haejoo. He felt a lingering regret, having only seen “boy-type” individuals until now.
“I guess there’s no choice.”
“No choice for what?”
“For the second one, let’s aim for a daughter.”
Haejoo glared at Dojun as if she wanted to devour him. She had just barely survived morning sickness, so a second pregnancy was out of the question.
“It could be a daughter who’s like a son, you know.”
Dojun, his smile completely gone, was momentarily terrified. Regardless, Haejoo cleansed her palate with the fruit served as dessert.
“Let’s stop talking about dreams and solve our problems first.”
“...Okay.”
“I need to go to the company for a bit.”
“Do you really have to go?”
“The sooner it’s sorted out, the sooner filming can resume. I don’t want to inconvenience my other colleagues.”
“I’ll take you.”
Haejoo waved her hand.
“I’ll call Hyunseong. That’s better.”
“Don’t stay long. Just say what you need to say and come right out.”
“I will.”
“Let’s leave this hotel.”
“Do you have somewhere to go?”
“I’ll book a separate villa at the W Hotel, so come there later.”
It was time to leave now.
“Are you going to work, Dojun?”
“I took a few days off. I’m thinking of meeting Lee Yura today.”
“Your sister-in-law?”
“Nothing serious will happen, so don’t worry.”
Haejoo, having finished getting ready, called Hyunseong. He rushed over at her request. Haejoo boarded the van, seeing Dojun off. After the car door closed, Hyunseong first asked about her well-being.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. You’ve had a hard time too, Hyunseong.”
“Not at all.”
The road was quite empty. Haejoo, gripping her phone, prayed for the reality she had to face again.
“Please, let nothing happen.”
Haejoo, with a trembling heart, opened the internet. Amidst a flood of speculative articles, Choi Inho’s new article took the headline.
“How could he say such a thing!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Reporter Choi Inho posted an article targeting Dojun.”
He had spread outrageous lies not only about Dojun but also including President Park. His intention was to directly refute Dojun’s statement from yesterday. The comment section was already a mess. She read a few, then couldn’t bear to read anymore and closed it.
“Can I also be of help to Dojun?”
“If your feelings are clear, I don’t think it matters what anyone says, Noona.”
When Jinhan suggested a press conference, she didn’t have the confidence to overcome the pain exposed to the world. Confronting the criticism head-on was a huge risk. Holding a press conference didn’t necessarily guarantee good results either. In the past, celebrities who were embroiled in controversy, regardless of the truth, mostly disappeared after holding press conferences. Following such a process was no different from a death sentence for an actress. Nevertheless, she had to be brave. Even for Dojun, who had put everything on the line for her.
“We’ve arrived at the company.”
“Good job.”
Just then, Jinhan also arrived. It was immediately clear how difficult his last night had been. Haejoo took a deep breath and got out of the van. Jinhan’s gaze, fixed on her, was still burdensome.
“Director.”
“Haejoo, how’s your condition?”
“Better than yesterday.”
“That’s a relief. Let’s go up.”
“Director, you don’t look well.”
“I’m also on my way from the hospital. I had a severe headache.”
“I apologize for causing you worry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Let’s just figure out a plan now.”
Jinhan first stopped by the media response team. He re-confirmed the article about Dojun that had just been uploaded.
“Due to this article, public sympathy for Haejoo has grown even stronger. CEO Park Dojun has suddenly become the villain.”
“Should we consider that a good thing for us?”
“It’s too early to be relieved. We don’t know what Reporter Choi Inho might do next.”
Haejoo, who had been listening to their conversation, bit her lower lip. Her hand gripping her bag unconsciously tightened.
“Haejoo, go to my office. I’ll talk to Team Leader Oh a bit more and then go.”
Haejoo waited in Jinhan’s office as instructed. An uncomfortable silence filled the air until he returned.
“Did you see the article Reporter Choi Inho just uploaded?”
“Yes, I checked it in the car.”
“What about CEO Park Dojun?”
“He’s probably aware of it by now too.”
Jinhan rubbed his prickly chin, unshaven. His unfocused gaze was lost in complex thoughts.
“Haejoo, you still want to be an actress, right?”
Haejoo, flustered, made eye contact with Hyunseong, who was sitting beside her.
“Why do you ask that?”
“CEO Park Dojun is a businessman and has the power to endure, but Haejoo, you don’t.”
“So?”
“Actresses in our country have always been judged by high standards.”
Haejoo’s eyes involuntarily tightened.
“The fact that you’ve come this far through this incident is only possible because I and CEO Park Dojun have backed you up.”
“Director, that’s...”
“Haejoo, you have infinite potential ahead of you. Director Kwak’s movie is already being eyed by overseas film festivals.”
“What is it you want to tell me?”
Jinhan spoke of Haejoo’s life as an actress. There was no topic more sensitive, and the office was filled with dry air.
“I can never give up on actress Lee Haejoo.”
“Director.”
“But the current situation is not easy. This is a situation where one of us has to die for it to end.”
Jinhan was sincere. He had experienced many terrible things, but this was the first time it had been so malicious. Choi Inho had even taken down Yoonji in one blow. But this time, Haejoo was the target, and he was trying to ruin the work Jinhan had painstakingly created. Apart from his personal feelings of affection, he couldn’t let this continue. If there was even the slightest escape route, he had to take it.
“This movie must succeed.”
“---!”
“It’s GN Entertainment’s chance to leap onto the global stage.”
“There’s no way the movie will be canceled.”
“Haejoo, what you see isn’t everything.”
“Then what?”
“GN Entertainment is receiving investment from GN.”
“I know that.”
“We need to show Father proper results with this movie.”
Haejoo’s heart pounded. It wasn’t simply a matter of the movie being a box office success. The mention that a larger figure who allowed GN Entertainment to exist was watching Haejoo’s situation filled her with tension.
“Haejoo, make a big decision this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even before this incident occurred, CEO Park Dojun was rumored to come from a loan shark family.”
Haejoo’s head swam. The more she understood Jinhan’s intention, the more chills she got.
“Conservative stockbrokers still don’t acknowledge CEO Park Dojun.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“At this press conference, let’s paint CEO Park Dojun as a former loan shark and a blackmailer.”
“What did you say?”
“Say that you were forced to continue the marriage due to blackmail. And Haejoo, this is your chance to restore your honor.”
Suddenly, Haejoo’s vision blurred, and she couldn’t see. She unconsciously stumbled, then shot up.
“Are you even serious?”
“If not, Haejoo, you’ll die!”
“I already... died three years ago.”
“Someone has to take the blame for this incident.”
“I refuse.”
“Haejoo, you just need to persuade CEO Park Dojun. Then you can live!”
“Say something that makes sense!”
Jinhan’s and Haejoo’s sharp voices erupted passionately. Amidst the unsettling feeling that something would happen, Haejoo clenched her fists.
“I can’t do that.”
“Didn’t I tell you? CEO Park Dojun has no problem getting back on his feet!”
“I don’t want to hear any more.”
“Rather, decide when I step in.”
“What did you say?”
“If our father, Chairman Yoo, steps in, then there’s really no answer.”
Chairman Yoo was known for being conservative and strict. He hated flaws to a pathological degree when it came to work, earning him the nickname ‘dictator’ within GN. Jinhan, being the youngest son, was given more leeway. However, considering Chairman Yoo’s remarks at the hospital today, it wasn’t something to be taken lightly.
“No.”
“Haejoo!”
“How can you do such a terrible thing to an innocent person? I can’t do it.”
“There’s no time. I’ll give you about a day, so think it over carefully.”
Haejoo creaked her way out. Hyunseong took her to the company’s rooftop.
“Anyway, the investor for this movie is Dojun, right?”
“That’s the thing. If GN offers better terms to the production company, there’s no answer.”
“What?”
“GN also has the power to secure awards at international film festivals.”
Haejoo looked down at Seoul from the rooftop, which was decorated as an artificial garden. She took a breath, imagining Dojun somewhere in the city.
________________________________________
Dojun went up to his hotel room after sending Haejoo off. Just then, Secretary Song arrived with his luggage, waiting for him.
“How’s the situation at home? Still full of reporters?”
“Less than yesterday.”
“I’ll be staying at the W Hotel annex starting tonight, so please make a reservation.”
“Yes, CEO.”
For the first time in a while, he set out in comfortable clothes instead of a suit. Haejoo’s suitcase was also loaded into the car.
“I wonder if Lee Yura will agree to a visit.”
“Lee Yura is probably in a complicated state of mind by now.”
They arrived at the detention center where Yura was being held. The two of them got out of the car and walked to apply for a visit. But in front of them, he saw the back of a familiar figure. Dojun recognized him at a glance.
“Looks like a three-way confrontation might be possible.”
“Is that person...?”
“Choi Inho.”
Judging by his actions, he seemed to be applying for a visit with Yura. Dojun strode forward and grabbed Choi Inho’s shoulder.
“Gasp!”
“Long time no see.”
“Park, CEO Park Dojun?”
Just then, Secretary Song frowned after seeing a message sent from the company. Without further ado, she whispered a few words into Dojun’s ear.
“You’ve already released an article about me? How flattering.”
“Let go!”
“It’s a known fact that I’m the son of a former loan shark, and now I’m a violent criminal...”
Dojun’s grip was truly astonishing. Choi Inho grimaced, his shoulder feeling like it would shatter from the pain.
________________________________________
“What do I do about this?”
“Ugh!”
“I already submitted evidence that I couldn’t be a violent criminal when I sued Lee Yura.”
“W-what?”
“I have audio recordings, videos, and everything, so choose what you like.”
While Choi Inho was caught by Dojun, Secretary Song applied for a visit with Yura. An exciting three-way confrontation awaited them.
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