There seemed to be something wrong with my eyes—even when I tried to stop crying, the tears kept flowing.
“I’ve apologized, so why are you still crying?”
“Because you apologized! You’re really stubborn and full of yourself.”
I said this while hitting Hajin’s shoulder with my fist. When I was kidnapped, trembling alone in a life-threatening situation, I had only one thought.
Whether Hajin had deceived or used me, I didn’t care as long as I could meet him again alive… I was desperate to see him… I wished I could properly wipe away Hahyun’s tears even if he cried all day, as long as I was still breathing…
He hugged me tightly and repeatedly apologized. His gentle voice made me feel even more sorrowful. Only when his clothes were completely soaked with my tears was I finally able to lift my head from him.
* * *
“Why were you crying? Tell me, don’t hide it.”
“Is our Hahyun angry?”
I took Hahyun’s hand and rubbed it against my cheek to soothe him. Hajin, sitting across from us watching, provoked Hahyun’s anger further.
“He said he thought of me when he was about to die. That he missed me so much, or something like that? He was crying so much I can’t remember exactly what he said.”
“Fuck! You always get all the good stuff…”
Hahyun glared at Hajin while fuming. I laughed at the brothers’ unchanged bickering until my stomach hurt, making me clutch it. Hahyun asked in alarm:
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Why suddenly your stomach…”
“I think my body was surprised after lying down for so long and then moving suddenly. When can I start eating?”
“They said you can eat from this evening. Is there anything you want to eat? I think you should start with porridge though…”
“Then Hahyun, I want abalone porridge… Could you get me some?”
Hahyun looked suspiciously back and forth between me and Hajin. He seemed curious about what we might discuss while he was gone. I needed time alone with Hajin since there were questions I couldn’t ask properly earlier while crying.
“I think my stomach hurts more because I’m hungry…”
At my words, Hahyun immediately went out. Once Hahyun left, Hajin looked at me and laughed softly.
“Don’t laugh. I haven’t completely forgiven you yet.”
“What should I do to earn your forgiveness?”
I straightened my posture and looked directly at him, thinking the moment had come.
“Answer my questions truthfully from now on. If you hide something or lie again, I really won’t let it slide.”
Hajin nodded.
“They said evidence came from the autopsy and there was testimony from an insider, but Director Kim won’t go down without a fight. How do you plan to handle it?”
“There are already so many charges against him that it’s difficult to save him. The biggest one is the murder case, so the prosecution seems determined to go all out. They’ve searched Director Kim’s house and office, and conducted forensic analysis on his phone, where they found traces of transactions for materials used to make toxic substances.”
If that was the case, I likely wouldn’t become a suspect again, so I could relax.
“What about the people who kidnapped me? I stabbed one of them in the thigh while escaping, so I’m a bit worried…”
“Why? Afraid he might have died?”
“I don’t think he died, but I still injured him.”
“Since you did it to escape a kidnapping situation, there won’t even be charges. He seemed too embarrassed about being wounded by you to report it to the police.”
Considering the size of the guy I stabbed, that made sense. Telling people that he’d been stabbed by a hostage would seriously damage his business.
“All those involved in the kidnapping have been arrested on the spot. When we went to find you, prosecutors and 119 emergency services all came together.”
Even in such a shocking situation, I thought it was just like Hajin to prepare so meticulously.
“What else are you curious about?”
“Is the company stable now?”
“Yes. We’re identifying and removing all of Director Kim’s people. Hyunwoo is having a hard time because of that.”
Hajin obligingly answered all my various questions. And now, there was one final question left. It was an awkward question for me to ask, but it was something I needed to address.
Though I opened my mouth to bring it up, the words simply wouldn’t come out. I finally managed to speak while avoiding Hajin’s gaze and looking elsewhere.
“Um, about… the scandal! What happened with the scandal?”
Hajin burst out laughing. I was already mortified, and his laughter made it even worse.
Hajin got up from his chair and sat on the bed. He extended his arm around my waist and said in a cheesy way:
“Our Juwon is so jealous.”
“Yes, I am, so answer me properly. Do people still think you and Jeon Hyesu are in that kind of relationship?”
Instead of answering directly, Hajin kept spouting nonsense about how he enjoyed seeing me jealous and didn’t want to tell me. If I’d known he’d react like this, I would have quietly searched for news articles myself. I shouldn’t have asked…
“You don’t need to worry. Ms. Jeon Hyesu ended things with the married man and left for an overseas shoot. The news reported our natural breakup, saying it’s a time for each of us to focus on our work.”
With this, all the questions that had been bothering me were answered. He tightened his arm around my waist. I wanted to tell him to get off the bed quickly, but he completely lay down next to me, so I couldn’t stop him. I also slyly lowered my body and lay down beside him.
Hajin placed his hand on my cheek and gazed at me intently. As the atmosphere suddenly became strange, I lowered my head, but he lifted my chin. I awkwardly swallowed and grabbed his wrist, and he asked:
“Are your questions over?”
“Yes.”
“Then, is it my turn?”
His gaze sharpened, making me wonder if the strange atmosphere I had felt earlier was just my imagination. Why the sudden change? Had my questions upset him?
“Do you have something to ask?”
Hajin slowly nodded.
“I answered all your questions without running away, so I’d like you to answer without running away this time.”
His serious expression and low voice gave me a sense that this wouldn’t be easily dismissed. Not being able to even guess what he might ask made me anxious.
“Let me hear it first…”
Hajin’s eyebrows twisted dramatically.
“Why are you backing out before even knowing what the question is?”
Instead of saying it was because I sensed danger, I said:
“I haven’t done anything wrong. There’s no reason I have to answer unconditionally. What if you’re going to ask which of you two I’ll choose? I haven’t decided yet.”
Seeing his eyebrows twist even more, it seemed that wasn’t his question.
“If it’s not that, can you answer?”
I tried to think of difficult questions Hajin might ask me now. But no matter how much I thought about it, besides choosing between the two brothers, I couldn’t think of any particularly troublesome questions. So I confidently said:
“Yes! Go ahead and ask.”
Hajin’s lips slowly curled upward. I stared at his lips while picking at my cuticles. He slowly opened his mouth.
“About District A.”
I opened my mouth with an “Ah…” My heart raced at just those words. It seemed the price had increased while I was unconscious, and with Hajin’s suspicious nature, it was natural for him to find it strange. What should I answer? This is really serious…
“What about it?”
His cool gaze moved slowly, scanning my face. Feeling like I was about to be completely exposed, I tightly closed my eyes.
“That place never had any positive developments. Even people who had connections to the National Assembly didn’t know it would be affected. Isn’t it strange that Yoon Juwon, who only stayed at home, predicted it like a ghost? How should I interpret this situation?”
Though his voice was low, it was cold. Sweat ran down my spine. I can’t let him see my nervousness. I clenched my fists while telling myself this.
“I guess it was beginner’s luck. This was my first time with real estate…”
Hajin snickered. Eyes tinged with mockery stared at me. It was an extremely cold gaze.
“Don’t try to brush it off like that.”
I forced a smile to show it was nothing. I felt the muscles around my mouth twisting.
“It’s all over your face, just tell me the truth.”
With those words, I instinctively knew I couldn’t deceive Hajin no matter what. At the same time, I realized that from the first time I met him until now, I had never once succeeded in deceiving him.
Was it time to tell the truth?
That I had a past life, and after nearly dying, I came here and became Yoon Juwon?
Would he really believe such an unbelievable story? I couldn’t be sure.
“Even if I tell you the truth, you won’t believe it. I don’t believe it myself.”
Hajin held my face with both hands and looked into my eyes. His gaze had grown warmer, as if he appreciated that I was trying to speak.
“Yoon Juwon, if I promise to believe whatever you say, will you tell me the truth?”
I nodded slightly. I planned to conceal the completely incomprehensible parts and create a plausible truth with only the parts that might be understood. That would work better than trying to deceive him clumsily.
“I’ll promise, so tell me.”
“What if I say it’s the truth, but it turns out to be a lie?”
Hajin smiled and answered:
“Didn’t you forget that I can tell like a ghost? Everything shows on your face, so don’t try to deceive me clumsily.”
Should I test whether he’s really a ghost or not? If he really is, he’ll guess it right…
