CHAPTER 69

“Gwihyeon oppa, did grandfather say anything to you?”

Despite feeling overwhelmed and stifled, Siyeon held back and calmly asked.

“What would he say…?”

As he looked at her with a gaze that indicated he knew nothing, Siyeon felt her breath catch in her throat. Then, she suddenly thought that his grandfather might not have mentioned the marriage discussion between her and Ijun out of concern for Gwihyeon’s health.

After swallowing a sigh, Siyeon asked him, 

“When is the most recent memory you remember?”

“Before going to the military… the day when grandfather, you, and I had a meal together.”

“…That was 10 years ago.”

“Yes. It’s been tough, but… I have to overcome it.”

 He sighed with a weary expression.

“Grandfather mentioned something to you about Eunhye, right?”

“Yes. He said that Kim Eunhye is the granddaughter of Kim Donghan, and… that Kim Donghan is not the original author of ‘Baekya.’ Besides that, he didn’t say anything else, maybe afraid that I would be shocked.”

“Weren’t you surprised to hear that?”

Though she felt like she was interrogating a patient, she couldn’t stop herself from asking. To hear him say that he liked her—even if he had lost his memory—was still shocking. 

“How could I not be surprised to hear that? But no matter who you are… you’re still the Siyeon I know. Thinking that way has lightened my heart.”

Siyeon gave him a suspicious look. Was it possible for a personality to change after a major accident? He was talking about things that the previous Gwihyeon would never say. 

“I contacted the secretary’s office to help with oppa’s memory recovery. They should arrive soon.”

“Why did you call that person here without my consent? Bringing someone who I can’t even remember!”

“Who is that person?”

“Who else, Kim Eun…”

Gwihyeon stopped abruptly. He seemed taken aback.

“How did you know that Eunhye works in the secretary’s office?”

“That… I just…”

It was a throwaway line born of suspicion, and Gwihyeon, who had been off guard, easily let his guard down.

“It’s okay. You wanted to cut ties after hearing that Eunhye is the granddaughter of a thief, right? I understand your position perfectly. I would have done the same.”

“…”

He turned his gaze away with a defeated expression.

“But you shouldn’t lie to your family. After all the pain they’ve been through, why would you want to add more wounds? It’s a miracle that you can see your parents and grandfather again, but isn’t that alone insufficient?” 

“You’re right. It’s not enough.” 

“Gwihyeon oppa.”

Gwihyeon regained his cold and distant expression. Seeing his expression, Siyeon could tell that he had fully regained his past memories.

“During my absence… Ijun took my place. Not as a substitute. He became an executive director in just one year. And Kim Eunhye? Yeah, she, with her head full of shopping thoughts, was planning to endure and marry me. But she comes from a family of thieves. I was lucky since I had an accident; otherwise, I might have ended up marrying her.”

“Oppa.”

“Yes, Choi Siyeon. I heard that you are the real heir of Baekya. So, we can forget our complicated past and start over.”

“…I really can’t believe this.”

Ha! Siyeon burst into a bitter laugh and shot Gwiyeon a cold look.

“Do you remember how you treated me in the past?”

“Siyeon.” 

“Thanks to you, I broke up with Ijun and quietly lived my life until I turned twenty-five. That’s nearly five years. The person who asked me to disappear after Eunhye’s birthday, who said they didn’t need me anymore, now wants me to come back to how it used to be?”

Although she tried to endure because he was a patient, she couldn’t tolerate it any longer.

“I don’t understand your feelings. But don’t just get excited, think carefully. When I’m discharged, the position of executive director at Baekya Foods is mine. Baekya Foods, the property of the Jeong family. All of it belongs to me. Still, do I fall short for you?” 

“It’s not about lacking or having too much.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I don’t like you. How could I ever like you?”

“Choi Siyeon.”

As Siyeon expressed her dislike for Gwihyeon, she felt a thrilling satisfaction. She had wanted to say these words for a long time.

“And I got married.”

“What?”

Gwihyeon jolted as if he were about to get up from the bed right away. His eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.

“I’m already married.”

“That’s ridiculous. Who did you marry?”

“It’s your brother, Ijun.”

Gwihyeon, who had been silently staring at her, suddenly burst into laughter.

“Siyeon, how could you marry Ijun? In our house… Did they really allow that? Especially when I’m lying in the hospital like this?”

“But it’s true.”

“I can never accept it.”

“We don’t need your acceptance. It’s already over.”

“You really…!”

Gwihyeon’s face turned red and his chest heaved heavily, perhaps due to intense emotions. He rested his arm on his forehead and breathed heavily. The door to the hospital room opened as someone came in.

 “…Oppa.”

Siyeon felt a shiver down her spine at the voice mixed with tears. What she had said to Gwihyeon earlier was just a hypothetical scenario, but Eunhye had actually appeared in the hospital room. 

“Don’t say a word.”

Gwihyeon, locking eyes with Siyeon, quickly spoke in a low voice that only she could hear. At the same time, Eunhye rushed to the bed.

“Oppa… huhuhuk. Oppa!”

To give the two an emotional reunion, Siyeon stood up and took a few steps back. Eunhye threw herself onto Gwihyeon’s bed and started crying loudly. 

“Oppa! Huuueeeeng. I knew you would definitely wake up! How much our family prayed! How difficult it was for me! Our family really went through hell!” 

She held onto Gwihyeon and cried loudly, but he didn’t say a word. He just looked at her with unfamiliar eyes.

“Oppa, huhuhuk. Why aren’t you saying anything? It’s me, Eunhye. Didn’t you want to see me? I’ve been thinking about you every day.”

Siyeon watched them for a moment and then sent a message to Ijun’s mother.

 [Mother, Eunhye is in the hospital room.]

Since the three of them had decided to have a meal together, the news of Eunhye’s arrival would soon reach Ijun’s grandfather and father. And while she had her phone in hand, she started recording. She planned to show it to Ijun later.

“I quit my job too. CEO Jeong Ijun told me to leave. He wanted to cut me off, who was on your side. I tried to hold on until you came, but huuuhuuk… I’m sorry, oppa.”  

“…I’m sorry, but.”

Gwihyeon finally spoke. Eunhye, who had been crying on the bed, raised her head at the sound of his voice.

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t remember. Could you please tell me who you are?”

“…Oppa….”

Siyeon shivered as she watched him act. He was nonchalantly pretending to have lost his memory.

“I’m Eunhye, Kim Eunhye! We lived together at your place in Hannam-dong. We almost went to work and came back together every day. Don’t you remember?”

“……”

“When I said I wanted to work in the main office, you initially refused, saying it might be uncomfortable for others because I’m pretty. But because we loved each other so much, eventually, I joined your office as your secretary, and we were together every day.”

Siyeon’s face turned pale as she listened to Eunhye’s desperate confession. She had never known their relationship was so intense. Yet, Gwihyeon, who made a similar confession to her, appeared no different from Eunhye. It was as if they were destined to be together.

To avoid revealing that she was recording, Siyeon quickly put her phone back into her handbag. However, the recording was still ongoing, and the audio would be sufficient for documentation.

“…Siyeon.”

At that moment, Gwihyeon called her. Eunhye turned around at his call. Her reddened eyes glaring at Siyeon were fierce.

“Yes, Oppa. What would you like to say?”

“Do you know who she is…?”

“Yes. She’s Kim Eunhye, the real granddaughter of Kim Donghan. She worked in the same office as you for five years, and you two were in a long-term romantic relationship.”

Eunhye’s expression became subtle. She found Siyeon’s assistance suspicious and strange. However, Siyeon had no intention of helping Eunhye. She simply didn’t want to get involved in Gwihyeon’s disgusting charade.

“Well… It’s the first time I’ve heard that you two practically lived together in Hannam-dong. It seemed like a remarkably, a loving relationship.”

Gwihyeon kept his gaze fixed on her without looking away. Siyeon also didn’t avoid his gaze. As Eunhye’s value diminished in his eyes, he heartlessly cast her aside. It was pitiable how foolish Eunhye looked in her misery.

“Oh, Oppa. Did you hear that? We really had that kind of relationship. NYou might not remember now, but if we stay together every day, you might remember in the future. I’ll come to take care of you every day.”

As Eunhye held Gwihyeon’s hand and made a pitiful plea, his gaze focused on her tear-streaked face.

“Your hand.”

 A frigid voice, as cold as ice, was directed at her.

“Let go.”

“Oppa…”

“I am not someone who keeps uncultured and vulgar people close.”

“Oppa, how can you say such things…!”

Just as Eunhye was about to cry out in shock, someone spoke in a furious tone.

“Know your place and stay away from here!”

The enraged voice echoed loudly in the hospital room. Gwihyeon’s father and Chairman Jeong hurriedly entered. Eunhye’s face turned pale.

“President… Chairman!”

“Leave immediately!” 

Two well-dressed, sturdy men appeared from somewhere, lifting Eunhye to her feet.

“Oppa, Oppa! It’s me, Eunhye! Oppa!” 

Despite Eunhye’s cries as she was being dragged out, Gwihyeon turned his head, ignoring her. While Preseident Jeong and his grandfather briefly went outside to confirm Eunhye being taken away, Siyeon approached Gwihyeon.

“Your acting skills are impressive. If I didn’t know any better, I might have fallen for it too.”

“What are you talking about? I genuinely have no memory at all.”

“Are you planning to pretend to lose your memory even in front of your parents and grandfather?”

 “If it helps me regain what’s mine, I’ll have to endure it to some extent.”

Gwihyeon said with a nonchalant tone.

“What’s yours…?”

“Baekya Foods, and you. Both were mine. I really hate it when someone touches my belongings. Even if it’s family.”

“But I married Ijun oppa.” 

“Then get a divorce. Just like how I discarded Eunhye, you can discard Ijun.” 

Seeing Gwihyeon speak firmly, Siyeon was convinced that he must have suffered a serious brain injury.