Part 17

Seowoo lifted her hand and flicked through the grubby cover.

Then, as if making a decision, she got up from her chair and straightened her clothes.

“…….”

At that moment, a sharp ringtone echoed in her ears. Seowoo’s brow instantly narrowed.

It was one of Jiwook’s calls, which came several times a day. She promptly pressed the reject button without hesitation.

“Maybe I should change my number again.”

But she knew it would be pointless since he’d find out again soon enough.

With a sigh, Seowoo left her house. 

As she descended in the elevator to the villa parking lot, she saw a white van waiting for her.

“Hello, I’m Jeon In-ryul, who will be your driver from today.” 

A youthful-looking man greeted her with a neatly folded bow. Seowoo smiled and looked at him.

“Nice to meet you. How old are you?”

“Uh, I’m twenty.”

“You’re really young. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m… a big fan of yours! Congratulations on your comeback!”

His enthusiastic demeanor finally made her laugh.

“Thank you.”

“Please feel free to speak comfortably. You’re like my sister! Please take care of me!”

“Sure, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

He energetically replied and immediately opened the door. Seowoo carefully got in and nodded in gratitude. As he returned to the driver’s seat and fastened his seatbelt, he started the car carefully.

“Oh, what’s this?”

His perplexed voice rang in her ears. Seowoo, who had just sent a text to Seung-min that she had boarded the car, lifted her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“A car just cut in front of me. Wait a minute. Let me get out and…”

In-ryul’s voice trailed off as he stared ahead. Seowoo’s gaze followed his, and her face quickly contorted as she checked the road ahead.

After a moment, a man approached from the direction she was sitting, tapping on the window.

Tap, tap.

“Please, wait a moment. I’ll get out to see what’s happening.”

“No, I’ll go. Will you wait here?”

“But… I should contact the CEO.”

“Don’t worry, I know him.”

Seowoo replied, pulling at the corners of her mouth. The car door opened, revealing the man’s figure.

“Come out.”

A commanding voice rang in her ears.

Seowoo got out of the van and climbed into his car. Jiwook took the wheel himself, and he sped away from her house.

After driving for a while, Jiwook’s car stopped briefly at a quiet Han River Park. This was the best place to stop because even if they went to a cafe, someone would recognize her.

No one spoke first as the tension filled the air.

After what seemed like forever, Seowoo broke the silence.

“Speak. I don’t have much time.”

She deliberately checked her watch, showing her discomfort.

“I was wondering where you live. Should’ve just gone to your place.”

At his overly straightforward response, Seowoo let out a hollow laugh.

“Probably never will, and I don’t intend to.”

She had no desire to invite him into her home. It was uncomfortable enough to meet him like this, let alone call inviting him to her home.

It was an absurd suggestion.

Just then, her cell phone vibrated in her bag. When she checked the caller ID, Jiwook’s sharp voice filled the car.

“It’s Moon Seung-min, right?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

Jiwook glanced at the side mirror. Directly behind his car was the van that had followed him from her house.

When Seowoo left in Jiwook’s car, her driver would have contacted Moon Seung-min right away.

He would already know about this situation.

“Answer the call. Seems urgent.”

“…… If you don’t have anything, I’ll get out.”

The phone kept vibrating. Eventually, Seowoo pressed the reject button and put her phone back in her bag.

“Have you thought about what I said?”

The rest of the story between him and her.

The one Jiwook had brought up, about getting back together.

“I should have said it back then. I have no interest. And, I hope there won’t be any more visits like this in the future.”

Seowoo rejected him outright. Now that she had finally gotten a little bit of a chance to be on her own, she had no desire to stay by his side again.

“That’s right. Why let someone come over after avoiding their calls?”

“You should have known that I was avoiding you because I didn’t want to talk to you. I didn’t realize you were that clueless.”

Jiwook chuckled, turning to look at her directly. Her cold demeanor stirred a thirst in him.

Was she always like this?

She had never even been angry before, especially towards him, she was always soft.

She seemed completely unapproachable now.

“A one-sided divorce doesn’t happen like this.”

“Isn’t it funny to talk about it now, after two years?”

“You know why I went to the US.”

“That’s why… to you…”

Seowoo turned to look him in the eye.

She had never been his top priority. No, she didn’t even expect to be his priority. She just hoped to be by his side and occasionally be acknowledged.

But apparently, he didn’t even have that luxury.

The only time she was happy by Kwon Jiwook’s side was in the dreams she had just a few days ago.

“That matter was more important, wasn’t it?”

Jiwook’s expression contorted instantly. Seeing his face crumple, Seowoo continued unwaveringly.

“That’s all there is to it. To you, I’m just a presence not worth the effort to hold onto…You didn’t even think about coming to Korea for just one day to comfort me.”

Even as she spoke, she felt a pang of misery and choked up.

Pathetically so.

As if she had been waiting for him.

Seowoo struggled to contain the emotions that threatened to burst forth.

“So don’t pretend anymore, don’t pretend to be sad, don’t pretend to miss me.”

Seowoo firmly responded, staring at him with a deadly glare. Jiwook, observing her, flashed a bitter smile.

“Why, are you dating Moon Seung-min, whom you’ve liked all along?”

“What are you talking about?”

“So, is that why you signed a contract with that worthless agency?”

“You’re truly the worst, you know that?”

It felt like even the remaining emotions crumbled away. Seowoo let out a bitter laugh and clenched her fists. Trying to steady her trembling voice, she spoke up. 

“It’s none of your business who I date. You have no right to interfere.”

“Right?”

“I’m not your wife anymore. This conversation is irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant…….”

He trailed off, letting out a sardonic laugh.

“Fine. Do whatever you want. I’m going to have to get you back in my bed anyway. Once I rebuild that right.”

“Do as you please. I’m not interested.”

Seowoo firmly replied before getting out of the car. Jiwook’s gaze locked on the rearview mirror. He watched her get into the van that was waiting behind.

Watching her until the van drove away, Jiwook picked up his cell phone and dialed a number.

“Keep an eye on everything Moon Seung-min is doing. All the employees and celebrities affiliated with that company.”