Part 20

Despite claiming tight security, it seemed like a mere lie. 

No, with his background, it wouldn’t be difficult. 

Eventually, seeing Jiwook coming to her doorstep again made her chest feel tight.

“Take care, oppa. I’ll call you.”

Seowoo deliberately smiled and spoke to Seung-min. If Jiwook had come this far, it was something she had to confront at least once.

“By any chance, is it Kwon Jiwook? That guy?”

“Yeah.”

Since Seung-min would find out once she opened the door, Seowoo didn’t deny it. Seung-min’s brows twitched at her affirmation.

“It’s not something you should intervene in, oppa. It’s something I need to handle. So don’t worry.”

“How can I not worry?”

Ding dong.

As if urging her to open quickly, the doorbell rang again. Seowoo unlocked the door and opened it. As soon as she faced Jiwook standing there, his sharp gaze fell on her.

“Ha.”

Jiwook looked back and forth between Seung-min and Seowoo, then chuckled.

“If there’s a schedule, let me know.”

Seowoo deliberately spoke while trying to avoid Jiwook’s gaze.

“Seowoo.”

“Go, oppa.”

Please, just go already.

Seowoo pleaded desperately with her eyes. Understanding her feelings, Seung-min suppressed his anger and stepped out of the entrance. As he passed by Jiwook, a low and sharp voice echoed in his ears.

“Is it okay for an agency’s CEO to come all the way to a talent’s house?”

Seung-min’s steps halted at the sharp provocation. It was a clear challenge. Although they had met a few times before, Jiwook always seemed to regard Seung-min with suspicion whenever they met.

“I’m curious why I can’t come here.”

Seung-min clenched his fists.

“Why?”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with stopping by to check on an artist from our agency who I’m worried about.”

“You know best what’s wrong, Moon Seung-min. Why don’t you be more honest and stop hiding behind the title of CEO and harboring ulterior motives?”

Seung-min’s face contorted at Jiwook’s accusation.

“Why are you suddenly doing this when you’ve been living well without showing any concern for Seowoo all this time? I can’t understand why you’re picking a fight with me now that you’re her ex-husband. Weren’t you the one who didn’t even glance at her when she was struggling alone?”

“It seems like you still haven’t figured it out.”

With his hand in his pocket, Jiwook turned his head leisurely to face Seung-min. Seung-min, too, looked back at Jiwook without avoiding his gaze. Their intense gazes clashed in the air.

“Even before our marriage, you used to look at her with eyes full of lingering attachment.”

“….”

“I guess you still haven’t given up.”

“And what about you?”

Seung-min smirked slightly.

“What right do you have to talk to me like this, anyway? You’re not even Seowoo’s husband anymore, are you?”

“What the hell is wrong with you both!”

She finally interrupted. Seowoo quickly stepped in between them and grabbed Seung-min’s arm.

“Seung-min oppa, why are you like this? Please stop. Okay?”

Seung-min lowered his gaze to look at her. Seeing her eyes pleading so desperately for him to stop, his heart felt suffocated.

“Seowoo.”

“You’re very passionate.”

Jiwook’s sarcastic comment made Seung-min grit his teeth.

“I’ll be in touch. Goodbye, Mr. CEO.”

Seung-min finally left with a heavy heart as she closed the entrance door behind him. Pursing her lower lip, Seowoo took a moment to catch her breath.

Leaving her in the doorway, Jiwook started walking.

He walked so casually into the house that Seowoo hurried to follow.

Standing in the center of the living room, he slowly looked around the room. Seowoo stepped in front of him.

“Mr. Kwon Jiwook.”

“What’s your relationship with him, letting him into your house? Did you two have s*x? Is that it?”

How could he say such things, what could possibly be going through his mind?

Seowoo’s lips trembled at the explicit words.

“I told you. Whatever our relationship is, it’s none of your business.”

“Why is it not my business?”

Jiwook smiles lazily, lowering his gaze to lock eyes with Seowoo.

“We’re going to get back together soon.”

“Who said we’re getting back together just because you said so?”

“If you think it doesn’t work out, I’ll make it work out.”

His resolute tone made Seowoo chuckle.

How could he be so assertive? 

Seowoo’s eyes glinted with anger as she looked at him.

“Like Seung-min oppa said… He’s the one who stood by me while I was struggling alone.”

“So. You’re going to marry him?”

“Is there a reason not to? He’s someone who takes care of me.”

“‘Takes care of you.’ That’s a funny way to put it.”

A new sneer tugged at his lips.

Seung-min had been there for her since she debuted at twenty, always by her side. She believed he looked after her like a protective brother when she was alone. But perhaps she just ignored Seung-min’s feelings.

But today. Seowoo realized that she couldn’t turn a blind eye anymore as she watched Seung-min become sensitive to Jiwook’s appearance.

She realized that what she had been feeling all along was not a misunderstanding, but the truth.

“Yoon Seowoo, you can’t marry him.”

Jiwook said with conviction.

“That’s a very arrogant thing to say.”

“You know better than anyone. You can’t leave me and be with someone else.” 

His words made her heart skip a beat with a feeling of dread.

Seowoo’s eyes, staring at him intently, began to redden. Jiwook gently grabbed her chin and leaned in a little closer.

“So let’s stop the pointless arguments. It’s tiring, you know.”

He made it sound like it was a real nuisance. Seowoo pushed his hand away and spoke up.

“I hope you wouldn’t ruin even the good memories we had so far. I don’t want to be left with only terrible memories.”

Even the memories of their passionate and thrilling twenties felt like fading away completely. 

She hoped desperately that it wouldn’t be so, because it would be so sad for her to lose those memories when she was barely surviving on them.

“Are you trying to erase those memories?”

“No. It’s even more dreadful this way. Don’t come back anymore. This is not a request, it’s a warning.”

Her heart sank. Despite seeing her struggling to keep from breaking down, he remained unmoved.

“You know my personality well.”

Jiwook wiped away the tears streaming down her cheek with the back of his hand as he spoke calmly.

“I’ve never failed at something once I’ve set my mind to it. So it’s best for you to accept it as soon as possible. Before I take action.”

“…….”

“Even that annoying bastard who scratches my nerves. Before I get rid of him myself, right in front of you.”

Jiwook withdrew his hand and pulled out a handkerchief from his jacket pocket, placing it in her hand.

“Seowoo.”

Jiwook’s piercing gaze fell upon Seowoo.

“We had two children between us.”

In the end, Seowoo’s face completely crumbled.

Children. Miscarriage. 

Jiwook spoke the words, knowing how incredibly heartbreaking they were to her.

“You were pregnant with two of my children, I’m not letting you go.”

“How… how can you say such a thing now?”

She shut her eyes tightly and burst out in anguish. His painful words turned into daggers, stabbing into her heart. Jiwook gently wrapped his hands around her trembling shoulders and calmly spoke.

“So you change your mind first.”

“Get out of my house right now!”

With just those words left behind, Jiwook left the living room.

Seowoo, who had been holding back her sobs, sank down on the floor.

Although she had been with him for several years and thought she knew it all, seeing him act like that again made her once barely hardened heart crumble down.

Seowoo buried her face in her hands and wept.