Part 4

“I’ll leave directly from the company, so just bring what you need and meet me at the airport.”

“…”

“What’s been up with you lately?”

“Pardon?”

He narrowed his eyes, casting his gaze downward.

She didn’t answer properly.

Jiwook displayed clear signs of irritation.

“Where’s your mind at?”

Finally, the departure day arrived.

When she told him she’d had a miscarriage, he didn’t touch her for five days.

Even though she didn’t expect comfort from him anyway, sometimes she felt his gaze had changed a bit or was it just her imagination?

But what use was it now? 

Seowoo looked quietly at him.

As she looked at his face, memories of everything that had happened flashed by. From when she first met Kwon Jiwook at the age of six, to the moment they reunited. And up until now, being married to him.

Her heart still aches whenever she looks at him.

She had loved him so much, despite his coldness. He never looked at her affectionately, yet her feelings remained unchanged, and that’s why this love always hurt and made her feel lonely.

“Yoon Seowoo.”

“…… Jiwook.”

Seowoo called out his name softly.

Goodbye.

Unable to say those words, Seowoo bid farewell alone. Trying to force a smile, Jiwook’s forehead immediately wrinkled.

“If you called me, say something.”

Seowoo shook her head slightly.

“It’s nothing.”

He shrugged it off and left the house. His secretary, who had already loaded his luggage into the car, was waiting at the front gate.

As Jiwook descended to the first floor and walked towards the entrance, Myeong-hye approached him with a pleading expression.

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure. I’ll only know when I get there. If it takes long, it might be around two years.”

“No, you said it was six months. What about her then?”

Myeong-hye gave Seowoo a worried glance.

What about me? When you’re constantly asking for me to divorce your son? 

Myeong-hye was putting on a show in front of Jiwook right now.

Perhaps worried Seowoo might change her mind when she has even hired a divorce attorney now.

Myeong-hye was planning to handle it through a lawyer while Jiwook was in the United States.

“I’m taking her with me. We’re leaving today.”

“……What?”

Myeonghye’s brow furrowed sharply upon hearing this.

It was just Jiwook’s plan.

Seeing her contorted, displeased face, Seowoo couldn’t help but feel a bit satisfied.

But she remained silent, keeping her lips sealed. It wasn’t her place to deny the truth in front of Jiwook.

“I’ll contact you when we arrive.”

“Why didn’t you say a word to your mother? No matter how indifferent you are, that’s just not right.”

Myeong-hye looked visibly upset.

Her son was always a man of few words. Since he was young, and even now.

Jiwook never revealed his true feelings unless necessary.

Even though he was her son, it was frustrating to not know what was going on in his heart.

“Does your father know?”

“No, he doesn’t. Do I have to inform you when I’m taking my wife out?”

“No…….”

He wasn’t wrong, but he had never spoken to Myeong-hye this way before.

Suddenly, she wondered what had come over him.

Myeong-hye felt anxious at her son’s change in demeanor with divorce looming on the horizon

“Jiwook…….”

“I think I mentioned wanting to live separately after about three years anyway.”

“…….”

“I’ll contact you.”

Jiwook left the house without another word. Seowoo, who stood awkwardly behind him, followed his steps.

They walked side by side across the yard. As they stepped out of the large gate, Seowoo noticed his car parked momentarily in front of the high wall.

His secretary, upon spotting Jiwook, opened the car door. Before climbing in, Jiwook turned and looked at Seowoo.

 “I’ll send the secretary to pick you up, so be ready to head to the airport on time.”

“….Yes.”

Jiwook climbed into the car, and the door slammed shut.

Seowoo looked at him for what might be the last time. A bitter smile appeared on her lips as she stood there silently.

Then, for a moment, their eyes met briefly. 

And then the car drove off.

Seowoo remained standing in the spot where he left her for quite some time.

***

“Sir, you need to depart.”

“Ugh, damn it.”

Jiwook spat out a curse. He lifted his wrist to check the time, only to be greeted by a notification on his cell phone that he couldn’t receive any calls.

There were barely 30 minutes left until the plane’s departure and the problem was, he couldn’t reach her.

He had a bad feeling about this. Worried, Jiwook scrolled through his contacts and pressed the call button.

• Oh, look who it is.

“I hope you’re well, it’s been a while since I’ve called.”

In the end, Jiwook called her only family, Yongjae.

He wanted to see if Yongjae had heard anything.

Since Jiwook rarely made phone calls, Yongjae seemed quite surprised.

• I’m fine. But… What’s the matter at this hour? Did something happen to Seowoo?

Jiwook regretted his action as soon as he heard Yongjae’s response. It seemed like he had dialed the wrong number.

Of course. There’s no way Yoon Seowoo would tell Yongjae. She didn’t even tell him that she was going to America for a while.

She never talked about herself, so it was obvious that she didn’t want Yongjae to worry about anything.

“No, nothing. I just thought it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so I called to say hello.”

Jiwook quickly brushed it off as if nothing had happened.

• Busy people are like that, you know. Don’t be disheartened.

“Yes, I understand. Well then, take care…”

• But…

Jiwook was about to hang up the phone with a final goodbye when he heard a slight hesitation from the other end of the line. He narrowed his brows and focused on Yongjae’s voice.

• Is Seowoo next to you by any chance?

“Uh, no. I’m currently outside. Is there something you’d like to say?”

Jiwook’s eyebrows rose at the unexpected response.

• She came by a little while ago.

“Could you tell me when that was?”

• It was a few days ago. Seems like something’s bothering her. She didn’t say anything, just asked if she could manage… something like that. 

Oh…….

Jiwook’s lips parted slightly. In an instant, he quickly ran through his thoughts.

• I didn’t ask further because I don’t think she’d tell me if I asked anyway. I’m quite worried. I was actually thinking of calling you. Is everything okay?

Jiwook remained silent for a moment.

Was it because of the miscarriage and the emotional strain?

She didn’t usually visit her father, probably because she didn’t want to bother him unless it was something significant. Due to her previous acting career and the relentless pursuit of reporters even after her marriage, she couldn’t easily visit him.

But to visit Yongjae…

No matter how much he thought about it, Jiwook couldn’t figure out what Seowoo was thinking.

“Yeah. It’s just…… gets hard this time of year, so maybe that’s why.”

• Right. Must be tough. Take good care of her. Please. That’s my request.

“Yes.”

• Okay then, take care.

“Okay.”

Jiwook roughly ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Pulling his tie loose in frustration, he let out a deep sigh.

“Sir, you really need to leave now.”

In the brief moment of hesitation, time had run out.

There was an important meeting scheduled as soon as he’d arrive in the United States, so he couldn’t afford to delay his departure.

“Let’s go.”

After pondering, Jiwook eventually moved forward without much choice.