Part 15

Just when things couldn’t get worse.

A look of confusion spread across Seowoo’s face. As she was flustered, her eyes met Jiwook’s.

“Uh, Jiwook…”

Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

The urgently ringing bell made Jiwook chuckle.

He cleared his throat like he was holding back anger.

“Open it.”

“…”

“If you have nothing to hide, open it while I’m here.”

If she really had nothing to worry about, she should be able to open the door with him by her side. Despite her clear conscience, his cutting words stung a bit. Seowoo felt a little resentful at his sharp tone.

Seowoo wiped the look off her face and turned to open the door, walking out onto the porch.

“Why did you come out late…”

Seeing Jiwook following behind Seowoo, Sung-hyun trailed off.

Seowoo was the first to speak. The situation was undeniably awkward. Sung-hyun let out a rueful laugh, and Jiwook’s eyes narrowed.

“You always laugh like that whenever I see you.”

Clearly displeased, Jiwook spoke. At his words, the smile fell from Sung-hyun’s face.

“I came because I was worried about Seowoo after seeing the articles.”

“This is why misunderstandings happen. If it’s nothing, then why show up unannounced at her home, blurring the lines between professional and personal matters?”

Jiwook spoke through clenched teeth, emphasizing each syllable. Even under Jiwook’s piercing gaze, Sung-hyun seemed unfazed.

“That’s why there’s a scandal.”

“Jiwook.”

Seowoo urgently grasped and shook Jiwook’s arm, but both men looked like they had no intention of stopping. Sung-hyun, watching Jiwook quietly, wore a meaningful smile.

“I wonder if you’re in any position to say that to me, General Manager Kwon.”

“Don’t beat around the bush. If you have something to say, say it directly.”

“Right. I wonder if your attitude would change if you knew who I’ve met.”

For a moment, the face of Myeong-hye overlapped with the situation, a similarly intimidating presence. 

The offer Sung-hyun received and his rejection. 

As if it were retribution for his rejection, the scandal that broke out shortly after was particularly maliciously timed.

Thus, Sung-hyun could guess the instigator without needing confirmation. 

It wasn’t something Jiwook would do.

“Mr. Ki Sung-hyun.”

“I couldn’t get in touch with Senior Seowoo. I was worried, but now that I’ve seen her face, I’m relieved.”

Sung-hyun ignored Jiwook’s words and smiled warmly at Seowoo.

“My company says they’ll handle it, and they’ll issue a rebuttal to the articles too. Don’t worry too much.”

Being ignored right in front of him, Jiwook was infuriated. As he took a step forward, Seowoo quickly stepped in front of him.

“Our side said they’ll handle it too.”

“After all the times I’ve tried to be friendly with you, Seowoo……. This incident won’t drive us apart again, will it?”

“Of course not. It’s just a case of misreported news.”

“Okay, that’s fine then, don’t worry about it and get some rest.”

Having said his goodbye, Sung-hyun turned to leave.

“Ah.”

Sung-hyun, who had let out a brief exclamation, turned halfway back and faced Jiwook directly.

“If I had known it would lead to such an awkward relationship, I wouldn’t have accepted that advertisement. It’s truly regrettable.”

It was a pointed remark. At this, Jiwook’s eyebrows shot up.

“I don’t have the amount of money that was in that briefcase. So I can’t pay the multiple cancellation fees, and it will be difficult for me to terminate the contract. It would be appreciated if your side could terminate it first. I think everyone will assume the contract was terminated because of this scandal. Well then.”

Sung-hyun bowed politely and then quickly left the house.

Thud.

The door closed, and a quiet silence settled inside the house.

“……”

What exactly did I just hear?

Staring at the spot where Sung-hyun had left, Jiwook thought back to what he had heard earlier.

It wasn’t merely a provocation; the words carried much deeper meanings.

Briefcase, money, penalties. An ominous feeling enveloped him.

“Sigh.”

Jiwook closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Seowoo turned around to face him.

“Jiwook.”

“I’ll call you. Rest for now.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. I’ve seen your face now.”

He responded calmly, pushing his eyelids up slowly. Seowoo looked tense, aware that he was watching her reactions.

His head had been boiling with anger due to Ki Sung-hyun just moments ago, but he decided to believe, as she had said, that there was nothing between them.

He could tell just by looking into Yoon Seowoo’s eyes.

“The scandal…”

“You said it wasn’t true. You said it yourself, so that’s enough.”

He gently squeezed her slender shoulders, nodded his head, and then left the house.

“Ha.”

Seowoo flopped to the floor and buried her face in her hands.  Her legs gave out from too many things happening at once.

The words Sung-hyun had left behind also weighed on her mind, making her head feel like it was about to burst.

For now, she hoped the scandal would be cleared up.

After sitting there for a while, Seowoo picked up her phone to check the news again.

***

“I have the report you requested.”

Cheol-hoon placed a stack of documents in front of him. These contained several days’ worth of information, including traces of Sung-hyun’s activities and his meetings with Seowoo.

Jiwook picked up the documents and quickly scanned through them.

“After the shooting ended, he seems to have moved to this location and met with your mother.”

What could Ki Sung-hyun possibly have to meet with my mom for? The realization chilled Jiwook’s gaze.

‘I don’t have the amount of money that was in that briefcase.’

“Briefcase…”

It was a statement loaded with meaning. 

The reason he mentioned it to Jiwook. 

If he met my mom… Could it be that Sung-hyun was offered some money for some sort of proposal?

“And this is the personal information of the journalist who first reported the scandal between Yoon Seowoo and Ki Sung-hyun.”

Jiwook’s mouth twisted as he looked at the journalist’s background 

“Pyo In-woo…….”

It was a familiar name.

The journalist who had immediately countered the scandal involving Seowoo and Jiwook. He couldn’t forget it even if he tried. This journalist frequently wrote about the K Group. 

It was clear now that Myeong-hye was plotting something.

“This is driving me crazy.”

If someone was following him, they would surely know about his meetings with Seowoo.

His head felt like it was going to explode with the complexity of it all. Suffering from a throbbing headache, Jiwook pressed his temples.

“There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Cheol-hoon’s voice dropped lower, prompting Jiwook to look up.

“We’ve found the perpetrator of the accident in the US.”

“After searching so hard, you suddenly found them? Where were they?”

Jiwook’s eyes shimmered with interest. They had searched high and low but couldn’t find the culprit, as if someone had deliberately hidden them.

Recalling that incident, Jiwook’s chest tightened, feeling as if someone was gripping his throat.

“…It would be best if you verify this yourself, General Manager.”

Cheol-hoon carefully placed a single envelope in front of him. Jiwook stared at it for a moment before hesitating to pick it up.

“…”

A feeling enveloped him that once he opened this, there would be no turning back.

He hoped it wasn’t what he thought. Taking a deep breath, Jiwook opened the envelope.