CHAPTER 1 – Tinnitus

Beep-.

A long ringing sounded in her ears. Seo-yeon frowned for a moment. She couldn’t quite hear what Sehyun was saying in front of her.

“I didn’t hear you.”

At Seo-yeon’s words, Sehyun licked his dry lips.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, I’m sorry.”

Seo-yeon stared at Se-hyun, wondering if he was pretending he hadn’t heard.

“Just know that it wasn’t easy for me to talk about this. I hesitated a lot, and I worried. I can’t believe I’m saying this myself, but…… Seo-yeon.”

Idiot.

Why was he dragging on about having an affair with my half-sister like that? I’m an idiot for listening to you, but you’re also an idiot for dragging on for half an hour with a story that could have been summed up in two sentences: ‘I’m sorry. I cheated on you.’ Seo-yeon let out a thin sigh as she thought about it.

“No. I really didn’t hear what you were talking about.”

Again, a faint ringing sounded in her ears. Seo-yeon frowned slightly, just enough for others not to notice.

This was the lounge café of Hanseong Hotel, her workplace. She didn’t want to do anything that would make her look bad in front of the people she interacted with every day.

Seo-yeon pressed her fingertips firmly to her temples and released them. It didn’t do much, but it was better than nothing.

The tinnitus started a year ago.

It began on the day a round-faced, cute college student rang the doorbell of her family home, carrying a large suitcase, announcing herself as Yoon Sangcheol’s daughter.

At the time, she thought it was just because of the increased stress, but now she wondered if it had something to do with premonition.

A small sound, like turning on a thin thread of silk, started ringing in her head once every few days, but lately, it was happening quite often, ringing for a long time, accompanied by headaches when it got severe. On those days, she couldn’t sleep properly, but she could still bear it for now.

“I love Haewon.”

Nonsense.

Seo-yeon looked at Sehyun with a blank stare and then asked.

“Who?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.”

It was true, Seo-yeon knew well too.

Whether or not she hinted at it on social media. A few days ago, coinciding with Sehyun’s business trip to Busan, Haewon’s account had posted a photo of cold pork trotters tagged with Busan restaurants. There were also pictures of an ocean-view hotel room with a caption saying it was her first time.

The next day, there were pictures of omelets and pancakes on a plate, and a video titled “Winter Sea.” There was also a picture of Haewon innocently laughing while looking at the sea from the hotel room balcony.

It was obvious that someone had taken the video. Thinking about it now, she found it amusing that she even clicked on that video. Was she trying to confirm something? Or deny it? There was a moment of anxiety when she clicked on the less than one-minute short video.

“Haewon……. You mean my half-sister, Yoon Haewon?”

Seo-yeon pronounced Haewon’s name over and over again, emphasizing the word ‘half-sister’’.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t deny it anymore.”

Sehyun said, bowing his head. Seo-yeon found his somewhat serious expression amusing. She shouldn’t have accepted the proposal in the first place.

“Since when?”

Like someone who asks a question and finds the answer for herself, Seo-yeon searches her memory. She remembered what they had said when they first met in front of Yangpyeong’s main street.

‘Oh? Director.’

‘I didn’t expect to see you, Ms. Yoon Haewon, like this.’

A college student interning at a department store and a young, unmarried manager.

For a moment, Seo-yeon wondered if it had been a play, or if they really weren’t together at that time, but then she sighed. What’s the point now, she thought.

“At first, it really wasn’t. The Vice President personally asked, and since she’s your sister, I paid a little more attention, that’s all.”

You paid attention and then fell in love?

Seo-yeon couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I don’t care about my sister, Lee Sehyun. Why should you care about her? Because you think a 22-year-old girl is cute?

A girl who hasn’t even graduated from college yet, a man who is 32 years older, dating the half-sister of the woman he is seriously dating and thinking of marrying, why do you care?

When she thought that far, her tinnitus rang loudly. Seo-yeon pressed one hand to her temple again. She took a moment to catch her breath before speaking again.

“Sehyun, two months ago, you proposed to me.”

“At that time… I didn’t expect my feelings to turn out like this.”

Sehyun had been steadily courting her for a year, and just two months after she had accepted his heartfelt proposal, he was confessing that he was in love with her sister.

Seo-yeon laughed bitterly. Some people believe that being honest is the right thing to do. People who subtly take pride in their inability to lie. People of that sort who innocently stab others in the back with their honesty.

“I’m sorry. But what can I do if my feelings are like this? And I don’t want to deceive you with lies, Seo-yeon. It’s not proper to meet someone with dishonest feelings. I’ll somehow make it up to you.”

Sehyun’s sincere expression was reflected in the glass window. Seo-yeon pondered how shallow sincerity could be. Sehyun is sincere now. He was genuinely in love with Haewon, and he was genuinely sorry for Seo-yeon.

If only he had hidden it, if only he hadn’t admitted it until he was found out, if only he had denied it when he was found out. Would it have been a little better then?

All that came out was a sigh. Maybe she should just be glad she found out before she got married. She knew people who cheated while in a relationship and was honest about it. Compared to that, Sehyun seemed rather innocent.

“I understand what you mean.”

Over the course of a year, from dating to accepting a proposal, the time spent crumbled like this. Seo-yeon looked at the neatly dressed Sehyun.

Similar backgrounds, similar environments, similar specs. The meeting of the two was not lacking in anything.

The conditions were good, and she didn’t really believe in love anyway, but she kept telling herself she liked him. So…… she thought it would be okay.

Yoon Seo-yeon is calculative to the core.

She didn’t love Sehyun enough to cry over him. His conditions weren’t good enough for her to not give up, and she didn’t want to marry a man who cheats.

“Let’s just-.”

It was the moment she was about to say, “Let’s stop.” Sehyun looked at Seo-yeon with pleading eyes and said,

“But Seo-yeon, can you do me a favor?”

Why does it feel ominous? Seo-yeon looked at Sehyun, who spoke a bit forcefully.

“As you know, my situation is a bit complicated. The elders in the family know everything. Most importantly, Father was really happy. He thought it was special that the vice chairman personally set us up, and he told me to do well.”

Surely not.

“Can’t you say that you were the one who brought up the breakup first? Let’s leave Haewon out of this, just say that your feelings have cooled off… I know it’s shameless to say this. Just understand this once.”

Seo-yeon’s eyes turned cold. With those last words, Sehyun turned Seo-yeon’s feelings upside down. 

Can someone be this shameless even without a shred of conscience?

She couldn’t help but laugh at the shamelessness of Sehyun’s public display in front of her.

She almost married a man like this. Should she be glad she avoided it now? Should she blame her own pathetic judgment for thinking he was decent based on appearances alone?

Waiting for Seo-yeon’s answer, Sehyun nervously rubbed his palms together. Seo-yeon stared at him in disbelief.

I’ve dealt with people like you my whole life. Cheating behind my back, again and again, claiming to be honest about your feelings.

Of course, we’ll break up. But……. I don’t want to break up so easily. You’re selfish to the end, Lee Sehyun and you should feel a bit uncomfortable too.

“It’s okay. That could be possible.”

Seo-yeon’s words made Sehyun raise his head. She spoke in a soft voice.

“People make mistakes all the time. It’s okay to be swayed for a moment.”

Sehyun’s expression hardened. His embarrassment was visible on his face.

“I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear about it today.”

So, Lee Sehyun.

“Please handle Haewon properly.”

Sehyun’s eyes widened at this unexpected statement.

***

Sehyun said something that wasn’t even funny, something along that she was just in shock. He decided that Yoon Seo-yeon was confused, shocked, and unable to think straight because of it. Then, instead of asking her to take a moment to think, he leaves, saying he has a departmental meeting.

Left behind, Seo-yeon sat there with two coffee cups on the table. She remained seated, gazing out the window in silence.

It wasn’t even 6 o’clock yet, but the winter night had arrived quickly, casting darkness outside. Large sedans kept coming in, and valet parking attendants were busy. Beyond them, a large Christmas tree in a small garden twinkled with lights.

Even though she hadn’t moved for a while, nobody told her to leave. At times like this, she wondered whether being in a hotel was fortunate or unfortunate. When Seo-yeon raised her hand, the manager approached with a friendly smile.

“Yes?”

“Can I get another refill of my coffee?”

“Yes, Americano refills are available for up to two cups.”

“Then one more cup, please.”

As Seo-yeon picked up the coffee cup in front of her, someone behind her said,

“I’ll have another one too.”

Beep-

Tinnitus rang in Seo-yeon’s ears again. She pressed her ear with one hand and turned to look at the man. It was Hwang Dojun, the CEO of Hanseong Hotel where they were sitting.

Why is CEO Hwang Dojun here?

Seo-yeon looked at Dojun with a somewhat puzzled expression. The manager paused for a moment, a little surprised by the CEO’s appearance, then responded in a calm voice.

“Yes, Sir. I’ll get you another drink.”

As the manager stepped away, Dojun sat in front of Seo-yeon. The casual air when Sehyun was there was nowhere to be found. Dojun exuded an immense presence just by sitting across from her.

Seo-yeon suddenly wondered if Dojun’s intimidating aura, which could leave most people speechless, was innate or nurtured.

She wondered but was not curious enough to ask.

Seo-yeon stared at him with calm eyes. There were many words to describe Hwang Dojun, such as masculine and overbearing, but they didn’t apply to her.

Of course, there is no one in South Korea who doesn’t know him. Hwang Dojun, the heir of Hanseong Group. A man is known as the unfortunate heir of the Hwang family.

About 20 years ago, he lost his mother in a car accident and his father became a vegetable in the same accident. The story of how he miraculously survived was covered several times in the media and magazines.

Apart from that well-known story, he was a stranger to Seo-yeon. He was just the CEO of the hotel where the company was located, and privately, she had only seen him once or twice at Hanseong Group’s New Year’s party. He was the kind of man who, if encountered in the hotel, would nod politely from a proper distance.

Nevertheless, being the CEO of the hotel, Seo-yeon would usually have made a formal inquiry about his well-being, but not now. Due to the ringing in her ears caused by Sehyun’s actions, she had a severe headache. Naturally, she wasn’t in a good mood either.

Dojun, sitting across from her, didn’t say anything either. The only difference was that while Seo-yeon stared out the window as if Dojun didn’t exist, Dojun silently observed her.

It felt a bit ridiculous to just sit there without saying anything. The manager, appearing with the coffee pot in hand, skillfully refilled the coffee. Dojun lifted his coffee cup first, and as the warm steam rose, it briefly fogged up the glass before dissipating.

“So, did you manage to record it well?”

Dojun asked as the manager left. It was his style to get straight to the point. Seo-yeon looked at her phone, where she had entered information about Dojun, lying face down in front of her.

“Recording?”

She looked at him. Dojun raised one corner of his mouth. It was a smile that felt ambiguous, whether it was a laugh or a sneer. Seo-yeon asked him,

“Do you need a recording?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

He said. Seo-yeon sighed. Today was a bad day. The man she had been dating under the assumption of marriage confessed to having an affair with her half-sister. That alone had already pushed her over the breaking point.

As if that weren’t enough, Lee Sehyun shamelessly asks her to be the reason for the breakup, and now the hotel’s CEO comes out of nowhere and demands to see the recording of their conversation.

“I didn’t record anything.”

Dojun looked at Seo-yeon intently, as if trying to gauge whether her words were true or false. Then, with a wry smile, he said,

“You can’t be that stupid.”

Seo-yeon put down her coffee cup and said calmly.

“There’s video evidence, why bother with audio.”

Dojun’s eyebrow twitched slightly.