Chapter 11.1 – In Your Shadow

The provocative affair article had no effect on the company’s stock price. It was a piece crafted solely for Seo Moonkyeong, and the results were satisfactory.

Over the past two months, the insults directed at Seojun could fill several trucks. Every time he attended an internal meeting, he could feel the whispers behind his back. Yet, none of it affected him in any meaningful way.

To be honest, he was glad to be receiving all sorts of criticism. It made him feel like he would live a long life, just as he had hoped.

Spring had already arrived outside the window. The once-barren branches of trees had sprouted leaves, and pollen floated in the air. He couldn’t help but worry about Moonkyeong, who must be lonely.

“Executive Director, where should we go?” 

Chief Secretary Yoon asked, seated in the driver’s seat. Seojun, loosening his tie, replied, 

“Let’s go home.”

“You haven’t been to Samseong-dong in almost two months.”

Although Seojun thought his relationship with Chief Secretary Yoon was strictly professional, there were rare moments like this when Yoon initiated a personal conversation.

Having observed him from up close, Yoon had likely seen through his thoughts. Seojun massaged his stiff neck several times and pressed his lips together.

“Let’s go to Cheongdam-dong.”

“Yes, understood.”

He inserted his earphones. Initially, it was mere curiosity, but then it became an addiction—listening to her voice. Now, it was time to say goodbye to even that.

Once he let her go, he planned to delete the surveillance program as well. True freedom, he thought, must be something like that.

As Seojun entered the underground parking lot of his new officetel in Cheongdam-dong, he noticed a familiar car in its designated space.

Chief Secretary Yoon parked the car and informed him, 

“It’s National Assembly Member Jeon Taepyeong’s vehicle.”

“I know.”

“Shall I open the door for you?”

“No, I’ll do it. You can head home now, Chief Secretary Yoon. You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing. Please rest well, Executive Director. I’ll take my leave.”

“Alright.”

Seojun’s tall frame slid smoothly out of the car. He walked over to the sedan and stood by the backseat.

The window rolled down, revealing Jeon Taepyeong’s face, furrowed in anger—a rare sight.

“Get in. We need to talk.”

The chauffeur, who served Jeon Taepyeong, quickly opened the door for Seojun.

Adjusting his posture, Seojun entered the car. He knew that Jeon Taepyeong held a certain affection for him, given the politician’s past. However, just as he felt no special attachment to his biological mother, Miyu, he felt no deep emotions toward Jeon either.

To Seojun, Jeon was merely a slightly better figure than the Do Hyowon family. He acknowledged Jeon as a good person and someone who would never betray him. Yet, Seojun’s experiences with adults had always left scars, making it difficult for him to open his heart.

For that reason, although he had kept Jeon close, he always maintained a certain distance. Jeon, too, had never crossed that line. The fact that Jeon had come directly to his new officetel suggested he had much to say.

Whatever it was, Seojun didn’t mind. The problem was that his phone was in the inner pocket of his suit.

He rubbed his forehead lightly.

“Would you like to go inside for some tea?”

“No, let’s talk here.”

“……”

“We found the culprit. They had hidden well, but we uncovered them. Now, Shin Jueun can be sent to prison, and Kim Seouk is trying to use his illness as an excuse to avoid consequences, but I’ve already dealt with that by meeting with Prosecutor Park.”

“……I see.”

“What are you planning to do?”

Seojun couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning of the question. 

Was he asking about my divorce from Moonkyeong or how I intended to lead Leehan Group?

“What exactly do you want to hear?”

Jeon raised his voice, his sudden outburst so loud it made Seojun’s ears sting.

“Creating a fake affair for her sake, fine! Let’s say the divorce is also for the best! Divorce isn’t even a big deal these days. Everyone does it, and it’s your personal matter—it won’t affect the company. I get that.”

“……”

“But are you really going to let her go like this? She plans to flee abroad after the divorce, never to return to Korea. Are you just going to watch?”

A deep sadness spread through Seojun’s chest. Yet, he suppressed his emotions with dry eyes and an unchanged expression.

“That’s what I intended from the start. I kept her close for that very reason.”

“- What about your happiness? I looked into everything you’ve done over the past few years. Even bringing that child from Russia—it was all your doing.”

Seojun lowered his head. Jeon’s investigative abilities were unparalleled. If he had examined Seojun’s past, it meant he knew every detail of what neither Nam Leehyun nor Shin Jueun could uncover.

It also meant no excuses would work.

“Assemblyman.”

“I still remember your grandmother. Sometimes, she even appears in my dreams. Though I feel sorry for my current wife, her name is one I miss dearly. I wonder what would’ve happened if I’d had a bit more courage back then. Of course, it’s just a memory now—one I call out to in dreams.”

“……”

“Seojun. I know why you’re letting her go. You think it’s love. I even know how you secretly visited her in Germany every Wednesday after she was exiled. You’ve watched her since she was young, haven’t you? That’s why you wanted to bring her to Moscow.”

“……”

“If you care for her so deeply, why are you letting her go? Couldn’t the two of you work together and survive in Leehan Group? You’ve already ousted Shin Jueun and dealt with Kim Seouk. What’s the problem?”

Seojun wore a bitter smile. His heart pounded, and his vision blurred. He had promised never to shake her again, yet at this moment, he missed Seo Moonkyeong so much it drove him mad.

He swallowed hard.

“I hope she meets someone who’s full of love and lives a life overflowing with happiness. Not someone like me, not by my side.”

“Ha.”

“Director Nam Leehyun will continue to hold on. Once she has an heir, who knows what she might do? You know her true nature better than anyone.”

“Of course. She’s a greedy old woman. It’s frustrating how people only see her as a pitiful, abandoned wife.”

“Yes. And as long as she’s in Korea, Do Hyeran won’t let her go either. You know this, don’t you? I have too many enemies.”

He had lived a life of constant pursuit. A life where being killed in an “accident” wouldn’t be surprising.

In Moscow alone, he had been attacked by assailants six times.

This was why he couldn’t neglect his training and why he had to eavesdrop on the secret conversations of the Do Hyowon family every single day.

He didn’t want to drag Seo Moonkyeong into such a life.

These people treated human lives as insignificant as ants crawling on the ground.

Despite Jeon Taepyeong’s sharp criticism, Seojun remained resolute. He stepped out of the car without a word, leaving Jeon Taepyeong staring straight ahead.

Fastening the buttons on his suit jacket, Seojun bowed politely and expressed his gratitude. Jeon rolled down the window.

“Go on.”

“Yes.”

Even after the vehicle disappeared from view, Seojun stood there for a long time.

He pulled out his phone from his suit pocket, his expression changing almost immediately.

***

Seo Moonkyeong listened to the entire conversation between the two. She felt confused. It was impossible for her to be his love, yet the realization that he had secretly watched over her for far longer than she had known left her disoriented.

It felt as though parts of her body were being forcibly torn away, as if something was pulling her apart from all directions.

“What should I do…”

Unable to sit still, she paced around the living room, unable to calm her restless mind.

Seojun’s confession—that he hoped she would meet someone full of love—was completely unexpected for Moonkyeong. At the same time, it pierced her heart. She felt ashamed of her selfish plan to use him and leave without a second thought. She couldn’t lift her head.

Moonkyeong collapsed onto the floor and sobbed. At that moment, Seojun’s clear voice began to play in her ears.

• Seo Moonkyeong, did you hear everything?

She flinched in shock. A chill ran up from her toes to her neck, pricking her sharply.

“Ah…”

She was the one eavesdropping on him, yet his voice calling her name as if he knew everything left her in disbelief.

They weren’t on the phone, nor were they in the same space. The words he had just spoken made her almost drop the phone she was holding.

From the other side, where he seemed to still be outside, she could hear the faint sound of the wind. 

Where exactly was he?

Even if she wanted to ask, she couldn’t. She could only listen to his voice, feeling more confused and dizzy by the second.

Seojun spoke again.

• I thought you were stupid, but you’re actually quite something. Planting something like this on me. Don’t move. Stay right there. I’m coming to you now.

Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. The warmth he had infused into this space where she had lived alone for the past two months felt so tender and affectionate that she couldn’t stop crying.

When had the words “Don’t move, stay right there” ever sounded so kind?

Moonkyeong swallowed her tears and waited for him. She didn’t care what he said. There were so many things she wanted to say and even more she wanted to hear.

But before he arrived, Moonkyeong cried so much that she eventually passed out.