Chapter 11.2

When Seojun arrived and found her lying helplessly on the living room floor, he immediately rushed her to the hospital. In his arms, she fell asleep for the first time in a long while.

When she opened her eyes six hours later, she was in a hospital room. She could see his back turned toward her. Struggling, she tried to sit up.

As she moved, pain shot through her wrist. Only then did she notice the IV drip hanging from the ceiling, its yellow liquid dripping steadily. Her arm bore several marks from where the needle had been inserted multiple times.

Hearing her stir, Seojun turned around.

“They couldn’t find your veins easily, so they had to try several times.”

“Ah…”

His eyes, carefully scanning her face, trembled softly. His gaze was like that of someone watching over a fragile child by the water’s edge.

“They said it happens when your health isn’t good.”

“…I see.”

“You should’ve eaten properly.”

Who was he to lecture her? The faint scent of his cologne made her want to bury her face in his chest again.

She vaguely remembered how he had held her close for so long before bringing her to the hospital.

His trembling gaze drew closer, almost brushing against her, before quickly retreating. The tension in the quiet hospital room grew.

She had so much to say, but seeing Seojun’s face made her forget everything. She didn’t know where to start, so she hesitated.

Standing still with his hands in his pockets, he finally approached her slowly. Pulling up the chair meant for the guardian, he let out a low sigh as he sat down.

He reached out, brushing her hair and gently cupping her cheek. Though he hadn’t confessed his love, Moonkyeong felt her breath hitch as tears welled up again.

If only she could stay here forever—not in some faraway foreign land, but by his side.

Please, don’t make me cry anymore.

The words she couldn’t bring herself to say clung to her lips as she looked at him with sorrowful eyes. Seojun’s eyes, too, were tinged with red. His expression suggested that if she touched him, he might burst into tears.

Ah… He seemed so cold and detached, but that wasn’t the truth, was it? The thorny exterior he had shown hid a red rose within.

She had thought he was pricking her, but she hadn’t realized he was protecting her.

He was such a warm person, but she had realized it too late. She hadn’t known that the shade he provided was his way of shielding her…

For so long, she had only resented and hated him. Now, she finally understood his promise to hide her away through their divorce.

There had been so many days when she felt utterly abandoned and pitiful. Yet, during those times, Seojun had been tirelessly working for her. Now she knew. She knew everything. But why wasn’t she happy?

She wanted to thank him, but the words wouldn’t come out. All she felt was guilt. She was overwhelmed with apologies, but what could she do with herself?

They both seemed so pitiful, hurting just by looking at each other. She felt sorry for him.

Moonkyeong opened her mouth slightly.

“Was I… pitiful to you?”

Seojun smiled faintly.

“Didn’t you think I was pitiful?”

“I asked you first.”

“You were pitiful. Because you were like me.”

“Seojun… I…”

Her words caught on the answer she didn’t want to hear in his expression. That was why she stopped speaking. But Seojun gently coaxed her.

“Seo Moonkyeong, promise me.”

“…”

“Promise me you’ll leave me.”

Idiot. Fool. 

Moonkyeong finally hit his chest weakly. How could he ask her to make such a promise? She balled her fists and hit him again, pleading.

“No. I won’t leave… I won’t go.”

…Please, don’t send me away. Why do we have to part? I want you, and now I know you want me too.

I won’t leave.

Her voice, broken and fragile like a child’s, cracked and faded as she sobbed uncontrollably. Life felt like h*ll in that moment. Breathing felt too difficult, and she couldn’t muster the strength to carry on.

She hated Seojun for insisting on sending her away. At that moment, she felt like dying right in front of him.

Moonkyeong yanked out the IV needle from her wrist.

What was the point of it all? Seojun, startled, tried to stop her as he stood up, but she pushed him away.

The IV stand toppled, and the blanket that had covered her fell to the floor. Two nurses rushed in at the commotion, but Seojun shook his head and sent them out.

In the chaotic hospital room, where she continued to cry uncontrollably, Seojun’s insides churned with worry that she might collapse again. He called out to her.

“Seo Moonkyeong.”

“…”

“Stop crying. Don’t drive me crazy.”

She glared at him.

“Now I can’t even cry as I please? Does everything have to go your way? Do you think I have no feelings or thoughts of my own?”

“If you keep crying, I’ll kiss you.”

“……”

“I’ll do it even if you don’t cry.”

In an instant, he rushed over and lifted Moonkyeong’s chin. Seojun’s kiss was deep, as if trying to steal even the breath of the tearful Moonkyeong. Like someone determined to convey all his love to her, even at the very end, he dove in without hesitation. 

Their kiss continued as they moved positions, reaching its peak on the spacious sofa in the VIP room. Their longing for each other was overwhelming, but the knowledge that their relationship had a definitive end made it all the more sorrowful. Even as he immersed her in a heated embrace, his constant consideration for her ignited Moonkyeong’s frustration. She continued to provoke Seojun, whose breath came in short gasps, causing his brows to furrow deeply. 

Sensing an unyielding barrier, Moonkyeong was the first to pull away. Her tears started flowing again. Standing by the window in her hospital gown, she took a deep breath. Her face was a mess from the tears. Every breath she inhaled seemed to stab her lungs, and every exhale felt like her heart was shrinking. Uncontainable emotions surged within her, threatening to erupt once more. Clenching her fists, she worried about him now—about how he might hurt even more than herself.

She thought, 

What if he suffers more than I do? What if Seojun cries silently? I can’t even cry freely anymore.

Gradually, she calmed her heightened emotions. She resolved that if she were to cry, she would first ask everything she needed to know. Without turning back, she asked Seojun, 

“Since when? Since when have you been eavesdropping on me?”

He answered sincerely, as if he no longer intended to hide anything. 

“Since I was in my first year of high school. You had just entered middle school.”

“Tell me more. Be specific.”

Seojun recounted the events of the past. He didn’t hide anything, even mentioning the day Hyeran left her phone at a café, and how he went to return it, only to encounter Moonkyeong for the first time.

“You were beautiful even then. When I first saw you, my heart pounded so hard right here.”

“What did you think? About the way I lived? I really wanted to hide it from you. But, ha… knowing you knew everything makes me upset.”

“Don’t be. If you hear my story, you’ll feel sorrier for me.”

Moonkyeong turned around. She gazed into his eyes, which looked as though they might cry but never did. They carried an ancient sorrow, the same one she had seen in him that day at the café.

“Then tell me your story. I want to hear it, even if it takes hours.”

Seojun patted the hospital bed where Moonkyeong had been lying. It was his way of saying he would speak if she obediently returned to her place. He also gestured toward the IV stand with his chin, indicating that she should resume her treatment without issue. Reluctantly, Moonkyeong returned to her bed. Satisfied, Seojun called for the nurse. 

Two IV drips were reinserted into her wrist. It was even harder to find a vein this time, leaving a larger bruise than before. Seojun met her gaze warmly and asked, 

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“Just talk already.”

Though she had cried hysterically earlier, she now felt strangely at ease. She realized that just being in the same space as him made her feel better. She quietly watched his face as he began to tell his story. When he finished, she planned to plead with him once more.

After finishing his long story, Seojun looked at her sleeping face. Then, he stood up. He found her phone and deleted the eavesdropping program. He also erased the program he had been using on his own phone for over ten years. 

Around that time, Nam Leehyun called. She, who had tried everything to prevent their divorce, was furious about the lack of an heir to inherit Leehan Group.

• So, you’ve been following me, huh? Good luck finding me. I know I can’t beat you, but you should be careful too. The more you have to protect, the harder life gets.

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

After ending the call, Seojun returned to Moonkyeong’s side. The thought of letting her go tore his heart apart. He knew how she would react—she would plead with him two or three more times. Knowing exactly how to behave to appear endearing and lovable, she would use every method at her disposal. 

Still, Seojun thought, 

Even now, I dream of you living under someone else’s sunlight, rather than the shadow I created for you.

He gently kissed Moonkyeong’s forehead as she slept.

“Stop running from life. Breathe freely now. Don’t worry about anything, and don’t be afraid.”

With that, he left the hospital room quietly.