Chapter 11.5

To Moonkyeong, Seongbuk-dong remained an uncomfortable place.

Holding the disownment application she had submitted, Do Hyeran’s expression turned icy, and Seo Jaewoo berated her for being ungrateful.

“Ha! What about the 20 billion won? You got that money because we adopted you. Do you think you earned it on your own? The only reason you could even marry into the Leehan Group was because of us—because of me, Seo Jaewoo, and your mother!”

Right then and there, Moonkyeong transferred 20 billion won to Hyeran’s account. The notification sound left Jaewoo flustered, while Hyeran stared at Moonkyeong, who seemed resolute.

“Moonkyeong, is this because I was monitoring you? This isn’t right.”

“Please disown me. Let’s settle this without going to court. I don’t have much time.”

“What do you mean, you don’t have much time?”

Moonkyeong showed them the plane ticket Seojun had given her. Do Hyeran and Seo Jaewoo, who hadn’t expected her to plan on leaving Korea entirely, exchanged glances.

Hyeran gently stroked Moonkyeong’s hand, pleading.

“Moonkyeong, think it over. Is this because of your divorce from Kim Seojun? Are you struggling? I understand. You were together for nearly a year—it couldn’t have been easy. It wasn’t an arranged marriage; you two loved each other. I get it. But you’re still young. You can meet someone better. This time, I’ll—”

Moonkyeong coldly pulled her hand away, cutting Hyeran off with a firm shake of her head.

“This time, are you planning to use me for business again?”

“What?”

“I loved you. From the moment I was adopted at nine years old until now. I never once stopped loving you.”

“……”

“But every moment, I was busy repaying you and Dad. I’ve paid it all back now, so I want to leave. I want to gain eternal freedom.”

Hyeran shed tears of belated regret. She had loved and wanted Moonkyeong more than anyone else. That much was true.

But it was also true that she had used her daughter as a tool to secure a better background and life for herself.

For a long time, she had bound her daughter’s freedom by threatening her.

“I wanted you to be happy.”

“I wasn’t happy. I was so unhappy, Mom.”

“……”

“Please let me go. I’m begging you.”

Moonkyeong bowed deeply to the two of them, bidding her final farewell. The disownment application would soon be processed without issue, and she would finally be free.

Once she left the country, Attorney Jo would handle everything else.

All that remained now was to leave.

***

The night before her departure to Canada, Moonkyeong stayed at a hotel near the airport. With Seojun having sold his officetel, she could no longer stay there.

She double-checked her flight time and sat by the hotel window, brushing her hair.

For the past few days, she had stayed in a pet-friendly place so she could be with Dubu every day. 

Dubu, sensing her unease, approached her affectionately. Hugging the white dog, she rubbed her nose against him.

“I’m so glad I have you.”

Then, there was a knock at the door. It had been over a week since she had given Seojun her hotel room number, but he hadn’t visited, citing his busy schedule.

Assuming it was him, she opened the door with a smile, but the person standing there wasn’t Seojun.

It was Chief Secretary Yoon, delivering a message on his behalf.

“The Executive Director won’t be able to come.”

“Not even tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Realizing she would leave without seeing him one last time, Moonkyeong ran her fingers through her hair. She had thought he might at least stop by briefly before she left.

In front of Chief Secretary Yoon, she feigned composure.

“It’s okay. He’s very busy, isn’t he?”

“Yes. He’s been extremely preoccupied with the investigation into the explosion incident and coordinating media coverage. It’s been hectic.”

Moonkyeong nodded, pretending to understand.

“I see. You’ve worked hard, Chief Secretary Yoon. I’m glad I could at least say goodbye to you. Take care of yourself.”

“You take care too, Ma’am.”

“Yes. Please take good care of him.”

After Yoon left, Moonkyeong returned to her hotel room. She couldn’t hide her mixed emotions, but she couldn’t beg Seojun to come to her either.

Her body felt drained of energy.

***

Although it was early morning, the airport was bustling with activity. Seo Moonkyeong was having a simple meal of toast and coffee at a café inside the airport when breaking news flashed on the screen.

The report announced that Shin Jueun had been arrested on multiple charges. She had been apprehended late last night while drinking at a street food stall, and among the charges against her, the one that caught the public’s attention the most was solicitation for m*rder.

The person she had killed was Kimura Miyu. Although the name sounded unfamiliar, Moonkyeong knew who it was.

Thanks to the stories Seojun had shared about his childhood, she realized that this woman was Seojun’s biological mother.

His words echoed in her mind—how he had lived every moment on edge, trying not to become like her. 

For years, the culprit had been untraceable, but Seojun had always wondered why, of all times, she had resurfaced now.

Although he hadn’t told her, not wanting her to worry, Moonkyeong had a feeling that Nam Leehyun was involved. If her instincts were correct, Leehyun likely knew that Seojun and Jeon Taepyeong were pursuing the culprit. She believed that Leehyun had waited until the Chairman’s death to ensure that Shin Jueun couldn’t escape justice.

By the time the Chairman had passed, no one was left to protect Shin Jueun. It was only then that Leehyun completely destroyed her—but without dirtying her own hands, instead using Seojun and Jeon Taepyeong. 

In hindsight, Nam Leehyun was an exceptionally clever person.

Moonkyeong wondered if the recent explosion incident was also connected to her. However, there was nothing she could do, no way to help Seojun. She would only get in his way.

Even on the morning of her departure to Canada, her thoughts were filled with concern for him. She furrowed her brows.

“Once I leave, I need to forget everything and live my life.”

Forget everything and move on. 

Moonkyeong repeated those words to herself like a mantra.

As she stood by the trash bins, clearing her table, she spotted a familiar face in the distance. 

Moonkyeong watched as a man and a woman sat together, behaving intimately. 

The woman, wearing sunglasses and stylish jeans, was Lee Heejin. The man was someone Moonkyeong didn’t recognize. He had a flashy appearance, as if he were from the entertainment industry, and seemed at least five years younger than Heejin. 

With her husband and mother-in-law both imprisoned, Heejin appeared to be heading off on an overseas trip with this young man, looking thrilled.

What a cruel twist of fate.

It seemed almost absurd that whenever Seojun was needed, it was Lee Heejin who showed up instead.

Moonkyeong ignored Heejin’s gaze and headed to the nearest restroom.

As she washed her hands at the sink, Heejin entered. She had likely followed her in after seeing her go inside. Moonkyeong wanted to stuff her ears with tissue paper.

“Hey, Seo Moonkyeong.”

“……”

“Look at you. Divorced and exiled overseas. How pathetic.”

Moonkyeong ignored her, drying her hands. Heejin’s insults, however, showed no signs of stopping.

“I always knew this would happen to you. Someone like you, born without parents, thinking you could have someone like Seojun? It was ridiculous from the start, wasn’t it?”

“……”

“Do yourself a favor overseas and know your place! And stop throwing yourself at just anyone.”

As Heejin pushed past her to wash her hands, she continued to mock her. But at that moment, Moonkyeong grabbed Heejin by the hair and shoved her head into the sink.

Thanks to Heejin turning the faucet on full blast, all Moonkyeong had to do was hold her head in place. Without any effort, Heejin’s hair was thoroughly soaked.

Heejin, flailing wildly, lifted her drenched face, which was now a complete mess.

Her sunglasses had fallen off, and she stared at Moonkyeong in shock before raising her hand.

“You’re insane! How dare you—”

Moonkyeong grabbed her wrist and firmly pushed it back. From the start, Heejin was no match for her strength or determination.

“I warned you not to mess with me. Like you said, I’m no longer part of the Leehan Group. I don’t have to maintain appearances or dignity anymore. So stop worrying about my divorce and focus on your own life.”

As Moonkyeong walked past her, Heejin screamed after her.

“What about my hair? What are you going to do about this?”

Moonkyeong turned back with a cold glare.

“Sorry, that was your hair? I thought it was empty up there. Anyway, I doubt we’ll meet again, but if we do, know that next time, your head will end up in a toilet.”

“……”

“I have nothing to lose now, so don’t push me. Got it?”

Frightened that Moonkyeong might actually follow through, Heejin hesitated. Though she looked furious, she ultimately backed down, realizing that Moonkyeong truly had nothing left to fear.

Five minutes before boarding, Seojun’s name appeared on Moonkyeong’s phone screen. With trembling hands, she answered the call. Determined to smile during their last conversation, she forced a grin.

“Where are you?”

• At the office.

“Did you have breakfast?”

• Yeah.

“You’re a terrible liar. After all these years, I’ve realized you’re not good at lying.”

• Yeah.

“Now, I can see everything.”

• Yeah.

“You’ll eat well, right?”

• Yeah.

Afraid her voice might betray her emotions, Moonkyeong enunciated her words clearly.

“I take back what I said about not meeting other women.”

“……”

“But don’t date anyone too pretty. It’ll make me jealous.”

• Yeah.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

• ……No.

“Wow. Really, until the end? Fine, I’ll go. You’re telling me to leave quickly, aren’t you?”

Time was running out. The airport staff signaled for her to hand over her ticket.

Moonkyeong wanted to tell him she loved him, just once, as a final goodbye. But she couldn’t. She feared that if she said those words, she would completely fall apart. Instead, she expressed her gratitude and apologies.

“Goodbye.”

With that gentle farewell, their call ended.

Moments later, the plane carrying her took off into the sky. Watching from afar, Seojun turned away with a cold, hardened expression.

He had thought that letting her go would make everything better. But his mind went blank.

He no longer knew where to go or what to do.