Chapter 6.6

The next place they visited was National Assembly Member Jeon Taepyeong’s house.  

This was the first time meeting him since their initial introduction at the Black Label social club gathering before their marriage.  

Though his face bore the marks of time, Jeon Taepyeong was tall and slender, appearing to be over 180 centimeters.  

His wife, Lee Hyesook, was of a similar age but had a kind and pleasant demeanor. If Jeon Taepyeong were to become president in the next election two years later, she would become the First Lady. She seemed like someone who could be a wonderful hostess for the nation.  

Hyesook’s face lit up with a warm, radiant smile.  

“Welcome. You must’ve had a hard time getting here.”  

Hyesook held onto Moonkyeong’s hand tightly and cast a gentle glance at Seojun.  

“Oh my, the new bride’s hands are so delicate. And it’s not just your face that’s beautiful. Are you coming straight from your in-laws’ house?”  

“Yes.”  

At Seojun’s slight nod, Hyesook sighed, as if she could already imagine the ordeal Moonkyeong must have experienced at Do Hyowon.  

She patted Moonkyeong’s back and led her inside.  

Though both Jeon Taepyeong and Hyesook initially declined Seojun’s offer to bow and formally greet them for the New Year, he insisted.  

When Moonkyeong stood beside Seojun and bowed, Jeon Taepyeong took out a gift of money from his pocket and handed it to her.  

Moonkyeong glanced at Seojun, silently asking if it was okay to accept it. When he nodded in approval, she took it.  

Watching this, Hyesook scolded Seojun lightly.  

“What are you doing? Why are you making her check with you? Seojun, I didn’t think you were like this. Stop trying to act so authoritative.”  

“My apologies.”  

“I’m joking. Honestly, I can’t even joke around you.”  

Jeon Taepyeong chuckled heartily, while Hyesook shook her head in exasperation. She understood that Seojun struggled to express himself, despite his affection.  

Having only given and never received love throughout his life, Seojun still had much to learn.  

Hyesook, with her vast heart, understood the relationship between her husband and Seojun. She couldn’t help but resent the people of Do Hyowon, who wielded cold blades against these two pitiful children.  

Leaving Seojun to converse with her husband, Hyesook took Moonkyeong to an indoor garden.  

Caught off guard, Moonkyeong followed her into the cozy, unexpectedly warm space that resembled a greenhouse.  

Hyesook handed her a sweet potato roasted on the heater.  

“Here, have some. It’s really delicious.” 

“Oh, thank you.”  

“Shall we sit down?”  

“Yes.”  

Having never received such hospitality, Moonkyeong was in a daze.  

At their last meeting, Jeon Taepyeong had left a strong impression on her by treating her with warmth. She hadn’t expected his wife to extend that kindness to her as well.  

Hyesook suddenly brought up Seojun.  

“Seojun isn’t the affectionate type, is he?”  

“Pardon?”  

She playfully nudged Moonkyeong in the side. Her warmth extended to her sociability as well.  

Hyesook winked with a smile.  

“It’s just us here. What’s the harm in venting about your husband? Go ahead, tell me everything. I’ll listen.”  

“No, Seojun is a good person.”  

Though it was half true and half false, Moonkyeong tried her best to portray him positively. She remembered his warning not to trust anyone.  

Do Hyeran, who had approached her with sweet words, had betrayed her, as had Min Bora, who claimed to be a supportive friend.  

Hyesook seemed to see right through Moonkyeong. She looked directly into her cold, distant eyes, which resembled Seojun’s.  

“You don’t seem like the type to trust people easily.”  

“Oh, I’m sorry.”  

Realizing her behavior might have been rude, Moonkyeong quickly apologized. Hyesook smiled warmly to reassure her.  

“There’s no need to apologize. You used to do ballet, right? Your body seems very stiff. Even after all these years, Seojun hasn’t changed either. You know, I’ve always felt a pang in my heart for that boy. I don’t know why, but he just seems so pitiful.”  

“…”  

“Have you ever heard about Seojun’s past?”  

“No.”  

“Someday, you should ask him about it.”  

“…I will.”  

As they shared the roasted sweet potato, Moonkyeong savored a rare moment of peace.  

Their next destination was Do Hyeran’s house in Seongbuk-dong. For now, she decided to enjoy this brief respite.  

She even felt grateful to Seojun for arranging today’s schedule.  

Hyesook truly seemed like a good person, and Moonkyeong was relieved.  

At that moment, Seojun was playing Go with National Assembly Member Jeon Taepyeong. Though his sharp mind allowed him to anticipate several moves ahead, he deliberately let Jeon win every time.  

As Jeon placed a white stone on the board, he asked Seojun,  

“Is something on your mind?”  

Seojun pretended to think about his next move, watching Jeon’s placement.  

“Not at all.” 

“You don’t look well.”  

“I didn’t sleep well.”  

“Why not?”  

“You know how busy I am.”  

Seojun quietly placed a black stone in the position he had planned from the start. Jeon, sensing a lack of challenge, pushed the board aside.  

“It’s no fun if you keep letting me win. Do you think I’m a fool? Do you know how many years I spent playing Go in the assembly office?”  

“My apologies.”  

“Enough with the apologies. I don’t want to hear that from you. If you’re sorry, try forming some connections. This feels like pouring water into a bottomless jar.”  

“…”  

“Is your heart still empty?”  

Though his tone wasn’t angry, Seojun couldn’t respond and simply lowered his head.  

He understood that Jeon’s words came from a place of concern, but they made him uncomfortable nonetheless.  

Jeon sighed heavily.  

“I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve learned that life is simpler than it seems. Even when your insides feel burnt out, you can still find room to give your heart. That’s what love is.”  

“…”  

“Don’t push it away. If you’re going to act like this, why bother reopening old wounds? Are you planning to let her go?”  

Kneeling, Seojun finally spoke in a heavy voice.  

“…Yes.”  

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”  

“I won’t regret it.”

“What a ruthless man. I’ve never seen anyone as cold-hearted as you.”  

Jeon Taepyeong stood up irritably.  

“Ugh, I can’t stand the sight of you. Just take her and leave. If that’s how you feel, then I shouldn’t get attached to that child either. Take her and go!”  

After bowing to the angry Jeon Taepyeong, Seojun left his study.  

When he asked about Moonkyeong’s whereabouts, one of the household staff informed him that she was with Hyesook in the indoor garden.  

On his way to the garden, he spotted them sitting by the heater, chatting warmly.  

Seojun let out a deep sigh. A memory from a childhood fairytale, ‘The Forge in the Forest’, came to mind.  

In the story, a rabbit, pursued by a hunter, sought refuge at a blacksmith’s forge in the forest. The blacksmith’s young apprentice hid the rabbit in a cauldron and lied to the hunter, saying the rabbit had fled in another direction.  

Few know the ending of this story.  

The rabbit eventually hopped out of the cauldron, thanked the boy, and disappeared back into the forest.  

For the rabbit, it was a happy ending. But for the boy left behind, it was a deeply sorrowful conclusion.  

No one would have known, but the boy had fallen in love with the rabbit. That made it all the more tragic.  

Seojun glanced at his wristwatch. Though his schedule was packed with New Year’s commitments, he decided to leave Moonkyeong alone for a little longer.  

While she enjoyed her time with Hyesook, he put on his Bluetooth earphones connected to his phone.  

– Director.  

– How dare you act so arrogantly? If you speak to the Chairman at the dining table again, I’ll let this slap slide for now. But next time, I’ll make sure to ruin that face of yours!  

:  

:  

:  

– Daughter-in-law.  

– Yes, Mother.  

– Seojun is getting older, and you’ll be thirty next year. Don’t you think you should have a child this year?  

– Yes. 

– I’ve scheduled an appointment at the OB-GYN for Monday.

Seojun’s eyes narrowed in fury.  

While he was away, every conversation that took place in the annex was wiretapped through Moonkyeong’s phone.  

Even if it wasn’t live, all the recordings were sent directly to him.  

The claim that he had scoured hotel CCTV across the country was a lie from the start. Seojun had been observing everything since just before their trip to Geoje Island.  

He had only intended to give her a brief escape before their marriage. But when he realized she had no intention of returning, he felt a deep sense of betrayal.  

He had dragged Seo Moonkyeong back in front of him, persuading her with promises he never intended to break.  

He had told her he would let her go one day, at a time of her choosing.  

And so, he had to keep that promise. He couldn’t harbor any greed or desire for her.  

In the future she dreamed of, there would be no place for Kim Seojun.  

Loosening his tightening necktie, he thought it was strange but never considered that Shin Jueun might have slapped her.

– Are you planning to tell Seojun? 

– No.  

Seojun replayed Moonkyeong’s response over and over again.  

– No.  

– No.  

– No.  

– No.  

– No.  

– No.  

He muttered a short curse under his breath and bit his lip hard.  

“I know you too well.”  

Between breaths, between the syllables of her words, he could sense the subtle feelings she tried to hide.  

After hearing Seo Moonkyeong’s voice, one he had heard for over ten years, he knew she didn’t want him to notice.  

The more he tried to detach himself, the more her scent clung to him, driving him insane.  

In the end, once again—  

Once again, like this—  

“You’re driving me crazy.” 

His gaze kept drifting toward the garden where Moonkyeong was.  

〈To Be Continued in Volume 2〉