SIDE STORY 1.6

Moonkyeong had just laid Inyoung, who had fallen asleep after nursing, in her crib and turned around.  

Seojun, who had said he had a quick errand to run, was still out. He had promised to return in an hour, but as he hadn’t, Moonkyeong glanced at the clock on the wall.  

“An hour has passed.”  

She walked into the dining room on the first floor, where her gaze fell on a vase.  

Reaching to change the water for the roses Seojun had bought her a few days ago, Moonkyeong was interrupted by Dubu, who came running to her, asking to be held.  

In her attempt to pick up Dubu, her hand accidentally knocked the vase off the table, shattering it.  

Startled, Dubu ran away, whining loudly.  

“It’s okay. No one got hurt.”  

But it wasn’t true. Blood was already seeping from Moonkyeong’s second finger.  

As Dubu barked even louder, Moonkyeong winced.  

“It’s not your fault. I was just being clumsy.”  

She decided she needed to clean up before Seojun returned.  

Just then, her phone, which was on the table, lit up. It was Seojun.  

Smiling at the sight of his name, she answered the call.  

“When are you coming ho—”  

“I’m sending someone. You’ll need to go somewhere safe for a while. Just take Inyoung and Dubu. It’d be best if the housekeeper comes with you, so let her know. I’ll handle the rest and join you later.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

“Nam Leehyun sent people after us. Don’t worry, nothing will happen. Go to Chief Secretary Yoon’s house. It’s the safest place right now.”  

“Can you explain—”  

“I’m sorry. I don’t have time to explain. I’ll be there by 7.”  

“…You promised not to leave me alone. Don’t be late.”  

“I promise.”  

Moonkyeong, holding her phone tightly, returned to Inyoung’s room.  

Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. Hugging her child tightly, she sobbed uncontrollably.  

The housekeeper, alarmed, rushed in.  

“Madam, is something wrong?”  

“Ah… No, it’s nothing.”  

“Oh my, when did you hurt your hand? You’re bleeding!”  

Moonkyeong hastily wiped the blood with Inyoung’s handkerchief. She didn’t even have time to feel the pain.  

“Could you please pack Dubu’s things? He’s in the living room.”  

“Pardon?”  

“Don’t ask questions. Please, just do it.”  

Sensing the urgency, the housekeeper moved quickly.  

By the time they stepped outside with their belongings, the person Seojun had sent had arrived.  

Moonkyeong boarded the helicopter with Inyoung in her arms. Though the weather was poor, the helicopter managed to take off without issue.  

Her entire body was trembling. The housekeeper took Inyoung briefly, allowing Moonkyeong to bury her face in her hands. Tears streamed endlessly.  

The wife of Chief Secretary Yoon brought her a warm cup of tea, but Moonkyeong couldn’t take a sip.  

As 7 o’clock approached, Seojun still hadn’t arrived, leaving her in a state of anxiety.  

“Is he still not answering his phone?” 

Chief Secretary Yoon adjusted his glasses and nodded gravely.

“Yes.”  

“Do you really not know anything, Chief Secretary Yoon?”  

“I’m sorry.”  

It was agonizing. It felt as if her insides were being twisted and all her organs were being pulled out, just like the time long ago when Seojun had forcibly sent her abroad.  

“Are you okay?” 

Chief Secretary Yoon’s wife caught Moonkyeong as she swayed and asked her with concern. Moonkyeong straightened her posture with determination.  

Back then, she hadn’t known, but now she had so much to protect. Even if something happened to Seojun, she had to protect her one and only daughter at all costs.  

But the thought of life without him was unbearable. A life without Seojun would be far crueler than the puppet-like existence of her younger days.  

“Please.”  

She prayed to every god in existence. She begged them not to take him away on such a cold day. Snow was pouring down outside, and she pleaded for him to be spared on such a day.  

Her anxious gaze fell on her sleeping daughter, Inyoung. Just then, the door opened, and Seojun walked in. He stood there, miraculously, closing the umbrella he had taken out earlier that morning.  

“Ah!”  

Seojun embraced Moonkyeong, who was crying uncontrollably. Unable to speak, she froze like a child who had lost everything, except for the ability to cry.  

As she sobbed miserably in his arms, Seojun gently stroked her hair.  

“I promised, didn’t I? That I’d be back by 7.”  

“Sniff… Yes… Sniff.”  

As he kissed her forehead softly, he patted her back.  

“I’m sorry. Someone was tailing me, so I couldn’t come home directly.”  

“You could’ve died. Do you know that?”  

“I won’t die. I’m too happy to die. I have to see Inyoung get married, and I have to see you grow old and nag me. I can’t die, not even out of spite.”  

“Sniff.”  

“I told you, it’s okay.”  

After briefly acknowledging Chief Secretary Yoon and his wife with a nod, Seojun led Moonkyeong into a small room.  

He sat her gently on the bed and brought her a glass of water and some medicine.  

“Drink this first.”  

Moonkyeong initially resisted but eventually took the glass and drank.  

As he treated her injured finger, Seojun recounted everything that had happened earlier that day without leaving anything out. He also didn’t hide that the battles ahead would be tough and that he would have to climb back to the top of Leehan.  

***

A few years ago, Leehan had struggled with the final construction of the Global Future Strategy Center on the Samseong-dong site.  

The fierce opposition from nearby businesses had tarnished Leehan’s image nationwide.  

Six months ago, when Leehan’s new owner finally changed hands, the Global Future Strategy Center, which had been created as a control tower, finally lived up to its name.  

Knock, knock.  

After a light knock, Chief Secretary Yoon entered and bowed to Seojun.  

“Chairman, it’s time for the executive meeting.”  

Seojun stood up and adjusted his suit.  

Since the incident, Seojun had worked through Chief Secretary Yoon to uncover all of Nam Leehyun’s hidden corruption.  

The most significant issue was, of course, the illegal slush funds.  

Even someone as meticulous as Nam Leehyun had succumbed to greed after becoming the head of Leehan.  

The saying, “A long tail will be stepped on eventually,” proved true.  

Ultimately, Nam Leehyun faced multiple charges at once. In addition to the slush fund issues she had secretly handled with her two daughters, she was also charged with orchestrating the m*rder of a Japanese woman, a crime she had framed Shin Jueun for. Furthermore, there was the attempted m*rder of Seojun, which had been clearly captured on CCTV. The combined charges resulted in an enormous sentence.  

After Nam Leehyun died a lonely death in prison, the long legal battles and bitter disputes over shares dragged on for three years.  

Five years after leaving Leehan, Seojun reclaimed the position that was rightfully his.  

He had once thought he could give up everything for Seo Moonkyeong. He had promised to live entirely according to her wishes. But Moonkyeong fully supported his decision to reclaim Leehan.  

The battle that ensued, with the support of Jeon Taepyeong, led him to his current position.  

Although the company was still shaky, it had been recovering rapidly since Seojun took over as head.  

The first thing he accomplished was winning a lawsuit against Seonggwang Corporation over trade secret infringement, which had dragged on for two years. The damages awarded amounted to trillions.  

This victory caused many of the friendly shareholders who had sided with Nam Leehyun’s daughters to shift their support back to Seojun.  

The revelation that former Chairwoman Nam Leehyun had tried to kill Seojun became a controversial topic, even making headlines on internet portals.  

Ironically, Seojun was the only one who attended Nam Leehyun’s funeral, as her two daughters were in hiding abroad.  

In April, the eldest daughter and her husband were arrested in Canada for tax evasion and slush fund issues. The whereabouts of the second daughter’s family remained unknown.  

Seojun made no effort to dig into the matter. He had blocked all paths that could lead back to Leehan, ensuring that the second daughter could never return to Korea.  

After the executive meeting, Seojun headed to a Japanese restaurant near the company.  

Although he arrived ten minutes earlier than scheduled, Moonkyeong was already waiting inside the private room.  

“Why are you here so early?”  

“Hmm, because I missed you?”  

Seojun walked over to her, smiling brightly, and kissed her sweetly on the lips.  

“What about Inyoung?”  

“She’s still napping. I just spoke with the nanny.”  

“Okay.”  

An employee entered, bringing the bouquet and cake that Seojun had prepared in advance.  

Moonkyeong’s eyes widened, and she broke into a radiant smile. Watching her, Seojun couldn’t hide his excitement either.  

“Do you like it?”  

“Yes.”  

“I feel bad about going on a business trip on our anniversary.”  

“People might think you’re leaving tomorrow.”  

“Still.”  

Seojun was scheduled to visit the factory in Daegu at 4 PM. After dining with the local staff, he wouldn’t return home until 11 PM, and he felt guilty about it.  

“I’ll give you your gift later tonight.”  

She smiled playfully and inhaled the scent of the bouquet in her arms.  

As the food arrived, the two leisurely enjoyed the multi-course meal for over two hours.  

Seojun’s eyes curved into a crescent shape as he watched her happily eating sushi like a child.  

“Why are you staring at me?”  

Noticing his gaze, Moonkyeong asked coyly.  

“Nothing.”  

“Am I that pretty?”  

Adjusting his tie, he replied, 

“To be precise, you’re prettiest when you’re eating.”  

“I’m pretty even when I’m not eating.”  

“Well, that’s true.”  

“Do you know when I think you’re the most handsome?”  

Although he tried not to show it, a smile crept onto his lips. Her question made him curious.  

Seojun casually popped a piece of sashimi into his mouth and responded, 

“I don’t know. When is it?”  

Moonkyeong mimicked him, picking up a piece of sashimi.  

“Kim Seojun, you’re the most handsome when you’re n*ked.”  

“……”  

“Should I be more honest? These days, just thinking about you makes me… wet. Completely soaked.”  

“Seriously.” 

Seojun muttered under his breath. He couldn’t exactly strip here.  

While he wrestled between decorum and instinct, Moonkyeong laughed brightly.  

“I’m just joking.”  

Contrary to her expectations, Seojun didn’t laugh along.  

Moonkyeong placed her hand on his forehead.  

“I said it’s a joke!”

“It’s late.”  

“What?”  

Seojun reached into the inner pocket of his suit and pulled out his phone. He immediately called Chief Secretary Yoon.  

“Reserve the nearest hotel right now. I’ll head directly to Daegu for the business trip from there, so pick me up at the hotel later. Yes, right away.”  

Moonkyeong, who had been sipping water to soothe her dry throat, spilled half of it.  

What should I do? What could I do?  

Her blood rushed to her toes. Despite her rational thoughts, her instincts stirred again.  

Moonkyeong raised the corners of her lips into a sly smile.