CHAPTER 18

*

As if on cue, the early monsoon began. The downpour continued for the duration of the funeral.

Inside the mourning hall, her father, who had lost his warmth, now lays in a coffin. It was a quiet dawn, just before the funeral procession. As Yeonseo stepped out of the funeral hall, she absentmindedly gazed at the ashen sky, lost in contemplation.

Hyeonho had left a little while ago due to his schedule, so she was alone now. It was out of remorse that she pushed Hyeono’s apologetic back. She didn’t want anyone to recognize her and embarrass him.

Outside the wooden bench, the raindrops had grown stronger, rushing down to the ground.

After talking to Yeonseo on the phone, Moon-sik ended his own life not long after. Her foolish father drove a nail deep into her heart and left.

Still, the few memories of her smiling because of Moon-sik suddenly resurfaced, haunting her as they floated up to the surface of her consciousness, causing her immense pain.

“Ha…”

A heavy sigh escaped her.

Okay, it’s over now.

Yeonseo gathered her herself.

Thinking about her mother who had already died due to a gas explosion accident at the restaurant where she worked at, Moon-sik taking his own life seemed cowardly. The overwhelming debt that twisted her mother’s life and the oppressive life she endured were all consequences of Moon-sik’s actions.

Some people would fight to live another day, but Moon-sik’s chose to leave this world to avoid responsibility.

I should be relieved that I no longer have to pretend to be a good daughter anymore.

After shedding a bunch of tears, no more tears came out. Her heart now felt like a desert, dried up and barren.

While receiving the few mourners, Yeonseo remained composed. She greeted them out of obligation and kept her composure, even when the mourners looked surprised.

Feeling empty, she wanted to fill the void with something. After hastily eating a bowl of spicy beef soup just a while ago, she ended up vomiting it all in the bathroom, leaving the empty space feeling hollow and unsatisfied.

At times like this, she felt like she understood why people drink alcohol or smoke.

“Miss Han Yeonseo?”

A deep voice called out from the rain. When she turned her head, she saw three men.

Who could they be at this hour?

“Yes, that’s me. Who are you?”

Thinking they might be Moon-sik’s guests, Yeonseo awkwardly got up from her seat. Despite being a terrible father, she couldn’t deprive the mourners of the chance to say their final farewell.

“So, he has a grown-up daughter, and you’re quite pretty. You’re a nurse, right?”

“….Who are you?”

Yeonseo asked cautiously, wary of the roughly spoken, slightly gruff, well-built men.

She had seen people with this kind of aura before. They were the ones who had come to collect Moon-sik’s debts. They had the exact same demeanor.

The man in the lead had snake-like eyes and thick hands.  The small scars on his face and the way he carried himself were ominous.

“I came from the gambling house. Would you know it if I put it that way?”

“Gambling house?”

The man pretended to play poker. A chill ran down Yeon-seo’s spine.

“I heard that our brother Moon-sik, who owed us money, passed away. Should we settle it now?”

“If it’s about the debt, I’m the one paying it off little by little.”

“Look at this first.”

The man extended a loan agreement towards her, as if he had been waiting for this moment. Yeonseo relied on the faint light in the darkness to slowly read the words as she traced them with her fingers. Then, the man spoke in a loud voice.

“3 hundred million. 3 hundred million due by the end of next month.”

“That can’t be true. It can’t be.”

Looking at the papers, Yeonseo shook her head. This was another debt she hadn’t heard about, besides the one Moon-sik had already owed.

“It’s true, whether you believe it or not.

The men chuckled.

“Now, his daughter have to pay it back, right?”

Yeonseo handed back the loan agreement to the man.

“It’s something unrelated to me. I don’t know anything about it.”

“Why do you act like it’s none of your business when you’re even helping with your father’s funeral?”

“I don’t know anything about it. If you want, I can renounce the inheritance.”

Yeonseo strained her eyes. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of more debts, and the debt she had already taken upon herself was burden enough already.

Even though she knew it wouldn’t work with people like them, Yeonseo still showed her courage.

If she didn’t, there would be worse to come.

“You probably don’t understand. But if you can’t repay this debt with money, does that mean you’ll pay with your body?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“If you’re still living in some dream about how the world works these days, wake up. If you’re thinking of running away somewhere or reporting this, you better be prepared to get your head smashed.”

The man shoved Yeonseo’s head forcefully, causing her to stagger backward.

“Don’t you dare touch me.”

“Hmm, what a temper. Don’t you hate it?”

The man chased after her and shover her head several more times.

“Stop it!”

“You need to come to your senses. Hey, did you bring it?”

“Yes, Sir.”

One of the men behind came forward and tightly embraced Yeonseo from behind.

“Ugh, let go of me!”

She struggled and looked around. They were behind at a dark building so passersby were few, especially at this early hour. Finding someone to help was difficult.

Still, Yeonseo shouted with all her might.

“Let go!”

“That’s up to you.”

The man laughed unpleasantly and walked towards her, a jackknife in his hand.

“Stay still. I wouldn’t want to ruin that pretty face of yours. If you can’t repay your debts, I might have to sell your face if I have to.”

“Let me go, let me go!”

When she screamed, her mouth was covered. The man’s knife got closer and closer.

“Ugh!”

The man grabbed Yeonseo’s head roughly and snapped it backward. She looked terrified, her gaze shifting between the man and the knife.

The knife reached behind her ear. Her scalp shivered with fear as the blade lightly grazed her skin. Yeonseo tightly shut her eyes.

“Cutting a few strands of hair shouldn’t scare you like this, huh? It’s just a form of discipline. Don’t be so upset about it.”

“Hmph……!”

“This is all just a lesson. Listen and be obedient in the future, young lady. If you don’t, who knows where you might get hurt next, understand?”

Yeonseo had given up, she took a deep breath.

“Who’s there!”

A voice came from behind the man.

“Ms. Han, is that you?”

Secretary Shin…?

“Ms. Han Yeonseo!”

The voice of Secretary Shin was unmistakable. Yeonseo’s eyes snapped open. With her mouth still covered by the man, she sobbed.

“Sir, over here!”

As Secretary Shin shouted in the other direction, and the man behind her clicked his tongue and let go of her.

Yeonseo stumbled forward and fell to the floor. Her bruised knee stung, but she couldn’t afford to care. She had to quickly get back up.

Sir? Does that mean Taeheon is here too?

What the hell are they doing here?

To Yeonseo, getting caught in this dreadful situation by Taeheon felt like an even worse nightmare than the dreadful situation itself.

It was bad enough that she had already exposed her vulnerability. She knew all too well that she was a powerless person who could do nothing but submit to him.

Why does he keep reminding me of my dire situation?

“What do you want?”

Taeheon’s cold voice reached Yeonseo, cutting through the air. Raindrops fell like tears, striking her cheeks.

The man holding the knife muttered a curse and spoke to Yeonseo.

“By the end of next month, deposit the amount written there, and there’s a phone number too. If you’re curious about what happened to those who tried to run away, feel free to call.”

Kaak thut. The man spat and turned around, and the two men who were guarding from behind followed suit. They walked confidently past Taeheon and Secretary Shin.

Feeling dizzy, Yeonseo managed to get up. The raindrops hitting between the wooden slats above felt like thorns pricking her skin.

“Han Yeonseo, you really know how to surprise people in various ways.”

Grief filled Yeonseo’s eyes as she opened them wide.

“…Why did you come here, Sir?”

“I guess I knew you would be trembling like this.”

Taeheon’s tone made the moment even more distressing.

When he reached over and grabbed her wrist, she flinched in surprise. The obvious hostility stopped him in his tracks.

“You have quite a complicated story, Han Yeonseo.”

Behind Taeheon were several more of his bodyguards, not just Secretary Shin. That’s probably why those men backed off and ran away so easily.

Taeheon’s power must be unimaginably great. Feeling helpless, Yeonseo lowered her head.

“This has nothing to do with you, Sir.”

“Get up.”

“Why? Because I’m your belonging, and you feel obligated to care for me?”

“I said, get up.”

“Is this also a favor?”

“Watch your mouth.”

“It’s funny that you say that, since you’re always the one talking.”

Yeonseo wanted to assert her pride to Taeheon. She didn’t want to show her vulnerability and didn’t want him to find out about her unfortunate situation.

She didn’t want to be dragged around like Taeheon’s paper doll in front of other people. Being controlled by him, swayed back and forth as he pleased, how pathetic that would be.

If Taeheon were to know about these, he would probably mock her for it. He’d probably look down from above and stomp on her, making her feel even more insignificant.

And yet, why can’t she r eject him more fiercely than this?

Is it still for Mrs. Kang’s safety? Or the fear of losing her job?

No, there was another reason lurking inside. Something like an unpleasant speck of dust was clouding Yeonsoo’s heart. It was her own weakness that led to that moment of intimacy with him.

At first, she hated it. She really did…

Yet, his touch ignited warmth all over her, leaving no room for other thoughts, it was enchanting.

She wondered if she was blinded by her desires. If that’s the case, then maybe it wouldn’t matter who touches her, and she might be fine with anyone doing so.

But when Seungbin tried to kiss her, she resisted and rebelled, but with Taeheon, she didn’t do the same.

She couldn’t simply attribute it to being caught at a weak moment, there was an ambiguous and inexplicable force pulling her towards Taeheon.

Yes, it was attraction.

Realizing this, a sigh escaped her.

Without understanding the situation.

“Ha…”

Everything was Taeheon’s fault.

“Bastard.”