***

Outside the hospital room, Soo-min took a deep breath.

With a soft creak, the door opened to reveal Yedo lying in the private hospital room, his mother keeping watch beside him.

“Sorry for being late.”

“I’m just grateful you came.”

Soo-min put a cake and some drinks on the table – things she knew his mother liked.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight. I brought you some food that you might be able to eat.”

“I see…”

Soo-min approached Yedo, who was struggling to breathe with the help of an oxygen mask. No matter what, he had always been naturally strong and healthy, so seeing him lying there, frail and weakened, left a painful ache in her heart.

“How did this happen…?”

“Lately he had been going around with a business proposal, trying to start something new. I have no idea what he did to end up like this… It breaks my heart.

“This…”

Soo-min noticed a familiar bag on the bedside table.

“Is this the bag he was carrying the day of the accident?”

This was the bag he was carrying the day he met Soo-min. Soo-min remembered it well as it was Yedo’s most prized luxury bag. Her breath caught in her throat.

“What did the doctor say?

“They say he’ll wake up soon, but it’s been a week and he still hasn’t. He’s still unconscious and hasn’t woken up, and little by little the fear is consuming me. I really understand what you’re feeling now. Even though I’ve only seen him like this for a few days, the pain I feel is already too much. How much more pain must it be for you when your mother has been in hospital for years?”

Her mother-in-law shed tears. Soo-min took a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to her.

“Yedo is young and healthy, so he’ll wake up soon, unlike my mother.”

“Sit down. I didn’t feel like eating alone, but since you’re here, I should try to eat something.”

It seemed that Soo-min’s mother-in-law was happy to see her, so she guided her to the table and cut the cake. Since it seemed like Soo-min hadn’t eaten, they sat together and shared some cake. Although it had been less than two months since their divorce, and the process had been quick, they were legally no longer married. She was no longer a daughter-in-law, but she still wanted to offer her support.

“What happened to the company?”
“After the restructuring, it looks like it will be absorbed by another company. The house was auctioned off, but someone showed up and bought it right away.”
“It was a house you cherished… I’m sure it’s disappointing.”
It was the house she had loved the most during their marriage—a three-story house with a large garden, one of the few big houses in Seoul.
“I’m sure you’re upset too. The garden you tended for five years was so beautiful. It was a house you worked so hard on, and now it’s in someone else’s hands…”
“It can’t be helped.”
“I heard you’re staying at a hotel. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“My family went bankrupt, so I couldn’t even pay you alimony. I feel ashamed. What I said then, I was just angry, so please forgive me.”

Soo-min smiled bitterly.

“It’s OK. I’ve already forgotten.”

Soo-min’s mother-in-law took her hand gently. Her mother-in-law, who always wore perfect make-up and fine clothes, was no longer there. All that was left was a frail old woman with deep wrinkles on her face.

“I wish I could see you just once. Even though you and Yedo are divorced, you were part of our family for so many years…”

Soo-min felt a longing for her support. It was heartbreaking to see her once proud dignity disappear.

How much must she suffer? In the blink of an eye, she lost her business, her home and even her son. No matter how badly her ex-husband treated her, Soo-min couldn’t stand by and watch.

At least her in-laws had treated Soo-min like a daughter-in-law.

Soo-min took her mother-in-law’s hand in hers.

“I will.”

Soo-min stayed for a while, keeping her mother-in-law company, before getting up.

“Are you leaving already? Stay a little longer.”

“I wanted to stop by the hospital to see Mum. I’ll get back to you. Please let me know when Yedo wakes up.”

“O-okay. Take care. Thank you, Soo-min.”

As Soo-min’s mother-in-law accompanied her into the corridor, she felt her heart warm. Despite her deep resentment towards Yedo, she couldn’t bring herself to ignore her mother-in-law who was seeking support.

Soo-min went to see her mother. Yedo’s hospital and her mother’s were only 30 minutes apart.

“You’re here?”

“I’ll stay here so you can have lunch.”

The nurse left the room. Soo-min placed the new bouquet of flowers she had brought for her mother on the table by the window.

“Mum, I’m here. How are you feeling today?”

She gently massaged her mother’s hands and feet as she checked on her.

“Isn’t it too hot? If anything feels uncomfortable, just let me know…”

Soo-min muttered to herself and shook her head. Then she turned her mother’s body over to see if any bedsores had formed on her back.

“Mummy… Yedo was badly injured in an accident. Our marriage wasn’t happy, but I feel bad that he’s in the same situation as you. I don’t want anyone I know to get hurt… but why do I feel that Yedo got hurt because of me?”

There was no reaction from her mother, but Soo-min let out the emotions she had been holding in. There were things she couldn’t share with others, but she could open up easily to her mother. She talked about her marriage, how her husband’s drinking upset her, how he had another woman… It felt like a daughter confiding in her mother and it was a relief. 

Even though her mother lay there without answering, Soo-min leaned against her for comfort. 

She put her cheek on her mother’s hand. 

“I think it’s trauma, after Junhwan’s death.”

Junhwan’s death left Soo-min deeply traumatised. The man she loved suddenly died, and it’s hard for her to remain unaffected. This is one of the reasons why she cares so much for the sick. Perhaps the reason she couldn’t ignore her mother-in-law was because the people closest to her were slowly approaching death.

Her heart felt like it was being torn into a thousand pieces. Every time she felt sad, her longing for Junhwan became unbearable.

‘I think I have to visit Junhwan’s grave today.’

***

At a columbarium in Ilsan, where Junhwan’s remains were buried.

She had forgotten to bring white flowers. The flower shop outside the cemetery was closed today, so she arrived empty-handed.

Although the person lying there might not be pleased, Soo-min made it a point to visit Junhwan’s grave once or twice a year.

Soo-min looked at the photo in the glass of Junhwan smiling brightly. She wiped the glass gently with her hand.

Soo-min stroked the glass gently. 

“It’s not even the anniversary of your death, but I came early. Junhwan, are you all right over there? As you can see, I’ve fallen apart. I’ve even made a deal with a man who looks like you… You can see everything, can’t you? How much I’ve fallen apart… But you know what, Junhwan? I don’t regret it. Even if I could go back, I’d probably make the same choice. Don’t forgive me. Hate me. Hate me forever…”

Soo-min covered her lips and swallowed her tears. They threatened to overflow, but she held them back. She felt like a bad woman, unworthy of crying… 

She knew that once the tears started, she wouldn’t be able to stop them. So she held them back, endured them again and again, forcing herself to swallow it all. She wanted to atone for all she had done in the same way – with her own life – when the time came for him to forgive her.

Soo-min lifted her head to meet Junhwan’s gaze in the photo. His face was so similar to Yuhyeon’s that it confused her once again. As she stared at the face in the picture for a long time, something familiar suddenly caught her eye. 

‘Wait, what’s that?’ 

Soo-min was startled when she noticed the piece of memorabilia behind the photo. It wasn’t unusual for a memento to be there, but what shocked her was how familiar the item looked. 

She roughly wiped her blurry eyes, then tilted her head to the side to get a better look. When she saw it clearly, she gasped in shock. 

“This is the pink ribbon I used on the bouquet a few days ago… Isn’t it from our hotel?”

Her heart dropped. That ribbon was a special order, produced in limited quantities and mainly used by the Clitia Hotel.

What… what is going on? Why… why is that ribbon there…?

Soo-min felt dizzy. Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and searched for the supplier’s contact.

“Hello, this is Han Soo-min, manager of Clitia Hotel. I’m calling to enquire about ribbon No. 0189. I understand that it’s no longer in stock and that our hotel is the only one to have ordered it recently. Is that correct?”

“Oh, that ribbon? No, that’s not the case. Due to a surge in re-orders, we resumed production earlier this year.”

“I see… All right, I understand.”

It was just a coincidence.

‘Yes, that’s right. There’s no way the bouquet could have ended up as one of Junhwan’s keepsakes. Someone in his family must have put it there. His family… But who in Junhwan’s family…?’ 

No matter how much she thought about it, she had no idea who his family was. How could she? Just because he never talked about them, did that mean that his family was completely unknown to her?

***

Yuhyeon listened calmly as the guard gave his report.

“She visited Junhwan’s grave.”

“I see.”

“Shall we continue to follow her?”

“Yes.”

After ending the call, the chief secretary brought out a cup of tea.

“Rearranging the ribbon was a brilliant move. How did you know she would visit the grave?”

“Her psychological state must be unstable at the moment. I expected it.”

“Incredible. No one can match your intuition, sir. That’s why the President trusts you so much.”

“……”

Yuhyeon sipped his tea in silence as the chief secretary received another report from the guard.

“It seems we have a visitor.”

“Let her in.”

The door opened and a tall, extravagantly dressed woman flopped down in front of Yuhyeon. She took out a cigarette, put it between her lips and looked at Yuhyeon.

“Isn’t it a bit much to call me now? Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“You’re here. Madam Yoon.”

Madam Yoon was the eyes and hands he had planted in Korea. She was also the only link between his past and present.

Despite having to sell her smile to placate gang members, she was someone he often relied on in the absence of his imprisoned father.

The year he became Vladimir’s adopted son, the first thing he did was put her in charge of a high-end bar frequented by the top 10% of society.

“Madam? Tsk. You should call me ‘auntie’. Just because you’re making money now doesn’t mean you can talk any way you like.”

“We don’t share a drop of blood. Auntie, my as$…”

Without a word, Yuhyeon threw the lighter on the table, making the woman click her tongue in irritation. Instead, his secretary stepped in and lit her cigarette for her. She took a deep drag before casting a subtle glance at Yuhyeon.

“So what’s my job this time? Should I call you Ji Junhwan… or maybe Beom Yuhyeon instead?”

“Choose someone clever and discreet.”

The woman laughed in surprise.

“You’re moving faster than I thought. I thought it would take at least a year… So you are seriously preparing for marriage now? My God, to marry a lover who was once dead.”

“Shut up. If you get on my nerves, you won’t get away with it.”

Yuhyeon’s cold tone made the woman look away.

“T-Then I’ll just go with the flow. Don’t worry. I’ll prepare a woman who’ll fall for it right away, just like I did with Byeon Yedo.”

Yuhyeon sent a message to Soo-min.

[Tonight at 10.]