“Huh? What?”

“My former in-laws’ house, which is owned by the Daeseong Group. He bought it at an auction.”

Surprised, Eunhyuk immediately choked up.

“Pfft!! Cough, cough… What? What are you talking about? Y-You’re joking, right?”

“It’s true. I only found out myself when I stopped by the newlyweds’ house on their wedding day.”

“No way. Such a coincidence doesn’t happen.”

Eunhyuk stammered.

“It’s shocking, right? I still can’t believe it…”

“W-Wait a second. I remember Jung-wook saying that he was looking for a place to live. He said the garden had to be big, but… still, how could he buy a house worth tens of billions without knowing who the previous owner was?”

“When I asked him if he had any idea, he said he had no idea. He only found out because I told him.”

Eunhyuk frowned.

“Ha… geez, this is a bit of a mess. Even if it was just a coincidence that he ended up buying the place, if your former in-laws ever found out, they’d be seriously offended.”

“Exactly…”

“Maybe it’s a good thing he’s bedridden for now? Tch, with his temper, he would never let this go…”

If Yedo found out, he’d have a fit. She could picture it already, even without going through it.

“…He’s my ex-husband, no matter how much I resent him. Honestly, I just hope he wakes up soon…”

“You’ve been through all this and you still care about that guy?”

“I have no feelings for him anymore. I just… don’t want anyone connected to me to get hurt.”

“He’s not connected to you anymore. Don’t even look at that house anymore.”

“Yeah… I know.”

“He loves you very much. I mean, your husband.”

“Mm?”

Eunhyuk smiled while talking about Yuhyeon.

“I heard that he cleaned out the entire luxury section of the department store before the wedding. He personally went to the VIP stores and picked out every item himself – everything he thought would suit you.”

“He did that? He went shopping himself?”

So, all those items… he picked them himself?

Her pulse quickened. Just the thought of Yuhyeon going through the store and picking things out with her in mind made her heart pound like a hammer.

“Yes. Jungwook said he saw it himself.”

“That’s… really thoughtful.”

“Your outfit today – he picked that out too, right? It looks great. Really suits you.”

“It’s a bit much…”

She felt sorry for getting mad at him that morning.

“You’ll have to get used to clothes like that. He’s not just any guy, you know. Anyway, I’m going. Let’s have lunch together later.”

As soon as Eunhyuk left the office, Soo-min called Yeon-joo.

“Yeon-joo, it’s me.”

– “Han Soo-min?! Hey, how could you get married again and not even contact me? You could have at least sent an e-mail!”

“I’m sorry. I was a little embarrassed.”

– “You have no idea how shocked I was when I saw the article. You married a Russian billionaire… and you got remarried in a flash, too. Was it that good?”

“Yeah… yeah. That’s how it happened.”

– “I am on my way. I’m getting into a taxi.”

Yeon-joo must have come running, excited to see her – she arrived at the hotel in no time.

“Han Soo-min! You bad girl, I’m so mad at you, I could die.”

“I’m sorry, I really am.”

“You sly little thing, how could you get married again like you’re roasting beans on a spit, huh?”

“Stop teasing me.”

Soo-min’s face flushed with heat.

The two of them sat at the cafe in the middle of the lobby and ordered drinks.

Yeon-joo held out her hand as if to ask for her phone.

“Let me see how amazing this guy is. All the articles only showed his back, so I’m dying to know who this mysterious man is.”

“You’ll be shocked.”

“Of course I am. I mean, he’s a Russian billionaire, right? What was it again? Oh yeah, the CEO of a major investment firm in Russia? What could be more shocking than that?”

Soo-min took out her phone and pulled up a wedding photo.

“This is our wedding photo. Look.”

“…!!”

Yeon-joo recoiled in shock.

Anyone who knew Junhwan would have the exact same reaction upon seeing his photo.

“Surprised, right?”

“Th-this… what is going on? Junhwan… isn’t that Junhwan?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Oh my God!! Then someone who looks exactly like him? How can someone look so identical, like a twin?”

“I was shocked too. But he’s a completely different person.”

“…Wow…just wow…Hold on, I need some water…”

Yeon-joo swallowed her water.

“This feels like something out of a movie. You… married a man who looks like Junhwan? And you actually fell in love with him?”

“I guess I was shocked when I saw someone who looked like him.”

She laughed softly after saying it herself.

“Liar. You think I don’t know you? As if you’d fall in love with someone else at first sight? You can’t fool me, you brat. After all the years we’ve been friends…”

“You’re right. It’s half a political marriage.”

“Ha… your uncle is using you again, isn’t he…”

“Nobody else knows, not even Eunhyuk. Everyone thinks we’re in love.”

“Seriously, you’ve had such a hard life. Why does everyone around you just try to use you?”

“It’s okay. I also got the inheritance my mother’s side wanted.”

Yeon-joo clicked her tongue.

“…sigh…it breaks my heart.”

“I’m content in my own way.”

“Well, love… it can always come back. And since he looks like Junhwan, I’m sure it’s not so bad for you either.”

“When I’m with him, I feel like I’m with Junhwan.”

“Of course you would. They look so much alike… Still, the resemblance is uncanny. Are you really sure it’s not him?”

“I told you – it’s not him.”

“Hm…”

Yeon-joo stared at the photo intently.

From the way she tilted her head in confusion, it was clear that she was deeply unsettled as well.

it?”

“Before I was transferred to the music department, I was a visual arts student, remember? And your husband looks so much like Junhwan… How can someone look so much like another person? Even the eyes, the shape of the mouth, down to the fingers?”

“Huh?”

“Have you forgotten? I even drew a portrait of Junhwan when he modeled for my art class.”

“Oh, right… He modeled for the art department back then…”

She recalled that Junhwan had once worked as a part-time model during their college days.

“He looks too much like him.”

“Come on… no way… You saw the funeral with your own eyes, right?”

“I saw the cremation myself. Still…”

“No. He’s someone else.”

Soo-min shook her head again.

They may look like twins, but he was a completely different person.

Yeon-joo stared at the mysterious photo for a long time before she gave the phone back with a light tap. Then she started telling all the stories she’d been holding back.

As they chatted for a while, Yeon-joo’s gaze shifted somewhere.

“Oh? Isn’t that your husband?”

Yuhyeon came into view – he must have just gotten off the elevator.

“Ah, yes. He’s using the hotel suite as his office for now. Wait, I’ll introduce you.”

When Soo-min stood up, Yeon-joo waved her hand.

“I’ll do it.”

“Huh? Yeon-joo?”

“You just follow quietly and watch.”

Yeon-joo rose from her seat and quickly walked over to Yuhyeon.

’What is she trying to do?’

Soo-min stared blankly for a moment before snapping out of it and hurrying after her.

Just as Yeon-joo was walking behind Yuhyeon, she suddenly called out loudly from right behind him.

“Junhwan! You’re Ji Junhwan from the Business Department of S University, right?”

Gasp!

‘No way! What did she say?!’

Soo-min inhaled sharply.

But the real shock came right after that.

Yuhyeon slowly started to turn around.

…!!

He turned around after hearing Junhwan’s name?!

Soo-min felt like her stomach was slowly turning into knots.

It was getting harder and harder to breathe and her mind was a mess.

Her eyes met Yuhyeon’s in the air.

His gaze was unwavering. But when he took his hand out of his pocket and cracked his knuckles with a snap, a vivid image of Junhwan flashed before her eyes like déjà vu.

In that instant, a chill washed over her, as if all the blood had drained from her body.

‘…Junhwan’s habit…’

No way.

It can’t be.

He can’t possibly be Junhwan.

Soo-min, don’t get confused.

This man is completely different.

You knew that – over and over again – and still married him.

Her throat tightened.

That familiar feeling returned, as if invisible hands were wrapped around her neck, strangling her.

Soo-min studied Yuhyeon’s expression carefully.

But he looked indifferent – completely unaffected.

He turned his eyes to Yeon-joo.

“And you are?”

“I just thought… maybe you were Junhwan.”

“I’ve never heard that name before.”

“It’s just… your voice is exactly like someone I knew.”

“Is that so? There’s a saying that everyone has at least three doppelgangers in the world. I’d like to see them.”

“You can’t. He died in a fire five years ago.”