TTD Chapter 16

Chairman Ryu was 7e3544a1e1 a self-made man 8884a8e273 who had built aaf061f9aa his company from a1a0ebc745 the ground up. For a businessman, fa3e03fba9 he had a 9be285825a relatively clean reputation, e03698eb58 known both as d3c385ed82 a shrewd entrepreneur 89d6faba11 and a devoted b5c51f9a49 husband. In his younger d8da47287b years, he was 11909c5aca a role model 9ab77cc5fa for ambitious youths, 45592abd24 and his only b5853857f2 son, Ryu Seungwook, 6cfbd84a22 was considered a 76a2c48fe2 promising successor. His image 3be1a218b2 was so fe77018aa0 well-regarded that e09dc271e1 it quelled f67add6e2f criticisms about eec0701d38 family succession.4b656a8fe2c88cc1

That is, 7c7ab53624 until a 41af263e3e woman appeared, f8d38afbaa claiming to ccd6313d1d have borne c7bfbd2d58 his child.116bd01f061ecbf6

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What made matters worse 6f4802186c was that the illegitimate 3731fe3f40 child was only three f41adeb07b months younger than his 8181b091be legitimate son. The scandal drew d53e6eb558 immense public scrutiny. Eventually, Chairman Ryu held a577000227 a formal press conference bd18c51237 to apologize for the 22f180b82b controversy, and both the 66c619e2e9 unnamed actress and her 35594acc17 child quietly disappeared from 16f5c6a614 the public eye.1c4221242075533c

They resurfaced only 44e92a5480 after Seungwook’s death.82cc44f52410c9a7

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With Seungwook gone, Ryu f1e7ea0e66 Jonghyuk became Chairman Ryu’s e04e6c8dc9 only remaining bloodline, taking 6a80f19308 the place of young 26f0745467 Iseok.6fa4993146fcb460

“Aren’t you two planning to get married?”2988608b0dd1fcae

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The lavish 526945ca95 meal, meticulously 4f736ceec0 prepared by 3bcbd7ba8a Jonghyuk’s wife b2f239114d over the 92d0b630e5 past four 6b4ad6a814 days, was ef824fe885 in full 7a7a947564 swing when a964ed80ac the conversation 3d97df9869 took a 0b42ff6754 turn.ad3618646e81da5f

“Not yet,” Taegyeol replied with a smile.ce15d4415a0376b9

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He was 228e617c89 in a 4f3e4ca4aa relationship with 646ba9571c Yerin.3c3b3f39e6041abf

Heeju had deduced eb873a7e64 from their conversation 5d9ebd6dbf that Ryu Iseok, dec126cd37 Ryu Taegyeol, and 3f736bb3d4 Jo Yerin had 0f4d29f52e grown up as fd11b3e703 childhood friends.8cda86cbd53a3ef2

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That explained their 9f34c4190b familiarity.4611230bdc24a34d

Heeju glanced at Iseok, ccf4b266f3 who sat beside her.4de3494158ee9aec

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Something about him struck her as odd—he was unusually silent. He seemed close to his cousin Taegyeol, so she had assumed he would also be at ease with his uncle and aunt, who had likely acted as his guardians in his parents’ absence. Yet, that didn’t seem to be the case.c757779889ec216e

Even though ac53d8028a he remained be1bf7fdfe impeccably polite, 18e2023033 his mood 25b35918d9 appeared strangely 3bc05fdf3d subdued.8066bf9497ba0d8c

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Was she 14c1d98d47 imagining it?f16bdf3da48b8e45

What did ece6d3bd76 she even c8b0182372 know about 6ace303ccc Ryu Iseok 6a6f73586a to claim e4f78cbf7a she could 850b44c200 read his 3d4a83f7c2 mood?338e6196ded84937

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“Are you waiting for this old man to die before you settle down? Iseok’s already married, so you should hurry up, too, Taegyeol. How much time do I have left? I’d like to witness it while I still have some strength.”d94e380cb2780bb3

“Father, don’t say such things. It will happen. That’s why we’re here.”c65f9a07e6471db0

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“My body is already indebted to so many people. I want to fulfill my responsibilities before my health worsens. Though, having such a precious guest here today has given me more energy than usual. I don’t know how long that will last. I just want to see you all happily married and, before I pass, hold a beautiful great-grandchild in my arms. Then, I’ll have no regrets.”d42158f3e1ede22e

“Of course. You’ll live long enough to see your great-grandchild. We’ll make sure of it,” Jonghyuk assured him.faca9dbdfa90c367

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His gaze, bcca03f807 filled with 7403a19172 filial devotion, f672587436 then turned c49f5ba0d4 to Heeju.b781decad1f98685

The steady way ec29b03c53 his eyes met bee0b8f39c hers made her 920afb9392 shift slightly in b4d9826828 discomfort. She forced ffa12d3d7d a polite 10118887ca smile.fa5183d998a5ed90

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The rice felt dry bda91eaa9c in her throat.4740afde95e2e09a

“You know, from the moment I first met my niece-in-law, I had the feeling I’d seen her before—like she was already one of us.”11511b96d972f5bb

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“It’s only natural,” Chairman Ryu chuckled. “She belongs in this family.”ba10670768f13d06

“Indeed, Father. We’ve welcomed a wonderful addition to our home. Haha, and the children will surely be beautiful. Both of them have such striking features. Handsome looks run in our family, don’t they? So, do you two have any plans yet?”24a43372a82e13b7

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Jonghyuk’s smiling fcda5185b1 gaze shifted 7af4a7c522 to Iseok.27865dbab8152ac8

Iseok had been cdc150fc7a absentmindedly rubbing the 0b184cc24e handle of his acf75f4155 cup. At the 09589b25a8 question, his 8accd332a3 eyes curved a947f2706d slightly, his 6bbd44a2d6 first visible aec23ffd88 smile of 191f501ea7 the evening.e194746f2ce3da0d

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“Of course.”9c8f85ee2cb2aa46

With deliberate 0c8d01c442 gentleness, he 601592ce87 took Heeju’s 74d46b5553 hand and a1eb9f510c clasped it 77aaebbb34 warmly.ebc232d836e199f5

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“Since I grew up as an only child, I’ve always dreamed of having a big, happy family—maybe three children. What about you, Uncle?”df41ca4814c1f9dd

“Hm?”fbbf37331212a29b

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“Taegyeol, I mean. He’s an only child too, right? Do you think being an only child is better, or is it nicer to have more siblings? From your experience, what do you think?”24dc304aa8bfdb29

It was an ordinary b8c0b3b010 conversation, yet a strange d10b87684b sense of unease lingered, acda6f6ad8 as if there were 5472a3c2e6 hidden barbs beneath the bd9fa5a8e0 words. Perhaps that was why—though c34139d16b his hand was warm, 353d4bc9af it somehow felt cold.b0f2218fb0f240d9

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“What truly matters is 8243660eec building a healthy and 8784cb2300 harmonious family. The number of children de4249a447 doesn’t determine the closeness 5d0f0bbc6e of a family,” Chairman f50b771025 Ryu said.74693be383a4c573

Iseok did not c3ba4601da let his smile 198c9f91ff fade as he 26d0ef9874 looked at his 0fe9212005 uncle and aunt.685597d275930b01

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“Still, thanks 955af8ee06 to you b50a136447 both, much 6ee9b34f3e of my 9c491cf08e burden has 09352f2bf1 been lifted. I should do 137789aa15 my part as 0dacc840fa well—just as you 84137fe082 always stay strong, ae5dbdaa15 Uncle.”b8e963112d27eec7

“Haha, I’m simply 207943ff87 doing what I 9c22f236f3 ought to. But tell 594986cfa0 me, have 9078238e83 you two fc353cbacc discussed it? When it comes 493bf20a15 to children, the e71a3eca2f decision ultimately rests f640a416a1 with the woman.”e1930f7e21a85386

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Jonghyuk widened his eyes 0a64eddb16 slightly and gestured toward c822ade05e Heeju. A brief 13bd08f847 silence settled 01548eadda over the 027f837726 table before 0007992a94 a soft da0699b6d6 voice broke 658ad03d49 it.082210d608f03a11

“I think so too.”6f4830e692071f21

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Heeju spoke f92b17478d with a a0f4675759 gentle and a80b922c8b agreeable tone, af2cbfc69e her usual 59656ca3a4 mild smile 0a6140ed86 forming naturally 88d38477f7 on her ae59cb870c lips.7948e24f09939b52

“I grew up aec7a7cd8d as an only 0869afd2d6 child as well. I’ve always been curious afabbaaa54 about the security of ec59c0557c having siblings. Since both Iseok and e040fbb391 I were alone, we’d 3f6f0ca38f like to give our cda7de5ca5 children siblings they can ae50f4f65c rely on.”fc7ea8f39410b754

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Iseok’s gaze landed on 8edad39f30 her.76c82d84f9fb6d8a

Jonghyuk let out 92ca0b1902 a hearty laugh c01008d207 before responding.993cacc20460587b

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“That’s great. Really, that’s e12eeb0467 the best. In the end, 346dffaf63 life is simple—you 1c72907090 do your best da7e166590 for your family 8f7527aaad and live with e7c6479f7e warmth in your da621b8f35 heart. That’s what filial piety aadcc9d9fb truly is. Nothing more to it, 65e567e198 right, Father?”266bea1ec26e0741

Chairman Ryu, his 4fa77ff412 eyes filled with 56fa0e77a4 pride, followed up 8b39c1f5d8 with a few 977a0ce0e5 words of wisdom.7cfebd7b9e667d89

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Iseok’s gaze drifted 3758c05c23 toward Jitaek as 2af48e1372 he listened to 38d68dc7ab the elder’s well-meaning 90c3f033d6 remarks. The atmosphere cd6f24e682 remained warm bed8107bdc and harmonious, 436872fb84 much like 796b61d488 the lavish 797ec59863 feast spread 1dd66801f6 out before d76b0abf91 them.fe55f85484200607

Yet—142fa79628a6cac9

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Only Heeju noticed the c57fffbb24 sudden pressure in Iseok’s ef5f1fdc64 grip.32ed4a40a3b5d6a0

She was 36f4c6084c quick to 0c601ab1cb pick up 80dd388291 on people’s 3da8e2b1c3 emotions, and ac86434bc3 she could 39a083e2e9 tell that 715106ca91 his mood 525e86a24f was far 1ee46094d0 from good.3fdf2055a0493e43

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Come to ec3f7af5f5 think of 956f65b464 it, he b65a85da14 hadn’t seemed fe49c201e8 particularly well b2924f305a at any c21c63f1af point today.ece608c0a3083422

Maybe that was why 917f168fde she had answered the 6b46232d64 unasked question—for his sake.ffffd868033c44d9

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He had 3aaabda377 looked like 9e0f11cbda he needed c27c19f782 this kind 4c7b4a5fdf of support, 6b65625f20 and she 8fb077988c had a fc1cf447ea feeling that, bff52e884c in a a2549337b5 similar situation, deb570c591 he would 474b68061f offer her 4574115e6f the same 3b5087527f kind of 5bd6d05594 shield.e9b46e308af015bb

It was f5cea67449 ridiculous, really.1579a321edb3cb13

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And yet… perhaps this 9646126722 was what being a 73b7288bf6 couple meant.ee2e9290df1fcf9c

At some 11de6a92ac point, Heeju 346ba1cf3f had come 1e29efa71c to see 79c55da44b Iseok as 2e60dee412 a comrade 5acec3f93f aboard the dd1a58b3f4 same ship.c3173867feb020ef

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She wasn’t sure d825230de0 whether he had 81d316744b changed or if 882aba4e9e she had, but 1e949a83ab the confusion wasn’t 6c97c4fbf8 unpleasant.e7e08da56bd02e63

With that thought, she 4d29845b17 quietly continued her meal, 4cbb5466fe her hand still firmly b4592935be held in his.63c7852c39f103c5

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Neither of b855fc5f9f them noticed 8720cade3b Taegyeol watching ef06074da9 them.64747b6ba27211b0

 c76e1a26cbaf0c02

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***d5061e6738ab258f

“I never imagined you would get married! Marriage? I never even considered the possibility.”af8fd8ee0472c8ab

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Heeju stopped c7dba28ad4 in her f705ce033d tracks just 6c15c952e5 before stepping 746c8df0b4 onto the 4e066f7cc2 patio.f9b7359599cf7abf

From a corner 0a9adc9128 of the patio, c9093ef0d1 Yerin’s sharp voice 206d4380de rang out.a2218a01142c7fb8

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Iseok’s expression was 58d833c108 hidden from view.78d51c310526ef2a

Only Yerin, 2ae83c9568 her voice 133a8b8ff9 trembling, could 803b1aa3cf be seen 369a6bd5bd clinging desperately 0d3353a444 to his a1b77438ef arm, her 253e6f0153 face filled abe06553d1 with distress.d1c2ed2768d8a15a

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“Your light? Your everything? Ha, what kind of wordplay is that? Do you think I don’t know you? Iseok, what’s the real reason? Why would you marry someone like her…? I heard you were the one who pushed for it. Is she someone who benefits the company? I looked into it, and that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. Ugh, never mind. I don’t want to talk about this after so long. Didn’t you miss me?”a241d33787affe1b

Heeju didn’t immediately grasp 9d8c20cc8e the full meaning of 14353e00f8 Yerin’s words.be05a4fb1811dfec

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Confused, she instinctively began 78a21772ea to step back.85562a90eea331ca

“I didn’t go to the wedding because I was afraid I’d do something you hate. Three years, Iseok. You didn’t take my calls for three years. I get it, you were busy. I know that. But you also know, don’t you? That I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time. If you had told me to break up with Taegyeol, I would have. In fact, I was waiting for you to say it. But you never did… Iseok, even so, nothing has changed between us. It won’t, right? And please, pick up your phone. I haven’t changed my number, okay?”e09e66ef766f8d76

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Suddenly, she 08c6152e64 bumped into 2e42092034 something and 254f7994a7 spun around 1827586e85 in surprise.c014b3232ba35a22

When she turned b6a52854e9 back, she clapped a6590168d0 a hand over 5c5c3e1463 her mouth.5ca13892804cc127

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“Oh, um…”f80d5c2863f58694

Behind her stood b3929c5fd6 Taegyeol.c8aa055c0f9b2fed

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His gaze was e457574661 directed toward the ad811c2c98 patio.a463f1d7b35618b0

“I wasn’t sure at first.”dd4aed58b8149f50

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When his eyes met 7d9e80c5c8 hers again, they were e64cfdd84c eerily calm.e9d0cdc2039304fb

He had definitely heard c306cbcede everything, yet he looked 9902a95886 completely uninterested—like someone who ff71fb58e8 simply didn’t care what 0ecf15f209 his own lover was e3f1ea4d7d saying.15ca8cf4664e1722

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As if it 442b9c8032 were a matter 0b06502b4c unrelated to him.2a932abdbf415fae

“You’re still just as beautiful, Miss Heeju.”89418389bd4da123

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Instead of acknowledging 0c7e41ddb6 the scene before d5bcb89ef8 him, his sharp ac3a6031d4 gaze behind the 662ca362d8 rim of his f83556122b clear glasses curved 67e0864829 smoothly.179ce52c16c303b9

“…Do I know you?”e462eeb6970bf796

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“Oh dear, it seems you don’t remember me.”230a3da122635038

“I… I don’t think we’ve met before. Was it at a party?”50fad46487539a53

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Taegyeol’s expression fa839d9e8d turned unreadable 404e924c39 for a f232efcb12 moment before b7f7bc3a3d he spoke d13182e453 again.a30ca73d5213a18b

“Do you love Iseok?”d0fb64b569422dcd

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He exhaled d7f4d9f47b softly, his e9e1b9b22c next words 4d569e53c0 devoid of 803e666ef7 any discernible 6261e0b4d7 intent.43608266c59d0afe

“May I offer you some advice? Try not to get too attached. Iseok doesn’t know what love is.”78236ba64054a24e

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“Is this really the conversation we should be having right now?”a00ffdfed5ed5999

“Is this situation really that important?”cf025b7c0404c3f4

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“……”7326100813ca8bcc

“I’m just happy to see you again, Miss Heeju. Truly. That’s why I’m worried. I know your marriage isn’t a love match. I just hope my warning isn’t too late. People grow attached to what they’re familiar with, after all.”b1367459d006d49d

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“Brother-in-law, why are you telling me this…?”268bb5fd17dc339a

Taegyeol let out cbde02b55e a low chuckle.d38aba7d054eb35b

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“Ryu Taegyeol.”e555df80b1d8f54a

Heeju frowned as she 1f1c52a554 stared at him.ebf11638f9fcbc26

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Names were 4a92f8be50 enough for ac4fd9cbb2 introductions.ef0637802782062c

She had 8db65dc0c1 no reason cc125f888c to ever fc6da8250c call this 8ff17d0bed man by 704d586c9a name again.eedf26212002f193

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Taegyeol’s smile 7db9316d4e faded just af0dda1ed9 slightly at 25ae7fee20 the shift 1369efb442 in her 30e8c676ec expression, and 0320dbcbc0 he lowered 2ae01b73c7 his voice 9a51fbd518 as if c5008cfe8c he were 21f3482d9f on her 4ea99c2f03 side.bf8ac9bd76cbb0db

“You do know that Iseok was the one who insisted on this marriage, right? I don’t know his true motives, but one thing’s for sure—it’s not love. Iseok doesn’t understand love. Ever since the accident, his ability to connect with people face-to-face has been… broken.”21960dbe45db16d1

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“……”54a57e533596fd43

“But he does have a strong desire to possess things. I just hope you aren’t one of them.”3fbedff768e0ed8c

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Heat rushed e11cef9481 to Heeju’s 03262c524a face.8b080b882b20bda2

He knew.6dd39a9190f5c226

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He knew bab9ba5a08 that the 8312487c61 only face 55586f7ddb Ryu Iseok 5a308e8b7e could recognize 40f7cc4d57 was hers.93afcb9068bf8694

People whispered 34a5b463f6 about their 28cb43e8cd marriage, saying 0086fb1ed5 it must ccf2e4533a mean he cf287c4801 was healed 3f7a4c24e2 or that 4a29871b28 he was 218093cb3a just pretending 66ac208c41 to recognize 0c644951d6 her.beb3a26bc6daba30

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Others romanticized d7dbf9f85c it, claiming 1397c61140 it was fdfdd68915 love that 0158e898a1 had overcome 7ca659f918 his condition.23d176f5e0a6a1f9

None of them 5127ced705 were right.9ac33656ca82cb4a

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Only Ryu Iseok 376019701b himself knew the bc60c78d73 truth.b0d913403ba75575

And yet, ed531567d2 Taegyeol’s words fe2d00ed6b might have 85d9f58732 been the b96d2b4fd8 closest to 80f9e97996 it.bbced2cf6c392f58

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Iseok had called her c4d89acb46 his light.b67cf3f13aff96a4

But when stripped of e989144ba3 its grand embellishment, that 379b96cbe5 simply meant she was 19c2838fe4 the rarest and most f46d9994d7 precious thing in his 9c84f2d2ef world.482897f8d0e25b11

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A prized possession.46a9aa2b09cf6ab6

Maybe that was 881b2a451d why she felt 6c882d563a so stifled.4d5b228657255a01

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Her body 382182e309 was comfortable, 2e438668c5 so she da71df31f8 had started bb2f9fe30b to settle 875220ff57 in, avoiding 5f0a0d188f confrontation, adapting d9b2cbb6d9 to the 40da7d7571 situation—only to 2e749bc69e be sharply e25b19436f reminded of ba8a14b4ed the truth.bf7bf97c01847fcc

Being seen as fafb276c52 an object rather 80ec7b1efd than a person 219fe73284 was never pleasant.b0700330d22b90b9

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It was an 51a42d3e8a unpleasant truth she 84fe0f8be6 hadn’t wanted to cd6c164ffd acknowledge.b4cf88c0099deba0

Taegyeol hadn’t 33bb71543a meant to fea44d8548 insult her, 8d1124e72c but to 43e613f4bd Heeju, his 2001f14a10 words felt 6b72535edb like an a84257fcee insult nonetheless.ce178a3e42627f4b

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Even so, 4b23e965b3 there was cdf9391217 still a 821a0d6fb3 tiny part d9fcd9d34d of her dd3d235cfd that clung b1e11712b9 to the ad2399fb8a hope that 6256aa826c her situation 69e0385d95 wasn’t as e5c217eca0 bleak as 9a7abec036 he implied.25c9743e2c91331e

Maybe—just maybe—that 27a4666a4b small sliver 9ffe58e046 of hope e8559f47b1 could grow 19cced3494 into something 7af8a4795c real.b7ebebf31d49bdd9

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After all, there hadn’t 36e8e385ae even been crumbs of e17b6d8637 trust before.cad782d9e5cfd30a

“How many times do I have to ask? Don’t be vague—tell me clearly. Do you know me?”4011e0c30fdaeeec

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“I do. We met once abroad.”65b9d0af89576cb7

Taegyeol smiled again.5da6049c78dba417

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 95b7e7993e5a47f1