CBL Ch 15

“The data?”

Just three seconds ago, he had been imagining himself between Yoo Yisoo’s legs, but he snapped back to reality and asked coldly as if it had never happened.

“I passed on everything as instructed.”

“Good.”

Siheon flicked his lighter and lit a cigarette. He exhaled, his voice calm.

“Good work. That’s all for today.”

“Representative, really….”

Kim Jaewon hesitated, seeing a slight opening.

“Is this really okay?”

“If it’s not okay, then…”

“The other side is unpredictable. The situation could flip at any moment. You might be in danger.”

“Seeing you be cautious, Kim Jaewon, you’re really seasoned now.”

Siheon blew smoke into his face. It was good for his close aides to be careful and thoughtful. He was the one who thought, judged, and made decisions, while his closest aides took care of the details until the job was done.

“Being cautious isn’t bad, but you used to be much bolder.”

“Representative, but in this case, it would be better if you didn’t get directly involved and left it to us….”

“Go home.”

Siheon stood up, grabbed his coat, and headed out. He understood his secretary’s concerns. It was better not to get involved in unpredictable situations.

But it was too late to back out now. Perhaps this reckless decision had been set in motion a year ago when he didn’t ignore Yoo Yisoo’s request for help.

No, it might have started two years ago when he volunteered to protect Yoo Yisoo in New York as if possessed by something.

＊＊＊

The election results started coming in, and Yisoo had nothing in hand.

Yisoo arrived at Kang Manseop’s office late at night with Yang. Initially, when she asked Kwon Siheon if she could stay with Yihyun, Sera, and Kang on election night, she expected him to refuse for security reasons. But he agreed readily.

‘It might be for the best. This way is better.’

She didn’t understand what he meant by ‘better,’ but she didn’t ask.

Waaa-. Soon, cheers from the TV filled Kang Manseop’s office. The vote counting was still far from over, but Kwak Bugyeong’s victory as the 23rd president was practically confirmed.

Yisoo slowly sat down on the sofa. Everyone was silent. Yihyun tried to stand up using his cane but sat back down following Yisoo.

Suddenly, she felt something warm and soft in her palm. It was Yihyun’s hand. The twins looked at each other as if they had made a promise, facing an uncertain future.

“This was the expected outcome. Now…”

Kang Manseop broke the heavy silence.

“Let’s watch the situation. Yihyun should stay hidden in the new villa, and Yisoo, you should leave your friend’s house and stay with me. I’ll arrange a place for you…”

“No, Yisoo will come with me. Sera agrees, and that seems to be the best option.”

“Yisoo, do that. Dad also agreed.”

Recently, Chairman Jung’s Rapidflare Security had greatly benefited from Yihyun. His developed security software had made a big impact and was seeing a daily rise in stock prices in the North American market. Yihyun was now an indispensable golden goose, not just a potential son-in-law but also a valuable business asset.

“Dad said both of you should hide in the U.S. for a while, and he’ll support everything. But Yihyun opposed it, saying it might be more dangerous abroad…”

Following Sera’s words, Yihyun sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair.

“Maybe we should make a deal with Kwak Bugyeong. We don’t know what he’s after, and we won’t care in the future, so maybe we should just ask him to let us live quietly… That might be better.”

“No. It won’t work. Even if he agrees to a deal, he will definitely betray us.”

Yisoo shook her head. She had thought about it too.

But Kwak Bugyeong would just smile and pretend nothing happened. Or he would act like he was negotiating and then stab them in the back. Kwon Siheon had said the same thing once.

‘From Kwak Bugyeong’s perspective, he has no reason to do that. He would feel more at ease if he eliminated the entire family. Whether you are sincere or not doesn’t matter.’

“He sent a sniper on the day of Father’s release. We can’t reveal our position to him, absolutely not.”

“Then what should we do…”

Just then, the office bell rang. Kang Manseop looked at his phone with a grim face and hurriedly got up to go to the door.

“It’s my son. He’s bringing late-night snacks, so wait a moment. He won’t come inside, so don’t worry.”

His son? He was in Korea….

As Kang Manseop opened the office door, Yisoo remembered that his eldest son was studying abroad in the U.S. The sound of three locks unlocking one by one faintly reached her ears, followed by a warm greeting.

A heavy footstep sounded, followed by a thud as something heavy hit the floor. Then there was silence. No more voices could be heard.

“What, what! No, no!”

Suddenly, Kang Manseop’s shrill scream pierced her ears. Yihyun hurriedly grabbed his cane and rushed to the door, but Yisoo was faster. She flung open the door and froze.

A man lay at the entrance, his eyes wide open, a bullet hole in the center of his forehead. Blood pooled behind his head, making it hard to breathe.

And in front of him, Kwon Siheon stood with a gun pointed at Kang Manseop, who was cornered. As Yisoo opened her lips, their eyes met. Her heart pounded fast. She remembered the photo of Kwon Siheon shaking hands with Kwak Bugyeong and standing face to face with him in the dark night.

No way. It can’t be.

Kwon Siheon’s face was like polished marble. For a moment, their eyes met, and he remained calm. He turned away from her and casually tucked the gun into his back pocket. Then he pulled out a knife and, with a cushion in between, stabbed Kang Manseop deeply in the abdomen as he begged for his life.

The tip of the blade protruded from the man’s back. Kang Manseop’s white outer garment was quickly soaked in blood.

Kwon Siheon did not stop there. The blade pulled out of Kang Manseop’s body in an instant, and blood spurted out. Simultaneously, the blade quickly slashed Kang Manseop’s throat.

Yisoo blinked in a daze. Although it happened at the speed of light, it felt like slow motion in a movie. Her retina and brain seemed to move separately, taking several seconds to register what was happening.

“Ugh…. huh…”

Kang Manseop collapsed without even screaming. The life of the man who had been a longtime friend of Yoo Incheol ended so pitifully and emptily.

The tragedy unfolded in an instant, without even a moment to process the shock. What pierced her numb ears was Sera’s desperate scream.

“Yisoo! Yihyun! We need to escape! No, no!”

“Sera, stay inside!”

The door slammed shut with a loud bang. Yihyun, with unexpected strength, pulled a heavy sofa in front of the door to block it.

“Open this, Yihyun!”

The door rattled, but it couldn’t withstand the weight of the heavy sofa. The next moment, the used blade clattered to the floor, and Kwon Siheon stepped towards Yisoo, or rather, towards Yihyun, who was desperately trying to block his path.

“So, you were on their side after all?”

Yihyun glared at him with murderous intent. Tears streamed down his cheeks, even though there was no time to grieve for Kang Manseop’s death.

“Don’t touch Yisoo. Please, just Yisoo…!”

“Yihyun, move aside.”

Yisoo gritted her teeth, wedged between the door and Yihyun. She tried to push Yihyun away but couldn’t overpower him.

“Representative!”

Kim Jaewon and Yang rushed in through the closed office entrance. They quickly retrieved the gun and knife that their boss had discarded and handed the body of the young man on the floor to the men following them.

At that moment, Yisoo was certain. The brutal murder of the father and son would forever be etched in her retinas. Perhaps she didn’t have much time left either.

“Please, spare Yihyun. Please, I beg you…”

＊＊＊

“Representative, this person is connected to Kwak Bugyeong’s organization. We will handle it as a shootout between organization members. And this one…”

Kim Jaewon checked Kang Manseop’s pulse and then stood up.

“Kang Manseop had a grudge against this organization member, so we will make it look like he was killed in a knife fight just before the shooting.”

Her ears were ringing. She couldn’t quite understand what she had just heard.

Kwak Bugyeong’s organization member? So, Kwon Siheon is not on Kwak Bugyeong’s side? But what about Uncle? Why did he kill Attorney Kang? And so brutally?

Yisoo stepped out from behind Yihyun, who had been blocking her, and faced Kwon Siheon. The smell of blood was nauseating. She felt like she was about to vomit.

“Kang…”

Even as her lips trembled, she tried to say Kang Manseop’s name, but Kwon Siheon spoke first.

“Kang Manseop let that organization member in here.”

His white dress shirt was soaked in Kang Manseop’s blood. Blood splattered on his face, neck, head, and everywhere, creating eerie shadows under the fluorescent light.

“He told them to take care of both of you. Just like they killed Yoo Incheol. The recent car accident involving Lee Yihyun was also orchestrated by Kang Manseop.”

What did he just say….

“Don’t you understand? Kang Manseop was on Kwak Bugyeong’s side from the beginning.”

“That can’t be true!”

Yihyun staggered and shouted. No way. That can’t be true. Someone whispered harshly. Yisoo realized a beat too late that the voice had come from her own mouth.

“We’ll see. Let’s see if you still say that after seeing the evidence.”

Kwon Siheon calmly responded and ordered his subordinate to clean up the scene. Then he walked past Yihyun and stood in front of Yisoo. His face, covered in someone else’s blood, looked even paler against the crimson.

“Yoo Yisoo.”

Yisoo instinctively looked at Yihyun, who was trying to block her again. Yihyun was safe. The sniper who tried to harm them and Kang Manseop, who was Kwak Bugyeong’s man, were both dead. Sera, who was banging on the door and shouting from inside the room, would be safe too.

Thank goodness. Yihyun is not hurt….

“Yoo Yisoo, snap out of it.”

The deep voice echoed like it was coming from a cave, growing more distant. Kwon Siheon clicked his tongue and gently picked her up. The sound of him quickly giving orders to his secretary, Sera’s crying and screaming, and Yihyun’s whispered attempts to calm her all sounded like they were coming from a far-off world.

Her body shook up and down. Kwon Siheon was carrying her down the stairs. She wanted to say something, but no words came out.

The smell of blood choked her, making it hard to breathe. The blood on her cheek, forehead, and nape felt sticky and warm. Realizing again that it was Kang Manseop’s blood, her stomach churned violently.

Kwon Siheon stayed by her side even as she shook uncontrollably. His warmth was not unpleasant. For the first time, she did not mind his embrace, which felt like a restraint.

His presence felt like a massive wall. Like an ally protecting her from the relentless, brutal storm outside, constantly betraying and testing her.

At least for this moment, that’s how it felt.

＊＊＊

As soon as she turned on the TV, news about the presidential election results from two days ago filled the screen. The media was broadcasting not cheers, but a different kind of uproar.

Among them was excitement and joy. It was the cheers of Kwak Bugyeong’s rival, Choi Bokhyun’s side. Amidst the defeat and disappointment of the election loss, the sudden emergency arrest warrant for the final elected candidate had everyone emotionally charged.

And in about half a day, both parties would be fiercely attacking each other.

Siheon rested his chin on one fist and smirked. Whether they held another election or put forward the runner-up in the presidential election, each side would engage in a fierce battle, taking advantage of the situation.

The media would cover it extensively, and people would gather in twos and threes, sharing their shock and engaging in heated discussions. The elected candidate’s crimes were that severe. It must have been a tremendous shock to his supporters.

― It’s truly horrifying. He acted so kind and good, but 23 years ago, he hit and killed a child in a hit-and-run and buried the body. Is it true that the remains have been found?

― I heard they were sent to the National Forensic Service or somewhere. I wonder if they can even analyze them after all this time.

― I saw the banner searching for that missing child every day on my commute. I saw the broadcast too. Almost everyone in Seoul must have seen it….

― I saw the broadcast and prayed so hard for them to find the child, dead or alive. The remaining family needs closure to move on. The whole nation must have felt the same way. How could he deceive the entire country and run for president?

The parents of the suddenly missing child gave up their livelihood to search for their only son, traveling the country. The husband drowned in a stream during the summer, and the wife fell ill with a terrible disease after years of searching and was now bedridden. There could hardly be a more tragic family.

― How could such an evil person exist? If he had just taken the child to the hospital, things might have been different… No matter how ambitious he was to enter politics, how could he take an innocent child’s life?

Kwak Bugyeong initially claimed that the brakes of the imported car malfunctioned, then insisted that the driver, who wasn’t even there, was to blame. He even made delusional statements, shocking the investigative agencies.

― I am a special person sent by heaven to save this country! If I become the president of this country, a new world that no advanced country has ever achieved will open! The new country I will found will be a truly equal society that transcends hollow democracy….

“I don’t know. Either he’s genuinely gone mad, or he’s faking mental illness to get a lighter sentence. Either way, he won’t escape the law.”

― If my child were alive, he would be 33 years old now! He was such a good kid, never sick until he was 10. He was so kind…. He received more than 10 awards and certificates by the third grade! That day, he was helping a friend with farm work and doing homework together. He was on his way home through a shortcut on the ridge of the field….

The mother of the missing child, who never gave up hope of finding her son even during her illness, wailed and pleaded for severe punishment. Public opinion was boiling, even discussing the reinstatement of the death penalty.

“If it’s the latter, he might have initially claimed that the statute of limitations had expired, but then calculated all the time he spent abroad and realized he was still within the statute of limitations. That’s when he started acting crazy.”

Kim Jaewon’s serious report made Siheon chuckle.

“It’s probably both. Even in brief conversations, it was clear he wasn’t in his right mind. He only appeared normal on the surface.”

He was a madman pretending to be socialized. Not a genuinely normal person acting normally, but someone programmed to act a certain way to be treated as normal.

“In a way, he would have been perfect as a Shinuehoe executive.”

He was only fit to be a cult executive, but he deluded himself into thinking he was a cult leader, ruining his life. Considering the other crimes that will be revealed, he was too dangerous to be an executive.

“We plan to reveal the ones from 10 years ago as well.”

Siheon nodded at Kim Jaewon’s addition.

Ten years ago, there was a financial pyramid scheme scandal known as the ‘Kim Myung-san Gate,’ involving hundreds of billions of won. Kim Myung-san, the owner of a major investment company, and his accomplices bribed a former prosecutor for illegal favors and judicial lobbying. They colluded with the financial sector to receive unreasonable stays of execution and bail, after which they died or went missing one by one, ending the investigation. The whereabouts of the hundreds of billions stolen in the scam remain unknown, still a mystery.

If it is revealed that the unknown middleman was Kwak Bugyeong and Yoo Namcheol, there will be another uproar.

The location of the hidden money will be revealed tonight in an emergency broadcast. The overseas hidden funds that Yoo Namcheol mentioned were not embezzled from Hyoshin Construction, but his share of the criminal proceeds from the Kim Myung-san Gate.

Even as the company was on the brink of collapse, he refused to give up the money and held out until he died of a heart attack. Fortunately, before his death, he had prepared evidence to ruin Kwak Bugyeong.

“You never know what’s right under your nose.”

It was still amusing to think about. Everyone was desperate to find the audio files, CCTV footage, documents, and secret ledgers, but they were all in the hands of Kwon Woohyuk.

“Indeed. Who would have imagined?”

Kim Jaewon also smiled at that. Yoo Namcheol, a former Shinuehoe executive and director of Hyoshin Construction, had been collecting evidence against Kwak Bugyeong even before the company collapsed, and even when they were close. He hid the money in a container underground at Busan Port and kept the evidence of Kwak Bugyeong’s wrongdoings in a safe at the bottom of the swimming pool at the Shinuehoe villa, waiting for the right moment.

‘Namcheol said to blow this up when Kwak Bugyeong reaches his peak… when he’s enjoying the height of his happiness, thinking the world is his oyster.’

Yoo Namcheol had been listening to Kwak Bugyeong’s drunken ramblings and secretly gathering evidence even before Hyoshin Construction collapsed, and even when they were close. After falling out with Kwak Bugyeong, he kept an eye on the land where the child was buried and looked for an opportunity to expose him. Unfortunately, he was betrayed first and died of a heart attack before he could strike back.

Originally, the plan was to expose everything during the presidential inauguration, the moment of Kwak Bugyeong’s greatest triumph.

But the execution date was changed just before the election, after discovering the truth about Kang Manseop. It was purely for Yoo Yisoo’s safety.

＊＊＊

From the election day to the inauguration, it typically takes about two months. Given Kwak Bugyeong’s cunning and meticulous nature, I had a strong hunch that Kang Manseop would not leave the twins alone until the inauguration. And that judgment proved to be accurate.

Like a snake, Kwak Bugyeong sensed victory and decided to eliminate them on election day itself, sending a sniper to Kang Manseop’s office. Presumably, the sniper intended to take out not only the twins but also Kang Manseop.

That’s Kwak Bugyeong’s way of handling things. If we’re just talking about his methods, it was a textbook example of the cleanup operations Siheon had been carrying out.

“So, Yoo Namcheol initially handed over all the information to Representative Kwon Woohyuk instead of you, Representative, and asked him to handle the aftermath because you were detained in Hong Kong’s Stanley at the time.”

Siheon silently took a drag of his cigarette at his secretary’s addition. Back then, he was wasting away in Stanley Prison. He had personally taken on the mission to eliminate a high-profile figure in Hong Kong while incarcerated, and the mission was completed cleanly. On the last day, he even got the bonus of sending Yoo Beom-jin to his grave.

Kwon Woohyuk kept everything about it a secret until D-Day. Then, as the election day approached, he finally revealed, as a joke, how the showdown between Choi Bokhyun and Kwak Bugyeong would play out.

‘If I stand on the opposite side of Kwak Bugyeong, the inauguration will be very interesting, and if I stand on Kwak Bugyeong’s side, there will be a lot of deals to be made. We’ll be able to enjoy the benefits throughout the administration. Until Kwak Bugyeong seeks the evidence and counterattacks.’

‘Why the hell are you telling me this now?’

In disbelief, I couldn’t help but throw the ashtray and flip the table. All this time, we had been searching for ‘Kwak Bugyeong’s secrets,’ and they were in Kwon Woohyuk’s hands. Not just anyone, but my own brother and comrade.

‘Why are you telling me this now? How was I supposed to know and tell you in advance? It was top secret. Do you know how anxiously I’ve been keeping it hidden all this time?’

‘You could have blown it up before the election. If it wasn’t going to happen at the inauguration, it would have been better to do it before the election….’

Siheon suddenly trailed off. He finally realized the cleverly planned timing was for Choi Bokhyun’s benefit.

Kwak Bugyeong had to be exposed after he was already the final elected candidate for Choi Bokhyun to have a more advantageous position in the re-election. If the runner-up became the elected candidate without a re-election, Choi Bokhyun would easily secure the presidency.

The situation was getting even more interesting. With Choi Bokhyun becoming a distant in-law, Kwon Woohyuk eventually agreed to Kwon Siheon’s request and set the stage again. In the end, he chose to side with Choi Bokhyun instead of Kwak Bugyeong, with the condition of transferring Kwon Siheon’s shares.

‘Looks like you’ve figured it out, so there’s no need for a detailed explanation.’

And a few days later, Siheon proposed to recover the slush fund for the national treasury, promising to make up for the loss.

If Kwon Woohyuk embezzled Yoo Namcheol’s slush fund, Yoo Yisoo and Lee Yihyun would never escape the shadow of that money. Not to mention the parasites drawn to the scent of money.

So, Siheon willingly agreed to his brother’s demand. To Kwon Woohyuk, Siheon’s decision must have seemed like nothing more than emotional nonsense.

Giving up his shares and returning hundreds of billions of slush funds to the national treasury, all for one woman.

“What will happen to Kwak Bugyeong? No matter how much he appeals and struggles, he’ll get at least life imprisonment.”

Kim Jaewon’s words shattered Siheon’s thoughts of Yoo Yisoo.

“Well, he knows he won’t get parole.”

In the end, he would have only one choice.

Siheon smirked again as he smoked his cigarette. If the man who almost had everything at his feet fell into prison forever and realized he could never rise again from the bottom….

Even Kwak Bugyeong’s tenacious life would be helpless.

It was a case of reaping what one sows, so there was no room for sympathy. Especially when thinking about Kang Manseop.

Kang Manseop betrayed his longtime friend Yoo Incheol and even tried to kill his children. Even if Kwak Bugyeong threatened him with his family, at least one of the twins was important to Siheon.

…Important person?

Siheon removed the cigarette from his lips. Even as he repeated it to himself, he couldn’t understand.

Important? What was important about Yoo Yisoo? Was it her body, accustomed to his touch?

“Representative, the Presidential Secretary’s Office wants to speak with you.”

Kim Jaewon checked the message from the secretary team and turned to him.

“Why would such busy people want to talk?”

They were confident in the ruling party’s victory and the continuation of their administration, but they seemed quite flustered by Kwak Bugyeong’s downfall.

“I’m not sure either… Would you like to speak with them now?”

Siheon paused for a moment before nodding at his secretary’s message. Something had caught his attention. There was no time for useless self-reflection. Things were not yet fully resolved.

“Connect in 5 minutes.”

He needed time to enjoy his second cigarette. As the secretary left, Siheon was alone in the spacious office. He focused on the taste of the cigarette, or at least tried to.

It was hard not to think of Yoo Yisoo, asleep like a wilted flower in the temporary hospital room on the second floor of the annex.

＊＊＊

Do Ilyeong, the chief prosecutor and childhood friend of the late Yoo Namcheol, had a headache over an anonymous letter received two weeks before the election.

Suddenly, high-ranking officials from the prosecutor’s office visited late at night with wine and whiskey bottles, silently rummaging through his home study. Faced with a crucial choice, he lost several kilograms, and his eyes sank deeply.

“The decisive evidence will be revealed at midnight on election day. Just investigate fairly and impartially, as we always have.”

“Yes. Until then, proceed with an unofficial investigation. Top secret.”

“Our Do prosecutor, you’re so good at your job, just like your father. We’re trusting you with this especially.”

The high-ranking official smiled warmly as he poured drink after drink. Do Ilyeong, who was present, only conveyed the clear message, ‘Just say yes.’

Why are you all suddenly doing this to me? Am I that easy to push around? I was just minding my own business, why is this happening?

Although prosecutors are supposed to have unlimited public authority and iron rice bowls, they worry about transfers and demotions towards the end of an administration. This applies not only to those like Do Ilyeong, who are loyal to the organization, but also to newcomers like Do Sungjun.

“Um… so, the target of this investigation is one of the presidential candidates. If all of this is a meticulously planned fabrication or trap… What happens if innocence is proven?”

“Oh dear, are you worried about taking the fall alone?”

“I can’t say I’m not. Honestly, I’m not even sure if this is the right thing to do.”

“Haha, your honesty is refreshing! Chief Do, your son is so straightforward and upright! But that won’t happen.”

“Sungjun, it’s as they say. That won’t happen. It’s a crime that actually occurred in the past.”

His father, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, added meaningfully.

“Even if the target is the elected candidate, it will never be overturned.”

“Um… forgive me for asking, but why me instead of my father…”

Why are you giving me this shitty cleanup job?

Sungjun swallowed the words that rose to his front teeth and continued.

“Why am I being given such an important mission… No, I will start the investigation immediately tomorrow.”

Upon reflection, the reason was obvious. A young and inexperienced person like Do Sungjun was the perfect scapegoat to bear the risk when the news broke. If things went well, he too would share some of the spotlight.

Perhaps reading his thoughts, Do Ilyeong smiled slightly. Maybe he also wanted to change his rebellious son’s attitude a bit.

In the end, Sungjun worked day and night on the unofficial investigation as the elders commanded. As the contents of the tip were revealed to be actual crimes, shock and outrage grew, and D-Day arrived.

Sungjun realized that he had been chosen as the messenger. The media mentioned his name daily.

The S Prosecutor’s Office prosecutor, who had been carefully investigating the anonymous letter, obtained decisive evidence on the night of the presidential election and urgently arrested the most powerful candidate. This unprecedented incident in Korean election history and the terrible tragedy behind it made headlines.

His family, including his chief prosecutor father, and even Kwak Bugyeong’s political enemies looked at him with admiration. Even Kwak Bugyeong’s supporters and lawmakers who had fervently supported him began to mix their gazes with admiration. He had become an overnight national hero.

Of course, Shinmyeong must have chosen an appropriate puppet for all of this.

How could this be?

How could people all be like this… so beastly? Those who have forsaken their humanity, worse than animals. People who would betray even a longtime friend for their own gain, committing betrayal as easily as eating.

The memory of Yoo Incheol’s pitiful and affectionate gaze would not fade. In his wrinkled eyes as he looked at the twins, there was only love. She had never once called him father. And yet….

Kang Manseop, who had been as close as brothers to him from middle school to high school and university, had betrayed and deceived that father. He had actively cooperated in holding a gun to Yoo Incheol until he died, more than anyone else.

To protect his family. Because he was threatened and had no choice.

Even if he made such excuses in hell, she had no intention of listening to a single word.

Yisoo desperately covered her ears and gritted her teeth in her dream. The nightmare of being trapped among howling beasts continued.

If she had been threatened like that, she would have confided everything in her best friend and devised a plan to punish Kwak Bugyeong together.

Did Kang Manseop really believe that Kwak Bugyeong would keep his promise? The next target after his best friend would ultimately be himself and his family. Did he not expect at all that someone like Kwak Bugyeong, who valued human life less than a fly’s, would dispose of him like that?

She was sick for a week. The shock and despair from the betrayal of someone she trusted, and the devastating impact on her psyche, was immense and brutal. The emotional pain soon manifested physically, showing no signs of recovery.

On the tenth day, she finally regained her strength with a visit from Yihyun and Sera. Yihyun was also greatly shocked, but he tried to focus on the fact that this had led to Kwak Bugyeong’s downfall and their safety.

“Yisoo, we’re okay now.”

“…….”

“We’ll be okay from now on. Of course, if….”

If Father had been safe. If that future where the three of them could be together had come true, it would have been wonderful, but….

Yihyun barely swallowed the words he couldn’t finish and had a long talk with her alone. There was a CCTV at the door, but not by Yisoo’s bed. The detector hidden in the stick handle had also confirmed the absence of any wiretapping devices.

It was a week later that she finally ate a proper meal. Under the thorough protection of Shinuehoe’s guards, she also visited the memorial park where Yoo Incheol’s remains were laid to rest. Other than that, she didn’t step a foot outside the house.

The media was still in an uproar. The horrifying crimes of Kwak Bugyeong were being revealed one after another, and there was heated debate about how many years he would be sentenced to. There were even calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty, and politicians were fiercely arguing over whether to hold the presidential election again. Every day was chaotic.

Yisoo, for the first time in a long while, got out of bed and sat in an armchair in the corner of the ground-floor conservatory. The afternoon sun of the approaching spring was warm and comforting. Only when she saw the calendar on the tea table did she realize that March had long since arrived.

Knock, knock. Someone tapped on the partition door beyond the trees. Just by the sound of the knock, she knew who it was. Kwon Siheon’s knock was distinct from the housekeeper’s, Yang’s, or any other staff member’s.

“…Come in.”

Her hoarse voice sounded unfamiliar even to herself. As the door opened, the sound of Chopin’s Waltz in B minor, Op.69 No.2 coming from the speaker came to an end.

It was the first time in nearly a month that she had properly faced this man. He was wearing a neat three-piece suit. He looked as if he had just started his day, with no signs of fatigue. His hair, combed back neatly over his forehead, was perfectly in place.

Over that impeccable appearance, the scene from a few weeks ago overlapped. Kwon Siheon, with his white dress shirt soaked in blood, blood splattered on his face, hair disheveled over his forehead, neck, and everywhere, had looked like a murderer. A devil incarnate in a beautiful and charming shell.

This man suits that image better….

Yisoo was startled by the sudden thought. Kwon Siheon furrowed his brow slightly and stared at her before speaking up.

“We have a lot to talk about.”

He didn’t bother asking how she was or how she felt. Though he must have been receiving reports on her condition, he didn’t offer even a formal greeting. That was Kwon Siheon.

He came and sat in the chair across from her. Only then did the signs of fatigue become visible. His jawline was gaunt and sharp, and his eyes looked more sunken than she remembered.

Despite the weariness, his face was still as handsome as a painting. She remembered reading in some foreign gossip article that his dark and melancholic gaze made it impossible to look away.

Like Shinuehoe, Kwon Siheon was barely mentioned in the domestic media. This was due to the tacit agreement between Shinmyeong Group and the media companies that received advertising from them.

“There was a lot to take care of. Lee Yihyun and Sera must have told you everything.”

Yisoo nodded. Yoo Namcheol’s criminal proceeds were to be seized and returned to the national treasury according to principle. Now all that remained was Kwak Bugyeong’s trial and its outcome, and….

Her debt to Kwon Siheon, the remainder or residue of that contract. Yihyun insisted that she should leave the rest to him, but the contract was with her, not Yihyun.

“Kwak Bugyeong will never be able to return to society. Public opinion is so strong that he will have to serve at least life imprisonment to save face for the judiciary. He will also be excluded from special pardon considerations.”

At the last statement, Yisoo suddenly shivered for some reason. But she quickly changed the subject as if nothing had happened.

“Thank you.”

It was a strangely formal and awkward expression of gratitude.

“Thanks to Kwon Siheon, we made it this far. If it weren’t for Kwon Siheon’s help, Yihyun and I wouldn’t have been safe. In any way… we would have been seriously hurt or killed.”

An unfamiliar voice continued, and an unusual atmosphere lingered in the air.

“I really don’t know how to repay this kindness….”

“It would have been good if Kwon Woohyuk had told me he had the evidence. But Chairman Kwon thought I had nothing to do with it.”

He couldn’t bear any more formalities and abruptly cut off Yisoo’s repeated thanks.

“I also didn’t tell you in advance, but… I had to be careful until Kang Manseop’s true nature was fully revealed.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Just then, a text message sounded on the phone. It was Kwon Siheon’s. He ignored it, but the messages kept coming. Kwon Siheon, looking annoyed, pressed the button. The faint voice in the air was that of Secretary Kim Jaewon.

― Yes, Representative.

“I delegated everything about the honeymoon and wedding to them. Don’t let them contact me.”

― I’m sorry. …But we can’t stop the bride-to-be from personally contacting the Representative to ask for his opinion.

“Block her for a while and say I’m on a business trip.”

Only after hearing the affirmative response did he put down the phone. A glint appeared and disappeared in Yisoo’s eyes.

Ah, that’s right. He was about to get married.

It was as if she had just realized this fact, and a slight chill ran through her, as if she had been doused with cold water. The thought of Kwon Siheon standing next to his bride, Park Seohye, in about a month, in May, making their vows, sent a shiver down her spine.

“Where are you going for your honeymoon?”

At the calm question, Kwon Siheon’s mouth twisted. The expected answer came from his cynical lips.

“It’s none of your business.”

“…….”

“Let’s get back to what we were talking about.”

He also explained the remaining administrative matters, legal procedures, and expected outcomes. He even mentioned that measures had been taken to ensure that the twins’ existence would not be made public, as they wished.

“I have a question. Was it also Chairman Yoo’s intention to appoint Prosecutor Do Sungjun as the prosecutor to receive the anonymous letter?”

Yisoo had been referring to Yoo Namcheol as Chairman Yoo, not father, for some time. Even though he was still officially her father, she couldn’t bring herself to use that title anymore.

“Probably. Prosecutor Do Ilyeong, Do Sungjun’s father, was also a classmate of Yoo Namcheol, like the former Shinuehoe executive who had the evidence.”

“I see. But why Do Sungjun instead of Do Ilyeong… Ah.”

Yisoo realized something and fell silent. Given the unprecedented nature of the incident, there would have been some risk, and the higher-ups would have wanted a rookie who would suffer the least damage if things went wrong.

On the other hand, if Kwak Bugyeong was surely caught, the reward would be attention and spotlight that money couldn’t buy. Do Ilyeong, as a longtime opponent of Kwak Bugyeong, would have believed he would be caught and persuaded his son. The situation ultimately flowed in the best direction.

“Come to think of it, you knew Do Sungjun well?”

“Rather than knowing him well… I saw him occasionally when I was young. Sungjun Oppa also took good care of Yihyun….”

“Sungjun Oppa?”

Kwon Siheon slowly repeated the name. He seemed annoyed.