Masquerader Chapter 23

“How is your sleep condition?”  

 

The doctor, who had been looking at the chart, lifted his gaze from the monitor and asked.  

 

“It’s just the same.”  

 

Seol-ah replied flatly. She recalled the moment she woke up this morning, drenched in cold sweat as usual. The nightmares, which had seemed to subside after that man left, were still tormenting her. It was exhausting.  

 

Was she able to sleep without dreaming that night because sex had drained her energy completely?  

 

But considering how she had slept so deeply when resting her head on Seo Tae-shin’s thigh, it didn’t seem reasonable to attribute it solely to sex. One thing was certain—having tasted a single night of peaceful sleep, returning to the torment of nightmares felt even more unbearable.  

 

“I’ll prescribe melatonin for you. Take one tablet every evening around 7 PM. It’s a sleep supplement that will help regulate your hormones.”  

 

“Just give me sleeping pills or sedatives. I want to sleep deeply.”  

 

“I understand how you feel, but your body is in terrible condition.”  

 

The doctor adjusted his glasses slightly with his hand.  

 

“I specifically told you to eat properly, but judging by your chart, you completely ignored my advice. It’s a wonder you didn’t collapse on your way here. In an era overflowing with food, your nutritional levels are shockingly low, hardly what one would expect of a modern person.”  

 

The doctor’s sarcastic tone was sharp. He seemed genuinely angry.  

 

“You have some time, right? Since you’ve dragged yourself all the way here with that feeble body, get some IV fluids before you leave. But if you come back in this state again, I’m going to have a serious problem with you.”  

 

“…Alright.”  

 

“You always respond well, but patients like you are the most difficult to deal with. Honestly, you have no intention of listening to me, do you?”  

 

“…….”  

 

In the short silence that followed, the doctor let out a sigh. Then he clasped his hands together on the desk. He stared at Seol-ah, who was sitting across from him, composed yet somewhat submissive, as if awaiting punishment. Finally, he spoke.  

 

“First of all, as your attending physician, let me assure you that I have no intention of disclosing your medical records or current condition to anyone. Patient confidentiality is protected by medical law, and I try my best to abide by the law.”  

 

“…….”  

 

“I heard the trial is ongoing.”  

 

She had wondered why he was leading up to something with such a long preamble, only for an unexpected topic to surface. Seol-ah lifted her gaze in surprise.  

 

“When I issued your medical certificate, I recorded your condition exactly as it was when you were brought to the hospital, without a shred of falsehood. In other words, it contains a precise account of the severe damage you suffered at that time.”  

 

“…Yes, I’m grateful for that.”  

 

“No, what I’m concerned about right now is… Though I sincerely hope my concern is unnecessary…”  

 

The doctor pulled his chair a bit closer.  

 

“If you’re pushing yourself because of the trial…”  

 

Only then did Seol-ah realize what he was worried about, and she let out a quiet sigh.  

 

“Ah…”  

 

So he thought she was deliberately harming herself in order to prove the extent of her suffering in court.  

 

“Not only your past injuries but also your PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is at a severe level. This is not the time for you to be worrying about the trial—you should be focusing on your treatment. That way, you’ll have the strength to endure the long proceedings without breaking down.”  

 

The doctor’s face was unusually serious as he delivered his impassioned speech. She hadn’t noticed before, probably because he always looked exhausted, but he was unexpectedly kind.  

 

To be honest, she wasn’t worried about the trial at all. More accurately, she didn’t even have the energy or will to worry about anything.  

 

But if she said that, the doctor would probably dislike it even more. So Seol-ah just nodded vaguely and replied,  

 

“Thank you for your concern. I’ll follow your advice.”  

 

“You always say the right things, but I suppose I have no choice but to believe you again.”  

 

The doctor unfolded his hands from the desk and pointed toward the exit.  

 

“If your condition is still this bad at your next visit, I’ll admit you to the hospital for real. Now go and get your IV.”  

 

As she stepped out of the consultation room, Chi-wook, who had been standing outside the door, entered as if switching places with her. She already knew that he was in constant communication with the doctor. Whatever the doctor said would be relayed straight to his boss, Seo Tae-shin.  

 

That was why that man kept nagging her about whether she had eaten, playing the role of an unlikely overseer.  

 

“It’ll take about an hour. If you feel uncomfortable, call for assistance.”  

 

The nurse who set up her IV dimmed the lights in the treatment room before leaving. Seol-ah blankly watched the IV fluid dripping at regular intervals, slowly replaying the doctor’s words in her mind.  

 

Now isn’t the time to worry about the trial… You need the strength to endure the long proceedings…  

 

It sounded more like he was saying this was precisely the time to be worried about the trial.  

 

– “After all, nothing actually happened in the end.”

 

– “Even if the trial goes all the way, the worst that will happen is either an acquittal or a suspended sentence.”

 

Even the victim’s own mother thinks that way—will the judge standing in the courtroom truly sympathize with a victim who ultimately was not raped?

 

Seol-ah recalled something Chi-wook had once casually let slip. Did she even realize how many conflicts and troublesome efforts the righteous Seo Tae-shin had endured just to help someone like her?

 

He had even called his own boss a lone wolf among a pack of hungry jackals.

 

Seol-ah smirked, thinking how absurd it would be if Chi-wook ever found out that his so-called apostle of justice was actually enduring all this hassle simply because he was lusting after a woman.

 

“Get in.”

 

After receiving her IV, Seol-ah went downstairs and found Chi-wook waiting for her in the hospital lobby, parked and ready. The way he glanced at his wristwatch hinted at his impatience, as if he was pressed for time.

 

A man with a decent job and many responsibilities, yet stuck cleaning up someone else’s mess because he had the misfortune of serving the wrong boss—Seol-ah couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him.

 

Since he was going through all this trouble anyway, wouldn’t it be good for them if they won the trial? If they lost, she would simply sink into deeper misery, but Seo Tae-shin, who had abandoned his family and company to play the role of a justice warrior, and his secretary would likely suffer quite a headache.

 

If, as the doctor suggested, her frail condition could serve as even a slight advantage in court, then there was no need for her to put on a brave front.

 

She could afford to be even more lethargic when she already felt like doing nothing. Regular hospital visits were tedious and bothersome, but this was an unexpected gain. On top of that, the nutrient infusion made her body feel lighter and refreshed for the first time in a while.

 

As soon as Seol-ah got into the passenger seat, Chi-wook fastened her seatbelt and said, “I have to go straight to the office, so I’ll drop you off in front of your house today. Use the card to check in.”

 

Starting the car, Chi-wook gestured with his eyes toward the card tucked into the cup holder between the driver’s and passenger’s seats. Seol-ah replied with a quiet “Okay” and put the card in her pocket.

 

As the car glided along smoothly, it stopped at the first red light. Out of the blue, Chi-wook asked, “Are you feeling okay?”

 

Puzzled, Seol-ah turned to look at him. That was when she noticed his gaze fixed on her neck.

 

Reflexively, she raised a hand to cover it. Did the marks Seo Tae-shin left still remain?

 

She had no way of knowing. The day after rolling around with a man, her entire body had been covered in bruises and bite marks from him, but she hadn’t particularly checked since then.

 

As Seol-ah subtly leaned her upper body away, adopting a defensive posture, Chi-wook cleared his throat with an awkward cough.

 

“No, I meant…”

 

He redirected his gaze forward and reached out to press the heater button.

 

“You had goosebumps on your neck. I was going to turn the heater on if you were cold.”

 

Chi-wook placed his hand near the heater vent to check the air temperature. The car, now enveloped in an awkward silence, was filled with the soft hum of the heater.

 

Staring quietly at the traffic light, Chi-wook moved his foot to the accelerator as the green light turned on. As the car gradually picked up speed, an oncoming vehicle from the opposite lane suddenly attempted a sharp left turn, recklessly crossing the centerline.

 

“…!”

 

Chi-wook’s eyes widened in alarm. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and slammed on the brake pedal.

 

Screech!

 

The tires skidded on the asphalt, producing a piercing screech. The momentum threw their bodies forward. The seatbelt tightened across Seol-ah’s chest before she was abruptly jolted back into her seat.

 

“Ugh, shit…”