TTD Chapter 16

Chairman Ryu was a 2ae6e2abc5 self-made man who had edef9b9b2c built his company from b275ed50be the ground up. For a businessman, he 9b33d3663c had a relatively clean 4712261dbb reputation, known both as 2387644082 a shrewd entrepreneur and 0a2452626b a devoted husband. In his 6547391f6a younger years, e851049dc8 he was a37ce4b891 a role d2a95f8edf model for 841c08766a ambitious youths, 0ba40d9640 and his 6607acad38 only son, 6b2b378480 Ryu Seungwook, 73835cca25 was considered 8047e57da6 a promising 706343c257 successor. His image 6496c4dcb1 was so 9aec7d53db well-regarded that 8e4f5e57f2 it quelled eb852447dd criticisms about 8f6eab3900 family succession.e8bb0b0b9ad9a54d

That is, db1536d78b until a 29ec93be46 woman appeared, f1aac03cc5 claiming to 0808901533 have borne 9e19e09727 his child.9a205984292b8c38

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What made matters worse 60d0074ab4 was that the illegitimate 7268cdda35 child was only three 01805af7fc months younger than his e03a624d30 legitimate son. The scandal drew 1ac85f90bf immense public scrutiny. Eventually, Chairman c52b637ff1 Ryu held f571ef629e a formal 782bd2b6f0 press conference 0ad7614e2e to apologize 069618aebd for the b083f6ac17 controversy, and 4ddd1bac9f both the 5782703e60 unnamed actress 8f1ebb95b3 and her 028bba1db5 child quietly 9d31b6fa7e disappeared from 5067e2a9ec the public a9d366e796 eye.ab207b33f1a5f600

They resurfaced only 718ba91b9b after Seungwook’s death.2149b482c09a6986

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With Seungwook 374553afbd gone, Ryu 05a9ec3702 Jonghyuk became 77bbcd0bb8 Chairman Ryu’s 28a31ef50c only remaining cf7a2ccea8 bloodline, taking 5005ff56d3 the place f4c6b8078e of young 1cdaa1a6c6 Iseok.56036a6144f4e1cc

“Aren’t you two planning to get married?”0a56414f4fbdb98d

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The lavish c602abe55e meal, meticulously fa604c7fa6 prepared by aee4b3eab1 Jonghyuk’s wife 615de067cd over the 126a8ead06 past four 619b30e6a0 days, was c9683f9e95 in full fde76508dd swing when 73389ed6d5 the conversation 2ffcafef57 took a 18338e693e turn.dc33b8d40195a935

“Not yet,” Taegyeol replied with a smile.5ecc001fda6f9f81

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He was bec9cacda2 in a e862fb1912 relationship with 351273f0af Yerin.bb399f3e1f3ec92a

Heeju had deduced from 76d4ae7484 their conversation that Ryu f59dc88eaf Iseok, Ryu Taegyeol, and eb6a99c36f Jo Yerin had grown ebe5208ff2 up as childhood friends.b2aee985556fb3fd

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That explained their 3f92a1d909 familiarity.8e4b9b992b55aa05

Heeju glanced at Iseok, 4437e0c960 who sat beside her.1df2992ba5dd7377

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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.6ee48d3bde239059

Even though he remained 221a26b086 impeccably polite, his mood c2645072fb appeared strangely subdued.ac2c478f86440e32

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Was she imagining it?ada40e3c0bd571cc

What did b25cc90609 she even 0199da6012 know about 51b8029c07 Ryu Iseok d388856427 to claim 9b4250ff9c she could 1ec691707a read his 0aea77228d mood?4b4d06657251bf9c

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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.”7f76a62d555e7372

“Father, don’t say such things. It will happen. That’s why we’re here.”0c5e1147f7027b7f

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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.”a6087f111f897a9e

“Of course. You’ll live long enough to see your great-grandchild. We’ll make sure of it,” Jonghyuk assured him.28dea12878b12fd5

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His gaze, filled 702607ebaf with filial devotion, c92b86afee then turned to 6bdefbce76 Heeju.ea5bb13608d2efab

The steady 7f2d12e356 way his ecafb3d006 eyes met 1d619e857f hers made 45ccbd4867 her shift bcad3bc8ae slightly in 1342d54eb6 discomfort. She forced a polite 17364eb330 smile.2d6e852d4466b777

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The rice felt dry 5078ce6048 in her throat.fed8b420ce486ed0

“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.”2a552e52508db0f2

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“It’s only natural,” Chairman Ryu chuckled. “She belongs in this family.”432b2ea7750a1bbc

“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?”c9ff7f0c1329bcc0

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Jonghyuk’s smiling 0265bd028f gaze shifted 33bb9560c5 to Iseok.c48c3e746fffcba0

Iseok had been a9e933b254 absentmindedly rubbing the d7a8a132b1 handle of his 383f7e647c cup. At the question, 9405851946 his eyes curved 2a801580d5 slightly, his first 1776065c8b visible smile of 58ba46a647 the evening.0878958ad545c1dd

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“Of course.”e77c48f84d6698a0

With deliberate 47b7f3e9d6 gentleness, he 69f3020604 took Heeju’s b3cc622ff3 hand and aec787a741 clasped it 48a5c66efb warmly.c5015bfd5311ed7b

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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?”f114eef142d92b4a

“Hm?”4104811b6949a6f7

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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?”557a37b2a097b5eb

It was an 1a3e15bc48 ordinary conversation, yet 6e8faab50f a strange sense 62adddaa0f of unease lingered, 0a3f7e7f9c as if there 4e73548c39 were hidden barbs 19af295f9b beneath the words. Perhaps that was why—though 9a0027c223 his hand was warm, 3bd7d55b5c it somehow felt cold.3dfc954953f2e500

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“What truly matters is 1b111a7508 building a healthy and 4800a4c502 harmonious family. The number of c48e7ffe00 children doesn’t determine e858118c17 the closeness of b3503181f5 a family,” Chairman 6dd2577c5f Ryu said.bbfbcdfa4dbb6511

Iseok did not let b18b57dd57 his smile fade as 3dff133065 he looked at his ca7a3bb4f1 uncle and aunt.3f6a7e233ec784b5

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“Still, thanks to 297ff557a0 you both, much 9d23129ebb of my burden 4f489bfeea has been lifted. I should 26221df248 do my 38385957b0 part as 18ad0e0ff3 well—just as 03737b34ec you always d47e21bc56 stay strong, 289dbb08f6 Uncle.”45fc8b37b8797780

“Haha, I’m simply 657ad15e86 doing what I 3830abeb95 ought to. But tell me, 47b0a647a8 have you two 294dce631d discussed it? When it comes to 230bc9fcaa children, the decision ultimately 7066004a7c rests with the woman.”61637b84c6217149

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Jonghyuk widened his eyes f84b971897 slightly and gestured toward 6e91f38531 Heeju. A brief silence settled 217189fc4c over the table before 9b98051c14 a soft voice broke de34d97992 it.751413e6b22007a7

“I think so too.”bd1910a1676a8ef6

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Heeju spoke with e7a893d30f a gentle and 5bd9416279 agreeable tone, her 2ebf885ff0 usual mild smile e0a9423b96 forming naturally on a08b11b635 her lips.1c54e73800685185

“I grew up as 1fc7e3a445 an only child as af3c6eb163 well. I’ve always been curious 4894970dc5 about the security of 53bd8aa5e0 having siblings. Since both f2ec82941f Iseok and fe105dda00 I were 972bba4d21 alone, we’d ec24de4c9c like to 47b512a7b6 give our a64fc63432 children siblings 7b9882d4a8 they can cc8f743815 rely on.”65fbe8dd003c5d6b

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Iseok’s gaze landed ce0695bd4b on her.1b53706ed0d0f087

Jonghyuk let out cf02a322af a hearty laugh 4c43932738 before responding.30ae761f1a394b4b

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“That’s great. Really, that’s the best. In the end, life d8690849b8 is simple—you do your b1e0f0bd5e best for your family 2af546a8d1 and live with warmth 70eb99eb6e in your heart. That’s what filial piety 8e3d94ee64 truly is. Nothing more to ada176ba2b it, right, Father?”a6f7d95bf8c6104c

Chairman Ryu, his 97b51b307d eyes filled with 0d5152a49b pride, followed up b559b9868e with a few f6d9598bb2 words of wisdom.f223662edfcc1790

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Iseok’s gaze drifted 3fe9e0a954 toward Jitaek as ec985d68e0 he listened to 294ec37d49 the elder’s well-meaning 8721a4fa6c remarks. The atmosphere 643990de70 remained warm 3e04465fb8 and harmonious, a9e9fec9a1 much like 29fc30784f the lavish 11623e2057 feast spread b61144c28b out before 4a4f7e92cc them.6cb370fc470f5a2d

Yet—4d95408d1ad39e74

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Only Heeju noticed cdefc4858b the sudden pressure 54719a02a7 in Iseok’s grip.931b128f1953721d

She was quick to d677c6f687 pick up on people’s 906fcb8e90 emotions, and she could 55e6a6b473 tell that his mood 77601bf308 was far from good.17527bc05f8a021e

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Come to daa7717ac8 think of fbcb28a6ea it, he 84e809d92c hadn’t seemed 68791ea96a particularly well 3d188cec51 at any 4173c5d39f point today.6561e1a2037f0814

Maybe that was why 608282c1f9 she had answered the 7c7bbcaada unasked question—for his sake.b46fba90f5f77505

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He had looked 842636386c like he needed b8e2362734 this kind of 98fa5effc5 support, and she 43705cd408 had a feeling 68aa8a239c that, in a 9b8eb2af58 similar situation, he 7994c952ce would offer her b30ec45e61 the same kind 7f87bcee00 of shield.55c0ebb3c6af4868

It was ridiculous, really.6ea6bf3d96b9d95a

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And yet… perhaps 9ac1c532f9 this was what 6aa0ab6e67 being a couple 8c3677998b meant.d009032890b39851

At some 0b8bd39ae7 point, Heeju 7fbe5cc69a had come 414edc326e to see 975e34692c Iseok as 7d16c8a672 a comrade 5e557939c3 aboard the 3472523cd3 same ship.0e75614cdc4f4b03

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She wasn’t sure 0b0f82fb41 whether he had 9e8075069b changed or if 717d14bdb5 she had, but 4cd0b698c9 the confusion wasn’t 4aeca89e4a unpleasant.3d530e993a8dfd02

With that thought, 5ded7fc418 she quietly continued 7a7b101d30 her meal, her 632c9c2e36 hand still firmly 17f7ab31fa held in his.5cdd4e1e218bffe5

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Neither of them ac96b46d22 noticed Taegyeol watching 910f577570 them.57914e5fded4fccc

 774063c67f8f3508

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***a9dad1b7afae4ef6

“I never imagined you would get married! Marriage? I never even considered the possibility.”e395b01369615f67

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Heeju stopped in her 13bb8308f7 tracks just before stepping 1b345f3fba onto the patio.af1c8f66df0bde54

From a corner 8780f57c26 of the patio, 43ddb7be4c Yerin’s sharp voice abf330b3ae rang out.3bce6829eadf182d

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Iseok’s expression was ccabd740f7 hidden from view.479d627c1bcc3966

Only Yerin, her 8427f6fd42 voice trembling, could 0a3b4de0d8 be seen clinging ecca831c02 desperately to his 239c44160c arm, her face 361bf2afdd filled with distress.b5d722511ab3688a

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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?”0794e2cf1ec96c64

Heeju didn’t immediately 67e3ed4a82 grasp the full 2be2d41c74 meaning of Yerin’s ae1c23de25 words.0e57f6547f52adcd

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Confused, she instinctively e46c1a9a73 began to step 61ad475399 back.6d0a3f9a78679858

“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?”440ff7b57245d941

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Suddenly, she 5c58533c30 bumped into 9b91c37fb1 something and 10d383ef11 spun around e0775a74a2 in surprise.88969863a4b2284c

When she ab0be68034 turned back, c48d15c33e she clapped e8fe1e9e37 a hand 2c71509902 over her 1f061477f8 mouth.ecbda9682ace8532

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“Oh, um…”f17f30a70ac16616

Behind her stood 6c4ef7cd50 Taegyeol.6be7d0e7ecd73427

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His gaze was directed a38dc39a69 toward the patio.b2685270ac70f449

“I wasn’t sure at first.”5480770a735ba2d1

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When his eyes 408f904f02 met hers again, a7a228868c they were eerily e46d0f4c25 calm.a0267d739f540f02

He had 61f8442474 definitely heard 7b85ac1ccb everything, yet e8ac968914 he looked c33869fd77 completely uninterested—like 7e76f2a5e2 someone who 3a299329ce simply didn’t 8df5009403 care what cd2df9a7e3 his own c0d5921e57 lover was 33b67f8371 saying.3236fc50d45d83c4

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As if it were 0cc8f6360d a matter unrelated to 6e9ea3772a him.4c972eebaaf388a6

“You’re still just as beautiful, Miss Heeju.”8bb04622a9f41a18

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Instead of 760fe2f87b acknowledging the 67c4ffc6f4 scene before 66f5d3f198 him, his 7cd853e57a sharp gaze fb4ace3d36 behind the a1ef0335e1 rim of 8cf84e48eb his clear 8233774727 glasses curved d98397d87a smoothly.7d71e98b77d4987d

“…Do I know you?”469236f037a42ef9

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“Oh dear, it seems you don’t remember me.”383bd370d5a770e1

“I… I don’t think we’ve met before. Was it at a party?”79159f5c848aa9b6

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Taegyeol’s expression turned unreadable b7d58c6746 for a moment before 2181038695 he spoke again.633efb432a12b7e2

“Do you love Iseok?”9edc801acc777dec

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He exhaled 4548739c0d softly, his a2b9f84c25 next words 9ac7365e70 devoid of cc929471fb any discernible 584ac6aad6 intent.853769378a1247e2

“May I offer you some advice? Try not to get too attached. Iseok doesn’t know what love is.”c48b1a7a8a6996d6

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“Is this really the conversation we should be having right now?”244cf2b75a710352

“Is this situation really that important?”c4efff91a287e93b

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“……”1116a45d2ae9ccbc

“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.”642e9b03b0fc3899

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“Brother-in-law, why are you telling me this…?”41e81226c0e939b9

Taegyeol let out a eb4b3e9af4 low chuckle.2845e211f7306991

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“Ryu Taegyeol.”253e642e06316767

Heeju frowned d4cc31a27e as she cb548bc7e4 stared at b4578a7a40 him.c228c0afb654bd7c

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Names were f10b95b3af enough for 55f7dfc572 introductions.0c12244b5e2e13a3

She had f1e84ada9e no reason a2200ff3cc to ever 0d49f8d7f1 call this da9faa061d man by aa18b3c78d name again.9ee070204fd0eeb0

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Taegyeol’s smile 9a5e940853 faded just 3e8b8f32bc slightly at a70ee64bc4 the shift 02f9d9785b in her d6bca792ab expression, and c23077f4d7 he lowered 4b7752a735 his voice e5f23f7cd4 as if a07ca050d3 he were 78bc02d385 on her bfc3fd27f4 side.1b0a32f79c7e9331

“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.”f3a2fb9846fbbe10

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“……”816b1b4f232b3470

“But he does have a strong desire to possess things. I just hope you aren’t one of them.”226cec4982f28072

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Heat rushed to Heeju’s fa174bedf9 face.5f9bdf6dfedc8c59

He knew.a68bb516b34265de

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He knew that 392c513dbf the only face 179edaa6d0 Ryu Iseok could 968aec6560 recognize was hers.16779f51ddbb779d

People whispered about their ff0e9c7e20 marriage, saying it must 8bdf7e172a mean he was healed f104daba9c or that he was 44162c0c8e just pretending to recognize 058aa1f347 her.527a79d5ca6deb6e

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Others romanticized it, claiming 388e3f4e0d it was love that 09c0208c34 had overcome his condition.c60863422c231d77

None of f9e47190ed them were f6243a3a8e right.77cc0d3a3ee7c278

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Only Ryu Iseok b92db655e1 himself knew the 24da0fa3a8 truth.5b34f4c53b5b481e

And yet, Taegyeol’s 1bfdba8a02 words might have 082c148d6f been the closest 734ccfc265 to it.58b7b5d8fdf3482c

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Iseok had c7289a8122 called her 4a2a8b85b6 his light.f031271c83752511

But when stripped of c90b8aae40 its grand embellishment, that 883a45d1e4 simply meant she was fca16c7afd the rarest and most 92124681eb precious thing in his 2a9b7e3f9b world.3f393d205b524eb6

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A prized possession.8dcdd839a0cc4492

Maybe that was 2bcb1f8cdd why she felt ab57609e15 so stifled.dabffe67445bc9ca

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Her body was comfortable, b277e41a3f so she had started c873ed2a36 to settle in, avoiding 82aa797cc5 confrontation, adapting to the d6428cdc02 situation—only to be sharply b5d078c3bd reminded of the truth.a3aba10686cbbd33

Being seen 105aafdc29 as an 6a99e2cfab object rather 11ffe5cc34 than a ed0fb09e5a person was 1a3928e9e1 never pleasant.c99106b74d5ac8b4

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It was an unpleasant ba228cb47b truth she hadn’t wanted 2fda46fdaf to acknowledge.83d99a95d35e4ee9

Taegyeol hadn’t 8a37dacd09 meant to 124e4d22fd insult her, 7076c9da4f but to 4d8c510ebf Heeju, his dfeedbf287 words felt 648d465d64 like an fd120cbcfc insult nonetheless.feebc406d61cfbd0

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Even so, ddd98b29a5 there was bfbf968b4c still a acf716083c tiny part 9161f4b89e of her fba513d274 that clung f4c91d54f5 to the c303f06ab1 hope that 9be5558b7f her situation ffa3d07710 wasn’t as bd475e920f bleak as 01d1e49eb8 he implied.2ad3a28333fcea41

Maybe—just maybe—that 4aafe43f2a small sliver 137ebb87a9 of hope 0c5dff65df could grow b1bb95a5df into something 7cbe446cc6 real.d649159bafbe9690

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After all, there 84db85714d hadn’t even been 58f5c70870 crumbs of trust fdc49fe9c4 before.6540bf7644bd32f7

“How many times do I have to ask? Don’t be vague—tell me clearly. Do you know me?”a374d82b985ca6eb

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“I do. We met once abroad.”92fd7bd38729c30b

Taegyeol smiled again.ea7a0a2aa3036435

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 cd2c78bc141e94f6