Episode 3
Jaehyun scoffed.
“I don’t really find that trustworthy.”
Seo-eun’s eyes trembled under his cold gaze.
If there was anything different about his attitude, it was the hint of suspicion now mixed in.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t a good situation.
A moment later.
When Jaehyun opened the front door and stepped inside, he paused and scanned the house.
Trying to sound cheerful, Sion stepped ahead and explained,
“This is the living room, and that over there is the kitchen. Your office and bedroom are down the hallway.”
Despite Jaehyun’s cold expression, Seo-eun continued calmly,
“And this place is…”
“Is there any proof that I lived here?”
Seo-eun was momentarily flustered, but quickly composed herself.
“If you go into the study, you’ll find your things. There are also some photos.”
Without a word, Jaehyun headed toward the study. Seo-eun sighed as she watched his back.
‘What about the divorce now?’
Explaining divorce to someone who’s questioning the marriage itself felt impossible.
‘They said this could be temporary. Let’s just wait and see for now.’
While Jaehyun looked around the study, Seo-eun went to the kitchen and brought him a glass of water.
“Aren’t you thirsty? Please have some water.”
Seeing him take the glass without complaint, she cautiously continued,
“Then… you should rest a bit. I’ll just step out to make a phone call.”
But Jaehyun’s suspicious voice rose immediately.
“Who are you calling?”
“My younger brother. He’s still young, and I’m worried about him.”
“If you’re hiding something, you can make the call here.”
He gestured indifferently, but his eyes held clear distrust.
Seo-eun forced herself to ignore it and headed to her room. Too many things had happened for her to handle in one day.
Once the door closed, she relaxed her tense shoulders a little.
She took out her phone and dialed Jaewoo’s number. The call connected soon after.
“Hey, sis?”
But Jaewoo’s voice sounded weaker than usual.
“You don’t sound well… Today’s your regular checkup, right? I’m sorry I couldn’t come with you. Something came up…”
“Ah… It’s okay. I just finished the exam.”
“You went with the housekeeper, right? I asked her to go with you.”
“Yes, she came with me.”
“Why do you sound so tired?”
“I’m just exhausted from the test.”
Three years ago, Jaewoo was diagnosed with childhood cancer at a young age.
Though he was miraculously declared cancer-free after chemotherapy and surgery, there was always a risk of recurrence.
So every checkup day made Seo-eun nervous.
Today, Jaewoo’s unusually weak voice only made her anxiety worse.
“Really? How did the results turn out?”
“Ah, well… not all the results are in yet. We have to wait a bit longer.”
“Jaewoo, you’re not hiding anything from me, right? You can tell me.”
“No, I’m not. I swear I’m not hiding anything.”
Hearing Jaewoo’s attempt to reassure her only made Seo-eun’s heart ache more.
‘He’s still just a kid…’
Seo-eun bit her lip hard as if to fight the pain.
A moment later, she spoke in a calm voice.
“Okay, Jaewoo. But if anything happens, you have to promise to tell me, okay?”
“Yes, sis. I love you.”
After ending the call, Seo-eun closed her eyes.
The morning after Jaewoo was first diagnosed with cancer—
Standing in front of the headquarters of Hanseong Bio, she looked up at the building and took a deep breath.
Beyond the revolving doors, a luxurious lobby came into view.
‘It’s okay, Han Seo-eun. You can do this.’
Clenching her trembling hands tightly, she slowly pushed the door open.
After confirming her appointment at the reception desk, she got into the elevator.
The higher the elevator climbed, the faster her heart pounded.
‘This is all for Jaewoo.’
When she finally reached the top floor, the chairman’s secretary greeted her.
“The chairman is waiting for you.”
As the heavy mahogany doors opened, Seo-eun stepped into her father’s office.
Chairman Han Kang-sik was looking out the window at the city skyline, but turned as he heard her enter.
“You’re here, Seo-eun.”
The moment she faced him, a cold sweat trickled down her spine.
Her body tensed instinctively, like a reaction drilled into her over the years.
Chairman Han signaled the secretary with his eyes.
“Bring us some good tea.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
To others, he might have seemed like a warm and gentle father.
But Seo-eun knew all too well what kind of man hid behind that mask.
As expected, the moment the secretary left, his expression changed in an instant.
“Jaewoo’s cancer has relapsed?”
“So you already knew…”
“Did you forget that I’m Jaewoo’s father?”
Hearing him call himself that made Seo-eun feel sick.
“Father? The things you’ve done to me and Jaewoo are worse than anything a stranger would’ve done.”
But she held herself together.
Right now, she had to endure—for Jaewoo’s sake.
