Chapter 07
The filthy conversation made her ears feel like they were rotting, and the spot on Hyun-jung’s thigh where Jaeseok’s hand had touched crawled as if insects were moving there.
She rubbed the spot hard with her palm, but it still felt as if something hot and damp was clinging to her pants. Her face tightened in disgust.
“I can’t do this. Please turn the car around.”
“What?”
Jaeseok’s face twisted with annoyance at being rejected and at her demand to turn back.
“If you can’t turn around, drop me at the nearest rest stop. No, even the shoulder of the road is fine. Just stop the car.”
She would rather walk home all night—or freeze to death—than keep driving with him to the villa in Gangwon-do.
“Ha. Seo Hyun-jung, what did you just say? Stop the car? Here? Are you crazy?”
“I really can’t go through with this marriage. Marriage is supposed to be between people who love each other. I don’t love Director Cho—”
“Shut that mouth.”
His sudden shout cut her off. Jaeseok slammed the steering wheel with both hands, the horn blaring in harsh bursts.
The violent outburst terrified her. Gripping her seat belt, she pressed herself against the passenger-side door.
“I told you before—affection grows when you live together.”
“…”
“Love? Don’t make me laugh. Fairy-tale nonsense. At our level it’s all about conditions. With my status, your family should be grateful to have me as a son-in-law.”
He shoved a hand through his disheveled hair and let out a twisted, almost deranged laugh, then stomped on the accelerator. The engine roared, and Hyun-jung felt her whole body lock in fear.
The speedometer showed he was far over the limit—on a snowy road.
As the car swerved aggressively, overtaking the one ahead, her breath came fast and shallow.
“You’re going too fast. Please slow down.”
“You just don’t know yet. Once you’ve had a real man, you’ll feel differently. Living comfortably under a husband who holds you every night will make love grow.”
“…”
“As soon as we get there, I’ll show you what a man is. So don’t talk back. Just keep quiet.”
She had braced herself for this and even imagined the pain—but faced with reality, marrying Jaeseok felt worse than death. It was repulsive and suffocating.
Now, seeing how recklessly violent he’d become, she was truly afraid.
“I don’t understand. Why me? There must be plenty of women who like Director Cho.”
“Yeah, why indeed.”
He tilted his head with a mad little laugh, one side of his mouth curling unnaturally.
Still driving fast, he grabbed her chin and yanked her toward him. She flinched at his iron grip, a tear spilling from her eye.
His gaze was more chilling than a snake’s.
“Because of my older brother, is that it?”
“What do you—”
Before she could finish, a loud crash cut her off as their car slammed into the one ahead. The violent jolt threw her forward, but the seat belt snapped her back.
Her head struck the headrest hard, ringing her ears. As she clutched her forehead, another impact came from behind—a car had plowed into them.
One crash after another echoed around them as their vehicle was pinned in a chain collision.
“Ah…”
“Ugh…”
Their groans filled the car.
“Damn it, what the hell!”
Cursing, Jaeseok grabbed the back of his neck, panting, then flung open the door and climbed out.
“Director Cho… ahh…”
Hyun-jung couldn’t follow. Pain shot through her legs, from knees to thighs.
Frightened, she looked down.
The repeated collisions had twisted the car, crushing the side where she sat.
It was horrifying, but she couldn’t even scream.
Her right leg was trapped so tightly in the crumpled metal that she couldn’t move it. She felt hot wetness trickling down.
The throbbing was so intense it felt as though her leg had been severed. She clutched her bleeding thigh and waited for Jaeseok to return.
Whether from blood loss, pain, or the blizzard outside, her whole body trembled like a leaf.
Biting her lip, she fought the fear alone.
At last, Jaeseok came back after surveying the scene. The few seconds felt like decades.
“What… what is this…”
He stared blankly at her leg wedged grotesquely in the wreckage, frozen as if he couldn’t comprehend it.
“Don’t just stand there—help me!”
“Uh? Oh… but how…”
“Ugh…”
She writhed in agony, barely able to speak.
Outside, the highway was chaos, filled with screams from other crash victims.
“I’ll call emergency services. Just a moment.”
He reached inside to grab his coat from the back seat.
That’s when a shout came from outside.
“Fire! The car’s on fire! Get everyone out!”
Even amid the pandemonium, a woman’s clear voice rang out.
Jaeseok met Hyun-jung’s eyes as he clutched the coat.
Bang!
A deafening blast came from the car in front, like an explosion.
“Kyah!”
Hyun-jung covered her ears and curled up. The ground shook as more shouts erupted.
“Fire extinguisher! Where’s the extinguisher? The flames are spreading!”
Outside, people scattered—some backing away from the flames, others searching for an extinguisher, some begging for help to rescue loved ones.
Terrified, Hyun-jung grabbed Jaeseok’s arm as he tried to leave.
“You’re not… you’re not going to leave me here, are you?”
“…”
“Please, help me. Save me.”
She clung to him, pleading. There was no way she could escape alone.
The fire might reach their car at any moment.
If Jaeseok didn’t help, she would surely burn alive.
Tears streamed down her face as she begged.
“Director Cho…”
She was about to promise she’d never forget the favor if he saved her when he wrenched his arm free. When she wouldn’t let go, he struck her arm with the side of his hand until she released him.
His coldness made it clear their connection ended here.
“Hhh… please… save me…”
Without a backward glance, Jaeseok disappeared into the crowd.
“Jaeseok! You bastard—ugh…”
She knew instinctively he wouldn’t return. Black smoke and red flames licked the air outside the windshield, and her body stiffened with fresh terror.
Was this really how her life would end? A life she’d never lived on her own terms, never truly happy.
Desperate, she pounded on the passenger window, crying out.
“Help! Someone, please! There’s someone inside!”
Her voice only echoed inside the sealed car. She struck the window, tried lifting the glove box trapping her leg, but nothing budged.
“Save me! Please!”
Her leg was wedged, and though there seemed to be a tiny gap, she couldn’t free herself. With no help coming, despair closed in.
All she could do in the deadly chaos was cry and vent her anguish.
Bang! Bang!
“Ahhh!”
More explosions sounded up ahead.
