RBSW 03

Episode 3

Suhan pulled Jay into a tight embrace. As if he hadn’t seen Minseon dying, or as if she were someone he had no interest in, he caressed Jay’s face.

They kissed like a couple in a Hollywood movie who had just overcome a great ordeal. Minseon stared dazedly as the two moved away.

“Minseon!”

It was Un-kyung’s voice that snapped her back. Seeing Un-kyung urgently calling her name, Minseon felt a foolish sense of relief.

No, I wanted to feel that way. Even if Suhan abandoned me, at least Mother-in-law is worried about me.

But as she thought that, Un-kyung snatched the bundle of papers and jewelry from Minseon’s embrace. Unconcerned whether Minseon was being loaded into the ambulance or not, Un-kyung stood there, checking each paper one by one. Seeing it was the document she wanted, she smiled in relief.

Then she turned her head and looked at Minseon. Un-kyung ran back and roughly searched Minseon’s clothes. Her body was jostled. Every part of her hurt as if she were still in the inferno.

“You can’t do this!”
“Where is my golden toad!”
“Someone restrain this woman!”
“Let me go. Talk to me! My golden toad!”

Un-kyung viciously ripped the oxygen mask from Minseon’s mouth. Minseon’s mouth gaped soundlessly. Seeming frustrated, Un-kyung shouted at her to speak a few times before searching Minseon’s clothes again.

“Get this woman off me!”

The startled paramedics tried to stop Un-kyung, but it was useless. Under the rough handling, Minseon’s body rolled off the stretcher and onto the ground.

“Ugh…….”

Both the oxygen mask and the golden toad that had tumbled from her pocket rolled on the ground.

“Found it!”

Her vision darkened. She saw Un-kyung cradling the golden toad like a newborn baby, and Suhan and Jay, still embracing. None of them had any interest in her.

After that, she couldn’t properly regain consciousness. When she opened her eyes, she was in the emergency room; next, she was in an operating room. When silence fell, she couldn’t even open her eyes. It seemed her head was wrapped in bandages.

She could hear nurses passing by occasionally, and she smelled strong medicine and a musty odor mixed with it.

She repeated this cycle of losing consciousness and briefly regaining it several times.

“Is this really the hospital? Wow. It’s really shabby.”

She heard a human voice after a long time. A clear, affectionate tone. She had only met her once, but she knew for sure.
It was Geum Jay.

“Jay, what brings you all the way here? The busy bride-to-be.”
Un-kyung replied.
“Mother, I had to see for myself. You never know, right? What if Oppa Suhan lied saying this woman died and is having an affair?”
“Ah, do you think I’m crazy?”
Suhan denied it.
“I guess. Coming here, it seems it was a needless suspicion. Phew, Ms. Min-young. Can you hear me? Hello. I’m here. It’s Geum Jay.”

Jay must have leaned in, because it grew a little darker in front of Minseon’s eyes.

“She’s unconscious, they say.”
“Oh, really? Well, if she were conscious in this state, that would be terrifying too. She hardly even looks human anymore. Ugh, it’s creepy.”
“Right. So don’t worry about this issue anymore and focus on the wedding preparations. Have you picked your wedding dress yet?”
“Yes. I chose a new Vera King design. Should I show you?”

Un-kyung and Jay chatted happily for a while, looking at dress photos. A strong perfume scent wafted over.

“By the way, will there be any life insurance money from her?”
“No, hardly any.”
“Ms. Min-young is useless to the very end.”
“Ah, still, it’s a blessing in disguise things turned out this way. Thanks to this, we get to welcome you into our family, don’t we?”
“It’s not that. She’s being punished for choosing a man above her station. Oppa Suhan was mine from the beginning.”
“Yes, yes. You’re right.”
“I’m sorry. I made you wait for nothing.”
“As long as you know. Be good to me from now on. But, Mother. What if this woman doesn’t die before the wedding? She needs to die quickly.”
“It’s fine. Don’t dirty your hands. They said she’ll die soon anyway.”
“Okay. Mother, I’m hungry.”
“Alright, my future daughter-in-law. Since we’re down here, shall we go get some beef? The cattle in this region are famous.”
“Hanwoo sounds great!”
“Wait a moment.”

It seemed the group about to leave turned back. Soon after, Minseon felt a warm, soft touch on her hand.

Is she holding my hand? It was the warmth of human touch after so long. Yearning for it so much, even in this state, Minseon wanted to hold the hand back.

But that illusion was momentary.

“Ugh, Oppa, why are you touching that? It’s gross.”
“We have to take the wedding ring. This is yours now, Jay.”
“Hahaha, good. Let’s make that mine from now on. It’s expensive, right?”
“Of course. It’s been passed down through our family for generations. Right, Mom?”

And then they left.

And there was no one. Not then, nor after that. No one came to visit, no one worried about Minseon.

An immeasurable amount of time passed—hours or days, she couldn’t tell. During that long, short time, Minseon thought and thought about their last conversation and the past five years.

I should have just died in the flames. Then I wouldn’t have felt this betrayal. If she had died without feeling the pain that felt like her whole body was being crushed, without the loneliness and betrayal piercing her heart.

What had she worked so hard for? She just wanted to be family. To be loved. A cherished daughter-in-law, a beloved wife. It was all an illusion. No, no one ever considered me family.

She was so tired now. She could feel real death approaching.

If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have lived like that.

It pierced her heart. It hurt so much it felt like her heart was breaking.

As her vision turned dark, and her ears seemed to stop working, a silence and stillness she had never experienced in her life descended.

It was then. Something shone brightly.

[Will you take revenge?

“Ms. Minseon.”

“Yes.”

The answer came out before she could think. Turning her head, she saw a familiar face.

Neatly parted hair, square glasses, Senior Yoon Su-ah, who always wore a shirt with a brown cardigan.

What? Why is Senior Yoon Su-ah here?

Senior Yoon placed a coffee in Minseon’s dazed hand and turned away. Then she busily moved around the office. Greetings like “Thank you,” and “I’ll enjoy this,” could be heard from various spots.

Minseon was the only one who couldn’t even utter a thank you, just staring at the coffee in her hand. Its cold temperature felt real.

She looked around.

The quiet tap-tap of typing, the faint noise from multiple PCs, the smell of ink from freshly printed documents mixed with diffuser scent, and the cool air conditioning breeze.

It was the Innovation Support Team office at Hanseo Finance, where Minseon had once worked—the place she had wanted to return to throughout her miserable married life.

“Why am I….”

The intense pain from moments ago, hovering between life and death, sharply contrasted with this boringly peaceful space now. Minseon felt her chest, her arms.

“Why? Ms. Minseon, are you having a hard time?”

Senior Yoon, who had finished distributing the coffee and returned to the seat next to Minseon, asked. When Minseon didn’t answer, she leaned in and whispered so only she could hear.

“Work’s been a bit heavy lately, right? It seems the higher-ups view you favorably. So, even if it’s tough, hang in there. If you need help, ask me.”

She patted Minseon’s shoulder. Minseon nodded. It was an automatic action ingrained in her body. Then, out of habit, she placed her hands on the keyboard. An Excel window was open on the screen.

She was confused. Was this her life flashing before her eyes? But it was too detailed, trivial, and realistic for that.

Minseon blinked slowly. She couldn’t gather her thoughts at all.

It was then.

“Perfect timing, you’re having coffee. Great. I brought some dessert.”

A soft voice was heard along with the sound of the office’s automatic door opening.

“Team Leader.”

Where Senior Yoon had called out, Suhan stood, having just opened the door.

Dressed impeccably, as if he had never experienced a fire, he smiled and held up two bags in his hands. They bore the name of a famous bagel shop where you had to queue to buy.