Chapter 4
“What’s going on?”
“Um… Madam, well… it’s just that… the boss—”
“Has he come home?”
Hannah gripped the strap of her bag as tightly as if it might snap.
“Yes… but…”
The assistant hesitated, unsure how to answer, and Hannah looked up toward the stairs. The sound came from the second floor, precisely.
“Don’t tell me… he brought a woman with him?”
No reply came. The assistants only glanced nervously at Hannah. She felt a mix of disbelief and fury. Slowly, she began climbing the stairs.
“Madam, please don’t go up. There’s nothing good for you to see…”
As Hannah continued, even they fell silent. When she reached the top, she finally saw.
On the living room sofa of the second floor, in broad daylight, a man and a woman were clinging to each other, nearly naked, like animals.
Park Sung-tae’s body moved visibly, and the woman let out occasional moans.
Hannah pressed a hand over her mouth, feeling nausea rise. Even though she had witnessed scenes like this before, it never failed to make her feel sick. She wondered when, or if, they would notice her presence.
Unlike the woman, who clung to Sung-tae with breathy noises, Hannah’s expression remained cold and indifferent. Their eyes collided in midair, and the woman froze.
“Stop… oppa…”
“Stop what?”
“Th-that person…”
As the woman fumbled to pull herself away from Sung-tae, he twisted irritably.
“Don’t have hotel money, huh? Want me to give you some cash?”
At Hannah’s question, Sung-tae snapped upright, staring at her while completely exposed.
“Y-you… how did you get in here?”
Hearing that, Hannah let out a hollow laugh.
“Am I not supposed to be here?”
She kept her gaze fixed on him, and he took a hesitant step back.
Meanwhile, the woman on the sofa jumped up, grabbing her clothes to cover herself.
“Couldn’t you cover up? Not a pretty sight.”
Only then did Sung-tae’s face flush red. In front of his wife, he always lost his composure—and today was no exception.
“Oh? Oppa, why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
The woman blinked in surprise as she covered herself, and Sung-tae shoved her slightly.
“Quiet.”
Startled, the woman flinched.
“Why are you snapping at me?”
“Too noisy.”
Irritated, Sung-tae barked, and the woman grabbed her clothes and boldly walked toward what appeared to be the bathroom. The door opening and closing echoed loudly. Hannah exhaled sharply, then turned to look at Sung-tae.
“You know all the assistants are here in broad daylight. Are you planning to throw away your pride completely? I don’t care, but I think it’s bad for you, Park Sung-tae.”
“Do you know why I pay the assistants so much? So they shut their mouths.”
Without even thinking of covering himself, Sung-tae shouted.
“Everyone downstairs can hear this!”
Hannah glanced toward the stairs.
“Let them hear. And you… why are you home at this hour?”
“Not feeling well. Could you step aside?”
Sung-tae’s eyes shifted instantly. He suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Hannah by her long hair.
“How nice it would be if you just behaved. Hmm? So listen.”
He bared his teeth, and Hannah felt her mouth go dry.
“Doesn’t matter whether it’s that girl earlier or some other girl. If she bears a son, he’ll be my son. That’s how it’s going to be.”
He yanked her hair with brute force, then let go. Hannah collapsed to the floor, weak from the fall.
“Shouldn’t you be lying flat like that on the floor? And yet you still talk back? Can’t even act like a woman. Tch.”
Hannah wanted to retort that it was him, but swallowed the words. Each thought lingered like bitter medicine in her mouth.
As she tried to stand, Sung-tae grabbed her wrist and yanked her upright. Her wrist ached from the strength.
“Let go.”
“No. You smirked at me earlier when you saw me.”
“I didn’t.”
“Don’t lie. I saw everything.”
His jaw clenched, and Hannah could only sigh. His insecurity was so extreme that even when she did nothing wrong, he always found some reason to lash out.
“I didn’t. And let go of my wrist.”
Her wrist throbbed, so she struggled to free it. Just then, the bathroom door opened. Sung-tae finally let go, and Hannah staggered from the sudden release.
“Oppa, that was enough, wasn’t it? I’m your wife.”
“What kind of wife is a worthless thing like you? Tch.”
“But your wife is really beautiful. You told me she was ugly.”
Hannah leaned against the wall, watching them act as if she wasn’t even there. This had happened before, so she ignored them, grabbed her bag, and headed to her room.
“Hey! You’re ignoring me even though your husband is leaving?”
Sung-tae pulled up his pants, but Hannah didn’t even glance back.
“Have a good trip.”
“That girl… we’ll see each other later.”
Hannah entered the room, locking the door twice behind her. She feared he might come in, but soon the sounds of the woman’s snorts and Sung-tae’s anger faded.
Leaning against the door, Hannah sat at her desk, feeling her palms sting. The mark from gripping her bag strap was clear. She retrieved a comb from her bag, brushing through a tangled clump of hair pulled out by Sung-tae’s harsh grip. She tossed the hair into the trash without expression.
Even after washing her face several times, she couldn’t calm down, so she entered the bathroom. Only after splashing cold water multiple times did the redness on her face subside, and her mind feel slightly clearer.
‘This isn’t the first time… why am I so upset today?’
He had done this many times—bringing women home, flaunting them in front of her. She had tried to ignore it, but today he seemed unusually sensitive.
‘He asked me how I got in here…’
The memory of his shocked, flustered expression replayed clearly in her mind. It was proof of what she had arranged yesterday.
‘Crazy. Trash.’
Hannah had thought coming home would lift her mood, but seeing her husband only made it worse.
She had grown accustomed to her mother-in-law’s coldness, but Sung-tae’s violence was becoming harder to endure.
Once was bearable, twice tolerable, but after several times, she couldn’t take it anymore. She had even tried to report him to her mother-in-law, but her mother-in-law always blamed her instead. So she stopped speaking about it altogether.
Her father-in-law, Congressman Park, was slightly better. He would scold or confiscate his cards, but that seemed temporary; after a few days, her husband would resume his triumphant demeanor.
This reality was suffocating, but still…
RRR.
The sudden ring of her phone brought Hannah back to reality. She picked it up and saw it was a call from Congressman Park. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.
“Yes, Father.”
I thought you’d call yesterday, but I didn’t hear from you.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was too tired and went to sleep early. I apologize.”
It’s fine. That can happen. But tell me, did you really sleep that early?
Hannah fell silent at his meaningful tone, then spoke cautiously.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
There was a pause, then the Congressman spoke again.
You don’t know why I’m asking?
Hannah remained silent. After a long pause, his sigh reached her.
I’d like you to stop by my office when you have time.
“I’d prefer to meet you at home, Father.”
Another sigh followed.
My dear, you know very well why I’m staying elsewhere, don’t you?
“Yes, I know.”
