Episode 57
This is the Last Time It Ends with Words.
“It’s not like that!”
Why, of all places! Why were you there!
Jung heera made one last desperate attempt.
But Ahn Do Hyun had already declared in a firm voice that he would cut ties cleanly.
There was no longer any pity, sympathy, or anything that could turn Do Hyun’s heart.
Out of my life? To Jung heera, those words were despair itself.
“Oppa… I said it’s not like that…”
Tears slowly welled up at the corners of Jung heera’s eyes.
She repeated the same words, unable to add any reason to explain herself.
The loss of the reliable brotherly figure she had once had—or rather, realizing she had already lost him—made her tears overflow.
Yoo Lee Yeon and Do Hyun said nothing.
They only watched her outburst, their gazes cold and emotionless.
Do Hyun was already moving toward his own world.
Why had she ever thought that man would pity her or spare her feelings?
He was endlessly cold.
“I hope there will be no more reason for us to be involved.
Don’t call, don’t visit, don’t try anything.
Don’t even think about shaking what we had.
And above all.”
His cold words, sharp as a blade, stopped for a moment.
A brief silence filled the space.
Jung heera waited for the next words.
“Don’t pull these sneaky tricks behind my back.
That’s the thing I hate the most. This is the last time I’ll let things end with words.”
Do Hyun drove the final nail.
His words, cutting her off completely, made Jung heera’s heart sink to the floor.
What did he mean, not ending with words?
She couldn’t even guess, so she didn’t ask.
After all, her rotten nature had been exposed, and even the last trace of affection Do Hyun might have had was gone.
In front of Yoo Lee Yeon, she didn’t want to make more pathetic excuses.
She already realized something had gone terribly wrong.
“Unnie, here you are.”
It was Jiwon who came walking into the space where the three stood.
She must have come looking for Jung heera.
Jiwon bowed politely to Do Hyun and Lee Yeon across from her, then cluelessly tugged at Jung heera’s arm, whining.
It seemed she hadn’t noticed the tears gathering in Heera’s eyes yet.
“Unnie!
We’ve been waiting downstairs this whole time!
Since you weren’t answering, I came looking for you.
Everyone’s waiting, so let’s hurry.”
Or maybe it was actually a relief that Jiwon showed up.
In this state, she had no idea what to say before leaving.
Resigned, Jung heera decided this was better.
“Mm, let’s go.”
Even as she left, Jung heera glanced back.
She looked at Do Hyun, who was watching her walk away, with desperate eyes.
What was she expecting? From the man who had already cast her aside so ruthlessly.
Even as she turned, she couldn’t forget the look in his eyes.
Her mind went blank.
She just wanted to get away from here.
Her nature of always avoiding things seemed to take hold again.
But Jung heera didn’t know.
That more misfortune still awaited her.
Do Hyun silently watched her retreating figure.
She must have understood, with the way he had spoken.
Thankfully, she looked like she got the message.
Do Hyun believed that cutting things off so coldly was for the best for both of them.
To help her cut away her foolish lingering attachments.
It was the last bit of consideration he could show, remembering the past.
The arrogant words she had thrown at Yoo Lee Yeon, her overstepping actions—when he heard them from behind the break room door, he had almost broken the handle.
He barely restrained himself from barging in.
Thankfully, Lee Yeon had countered perfectly in his place.
Because his woman had landed a counterpunch, the doorknob was spared.
“Impressive.”
Though she was his woman, he found her blunt and sharp words admirable.
Rather than someone who faltered and couldn’t speak, Lee Yeon, who firmly subdued the arrogant Jung heera, made him fall for her even more.
All Do Hyun had done was clean up the mess afterward.
“What’s impressive?”
“You really straightened her out.”
Hands stuffed deep in his pockets, Do Hyun stepped right up to where Lee Yeon was standing.
His close body slowly pushed her backward.
“No! That was rude. I just gave back what she gave me. But why were you hiding there, Vice President?”
Lee Yeon was, in truth, thankful to him.
The moment she had thrown her one-two punch at the insolent Heera, Do Hyun had appeared just in time to finish the matter.
Because he had cut off Heera so decisively, it all ended more satisfyingly.
“I wasn’t hiding, I was resting.”
Do Hyun gave her another casual push.
His hand wrapped around her waist as he opened the break room door behind her.
He pushed her inside.
“I was too busy admiring Yoo Lee Yeon’s sharp punches to step out.”
“Oh… Glad you enjoyed the show.
Well, I feel better too.
You showed up at just the right time to wrap it up. But…”
Do Hyun pushed her all the way into the corner and locked the door.
“You enjoyed the show, so why lock the door?”
He pulled her into his arms and slid down onto the sofa with her.
Lee Yeon squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them to see Do Hyun grinning playfully above her.
This man was teasing her.
Maybe he wanted to experience a verbal one-two punch himself.
Lee Yeon tapped his chest as he looked at her with growing amusement.
“There’s CCTV here, you know?”
She pointed toward it.
“I know very well this is the blind spot of that CCTV.”
Not fooled.
How did he even know that?
Lee Yeon was surprised at how much he knew.
“Why the break room? Wouldn’t your office be better?”
She was nervous someone might open the door here.
The office was less accessible, but the break room was easier to approach.
“Five steps to the break room, ten to the office. The break room is closer.”
When had he counted that?
Apparently this thorough man couldn’t bear to take five extra steps.
Lee Yeon shook her head in disbelief.
“Yeah, I can’t even wait five more steps.”
Did he read my mind?
Startled, she looked at him.
“Can you read minds now?”
“When it comes to Yoo Lee Yeon, I know even her expressions.”
“Then are you planning to be a pushover?”
She pressed his face back with her hand as it lowered toward her.
“Wait! Just a second! If you become a pushover, I’ll give you a reward!”
“Be specific. What kind of reward?”
Do Hyun lifted his head, eyes unfocused.
What would make him snap out of it?
But his hazy gaze only grew sharper, expectant.
“What kind of reward?”
“It’s too embarrassing to say. How about checking at home? I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“You know what I want.”
She knew too well.
“I do. That’s why I said it’s embarrassing.”
Satisfied with the answer, Do Hyun straightened.
He brushed aside her messy hair.
“Good. It’s too big a reward to refuse.”
Lee Yeon, smirking, watched him walk out of the break room, unable to hide her dazed expression.
Maybe she should have thrown another verbal one-two punch to snap him out of it.
No, even that cheeky grin was too cute.
She had to treat him preciously.
“I’ll be claiming that reward the moment we get home.”
If only he hadn’t added that last line.
“Uh, Mom. I haven’t been visiting much because I’ve been busy. Everything okay?”
Autumn winds were turning into winter winds.
With Do Hyun holding her more and more, Yoo Lee Yeon stayed home rather than going out.
When her mother, Hwa Yeon, texted her Is everything okay?, she stopped folding clothes and called.
[At least check in sometimes, silly girl! Your mother’s neck is getting sore from waiting.]
Come to think of it, aside from a brief holiday greeting, she hadn’t visited in a long while.
It felt like just yesterday she had been bickering with her younger sibling, yet now that she was married, she saw them even less than strangers.
Her family never pressured the couple.
They didn’t ask when they were coming or why they weren’t staying.
Maybe they still felt awkward around Do Hyun.
“I’ll come soon. I miss you. Nothing going on lately?”
Her voice rose an octave with the joy of finally speaking to her mother.
[The only thing going on is kimchi-making. We’re doing it this week. Want to come eat bossam with fresh kimchi?]
Oh, that sounded delicious.
Bossam with freshly made kimchi.
Just the thought made her mouth water.
“Bossam? Mom, you know me so well. You know I go crazy for that.”
“I’ll even buy oysters.
Tell your husband to come taste the kimchi too.
But since he’s a rich man’s son, I’d feel awkward making him help with the kimchi.”
What she really meant was she wanted him to join in.
For Lee Yeon, it was a chance to get back at Do Hyun, who had been endlessly teasing her lately.
“Mom! What do you mean, rich man’s son! He’s your son-in-law. Make him help. Tire him out!”
This man had been handling her so roughly lately.
Not letting her eat when she was hungry…
Clinging to her when she tried to get up for the bathroom…
Busy all evening after work messing with her.
Lee Yeon pushed down the embarrassing stories that rose in her throat.
Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to let him use up that energy on kimchi-making.
“Mom, make him suffer with kimchi duty!”
She was thrilled at the thought of using her mom as backup.
[You want me to slap him with kimchi leaves? What nonsense is this?]
