Chapter 62
The rain had finally stopped outside, and so did Harin's tears. I still couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. Harin was always composed and calm. To see her, an adult woman, cry like that because of me, made me feel guilty. When she seemed to have calmed down a little, I slowly pulled my hand back from hers gently.
"Are you okay now, Harin-ssi?" I asked carefully.
She drew in a quiet breath before giving a small nod. "Yes." After a pause, she added softly, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to show you this side of me."
"It's okay, Harin-ssi. You don't need to apologize."
Silence fell between us, stretching on for a while.
I hesitated before speaking again. "Harin…"
"Yes?"
"Since you're here… does that mean Yuna knows I'm in this hospital too?"
Her answer was calm. "Yes."
My body tensed, though I tried to stay composed. My heart began to race.
Harin noticed and gave a faint smile. "Don't worry. Chairwoman doesn't know that I'm here with you right now. Actually, she wanted to come immediately and take you home. But…" She leaned back slightly, her expression soft. "I managed to buy some time and delayed her until tomorrow."
I let out a small, bitter laugh. "Tomorrow or tonight… is there really a difference? She'll still see me in the end."
A flicker of pity appeared in Harin's eyes. "There is a difference, Mr. Kim." Her voice lowered as she leaned closer, her gaze steady on mine. "Tell me… do you still want to return to her? Do you still love her?"
I lowered my eyes, unable to answer. "Maybe I…"
Harin continued before I could finish. "Do you want to get divorced?"
My eyes widened. The question struck like lightning. "I—I don't know." My throat tightened.
Harin smiled warmly, as if she had already expected that answer. "It's okay if you can't decide right now. Tomorrow morning, I'll file for a separation order against Chairwoman. That way, both of you will be required to live apart for a while. You can use that time to figure out what you really feel."
Her words shook me. "S–Separation order? Harin—won't it be dangerous if Yuna finds out you're behind it?"
Her smile didn't falter. "I know how to handle it. I'll do it quietly… of course."
I swallowed hard, still uneasy. "But… will she even obey the order? She has the power to do whatever she wants."
"She will," Harin said firmly. "Leave that to me."
I didn't know whether to believe her or not, but the quiet confidence in her eyes left me silent. I gave a small, faint smile before turning my gaze back to the window.
The room was still for a while, until Harin broke the silence again.
"Mr. Kim…"
I looked back at her. "Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
Her eyes softened. "Why did you name Ms. Hwang as your guardian? You knew, didn't you, that Chairwoman wouldn't take it well? Honestly…" Her voice wavered just a little. "I felt a little sad too, when you did that. At the very least, you could have trusted me."
Guardian?
She continued her tone turning more serious, "It made Chairwoman furious when she found out. Things almost got out of hand a few hours ago"
My confusion deepened. "A few hours ago?"
"Yes," Harin nodded, her tone grave. "Ms. Hwang and Chairwoman were practically at each other's throats over the guardianship claim."
"H—Huh? Guardianship claim? What do you mean by—"
Before I could finish, the door opened with a soft click.
I turned.
Sera stepped inside.
Sera's expression was cold as she stepped into the room, her eyes settling first on Harin.
"I believe I've given you enough time to speak with him," she said flatly. "Now it's time for you to leave."
The atmosphere immediately grew tense.
Harin's lips twitched in irritation. Her gaze turned sharp, the warmth she had shown me moments ago replaced with ice. But she didn't lash out. Instead, she slowly turned toward me, her expression softening again.
"I'll send the lawyer tomorrow," she said gently. "Before Chairwoman arrives. Everything will be arranged by then, so you'll be protected, Mr. Kim."
Then she stood up, smoothing down her blouse calmly, preparing to leave.
My mind spun. I still hadn't had the chance to ask her about the guardianship she mentioned earlier.
"Harin-ssi, wait—" I called out quickly.
She paused at the doorway and turned her head slightly, looking at me with curiosity.
"Haemin."
But before I could say more, Sera's cold voice cut sharply through the room as she walked slowly toward me.
She stopped at my bedside, her presence solid and commanding. Turning her gaze back to Harin, she said, "What are you waiting for? You can leave now. He needs rest."
The hostility between them was unmistakable—like two swords barely kept in their sheaths.
Harin narrowed her eyes slightly at Sera's words but didn't respond. Instead, she glanced at me one last time and gave a soft, gentle smile.
"We'll talk again tomorrow, Mr. Kim," she said gently.
And with that, she left the room, her footsteps echoing until the door closed behind her.
I turned my eyes toward Sera only to be met with her cold gaze. I swallowed hard, unable to hold her eyes for long. I had never seen her look at me like that before, and it scared me. Did I do something that made her angry?
Then, after what felt like forever, she finally let out a soft sigh. Without saying a word, she reached for the pitcher on the side table, poured herself a glass of water, and took a slow sip.
When she set the glass down and sat on the chair beside me, her expression shifted. The coldness faded, replaced by her warmth.
"I'm sorry I had to leave you earlier," she said gently, her voice calm now.
I shook my head quickly. "It's okay. I don't mind."
She smiled warmly at me, and for a moment, that smile melted some of the uneasiness in my chest. But the question I had been holding back since Harin left finally came out.
"Sera… can I ask you something?"
She tilted her head slightly. "Yes, what is it?"
I hesitated, then forced the words out. "Did… Harin and Yuna come to the hospital earlier?"
"Yes." Her face remained calm as she answered.
My stomach dropped. "Then… why didn't you tell me?"
"Why should I?"
Her answer stunned me. Before I could even react, her smile disappeared. "What is it, Haemin? Did you want to see her?" Her tone turned cold.
My lips parted, but no sound came out. Deep down, I knew the truth—I didn't have the courage to face Yuna yet.
Seeing my silence, Sera leaned back slightly and smirked. "See? You can't even answer me."
Her words pierced me, but I stayed quiet. Instead, another question pushed its way out of me.
"And Harin said… that I named you as my guardian. Is that true?"
"Yes," she replied calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"W-What?" I froze. "But… I don't recall saying anything like that. I never signed any paper…"
"I did." Sera said while crossed her legs neatly. "I hired someone to forge your signature."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Y-You can't be serious… You're joking, right?"
But she didn't laugh. She just sat there, watching me with that calm, steady gaze that told me she wasn't lying.
I stared at her in shock, my heart pounding. "You… really forged my signature?"
"Yes."
The calm way she admitted it made me even more unsettled. Anger mixed with fear inside me, and my voice shook when I spoke. "Why? Why would you do that without even telling me first? Do you even realize how serious that is? Isn't it illegal to forge someone else's signature?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation, her tone colder this time. Then she leaned forward just slightly, her eyes locking onto mine. "So what will you do now that you know?"
My breath caught. I wanted to answer, but no words came out. I was completely lost.
Her lips curved into a soft, calm smile, like she had already expected my silence. "As I thought… just let me handle everything."
Her words stung. Something about the way she said it made my chest tighten. It wasn't like how she spoke to me before, when her voice carried warmth and patience. This felt different.
I pressed my lips together before blurting out, "Why are you talking to me like this, Sera? You weren't like this before."
She tilted her head slightly, her calm eyes fixed on me. "Like this?" she repeated softly, almost amused. "I haven't changed, Haemin. I'm only being strict because you seem to want to question my actions. If you truly trusted me, you wouldn't feel this way."
Her tone wasn't angry, but it pressed down on me all the same, leaving me unsure how to respond. I opened my mouth, trying to find the right words, but before I could speak, the door to my ward creaked open.
One of Sera's assistants stepped inside, bowing politely. "Vice Chairwoman, all preparations are complete. We're ready to go."
Sera nodded calmly, her eyes not leaving mine. "Good. Wait outside. We'll come out in a minute."
"Yes, Vice Chairwoman." The assistant bowed again and quietly closed the door.
"You're… leaving already?" I asked carefully.
She rose gracefully from her chair, smoothing the front of her suit before turning to me with that calm smile again.
"Haemin," she said softly. "Change your clothes. We're checking out of the hospital right now."
My eyes widened. "H—Huh? Me?"
"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "You'll be leaving here with me. From now on, you'll stay at my residence."
My chest tightened, my throat dry. "N-No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I don't want to go, Sera. Please… don't drag me around like this."
Her expression shifted, the calmness slipping from her face. "Hey, Haemin. Stop resisting, will you? Yuna will be coming here any time now. I don't mind facing her here, but it would be a hassle. Do you want your face to be on the front page tomorrow?"
I clenched the bedsheet in my hands, my voice shaking. "No! Even if Yuna didn't come, I still couldn't follow you. It would be inappropriate. I've already suffered enough from her jealousy. I don't want to provoke her any further."
Sera's patience seemed to fray. "So you would rather crawl back to her? Back to the woman who raised her hand against you?"
I swallowed hard, unable to respond.
Her voice sharpened. "Why, Haemin? Why would you protect her after everything she has done?"
My heart pounded as I forced myself to meet her gaze. "Because… because she's my wife," I said quietly, my chest tight. "I'm sorry, Sera. I don't really understand why you're doing this. If it's about what you told me in Busan, then… I'm afraid I can't give you the answer you want. I'm married, and no matter what, I can't step out of that. I don't want to end up disappointing you."
Her eyes flickered, a flash of pain breaking through her composure before her expression hardened once more.
"It's okay, Sera," I said quietly, my hands still trembling. "I'll handle Yuna myself. Thank you for taking care of me until now… but this is my problem."
The air between us shifted instantly. The warmth in Sera's eyes drained, leaving behind something colder. She took a slow step closer, her heels clicking against the floor, her presence suddenly overwhelming.
Her voice was low, almost a whisper, but sharp enough to cut through me. "Haemin, I'll ask you one last time. Will you change your clothes… or do you want me to rip them off and drag you out of here myself?"
I froze, my breath caught in my throat.
Just as Sera's cold words hung in the air, a sharp noise from outside broke the tension. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing closer and closer.
Sera's eyes narrowed. She tilted her head slightly toward the door, her sharp ears picking up the same thing I did. Before either of us could react, the door swung open.
Her assistant stood there, breathless, her expression grim. "Vice Chairwoman, we have an emergency," she said quickly. "Ms. Seo has arrived, with her legal aides."
My stomach dropped, unease rushing through me like ice water.
Sera clicked her tongue, irritation flashing across her face. "What are the security team doing?"
The assistant lowered her head. "They… couldn't stop her. Ms. Seo presented legitimate documents challenging your guardianship over Mr. Kim. They had no choice but to let her through. She's coming here right now. Alone— "
Before her assistant could finish, she stopped abruptly, her eyes flicking toward the hall as if something had cut her words short.
And then it came.
A cold, commanding voice that sliced through the air like a blade.
"Move out of the way."
Sera assistant stiffened instantly, her body shifting aside before she could even think.
And into the room, she came.
Yuna.
She stepped inside, her presence swallowed the air whole. Her sharp eyes instantly locking on me sitting by the bed, then sliding to Sera standing so close. The sight alone twisted her expression into pure fury.
"So this is why you never came home," Yuna's voice cut coldly. "Because you've been busy… fooling around with that filthy woman."
My chest tightened in panic. "N-No, Yuna, it's not like that! You're misunderstanding—"
She ignored me completely and strode forward. But before she could reach me, Sera moved, blocking her path.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sera asked, her tone low and unwavering.
Yuna's eyes, cold and sharp, flicked toward Sera. Her reply came low and cutting.
"Move."
The room fell into silence for a split second, the tension so sharp it was hard to breathe. But Sera didn't move an inch. Her chin lifted proudly, her arms folding, her calm composure daring Yuna to push through her.
Yuna's jaw tightened, and in a sudden move she tried to shove Sera aside. But Sera was quicker, her arm rose and blocked it cleanly. Their hands clashed, pushing and sliding against each other. Yuna struck again, but Sera blocked. When Sera tried to push back, Yuna countered. The quick exchanges came fast, one after another.
But Yuna's anger gave her more strength than Sera's calm. With one hard twist, Yuna broke through Sera's defense and forced her back a step. Sera staggered slightly to catch her balance, but Yuna had already moved past her.
She closed the distance to me in two strides, her shadow falling over me. Her cold eyes narrowed. "Do you enjoy making me worry?"
Then she raised her hand.
I froze, my heart pounding. She was going to hit me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the sting.
But—
It never came.
When I opened my eyes, Harin stood in front of me, her hand clutching Yuna's wrist in a desperate grip.
"H—Harin?" Why was she here?
"Chairwoman, please," Harin said firmly, her voice shaking just a little. "Don't do this. Mr. Kim has suffered enough already."
Yuna's head turned slowly toward her, eyes blazing with fury. Then, in one swift motion, she shoved Harin's hand away and wrapped her fingers tightly around Harin's throat.
The room froze.
"Who do you think you are," Yuna hissed, her voice low.
Harin gasped, her hands clawing at Yuna's grip, her face flushing red as she struggled for air.
Yuna's grip on Harin's throat tightened, and then, without warning—
[SLAP]
Her hand struck across Harin's face with a sharp crack.
I froze in shock, my breath caught in my chest. "Yuna, what are you doing?!" I burst out, my voice trembling yet louder than I'd ever spoken to her. "You went too far! That's your loyal assistant. How could you do that to her?"
Harin's head tilted slightly from the impact, but she didn't flinch otherwise. She straightened, her eyes calm and cold, as if she had expected it. She didn't even raise her hand to touch her cheek.
But Yuna's fury hadn't cooled. I saw it in her eyes as she raised her arm again, about to strike Harin one more time.
"No!"
I rushed down from the bed, my legs weak but moving on pure desperation. I stumbled forward and threw my arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace before her hand could swing down again.
"Enough already, Yuna, please!" I cried out, my voice breaking. "I'm begging you. Why are you like this? Why did you become like this…?" My grip around her tightened, my forehead pressing against her shoulder as if holding her could stop her anger from spilling further.
"If you're really angry with me," I pleaded, my words tumbling out quickly, "then let it out on me. Don't hit anyone else. Please… just stop this."
"Haemin!" Sera's sharp voice suddenly cut through. "What are you doing?!"
I ignored her completely, shutting my eyes as I clung to Yuna tighter.
"I'll go home with you, alright?" My voice softened, desperate. "I'll follow you back, I won't run away anymore. Please, Yuna… just calm down your anger."
For a moment, everything seemed frozen. I could feel her body trembling against mine. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt, afraid she might push me away or lash out again.
But then, slowly… her body stopped resisting. The sharp tension in her shoulders eased. Her hands fell back to her sides.
And then, she wrapped her arms around me. Her embrace was tight, as if she was terrified that if she let go, I would disappear again.
Her head lowered, leaning close until I felt the faint warmth of her breath brushing against my ear and neck. My body stiffened, my heart racing.
"Haemin—" her voice was low, trembling.
"Yes?" I whispered.
"Please, "
"… don't leave me ever again."
-
-
-
-
-
I wished I could promise her that time.
But the truth was… I didn't know what my feelings meant anymore. Was it love that bound me to her? Or was it only fear?
I wished I knew the answer.
Because what happened the next morning… has changed our lives forever.