"What? Another year? Are you serious, Hyunwoo?"Her voice rose before she could control it, sharp, trembling with disbelief.
But the line stayed silent, as if her brother already knew she wouldn't like what came next.
Her jaw clenched. "Speak, Hyunwoo!" she roared.
On the other end, a broken voice finally came through. "I'm sorry, Hauena… please, just listen to me once," he said, his tone wavering, cracking between guilt and desperation.
She stayed quiet, cold, and waiting.
"I know you've done so much already… You fixed my mistake, saved Appa, and saved the company. But… these days Appa doesn't even let me sit in meetings anymore. He's keeping all the financial records away from me, I'm getting paid like a regular employee in my own father's company." His voice shook, words tumbling fast, helpless. "He's treating me like I'm nothing, Hauena… I can't bear it anymore. I need to prove myself, to him, to everyone."
Her heartbeat thudded dully in her chest. "So that's why you want to extend the contract?"
He hesitated, then broke completely. "I want to start something of my own, Hauena. But I don't have enough funds. So please, help me one last time, Hauen. Talk to Suho for me. I swear I'll be careful this time, and once I'm settled, I'll pay back every penny Suho gives."
She froze for a second, and then the anger she'd been holding back finally flared.
"So this is why you called? Not because you cared, not because you missed me, just because you needed something again."
"Hauen, it's not like that..., I care about you, I really do...,"
She let out a bitter laugh. "Do you? Then tell me, oppa… when was the last time you even called me? Have you ever thought about me since my marriage? How am I doing? Or even asked about Suho?"
Hyunwoo went silent. Only the faint sound of his uneven breathing on the other side.
She felt her throat burn. "You married me off and disappeared, yet you kept taking money from Suho. You didn't even visit us when we had that terrible accident. Not a single call, not a single message. And now, when you need money, you suddenly remember us." Her words came out sharp, like poison.
Still no answer.
Her voice turned colder now, trembling not from fear, but from restraint. "Do you know why Appa doesn't trust you anymore? Why does he treat you like that? Because you earned it, oppa. After all the chances he gave you, after all your foolish decisions, every reckless deal you made while chasing money, you almost destroyed everything he built. And now you want to do it again? Using me? Using Suho?"
Her voice hardened. "You're selfish, Hyunwoo. You never think about anyone else before making reckless, greedy choices."
He stayed silent, guilt heavy in the air.
"I'm not extending the contract for you," she said firmly. "I won't let Suho's hard-earned money go to waste on you."
"Hauen… please, just one last chance…" he pleaded weakly.
"No," she said, her voice final.
He tried to speak, but his voice cracked. "I just want a chance, Hauena… please. One last—"
"No," she said, firm and final.
"Hauen… please, just—" he began, but before he could say another word, she cut him off sharply.
"Don't call me again, oppa. Not for this. Not for anything like this. bye."
She hung up and threw the phone onto the bed, her hands trembling. Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths, trying to calm the storm inside her. Her heart pounded painfully; she had never spoken to her brother like that before.
She loved him always, cared for him, had protected him since childhood, even after being his younger sister, and had always been there to fix his mistakes, no matter how much trouble they caused. But he never changed. Not once. Even now, when she thought he might have learned, he was still the same, selfish and reckless.
A tear slipped down her cheek. She didn't like how harshly she'd spoken, but she had to. What he asked for wasn't right. He was trying to use her and Suho again. And this time, she couldn't allow it.
She lay back on the bed, eyes still wet, staring at the ceiling for a long time before finally closing them. But even as sleep slowly pulled her under, her mind kept spinning,
Suho's voice echoed faintly in her mind, "I need you for some more days."
And then Hyunwoo's desperate plea, "Help me one last time, Hauena."
Both voices tangled together in her head, haunting, clashing.
And between them… she drifted into uneasy sleep.
The sun had climbed higher than usual by the time Hauen finally opened her eyes. Her head throbbed faintly, her eyes felt heavy and puffy, and her hair was a quiet mess, proof of a restless night. She sat up slowly, rubbing her temples, glancing around the empty room. Her top was crumpled, the sheets tangled, the air thick with that lazy heaviness of a troubled sleep.
Without bothering to fix herself, she slipped out of bed, heading straight toward the kitchen. All she needed was one strong coffee, something bitter and hot enough to burn away the fog in her head.
As she stepped out of the bedroom, a cheerful voice echoed through the hallway.
"Morning, nurse."
She blinked.
There he was, Suho, already up and dressed in his gym suit, looking way too fresh for the hour. The faint grin on his face gave away his mood: smug and teasing.
But as soon as he took in her dull expression, her sleepy, off-face, his smile faded. "What happened to you? Didn't sleep well?" he asked, concern softening his tone.
She gave a tired half-smile. "Just a small headache. I need coffee to recharge."
He nodded, pretending to sound formal. "Ohhk… Bora's there. She'll serve you whatever you want."
She chuckled faintly as she passed by him. "You're up early today… looking quite energetic."
"Yes," he said proudly, straightening his back. "Ready to smash the gym. Fully determined."
Her lips curved into a small laugh. "All the best for your gym journey."
He grinned. "Bora! Serve my nurse a strong coffee!" he announced dramatically.
Hauen couldn't help it; she burst into laughter, and even Bora, who had been quietly arranging breakfast trays, giggled.
"Yes, Sir," Bora played along, making Hauen laugh even more.
"Good morning, ma'am," Bora greeted with a soft smile.
"Morning, Bora. Please make me a coffee… my head's aching," Hauen said, rubbing her temples.
"Of course, ma'am. Just five minutes."
Within minutes, Bora handed her a steaming mug. The rich aroma filled the kitchen, curling into the air and brushing against Hauen's face.
"Mmm… smells good," she murmured, inhaling deeply.
"Thank you, Bora."
"My pleasure, ma'am," the girl smiled, going back to her chores.
Hauen walked toward the living room, wrapping her hands around the mug. Suho was on the mat, stretching his legs as the doctor had instructed. His movements were slow but determined, each step deliberate, a quiet victory over pain.
As soon as he sensed her, he turned. "Why the sudden headache? You didn't drink much last night," he said lightly.
She smiled faintly. "It's just normal. Happens sometimes."
He studied her for a moment, her tired eyes, the heaviness in her face, and though he wanted to ask more, he didn't push. Instead, he smiled and changed the topic, hoping to lighten her mood.
The rest of the morning passed quietly.
But just after noon, her phone rang.
"Officer Park," the name flashed on the screen.
She answered immediately. "Yes, officer?"
"Good afternoon, ma'am," his steady voice came through. "I wanted to inform you, the report on the water bottle sample has arrived."
Hauen straightened slightly. "Please, go ahead."
"The analysis confirms," Officer Park said calmly, "that the water was mixed with a chemical compound, one that causes temporary paralysis. It can be used in targeted poisoning to slow recovery in patients with existing nerve damage."
Her fingers tightened around the phone. "What?"
"Yes, ma'am," he continued. "By the pattern, it seems the target wasn't you, but Mr. Kim. Because his nerves were already weakened, this would've hit him harder. If he had consumed that water, it would've delayed his recovery severely, maybe even caused permanent damage. And it would have looked natural, not criminal."
Hauen's breath hitched. Every word struck like a blow. Her pulse raced, fear and fury clashing inside her chest.
"How could someone do this?" she whispered, her voice trembling before she steadied it. "What's the update on the investigation, officer?"
"It's still in process, ma'am," he replied. "But my team is following every lead. We believe it's connected to the earlier attack. Until we confirm, please be cautious, wherever you go, and whoever visits."
"I understand," she said quietly, fighting to keep her tone calm. "Please find whoever did this, Officer Park. Quickly."
"Yes, ma'am," he said, and the call ended.
Hauen lowered the phone slowly. The silence in the room pressed against her ears.
Someone was trying to harm him. Again.
Her chest tightened painfully. She closed her eyes, the officer's words replaying again and again, "It would have looked natural, not criminal."
How could anyone be so cruel? So deliberate?
She looked up, her gaze finding Suho across the room, walking carefully on the treadmill, each step steady despite the pain. His brow furrowed slightly, sweat glinting at his temples. Even in this struggle, he was trying. Fighting to live normally again.
A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it. Her throat burned.
What if she had been late that night? What if he had drunk that water?
Her heart trembled violently at the thought. All those sleepless nights, all his pain, all their small victories, could've been erased in a second.
She bit her lip hard, wiping her tears quickly. She couldn't let him see. She couldn't show this storm inside her.
She didn't know why; she just couldn't stop the feelings she had for him. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't undo the care, the warmth, the love that kept growing inside her.
Most of the time, she pretended to be just his friend, smiling and teasing like nothing was different. But deep down, her heart was begging, love him, tell him.
Her eyes fell on the calendar. Just one week left. One week, and this fake marriage, this strange little world they built together, would end. Then she would have to leave him.
The thought made her heart tremble. She didn't want to go. But she had to. Because he doesn't feel the same. He had already suffered enough this past year: pain, guilt, heartbreak, and in the middle of all that, confessing her feelings would only burden him.
If she told him the truth, she might lose even the friendship they had. And she couldn't risk that.
No, Hauen… Don't do this to him. Don't make things complicated. He's already been through enough. He doesn't need your feelings to confuse him.
So she swallowed her feelings again, silently choosing to stay by his side, as a friend, even if her heart wanted so much more.
So she wiped the last trace of tears, took a deep breath, and forced a small smile before walking away, leaving the weight of her feelings behind her, at least for now.