Suho returned to his hotel room completely exhausted.
The entire day had been filled with meetings, last-minute problems, and constant introductions to new people. New faces congratulating him for a future he had never asked for.
By the time he entered the luxurious room, his energy was already gone. The silence inside greeted him painfully.
The door closed behind him with a muted click. He removed his blazer and dropped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
His mind drifted back to the past year. How his life had twisted in ways he never imagined. And now, once he returned to Korea, everything would change for real. A change he had agreed to for himself.
He didn't know what kind of life awaited him after this. Would he ever find peace? Would he really be able to forget Hauen and love Yerin again?
These days, even Yerin's presence made him feel suffocated. Her simple touch felt like burning irritation on his skin. He didn't know how much honesty he could give in this relationship.
How was he supposed to keep Yerin happy while slowly killing himself inside?
He still remembered how difficult it had been in the beginning, when he married Hauen under a contract while his heart was deeply attached to Yerin. Yet Hauen understood his situation. She never pressured him. She made everything easier for him, quietly and patiently.
Now, the roles had completely changed.
This time, it was Yerin whom he found hard to accept. Hard to love again. And this time, Yerin did not understand his situation.
He was tired. Tired of failing twice in love. It felt cruel, almost like a joke. As if his heart existed only to be played with. No one understood how painful it was to be asked to forget one person completely and accept another immediately.
He didn't know why this was happening to him again and again. He didn't know where it would lead or how it would end.
But one thing was clear. Hauen could never be forgotten so easily.
She lived in every breath he took, in every cell of his body.
And he feared this truth would hurt Yerin someday. Because he knew one thing for sure, he could never keep someone happy by faking his emotions.
He wondered what would happen if Hauen returned tomorrow. How would she be? How would he face her?
The tangled thoughts tightened his chest, making his breath hitch.
Had Hauen really betrayed him? If not, why hadn't she come back even after the case against her was withdrawn?
How was she living? What was she doing now? Did she still love him?
And then darker thoughts crept in. What if she didn't? What if something had happened to her?What if someone had hurt her?
Each question fed his anxiety.
Suddenly, he sat up, gasping for breath, trying to steady himself.
Just then, his phone rang. He looked at the screen.
Yerin.
He sighed, unsure whether to answer or let it ring. Before he could decide, the call disconnected.
He let out a slow breath and ran his hands through his messy hair, his heart still racing.
The phone buzzed again.
Suho sighed and finally answered the call. "Ye… Yerina," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Good morning, baby," she said softly. "Oh… it must be night for you. How are you doing?"
"Hectic," he replied with a single word.
"Why didn't you pick up my call earlier?" she asked.
"I'm just back to hotel room. It disconnected before I could answer," he said.
She paused for a moment. "You sound tired. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah… just busy schedule," he replied again, keeping it short.
"What happened?" she pressed, not satisfied.
"Nothing," he said.
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then she spoke again.
"By the way… did Kang Hyunwoo try to contact you?"
Suho froze for a second, surprised by the question.
"Why are you asking?" he asked carefully.
"Just answer me," she insisted. "Did he?"
Suho frowned slightly. "No."
"Are you sure?" she asked, her tone doubtful.
It irritated him, but he kept his calm.
"Why would I lie, Yerin?" he asked.
She laughed lightly. "Not like that, baby. Yesterday, he tried to break into the penthouse. Banging on the door like a madman. I got scared, so I wanted to check if you're okay."
That didn't sound like Hyunwoo. Suho frowned. "Did he really do that?"
"Yes. Bora and I were terrified. The guard threatened to call the police, so he ran away."
Confusion clouded his mind. Something didn't sit right with him.
Why would Hyunwoo do that? He wasn't foolish enough to do something reckless right after getting out of jail.
"Don't stay at the penthouse," he said firmly. "Go back to your place until I return. Tell Bora to stay alert."
"Okay," Yerin agreed softly. "Come back soon. I miss you."
"Hmmm."
"Why are you acting so cold?" she asked again. "Don't you love me?"
Suho closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Yerina… I understand how you feel," he said carefully. "But I need time. I can't suddenly be the way we used to be."
He chose every word carefully, afraid of hurting her. There was silence for a moment. His fists clenched, expecting tears or anger. But she spoke softly.
"Okay… take your time," she said, her voice breaking.
He felt it again. She was hurt.
"Take care," he said gently. "I need to freshen up. Bye."
"I love you," she said, her words heavy with emotion.
His heart tightened. His tongue felt stuck, unable to respond. After a long pause, he forced the words out.
"Me too."
silence...
"Bye," she said, and the call disconnected.
He threw his phone aside, his mind spiraling, his heart screaming. Unable to bear it anymore, he rushed into the bathroom and stood under the shower, letting the water run over him, trying to calm his nerves.
Thirty long minutes later, he stepped out, wiping his hair slowly. He changed into comfortable clothes, but the heaviness inside his chest refused to fade.
He flopped onto the bed again, staring at the ceiling, his mind slipping back into chaos.
Yerin's words about Hyunwoo echoed again.
Why would he break into my house? In the middle of the night? What's wrong with him?
None of it made sense.
And why would he try to contact me?
Suho sat up suddenly and picked up his phone, checking the call log. No missed calls. No unknown numbers. Nothing from Hyunwoo.
Just then, his eyes caught an email notification.
Unknown sender. He frowned. Who is this?
Before he could open it, his phone rang.
An unknown number.
His body stiffened. Is this Hyunwoo?
He looked closely at the screen. The country code made his brows knit together.
America?
That's impossible. Hyunwoo can't be here.
Confusion mixed with suspicion as his thumb hovered for a second before he answered.
"Hello?"
There was silence. Then a deep, cold voice spoke from the other side.
"If you want your wife, Kim Hauen, come to Street Number 26 immediately."
Suho's breath hitched.
"You have ten minutes,"