Just like that, the Kim mansion finally fell quiet.
Everyone had gone to their rooms.
Well... almost everyone.
Ji-Ah was still awake.
She sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the documents spread across the blanket. The room was dark except for the small lamp beside her.
Every time she closed her eyes, the same thoughts returned.
How am I supposed to tell Ha-Joon?
She had spent the entire night going over everything.
Seo-Rin. Ji-Hoo. Tea-Hyun.
The medical reports. The school records. The photograph.
The fact that Min-Ji had abandoned her own family for the possibility of marrying Ha-Joon.
And now Madam wanted to force that marriage to happen.
Ji-Ah rubbed her tired face.
"Tomorrow," she whispered.
She had to tell him tomorrow.
There was no more time to hesitate.
And suddenly, morning arrived.
The sunlight slipped through the curtains, falling across Ji-Ah's face.
She slowly opened her eyes.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.
Then reality returned. She sat up. Her body felt heavy after barely sleeping. She looked terrible.
Her hair was tangled from tossing around all night, there were faint shadows beneath her eyes, and her face looked like she'd spent the night arguing with every problem in existence.
Still, somehow, she managed to look presentable.
At least more presentable than certain people she knew.
She dragged herself toward the bathroom.
After freshening up, she tied her hair neatly behind her head and changed into clean clothes. Then she returned to the bed and opened the drawer.
Everything.
She checked everything.
Medical reports.
School records.
The photograph.
Ji-Hoo's information.
The documents concerning Seo-Rin.
She placed them carefully into her bag.
She checked again.
Then once more. "Everything's here."
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
Seo-Yeon:It's 9:45. Where are you? Ha-Joon's here asking questions I don't have answers to.
Ji-Ah stared at the message.
She quickly typed. Ji-Ah:Don't worry. I'll be there.
She put her phone away.
Then she grabbed her bag.
She almost walked out before stopping. "Keys."
She checked her pocket.
Nothing. "Helmet."
She Walked outside where the cars a parked and finally she saw it, standing alone shinning.
There it was. "Pip."
Her eyes widened.
She had almost forgotten. She grabbed everything she needed and finally headed toward the door.
She had barely stepped into the hallway when a voice stopped her. "Where are you going?"
Ji-Ah froze.
She slowly turned.
Madam stood farther down the hallway.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to work."
Madam gave a dry little laugh. "Yes. I know."
Her eyes traveled over Ji-Ah. "But don't get too attached."
Ji-Ah's expression remained calm.
"You'll be leaving soon."
Ji-Ah lowered her gaze. "Yeah."
She nodded once. "I know."
Then she turned around and walked away.
Madam watched her disappear down the hallway.
There was a small, unreadable smile on her face.
Outside, Ji-Ah reached the parking area.
The moment she saw Pip, her entire expression changed.
She walked toward the motorcycle and gently touched the handle.
"Oh my gosh..." She smiled. "My baby."
She ran a hand over it. "My Sheila darling."
She hadn't ridden it in so long. Too long. "Do you know how much I missed you?"
She adjusted her helmet.
"I haven't ridden you in days..."
She paused. "Actually..." Her expression became horrified. "Months."
She stared at Pip. "It feels like a whole year."
She shook her head. "Baby, you don't know how much I missed you."
She leaned closer. "You're the bravest girl."
She looked toward the driveway. "And you look way more elegant than Ha-Joon's car."
She paused. "Don't tell him I said that."
She put on her helmet. "Yeah. That's right."
A moment later, the engine came alive.
Ji-Ah smiled. "Let's go."
She rode out of the mansion grounds and onto the road.
By the time she reached Hanryeon Food, she was already thinking about the conversation waiting for her.
She parked Pip and hurried inside.
Soo-Min spotted her almost immediately. "Ji-Ah!"
Ji-Ah turned.
Soo-Min's eyes widened. "You came back early! What a surprise!"
Ji-Ah smiled. "I'm coming, Soo-Min. I have to deal with something first."
"But—"
Ji-Ah was already moving.
Further down the hallway, Min-Jea noticed her. "Ji-Ah!"
He started toward her.
She simply patted his head as she passed. "Later."
Then Lin stepped directly into her path. "Where are you running to?"
Ji-Ah stopped.
She gave him a look.
"My dear..." She pointed down the hallway. "If you don't let me go now, my life will completely be ruined."
Lin blinked. He slowly moved aside. "Okay."
Then he called after her. "But come back soon and tell us what happened."
Ji-Ah nodded. "I will."
And she disappeared down the hallway.
The family hall was quiet when Ji-Ah finally stepped inside.
Seo-Yeon was already there.
Ha-Joon stood near the long table, his hands resting loosely at his sides. He looked as composed as ever, but the moment his eyes found Ji-Ah, something in his expression shifted.
It was subtle.
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
His eyes moved over her face, taking in the tiredness beneath her eyes, the way she held herself a little more carefully than usual, and the bag hanging from her shoulder.
Ji-Ah stopped several steps away.
For some reason, her heart began beating faster.
She had prepared herself for questions. She had prepared herself for doubt.
She had prepared herself to see that cold, disappointed expression from the night before.
Instead, Ha-Joon slowly walked toward her.
His footsteps were quiet against the floor.
Ji-Ah lowered her eyes. Here it comes.
He stopped directly in front of her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Ha-Joon looked at her. Really looked at her.
Then he let out a slow breath. And without saying anything, he pulled her into his arms.
Ji-Ah froze. Her hands remained at her sides for a second, completely caught off guard.
She had expected words. She had expected questions.
She had expected him to ask why she'd disappeared yesterday and where she'd gone.
She hadn't expected this.
His arms were wrapped securely around her, holding her close without squeezing too tightly. The warmth of him immediately reached through the tension she'd been carrying since the previous night.
Ji-Ah's eyes slowly widened.
Then her shoulders loosened.
She could hear his breathing near her ear, steady and quiet.
For the first time since everything had started falling apart, she didn't have to explain anything.
She didn't have to defend herself.
She didn't have to prove she wasn't a liar.
She could simply stand there.
Her fingers slowly curled into the back of his shirt.
Ha-Joon closed his eyes for a moment.
He had spent the entire morning thinking about her.
About yesterday.
About the way she'd stood in that living room while everyone questioned her.
About the tears running down her face while she kept trying to explain herself.
He had hated watching it.
And now that she was standing in front of him, he realized how much he'd wanted to make sure she was alright.
His hold tightened slightly.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to silently tell her that he was there.
Ji-Ah swallowed.
Her eyes stung.
She quickly blinked the feeling away.
Don't cry.
Not now.
She had come here to expose Min-Ji, not cry in Ha-Joon's arms.
But for those few quiet seconds, everything outside that embrace seemed very far away.
The mansion.
Madam.
Min-Ji.
The accusations.
The wedding.
All of it disappeared behind the simple warmth of being held.
Ha-Joon finally spoke, his voice low. "Are you Okay?"
Ji-Ah didn't immediately answer.
She remained there for another second before quietly saying, "I'm fine."
He didn't let go. "You don't look fine."
"I am."
His voice became softer. "How are you really feeling?"
Ji-Ah closed her eyes briefly. "I'm tired."
That was all she could manage.
Ha-Joon's hand moved gently against her back. "I know."
She opened her eyes. "You know?"
"I saw you yesterday." His voice was quiet. "I saw how much it hurt you."
Ji-Ah's fingers tightened slightly against his shirt. "I thought you were going to believe them."
"I didn't."
She looked up.
Ha-Joon finally loosened his arms, but he didn't step away immediately. "I was confused."
Ji-Ah nodded slowly. "I know."
"I wasn't doubting you."
His eyes remained on hers. "I just didn't understand what I was seeing."
Ji-Ah looked down. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
He paused.
"You were trying to protect me."
She looked back at him.
Ha-Joon gently touched her shoulder. "And you shouldn't have had to do all of this alone."
Ji-Ah's expression softened.
For a moment, she couldn't find anything to say.
Seo-Yeon, who had been standing nearby watching the entire thing, quietly covered the lower half of her face with her hand.
She had never seen Ha-Joon hold someone like that.
And judging by the way Ji-Ah had melted into his arms, she clearly hadn't expected it either.
Ha-Joon finally stepped back.
But his gaze remained on Ji-Ah. "How is your ankle?"
"Better."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He looked unconvinced.
Ji-Ah gave him a small smile. "Ha-Joon, I'm fine."
He sighed. "You always say that."
"And you're always worried."
"Because you keep giving me reasons to worry."
Ji-Ah smiled faintly.
Then she remembered why she was here.
Her expression became serious.
"Ha-Joon..." He immediately noticed the change. "What is it?"
She took his hand. "Come with me."
They walked toward the table.
Ha-Joon sat in the large chair at the head of it.
Ji-Ah placed her bag down.
One by one, she began removing the documents.
Medical reports.
School records.
Photographs.
Names.
Dates.
Everything she had collected.