“Sorry. If only I hadn’t hurried with the marriage registration, we wouldn’t have needed the divorce procedure. I was short-sighted.”

“Really…”

“Take your time if you need. There’s no need to rush the divorce.”

He spoke firmly. However, her voice, even firmer, penetrated his ears.

“I’m sorry too, Mr. Taejoon. But I can’t easily go through with the divorce. Why? Look into your eyes right now. With those eyes, how can I divorce you, suggesting that we should?”
That’s how it was. The one preparing for farewell with such longing eyes, more than anyone else, was ironically himself. I understand that there must be a reason he couldn’t say.

Even if she asked repeatedly, he would never tell her that reason.

So, Seorin decided to hold onto him for now.

Letting him go like this felt like it wouldn’t be the end of the divorce but rather that reason would destroy him.

“So, come back and talk.”

“Seorin…”

“If you want a divorce that badly, either say it’s because you love me and we’re divorcing, or openly admit to having an affair! I’ll cleanly divorce you then.”

“…”

“If you don’t have that much courage, there won’t be a divorce. When I agreed to the marriage registration with Mr. Taejoon, I didn’t do it thoughtlessly. I did it with the intention of going all the way with you. So don’t make me a one-sided divorcee.”

With that, Seorin turned away.

Watching her back as she headed to work, Taejoon once again collapsed silently.

Every moment he had lived so far felt invalidated in an instant.

The days he had stepped on to be with her, the present they had become as a married couple after the marriage registration, even the past that he didn’t need to know had been corroded.

A past that he didn’t need to know…

“Ha… damn it!”

A bitter curse flowed out.

There was no one to blame. It was none other than him who had been greedy for the past.

Taejoon slumped onto the sofa as if his energy had drained away. And then, the phone rang.

“Yeah.”

[I’m ready. But… do you really have to do it this way?]

“Yeah. For now, I’m going to New York today, so you stay and take care of the rest.”

[Okay. I understand.]

Listening to Sodam’s reluctant response, he closed his eyes.

It was truly a hellish time.

He couldn’t remember how he managed to work or what state of mind he was in. Sitting at the desk and spacing out dozens of times, he was eventually questioned by Director Park, who sensed something strange, asking Seorin.

“Did you have a nightmare by any chance?”

Yes, he would rather it had been a nightmare.

Unfortunately, she was living in the present.

“No. Just a bit tired.”

“Should I get you some fatigue recovery pills?”

“It’s okay. It’s not that severe. But I might have to leave work a bit early today.”

“Now?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright.”

After Director Park left, she quickly prepared to leave work. She only had the desire to go home and talk to Taejoon again.

Divorce… a divorce? In her life, there would be no such thing as divorce. However, on the other hand, the reason why Taejoon had pushed her to such an extreme situation was frightening.

Exactly how significant was the reason that made Taejoon’s love for her turn into something beyond that?

On instinct, Seorin speculated that the reason lay in Oksoon’s death.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t associate their marriage and Oksoon’s death.

“I need to know the reason.”
I was afraid, but I plan to ask for the reason again. No, I plan to keep asking until he tells me. And if he still doesn’t tell me, she thought she would search for it herself.

With that determination, the heavy heart that had sunk began to lift its head again.

It wasn’t much more than lifting her head above water to breathe, but at least she could erase the feeling of being submerged in that dark water.

Seorin, getting off the elevator upon arriving home, stared at the door lock and took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind.

Then, as if making a decision, she pressed the door lock and entered the house.

As usual, the first thing that greeted her was the sensor light of the front door.

A strangely chilly wind passed through her chest. Then, as a passing thought, Seorin, with quick steps, rushed into the bedroom and checked the dressing room.

Several of his clothes were missing. It looked like he had gone on a short trip, along with a suitcase.

“No way…”

As she came back to the living room, surprised, about to run upstairs, she saw an envelope neatly placed on the living room table.

Approaching it with heavy steps, Seorin checked it and was surprised.

It was a contract transferring all the shares he held to her.

The contract, with his signature already completed, was waiting for her to sign, leaving only her signature here.

Finally, Seorin picked up her phone.

The signal dropped, and Taejoon’s voice came through.

“What is this document you have now?”

[Although we’re getting a divorce, my desire to protect you remains unchanged. I’ll transfer my shares to you. And if you need my help, I’ll always be by your side.]

“Are you crazy? Are you really going to do this?”

[Sorry. Tell the assistant secretary the conditions you want for the divorce. Since the assistant secretary will stay in Korea for the time being to handle the rest.]

“For the time being, stay in Korea? Then… where are you right now?”

[I’ll be on a plane soon.]

“What the…”

[Go back to New York.]

For a moment, Seorin felt the scene in front of her fade away.

Reality, more terrifying than a nightmare, was unfolding before her eyes. Nightmares could be woken up from, but she didn’t know how to escape this hellish reality.

[Sorry, Seorin. Really… sorry.]

The call was disconnected. The hand that held the phone fell weakly downward.

It felt like her heart had been torn to pieces. It was the moment when the pain she had embraced with Taejoon eight years ago had become a boomerang and flew back to her.

Being unilaterally discarded by someone felt exactly like this.

But regrets couldn’t undo the past.

In the end, tears burst out.

“Sob, sob, sob.”

He… left.