“When the patient came into the emergency room, his blood pressure, pulse, and consciousness were at their lowest. Did you know your father signed a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) agreement?”

“Yes?”

“He refused intensive care.”

The emergency doctor conveyed that Jae Yoon had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and had written a DNR agreement for hospice admission.

He added that terminal cancer patients often come to the emergency room suddenly due to respiratory difficulties.

Having finished speaking, the emergency doctor hurriedly left to see another patient.

Jong Goo told Ji An, who was lost in thought, about Jae Yoon’s final moments.

“You won’t believe it looking at him like that, but he was fine until the afternoon. He had even packed for his admission to the terminal cancer ward on Monday.”

He sighed deeply and continued.

“He said, ‘Brother, it feels like spring is coming,’ and lay down to take a nap. And then he didn’t wake up. I briefly went to the field and this happened. ……I hurried to the hospital.”

“…….”

“You could have taken him if you had stayed one more day. Heaven is so heartless. He was a man who chuckled, saying he could see his wife and daughter tomorrow.”

Jong Goo asked Ji An, who was silently biting her lips.

“I thought Je Su would come with you. He’s not answering his phone. Is he coming?”

“Yes? ……I’ll try to reach him.”

Only then did Ji An remember that she hadn’t even called her mother, Eun Ji, or her friend, Genesis.

She hurriedly made successive calls to her mother and Genesis, but only received a message saying they weren’t answering. She immediately called Genesis’s manager, Mr. Cha.
After receiving the news of her father’s death, Ji An stood still, unsure of what to do next.

“I had a drink with my uncle. Why? Why does dad’s voice sound so strange? ……I’m out of breath because I’m doing some fence work at grandma’s house.”

Ji An had believed her father when he said he was busy, or that he would visit grandma’s house in the spring, on the rare occasions when he didn’t pick up the phone.

Why had she believed all that?

She began to remember one by one, the peculiar behaviors of Jae Yoon.

“Then come home. Let’s eat as a family.”

“I don’t want to.”

She hadn’t found it strange when she was called home with such insistence and refused. She had unquestioningly believed the excuse of needing a break from work, and that repairs were being done at grandma’s house for a stay.

All of it had been weird, yet she’d never found it strange.

Ji An, her face gaunt, rested her hand on Jae Yoon’s and closed her eyes as she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

How scared must Dad have been alone? Faced with his own death, he must have thought of his family first.

But this is something we should mourn and support together.

“Dad. You want me not to cry, right? It was hard for you to see that, right? I’m sorry, Dad. I’m really sorry for leaving you alone.”

When she opened her eyes again, she tightly grasped Jae Yoon’s hand and spoke with difficulty.

“Dad. ……I love you. I will live well so you don’t have to worry.”

Jong Gu’s empty words as he wiped away his tears echoed in the air.

“Who knew it would end this tragically. I was looking forward to seeing my daughter tomorrow. Why did this happen?”

Dan Woo, who had been watching her, firmly gripped Ji An’s shoulder.

Upon receiving a nod from Ji An that she was okay, Dan Woo spoke.

“Sit and wait. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“……No. It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

“Stay here.”

Ji An touched her eyes with the back of her hand. She thought she would burst into tears, but strangely, she felt nothing.

Could it be a momentary shock? She found it strange, but didn’t know why.

Dan Woo left Ji An in the waiting room and headed to the nurse’s station after having a conversation with Jong Gu. After completing basic administrative procedures, he opened his phone and called Tae Yoon.

[Dash] Yes, CEO. ……Why? Is it hard for Ji An to accept? Didn’t go well?

Tae Yoon checked the time and asked with a puzzled voice.

Dan Woo thought by this Friday night, which they had planned for a date, he would have opened up to her by now.

He wondered if the reason for the sudden call was because things weren’t going well.

“It’s not that. Ji An’s father has passed away. Contact Zenith Entertainment and ask if there’s anything they can do to help. Let’s move together.”

Dan Woo took a deep breath before speaking.

My heart aches so much just conveying these words.

Ji An, having completed what she needed to do at the hospital, sat down with a vacant expression. Even someone like me, who never met him, feels this broken.

“I’ll take care of things here. Let me know once the funeral hall is decided.”

[Dash] Will do.

Just then, a bed covered with a white sheet passed by him.

On the road back to Seoul, Dan Woo’s sedan followed the ambulance.

The seemingly endless dark road, the headlights illuminating the path, and Ji An’s blank stare caused Dan Woo’s heart to sink.

At Geon Guk Law Firm, Attorney Yoon Ha Joon’s office.

Knock-knock[Dash].

“Yes, come in.”

“The meeting is ready.”

At his secretary’s words, Ha Joon nodded, signaling he would be there shortly, and put down his files. His face tightened as he saw the news on his phone.

[Violinist Zenith’s father passes away] He searched for other news, hoping he had seen it wrong, but articles with the same headline were being uploaded one after another.

As he quickly dialed Ji An’s number, a voice choked with emotion came through.

[Dash] Ha Joon.

“Are you okay?”

[Dash] …….

“I asked if you’re okay.”

[Dash] No. I don’t think I’m okay.

At that moment, what filled Ha Joon’s mind wasn’t Hye Yoon’s death but Ji An.

Knowing better than anyone what Hye Yoon meant to her, Ha Joon felt as if despair was crumbling down in front of his eyes.