By Zephyria 
However, spending money on such things caused Han Seung-jae no inconvenience. It couldn’t even be called a modest hobby in his daily life. He had likely already forgotten that he won a hat at an auction and spent money on a pocket watch necklace on behalf of Seo Yi-kyung. That was how little it affected him.
But for Seo Dong-hu, who stood before him, the situation was entirely different. With the money spent on this sword, he could have started the business he had dreamed of. Even if it would have failed anyway, it would have been a more meaningful use of the funds from his perspective.
Furthermore, it was obvious where this money had come from. His father, Seo Young-hwan, must have paid for it. But for Seo Young-hwan, that amount was not something that could be spent as indifferently as it was for Han Seung-jae.
“O-oh, you’ve arrived.”
Facing the violent Seo Dong-hu, Butler Do’s gaze shifted slightly to the side. It was as if he were searching for a savior to rescue him. Seo Yi-kyung was already looking in that direction.
Seo Young-hwan approached from behind Seo Dong-hu. He looked haggard, with more wrinkles around his eyes than before. Seo Yi-kyung stared at him blankly. It was to the point where one might have said the sick person was the father, Seo Young-hwan, rather than the mother, Lee Se-hee.
“Follow me.”
Seo Young-hwan turned around. Seeing this, Seo Dong-hu hurriedly draped his arm over Seo Yi-kyung’s shoulder. Before Seo Yi-kyung could react, he whispered in his ear.
“Don’t tell Father. This is a secret between you and me.”
Seo Dong-hu waved the sword in his hand. It wasn’t intended as a threat. Rather, it implied that in exchange for taking this sword, Yi-kyung should deposit the money directly to him. Seo Yi-kyung raised his hand and brushed away Seo Dong-hu’s arm from his shoulder.
“That little…”
Seo Dong-hu muttered lowly. However, he didn’t stop Seo Yi-kyung from walking away after Seo Young-hwan. His gaze shifted toward Lee Se-hee, who sat on the bed as if she had lost her soul.
“See? What did I tell you?”
Seo Dong-hu added as he approached Lee Se-hee.
“I told you Yi-kyung changed because he trusts Director Han, didn’t I? He’s planning to throw us all away.”
“…….”
Lee Se-hee’s eyes followed the figure of Seo Yi-kyung as he disappeared through the open door. Despite her claims of being ill, Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze had been cold. Just as Seo Dong-hu said, he seemed like a completely different person.
* * *
Click. Secretary Park opened the door to the Director’s Office and placed a white envelope neatly on the desk. At that, Han Seung-jae, who had been reviewing a business performance evaluation report from the Financial Planning Department, looked up. His gaze lingered on the envelope. He didn’t need to open it to know what was inside.
Hadn’t Seo Yi-kyung gone to his family home today to visit his sick mother? He was the one who had permitted it. The envelope likely contained clear evidence of Seo Yi-kyung leaving the house and heading there.
—I’m already just staying inside the house.
Seo Yi-kyung’s words brushed past Han Seung-jae’s ears. He couldn’t forget the face of Seo Yi-kyung looking up at him from the bed.
—Do you feel suffocated?
He hadn’t received an answer to that. Still, he could vaguely guess.
‘He must feel suffocated.’
If he spent all his time at home, painting and strolling through the garden. Anyone would feel that way.
It was a monotonous, excessively boring daily routine. At least, that was how it appeared to Han Seung-jae. That was why he had pretended not to notice Jin Seon-yu coming and going from the house. But was that still not enough?
“I will have the car ready.”
Checking the time, Secretary Park gathered the approval documents on the desk. It was earlier than usual for leaving work, but if he wanted to pick up Seo Yi-kyung from his family home and take him to the reserved dinner location, they had to leave now.
Han Seung-jae closed the evaluation report.
“How is the amount exactly correct? It’s as if someone meticulously aligned it. Tell them to rewrite it and report to me directly.”
“Understood.”
As he turned to leave, Secretary Park reached out and placed the report on top of the approval documents. Knowing Han Seung-jae’s nature to suspect anything he didn’t understand, he simply gave a concise answer rather than questioning him.
“And.”
Secretary Park turned his head forward. Han Seung-jae, who had been leaning deep into his chair, leaned forward. He reached out his long arm and picked up the white envelope.
“Tell them to stop this behavior from now on.”
Secretary Park spoke slowly as he watched the white envelope drop from Han Seung-jae’s hand into the drawer.
“Are you serious?”
Until now, Secretary Park had simply complied with whatever instructions Han Seung-jae gave. However, knowing what was inside the white envelope, he could not hide his bewilderment.
“Tell the driver as well. Do not report wherever Seo Yi-kyung goes.”
Han Seung-jae slowly stood up. His tall silhouette turned away coldly. Leaving behind the stunned Secretary Park, he picked up his suit jacket, slid his long arms in, and fastened the button.
Han Seung-jae stepped forward. Secretary Park followed a beat later.
As Han Seung-jae opened the door and stepped out, an employee at the entrance stood up and bowed. Secretary Park handed the approval documents and the report to them. While he was speaking, Han Seung-jae was already far ahead.
Secretary Park hurried to catch up and stood before the elevator. The doors opened, and Han Seung-jae stepped in first. Following him, Secretary Park pressed the button for the first floor.
The doors slowly closed. Secretary Park looked at Han Seung-jae’s reflection in the door, feeling confused. Since he had given the order, that was all that needed to be done.
But was it really okay to do that?
This had been going on for over ten years. Regardless of what it was, that was enough time for it to remain as a pathological obsession or a habit. Yet, Han Seung-jae was trying to cut it off overnight. That was…
Ding. A clear, crisp sound rang out. Secretary Park, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality and stepped out first. As he walked, he took an umbrella from an employee who approached him.
Once they were in front of the Myung-jun Financial Group building, Secretary Park opened the black umbrella, and Han Seung-jae, radiating coldness, began to walk.
Tension etched Secretary Park’s face as he walked in sync to ensure Han Seung-jae didn’t get wet.
Secretary Park opened the rear door of the sedan. Han Seung-jae sat down smoothly and looked at his wet sleeve. Raindrops had splashed, leaving stains. Secretary Park quickly pulled a handkerchief from his inner pocket and offered it to him. Then, Secretary Park folded the umbrella and settled into the passenger seat. Raindrops had soaked into his shoulder and back, but he didn’t have time to notice.
Han Seung-jae wiped his suit sleeve with the handkerchief. Watching this through the rearview mirror, Secretary Park swallowed the words swirling in his throat. To say he would no longer receive reports on what the other was doing…
Does he intend to try and trust Mr. Seo Yi-kyung?
Secretary Park couldn’t ask and looked straight ahead. The rainy road was filled with red lights as cars repeatedly stopped and started.
“…….”
Han Seung-jae rubbed the stained sleeve of his suit with the handkerchief. It was something he should have stopped eventually. In fact, it was something that should have stopped a long time ago.
Showing excessive obsession as if searching for a flaw, and failing to let go of suspicion even after marriage.
—Director Han, CEO Seo Young-hwan is outside.
He wasn’t unaware of why the man had come. Therefore, there was no need to meet him.
—I’ll send him away.
Secretary Park bowed. It was just as he was about to turn away. But even at that moment, there was something pulling at Han Seung-jae’s nerves.
—Tell him to come in. There’s something I want to ask.
CEO Seo Young-hwan sat on the sofa Secretary Park pointed to.
—Please let me see Yi-kyung. My wife is very ill. So please, just ask Yi-kyung for me. It’s my request.
—I’ll ask just one thing.
Immediately after, Han Seung-jae stared at Seo Young-hwan.
—What did you say about me?
Han Seung-jae’s gaze was sharp as he spoke. Depending on CEO Seo Young-hwan’s answer, Han Seung-jae’s response could change.
—Did Yi-kyung say something to you?
—You have no grasp of the situation at all.
Han Seung-jae had no need to put on a facade for anyone, nor any reason to show kindness.
There was a limit to how much he could scrape together his patience to use gentle words as if he were considerate, or to manufacture a kindness that didn’t exist.
—I asked what you blabbed about me.
Han Seung-jae’s voice rang out harshly. Only then did CEO Seo Young-hwan, having grasped the situation, speak.
—I didn’t say anything to the boy.
Han Seung-jae’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t wanted to see this man’s face just to hear such words. It was a waste of time. Han Seung-jae stood up from the sofa without a shred of lingering regret.
—Get him out.
Secretary Park stepped forward and grabbed CEO Seo Young-hwan’s arm.
—You.
Han Seung-jae had already turned his body completely. Watching his back as he headed toward the desk, CEO Seo Young-hwan muttered as he stood up.
—Can you not trust my word? That boy did nothing but paint while waiting for the day he would marry you.
Approaching the desk, Han Seung-jae slowly turned around.
—What could a child who does nothing but paint, walls himself off from outside affairs, and doesn’t even know how the world works possibly say?
Han Seung-jae showed his palm. At that, Secretary Park released CEO Seo Young-hwan’s arm.
Seo Young-hwan glared at Secretary Park, then added a word toward Han Seung-jae.
—If you send Yi-kyung home, I’ll send a canvas of cherry blossoms with him. You married in the spring, didn’t you? He spent the whole winter in the painting studio just to paint that…
Han Seung-jae leaned against the desk. Simultaneously, CEO Seo Young-hwan, who had been pulled up, lowered himself and sat back down. He picked up the tea in front of him and drank it in one gulp.
* * *
“……We have arrived.”
Due to traffic, the arrival was later than expected. Han Seung-jae, who had been working on a tablet PC, turned his head. In the dim light, a well-maintained garden was visible outside. Perhaps because it was raining, the residential house with its lights on looked more atmospheric.
“It seems they are still talking.”
Secretary Park checked the license plate of the sedan parked in front. It looked familiar; it was certainly the one the driver who brought Seo Yi-kyung was in. Having noticed them, the driver opened the door and bowed. At that moment, Han Seung-jae flung open the rear door.
Secretary Park, who had been looking straight ahead, hurriedly opened the door and followed him out. Looking closely, he could see Seo Yi-kyung walking quickly across the garden.
Secretary Park turned his upper body toward the passenger seat, took out a large umbrella, and opened it. Although the rain had weakened slightly, a drizzle was still falling.
Han Seung-jae used the tablet PC he was holding to cover the top of Seo Yi-kyung’s small head. Seo Yi-kyung, whose hair was wet with the drizzle, looked up.
Seo Yi-kyung’s pupils shook violently as he looked at Han Seung-jae standing before him.