By Zephyria 
Seo Yi-kyung felt as if his racing heart had suddenly plummeted. There was no change in Han Seung-jae’s expression. Looking at him from up close, Han Seung-jae remained a man defined by coldness and composure.
“Seung-jae…”
Without realizing it, Seo Yi-kyung swallowed hard. He struggled to continue his sentence.
“It’s not… like that, is it?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s pupils were trembling slightly. It was evident that while he lacked confidence in his own words, he desperately wanted to believe them.
Han Seung-jae’s sharp gaze gradually softened. He looked at Seo Yi-kyung’s face and reached out his hand again. Though he flinched, Seo Yi-kyung did not avoid the touch and quietly let him touch his forehead.
Seo Yi-kyung’s forehead, touching Han Seung-jae’s palm, still held a slight fever. Although Han Seung-jae’s hands were relatively cool, Seo Yi-kyung was someone who had just woken up after lying in bed suffering. It wasn’t a new thing for Seo Yi-kyung to be easily startled by small things.
However, seeing how he reacted instantly to Min Ra-hyeon’s name, just as Secretary Park had said, it seemed Seo Yi-kyung had indeed overheard the phone call.
—It was my oversight.
After contacting the attending physician, Secretary Park, who was belatedly leaving the study, paused for a moment in front of the open bedroom door. On the table were refreshments that showed signs of someone having been there, and a teapot sat lonely on the floor.
Butler Do, who had been speaking about Seo Yi-kyung’s condition a moment ago, seemed flustered, his mind completely preoccupied. He appeared to have forgotten to clean the place. Thus, it was easy to deduce that Seo Yi-kyung had been staying in this room.
—I didn’t realize he was in that room. He likely heard the contents of my call.
Having finished his recollection, Han Seung-jae slowly lowered his hand. Seo Yi-kyung still had a look in his eyes, hoping Han Seung-jae would tell him it wasn’t true. And Han Seung-jae gave him the answer he wanted.
“I believe I told you. That he left this house.”
Where Min Ra-hyeon went after that was none of Han Seung-jae’s concern. What was certain was that there was someone who could testify to that fact.
“If you don’t believe my words.”
Han Seung-jae calmly took the glass from Seo Yi-kyung’s hand and placed it on the nightstand. He then picked up the tray with the bowl of porridge and placed it on Seo Yi-kyung’s lap.
“How about Secretary Park? He was there.”
Clink. Han Seung-jae lifted the lid of the porridge bowl and set it aside. He tilted his head slightly.
“Eat. Once you finish this, I’ll call Secretary Park.”
Seo Yi-kyung gripped the spoon. Conscious of Han Seung-jae’s gaze, he scooped a bit of porridge and brought it to his lips. His mouth tasted bitter. He had no appetite. Nevertheless, Seo Yi-kyung opened his mouth and swallowed the porridge.
However, Seo Yi-kyung was unable to meet Secretary Park. After finishing half the porridge, his fever spiked again, and he collapsed back into bed.
* * *
The next day, at noon, Secretary Park entered the house. Butler Do greeted him.
“Director Han is currently in the study.”
As he walked, Secretary Park’s gaze landed on the attending physician sitting on the sofa. The doctor was repeatedly rubbing his face, trying to fight off the overwhelming sleepiness.
Perhaps because he hadn’t slept a wink all night, his eyes were bloodshot, and dark circles had formed beneath them. Butler Do approached the physician, placed a glass of cold water beside him, and turned away.
Secretary Park took the elevator to the second floor. Knock, knock. He knocked twice and entered the study.
“…It seems that on that day, Min Ra-hyeon went to see Kang In-oh.”
The two had been engaged through their families. Furthermore, since Min Ra-hyeon had very little money left, there was a strong possibility he had gone to seek help from Kang In-oh. However, that was merely Secretary Park’s personal opinion.
Han Seung-jae did not appreciate it when people added personal opinions to their reports. To Han Seung-jae, one must deliver only the facts as they are.
Secretary Park took a piece of paper from his inner pocket and pushed it toward Han Seung-jae. As he took it and unfolded the paper, a copy of a witness statement was revealed.
Secretary Park spoke accordingly.
“According to the witness’s statement, the sound of arguing was heard, followed by three gunshots. Two of them seemed to be aimed at Mr. Kang In-oh, and the final shot appears to have occurred when Mr. Min Ra-hyeon aimed the gun at his own head.”
It was also confirmed that only Min Ra-hyeon’s fingerprints were found on the gun. While Secretary Park reported the sequence of events, Han Seung-jae simply listened. He seemed lost in thought.
Secretary Park delivered the news without any emotion or pity.
“Mr. Min Ra-hyeon died instantly at the scene, and only Mr. Kang In-oh was rushed to Haseon Hospital. His condition is currently critical, and it is said he likely won’t survive the day.”
Only after the final words were spoken did Han Seung-jae lift his head and stand up. He handed the paper back to Secretary Park. Secretary Park took it, folded it, and put it back in his inner pocket.
Han Seung-jae murmured as he walked around the desk.
“Good work. However, you’ll need to mix in some lies when you go in there.”
Because it would be troublesome for me if he collapsed again. Han Seung-jae left the study indifferently. Secretary Park followed behind him.
Han Seung-jae opened the bedroom door and looked back. Secretary Park entered the open door and faced Seo Yi-kyung, who was leaning his back against the headboard of the bed. No strength could be felt from him.
With a pale complexion, Seo Yi-kyung’s lips were white and chapped. A newly inserted IV line sat on his wrist. It was obvious he had been ill all night. Seeing this, Secretary Park quickly understood the meaning of what Han Seung-jae had said. Thus, he refrained from saying anything shocking.
“While he was at the hospital, Mr. Min Ra-hyeon said he would pack his suitcase and leave. Director Han told him to do so.”
Seo Yi-kyung blinked. He maintained a gaze that didn’t doubt Secretary Park’s words in the slightest. It made sense; there was likely only one reason Han Seung-jae kept Secretary Park by his side. He clearly trusted him. Therefore, Seo Yi-kyung listened intently to Secretary Park’s words.
“After that, it seems he went to see Mr. Kang In-oh, his marriage partner. There was an argument between the two, and he said he called me because my number was on Mr. Min Ra-hyeon’s phone.”
Compared to what he had told Han Seung-jae in the study, this was extremely trimmed down, monotonous, and lacked any real detail. He spoke concisely, as if an unfortunate incident had occurred because someone couldn’t endure an argument with a partner they were about to marry.
“I have told you everything exactly as it happened.”
Secretary Park spoke with a confident expression. Similarly, Seo Yi-kyung looked at him and then slowly turned his head.
Until then, Han Seung-jae had been perched on the chair next to the bed. He did not interfere, intervene, or interrupt Secretary Park’s words at all.
But even if the story he just heard wasn’t the truth, there was no way Secretary Park could say something with a different intention while Han Seung-jae was sitting right there. Still, Seo Yi-kyung wanted to believe Secretary Park’s words completely.
“Since it seems you have nothing more to ask, I will be in the study.”
Secretary Park bowed and turned away.
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head and stared at Secretary Park’s receding back. He couldn’t think of anything else to hold him back and ask.
“You can’t believe my words, but you trust Secretary Park’s, I see?”
Seo Yi-kyung’s head slowly turned to the side. Han Seung-jae leaned his upper body forward slightly. He moved closer to Seo Yi-kyung’s body. Looking at him, Seo Yi-kyung murmured softly.
“Secretary Park is…”
Han Seung-jae tilted his head. His emotionless eyes seemed to say, ‘Go on, speak.’
Seo Yi-kyung lowered his eyelids. For some reason, it was difficult to look Han Seung-jae straight in the eye.
Seo Yi-kyung carefully let out the words lingering on his tongue.
“He’s someone you trust, Seung-jae.”
“…”
“That’s why I believe Secretary Park’s words too.”
Seo Yi-kyung wanted to believe Secretary Park.
The words that Han Seung-jae had said ‘do so’ when Min Ra-hyeon said he would leave still echoed in his ears. The tone Han Seung-jae used when saying those words lingered in his mind.
Had he said it indifferently? Had he been heartless? Had he spoken coldly, leaving no room for doubt?
Either way, Han Seung-jae did not keep Min Ra-hyeon in this house.
With that alone, Seo Yi-kyung felt as if the stone that had been pressing down on his chest for a while was gradually blurring and disappearing.