FGP 20

Chapter 20

“I got to you a bit late, so I went straight to Jo Jaeseok’s villa. I ended up being very late. By the time I arrived, there had already been a chain collision, and the highway was a mess. And… you were alone in Jo Jaeseok’s car.”

She had been alone in the wrecked car. Just imagining it was horrifying.

“There was a huge accident across the entire highway, and no one knew when the ambulance would arrive. If I left you there, the fire could have spread to your car at any moment… and you were terrified.”

Even though she was hearing about the accident for the first time, her heart began to pound as if she were back in that crashed car. Maybe her body remembered it—her operated leg suddenly throbbed with pain.

“Your leg was caught in the car, but… I thought I might be able to pull you out.”

“Then… are you saying you’re the one who saved me?”

“In a way, yes.”

Everyone—including her parents and herself—had believed that it was Jo Jaeseok who pulled her out of the crushed vehicle. That’s what he had said, and they had all treated him like her savior.

But now, to hear that it wasn’t true—Tae-geon’s explanation was a complete shock.

“Do you see that man standing next to the caretaker over there?”

Perhaps trying to prove his words, Tae-geon straightened from the bench and pointed toward the streetlight. Standing there beside the caretaker was a tall man, nearly Tae-geon’s height.

“That’s my secretary. He was there with me that day. If you doubt my words, I’ll call Secretary Kim over. You can ask him anything you want.”

Hyun-jung met Tae-geon’s eyes. Even in the darkness, his gaze looked deep—like someone who could only speak the truth. But that was just how it felt; she couldn’t bring herself to trust him, not until her memories returned.

This man clearly knew Jo Jaeseok, but Jo Jaeseok had seemed not to know him at all…

“Then why… why did you just leave the hospital that day? If you were the one who saved me, why didn’t you say so?”

What was this feeling? Her heart was beating too fast—was it anger at being deceived by Jo Jaeseok? Or was it resentment toward Tae-geon for letting that man stay by her side without saying anything?

It was driving her mad with frustration. She wished everything tangled in her mind could just unravel in an instant. Yet even as she thought that, she wasn’t sure if she should really believe Tae-geon—just because her heart leaned a little more toward him than toward Jo Jaeseok.

But instead of rational questions, what came out of her mouth sounded more like childish hurt.

“Tell me. Why did you act like you didn’t know me and just leave?”

“I thought… even if you didn’t like Jo Jaeseok, you might still want to marry him.”

He said it as if he’d been considerate, but Hyun-jung couldn’t understand it.

“How could you think that?”

“Most arranged marriages happen that way. They’re more about benefits and connections than feelings. And you looked like you were pretending not to know me.”

“That’s…”

“I know. I found out that afternoon—that you had amnesia. I really thought you just didn’t want Jo Jaeseok to see me there.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would you think that?”

“You and I…”

The words that had been flowing easily suddenly caught in Tae-geon’s throat. How could he tell a woman with no memory that before the accident, they’d had a one-night stand—and that they’d actually known each other since childhood? Even if he said he’d wanted to help her because of that bond, would she believe it? She’d probably faint just hearing the word one-night.

After a long pause, Tae-geon decided to mention something safer—something from a part of her memory that might never return.

“We were engaged once. Maybe you didn’t want your fiancé to find out about me.”

Hyun-jung’s big eyes widened in shock. The seriousness in his voice made her freeze. She tried to figure out whether he was joking or not.

It wasn’t a joke, but it wasn’t a lie either. When she was little, Hyun-jung had proposed to him, and he’d accepted. He’d promised he’d always stay by her side and come to her rescue whenever she needed him.

Memories he hadn’t thought of in years began to resurface. Maybe that’s why the idea of sending his “little sister” Hyun-jung to someone like Jo Jaeseok had felt unbearable.

“When you were little—about six years old, I think—so, about this tall?”

Tae-geon held his hand in the air, showing her height as a child. Hyun-jung’s frozen expression softened slightly in disbelief.

“Do you think it’s funny to make up things like that?”

“It’s true.”

“So you’re saying we were almost married, but I was six years old at the time?”

“To be exact, you proposed to me, and I accepted.”

As he spoke, Tae-geon’s gaze fell to her leg resting on the wheelchair’s footrest—her tiny toes sticking out beyond the bandages.

The cold wind of the park kept brushing against her exposed skin, and he couldn’t ignore it.

“How old were you, then?” she asked.

Instead of answering, Tae-geon unwound his scarf and knelt down in front of her.

“Don’t call me ‘that guy.’ Call me oppa.”

“Wha…?”

“Can I touch your leg?”

“Huh? What are you—”

Startled, Hyun-jung tried to back away in her wheelchair, but she had nowhere to go. Her foot was easily caught in his warm hand.

“Your feet must be cold.”

“No, they’re fine—”

Ignoring her protest, Tae-geon began wrapping her foot snugly with his scarf. Every brush of his large, careful hands made her toes tingle.

“Really, I’m fine,” she murmured.

Embarrassment burned up to her ears, but even when she tried to push him away, he didn’t budge—solid as a rock.

The ticklish warmth spread from her toes to her fingers, her throat, even the edges of her ears, making her whole body feel prickly and strange.

“People with amnesia tend to be sensitive,” he said softly. “It’s like trying to find yourself again in a place where nothing looks familiar.”

“…”

“I know you don’t fully trust me. You’re confused about who to believe—this person or that one.”

When he finished wrapping her foot, he looked up at her from one knee. His eyes were black and deep. Just looking into them made her feel like she was being pulled in. If she let her guard down even a little, she might completely fall under his spell.

“It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?” he continued quietly. “Thinking your fiancé saved you, only to hear some stranger did—and that he was once your promised partner. I’d be confused too.”

“…”

“But you’re listening to me right now because your feelings for Jo Jaeseok aren’t good. That’s why you’re willing to hear me out.”

His words hit too close to home, leaving her speechless.

“You just have to decide,” he said gently. “I’ll help with everything else.”

“D-decide? Decide what?”

“Jo Jaeseok. If you don’t want to marry that bastard, ask me. I’ll stop it—no matter what it takes. You can wait until your memories return before you make that choice.”

His voice was serious, like a confession. Hyun-jung wanted to stay calm, to ask what she needed to ask and decide what to do.

But then, the caretaker suddenly came running toward them, clutching her phone with a shocked expression.

“Miss! It’s Madam! She’s on her way here with the president! They’re coming to the hospital right now—you need to go inside!”

“Ah… wait, just a second—”

The caretaker hurriedly unlocked the wheelchair and began pushing it away.

Hyun-jung turned around, reluctant to leave, wanting to say more to Tae-geon.

With his long strides, he quickly caught up and handed her a business card.

“If you’re curious about anything, call me anytime.”

“When will you come again?” she asked.

“Why? Do you want me to?”

“…”

“I’ll come again tomorrow. Same time.”

“You promise?”

Hyun-jung turned back to wave at him, wiggling her pinky to seal the promise. Even from afar, she could see Tae-geon smiling faintly.

He raised his hand and waved in return, as if to reassure her.

Without realizing it, a smile spread across Hyun-jung’s lips. He was a little odd and mischievous, but somehow, he made her feel at ease.

Maybe, just maybe, they really had been close once. The thought filled her with a sudden, fragile hope.