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Chapter 51
Extreme anxiety.
Utter peril.
When Juho first saw Aejeong, his mouth suddenly felt dry. He had heard some of it from Yoonjae, but she looked even more worn out than he had imagined.
He wanted to say that even immediate hospitalization wouldn’t be strange—that her condition was that dangerous.
Forget marriage—she needed proper diagnosis and treatment, right away.
But the words that came from her tightly pressed lips were far from what he expected.
“I like you.”
It was a confession whispered as she carefully held her hand, the one wearing a ring that didn’t quite fit and seemed ready to slip off.
For the first time, life returned to Ju Aejeong’s face.
The sincerity whispered from her curled-up body and bowed head was never a lie, nor casual words.
“I really like you, Executive Director.”
From the first day they met, the moment a handkerchief fell onto a book, all the way until they met again, her feelings had never changed.
“Still… even now.”
Even after all that time, the emotion she had held onto hadn’t faded—it was palpable even to Juho.
The earnestness in her feelings left him speechless.
Especially since he knew Ha Yoonjae better than anyone.
“I know. That it’s a feeling I can never be repaid for.”
But she knew that too.
“I don’t ask for anything more. We married because of money, and you’ve already given me everything. So this… it’s just something I hold onto. Something I’ve always had… like a tattoo.”
“Aejeong.”
“I truly don’t want anything else. And I won’t ask for more.”
That was the first and last sincere confession Juho heard from Aejeong.
“My final wish has already come true.”
“Do you have a bidder card?”
Yoonjae paused as he reached into his wallet at the auction staff’s question.
“I don’t have one right now. Is it necessary?”
“It’s necessary to verify the card numbers of both the bidder and the winning party. It’s a procedure to prevent any confusion, so please understand.”
“Do I have to come in person?”
“No. Just the card will suffice.”
“Understood.”
He gave the staff a brief nod and returned the way he came. Even then, his heartbeat, hidden from view, still raced.
Yoonjae’s steps toward her grew faster. He didn’t seem at all bothered by having to make a false start.
“Uh… Executive Director Yoonjae…”
“Ha Yoon…”
“…Yoonjae Executive Director, it’s been a while…!”
A few recognized him on the way back, but he didn’t stop.
The slight nods they gave might have seemed arrogant, but Yoonjae’s mind was entirely focused on one person.
Her eyes, moist with emotion, were vivid.
The flush rising to her fair skin, not from the lights but naturally, was equally striking.
Even imagining her made his heart race and his chest feel full.
It was a completely unfamiliar feeling.
Yet, being the first time, he could recognize it clearly.
Thud.
At the last step, he saw her standing by her car.
Her slightly chilly silhouette in the wind made him quicken his pace to reach her.
“Why are you out here?”
At his voice, she turned from looking into the distance.
“I just wanted some fresh air.”
Her neatly tied-up hair had loosened slightly over time, a few stray strands falling softly.
Yoonjae took in every stray hair with longing but restrained himself.
“I think you should come with me.”
“……Where to?”
“We need to verify the bidder. If your feet hurt, I’ll go instead. Just give me the card.”
“No, I’ll go.”
She avoided his outstretched hand and took her bag from the car.
Caught in the natural flow of things, Yoonjae almost withdrew his hand, but then noticed her slightly limping leg and held onto her arm.
Thud.
“…….”
At the same time, she pulled her arm away as if swatting his hand.
It felt as if an invisible wall had risen between them.
Surprised, she scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Sorry, I was startled. My foot’s fine now. I can walk on my own.”
Her shy smile showed a subtle difference from her usual self.
“L-Let’s go.”
She gestured toward the venue with the hand that had swatted his away.
“…….”
Yoonjae tried to understand this different side of her, drawing on his limited sensitivity.
Perhaps it was only now, after some time had passed, that the embarrassment had settled in.
‘Unexpected.’
He had thought she would just go straight ahead without hesitation.
He followed her back to the venue.
Standing behind her, Yoonjae watched as she bit her lip tightly, suppressing her restless emotions.
“Don’t show it. Don’t reveal it.”
Her tangled feelings, knotted with confusion.
Without a word, she received a confirmation slip from a staff member.
“Just sign here, please.”
Distracted and flustered, she quickly signed the slip.
“Thank you. Please wait a moment.”
The staff turned away, and so did she.
Although she could hear words, they seemed jumbled in her mind.
She fled the venue as if running away.
“Oh? Wait, here’s a copy…”
The staff returned, but they had already gone far ahead.
Yoonjae, who had been by her side all along, didn’t reach out to stop her faltering steps.
Instead, he accepted the confirmation slip handed to him.
“You can give it to me.”
“Ah, yes. The item you won will be delivered within two weeks. Thank you.”
She was still too distracted for anyone to expect or demand more from her.
How should he take it?
Was she shocked by their kiss, or perhaps regretting it in retrospect?
‘The latter, or the former?’
As he tried to objectively gauge the reason, his hand paused over the slip.
“…….”
Yoonjae slowly folded it and placed it in his chest pocket.
Then he stared intently in the direction they had disappeared.
On the way home, neither of them spoke.
Whether she was truly asleep or just pretending, she kept her eyes closed, and Yoonjae didn’t force conversation.
Even after arriving, nothing much changed.
“I’m too tired. I should rest.”
Still silent while walking upstairs, she spoke at her door.
It was the first words in an hour.
That was when it became clear that their quietness wasn’t just embarrassment or surprise.
“Then, rest.”
The darkness in her eyes, so heavy just to look at, didn’t suit her.
“Wait.”
Yoonjae, stopping them as they entered, spoke.
“The item you won will be delivered within two weeks.”
“Ah, yes.”
“The donation will be in your name.”
“No.”
She calmly shook her head.
“Not this name—make it in Ha Yoonjae’s name.”
Her firm refusal slightly furrowed his brow.
“Why?”
“It’s obvious. It’s not my money. Even if I won the item, there’s no reason to put it in this name.”
Her eyes, slanted down, were endlessly dark.
He saw her hand trembling slightly on the doorknob.
Yoonjae stepped closer.
“Do you regret it?”
She flinched.
As he approached, she reflexively tensed, veins showing on her hands.
“I’m thinking.”
Though the subject was unspoken, he seemed to understand.
She swallowed hard, as if catching her breath, and continued.
“I’m thinking about what I should decide, what conclusion to reach.”
“…….”
“I’m going in.”
She entered her room without saying more.
Click. Thud.
They locked the door firmly, bracing themselves.
The breaths they had been holding rose to their chin.
“…….”
The heavy breaths reached the vanity mirror in front of her.
Even without lights, the moonlight revealed her pale face.
She brushed her face with her hand.
‘This…’
The chaos she had been suppressing was spilling over like an explosion.
[Don’t give up.]
[The time Aejeong liked Yoonjae.]
Juho’s words sounded vividly, as if playing right beside her.
In truth, it had been repeated over and over on the way there. They closed their eyes tightly and clenched their fists.
Before realizing her own feelings, hearing this sincere truth weighed heavily on her.
“…….”
Her reflection still stared back at her.
The ring on her finger sparkled, drawing attention as she brushed her hair aside.
Her hidden half-face spoke.
[I love Yoonjae.]
Aejeong’s words, spoken almost mockingly, were heard.
Her usually confident eyes trembled mercilessly. She stepped forward, groping toward the vanity, and muttered in a daze:
“It wasn’t a lie.”
It was the truth.
“Ah…….”
She placed her hand over her left chest.
Thump, thump.
Her heart raced.
From the moment they kissed—or perhaps even before—their heart had been reacting, still burning fiercely.
This heartbeat never stopped.
Not just a pulse, but a fire ignited, beating and responding toward Ha Yoonjae.
‘…Ju Aejeong.’
She was engulfed by a strange sense of guilt.
