🔊 TTS Settings
Episode 3: The End of a Catastrophic Marriage
“30 seconds before broadcast.”
Seo-won took a deep breath, clenching and unclenched the fists resting on her knees.
Unlike Seo-won, who was constantly nervous, his expression remained unchanged.
Come to think of it, is there anything that could frighten this man, Kang Tae-seung?
Probably not.
Because he’s a man who seemingly knows no fear.
Perhaps feeling Seo-won’s intense gaze, Kang Tae-seung let out a low laugh.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
“W-what?”
“Is it okay for a married woman to look at another man so blatantly? At this rate, we might just end up falling for each other.”
Seowon’s face flushed with embarrassment.
This man, really.
“W-what nonsense are you…!”
“This is Live Broadcast ‘Afternoon Today’, starting now.”
Seowon’s voice and the MC’s voice were heard simultaneously.
The atmosphere in the studio changed in an instant. The expressions of the camera director and the broadcasting station staff shifted one by one, coming into Seowon’s view.
Gasp.
Secretary Kim Joo-up, who had just hurried into the booth, leaning on his crutches in the corner, slapped his forehead in dismay.
As if trying to smooth over Seowon’s situation, Kang Tae-seung naturally led the atmosphere, even throwing in jokes in response to the MC s’ questions.
Once the camera was rolling, he had transformed into a completely different person.
Sharp eyes and natural gestures.
And his effortless conversational skills.
Thanks to him, Seowon’s tension gradually eased.
Before she knew it, the live broadcast was nearing its end.
“Seeing you both today, you’re so good that I’d like to invite you as regular panelists!”
At the MC’s compliment, Kang Tae-seung naturally smiled.
“You’re too kind. I think I was able to do it without being nervous thanks to Min Seowon, the President, sitting next to me.”
“Come to think of it, even though you two are from competing hotels, your relationship seems remarkably close.”
“Is that so?”
“Actually, the part I was most curious about is that Chairman Kang Tae-seung hasn’t done any broadcast appearances until now. Is there a specific reason you decided to appear today?”
Seowon was also secretly curious about what answer he would give.
For a very brief moment, she even had the illusion that his gaze lingered on her.
“I couldn’t not appear, thanks to President Min Seo-won’s strong recommendation.”
He continued speaking, his eyes crinkling beautifully.
“We’ve known each other for a long time, we’re alumni from the same high school and university, alumni, and . It seems like President Minseowon was always there wherever I went.”
He turned his head and gazed at Seowon sitting beside him. Kang Tae-seung’s eyes lingered on her for a long time.
Her pale face and round forehead. Her neatly shaped eyebrows and a nose with a gentle slope.
Her flushed cheeks and particularly plump lips.
In the quiet silence, there was even an illusion that time had stopped.
“After all those years have passed, here we are, standing together, looking at the same place.”
His voice cut through the quiet space.
“If possible, I hope to continue walking the same path as President Min Seo-won.”
The moment their eyes intertwined in the air, the camera director quickly zoomed in on Kang Tae-seung and Seowon’s faces.
“Phew, it’s finally over.”
She took a deep breath.
She recalled Kang Tae-seung from just moments ago, who had dominated everyone with his resolute gaze and witty remarks. If it weren’t for him, the filming, and everything else, would have been a disaster.
For some reason, as soon as the filming ended, Kang Tae-seung removed his microphone and left the booth without a trace of regret.
If the bottle of water hadn’t been in the seat where he was sitting, she might have thought that the intense gaze he’d sent her way just before was all a dream.
Still, thanks to his professional help, Seowon was able to achieve a good result.
“I was going to thank him, though.”
Just then, Kim Joo-up, leaning on his crutches, approached with an urgent voice.
““It’s the boss!”!”
Secretary Kim hurried over and whispered in Seowon’s ear. At the words reaching her ears, Seowon’s eyes shook violently.
“Th-they say those two people just now… entered the hotel together.”
Ha.
Now, of all places, they were defiling ticket Her youth, her mother’s only keepsake – the hotel.
“Give me the car keys, Secretary Kim.”
“You’re going to drive yourself? Absolutely not.”
“Then, will Secretary Kim drive? With your broken leg?”
Kim Joo-up looked down at his cast-wrapped leg, then checked Seowon’s instep.
“You’ve injured your instep too, President.”
“Is that the same as this? Just give them to me quickly. We don’t have time.”
Seeing Kim Joo-up not budging, Seowon reached into her jacket pocket and snatched the keys.
“President!”
Before Secretary Kim could grab her, she quickly turned her back.
Kim Joo-up, now in the corridor, called out to Seowon at the top of his lungs.
“president! Let’s go together!”
Kim Joo-up, who had participated more enthusiastically than anyone in the company sports day, had received a diagnosis requiring two weeks of rest and currently couldn’t manage a fast pace.
“If you go alone…Ugh!”
The legs Kim Joo-up tried to move quickly tangled up in an instant.
Thump―!
Sprawled face down on the floor, Joo-up let out a low groan, clearly in pain.
“Oh, it hurts.”
Step. Step.
Someone stopped in front of Secretary Kim, picked up the crutch lying on the floor, and handed it over.
Kim Joo-up, sniffled and slowly lifted his head.
“Thank… Uh, uh.”
His lips froze for a moment.
“K-Kang Tae-seung, Chairman.”
Kang Tae-seung standing before him was so tall that just looking up made his neck ache.
“Where is President Min Seo-won?”
“Ah, well… that, it’s like this.”
He couldn’t possibly say that she had gone, dragging her injured foot, to catch the scene of infidelity.
That was also a matter of Seowon’s pride.
At Joo-up’s hesitation, resembling a puppy needing to relieve itself, Kang Tae-seung let out a dry laugh and rubbed his brow area.
His eyes were smiling, but a chilling aura surrounded him.
“Just tell me.”
His low voice continued like a warning.
“Before I leak it to the media and make things bigger. Hmm?”
Gulp.
Terrified by the frightening threat, Kim Ju-eop swallowed hard.
Whether it was due to rush hour, the roads were completely gridlocked.
Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, Seowon chewed on her lower lip.
“How could you do this to me…?”
The destination on the navigation system was already set to [Ticket Hotel Main Gate].
She quickly reversed and turned the wheel. As she stepped on the accelerator and sped up, the heavy sound of the engine echoed across the road.
Her head was gradually heating up.
At first, she hated herself for suspecting her husband; then she got angry at Byun Ki-jun for creating such a situation.
And now.
At the fact that his affair partner was Woojin’s girlfriend, rage and betrayal surged within her.
Was I not enough for you, so you had to do this? How could you hurt even Woojin?
She had to catch them in the act with her own eyes. Only then would she not be swayed by any sweet-talking lies.
Only then could she abandon him without any lingering attachment.
The route the navigation showed was one Seowon had never taken before, but strangely, the road was completely clear.
Perhaps because it was a shortcut, the estimated arrival time was steadily decreasing. As the traffic light changed, Seowon applied the brake.
Zing. Zing―.
The phone she had left on the passenger seat vibrated loudly. It stopped quickly, but then rang again.
Checking the caller, it was a call from [Secretary Kim Joo-up]. She fumbled, reaching out to answer the call.
Tap.
The phone fell under the seat. Annoyed by the continuous vibration, Seowon unbuckled her seat belt and reached down.
The moment she bent down to pick up the fallen phone from the floor, CRASH―!
A huge roar was heard. She urgently lifted her head. A cargo truck had broken through the barricade and was hurtling towards her at a terrifying speed.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
“…”
She frantically shifted gears and turned the wheel, but the cargo truck, unable to overcome its speed, slammed straight into the sedan.
KABOOM―!
Instantly, her vision flashed, and Seowon’s body was tossed around like a piece of paper. The glass shattered into pieces, and Seowon’s head hit the window multiple times.
Creak―!
Screech!
Screams, enough to raise goosebumps, continued one after another.
The sedan, crushed under the truck, was dragged for dozens of meters before finally stopping, and white smoke rose from the front bumper.
Seowon slowly opened her eyes. Thick, sticky blood flowed down her face.
Ah…
Her vision was gradually blurring.
Is this how I’m going to die…?
“P-please… s-save me…”
A desperate plea escaped her lips. But the small voice quickly dissipated into the air.
I mustn’t lose consciousness like this. I can’t die like this.
“Haa, haa…….”
Gasping for breath, Seowon struggled to open her eyes, her face contorted in pain.
As her mind buzzed numbly and her vision grew dimmer, someone approached.
Was this the culprit who did this to me?
Hot breath escaped between her lips.
Cough.
Thick blood dripped down her chin. Even breathing was a struggle.
Seowon looked ahead with difficulty.
Who on earth, would…?
“…”
As if unable to believe it, her eyes trembled.
Th-That can’t be…!
Tears welled up and fell drop by drop.
Perhaps even her blood vessels had burst, leaving clear traces of bloody tears on her cheeks.
ha.
How could you do this to me…?
Crunch―.
The sound of shattered glass from the car window being stepped on cut through the quiet space.
The perpetrator’s face showed considerable signs of embarrassment at the sight of Min Seo-won, who was still conscious.
The approaching footsteps suddenly stopped, and a look of dismay reflected in their eyes.
On the deserted road, a cool wind blew, pushing away the silent stillness.
Whoosh.
The perpetrator’s low, chilling voice pierced her ears.
“For…”
And then, Seowon’s vision flickered.
“…you.”
