Chapter 63
Yuna’s POV
The first light of morning slipped through the curtains, painting soft lines across the bedroom. I slowly opened my eyes, and for the first ti in four days, my body felt light. The weight that had pressed against my chest was gone. My head wasn’t heavy with stress, and the tension that had gripped my shoulders for days had finally lifted.
I sat up slowly, leaning back against the headboard, and stretched a little. A quiet breath escaped my lips.
I turned slightly, my gaze falling on Haemin. He was still asleep, lying quietly beside . His chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, his face calm.
I reached out and gently brushed his bangs away from his forehead, letting my fingers linger against his skin. Soft and warm, just like always. For a long mont, I simply watched him.
And then my eyes drifted downward, toward his body.
The faint red lines across his chest, the nail marks along his arms and back, and hickeys that covered him. I couldn’t help but let out a faint smile as I looked at them.
I had missed him too much. Not knowing where he was, who he was with, or whether he was safe had twisted my mind until I could hardly think straight. By the ti I finally had him back, the emotions I had bottled up for days finally broke free.
The mont we returned ho last night, I couldn’t hold myself back. All the fear of losing him, all the anger and longing that had consud rushed to the surface. I pushed him onto the bed, my mind clouded by nothing but him. In that instant, nothing else mattered. I needed his warmth, I needed him to understand just how much I loved him.
But in his eyes… I saw it. That flicker of fear when I was about to move close to him. It was clear in his eyes, in the way his body tensed. He must have thought I would hit him again.
The thought made my chest tighten with irritation. Why would he think that? I wasn’t angry at him anymore. I had already forgiven him. He should know my frustration, shouldn’t he? He should understand . He wouldn’t hate … right? After all, he already promised he would never leave alone again.
So I held him down and poured all my desire into him, letting it consu every part of until there was nothing left. Only when exhaustion took over did I finally stop.
Now, as I looked at the marks scattered across his skin, I felt a strange sense of calm.
Just then, my phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the silence. I picked it up quickly, lowering my voice so as not to wake Haemin.
“Chairwoman,” a voice on the other end spoke quickly, lowering itself almost to a whisper. “The situation has been progressing just as you requested. We’ve already placed the necessary pressure on the local council as instructed. Routine inspections have been ongoing for a while now, not just for the target property, but for the entire row of businesses along that street. It’s creating the pressure we expected.”
“Good.” I said evenly. “And the acquisition?”
The caller hesitated before replying. “That part is taking longer than expected. The building has drawn multiple bidders, and one in particular is unusually aggressive. They’ve been raising their offer every ti we counter. It’s clear they have strong financial backing.”
My brows furrowed. “So what you’re telling is that you still can’t secure the building?”
“We’re doing everything we can, Chairwoman,” he said quickly. “But the rival party is persistent. It may take longer than planned.”
My lips pressed into a thin line. “Unacceptable. I don’t care who they are. Outbid them, cut them off, do whatever you must. I don’t want excuses. Handle it properly.”
“Understood, Chairwoman.”
I ended the call and set the phone down with a snap, irritation still burning under my skin.
My gaze drifted back to Haemin. For a fleeting mont, I wanted to reach out and touch him again, but I held myself back with a quiet breath and slipped out of bed.
The shower’s hot water poured over , steam curling around my skin as the lingering tension slowly dissolved. Once I was done, I dried off and slipped into a tailored suit, then stepped into my heels. I fixed my hair neatly and checked myself in the mirror once.
When I picked up my bag and turned toward the bed, I saw Haemin’s eyes start to open. He blinked a few tis, still half-asleep, until his gaze found . The mont he realized I was already dressed, his eyes widened. He quickly pushed himself up from the bed, panic flashing across his face.
“Y-Yuna… you’re leaving already? I—I should get ready too.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his movents clumsy.
I gave a faint smile as I walked closer to him. Leaning slightly down at his side, I reached out, wanting to comfort him with my touch.
But then…
His hand…
Flinched?
“…Haemin?” My voice lowered, confused by his reaction.
He stiffened instantly, as if realizing his mistake, and forced a quick reply. “S-Sorry, Yuna… I just woke up, that’s all.” His body shifted awkwardly against the headboard, trying to look casual.
“Oh… okay,” I said quietly, though my jaw tightened. For a split second, I nearly snapped at him, but I forced myself to hold it in. Maybe I was just imagining things.
I brushed it aside and let my voice soften again. “You don’t need to go to work today. Rest yourself. You can start tomorrow. For now, just stay ho and wait for .”
His smile faltered, but he nodded quickly. “O-okay… if you say so.”
“That eases my heart.” I reached out, gently brushing his bangs to the side again before lowering myself just enough to press a soft kiss on his forehead. My voice lowered to a whisper. “I’ll be back earlier today.”
And with that, I straightened, picked up my bag, glancing at him one last ti before walking out.
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Haemin’s POV
The door clicked shut behind her, and silence fell over the room.
I sat on the edge of the bed, still frozen in place. My body hadn’t caught up with my mind yet. Slowly, I lifted my hand and touched my forehead where her lips had pressed a mont ago. It should have felt warm and comforting, but instead, it left a strange heaviness in my chest.
I forced a smile earlier, just to keep her calm, but the truth was… I wasn’t calm at all. My stomach twisted, my hands trembled slightly against my thighs. The mory of last night ca rushing back—her weight pressing down on , her grip too strong, her eyes filled with a desperate need I couldn’t fight against. I could still feel the marks burning on my skin, as if they were carved there on purpose.
Part of wanted to believe it ant she loved , but another part of only felt fear.
Why couldn’t I just tell her how scared I was when she got like that? Why couldn’t I push her away last night?
Maybe because deep down, I knew it wouldn’t matter. She wouldn’t listen anyway. She never does.
I let out a shaky breath and rubbed my face with my hands. I wanted so badly to believe she cared, that she acted that way because she missed too much. But I couldn’t tell anymore where her love ended and her control began.
I dragged myself into the bathroom, letting the water run over . My body still felt heavy, and no matter how long I stood under the shower, the feeling wouldn’t wash away. After a while, I just leaned back against the cool tiles, staring blankly at the ceiling. A sigh slipped out of , long and quiet, before I finally shut the water off.
I dried myself slowly and changed into casual clothes. There was nowhere I needed to go anyway. With nothing to do, I dropped myself onto the sofa, grabbed the remote, and flicked on the TV.
I let the screen flash in front of without really paying attention at first. One channel showed a morning variety show, then a drama rerun, and then the news. I wasn’t really watching, only letting the noise fill the silence.
My thoughts drifted back to last night, when the hospital had been thrown into complete chaos. The entire place grew heavy after the commotion caused by Yuna and Sera. Teams of lawyers and security staff from both sides moved through the halls, and even so dia outlets had appeared.
Apparently, Yuna had pulled so strings, using her connections to pressure Sera, just to take back. I could still rember the look in Sera’s eyes when I agreed to leave with Yuna. She looked so dissatisfied and disappointed, like she couldn’t believe I chose to follow Yuna back. I hadn’t been able to et her gaze. If it hadn’t been for her assistant stepping in to calm her, I wasn’t sure how far things might have gone.
In the aftermath, the lawyers on both sides quietly ca to an understanding. Neither Yuna nor Sera pushed the guardianship issue any further, at least not officially. It was as if they both knew pressing on would only lead to more complications, and so, on paper, the matter was left unresolved. To prevent unwanted attention, the hospital staff were given clear instructions on what to say and what to withhold from the dia.
We left the hospital quietly, slipping through the back door while Yuna’s security and Sera’s security contained the situation. They handled it so cleanly that not a single outsider seed to realize what had really happened. Just like that, the storm was covered up as if it never existed.
I still felt bad though. I never got the chance to properly thank Sera for taking care of while I was in the hospital.
Before leaving, I also saw the way Yuna looked at Harin—cold and sharp, like daggers in her eyes. Harin, however, only bowed politely and apologized for her behavior. She didn’t even flinch and accepted Yuna’s hostility without a trace of fear. Yuna just sighed and told her to report to the office tomorrow.
In that brief mont, I managed to whisper quietly to Harin so Yuna wouldn’t hear, telling her not to proceed with the separation order she had ntioned. Harin only gave a faint smile, as if she had already expected my answer. But there was pity in her eyes. Pity… for .
Maybe she was right to pity . Because in the end, I chose this. It was better this way. I didn’t want to trouble anyone anymore.
And now, watching the TV, it felt surreal. There was no sign of what had happened yesterday. No coverage, no rumours, nothing. Everything looked normal, as though Yuna and Sera had erased it completely. Well, I wasn’t surprised. With their power, no one dared to ss with them anyway.
I sighed again and put the remote down, lying back on the sofa. With nothing left to watch, I absently scrolled through my phone. Just mindless tapping, refreshing, opening and closing apps without focus.
That was when the news anchor’s voice suddenly caught my attention.
“Breaking news from Busan,” the reporter announced, her tone serious. “Dozens of small business owners have gathered once again in front of the local governnt office, protesting what they describe as unfair inspections and pressure tactics aid at their businesses. The demonstrations, which began yesterday, have continued to grow.”
The screen cut to live footage of a crowd holding signs, their voices rising together in chants. Behind them stood the familiar stone steps of the Busan local office.
The reporter’s voice continued over the images. “According to statents from the protesters, multiple restaurants and shops along Haedong Street received sudden inspection notices within the sa week. Many claim the checks were unusually strict, leading to temporary closures and disrupting daily operations.”
My eyes widened when the cara zood in on the protest line.
There, right at the front—I saw a familiar face. Uncle Minsoo, who ran the small store right beside my aunt’s restaurant. His expression was tight with frustration as he raised his voice along with the others, his sign reading: Stop Unfair Pressure on Small Businesses!
The reporter explained, “Business owners argue that the coordinated inspections are not random, but part of deliberate pressure to push them out. So allege that the properties in this block are being targeted for a potential redevelopnt project. When asked about this, officials declined to comnt.”
The cara cut briefly to interviews. Uncle Minsoo appeared again, his voice strained.
“We’ve been running our shops here for almost twenty years without a single problem. But suddenly, every store on this row is being checked, fined, or forced to shut down temporarily. How can we survive like this? We just want fair treatnt!”
The broadcast then shifted back to the anchor.
“Authorities have stated they are simply conducting routine health and safety inspections, but local business owners remain unconvinced. With property values in the area recently rising, so suspect outside interests are involved. For now, the demonstrations are expected to continue.”
I stared at the screen, my chest tightening.
Aunt’s restaurant… it was right there in that sa row.
The mont the news segnt ended, I grabbed my phone without thinking. My fingers trembled slightly as I scrolled for my aunt’s number and pressed call.
“Hello?” Her familiar voice ca through, warm and cheerful as always. “Haemin-ah? Oh, what a surprise! You finally rembered to call your aunt?”
I let out a small, nervous laugh, trying to steady myself. “Auntie… I just wanted to check on you. Are you well? How’s the restaurant?”
“Of course, of course. We’re fine, don’t worry,” she replied quickly, her tone light. “How about you? You’ve been eating properly, right? Not skipping als, hmm? Don’t let your studies wear you down.”
Looks like Auntie doesn’t know yet that I already quit university and started working under Yuna. Her voice was so full of affection that for a second I almost forgot about the news. “I’m okay, Auntie,” I said softly. “Really. But… about the restaurant…”
There was a pause on the other end, just a beat too long before she chuckled. “Ah, still the sa as always. Busy. Tiring. You know how it is.”
I frowned. “Auntie… I saw sothing just now on the news. About Haedong Street. About the inspections.”
“Oh, that…” Her voice lifted again, almost too quickly. “It’s nothing, Haemin. Just routine checks, that’s all. Every business goes through it sotis. Don’t worry yourself.”
I gripped the phone tighter. “Are you sure? Because they said the whole row of shops was being pressured. Uncle Minsoo was even interviewed.”
Another pause. This ti, her voice grew a little gentler. “Haemin-ah, listen. You don’t need to worry about things like this. Your uncle and I can handle it. We’ve been running the restaurant for years, rember? We’re not so easily shaken.”
I bit my lip. Sothing felt wrong. Her tone was steady, but beneath it I could hear the faint edge of weariness. “Auntie, please. Don’t hide it from . Just tell what’s really happening. I want to know.”
On the other end, I heard a small sigh. For a mont she didn’t say anything, and I could almost picture her pressing the phone to her ear, debating whether to speak. Finally, she lowered her voice.
“Actually… the inspectors ca three days ago,” she admitted. “It was sudden, and they were stricter than usual. We had to close for a bit to deal with it, but it’s all settled now. Nothing too serious.”
My heart sank. “Three days ago…? And you didn’t tell ?”
“You were busy with classes,” she said quickly. “Why would I trouble you over sothing like this? Besides, it’s not just us. The entire row has been affected.”
She paused, then continued a little more softly, as if choosing her words carefully. “And also… early this morning, we received an official notice. Apparently, so company from Seoul has already bought the entire district. They didn’t say much, just that the ownership has changed hands and that further details will be announced soon.”
I froze. “W—What?” I stamred, my voice rising before I could stop it. “There was nobody interested in that area when I lived there. And you’ve been there almost thirty years, nothing ever changed. So why now?”
Auntie must have sensed the tension in my voice, because she quickly tried to calm . “I know, I know. Everyone here was shocked too. The inspections and the news about the sale all ca at once, just three days apart. It all happened so suddenly that people are still trying to understand what’s going on. But don’t worry too much, okay? Things like this usually take ti to settle.”
She let out a quiet sigh before continuing, her voice gentle but steady. “For now, all we’ve been told is to wait for official updates. So shop owners are panicking, but your uncle and I decided not to jump to conclusions. It could be anything. Maybe it’s just a change in managent or property rights. There’s no point in assuming the worst before we know for sure.”
Then, as if to ease the mood, she added with a small, soft laugh, “Besides, your uncle’s already joking that maybe the new owner will finally fix the leaking pipes behind the shop.”
Her laugh faded quickly, but she kept her tone light. “So don’t worry yourself, hmm? We’ll be fine, Haemin-ah. Just focus on your studies and let us handle things here.”
“But Auntie—”
“Haemin,” she interrupted firmly, though her voice was still gentle. “Everything will be okay. Trust . And don’t forget, your health cos first. Promise you’ll take care of yourself.”
“…I promise,” I whispered, though my chest still felt heavy.
She chuckled softly. “Good boy. That’s all I need to hear. Oh right, Haemin-ah… I need to go first. I’ll call you back later, alright—”
“W—Wait, Auntie—” My voice cracked with urgency, but it was too late.
I pulled the phone from my ear, staring at the screen in disbelief. My hand tightened, a cold unease spreading through .
Uncle and Auntie had worked too hard to build that restaurant. It wasn’t just a business, it was their whole life. If even Uncle Minsoo was out on the street protesting, then it wasn’t just so “routine inspection.” This was serious.
I set the phone down on the sofa, my fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest. What could I even do? I’m not a lawyer or soone important.
My mind spun. Should I go there? No, Auntie would scold for worrying too much. Should I send money? No, that would be foolish. My chest tightened. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t find a way.
Without realizing, I had already opened my contacts and scrolled down to her na. My thumb hovered, hesitant. Should I… really call her about this? She was in a good mood today, but asking Yuna for sothing like this, felt so dangerous. Still, I couldn’t sit here doing nothing. I had to try.
Finally, with a deep breath, I pressed call.
The line connected almost instantly.
“Haemin?” Her voice ca, soft and warm.
“…Yuna. Are you… busy?”
“Not at the mont,” she replied gently. “What’s wrong?”
I bit my lip, trying to find the words. “Did you… hear about the news in Busan? The inspections on Haedong Street?”
There was a faint pause. Then her voice returned. “Yes. I saw it.”
“You did?” My chest tightened. “Then… then you know, right? Auntie’s restaurant is on that street. I think they’re being pressured just like the others.” I drew in a deep breath before continue. “Yuna, I’m sorry to ask you so selfishly, but… could you help them?”
Her voice didn’t change. “Haemin. This isn’t sothing I can involve myself in. It’s a governnt matter. They’re conducting inspections, not doing anything illegal.”
I frowned. “But the way Auntie spoke… it didn’t sound normal. And the news showed so many stores suffering. If it’s not fair, shouldn’t soone step in?”
“Even if it seems unfair, it’s still a local governnt issue,” she explained smoothly. “If I interfere, it would only complicate things. Do you understand? There are boundaries, even for soone like .”
I chewed on my lip, uneasy. “But… can’t you at least use your influence? Not directly, just… maybe talk to soone, or make a call? I know you can.”
“Haemin,” she said softly, but there was steel beneath her voice. “Even if I can, it doesn’t an I should. If I put pressure on governnt officials over routine inspections, it will beco a political problem. That’s not sothing I intend to get myself involved in.”
Her words made sense, but my chest ached. I still tried, one last ti. “…But Auntie and Uncle worked so hard for that restaurant. They raised with it. Please, Yuna… just this once. Can’t you—”
“Enough.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but the firmness cut through like a blade. I froze, the words dying in my throat.
“I said I will not get involved.” she continued, her tone calm again but edged with warning. “I know you care about them, but don’t push this any further. The last thing I want is you working yourself up over sothing that cannot be changed.”
I gripped the phone tighter, my nails digging into my palm. “…But Yuna—”
“Haemin.” This ti my na ca with a sharpness that made shut my mouth. “No more. Don’t bring this up again. Just leave it to them. That’s final.”
Silence stretched between us. My throat tightened, but I couldn’t push back anymore. “…Okay,” I whispered.
Her voice softened, almost as if she sensed my hurt. “That’s all I ask. Don’t carry burdens that aren’t yours.”
And just like that, the call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly, staring blankly at the screen. A long sigh escaped as I lay back down on the sofa.
Was there really no other option?
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