A few hours before the event
Seongbuk-dong District – 3:30 PM
While Lee Tae Joon was sipping his morning coffee, Han Yuri was still in the shower. When she stepped out and slipped into her bathrobe, she received another anonymous message:
Message:
Dress nicely tonight. I've got a surprise for you.
Don't worry—I know what you like.
Han Yuri smiled faintly.
— What a psycho...
She replied:
Han Yuri
— You've clearly watched too many dramas. Fine, if you insist on playing the villain… how about I take the lead role?
She set her phone down on the small table and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Han Yuri (murmuring)
— So… you want to play games with me?
Alright then. Let's play together.
She opened the bathroom door, only to be surprised by Lee Tae Joon standing right outside.
Han Yuri
— What are you doing here?
Lee Tae Joon (sarcastic)
— Cooking. What else would I be doing in front of a bathroom?
Han Yuri looked away.
— Uh… but why didn't you knock instead of just standing there?
Lee Tae Joon
— If you weren't out yet, that means you weren't done, right?
(He paused, taking a step closer.)
— Unless…
He kept getting closer. Their faces were now just inches apart.
They stared at each other.
Time seemed to freeze.
Han Yuri's hand trembled slightly behind her back as she tightened her grip on the bathroom door handle.
Lee Tae Joon
— You planning to stand there much longer?
Embarrassed, she stepped back slightly, trying to keep her composure.
Han Yuri, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, as if regaining control:
— Go ahead. You can go in.
He entered the bathroom.
Yuri, still thoughtful, sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee.
Suddenly, her phone rang, making her jump.
Han Yuri (startled)
— Oh my god...
She answered. It was Kim Min Hee.
Han Yuri
— Hello? Min Hee? What's wrong?
Kim Min Hee
— I'm sending your stylist over with your outfit. I can't make it—I've still got a few things to handle.
Han Yuri
— Alright… Oh, Min Hee, I know you're busy getting all dolled up, but double-check every detail of tonight's event, okay? No mistakes. It's really important to my dad.
Kim Min Hee
— Of course, don't worry. And your speech? You've gone over it?
Han Yuri
— Yep. It's all in my head. I'm an actress, remember?
Kim Min Hee
— Perfect. Talk later!
She hung up.
A new call came in. This time, it was the director.
Director (cheerfully)
— How's my lovely Yuri doing?
Han Yuri
— Why are you calling?
Director (more serious)
— To warn you. That journalist—the one always digging up stories about your family—she'll be there tonight.
Han Yuri (calmly)
— I know. It's like she's filming a documentary on us.
Director
— Just ignore her. She's only looking for attention. One spark and she'll spin a whole new article. Keep calm.
Still composed, Yuri stood and gently set down her cup.
Han Yuri
— Don't worry. I know how to handle her kind.
Someone rang the doorbell.
Han Yuri
— I have to go. My stylist's here.
She hung up and went to open the door.
4:10 PM – before the event
In front of a large mirror, standing on a small black podium, Yuri looked at herself.
Around her, a few assistants adjusted her dress.
Nearby, Lee Tae Joon was already almost ready.
Stylist
— Just missing the accessories. You ready?
While the stylist rummaged through a box of necklaces, Tae Joon walked over.
Lee Tae Joon, pointing at a fine, elegant necklace:
— That one's nice. Very classy, too.
Stylist (excited)
— Wow, Tae Joon-ssi, you've got great taste! It's gorgeous.
Look, Yuri, this would be perfect on you!
Tae Joon picked up the necklace.
He slowly approached Yuri, still standing on the podium.
He calmly stepped up the small stairs until he was right next to her.
He gently moved her hair to one side and clasped the necklace around her neck, under the team's admiring gaze.
Yuri said nothing. She simply stared at their reflection in the mirror.
Tae Joon smiled softly, his eyes lingering on Yuri's reflection for a few moments. Then he turned toward the stylist.
Lee Tae Joon
— See? It's nice, right? I've always had an eye for beautiful things.
The stylist grinned wide, speechless for a second. She simply gave a cheerful thumbs-up.
Yuri lightly touched the necklace, looked at it briefly, then straightened up to face her reflection again.
Han Yuri
— Of course it's nice. I'm the one wearing it.
The stylist glanced at her, then turned back to the table with the other accessories.
— Want to try another one? I've got tons of styles left.
Han Yuri (slightly distant)
— There's no time to pick another.
(She paused.)
— And… this one isn't bad.
She was about to step down from the podium when her heel caught on the hem of her dress. She glanced down.
Tae Joon, who had been watching, stepped down one stair so he was right in front of her.
He calmly held out his hand.
Lee Tae Joon
— Careful. Give me your hand—you'll hurt yourself.
Around them, the team exchanged knowing smiles and glances. A few whispers of amusement floated through the air.
Yuri hesitated for a moment.
Then, slowly, she reached out and placed her hand in his.
He helped her down carefully as she watched her step, focused on the dress.
Once on the ground, their eyes met briefly.
There were no words—just that fleeting moment. Light, but charged.
Then, a makeup artist stepped in, breaking the moment with her professional tone.
Makeup Artist
— Excuse me, Yuri-ssi… just a final little touch-up for your makeup.
A few minutes later — 5:10 PM, in the car
The ride unfolded in an almost suffocating silence.
Han Yuri stared out the window, her face motionless.
Beside her, Lee Tae Joon remained silent too, his eyes fixed on the road.
Not a single word was spoken between them.
5:30 PM — Just a few meters from Hannam-dong
They were now close to the venue.
Several journalists were already on site, and the area was cluttered with luxury cars, causing a small traffic jam.
Han Yuri finally broke the silence.
In a low, calm voice, without even looking at Lee Tae Joon:
— This is our first event together. You remember the contract, right?
Lee Tae Joon turned slightly toward her, his tone steady:
— Don't worry. Tonight, I'll be the best actor in Seoul.
Han Yuri glanced at him briefly, then turned her head away:
— Fine.
The cars inched forward.
When it was finally their turn, Han Yuri got ready to step out, but Lee Tae Joon leaned forward slightly and spoke to their driver.
Lee Tae Joon
— Could you take a little detour, please?
Han Yuri turned to him, a bit confused.
— What are you doing? We're already late.
He responded with a small wave of his hand, still looking at her:
— Rule number one: never arrive exactly on time to these kinds of events.
Han Yuri, still confused:
— A rule? (she paused for a second) Says who?
Lee Tae Joon
— Someone. Anyway, if you want to go in now, let's go. But people won't notice you as much.
Han Yuri
— I'm Han Yuri. How could anyone not notice me?
Lee Tae Joon looked at her, amused:
— Listen. If you show up on time, sure, people look. But if you arrive late, everyone's already seated. You walk in… and every eye turns to you. Instant spotlight. I thought you'd know that.
Then he turned back to the driver:
— Right, mister driver? I'm not wrong, am I?
The driver, without turning around:
— No sir, you're absolutely right. A grand entrance is always a good idea. (He chuckled.) I remember once, I arrived late to a party—everyone turned their heads when I walked in…
He started rambling a bit, and both Lee Tae Joon and Han Yuri just stared at him, detached. The driver quickly realized and gave a small apologetic bow.
Driver
— I'm sorry, ma'am. Should we move forward or take the detour?
Han Yuri leaned back gently in the seat, crossed her arms, and gave a faint smirk:
— It'd be a shame if I barely got noticed tonight.
I mean… I look so gorgeous.
All right, take the detour.
The driver slowly moved the car away.
A few meters from the venue, he turned off the engine and stepped out without a word, leaving them alone inside.
Silence again.
Then, without looking at him:
Han Yuri
— How long do we have to stay here?
Lee Tae Joon (calmly):
— Normally, a proper dramatic entrance takes an hour. But since everyone's already seen our car… fifteen minutes will do.
Han Yuri turned away again.
— Okay.
Another pause. Then Tae Joon noticed that Yuri was trembling slightly.
Without a word, he took off his jacket and placed it gently over her shoulders.
Lee Tae Joon
— You should've brought something warmer, he said softly.
Yuri looked at him for a second, then slowly took off the jacket.
— I told you to stop doing that kind of thing. So why do you keep going?
Lee Tae Joon didn't respond. He just looked at her.
Han Yuri
— If you can't answer, then stop. Focus on our contract.
She turned away again, then murmured:
Han Yuri
— We should go now.
She gestured to the driver through the tinted window.
Lee Tae Joon
— Why does there always have to be a reason?
Do you think people only act when they expect something in return?
Yuri stared at him, cold.
Han Yuri
— Yes. People pretend to be kind, to be caring.
But deep down, they're always waiting for something. So tell me...
Their eyes met. He said nothing.
The driver returned to his seat and restarted the car.
A few minutes later, they were back in front of the venue.
A lavish red carpet stretched before them.
The paparazzi were already going wild, flash after flash bursting before the car even came to a stop.
The driver quickly got out, walked around, and opened the door.
Lee Tae Joon stepped out first, straightened his jacket, then calmly extended his hand inside.
Han Yuri took a quiet breath. After a brief pause, she gently slipped her hand into his.
Her heel touched the ground, followed by the flowing hem of her dress.
She emerged slowly, supported by Lee Tae Joon.
The photographers went wild.
Every flash captured every detail.
There they stood, side by side, facing the cameras with faint, composed smiles.
Without a word, they began walking, hand in hand.
Bodyguards followed close behind, but it was the two of them that everyone watched.
They looked like the perfect couple…
Arm in arm, they crossed the grand entrance.
As expected, all eyes turned toward them.
Lee Tae Joon gave a small smile, leaned slightly toward Han Yuri, and whispered:
Lee Tae Joon
— See? I told you I was right.
Han Yuri didn't reply.
Just the tiniest flicker of a smile crossed her lips.
Together, they moved forward—slow, poised—toward the table where their families were already waiting.
8:30 PM – Back at the scene, after the explosion
Reporters were swarming the area, camera flashes going off non-stop.
Han Yuri collapsed… unconscious.
Tae Joon was the first to rush over, quickly followed by the rest of the family.
He dropped to his knees beside her, breathing heavily, panic in his eyes.
Lee Tae Joon
— Han Yuri-ssi… Yuri-ssi…
Kim Min Hee also fell to her knees, eyes filled with tears.
— Oh my God… Yuri! Someone call an ambulance, quick!
Yuri's father, standing slightly apart, remained outwardly calm… but his eyes burned with cold fury.
He leaned toward Lee Jae Hyun, speaking in a low, tense voice:
— Jae Hyun, check the surveillance footage. We need to know what happened.
Lee Jae Hyun nodded, visibly concerned.
— Understood. Tae Joon-ssi, stay with her.
Lee Tae Min was on the phone, visibly distressed.
— Hello? We need help! There's been an explosion—my sister-in-law is injured. We're in Hannam-dong… Yes, thank you!
Without waiting for the ambulance, Tae Joon scooped Yuri into his arms.
Lee Tae Min
— Where are you going? The ambulance is on its way!
Lee Tae Joon
— Why wait? I can drive.
Without another word, he walked away with Yuri in his arms, eyes locked straight ahead toward the exit.
Outside, the camera flashes were relentless. Paparazzi shouted question after question, but Tae Joon heard none of it. He moved forward, focused, escorted by a few guards.
At the car, the driver ran toward him, panicked.
Driver
— Sir! What's going on?
Tae Joon gently placed Yuri in the front passenger seat and got behind the wheel.
Driver
— Sir, what are you doing?
Lee Tae Joon (hurriedly)
— I need a favor.
Driver
— Yes, sir?
Lee Tae Joon
— Check the guest list. And if possible… get the black boxes from every car that was here. If this was planned, they've probably already wiped the cameras.
Driver
— Got it. I'll look into it. But… is madam okay?
Lee Tae Joon
— She will be. I'm taking her to the hospital.
He drove off immediately. A few minutes later, they arrived at Seoul General Hospital at full speed.
Tae Joon jumped out of the car, carrying Yuri in his arms. Nurses rushed over. He gently laid her on a stretcher and followed them inside.
A few minutes later, a doctor stepped into the lobby.
— Family of Miss Han Yuri?
Tae Joon, who had been sitting down, stood up instantly.
— Yes?
Doctor
— Are you a relative?
Tae Joon hesitated for a second.
— … I'm her husband.
Doctor
— Alright. Don't worry. She's stable. She fainted from the shock and has a few minor injuries from the explosion, but they're all superficial. She'll be fine in a few days.
Lee Tae Joon
— Thank you, doctor.
The Han and Lee families arrived shortly afterward, along with Kim Min Hee.
Mother-in-law
— Tae Joon-ssi, how is she? What did the doctor say?
Lee Tae Joon
— She's okay. Just shaken up.
Lee Tae Joon's Father
— Thank goodness…
Yuri's Father (calm but tense)
— Min Hee, did you find anything about the incident?
Kim Min Hee
— Not yet. Jae Hyun oppa is reviewing the footage. But… maybe it was just an accident? A power surge?
Yuri's Father (curt)
— No. That wasn't just an accident.
Tae Joon's Father
— Are you suggesting someone deliberately tried to hurt Yuri?
Yuri's Father (gravely, controlled)
— I don't think the goal was to kill her. It wasn't a real bomb. Whoever did this wanted to make a statement.
Lee Tae Min (quietly)
— To make a statement…
Tae Joon's Father
— If that's the case, we need to find them—fast.
(He turns to Tae Min, about to say something, but…)
Lee Tae Joon (interrupting, calm)
— You think they'd leave evidence?
Lee Tae Min
— What do you mean?
Lee Tae Joon
— If someone really planned this, they probably erased everything. No trace, no cameras… nothing.
A heavy silence fell. Jaws clenched. Eyes darkened.
Yuri's Father (coldly, under his breath)
— How dare they… attack the Han family. And in my house, no less.
(He turns toward the Lee family, his tone softening.)
— You should go home. You must be exhausted. Thank you for coming.
Tae Joon's Father
— Don't mention it. We're family now. It's only natural.
Yuri's father turned to his wife.
Yuri's Father
— Where's Ye Reum?
Mother-in-law
— She stayed with Lee Jae Hyun. They're looking for clues.
Yuri's Father
— Alright.
Meanwhile, with Lee Jae Hyun and Han Ye Reum…
They were scanning surveillance footage carefully.
Han Ye Reum
— There's nothing… How could this happen when all the cameras were working?
Lee Jae Hyun
— I know. It's strange. Let's check the indoor cameras too.
Han Ye Reum
— Can you show us the recordings from a few hours—or even minutes—before the party started?
They scrolled through several clips. Still nothing. Then suddenly—
Han Ye Reum
— Wait, stop right there! Look at those guys… They're placing something on the stage.
Lee Jae Hyun
— Can you zoom in on that?
Han Ye Reum (shocked)
— Oh my god… it's a bomb!
Before Lee Jae Hyun could react, Ye Reum's phone rang.
Han Ye Reum
— It's my dad.
(She answers.)
Yes, Dad?
She stepped away to explain what they'd just discovered. Meanwhile, Lee Jae Hyun kept staring at the screen.
Han Ye Reum (returning)
— Could you make a copy of this footage, please?
The staff complied immediately.
Jae Hyun kept watching, brows furrowed.
Han Ye Reum
— What is it?
Lee Jae Hyun
— I don't know… Something feels off about this video.
Han Ye Reum leaned closer.
Han Ye Reum
— What do you mean?
Lee Jae Hyun (still staring at the screen, faint smile)
— Never mind.
A few minutes later, Lee Jae Hyun and Han Ye Reum stood outside the now-quiet Han residence. Most of the guests had left. Silence lingered in the air.
Han Ye Reum was on the phone, while Jae Hyun stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting for his car.
She hung up and walked over to him.
Han Ye Reum
— That was Lee Tae Joon… He said my sister is okay. She just passed out from the shock.
Lee Jae Hyun nodded, visibly relieved.
Lee Jae Hyun
— That's good news.
A pause. Not awkward, just heavy with emotion.
Han Ye Reum
— You must care about her a lot. You looked so worried...
(She looked away, smiling faintly.)
— I mean… You see this kind of love in dramas all the time. But I don't know… seeing it in real life, it's different.
I don't even know how to describe it.
Lee Jae Hyun (watching her)
— You think it's romantic?
Han Ye Reum (gazing off)
— No… I think it's sad.
That kind of love, in real life… it hurts way more than in dramas.
To love someone so deeply that you'd drop everything for them…
but not have them love you the same way in return.
(She gave a small smile, met his eyes briefly.)
— I guess that's not exactly… cool.
Lee Jae Hyun didn't respond. He just looked at her for a moment—long, thoughtful—like he was trying to read between the lines.
That's when the car pulled up slowly in front of them. The driver stepped out and opened the door.
Jae Hyun glanced at the car, then looked back at Ye Reum.
She caught his gaze and shrugged playfully.
Han Ye Reum
— Well? Your ride's here. What are you waiting for?
I'm heading in—it's getting cold.
Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked away calmly.
Jae Hyun watched her leave, then slowly climbed into the car.
The door closed, and the vehicle drove off into the night.
A few meters away...
Jae Hyun pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and waited.
A few seconds passed before someone picked up.
Lee Jae Hyun
— Can you find someone for me?
(pause)
You already know who it is. Yeah… him. His old number doesn't work anymore.
(shorter pause)
Alright. Keep me posted.
He hung up, eyes lost in the dark Seoul night.
10:00 PM — Seoul Hospital
Everyone had already left. Only Lee Tae Joon remained.
He returned to the room carrying something to eat—but stopped dead in his tracks the moment he walked in.
A low voice… someone talking on the phone.
Han Yuri was standing by the window, phone in hand.
Han Yuri (in a low voice)
— Yes. I want you to post the video online. It has to go viral, and…
A soft thud broke the silence. Tae Joon had just dropped something.
Lee Tae Joon
— Oh no… my sandwich.
Yuri turned around immediately. He was crouched down, picking up the now-famous sandwich.
Han Yuri
— I'll call you back later.
(She hung up, then coldly:)
Lee Tae Joon-ssi, why are you eavesdropping on people's conversations?
Lee Tae Joon
— I wasn't! I swear!
But… how long have you been awake?
Han Yuri (calmly)
— Just now.
(She returned to sit on the bed.)
Han Yuri
— Where's my family?
Lee Tae Joon
— They went to get some rest.
Han Yuri (sarcastic)
— Of course… Why do I even ask anymore.
(She glanced at Tae Joon, who was about to take a bite of the sandwich that had just fallen.)
Han Yuri (eyes wide)
— Wait… You're not actually going to eat that, are you?
Lee Tae Joon
— Yeah, why not? Five-second rule.
Han Yuri
— The what now?
Lee Tae Joon
— The five-second rule. Supposedly bacteria take five whole seconds to invade your food. Plus, it was wrapped. Oh, here.
(He held out another sandwich.)
Han Yuri
— I've told you a million times I can't eat stuff with that many calories…
Lee Tae Joon (looking at his sandwich)
— Calories? This is the healthiest thing I've had all day! There's lettuce, tomatoes… okay, fine, a lot of meat too. But meat gives you strength.
Good thing I always bring two.
Han Yuri
— I'll just go find something outside.
(She stood and headed toward the door, reaching for the handle when…)
Lee Tae Joon
— That's weird… I feel like I've heard something creepy about this hospital before.
(He thought for a moment.)
— Oh right! One of my friends was hospitalized here once. She couldn't sleep, so she went out to get a drink. While walking down the hallway, she saw a shadow… a woman in a long white gown, covered in blood—
Anyway! Grab me a drink while you're at it. I forgot to get one.
(Han Yuri froze at the door for a few seconds.)
Lee Tae Joon
— Why are you just standing there?
(She turned around and walked back to her bed.)
Lee Tae Joon
— Why are you coming back?
Han Yuri
— Just realized I don't have any filming coming up. So half a sandwich won't kill me.
(She picked up the sandwich on the table.)
Lee Tae Joon (smiling)
— If you say so! Alright then, let's eat.
Han Yuri
— But you are throwing away the one that fell, right?
Lee Tae Joon
— No way! You already took my second sandwich—I'm starving. I can't sleep on an empty stomach!
Han Yuri
— I mean… we'll share it.
(She cut it in half and handed him one piece.)
Han Yuri
— Here. And throw that one out.
(Tae Joon stood, tossed the floor sandwich into the trash, then came back and ate his half.)
(A small moment of silence.)
Han Yuri
— I bet my dad's absolutely furious right now…
That party was really important to him.
Lee Tae Joon
— Let's just say… the person who did this better find a solid hiding spot.
Come on, it's late. Let's get some sleep.
(He started preparing the couch.)
Lee Tae Joon (murmuring)
— I still can't believe I'm sleeping on the couch… even here.
Han Yuri
— I told you to take a guest room. But you said you were used to it.
Lee Tae Joon
— I'm not complaining. I'm just saying, no matter where I go… as long as you're around, I always end up on a couch.
(Already settled in, he turned to face the other way, avoiding more talk.
Han Yuri stared at his back for a moment, then slowly started to relax too.)
The next morning, 9:30 a.m.
Journalists were already gathered outside the hospital entrance.
At the same time, the director and Kim Min Hee walked by. The second the reporters saw them, they rushed over, bombarding them with questions.
Journalist 1
— Miss Kim Min Hee, have you found any new information about the explosion at the Han family home?
Kim Min Hee and the director tried to walk past, but the crowd was too dense.
Journalist 2
— Please, can we speak to Miss Han Yuri? Just a quick interview, please!
Questions flew in from all directions, everyone talking at once. Eventually, Kim Min Hee stopped.
Kim Min Hee
— Yuri just went through a very traumatic experience. Don't you think seeing all of you here will just stress her out even more?
I understand you're looking for answers, but this really isn't the right time.
Please… try to understand.
She gave them a slight bow.
Suddenly, the Han family arrived. The journalists surged again, snapping photos and shouting questions.
The family said nothing. They simply walked inside and headed straight to Yuri's room, Kim Min Hee following close behind.
Han Yuri was already awake, sitting on her bed, gently brushing her hair.
Kim Min Hee walked over and embraced her tightly.
Kim Min Hee
— Yuri, I was so worried… Are you okay?
Han Yuri
— I'm fine.
Min Hee slowly let go.
The Director
— What on earth happened? Who would do something like this?
Han Ye Reum
— By the way… where's Tae Joon oppa?
Han Yuri
— He stopped by his office to handle a few things.
The conversation went on for a while, then:
Yuri's Father
— Yuri, you should make a statement to calm the media down.
Han Yuri
— Yes, Father.
A brief silence fell. Everyone looked at each other, as if someone wanted to speak, but didn't dare.
The Director
— That's a good idea… but shouldn't Yuri rest first?
Yuri's father gave him a long, silent stare.
The director stepped back.
— I'll arrange everything.
Hours and minutes slipped by like water through fingers.
After that conversation, the day was filled with endless phone calls, and the media was in a frenzy.
The entire network was talking about only one person: Han Yuri.
Seoul — 9:45 p.m.
A black car slid silently through the dark streets like a shadow.
Inside, Lee Tae Joon stared ahead, jaw tight, tension etched across his face.
Beside him, Jae Hyun was on the phone, focused, holding it close to his ear.
Lee Jae Hyun
— Alright. We're almost there.
A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of a small apartment building.
Without a word, Jae Hyun got out and headed up the stairs, Tae Joon close behind.
In front of a door, Jae Hyun pulled out a key and unlocked it with a sharp flick.
Lee Tae Joon
— What the hell? There's no one here.
He hadn't even finished speaking when a strange sound echoed from outside.
They froze.
Then, as one, they bolted toward the source of the noise.
Outside, a dark figure was running off into the shadows.
Without hesitation, the two men gave chase, sprinting up the stairs four at a time, until they reached a deserted rooftop.
The man stopped—cornered at the edge, breathing hard.
He looked down at the drop, then back at them. There was nowhere left to run.
The Man
— What do you want from me?! Why are you chasing me?!
Lee Tae Joon (with a cold smile)
— Funny. Pretending not to know us? And yet, not long ago, you had the guts to crash our little party.
He stepped forward, grabbed the man by the collar, and pushed him dangerously close to the edge.
The Man
— What do you want?!
Lee Tae Joon (rolling his eyes, smirking)
— What a dumb question…
Lee Jae Hyun (calm, but cutting)
— Tell us who hired you to plant that bomb.
The Man
— I-I don't know what you're talking about…
Tae Joon turned briefly to Jae Hyun, an icy smile curling on his lips.
Lee Tae Joon
— Don't you think it'd be fun to let him fall? Just for the thrill...
He pushed him a little closer to the edge. The man panicked, struggling wildly—but couldn't break free.
Lee Tae Joon
— My hand's getting tired… Keep squirming, and I swear, you're going over.
He loosened his grip just slightly. The man screamed in terror.
Jae Hyun watched without flinching.
The Man (sobbing)
— Please! Don't let me fall! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!
Tae Joon yanked him back roughly. The man collapsed to the ground, panicking.
Jae Hyun crouched down in front of him, his eyes like ice.
Lee Jae Hyun
— Talk. Now.
The man said nothing.
Lee Jae Hyun (sharper)
— Talk.
The Man (suddenly shouting)
— It was… Miss Han.
A brutal silence fell. Both cousins froze.
Lee Jae Hyun (with a bitter smile)
— Don't be ridiculous. You expect us to believe Han Ye Reum would try to hurt her own sister?
The man smiled, a twisted, almost crazed grin spreading across his face.
Without hesitation, Jae Hyun punched him hard and grabbed him by the collar again.
The Man (barely a whisper, eyes locked with Jae Hyun's)
He gave a strange smile—unsettling, almost deranged.
The Man
— I've only got one boss… and you already know who I'm talking about.
Jae Hyun's gaze faltered. He stepped back slightly, visibly shaken.
The man's smile widened… more terrifying than before.
The Man (psychotic grin)
— Yes… it's her.
Then he screamed, eyes gleaming with madness:
The Man
— The one who hired me was none other than… Han Yuri.
Tae Joon froze, stunned.
Jae Hyun, too, stood completely still—unable to believe what he'd just heard.
To be continued…