"I'm leaving for the U.S.," Yerin said quietly.
Suho's heart sank instantly. "You're leaving?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Yerin nodded slightly. "Yes, Suho. My dad wants me to handle some business matters there. I have a flight tonight at 10 p.m., so… I came to inform you." Her tone was calm, almost too calm, no trace of pain, no hesitation.
Suho's chest tightened, but he forced himself to stay composed. "You didn't tell me this before," he said slowly, his voice trembling.
"It happened suddenly," she replied, her face expressionless. "I didn't have a choice."
He swallowed hard, still clinging to a shred of hope. "When will you be back?" he asked softly.
Yerin drew in a deep breath before answering, "It's… not decided yet." Her voice was firm, distant, like she had already detached herself.
Hauen stood quietly in the corner, watching, trying to read Yerin's eyes but finding nothing there.
Suho lowered his head, his heart heavy, and then looked back up at her with a weak smile. "Okay… please go safely. Call me whenever you're free. I'll be waiting for you," he said, forcing calmness even as his voice cracked.
Hauen's heart ached to see him like that, smiling through the pain, holding himself together while he was clearly breaking inside.
Yerin just nodded and stood up, ready to leave, her expression still unreadable.
"Have dinner with us, Yerina…" Suho said softly, his voice trembling, almost breaking.
"I can't. I have to go to the airport, I'll be late," she replied shortly.
Suho's eyes filled with tears, but he blinked quickly, trying to stop them from falling. "Bye, Suho. I have to go," she said, her tone flat, and walked past him.
His gaze followed her every step, hoping, aching, for just one last thing. A hug. A I love you. A gentle kiss on his forehead, like she used to do before. Something, anything, to hold onto.
But she kept walking. Out the door. Not once did she turn around, not even for a final glance.
The tears he had been holding back finally spilled over, streaming down his cheeks as his chest tightened painfully.
Hauen's throat burned seeing him like that. She quickly followed Yerin, who was already reaching for the car door.
"Yerin," Hauen called.
Yerin paused with a tired sigh but didn't look at her.
"How can you leave him like this, Yerina?" Hauen's voice shook with disbelief, anger, and heartbreak all at once.
Yerin turned around, crossing her arms over her chest. "What are you talking about, Hauen?" she asked sharply.
"You know exactly what I mean," Hauen said, her voice rising with emotion. "Suho needs you now more than ever, and you're just leaving him like that? How can you do this? Do you even know how much he missed you, day and night? He longed for your love, your warmth, your presence! And now you're walking away like he means nothing? He loves you like crazy, Yerina… Don't you love him?"
Yerin let out a small, bitter laugh and said coldly, "What do you expect me to do, Hauen? Leave everything behind and stay with him? Do you even know why he married you? Because he couldn't marry me, his family never accepted me. Still, I stayed and waited for him. But now? Look at him. You really want me to keep wasting my life on someone who's like this? Let's be Practical, Hauen, he has no future. He's done. And I'm not going to throw away my life for someone who has nothing left to offer."
Hauen's eyes filled with tears, anger rising in her chest."So now that he's not useful to you, you're leaving him? Didn't you love him when everything was perfect? Didn't he share all his happiness, his success, his good times with you? Now that he's broken and in pain, you're walking away? Is that what you call love after nine years?" she shouted, her voice trembling.
Yerin crossed her arms, her expression cold."Don't lecture me about love, okay? Who even are you? And why did you marry him, Hauen? Didn't you do it for benefits, for money? You also enjoyed his wealth, his care, his body. If it wasn't for that contract you signed, you would've left him, too. So don't pretend to be a saint," she snapped.
Hauen's blood boiled as her hands clenched into fists."You know what? You don't deserve him. It's good that you're leaving. Thank God he's finally free from a snake like you."
"Hauen!" Yerin shouted.
"Don't yell, Yerin," Hauen snapped back, her voice shaking with anger. "Yes, I married him for money, but not anymore. Now, I accept him as my husband with all my heart. I've given my soul to him. I'll give him all the love, all the care, all the happiness he deserves. And one day, when you look back, you'll regret what you've lost. Mark my words!"
Yerin scoffed. "Good for you, you little bitch. Congratulations to you and your paralyzed husband," she spat, her tone dripping with venom.
"Get lost!" Hauen roared.
Yerin shot her a cold glare before getting into her car and driving away.
Hauen stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. Her knees gave out as she fell to the ground, crying uncontrollably. The pain in her chest burned, not just for herself, but for Suho.He had already suffered so much, and now this? How would he handle another heartbreak?
He loved Yerin more than anything in the world, and she… she crushed him without mercy.
"Why, God?" Hauen sobbed, her voice breaking. "Why him? Why are you punishing such an innocent soul? What's his fault?"
She stayed there, crying until her heart felt hollow.
After a long while, she finally returned home.
"Where were you?" Suho asked softly, his voice weak but steady.
Hauen forced a smile, trying to sound casual. "Ah… I just went to say goodbye to Yerin."
He looked at her quietly for a moment, then said, "You don't have to hide it, Hauen."
Her eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean?"
He gave a bitter smile. "I heard everything."