Suho and Hauen stood quietly in front of her parents' house. For a moment, no one moved.
Hauen turned to Suho. He met her gaze and offered a gentle, grounding smile. It was small, but it steadied her enough to step forward.
The door opened.
The moment Mr. Kang saw her, his eyes misted instantly. He rose from his seat, disbelief and relief crashing together."Hauena…"
She didn't wait another second. She rushed to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his chest."Appa," she cried, her voice breaking.
He held her like he might lose her again if he loosened his grip. "How are you, Hauena? Where were you all these months…" His voice trembled, the weight of unanswered nights pouring out.
"How are you, Appa?" She pulled back just enough to look at him, tears streaming. She scolded through sobs. "And how dare you even think of taking such a harsh step?"
Suho watched silently, heart heavy, as father and daughter clung to each other.
Before the moment could settle, Mrs. Kang appeared from the hallway. The second she saw Hauen, she broke down. "Hauena…" she cried, almost running forward. "My child… my baby…"
Hauen hugged her mother tightly. "I'm fine, Omma," she whispered, though her tears said otherwise.
Suho stepped closer to Mr. Kang and bowed slightly. "How are you doing, Appa?" he asked respectfully.
Mr. Kang didn't answer with words. He pulled Suho into a firm, fatherly hug. Suho returned it with equal warmth.
"I'm sorry, Appa," Suho said softly. "That day… I was helpless. I had to agree with Haraboji."
Mr. Kang shook his head gently. "I understand your situation, my son." His voice cracked. "Thank you for staying by my daughter. Thank you for trusting her. Thank you for bringing her back safely."
Suho swallowed, emotion tightening his throat. "I love her, Appa," he said quietly but firmly. "She is my wife. How could I leave her like that?"
He paused, gathering himself. "I still feel guilty that I was once forced to let her go. But not anymore. I will never leave her again, under any circumstances."
His words were soft, honest, and unshakable.
He looked at his father-in-law and said gently, "Tomorrow, the final verdict will come. And she will be proved innocent." A soft smile touched his lips.
Mr. Kang smiled in return and hugged him once more, holding him with quiet relief. Mrs. Kang also stepped forward, embracing Suho, her emotions spilling over.
"Don't worry, Omma," Suho reassured her softly. "Everything is fine now."
After a pause, he asked, "Where is Hyunwoo?"
Mr. and Mrs. Kang exchanged a glance. Then Mr. Kang replied, "He's in his room. Resting."
Suho's brows furrowed slightly. "How is he? Was he hurt badly?" His concern was genuine.
Mrs. Kang's eyes filled with tears again. "He was starved for days… his skin was burned." Her voice broke midway.
Suho's fist clenched unconsciously. How could Yerin be so cruel… to hurt someone in such a way?
"I want to meet him," he said slowly.
Mr. Kang looked at him with regret. "Suho… we are sorry, my son. For whatever Hyunwoo did to you."
Suho met his gaze calmly. "No, Appa. Please don't apologize." He shook his head gently. "It wasn't your fault. And I don't hold any grudge against Hyunwoo either."
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Yes, he made mistakes. And I don't justify them. But he seems to have realized his faults now. His confession helped uncover the truth."
His voice remained steady, carrying forgiveness without weakness.
Hauen stood quietly, her gaze lowered. The weight in her chest hadn't lifted. Not completely.Her disappointment in her brother still sat heavily.
Then, suddenly, she spoke. "But I don't forgive Hyunwoo, Appa."
Her words cut through the room. Her parents looked at her in shock. Suho turned to her, concern flickering across his face.
Hauen lifted her head, her eyes steady, unyielding.
"I've covered up countless mistakes of his since childhood," she said, her voice controlled but aching. "And never once did I feel this angry… or this disappointed."
She swallowed hard.
"But this… I can't forget. And I can't forgive."
Her voice trembled, the pain surfacing clearly. "He tried to harm Suho. Not once, but again and again. In different ways."
She clenched her jaw. "If even one of those plans had succeeded, my husband's life would've been destroyed forever."
Her parents' eyes widened as the truth settled in.
"He planned the Gangnam Street attack on Suho. And when that failed—"
"Hauena…" Suho tried to stop her gently.
"No, Suho," she said, holding up her hand, stopping him without anger. "Let me finish."
"When that attack didn't work, he tried again," she continued, her breath shaking. "He tried to poison Suho's drinking water… to paralyze him again."
The room fell silent.
Her voice trembled. "He tried to hurt someone who was already suffering."
Suho reached for her hand, holding it firmly, grounding her. A tear slipped down her cheek.
"And I can't forgive that, Appa," she said, her voice firm despite the tears. "I really can't."
The words didn't come from anger alone. They came from love, fear, and a line finally drawn.
Mr. Kang looked at Hauen for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"You have every right to be angry, Hauena," he said gently. "We are not asking you to forgive him. I understand how much pain he caused you both."
Hauen's lips trembled. Tears slipped freely now.
Mr. Kang reached out and brushed her hair back with familiar tenderness. "We are sorry on behalf of Hyunwoo, Hauena," he continued, his voice heavy with regret. "And I promise you this… he will never cause any kind of trouble for you or Suho again."
Hauen broke down, hugging him tightly.
Mr. Kang smiled through his tears, holding her close. "We love you, Hauena. We care for you. And we're grateful you found someone like Suho… someone who loves you the way you deserve."
He kissed her hair softly. "Stay happy, my love. You've endured so much. May God bless you with peace, love, and prosperity."
Hauen could only cry, clinging to him.
Just then, a weak voice echoed from behind them. "Hauena…"
Everyone turned.
Hyunwoo stood at the bedroom doorway, one hand gripping the wall for support. He looked fragile, almost hollowed out. His cheeks were flushed red, as if struck hard. His eyes were swollen, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. Burn marks stained his chest and the lower part of his face.
Suho's expression didn't soften.
Hyunwoo took a few unsteady steps forward, drawn by the sight of his sister after so long. Despite the pain, a faint, desperate happiness flickered across his bruised face.
Suho moved instantly. He stepped beside Hauen and took her hand firmly, pulling her closer to him.
Not out of anger alone. But out of instinct. Because something deep inside him still sensed Hyunwoo as a danger. As if his consciousness hadn't forgotten that this man, no matter how broken now, was once capable of hurting the woman he loved.
And Suho wasn't willing to risk losing her again.
Hauen didn't move.
She stood still, her fingers wrapped tightly around Suho's hand.
"You're finally back… Hauena," Hyunwoo whispered, his voice breaking. "Thank God… thank God you're alive. Thank you for saving my sister…"
His words tumbled over each other, rushed and fragile, as if his heart couldn't decide which emotion to release first.
"I'm sorry, Hauena," he sobbed. "I'm so sorry… I hurt you."
His gaze flickered to Suho, desperation flooding his eyes. "Suho… thank you. Thank you for finding her. Thank you for bringing her back." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry for everything. I really am."
Then his knees gave way.
He collapsed in front of them, palms pressed to the floor, shoulders shaking violently.
"I don't deserve peace after what I've done," he cried. "Punish me however you want. I'll accept it. I'll confess everything to the police. I'll tell them everything."
His words spilled out in broken fragments, soaked in guilt and fear. "Please… I'm surrendering. I'm so sorry…"
Hyunwoo cried openly, completely undone.
Suho watched him in silence, his expression unreadable. The remorse looked real. The guilt is heavy. Too heavy to fake.
But Hauen didn't respond. Her eyes glistened, tears threatening to fall, yet her face remained still.
Because the pain he caused wasn't something tears could wash away. Months of separation. The repeated attempts to harm Suho. Her father standing on the edge of death. All of it weighed far more than Hyunwoo's breakdown.
His sobs echoed in the room, but Hauen's heart stayed guarded. Some wounds didn't soften with apologies. Some fractures needed time, distance… and silence.
"It's good that you finally realised your mistake, Hyunwoo," she said at last, her voice calm but unwavering.
"But I can't forgive you so easily." Her words landed heavy in the room.
"Your foolish choices could have cost many lives. We almost lost Appa because of you. You tried to harm my husband for a handful of money. You betrayed your own blood." Her voice trembled for a moment, then steadied again. "I can't forget any of that."
She met his eyes, firm and resolute. "And I'm not willing to forgive you. That is your punishment."
Hyunwoo's sobs deepened.
"I hope you become a better person moving forward," she continued, softer now, not gentler. "Just don't hurt Appa and Omma again. They've already suffered enough because of you. Think before you do anything foolish again."
He bowed his head, shoulders shaking. "I'm sorry," he whispered one last time.
Hauen wiped her tears, then turned to her parents.
"We should leave now, Appa," she said quietly. "We have to visit Suho's family too."
"Have lunch with us, Hauena," her mother pleaded.
"Not today, Omma. Maybe next time," Hauen replied softly. "Please take care of Hyunwoo."
She hugged both her parents tightly, holding on a second longer than necessary, as if sealing years of pain into that embrace.
Suho followed, bowing respectfully before hugging them as well.
Before leaving, Hauen glanced back once. Hyunwoo was still on his knees, tears streaking his face, eyes fixed on her.
She didn't speak. She simply turned away and walked out, leaving the past behind her, one step at a time.