The massive iron gates of the Kim mansion slid open as Suho's car came to a smooth halt before them. The familiar driveway unfolded ahead, elegant and intimidating, just the way it always had been.
Suho drove inside.
Hauen's fingers curled in her lap. It had been so long since she had faced everyone here. Too much had happened in too little time, and she could not tell how the family had carried it all.
Suho parked the car and turned toward her. He unbuckled his seat belt, studying her face, catching the quiet tension she was trying to hide. A warm smile softened his features.
"Don't worry, Hauena," he said gently. "You're not an accused criminal anymore. You're part of this family. My family loves you. They already know the truth."
She looked at him, nerves still fluttering, but his certainty steadied her.
"Relax, Jagi," he added with a small chuckle. "Haraboji is probably pacing inside right now, waiting to apologize like an impatient child."
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
He leaned closer and pressed a gentle peck to her lips, reassuring, grounding. "Let's meet them. Once this is done… it's just you and me," he murmured, eyes glinting. "And then we plan Jeju."
Her smile widened instantly. She reached out, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling him closer. Suho startled, then laughed, panic and delight mixing in his voice.
"Hajima… not here," he whispered urgently, still laughing. "Don't be impatient."
She pouted for a second, then quickly stole another peck from his lips, making him chuckle again despite himself.
Shaking his head, he reached over and unbuckled her seat belt. "Come," he said softly. "Let's go inside."
Together, they stepped out of the car, hand in hand, ready to face the mansion and everything waiting inside.
Suho held her hand firmly, grounding her, and walked toward the mansion. His heart swelled with pride. He had fought for her. Proven her innocent. Today, he expected apologies, warmth, and closure. And now he was almost eager, waiting to see everyone, to hear the apologies she deserved.
Hauen, on the other hand, felt her heartbeat grow heavier with every step forward. Something in the air felt… different. Not hostile. Just unfamiliar. Her instincts stayed alert, whispering unease.
The moment they entered the living room, Suho's smile faltered.
It was empty.
No elders are seated. No familiar voices. No gathered family as he had imagined. Just silence and the quiet echo of their footsteps.
Hauen glanced at him. He felt it too.
He gently pulled her closer to his side, instinctively protective. "They must be inside," he said, brushing it off with a small smile. "Come."
She slid her hand around his arm, holding on as they walked deeper into the mansion.
That was when they saw Daehyun.
"Daehyun Imo," Suho called out, his face lighting up instantly.
Daehyun turned, surprise flickering before her warm smile appeared. "Oh… Suho. You're here." She walked toward them. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine," Suho replied easily, relief softening his tone. Then, curious and still cheerful, he asked, "Where is everyone? I came to meet them… and have lunch here." He glanced at Hauen with quiet pride. "Hauen is finally back."
Hauen stood beside him, calm on the surface, nervous beneath, waiting for Daehyun's answer.
Daehyun's gaze shifted to Hauen, and she offered a small smile. It was polite… but a little stiff.
"How are you, Hauen?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Imo," Hauen replied softly.
Daehyun nodded and turned back to Suho. "Everyone's busy with their own work right now," she said in a casual tone that didn't quite convince him. "Come. It's almost lunchtime. They'll join soon."
Suho nodded, though every instinct in him screamed that something was wrong.
He followed her, pulling Hauen gently closer. "Sit. I'll call everyone," Daehyun said before leaving.
As soon as she was gone, Hauen squeezed Suho's arm lightly. He looked at her and smiled reassuringly, even though he himself felt uneasy.
They sat down at the dining table.
One by one, the family members arrived. Chairs scraped softly against the floor. Polite smiles were exchanged. Greetings were spoken, but only to Suho. Hauen received brief glances, measured and distant, before their attention returned elsewhere.
Hauen's fingers curled slightly in her lap.
Finally, Haraboji entered and took his seat. The head of the family took his seat at the center of the table, his presence heavy, commanding silence without a word.
Servants moved in quietly, placing dishes one by one, and began serving food.
Haraboji looked at Suho with a content expression.
"How are you, Suho? How did the event in the USA go?" he asked.
Suho straightened slightly and smiled back. "Everything went well, Haraboji. Mirae has officially entered the US market."
Haraboji nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "Good. I'm proud of you."
The conversation died there.
Only the soft clink of chopsticks echoed across the long dining table, the silence stretching longer than it should have. Suho's eyes moved from face to face. Everyone was eating, nodding occasionally, speaking in low murmurs… but not a single word was directed at Hauen. Not even her name.
As if she wasn't there.
He glanced at Hauen. She was pushing food around her plate, appetite gone. Her shoulders were still, her eyes lowered, the hurt clear on her face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
Something in Suho snapped. He looked back at Haraboji and cleared his throat, the sound cutting cleanly through the silence.
"Haraboji."
The old man lifted his gaze.
"Hauen is here too," Suho said, his voice steady but firm. No decoration, no hesitation. "Why is everyone ignoring her? She has been proven innocent. The final verdict will come tomorrow."
The room went still.
Haraboji's eyes shifted to Hauen.
She looked up at him, hope and uncertainty tangled in her gaze, waiting.
He looked around the table once before speaking. "How are you doing…" a brief pause, almost imperceptible, "…Hauen?"
Suho's heart clenched at the effort it took for him to say her name.
"I'm fine, Haraboji," Hauen replied softly. "How are you doing?"
Haraboji's gaze flickered to Suho for a second, catching the hurt in his eyes. Then he looked back at Hauen and offered a small, measured smile.
"After everything that happened… I'm glad you were proven innocent," he said calmly. "But we need some time to adjust to your presence." The words were calm. Controlled. Sharp in their restraint.
Hauen smiled politely, her eyes glazing over. She looked down, refusing to let her tears fall in front of them.
Under the table, Suho's hand found hers. He squeezed gently. A quiet promise. I'm here.
"Suho," Haraboji called again.
Suho looked up.
"Come to the mansion tomorrow for dinner. I want to discuss Mirae's next outlet opening in the USA," Haraboji said, his tone slipping back into authority.
Suho held his gaze for a brief second, then nodded. "Okay."
The lunch continued.
Conversations shifted easily, smoothly. Business strategies. Political gossip. Upcoming events. Party invitations. Laughter here and there. Chopsticks moving, glasses clinking.
And Hauen… faded into the background. No one asked where she had been all these months. No one asked how she survived. No one asked how she was holding up till now.
They spoke to Suho, included him, pulled him into discussions, as if she were an empty chair beside him. As if she didn't exist at that table at all.
Hauen stared at her plate. The food blurred. Her throat tightened so badly she couldn't swallow a single bite.
Suho felt it. Every pause. Every deliberate omission. Every quiet cut.
Enough. And he refused to let it continue.
He intertwined his fingers with hers and, without a word, stood up abruptly. The scrape of his chair against the floor sliced through the room.
Everyone turned to look at him. Haraboji raised an eyebrow.
Suho's mother spoke first, concern lacing her voice. "What happened, Suho?"
Suho inhaled slowly, steadying himself. When he spoke, his voice was controlled, calm on the surface. "We're full, Omma. I'm sorry, but we need to leave right now."
"But Suho—"
He cut her off, politely but firmly. "I came here today only so you all could meet Hauen," he said, eyes shifting briefly to Haraboji. "That's all."
The room went still.
"You all can continue," he added, voice even. "I have some work to handle regarding tomorrow's court hearing. So we'll take our leave."
Before anyone could respond, he turned to Hauen and gently but decisively took her hand.
"Let's go," he said softly, meant only for her.
And then he walked out. without hesitation, without looking back.
He held her hand firmly, his grip protective, unyielding, as he led her out of the dining hall, out of the mansion, out of the suffocating silence.
The message was clear.
He would not stay where she was made to feel invisible. He would not sit where she was treated like an inconvenience. He would not allow anyone, not even his own family, to ignore or diminish his wife.
Behind them, the room remained frozen.
No one spoke. But everyone understood exactly what had just happened.