Avoiding him intentionally for a day, she finally returned home only to find him engrossed in his work, files scattered across the table. She headed towards their room, but he called out to her to which she ignored the call and walked to the room. Through his reading glasses, he saw this and followed her into the room, his eyes locked on hers.
With a gentle yet firm grasp, he spun her around, his face reddening with anger, "you cheated on me with him right here, didn't you?" He asked, his voice low and accusatory with his lips forming a grin.
Soo Jin's response was a whispered revelation "how long have you been cheating on me?... don't act all self righteous " she called out making him raise a brow. As the weight of their infedilities hung between them precariously, the air was filled with thick tension as they stared at each other . Suddenly, his expression softened, and he reached out to gently stroke her cheek. "I'm not divorcing you, my love. It's normal for couples to go through this. We can work through it."
After his audacious words Soo Jin pushed his hand away, her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. She turned and walked into the bathroom, leaving Seok-Jin standing alone, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he exited the room.
************
Clad in her pajamas, Soo Jin emerged from the room, her gaze meeting Seok-Jin's intense stare.
She settled into a chair opposite him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she asked, "what are you trying to do, Seok-Jin?" Her voice was laced with a hint of hurt and vulnerability. He stared at her and he raised a brow. "Seok-Jin, I was naive back then, and I admitted to my mistake, what more do you want me to do?" She continued.
Seok-Jin's expression remained calm, his chin resting on his hands as he asked, "what do you mean by that statement, Soo Jin?" His tone was lazy almost nonchalant, "be clear and concise" Soo Jin's eyes locked with his, her voice taking on a gentle yet insistent quality "Seok-Jin..." She exhaled deeply and shut her eyes opening it soon after.
"Soo Jin, I was unfaithful, and so were you. Let's just accept it and move on. No need for drama, alright?" He stifled a yawn, his nonchalance a slap in the face. Soo Jin's eyes widened in shock as Seok-Jin's words cut through the air, his lazy tone a stark contrast to the venom he was spewing.
Her voice shook as she questioned him," Seok-Jin, are you trying to...are you trying to punish me?" Her eyes searched his face for a glimmer of empathy, but found none.
His reply to her was laced with mockery "Nam Soo-Jin,..." He called out her name as if he got a revelation,"... your brain finally switched a bulb, did it?" He sneered, his words dripping with condescension. "I thought it'd hurt you to see me with someone else, but I'm not happy. I'm really not happy, Soo-Jin. I want you to hurt more, Soo Jin. Much more."
A single tear escaped Soo Jin's eyes, rolling down her cheek like a silent accusation. She was trying hard to hold it in but was unaware that she couldn't hold it in for long.
She scrubbed her tears away with a fierce determination of him not seeing her in tears. In an attempt to escape this toxic confrontation, she stood up but he swiftly caught her hands in his vice like grip, stopping her in her tracks. He pulled her back to her seat firmly, forcing her to sit down once more. With a low and menacing voice, he spoke "Are you planning to run away?, I'm not planning to let you go Soo Jin. Not yet."
He bored into her gaze filling it with nothing but malevolent intensity, "Nam Soo-Jin, I need you to stay and suffer a little more. Let's hurt each other as much as we can, until we are broken, and burn,and turn into ash with no sign of reformation, Soo-Jin." He said in a tone pleading a challenge between them, a twisted game of emotional torture.
As soon as he released his grip on her, she fled to their room, slamming the door shut behind her. She leaned against the door, heaving as if she had run a marathon. She gulped water from a glass, the liquid spilling down her chin as she struggled to calm her racing heart. With a sense of desperation, she grabbed a coat from the walk-in closet , wrapping it around her like a shield. She slammed the door open and made a frantic dash for the front door.
Shocked from the abrupt act, he chased after her, his features etched with concern but the elevator door closed as he almost reached her. He went to the stairs and sprinted down it.
************
"You what?" Seok-Jin questioned , his voice low and even. She grasped his shoulders, and he gently encircled her neck with his hand, prompting her to speak. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...I couldn't...the pressure was too much...our company and all...I just..." Tears streamed down her face as she tried to explain. But his expression turned cold, his voice deceptively calm."you took pills to abort our child, and you pretended it was a miscarriage, Soo Jin. You killed our baby...huff...for a fucking CEO position?!!!!" His voice rose in a scream " how dare you?!"
He ruffled his hair and held it unable to do anything to her. "Seok-Jin... Seok-Jin...I'm sorry... Seok-Jin..." She pleaded but he silenced her with a raised index finger and walked away.
As she remembered the past event, she stumbled and fell. Standing up, she patted her coat and started to continue her walk but was stopped, Seok-Jin spun her around and hugged her.
"Where are you going?" He asked worry etched in his voice. Realizing their state, she pushed him away, screaming, "let me go!" She shook with sobs and her eyes went wild with anguish.