Chapter 3
With those indifferent words, Dohyeon handed Ina the divorce papers.
Unable to complete the three years they had originally agreed upon, their marriage ended there.
Even now, Ina still didn’t understand why he had told her, “I’ll save you,” that morning, only to file for divorce immediately afterward.
But there was one thing she was certain of.
Though he had always been distant, he hadn’t been a bad husband.
Looking back now, perhaps the reason she had managed to endure that hellish life with her in-laws wasn’t simply because Jinseon had always looked after her.
It might have been because of her husband, who quietly helped her whenever Mrs. Hwang tormented her.
“Don’t make Ina prepare breakfast for a while. I won’t be eating it anyway.”
“I’ll have dinner outside for the next month.”
“Seo Ina, stop making her prepare snacks for the entire team every time we work overtime. From now on, the company cafeteria will handle overtime meals.”
Though he never showed much emotion, he had always found subtle ways to help her.
That was why Ina couldn’t easily let go of her feelings for him.
The truth was…
She had wanted to marry him from the very beginning.
“You’re going to Senior Dohyeon’s lecture today, right?”
“Isn’t he unbelievably handsome? If he’d gone to school with us, college would’ve been so much more exciting.”
At Ina’s university, Dohyeon was considered a legend.
He was already famous simply because he was the son of a chaebol family, but throughout college he had consistently ranked first in the department.
Even after graduation, instead of relying on his status as the chairman’s son like other wealthy heirs, he rejected special treatment and entered Kanghan Group’s headquarters through his own ability, working alongside ordinary new employees.
That story had become famous.
He often returned to Ina’s university to give guest lectures, and every time he came, she attended.
His handsome face, his well-built body that matched his reputation as a fitness fanatic, and his model-like height were just a few of the qualities that made him stand out.
To Ina and many of the younger students, Dohyeon was practically everyone’s first love.
Autumn, age twenty-three.
When her father first told her that the man chosen for her arranged marriage was Gu Dohyeon, she had asked to meet him.
Perhaps it was because she had secretly admired the senior who always stood confidently at the front of the lecture hall, effortlessly commanding the attention of every student.
Whenever she saw him from afar, she had often wished she could meet him up close at least once.
So when she learned that the man she admired might become her husband…
Her heart had raced.
At the time, Dohyeon was trapped in the middle of the “gay rumors” and the “Hong Kong drug scandal.”
Ina had pitied him.
For a brief moment, she had even felt excited by the thought that she might be able to help him.
“Hello. I’m Gu Dohyeon.”
He had stood before her with his usual indifferent expression.
Unable to properly look him in the eye, Ina quietly replied,
“Senior… I’m your junior from the Business Administration Department. Please just call me Seo Ina.”
Seeing him up close, he looked even more impressive than he had from a distance.
Yet beneath his cold, commanding eyes, she sensed a deep sadness and loneliness.
For some reason, after looking into those eyes, she desperately wanted to help him.
That had been their first meeting.
And the beginning of their three-year arranged marriage.
Winter, age twenty-three.
She married the man she had admired.
According to their agreement, their marriage, a perfect show for the public, would end when she turned twenty-six.
But unexpectedly, with one year still remaining, they divorced because that was what Dohyeon wanted.
Spring, age twenty-five.
Ina finally escaped the hell that had been her married life.
“I saved you, so don’t come back. And… let’s never see each other again.”
Those were the final words from the husband who had remained indifferent until the very end.
They became complete strangers.
Ina believed she would never see Dohyeon again.
But…
Only one year later, she found herself standing before her ex-husband once more.
Looking up at the cherry blossoms drifting through the air, Ina lost herself in thought.
“I think we got divorced around this time last year…”
The day she had signed the divorce papers and run out of that house that had felt like hell…
Cherry blossom petals had fallen like rain, just as they were now.
Rrrrr…
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
It was her father, Taesu.
“Hi, Dad. You’re awake?”
She had just left the hospital after watching him finally fall asleep.
Apparently, he had already woken up.
“…You really went? You really went there?”
Hearing her father’s weak voice, Ina lowered her head.
Then she looked up at the towering Kanghan Group headquarters beside her.
“Yes. I’m here.”
“You don’t have to do this. Really.”
“Then should Dad and Injun just accept the false charges and go to prison?”
“…Sigh…”
“Dad, your health is already bad. If you keep pushing yourself like this, something terrible could happen. Please think about me too.”
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
After Ina divorced Dohyeon, whether it had been because Mrs. Hwang pressured people or not…
Taesu’s business had rapidly begun to collapse.
One by one, investors withdrew.
Eventually, the company stood on the verge of bankruptcy.
Two months earlier, her younger brother Injun had stepped in, determined to save their father’s company.
Instead, everything became even worse.
While trying to win the investors back, Injun was falsely accused of bribing them with a huge amount of money.
All he had done was arrange a dinner meeting.
Yet false witnesses claimed money had changed hands there.
The shock caused Taesu to collapse from severe high blood pressure, and he remained unconscious for quite some time.
They knew someone had deliberately set a trap.
But they couldn’t find out who had done it or why.
The only clue was that the person behind the false testimony appeared to have ties to Kanghan Group.
Unless they could immediately prove Injun’s innocence and save the family business…
Both her father and her brother would likely end up in prison.
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
“I know how horribly you suffered in that house.”
“…”
“I know how much humiliation you’ve endured. I know everything. How could I possibly send you back into that hell?”
Ina gave him a faint smile.
“Dad didn’t send me there.”
“…Ina.”
“I’m going there on my own. So don’t worry.”
Her eyes shone with quiet determination.
“I’m not twenty-three anymore.”
“…”
“I’m not a naïve girl who just graduated from college.”
“But… those people were so cruel and heartless.”
“I know. I know better than anyone. That’s exactly why I’ll be okay. I won’t quietly stand there saying ‘Yes’ and ‘I’m sorry’ like a parrot anymore.”
She smiled.
She wanted to put her father’s mind at ease.
“This is my decision. Just like marrying him was my decision back then.”
“Ina…”
“I wouldn’t do it if I couldn’t handle it.”
It was the truth.
Marrying Dohyeon…
And now standing before the man she had divorced…
Both were choices she had made herself.
She knew that Dohyeon was the only person who could save her father and her younger brother.
She also knew that, just as during their first arranged marriage, Dohyeon himself was facing difficulties.
Just as they had once become each other’s salvation three years ago…
Perhaps they could help each other once again.
“I’ll call you again later. Please don’t worry.”
Ending the call, Ina walked into Kanghan Group’s headquarters.
Although she had confidently told her father not to worry…
Her expression remained heavy.
So did each step she took.
*
“Vice President, your visitor has arrived.”
The secretary personally opened the office door.
Wearing a dazed expression, Ina stepped inside.
Stay calm.
Don’t let him see you’re nervous.
She had repeated those words to herself countless times.
But the moment she entered Dohyeon’s office, all her resolve disappeared.
The door closed behind her with a heavy thud.
Keeping her eyes fixed on the floor, she slowly looked up.
The familiar woody scent that had always belonged to him brushed past her.
Unable to bring herself to look toward where he stood, Ina remained near the entrance and quietly spoke.
“It’s… been a long time, Mr. Dohyeon.”
She took a slow breath and finally turned toward him.
“A long time?”
Standing with a slight lean, Dohyeon lowered his glasses a little as he repeated her words.
The sound of his voice made Ina instinctively lift her head.
Their eyes met.
One year after their divorce…
Her former husband looked even more striking than before.
“What made you come back here?”
“…!”
“I thought I told you we’d never see each other again.”
He had become even more handsome.
His masculine presence had grown stronger and more intense.
Setting the papers in his hand down with a sharp sound, Dohyeon slowly walked toward her.
The room became completely silent.
Everything else seemed to fade away.
The only thing left in Ina’s world was the man approaching her with that indifferent expression.
Frozen in place, she watched him draw closer with trembling eyes.
“Hm.”
Stopping only a short distance away, he let out a quiet breath.
As though she had been waiting for this moment, Ina finally spoke.
“Please… save me, Mr. Dohyeon.”
For the first time, a faint, curious smile appeared on his emotionless face.
“What?”
Even though he had heard her perfectly, he tilted his head slightly, silently asking her to repeat herself.
“I… want you to save me, Mr. Dohyeon.”
Meeting his eyes without wavering, Ina spoke firmly.
He bent down until they were face to face, close enough that it almost looked as though he were about to kiss her.
“You want me to save you.”
Repeating the words with annoyance, Dohyeon clicked his tongue.
Then he carefully studied her face.
A small amused smile appeared as he slowly shook his head.
“So… you still don’t know.”
“…Know what?”
His voice remained calm as he gently cupped her left cheek.
Startled by the unexpected warmth of his hand, she froze.
Then he spoke again.
“Why I saved you back then.”
At those words, it felt as though the entire world had fallen silent.
“You had this exact same expression that day.”
“…!”
“I feel like I’m going to die. Please save me.”
For a moment, Ina couldn’t find any words.
A brief silence passed before Dohyeon spoke again.
“I went to all the trouble of saving you, only for you to come back looking like you’re dying again and ask me to save you.”
“…Mr. Dohyeon.”
Still gently stroking her cheek, he frowned slightly as he watched her trembling lips.
The intensity of his gaze made her words die in her throat.
“I saved you…”
“…and instead of making it worthwhile, you crawled back here on your own.”
With that brief remark, he let go of her cheek.
Taking one step back, he looked at her with cold eyes.
“I’ll only say this once.”
“…!”
“Go back.”
“That’s the only way you’ll survive.”
