Prey (Lee Seohan) - Side Story 3

Suhyeon, after contemplating, carefully spoke up.

“Jeonghan.”

“Yes.”

Jeonghan answered while gently stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

Without looking at him, Suhyeon kept her gaze forward and asked.

“Do you perhaps have an allergy to mackerel?”

“…”

For a moment, his hand slowed its caress. Noticing this, Suhyeon continued.

“Your expression didn’t look good earlier. I thought I should know if there’s something like that.”

“It’s not that.”

Jeonghan answered in a low voice.

“…”

A moment of silence passed.

Suhyeon didn’t ask why then.

If he didn’t want to answer, it seemed better not to force it.

If something made him tense like that, there must be a reason, but if he didn’t want to tell her, she wouldn’t pry.

“Today we…”

Just as Suhyeon was about to change the subject, Jeonghan spoke.

“…When my mother passed away.”

Suhyeon froze.

“A cart selling mackerel passed by outside then.”

Jeonghan’s voice was lower than usual.

After releasing a deep breath, he resumed stroking the back of her hand slowly.

“That’s why.”

Though his voice was calmer now, Suhyeon understood the weight it carried.

After staying quiet, Suhyeon opened her lips.

“I…”

She paused briefly before raising her eyes.

Jeonghan’s deep eyes were focused on her. Meeting those darkly submerged eyes, Suhyeon spoke.

“I don’t really like mackerel either.”

A brief flash of confusion crossed his eyes.

Looking at his face, Suhyeon continued with a gentle smile.

“I think I’ll like it even less now. So… we just won’t eat it together.”

“…”

After sharing a silent gaze, Jeonghan’s lips curved softly.

“Thank you.”

“I really didn’t like it before.”

Suhyeon insisted, but he tilted his head with a tender smile and gently caught her lips with his.

Their briefly joined lips parted with a soft sound.

Suhyeon smiled sweetly and rested her head on his shoulder again.

Out of Jeonghan’s view, her eyes grew moist.

Though she forced a smile, her heart ached.

Whenever inevitable traces of Seol Hee-nam surfaced like this, it felt like her heart was being clawed by sharp talons.

It hurt because these were wounds of his that she could never heal.

Because it pained her that he would have to live with these scars for life…

As Suhyeon took a long breath to hide her emotions, Jeonghan continued to gently caress the back of her hand.

* * * * *

Suhyeon stood in the spacious columbarium, lit by soft lights.

Her gaze rested on the now-unified photos of Jeonghan’s parents.

When Chairman Do Pil-yong first placed them here, they were in separate chambers, but recently Jeonghan had united them.

“…”

Suhyeon’s eyes stung as she stared at the bright smiles in Lee Cheol-eum and Do Miran’s photos.

Before the courageous woman who chose love despite her family’s strong opposition, and the man who succeeded in creating new technology for the woman he loved but never got the chance to be acknowledged, Suhyeon lowered her head weakly.

Suhyeon bent her knees and slowly sat on the cold marble floor.

Kneeling, she stared at their photos with tear-filled eyes.

Her lips trembled before she finally spoke.

“…Please forgive me.”

The tearful voice echoed softly in the peaceful space. Her eyes glistened with tears.

“For… falling in love with Jeonghan, please forgive me.”

Tears silently rolled down Suhyeon’s cheeks. Her wet eyes shimmered faintly in the soft light.

She knew she couldn’t be forgiven.

She knew she had no right to be.

Even though she hadn’t committed the crime herself, those who lost their lives to Seol Hee-nam would never wish for their son to be with Hee-nam’s daughter…

But she had to do this at least. If she didn’t, it felt like her heart would be crushed under the weight of a heavy stone.

The endless guilt was suffocating, painfully constricting her throat.

A large jacket draped over Suhyeon’s shoulders as she knelt there, quietly sobbing.

“Ah…”

Suhyeon looked up, startled. It was Jeonghan.

“…Jeonghan.”

He should be at work at this hour, why…

Jeonghan bent down on one knee beside Suhyeon, whose reddened eyes blinked through tears.

He reached out to wipe her tear-stained face, then slowly helped her up.

Holding her hand, he shifted his gaze to his parents’ photos.

His brows tensed as he took in their bright smiles.

Jeonghan’s throat bobbed visibly.

Taking a deep breath as if swallowing something, he spoke.

“I will bear the punishment.”

Jeonghan stared at the photos with bloodshot eyes as he spoke in a low voice.

“So… don’t forgive me.”

Leaving those words, he bowed his head. Then, holding Suhyeon’s hand, he led her out.

Outside the columbarium, Jeonghan stopped abruptly. When he turned, Suhyeon was looking at him with still-reddened eyes.

Jeonghan looked down at those eyes painfully.

“Don’t come here anymore.”

His rough voice made Suhyeon’s eyes quiver slightly.

Gazing at her wet lashes, Jeonghan sighed softly and stroked her hair.

“I’ll come here instead.”

“But…”

“I know you’ve been coming every day.”

“…”

Suhyeon fell silent. Jeonghan looked down at her with deepened eyes, caressing her wet cheek.

“…I know you’ve cried every time too.”

Suhyeon’s lips parted slightly.

How did he know that?

The security guards might have told him about her daily visits, but she had been alone in the chamber—how could he know about her tears?

Slowly caressing her cheek, Jeonghan smiled with a grimace.

“It pains me too much now, to see you cry.”

“…”

Suhyeon’s closed lips trembled as tears welled up in her eyes again.

Jeonghan reached out and quietly held her in his arms.

“It’s not your fault.”

Holding Suhyeon tightly, Jeonghan whispered low in her ear while slowly stroking the back of her head.

“I was the one who used you for revenge. You were just my prey.”

“…”

“So stop here.”

After listening silently, Suhyeon spoke.

“…I won’t cry.”

Speaking softly but clearly, Suhyeon took a breath, exhaled slowly, and continued.

“I’ll just pay my respects, just greet them and go.”

“…”

Jeonghan pulled her from his embrace to face her. Suhyeon met his gaze silently.

Looking down at her moist eyes, Jeonghan released a silent sigh and said.

“Then come with me. Don’t come alone without saying anything.”

“…Yes.”

Suhyeon nodded slightly. Jeonghan painfully gazed at her beautiful black eyes, glistening with tears, then took her hand again.

He turned and started walking toward the car.

After returning home, they had dinner together earlier than usual. After the meal, they went to the terrace connected to their bedroom.

They sat side by side on the wide terrace chair, looking down at the garden as the sunset spread across the sky.

Suhyeon rested her head on Jeonghan’s shoulder.

Though they said nothing, she enjoyed this quiet time. Even as they were lost in thought, looking at the same view, Jeonghan kept gently stroking her shoulder and arm.

Suhyeon loved that touch too.

It was tender and gentle, bringing peace to her heart.

As Suhyeon enjoyed the feel of his large hand while watching the increasingly brilliant sunset, Jeonghan’s voice broke the silence.

“There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

“…What?”

Suhyeon lifted her head with a start.