Na-ri sat in the back of the taxi, her face soaked with tears. Her body trembled as she tried to breathe through the pain. The driver glanced at her through the mirror and asked gently, "Miss… are you alright?"
She didn't answer.
The driver slowed down, then asked again, "Where are you going?"
Na-ri wiped her eyes and muttered, "Seoul Memorial cemetery."
Without asking more questions, the driver nodded and turned in the direction of the Seoul Memorial Cemetery.
Meanwhile, back at the mall, Tae Joon stood still, confused and restless.
"What just happened?" he muttered.
Ji-a, who had just caught up to him, shrugged and sighed. "I don't know what's wrong with her," she said sweetly. "Maybe she's just not feeling well."
Tae Joon looked in the direction Na-ri had run off to, still trying to make sense of it.
Ji-a moved closer and wrapped her hand around his arm. "Since she's not feeling well, why don't we enjoy ourselves instead?" she whispered. "We haven't had any time together since Na-ri returned. I miss you."
Tae Joon gently pulled his arm away. "Be patient," he said. "I'll make it up to you soon."
---
At the cemetery, dark clouds had gathered in the sky. Na-ri paid the driver and slowly stepped out of the taxi. The wind blew gently, carrying the cold scent of rain.
She walked until she saw the graves.
Kang Si-hyuk (1965–2014)
Min Sung-hwa (1968–2014)
Her knees gave way, and she fell to the ground in front of their tombstones.
"Dad… Mom…" she cried as her voice cracked. "Why did you leave me? Why did you let this happen to me?"
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed harder. The sky finally gave in and heavy rain began to pour like the heavens were crying with her.
"I trusted them… all of them," she wept. "Tae Joon… Ji-a… Auntie… everyone! I thought they loved me. I thought we were family."
She hit her chest and screamed again, "Why did you leave me to suffer alone like this?!"
A shadow appeared beside her. Then a hand reached over and covered her with an umbrella. She looked up.
It was him. The same man from that night.
Tall, calm, and composed, he looked down at her with steady eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Na-ri stared at him through her tears and whispered honestly, "No… I'm not."
"Let's get out of the rain," he said quietly. "You need to calm down."
Without saying anything more, he helped her to her feet and walked her towards a small building at the side of the cemetery. Inside, there was a wooden bench. He sat her down and took off his blazer, placing it gently over her shoulders to keep her warm.
She was shivering. Still crying.
"Is there anyone you can call to come get you?" he asked gently.
Na-ri nodded slowly, her mind suddenly thinking of Min-ji. Aside from her grandfather, Min-ji was the only one who had never left her side.
She reached for her phone and called her.
---
In just a few minutes, a taxi pulled up at the cemetery gate. Min-ji came rushing out with an umbrella.
"Na-ri!" she called.
Na-ri stood up weakly. Min-ji ran to her and hugged her tightly. "Are you okay?"
Na-ri nodded slowly.
Min-ji looked at the man beside her and bowed politely. "Thank you, Mr. Han."
Na-ri turned to him too. "Thank you… really." He didn't not understand. She was not just thanking you for the day but thanking him for that night.
He was tried to protect her even despite not knowing her. He even took her to the hospital and paid her hospital bills. She survived thanks to him and would have lived if she wasn't killed by her aunt.
He gave a small nod, saying nothing.
Na-ri looked back one more time as she got into the taxi with Min-ji. The rain kept falling as the car drove away.
---
Inside the taxi, Min-ji kept glancing at her friend.
"Are you okay?" she asked again.
Na-ri didn't reply. She just leaned her head on Min-ji's shoulder and whispered, "I don't want to go home."
Min-ji nodded, holding her hand. "Then you don't have to. Let's go to my place."
---
Later that evening, Na-ri stood under the warm shower, trying to calm her broken heart. Min-ji gave her a clean hoodie and sweatpants to wear.
She made her dinner — something simple and warm. Na-ri ate slowly, but didn't say much.
After dinner, they both went to bed. Min-ji lived alone in a small apartment in Seoul. Her family lived in Busan, but her mother sometimes visited and made side dishes for her. Min-ji had been by Na-ri's side since childhood. Her father used to be Na-ri's dad's secretary. When he passed away, Na-ri's parents had paid for Min-ji's education.
And after Na-ri's parents died, Min-ji stayed by her side without asking for anything in return. After she graduated from university, and Na-ri became the president of Empire Group, she hired Min-ji as her secretary.
Now they laid side by side, just like they used to when they were younger.
Na-ri broke down again. The pain in her chest was still there. She cried softly, hiding her face under the blanket.
Min-ji turned and hugged her.
"I don't know what happened," Min-ji whispered, "and I won't ask. But it's okay to cry, Na-ri. It's okay to feel pain. I'm here."
Na-ri didn't answer. She just held on tighter.
---
The next morning was Sunday.
Min-ji was already up, cleaning the apartment. Na-ri joined her. The two of them cleaned and swept together.
After that, they started preparing breakfast.
While they were cooking, Min-ji suddenly paused and said, "No matter how much I think about it… I still can't figure out where I've seen that man before."
Na-ri looked up from the sink. "The man from the cemetery?"
Min-ji nodded. "Yes, him."
She picked up the remote and turned on the TV. A news report was showing.
The screen read: Paradise Group donates 1 billion won to help build youth shelters across Seoul.
"That's it!" Min-ji shouted. "That's where I saw him! He's the president of Paradise Group."
Na-ri blinked in surprise. "Paradise Group?"
"Yes. The group that owns the biggest hotels and resorts in the country," Min-ji said. "He's their only son. I remember now. He came to our office a few times last year, trying to buy a piece of land by the seashore from your grandfather. But Chairman Kang didn't want to sell."
Na-ri sat down slowly, listening carefully.
"His father is the chairman, and his mother is the daughter of a powerful party leader. His older sister is the group's director, and she's married to the head prosecutor."
Min-ji let out a small sigh. "He's literally the definition of perfection."
Na-ri's eyes widened.
Suddenly, a flashback hit her.
Weeks ago, she had overheard her aunt and Ji-a talking about setting up a blind date. They wanted Ji-a to marry someone powerful… and they had mentioned his name.
Everything clicked.
Na-ri stood up slowly. Her heart was beating fast.
She didn't come back to cry over a future that hadn't happened yet.
She came back to change it.
She came back for revenge.
And now, it was time…
Time to take the first step.