Chapter 5

Why does misfortune always seem to come all at once? Or maybe she just wanted to think it was all part of some unavoidable fate.

After Jisoo’s father suddenly passed away, her family’s financial situation also quickly crumbled.

Misery and despair came like waves. They crashed down on her from every direction, in different forms and at different times.

Even so, she couldn’t afford to fall. The burden and responsibility placed on her young shoulders pressed down on her every day, but Jisoo endured it all in silence.

No one thought anything was strange about that. No one. Not even Jisoo herself. She believed this hardship was her fate and punishment.

When she looked in the mirror, a tired woman stood there, barely able to hold herself up. Even her eyes looked empty, like they held nothing. That face seemed unfamiliar, like it belonged to someone else.

As she reached the first floor and walked across the lobby, her steps grew slower. Thoughts weighed her down like anchors, pulling her deeper and deeper.

She had no certainty about her brother’s health. No faith that Cha Heon would regain his memory of her. And so, no confidence in her own happiness either. Nothing was certain. And that uncertainty was overwhelming.

As Jisoo walked with heavy steps, she saw a shuttle bus in the distance, slowly approaching the stop, full of people.

If she missed it, she’d have to wait at least twenty more minutes. In this freezing winter weather, that was the last thing she wanted.

Without thinking twice, Jisoo ran toward the entrance. If she had known, she would’ve worn sneakers. The cold air rushed into her lungs, stinging her nose and leaving a metallic taste in her mouth.

The bus doors opened, and people inside began to step out. It looked like everything was happening in slow motion.

Maybe she had been too desperate. As she turned the corner, Jisoo didn’t see the person coming from the opposite side and collided with them, falling to the ground.

“Ah!”

She hit the floor hard, the back of her hand scraping painfully. She must have landed wrong too, because her wrist throbbed with a sharp ache.

Jisoo quickly looked up at the person she had bumped into a man in a suit, who looked like someone of high status.

He staggered for a moment, but soon regained his balance.

“I-I’m sorry…”

Before she could even process the pain, Jisoo saw his face and froze.

“Miss, you should watch where you’re going!”

The man beside him, probably a secretary or assistant, scolded her instead of helping her up.

“I’m fine. Are you okay, miss?”

The gentleman in front of her wore a kind face. His voice was gentle as he asked if she was alright, but Jisoo couldn’t get a word out. Her lips felt glued shut.

She knew who he was.

Don’t ever show your face in front of Lee Heon again.

That same face, which once spoke such cruel words to her, now stood before her.

“Miss, are you alright?”

He was right in front of her now.

Snapping back to her senses, Jisoo quickly stood and bowed. No matter what, it was her fault.

“S-sorry. I must have been in too much of a hurry.”

“I’m alright. But you’re bleeding.”

The man, who looked about her father’s age, stopped his assistant from saying more and looked at her with concern.

When Jisoo glanced down, she saw blood seeping from her scraped hand. But that didn’t matter right now. With a forced smile, she kept her head lowered.

It wasn’t likely, but what if just what if he recognized her?

Her mind was on high alert, and she could hardly breathe. It wasn’t just from the running. It all felt unreal, like the ground beneath her was sinking.

“I—I need to catch that bus. I’m really in a hurry.”

Backing away, Jisoo avoided his gaze.

“I’m sorry, really, I am.”

“Wait, miss!”

Ignoring the voice calling after her, Jisoo ran and barely managed to hop on the bus.

Struggling to stay upright on the steps, she felt her mind slipping further away.

The shaking of the bus made her feel like she might collapse to the floor at any moment.

“Miss, your hand is bleeding. You look really pale are you okay?”

Even to others, she must have looked unstable. Someone stood up and offered her their seat.

“Ah I’m okay.”

Even though she said she was fine, the person insisted, and Jisoo gave a small bow before sitting down awkwardly. Her body swayed weakly with the motion of the bus.

She pulled out an old handkerchief, its edges fraying, from her bag. She gently pressed it to her wound. The rough cloth stung and burned against her skin.

But it was the only thing that reminded her she was still here, still real.

Sigh. Jisoo let out a long breath, trying to calm her still-racing heart.

She rested her head against the window and closed her eyes. Then, the memories came back.

Memories she tried to forget but couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried, they refused to fade. To Jisoo, they were like scars that could never be healed.

How could she forget the way those unfiltered words stabbed into her chest?

You’ve got some nerve. Just the name Cha Lee Heon and you come running without shame.

Jisoo had only lowered her head, her face pale. She couldn’t understand what she had just heard.

No, she understood. She just couldn’t accept it.

He had said he lost his memory. Everything from age 27 to 28.

That happened to be the exact time when Lee Heon had begun pursuing her and when she had finally accepted his love.

In other words, he had lost only the memories of her.

Every single one. Cleanly, completely.

Was that even possible? Still, the moment felt like a death sentence. She remembered it all too clearly.

I finally feel like we’re on the same level now. Don’t you agree?

Her expression was full of coldness and hostility.

A woman who treated love like a game played with someone else’s heart. Hanju had always been hostile toward Jisoo, simply because they loved the same person.

Jisoo didn’t have the energy to care about someone else’s feelings toward her. But if that hatred came from how things had turned out, then she understood.

Ah, no. I guess not. You’re nothing without Cha Lee Heon, aren’t you?

Am I wrong?

No.

Hanju’s words were sharp but not wrong.

Guilt was the chain that held her down. That’s why Jisoo couldn’t say a single word.

She had reached for happiness that didn’t belong to her, and now she was simply back where she started. So why did it feel like everything had been ripped away?

A college student sponsored by Lee Heon’s family.

Without his love, Jisoo had never been anything more or less than that.

Their love had been the only proof. Their memories were the only trace of the time they shared.

Now she was just a nobody. And there was no way she could approach him again. Every time she turned away from his hospital room door, it felt like tearing away her own flesh.

But Lee Heon had been her light. Her only rope to hold onto.

Now, by some miracle, she had met him again. Of course, she couldn’t bear to lose him so easily this time.

The day ended like any other.

It had been nearly five years since Yoon Seokju had taken over the foundation after Chairman Yoon Daeyong of Seohan Group had become bedridden.

His weekly hospital visits were more for show to maintain his image and solidify his position, like a sharp-eyed hyena securing its territory.

Today was no different. After finishing his usual visit, Seokju arrived early at his next appointment.

Even though he had come ahead of time, someone was already seated inside the restaurant. Seokju spotted him through the large glass window.

He checked his watch. Ten minutes before the scheduled time.

Typical of someone from Cha Jongchan’s bloodline.

Thinking even this was rigid of him, Seokju smirked, then wiped the expression off his face and entered the restaurant.

A group of people followed behind a tall, well-built man, then quietly spread out to their own seats. No one found it strange it was routine.

Seokju brushed the creases from his pants as he bent slightly. The wrinkles weren’t too noticeable.

It could be called an accident. Or just an incident.

Normally, with his fiery temper, Seokju would’ve exploded.

But this time, he let it go. Maybe because the young woman looked about Hanju’s age.

With the upcoming governor election, any unnecessary trouble would only hurt him.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“I just got here.”

As he approached the reserved table, Seokju gestured for Lee Heon to sit.

“How’s your health?”

“Same as always.”

“Any memories coming back?”

“That too. I’m sick of hearing doctors talk.”

Seokju narrowed his eyes at Lee Heon’s indifferent tone.

Even if it didn’t sound like a lie, Cha Lee Heon was good at hiding his emotions. It was hard to tell what was real.

After the accident, Chairman Cha had sent Lee Heon to the U.S., afraid his son’s lost memories would threaten his place in the family.

That was the kind of man Lee Heon remembered as his father someone who wouldn’t hesitate to use any card, even fatherly love, to keep his power.

Seokju had been the one to support Lee Heon’s treatment from the start, both overseas and after returning to Korea.

Top specialists from both the U.S. and Korea had worked tirelessly to help him recover.

They were all Seokju’s contacts. But Lee Heon never once said thank you not even out of politeness.

That still annoyed Seokju, though he didn’t show it.

He looked at the menu, then raised his hand to order two of the same course meals.

The waiter skillfully took the order and brought warm tea and bread for starters.

As the place settings were arranged before them, a heavy silence filled the table.

“Are you still in touch with Hanju?”

Lee Heon, who had just taken a sip of tea, paused. He understood exactly what that question meant.