Chapter 26: Fragments of Loud Silence

The young secretary stepped in carefully.

“What is it.”

Yoosun answered while pressing her temples firmly, not even sparing a glance for the secretary.

“Mrs. Jang from Seongbuk-dong and Mrs. Chae from Cheongdam-dong say they absolutely must see you…”

“Did you not understand what I said?”

“I told them the Director was away on a business trip, but they barged in regardless. What should I do?”

Yoosun lifted her head and faced the secretary. The young woman avoided Yoosun’s gaze, looking troubled.

They must be desperate for money laundering.

Yoosun chewed her lip while rolling a golf ball.

“Tell them to come next week.”

“Yes, I will convey that.”

Things are tangled enough as it is, what a nuisance. Yoosun let out a long breath. Still dissatisfied, she stood up abruptly.

“Director.”

“What is it this time?”

As Yoosun turned toward the window and spat out the words with annoyance, Secretary Park bowed his head from behind.

“JBS President Kwon Chang-han wants to speak with you.”

“If President Kwon Chang-han wants to speak, must I accommodate him, Secretary Park?”

Yoosun had scanned the JBS report and related articles on her tablet this morning. She couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh upon confirming that not only the words ‘violence’ or ‘assault’ were an issue, but that the articles about Yoon Leehyun had been wiped clean without a trace.

To handle things in such a way, and then ask for a call.

As Yoosun crossed her arms, as if the request was absurd, Secretary Park quietly moved to her side.

“It seems President Yoon Leehyun has acted quickly. He expressed his intention to completely scrap the advertising contract Gayun had with JBS.”

He meant that it was understandable why President Kwon Chang-han was acting like a man with his tail on fire.

“So he’s finally seized real power, is that it?”

Her plan to shake Yoon Leehyun had ended up binding her own feet. It was now painfully clear that her position within Gayun had plummeted to the ground.

“Are you going to just leave it like this, Director?”

At Secretary Park’s serious question, Yoosun turned back around as if asking what on earth he meant.

“If things go on like this, no one but third-rate media will dare to drop stories about President Yoon Leehyun.”

At the mention that the situation would reach a point where even money couldn’t move things, Yoosun’s eyebrows twisted crookedly. As if I didn’t know that.

“You must act before the shareholders’ meeting, Director.”

“So.”

“Since it’s come to this, let’s make sure we use JBS President Kwon Chang-han.”

“President Kwon Chang-han?”

“The fact that he pulled the articles down is nothing but a warning. If anything, now is the opportunity. If we provide them with advertisements and use President Kwon Chang-han to rattle President Yoon Leehyun, we will be at a disadvantage in many ways if we don’t.”

For her father to sustain his life, Song Yoosun had to survive. And for Song Yoosun to survive, there was no choice but to create flaws for Yoon Leehyun. Secretary Park calculated his own interests thoroughly.

“Buying JBS stock could also be an option, Director.”

“Using the slush funds?”

“There is nothing more certain than controlling the media.”

It was difficult to defeat Yoon Leehyun through stocks alone. Since the board of directors and the general shareholders’ meeting remained, she had to break Yoon Leehyun before then.

“JBS stock?”

Yoosun tapped the floor-to-ceiling window, tap, tap.

“Find out how much we can manipulate.”

Secretary Park bowed and turned to leave, but Yoosun called him back.

“Call President Kwon Chang-han. Let’s talk at least.”

“I will connect you.”

“We have an exhibition coming up this month, right? Calculate the advertising budget for that.”

It was unnecessary, but if needed, she planned to use outdoor advertising. It was the fastest way to send funds.

As she took the phone Secretary Park politely handed to her, Yoosun waved her hand dismissively.

***

“Next.”

Seungho checked his wristwatch and tidied up the documents.

“You have about 30 minutes of free time, Representative.”

Seungho replied, rubbing his stiff neck belatedly.

Leehyun, who had been out since early morning, had worked without a break from the breakfast meeting until well past 3:00 PM. Leehyun, who had been resting his forehead on his clasped hands on the desk, suddenly lifted his head.

“How is Seohee?”

“The report from an hour ago says she is sleeping soundly.”

“She hasn’t eaten breakfast or lunch?”

You haven’t eaten either, Representative. Seungho swallowed the words that threatened to spill out and nodded.

“Did you ask Professor Park? She seems to be sleeping too much.”

While he felt relieved that she had been sleeping from evening until now, Leehyun couldn’t help but feel anxious. Did I discharge her too soon? Is there something wrong? Did something happen while I wasn’t looking?

With a moment of free time, all sorts of thoughts crowded into his head.

“Professor Park Jiyeon said it could be due to hormonal influences and that there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Leehyun, leaning his head back against the chair, closed his eyes firmly.

Her anxious pupils, her trembling lips, and her pale complexion as if she were about to collapse.

When he turned his face following Seohee’s gaze, he saw the elevator button. Turning his body out of a sudden fear.

The place she collapsed before was also the elevator.

As he pictured Seohee staring at the elevator button, Leehyun gripped the armrests tightly.

He had been too distracted by the child and the black rose.

He had thought it was a trivial matter then, but Leehyun felt he had missed something huge.

Is there no 4th floor?

Seohee’s question flashed through his mind.

She had stared at the buttons the whole time then, too, before collapsing.

The 4th floor. As he ruminated on things he had glossed over, veins bulged on Leehyun’s forehead.

“Seungho.”

As Leehyun opened his eyes, Seungho, who had been setting down a latte, reacted instantly.

“Yes, Representative.”

“Is there a separate floor between the 3rd and 5th floors at Gayun Hospital?”

His voice, slowly mulling over Seohee’s collapse, was terrifying.

“Not to my knowledge.”

Seungho replied quite firmly.

Leehyun had scoured Gayun Hospital before admitting Seohee, removing potential threats one by one.

“They say the passage to the cancer ward is at a different height, half a floor up.”

Seohee’s question about whether there was a floor between the 3rd and 5th choked Leehyun. Her gaze, despite her dazed voice, had been quite clear as it lingered on the buttons. Even if her eyelids had fluttered and she had lost her mind soon after.

While Leehyun was lost in thought, Seungho spoke quietly.

“I will look into it again.”

“Check from the time the elevator was designed. Whether it was designed during the Gyeongam Foundation era, or after it changed to Gayun Hospital.”

Leehyun had a good gut feeling. No, it was excellent. Because he was sensitive and highly insightful, once he caught onto something, it never passed by easily.

***

Furniture with wood’s unique brown color, pitch-black walls, and wooden floors beneath walls wrapped in white lettering. Even the black-and-white artwork.

The mansion, with its overall dark atmosphere, was so desolate that one had to be careful just to breathe.

I told you. I didn’t know.

How does that make sense?

I will make it clear. This was before we were married. I haven’t even held hands with that person since we got married. How long do you intend to harass me?

You aren’t saying you haven’t met them.

A woman with long brown hair let out a sigh as if she were suffocating and clutched her chest.

If this keeps up, I really can’t live with you.

Can’t live with me?

Yes, I can’t live with you. Why do you always act like this only when you’ve been drinking?

Why am I like this only when I’ve been drinking?

Crash! The sound of something breaking was loud.

Weren’t you the one who married me even though you knew I had someone to marry?

Ha, it’s my fault? So I should just endure it? Is that what you have to say right now?

Then let’s get a divorce.

Divorce? Did you say divorce? Why? Are you planning to divorce me and remarry that bastard? That poor artist bastard?

Don’t speak so carelessly.

Shall I show you what really ‘speaking carelessly’ means?

Crash, scream, loud noises of all kinds filled the air.

Seohee, Seohee, Seohee! Is Seohee the only thing you have to talk about whenever you see me? If you’re going to be like this, why don’t you just throw away Seohee and me both!

Do you have any idea how easy that is to say?!

Then what do you want me to do! What do you want me to do about the fact that Seohee isn’t your biological daughter!

Even as she crouched down and covered her ears, the ear-splitting voice only grew louder.

Seohee, who had been tossing and turning, woke up from her sleep with a sharp gasp.

She wiped her forehead, which was damp with cold sweat; her hands were trembling.

As she braced herself against the bed and put her legs down, her vision spun for a moment, forcing her to lean forward to steady herself.

Thump. At the same time, there was a loud sound of something falling to the floor.

Knock, knock.

“Madam, are you alright?”

She could see the feather lamp had toppled onto the floor.

“…….”

“Madam, I will come in for a moment.”

Aram, worried by the silence, entered the room.

Her entire body was damp and clammy with sweat.

A chill that made her teeth chatter rushed over her, and as she moved, clutching her arms, Aram approached her.

“What happened?”

“…….”

Because she remembered nothing, she had no proper answer.

“Just…….”

Was it a nightmare?

Her heart was pounding, she couldn’t breathe, and her chest was tightening, but the moment she opened her eyes, everything vanished.

What kind of dream was it?

Was it truly a dream?

The distinction between reality and fantasy was unclear.

“Please…… some water in the tub.”

Ah, didn’t they say not to take a bath? Jiyeon had said a 10-minute soak was okay, but Seohee hated even that.

I’ll just take a shower. Shaking her head lightly, she headed toward the bathroom, but her gaze caught Aram holding her phone and hesitating.

“I’m okay. Don’t tell Leehyun.”

At her firm voice, Aram reluctantly nodded.

“Please be careful not to slip on the floor.”

Leaving a word of worry, Aram stood by the bed as if waiting, and Seohee entered the bathroom.

After showering and changing her clothes, Seohee lay back down in bed.

“Madam, how would you like to handle your meal?”

“……Later, later.”

It was a refusal to eat.

As Aram couldn’t do anything else but leave, Seohee quickly fell asleep.

Like someone desperately trying to escape reality.