Baek Sa-eon was a man deeply indifferent to anything outside himself.

When signing the marriage contract or attending countless events, he had never once prioritised Heeju.

During his engagement to her sister In-Ah, he had been a cold, distant figure with no regard for those around him.

"My wife already has a voice to translate for," he said. Sa-eon's expression darkened as he took Heeju's hand.
"And if you're planning to run for president, at least try to read the room before you speak."
"What did you say?"
"If I were one of your advisors, the first thing I would do is shut your mouth."
"You...!"
"It's important to have honest advisors to avoid wasting resources."
"......."
"Well then, this stallion will take his leave to do his proper duties."

Heeju was practically dragged out.

For the first time since her marriage, she left a meeting before her in-laws.

 

***

 

As soon as they were outside, Baek Sa-eon got into the lift without saying a word, holding her hand.

It hurts...!

She tried to pull her hand free, but his grip only tightened. Her fingers were numb. Perhaps this strange warmth was making her heart race.

"You must want to divorce me, Hong Heeju."
"......!"

Her knees almost buckled. Their eyes locked in tense silence.

"You were dragged in to replace your missing sister..."
"......."
"And you're someone who can't even speak."

He hit the lift button for the first floor with a clenched fist.

"Even when the in-laws are barking like dogs, you don't make a sound."
"......!"

His tone chilled her to the bone.

"Just as I expected."

He lowered his head, suddenly studying her face. Clicking his tongue in irritation, he added, "You're not even crying."

Even as he tore her apart with his words, his grip on her hand remained firm. The contrast between his cold words and his warm hand left her dazed.

"Nothing has changed - nothing at all... but..."
"......."
"Why does it bother me so much?"

His gaze bored into her, as if trying to find every flaw. It was so intense that she couldn't help but shiver.

That's what I'm supposed to say...!

Anyone could see that the one who had been acting strangely lately was her husband. Since the threatening phone calls had started, something inside him had snapped.

Here they were - talking, sharing meals, even arguing. The last three years of silent cohabitation felt like a joke.

"The position of the Blue House sign language interpreter..."
"......!"

The phrase startled her for no apparent reason.

"In desperation, you have to stand up for yourself."
"......."
"Don't ride in the old man's truck. Work beside me instead."

The lift suddenly felt suffocating. Heeju's stomach twisted with the relentless sensation of the descent. She needed a breath of fresh air.

 

***

 

The car arrived.

Baek Sa-eon put her in the back seat like a load of luggage and closed the door. But he didn't get in. When she rolled down the window to check, she saw him leaning against the car.

The driver turned on the radio and the static made her jump. The reaction felt exaggerated, even to herself.

"Driver, turn off the radio. It's distracting," Sa-eon said lazily, almost on cue.
"Go home without me," he added, resting his arms on the roof of the car as he leaned down.

Heeju was startled by the unexpected closeness.

"I still have some work to do."

His lips curled into a slight smile.

As soon as she understood the meaning behind his expression, her forgotten tension returned like a flood.

He's waiting for the blackmailer.

"When you get home, don't just pick at your food. Eat properly," he added.

His airy tone was so inappropriate that Heeju could only nod like a bobblehead and hastily rolled up the window.

The day had been unbearably long... But the night was far from over.

 

***

 

As soon as she got home, Heeju turned on her secret burner phone. The cold blue light from the screen illuminated her stiff face.

It's not the first time, so why am I shaking like this?

Her fingers trembled as she tapped on the keyboard.

'The real blackmailer might be listening...'

If the threats proved futile, if Sa-eon overpowered her, what could that madman do in the end?

The thought of him pulling another of her father's teeth sent a shiver down her spine. Fear bound her and drowned her in the depths.

But my intention remains the same.

Whether it was her, the blackmailer or Sa-eon, someone had to be pushed to the brink.

The phone started to beep.

Heeju paced the unlit living room before stepping out onto the balcony. The cold wind sharpened her concentration.

She had wasted enough time while the threats paused. It was time to end it.

The tedious seconds passed and the call finally went through.

And in that moment - the suffocating pressure of her father, the blackmailer, the teeth, the campaign - it all evaporated at the sound of his voice.

His voice ripped through her mind like a cold gust of wind.

-"After all the trouble you've caused, why are you calling so late?"

She was at a loss for words.

Even though they had just been together, hearing his voice again felt strangely unfamiliar. She rubbed her neck nervously.

"W-Were you waiting for me?"
-"A guy who pulls teeth with his bare hands wouldn't be the type to hold back, would he?"

Her lips tightened as the memory of blood and fear surfaced.

-"So why didn't you call sooner?"
"Why... do you keep dragging this out?"

Her voice trembled slightly, but she didn't care. It was to her advantage to appear unsettled.

"I just want one thing. I told you to put things back the way they were! If you don't like it, pay the 2 billion won. And if you don't want that either..."
- "...'
"It's your fault for underestimating my threats."

At the same time, it was Heeju's misfortune to have picked up the wrong phone in the first place.

"You almost suffocated, but you're still so calm?"

The memory of her husband coming home dishevelled flashed through her mind, making her chest tighten unexpectedly.

For someone who almost died, why couldn't he just make up his mind? Anger surged through her, though she tried hard to ignore it.

- "I waited because I had a question."
"......"
- "Something I need to hear directly from you."
"What the hell is it?"
- "If I get rid of Hong Heeju, what do you get out of it?"

His voice was sharp as a knife.

- "If you don't answer properly, the negotiations will drag on indefinitely."
"......!"

What she would gain was obvious: freedom. But in her current disguise, she couldn't say that outright.

This was where her carefully crafted plan began to unravel. She couldn't think of a single convincing excuse.

- "Go ahead and set more fires or pull out more teeth if you want."
"......"
- "But I want my answer."

She ruffled her hair in frustration at Sa-eon's stubborn lines.

"Because I hate you so much, I just want to see you fail miserably!"

The words tumbled out before she could think them through. Heeju immediately regretted it. But spilled words couldn't be taken back.

There was silence on the line.

'What now? Did he hang up?'

She checked the screen, but the call was still active. Baek Sa-eon wasn't even breathing audibly. And this silence made the atmosphere heavier.

Just then,
- "Ha... Do you have any idea how strange you sound?"

His voice, rough and tinged with mocking laughter, finally broke the silence.

- "What exactly is your relationship with Heeju?"
"W-What?"
- "Your threats sound like they are for her benefit."
"...!"
- "You seem to know my wife quite well."
"......"
- "Let me ask again."

Heeju felt scared.

- "What exactly are you to Hong Heeju?"
"...!"

His voice, sharp as a needle, stabbed directly into her ears.

"W-What kind of nonsense is that?" she stammered, struggling to form a coherent response.

- "Which will be faster, me getting Heeju to talk or me tracking you down?"
"......!"

It was only a voice, but the venom in it spread like poison.

- "Why exactly 2 billion won? How did you get her photos? Why do you want a divorce? Do you know what all this sounds like to me?"

Wait... Could he have found out? He doesn't know it's me, does he?

Cold sweat dripped down her face as she bit her nails nervously.

- "It sounds like you're trying to blackmail her."

What? What did he say?

- "What are you going to do with Heeju after the divorce?"
"...!"
- Even if you succeed, she'll still see you as the one who hurt her father. Do you really think I would bow down to a pathetic scumb*g like you?"

Her mind went blank as his words sank in.

- "It doesn't matter if you were her ex or her current lover. Heeju isn't going anywhere. Whatever you were to her or whatever you call yourself now, it doesn't matter."

What? L-lover?

- From her car to her father and now her husband, you've violently disrupted everything around her. It's clear you're out of your mind."

Wait! H-Hold on... where is this going?!

- "I have no intention of letting her go. Not now, not ever."

Her cheeks burned with the fire of her anger.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

She felt like choking.

This was the worst case scenario. If she ended up being seen as the adulterous party, the consequences would be catastrophic.

If any blame was to be laid, it should be on her husband - not on her.

She couldn't live with the injustice of it all.