‘—Live freely for the rest of your life, and maybe think of me every now and then.’

Hong Heeju abandoned the laundry she was folding and stood up abruptly.

His way of speaking was always cryptic and elusive, but this time, she felt she couldn’t afford to miss the signal.

Her feet moved instinctively, leaving no time to weigh or reconsider old wounds.

‘It can’t end like this…!’

She scrambled to find her coat and car keys when the phone rang.

The moment she checked the caller ID and answered, her sister’s frantic voice exploded.

"—Where are you?! Are you …