Ruin Comes in an Instant
Life falls apart in a single moment. ……………
She actually filed the lawsuit? Against me?
I'd considered the possibility that Senior Seori might retaliate. I'd dumped her out of nowhere and run away, after all. But I never imagined it would go this far.
3 billion won. Three billion. My hands shook so badly I could barely grip the mouse.
Stay calm. I need to respond somehow.
For now, everything else took a backseat, but one thing was crystal clear: Senior Seori had begun her revenge in earnest.
I took a few deep breaths, steadied myself, and faced the facts head-on. Then, rage boiled up from the depths of my gut.
What the hell did I do to deserve this insane payback? All because of some ridiculous fabricated lie?
Fine. You wanna play it that way, Choi Seori?
Her attack was out in the open now. To survive, I'd have to fight back. Starting with a lawyer.
First things first: assess the practical issues. Hiring a lawyer meant money. How much did I have in my account?
I pulled up the banking app on my smartphone. Fingerprint scan complete, screen switched—and there it was.
Due to a court-ordered provisional seizure, your account has been frozen.
"What?!"
I refreshed in disbelief. Same result. I checked other banks too. Aside from my daily expense account with a bit of cash, every savings and emergency account was the same.
Transactions restricted due to provisional seizure.
"Son of a…."
It was the first time I'd sworn since becoming Han Minseo. She'd filed the suit and frozen all my money in one go. Ensuring I couldn't even afford a lawyer.
I never thought she'd go this far….
Despair washed over me. We'd been lovers once. We'd cherished and loved each other. Or maybe that was just my illusion. Maybe to Senior Seori, I was never a beloved partner—just a beloved possession.
From the moment we met, right up to now.
……………
Still, I couldn't give up. I had to get a public defender at least. There had to be ways to get legal aid without money.
I left the PC bang and searched for the nearest law office. It was a rundown place with a faded sign in an old building—a neighborhood lawyer's office.
"Hello. I'd like a consultation about a civil lawsuit."
The middle-aged lawyer peered at me over his glasses. "What kind of case?"
I handed over a photocopy of the complaint. He flipped through it, his expression hardening.
"Sorry. I can't take the case."
"Core Systems… that means Law Firm Hoo & Zip is representing them. No chance of winning."
He handed the papers back. "Try somewhere else."
The second office was the same. "Core Systems? No way. Impossible."
Third, fourth, fifth. "Can't take it." "We don't handle IT industry lawsuits." "Opponent's too big. Sorry."
I walked until my feet ached, but the result never changed. The name Core Systems alone made everyone shake their heads, like they'd coordinated it.
"This can't be…."
The sun had set. Streets bustled with people heading home. My daily account and cash totaled barely a few hundred thousand won. Rent was due next week, but with frozen accounts, I couldn't pay.
No money, no lawyer. Facing a 3-billion-won lawsuit alone. Trapped like a rat in a cage.
……………
Things spiraled out of control after that. It started in my college group chat. One message from someone.
'Han Minseo leaked Core Systems secrets and got hit with a 3-billion-won lawsuit.'
The rumor spread like wildfire. The IT world is small, and people's mouths are loose. Truth didn't matter. They craved juicy stories, and the tale of 'the exec's sidekick who betrayed a unicorn company' was plenty entertaining.
My pleas for help from contacts? All shut down. Read and ignored, no answer, blocked. That was all I got back.
A few days later, the landlord showed up. "Han Minseo? Rent's still not in for this month."
"Sorry. My account's provisionally seized… Just give me a little time…."
"Seized? So when will it be released?"
I couldn't answer. No clue if or when it'd happen.
As I hesitated, he clicked his tongue. "I'll give you a week. Pay up or get out."
Of course, no miracle in a week. I lost my meager deposit and got evicted. My stuff? Just a few clothes. But nowhere to take them.
I hunkered in a jjimjilbang for days. Until the money ran dry.
Now, I truly had nothing left.
……………
Days passed since then. No idea how many. Sense of time was long gone.
No friends, no family, no one to lean on. Han Minseo's parents had died years ago; no siblings.
Park bench became my bed. Days in the shade, nights under streetlights.
To think it'd come to this.
Weeks ago, I was a unicorn company's lead researcher, lover to a stunning CEO. Life others envied.
Now? Just a bankrupt homeless bum. Nothing more, nothing less.
[If you walk out that door like this, you'll regret it for sure.]
Regret.
Choi Seori was right. I regretted it. But not the way she wanted—not the kind where I crawled back to her.
My regret? Falling into this world. Becoming Han Minseo.
If only I'd never met those three women at the cafe….
If I'd ignored the no-romance, harem, happy-ending nonsense and just run.
Stomach growled. Yesterday's scavenged bread scrap was my last meal. Throat parched. Park bathroom tap water barely kept me going.
Nothing left to know. Nowhere to run. I just lay on the bench, staring at the sky.
Clouds drifted. Wind blew. Sun set and rose. World kept turning; only I was stuck on that bench.
Is this how it ends…?
Fine as a pro reader in my past life. But Han Minseo's second chance? Ending this pathetically.
I closed my eyes. Didn't want to see anything more.
Lost track of time on that bench when something entered my hazy vision. Sleek dress shoes. Spotless, glossy black high heels. Expensive, beautiful—someone's feet.
Who now, coming to bitch at me?
Days ago, park keeper told me to stop sleeping here. Cops demanded ID once.
Who this time? Please, just passing by.
But the shoes didn't move. Stopped right by my head.
No strength to look up. I just dragged my blurry gaze upward, slowly, so slowly.
Black stockings on legs, tight skirt above the knees. Perfect, pricey suit jacket. And finally, her face.
Choi Seori.
She looked down at me. Expressionless. No triumph, no pity, no contempt.
Why… now?
Tried to speak, but no voice. Throat wrecked from no food or water.
Choi Seori said nothing. Just stared down.
The silence stretched forever.
Then, blackness.
……………
Warm. A warmth I hadn't felt in ages. Something soft enveloped me.
Am I dead?
Cracked my eyes. Blurry vision sharpened. Ceiling above. Clean, white.
Definitely not the park.
Turned my head. Spacious, spotless bedroom. King bed, luxury furniture, city view through big windows.
Where…?
Han Minseo's memory flashed. Senior Seori's house. Her bedroom. Hadn't been since becoming him, but invited once after joining Core Systems.
"…Ugh."
Tried to sit up. No strength. Since learning of the suit, stress killed my appetite. Homeless? No food at all. Weeks of near-starvation. Muscles wasted away.
Door opened. Senior Seori entered. Basin and washcloth in hand.
She sat by the bed, soaked the cloth. Steam rose from warm water.
Then she wiped my face. Gentle, careful touches. Forehead, cheeks, jaw. Days of grime and sweat meticulously cleaned.
Why is she doing this…?
Wanted to ask, but no voice. She stayed silent too.