The Web Tightens
Lee Han forced Han Sujin to stand up from where she had collapsed onto the desk and sent her to the office shower. The sound of her sobbing drifted from behind the door, but it only served to heighten Lee Han’s perverse sense of pleasure. A short while later, Han Sujin emerged, washed and dressed, and moved to leave the office. Lee Han offered her a parting remark.
"That was enjoyable."
Watching the smile on Lee Han’s face, Han Sujin forced herself to speak.
"Keep your promise that this was the only time."
"Of course."
As soon as Lee Han replied, Han Sujin hurried out and shut the door. The moment it clicked closed, Lee Han leaned back in his chair and burst into laughter.
After organizing and uploading the footage, Lee Han thought of Han Sujin. Once hadn't been enough. Her skin had been soft, and her body was truly exquisite. He wanted to experience her properly again. He began to contemplate how he might make that happen.
Meanwhile, in the shower, Han Sujin scrubbed her skin while weeping. When Park Taeyoung returned home from work, he was startled to see his wife with eyes swollen red.
"Honey, what happened?"
"It’s nothing. Did you have dinner?"
Han Sujin avoided the question, turning it back on her husband instead. Park Taeyoung inwardly wondered if someone from her parents' house had visited again. He pulled her into his arms to comfort her.
"I’m sorry..."
Park Taeyoung’s heart ached at the sight of her puffy eyes. He held her gently, whispering words of comfort. He patted her back, telling her it was alright, that she didn't need to worry because he was by her side now.
Han Sujin buried her face in his chest and cried for a long time. She couldn't say a word; she could only sob. Park Taeyoung held her silently, waiting until her tears finally subsided.
When the crying stopped, Han Sujin pulled away slightly. She looked up at her husband with reddened eyes and offered a faint smile.
"I’m okay now. Thank you..."
Park Taeyoung returned the smile, seemingly relieved.
"Then let’s wash up and go to sleep. It’s late."
That night, Han Sujin wanted to lean on Park Taeyoung’s warm comfort. She craved her husband’s love as if to erase the horrific memories inflicted upon her by Lee Han. She wanted his touch and his kisses to soothe her wounded heart.
They went into the bathroom together, washed, and lay down in bed. But the thing Han Sujin hoped for did not happen. Exhausted from work, Park Taeyoung turned his back to his wife and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.
Han Sujin bit her lip as she stared at her sleeping husband’s back. She cautiously placed a hand on his shoulder, but Park Taeyoung didn't even stir.
'Hold me, honey...'
Tears welled up in Han Sujin’s eyes again. Clutching her heart, which felt as though it might shatter, she pressed her forehead against her husband’s back. But all that returned to her was the sound of his rhythmic breathing.
Swallowing a sigh, Han Sujin slowly turned over. She stared at the ceiling and wiped away the tears streaming down her face. Her entire body still ached, as if crushed by Lee Han’s touch.
Would it be better if she knew nothing at all? As that thought crossed her mind, Han Sujin swallowed her sobs and drifted into sleep. Her eyelids, weary from the pain, slowly closed.
Beside her sleeping husband, Han Sujin spent the night engulfed in deep despair. A fear and loneliness that did not narrow even in her dreams. Drenched in cold sweat, she held onto a heart that felt like it was breaking.
After such a desperate night, Han Sujin woke up at dawn, sobbing. She looked around the room blankly. Her husband’s back as he tossed and turned, the blue light of dawn filtering through the window. Nothing had changed.
Her throat was parched. Her eyes were swollen. Her body felt heavy as lead. Han Sujin clutched her blanket and wept. In the end, it was a night where nothing was erased—a night of utter, hollow despair.
The words of comfort that she would be okay felt like a deception. Where all hope had crumbled, only endless despair remained. Just like yesterday, tomorrow would be the same. The moment she realized that fact, a fresh wave of sobs erupted from her chest.
To make it appear as though his relationship with Han Sujin had ended, Lee Han did not contact her for several days. He deliberately gave her the hope that everything was over. In the face of Lee Han’s silence, Han Sujin breathed a sigh of relief. She believed that everything was finished and that she could return to her normal, everyday life.
But fate was not so lenient.
One evening, Han Sujin sat at the dining table and picked up her chopsticks. She put food in her mouth, but she didn't even have the strength to chew. Her husband, Park Taeyoung, had not yet returned due to working late. Han Sujin looked around the empty house and sighed. She had thought her business with Lee Han was over, but guilt and anxiety still clouded her mind.
'Is it really over? What if Lee Han appears again someday...'
Han Sujin shook her head. She decided not to think such things. She got up, finished the dishes, and took out the vacuum cleaner. As she was sweeping the living room floor, her husband called from the entrance.
"Honey, I’m with Mr. Lee Han right now. Can we come up together?"
At the unexpected news, Han Sujin nearly dropped the vacuum. He had met Lee Han, and they were coming here together? She felt the blood drain from her entire body. Her mind went blank.
'No. This can't be happening...!'
She steadied her voice with all her might. She was terrified of being found out.
"...Sure. Come on up."
Han Sujin hung up the phone and stood frozen in front of the entrance. She gritted her teeth and clenched her hands. The return to the daily life she thought would be happy had been shattered into pieces.
A moment later, the door opened, and Lee Han and Park Taeyoung entered together. Their bright voices echoed through the house.
"Honey, we have a guest. Mr. Lee Han, please, come in."
At the sight of Lee Han, Han Sujin felt suffocated. Her mind went white. Her legs felt like they were giving out, and she felt as if she might collapse. But her husband was right there. She couldn't be caught. She gritted her teeth and steeled her heart. She managed to force a smile.
"Hello. Welcome."
Park Taeyoung seemed to sense something from Han Sujin’s stiff voice and gave her a worried look, but he soon laughed and spoke to Lee Han.
"Mr. Lee Han, it’s been a while. It’s an honor to have you in our home. Come in, let’s have a cup of coffee and talk."
"Thank you for the invitation. I’d love to. Ms. Han Sujin, it’s been a while."
Lee Han looked at Han Sujin and smiled brightly. Han Sujin could feel the lewdness hidden within that smile. Goosebumps broke out all over her body. But she couldn't let on that she knew. Han Sujin nodded and headed toward the living room.
"Honey, Mr. Lee Han, I’ll bring out some coffee. Please, have a seat for a moment."
Han Sujin escaped to the kitchen. Cold sweat ran down her spine. Her heart was pounding like crazy. She took out the coffee cups with trembling hands. She gritted her teeth and thought.
'I have to endure this. Please, let me not be found out. I don't know what Lee Han might do...'
Soon, the bright laughter of Lee Han and Park Taeyoung drifted in. Han Sujin took a deep breath and brewed the coffee. She headed to the living room with the most natural smile she could muster. She served the coffee in front of them and sat down naturally next to her husband. From that moment on, a suffocating time began for Han Sujin.
When Han Sujin brought the coffee, Park Taeyoung gave her a grateful smile. Then he turned toward Lee Han.
"Well then, shall we have a cup of coffee and talk?"
"Thank you. Ah, the aroma is truly wonderful."
Lee Han lifted the coffee cup, savoring the scent as he looked at Han Sujin. His gaze was filled with a lewdness that seemed to threaten her. Han Sujin tried to ignore it, fidgeting with her coffee cup.
"Honey, sit here and join us."
Park Taeyoung said, pointing to the sofa next to him. Han Sujin felt suffocated by the fact that she had to sit between her husband and Lee Han. But she had no choice. She sat down cautiously next to her husband. Lee Han sat across from her, wearing a faint smile.
Park Taeyoung, oblivious to the strange atmosphere, continued the conversation.
"Mr. Lee Han, thank you for helping me move my things the other day."
"It was nothing. Helping the residents here is my job, after all."
Lee Han answered with a natural smile. He had transformed into the perfect image of a good-natured young man, as if he were acting.
"This apartment was provided by the Aryong Group, and I was lucky enough to be selected to move in."
"I was lucky enough to be selected for my job, too. It’s all thanks to the Chairman’s social contributions."
"That’s right. It’s so hard to find a house these days. You can’t handle it on a regular salary... When I was selected for this, I really felt like I’d won the lottery."
Lee Han chatted affably with Park Taeyoung about the time he moved into the apartment and the difficulties of his work. Han Sujin’s stomach turned at the sight of Lee Han acting as if he were truly sincere about his work at the apartment. But she had no choice but to hide her discomfort.
The conversation gradually drifted toward apartment management. Lee Han poured out various pieces of information, using a tone that sounded as if he were advising Park Taeyoung.
"They’re actually planning to push for a reduction in apartment management fees lately."
Park Taeyoung’s eyes sparkled with interest.
"Why? It’s already quite cheap as it is..."
"The Chairman gave instructions to consider these things because the real economy has been poor lately."
"Oh, that’s good news."
"Since the apartment was built a while ago, they’re also planning to repaint it and carry out some system improvement work."
Han Sujin found the whole scene astonishing. Thinking of what Lee Han had done to her, she shuddered. To think that such a man was now worrying about apartment affairs like a local youth.
Just then, Lee Han glanced at Han Sujin. His gaze, cast without anyone knowing, was filled with desire. For a moment, Han Sujin felt her heart sink. Her head spun.
'Please... stop it...'
Han Sujin clung tighter to her husband’s side, barely holding onto her sanity. But Lee Han didn't care and kept glancing at her. With a smile on his face, he continued his conversation with Park Taeyoung, yet his eyes remained fixed on Han Sujin. It felt as if that hot gaze were raking over her body.
Thus, the suffocating time passed. It was a hellish time for Han Sujin. On the outside, she was smiling, but on the inside, she was screaming and wanting to run away.
'Please, let it end... I wish that man would just leave...'
As the conversation reached its peak, Lee Han spoke to Park Taeyoung with a serious expression.
"Mr. Taeyoung, I’m sorry, but could I ask a small favor of you?"
"Yes? Of course. What is it?"
Park Taeyoung asked back with a puzzled look. Han Sujin also looked at Lee Han, not understanding what he meant.
"I’ve realized something while working as the apartment manager. I’m in charge of the management, but since there’s no general manager for the women’s association, there have been difficulties in managing the apartment budget."
"Ah, I see."
"Yes. So, you see..."
Lee Han dragged out his words, looking alternately at Han Sujin and Park Taeyoung.
"In my opinion, I think it would be good if Ms. Han Sujin took on the role of general manager. Ms. Han Sujin helped with the apartment management work before. She handled the work very skillfully and diligently back then."
"Really? I didn't know my wife did that kind of work."
Park Taeyoung looked surprised. Han Sujin’s embarrassment was also evident. She had indeed worked briefly before when Lee Han had ordered her to.
"I was impressed by her skills. So I mentioned it to the Chairman. I said it would be good to have someone like Ms. Han Sujin as the general manager of the women’s association. The Chairman also readily responded positively."
"Oh, really? I’m happy that my wife has been recognized by the Chairman."
Park Taeyoung wore a satisfied smile. Then he turned his body toward Han Sujin.
"Honey, I didn't know you had such abilities. Would you like to try doing it?"
"I... well. I’m flustered to hear this all of a sudden. Honestly, I’m not confident I can do it well."
Han Sujin shook her head with an awkward smile. In truth, she sensed that this was Lee Han’s scheme. But she couldn't directly refute his words.
"Ms. Han Sujin, don't be so humble. I’m sure you’ll be able to do it well. There is a salary set for it, so don't worry about that."
Lee Han continued, as if to break down Han Sujin’s hesitation.
"A salary?"
Park Taeyoung’s eyes widened.
"Yes, it’s not unpaid. Since a monthly salary is paid, wouldn't it be a good opportunity for a couple? Everyone is having a hard time living these days."
Lee Han cunningly struck at Park Taeyoung’s weakness. He knew that Han Sujin and Park Taeyoung were not financially well-off. An unusual light appeared on Park Taeyoung’s face.
"Honey, why don't you think about it? If it’s too hard, you don't have to do it..."
Park Taeyoung suggested, holding Han Sujin’s hand. Han Sujin hesitated. If she took the job, she would have to face Lee Han more often. She didn't have the confidence to face him every day. But it was difficult to ignore her husband’s expectant gaze.
'What do I do... I want to refuse... but should I take it for my husband’s sake?'
Han Sujin fell into painful contemplation. At that moment, Lee Han smiled and said.
"Why don't you give it a try? Just take it on for now, and if it’s too hard, you can quit. If we work hard together, the apartment will become a better place to live."
At those words, Park Taeyoung nodded repeatedly. Han Sujin resented herself for falling for Lee Han’s trap, but she had no choice. She swallowed a sigh and nodded.
"...I understand. I’ll give it a try."
At that moment, the corners of Lee Han’s mouth curled upward. Like a cat trapping a mouse in a snare, he had cunningly driven Han Sujin into a corner. Han Sujin shuddered at the chilling premonition, but it was already too late.