Chapter 257
Gu Sojeong stood in front of the elevator leading up to Kim Seongu's officetel, drawing in a long breath. Today would likely be the day she put an end to her relationship with him. Once she handed over the recording file, that lawyer would undoubtedly go public with it right away. Naturally, she'd face a prosecutorial investigation herself, but strangely enough, her mind was more preoccupied with the fact that it was finally time to truly cut ties with Kim Seongu.
It hadn't been a perfect romance, but Kim Seongu had filled a void in her life. She'd felt a sense of liberation as a leisurely existence—once unimaginable for someone born like her—gradually became reality. She stepped into the elevator as it reached the first floor. Never had she wished for time to crawl by so slowly. But cruelly, it whisked her up to his door faster than usual.
Standing before his door, she pressed a hand to her chest. It was true she hadn't fully moved on from their time together, but she had no intention of clinging to it like a fool. For her, those days had been a delightful Cinderella story; for him, just a means to use and discard her. What would have become of her if Cha Juhan hadn't told her anything?
Kim Seongu had proposed not long after Seol Hyeongseok's surgery was perfectly complete. Accepting Seol Hyeoseok's deal, he'd probably thought it convenient to assign the task to her, his girlfriend and Seol Hyeongseok's attending nurse. He had never intended to marry her in the first place. Looking back, all those minor discomforts she'd brushed off screamed that he saw her merely as a plaything.
The proposal had just been bait to get her to inject the cephalosporin. And she'd fallen for it, weeping tears of joy as he knelt on one knee and slipped the ring on her finger. If that lawyer hadn't intervened, she would've been fired from the hospital the moment Yang Dongjin received the complaint—just as planned.
Blissfully ignorant, she'd have emptied her locker thinking only of their wedding. As colleagues in an office romance, even big fights would have been swept under the rug. Eventually, growing distant with his excuses of busyness, they'd have drifted into natural boredom. She'd have nagged him about the wedding date; he'd have blamed her for not understanding his packed schedule, filling her with guilt before breaking it off.
She'd have begged pathetically, and he'd have played the poor victim tormented by her clinginess. Jobless and futureless, wallowing in depression one day, she'd have heard the shocking news from a close nurse colleague: Kim Seongu marrying the daughter of Han Young Motors' chairman.
"You fucking bastard..."
Gu Sojeong clenched her fist tight. She wanted to slap him across the face and scream why he'd done this to her—but she couldn't. After all, she was just as monstrous, having pushed innocent Yang Dongjin into hell and even killed for a comfortable life.
"Still... I have to see that bastard's life ruined with my own eyes."
She was beyond blaming anyone else; Kim Seongu was her only target. And as Cha Juhan had said, this was her way of atoning. She pressed the button on the recorder Cha Juhan had given her. With 15 hours of recording time and a full battery, it would last until she got home. Taking a deep breath, she punched in the door code.
"Oh, you're here?"
Clueless as ever, Kim Seongu took the shopping basket from her hands and welcomed her warmly.
"What'd you buy all this for?"
"You never eat properly, oppa. I told you last time—my mom makes great braised kimchi. I got her secret recipe yesterday. Thought I'd make it for you."
He kissed her forehead, took her hand, and pulled her inside.
"It's our 300th day, but I'm sorry I can't take you somewhere nice. You should be dressed like a princess, dining fancy, not getting your hands dirty. I'm the worst, huh?"
"...No. How could we go out today? People might suspect if they see us together. Better to be careful. We can do fancy dates later."
"Thanks for understanding."
As he tucked a stray hair behind her ear, she involuntarily shuddered. Her mind overlaid it with photos of him doing the same to Seol Yeji.
"What's wrong?"
He looked at her oddly; she shook her head vigorously.
"Nothing. I'll get the food started, so watch TV or something, oppa."
"I'll help. I can prep ingredients."
"No need. I'll do it."
"Come on, let me—"
"I said no!"
She snapped without thinking. Startled, he pulled his hands away and stepped back.
"...Sorry, oppa. I didn't mean to yell."
"No, I'm sorry."
"I've been sensitive lately. You said it'd be fine, but I get scared every time I see Seol Hyeongseok. It's not that I don't trust you... just... too frightening."
She mumbled; he stared for a moment, then sighed.
"I get it. I've got a paper to review, so I'll do that. Make that braised kimchi tasty for oppa, okay?"
Thankfully, he sensed nothing amiss and retreated to his room. She washed her hands, unpacked the ingredients, and squeezed her eyes shut.
Idiot. Can't even do this right...
Shopping earlier, she'd even considered poisoning the dish and dying together. Maybe suicide suited her better than fabricating evidence.
"Haa..."
She sighed, prepped the ingredients, rinsed rice, and set water to boil. She'd planned to bring it up casually after dinner over wine, but now everything felt like shackles. She just wanted to finish and leave. Dumping everything in the pot, she sealed the lid and crept toward his room.
"Oppa. Busy?"
She cracked the door; he closed his laptop and stood.
"Mm, smells good."
"Needs more time."
He wrapped an arm around her waist, leading her to the living room sofa.
"You seem really worn out lately."
As he stroked her hair, she fought the urge to slap his hand away but forced a smile.
"Just... lots of thoughts."
"What's up? You did great. Think about what I said? ...You know."
"You mean testify that Seol Hyeoseok directly ordered me to inject cephalosporin into Seol Hyeongseok, not you?"
"..."
He stared silently, his expression odd. Had she been too direct? But the lawyer had said Kim Seongu needed to admit it himself. Before he grew suspicious, she rushed on.
"I'll do it. Just like you said. We can't both lose our jobs. One of us has to survive. I know how passionate you are about hospital work. I'd quit tomorrow if I could, but not you... So yeah, I'll say it."
"Good. Thanks."
He smiled softly, holding her hand.
"...Can I really trust you, oppa?"
She placed her hand over his.
"You won't abandon me, right?"
"...Sojeong-ah."
"Honestly... when you said that, I was terrified at first. What if you dragged me into this just to use me as a shield and escape? I hated myself for thinking that. I know you're not like that... but fear made me freeze. Sorry for doubting."
"I understand. But it'll never happen. Why would I abandon you?"
"Right. It was my fault."
"Sojeong-ah, but listen."
Suddenly, his hand groped over her jacket pocket.
"Why's your phone so hot?"
He slipped it in swiftly.
"...Not your phone?"
He held the recorder. Her blood ran cold; she bolted up instinctively.
"Recording? Haha, fuck. You were recording?"
He held down the power button long and advanced. Terrified, she backed away.
"Sojeong-ah. This disappoints oppa."
As he reached for her shoulder, she bolted for the door. She had to escape—forgetting coat and bag, she sprinted down the hall.
"Aak!"
But he was faster, yanking her hair.
"Let go! Let me go!"
"Let go? After this shit?"
He dragged her into a nearby room and flung her into the corner. She slammed against the wall and crumpled. He shut the door, barricading it with a chair to block escape.
"Met that lawyer? He send you with evidence?"
"..."
"Haven't found proof I'm involved yet? That's why he's making you do this crap?"
This was his true face. Trembling, she curled up. His once-gentle voice now sounded like a thug's.
"Seol Hyeoseok promised to help you marry Seol Yeji?"
"What?"
"That desperate to be a chaebol son-in-law? Even killing for it? Then why not inject Seol Hyeongseok yourself? Why drag me in if you weren't gonna take responsibility?!"
Tears streaming, she screamed. Recording busted, nothing left to hold back.
"Why would I? Plenty of cheap substitutes like you."
He sneered.
"You fucking bastard..."
"You think someone like you deserves marriage? Fuck, that's why I dumped you. Got it?"
"You dumped me 'cause I'm like this? No—you toyed with me from the start. You're the piece of shit. Not me! Filthy bastard. No talent, just riding your director dad's coattails via Jin Suyong. No surprise a snake like you betrays. I knew it!"
"What did you say?"
He grabbed her hair, hauling her up. No time to scream. One hand clamped her throat, slamming her against the wall.
"Spouting nonsense. Wanna die?"
His grip tightened; hoarse gasps escaped her. No air. Face burning, she thrashed, nails digging into his arm—but he didn't budge. Strength fading, vision blackening, mind blanking. In that moment, she knew: she might die here.