Chapter 88
“There’s no alcohol in the house, so drink this instead.”
What Baek Yeong poured for her was a soft drink. Baek I-hae glared at the glass, then at the bottles displayed in the wine fridge.
At least he poured it into a wine glass for the atmosphere—that’s considerate.
Since she couldn’t drink alcohol anyway, she resigned herself and sipped obediently.
When you watched closely, Baek Yeong treated her in an oddly childish way.
“It doesn’t seem like Seo Do-gyeom acted without reason—probably because of his mother’s death?”
“You know about that incident too, boss?”
Surprised, Baek I-hae asked. Baek Yeong nodded as he sat across from her.
“Chai Ryeong was feeding Do Ha-jun information on Seo I-heum’s whereabouts at the time. She told me later.”
“Do Ha-jun killed Seo Do-gyeom’s mother? Even though he claimed to love her—he resented her marrying Uncle I-heum…”
“He didn’t kill her directly, but I heard he caused it. Seo Do-gyeom was with her and got kidnapped too.”
At Baek I-hae’s curious look, Baek Yeong recounted what he had been told back then.
Since it came from Chai Ryeong, it was probably the truth. Unfortunately.
“She refused his demand to leave Seo I-heum and come to him, so he lashed out in anger.”
He added that it had been attempted but she had nearly been violated. Baek I-hae gagged at the memory of those same filthy hands reaching for her.
“But… Do Ha-jun won’t appear again.”
“Baek I-hae.”
Baek Yeong said her name. He was on her side, but he was also going to tell her the reality.
“The world is crueler than you think. It’s not certain, but the chance of you being taken hostage again is high. Honestly, I can’t bring myself to blame Seo Do-gyeom’s actions.”
“But… treating other people’s lives so lightly is exactly what Do Ha-jun does.”
“It’s probably the environment he grew up in. Anyway, what I’m saying won’t sit well with you, but that’s how Seo Do-gyeom shows he cares about you.”
Baek I-hae couldn’t answer right away and pressed her lips together. She knew Seo Do-gyeom was doing it for her sake, but she had her own beliefs.
Reading her thoughts from her stubbornly closed mouth, Baek Yeong continued.
“Still, if his way feels suffocating and you want to run, come here anytime.”
“Shouldn’t I stop doing that now? It would just be torturing you with false hope, boss.”
“That feels even crueler.”
She must have made it obvious that even if she distanced herself from Seo Do-gyeom, she wouldn’t turn to him.
Baek I-hae playfully covered her mouth and made an “oops” face. Baek Yeong rested his chin on his hand and looked at her.
“False hope or whatever—it doesn’t matter. You need a place to breathe too.”
“You really seem like an adult at times like this, boss. When you’re with the crew you just sigh like an old man.”
“…”
Baek Yeong’s expression turned sour. Baek I-hae silently marveled that he still didn’t drop any favorability even now.
“But thank you. Hearing you say that really comforts me.”
“Then I’m glad.”
She smiled and accepted the drink he poured for her again.
It’s strange. When I’m here I used to want to hurry back to Do-gyeom’s house.
Now this place felt more comfortable. How ironic.
Time passed like that.
Baek I-hae considered staying the night, but curiosity about Seo Do-gyeom’s reaction won out and she decided to go home.
Baek Yeong saw her off. His mature refusal to stop her coming or going reminded her anew that he was older.
What should I do? If Do-gyeom apologizes, should I accept it? But I’m angry too—I don’t want to forgive him right away.
The pregnancy complicated things; refusing an apology felt like wasting time when there was so much to prepare.
Still, I’ll have to make up with Do-gyeom eventually.
Just then, a status window appeared for the first time in ages.
[Scenario #5 Quest Occurred!]
Scenario quest? Why…? We already dealt with Do Ha-jun.
Baek I-hae’s eyes trembled. Still, the status window mercilessly displayed the next lines.
[Scenario #5 Quest Occurred! ‘Escape from the black shadow targeting you.’ has been triggered. Choose one of the following paths. The goddess of fate awaits your decision.
- Right path
- Left path]
Could Do Ha-jun still be alive?
Baek I-hae stared gravely at the fork in the road ahead. Her feet had stopped without her realizing.
Maybe I should just turn back…
[Player: Do you think avoiding it will let you escape unscathed?]
Her backward step halted. A huge shadow fell over her from behind, as if to swallow her whole.
Unfamiliar breathing sounded at her back. Baek I-hae’s body went rigid.
[Player: There isn’t much left now. So move forward. There is no reverse for you.]
A hand from behind gave her back a light push. Cold sweat broke out.
She was terrified to look.
The shadow didn’t budge, as though waiting for her to act.
[Player: Choose.]
On trembling legs, Baek I-hae stepped forward. Thankfully, whoever owned the shadow did not follow.
Standing at the fork, she squeezed her eyes shut and turned left. It was only a dark alley—no one there.
She whipped around. At the entrance to the right alley stood a figure. A man in a deep black cap, holding a blade.
“Hello, pretty noona.”
Their eyes met. He approached with a smiling face, gesturing with the weapon. It wasn’t Do Ha-jun.
“You looked like a student in the photo—must have been an old one.”
He had clearly come looking for her. With ill intent.
“Will you come with me? The person who hired me wants to see you.”
“The one who hired you—is it Do Ha-jun?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t give a name, just money. Paid a large sum upfront, so probably someone rich.”
“Why would someone like that want me?”
“I told you, I don’t know, noona. Why ask so many pointless questions when you can see this?”
He pushed Baek I-hae deeper into the alley and thrust the blade toward her. She trembled in fear, and he smirked.
As if her reaction delighted him.
“You don’t think I’m some moron who’ll answer nicely just because you ask, do you? That would be a shame—such a pretty face.”
“…”
“The client said bring you quietly if you cooperate, or kill you cleanly and disappear if you resist. You understand what that means, right?”
Don’t resist if you want to live, he added. Baek I-hae’s face went ashen.
Unintentional or not, the blade was pointed at her stomach. She shrank back instinctively, and he smiled with satisfaction.
What do I do?
She had no illusions that obeying would keep her safe. Giving orders like that in the first place meant the person was unhinged.
She had the tracker necklace—maybe wait for Seo I-heum’s help.
“I’ll come with you.”
No. She refused to be a passive victim when Seo Do-gyeom was already doing insane things out of fear for her safety.
I can handle this.
Baek Yeong’s house wasn’t far.
“You should’ve said that earlier.”
Mindful of passersby, the man tucked the blade inside his jacket. He clearly believed she was too terrified to move even without it visible.
She recalled the vital spots Seo I-heum had seriously taught her about—and the one most effective with her strength.
Without hesitation, Baek I-hae drove her knee upward between the man’s legs with all her might.
“Huk!”
As he doubled over reflexively, she swept his ankle and toppled him. Screams followed one after another.
If they can get up easily once, finish them properly when you have the chance.
Seo I-heum’s lesson rang in her ears. Baek I-hae raised her leg high and stomped down hard between the groaning man’s legs.
She was faster than his panicked attempt to dodge. Putting her full weight into it, she crushed down. A horrific scream echoed through the alley.
It had been taught as a countermeasure for when men—including Seo Do-gyeom—misbehaved, but it worked beautifully.
Thanks to it, Baek I-hae escaped the scene with ease and ran straight to Baek Yeong. As Chai Ryeong had taught her, going to him would handle the assailant far more thoroughly than calling the police.
[Player: …….]
She might look soft, but she was the prospective gangster’s wife, Baek I-hae.
