Chapter 91
It was from Seo Do-gyeom’s childhood, back when his mother was still alive—one of those memories that had grown faint with time.
That day, after arguing with Seo I-heum, his mother had dismissed the guards who insisted on escorting her and left the house alone with Seo Do-gyeom.
“How long is he going to treat me like a child who needs constant lessons?”
Lee Sae-rom, Seo Do-gyeom’s mother, let out a deep sigh as she muttered. When the young Seo Do-gyeom, holding her hand, looked up at her blankly, she softened and smiled gently.
It was hard to imagine that this was the same woman who had silenced the persistent organization members with a mere glance and sent them back.
“Do-gyeom.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry you had to see Mom and Dad fighting. You must have felt so uneasy.”
Seo Do-gyeom blinked slowly and shook his head.
He hadn’t felt uneasy—because he’d seen Seo I-heum, usually so expressionless, standing there flustered and at a loss in front of his angry wife.
Knowing that they always made up quickly after fights like this, Seo Do-gyeom wasn’t worried. But Lee Sae-rom, thinking her son was trying to spare her feelings, looked at him with fond pride.
“But why were you fighting with Dad?”
Uncomfortable under her gaze, Seo Do-gyeom changed the subject. Unaware of her son’s intentions, Lee Sae-rom drooped her eyes and answered.
“Well, I’d say it’s because we grew up in such different worlds. It’s probably still hard for our Do-gyeom to understand.”
Seo Do-gyeom recalled the voices he’d heard from behind the closed door. The two of them arguing over how to deal with a traitor.
When information about Lee Sae-rom and the children had leaked, Seo I-heum had flown into a rage and pushed for a harshly violent punishment. Lee Sae-rom had tried to stop him, and their disagreement had escalated into raised voices.
Tilting his head innocently, Seo Do-gyeom asked,
“I think Dad’s right.”
“You heard everything from outside, didn’t you, our Do-gyeom?”
“He tried to make things hard for Dad with bad intentions, so he should be punished.”
“……Of course, mercy isn’t always the answer. But Do-gyeom, you shouldn’t try to solve everything with violence.”
“Why not?”
“Because they might have their own unavoidable circumstances, and there could be family who would grieve if they got hurt—just like Mom would grieve if you got hurt.”
Lee Sae-rom smiled bitterly. But Seo Do-gyeom still didn’t understand, only blinking in confusion.
“I hope our Do-gyeom grows up to be a gentle person.”
“I’m not sure I can.”
Even as he said it, Seo Do-gyeom glanced at her cautiously, worried she might feel hurt. Seeing her son’s concern, she let out a soft chuckle.
“I’m not forcing you. But if you ever find someone you like, please treat them kindly. That’s the only way they’ll stay by your side.”
He couldn’t fully grasp her words, but Seo Do-gyeom nodded anyway. He loved seeing his mother smile brightly like that.
Just like Seo I-heum, Seo Do-gyeom truly adored her smiling face. He closed his eyes as she held him close, gently stroking his hair.
Then, a faint sound of footsteps reached them. Lee Sae-rom turned her head a fraction faster than he did.
Her eyes sharpened, transforming her expression entirely from moments before.
“……It’s been a while.”
“Mr. Lee Ho? Baek I-ho, right?”
But recognizing the face, her guard dropped almost immediately. Seo Do-gyeom looked up, alternating between the unfamiliar man and his mother.
Though he looked worn and weary, the man was strikingly handsome—enough to rival Seo I-heum.
‘His aura feels similar to Mom’s.’
Different from Seo I-heum’s cold demeanor. To a child like Seo Do-gyeom, who only ever saw rough-looking organization members, he was intriguing.
“What a coincidence running into you here! I’d heard the situation from my husband, but I regretted not getting to meet you. Ah, this is my son, Do-gyeom.”
At her gentle prompt—‘Do-gyeom, say hello’—he bowed his head politely.
Only then did the man called Baek I-ho turn his gaze to Seo Do-gyeom. For a split second, his pupils trembled, but he quickly regained composure.
“I heard he’s the same age as my daughter, but he seems much bigger than his peers.”
“He must take after his father. Come to think of it, you mentioned having a daughter! Shin Hae and I used to joke about arranging a marriage if we had kids. I miss those days.”
“……”
Despite Lee Sae-rom’s cheerful chatter, Baek I-ho pressed his lips tightly together. Noticing him clench his fists out of the corner of her eye, she slowly fell silent.
Then, quietly, as if confirming something, she asked,
“Shin Hae is doing well, isn’t she?”
Her grip tightened on her son’s hand. Unable to grasp the situation, Seo Do-gyeom could only blink.
After a long silence, Baek I-ho finally spoke.
“……Sae-rom, I’m truly, truly sorry to ask this. But please come with me.”
“……”
“I beg you.”
In the strange tension, only Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes darted busily between them.
“Is Shin Hae still all right?”
“She’s…… badly hurt. My daughter’s life is being held hostage, so we can’t even escape……. I’m so sorry. I know I shouldn’t ask this, especially considering I-heum.”
Finally, Baek I-ho broke down in tears, sobbing. Lee Sae-rom fell into deep thought.
She glanced back. The way home was far too long to send her child alone. And today, of all days, they’d taken an unfamiliar route for a change of pace.
After pondering for a long while, she made up her mind and nodded slowly.
“But promise me one thing. That you’ll send Do-gyeom back safely.”
“I will. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s all right. My husband will definitely come rescue us, so we’ll just play hostage for a bit. It’s not like this is the first time.”
She spoke bravely, but her palm, clasped with her son’s, was damp with sweat. Lee Sae-rom bent down to meet Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes.
“Do-gyeom, from now on, stay right by Mom’s side, okay? Don’t talk to anyone else, and just stay quiet for a little while. You can do that, right?”
“……Can’t we just go home?”
Seo Do-gyeom glanced at Baek I-ho and whispered. Perhaps her hidden unease had rubbed off on him.
At his words, Lee Sae-rom’s eyes wavered for a moment, but she quickly smiled.
“It’s a favor for a very close friend of Dad’s. And Mom’s friend is waiting there too, so we’ll just go say a quick hello. There might even be a friend for you.”
“Dad has friends too?”
At the innocent question, Lee Sae-rom let out a small laugh. It made sense—he always saw his father surrounded by stern organization members.
“Yes. I-heum and I-ho. They became friends because their names are similar.”
I see. Since it was his mother saying it, Seo Do-gyeom simply nodded in acceptance.
But if he’d known that would be their last conversation, he would have stubbornly refused to go—no matter what.
It was an irreversible regret, too late to undo.
Lee Sae-rom’s prediction was wrong. She’d assumed they were using her as bait to attack Seo I-heum, but when she saw the man who had summoned her, her face hardened.
“Sunbae!”
The man smiled brightly upon seeing her, as if he owned the world and everything in it.
Though he wore glasses and had a mild appearance, Seo Do-gyeom felt an inexplicable discomfort. It was a strange instinct.
“Why are you here……”
Lee Sae-rom spoke in confusion, clearly recognizing him. Her face paling only confirmed he was far from welcome.
As soon as they arrived at the building, rough-looking men forced Baek I-ho to his knees.
He collapsed without resistance, looking bewildered—as if he hadn’t known they were acquaintances—glancing between Lee Sae-rom and the man.
“Why, you ask? Because I missed you, sunbae. You kept blocking my calls and ignoring me. Even when I came to your house, you wouldn’t see me.”
Lee Sae-rom’s face grew increasingly ashen. Through it all, she shielded her son behind her.
“I told you I liked you, and you only ever said no—do you know how hurt I was? You ignored my letters from prison, where I proposed we marry after my release.”
“……”
“You used to smile at me back then. Why have you changed so much? How do you think I feel when you do this without any reason?”
“Without any reason? You’re seriously saying that?”
Lee Sae-rom asked in a trembling voice—part anger, part fear.
The man tilted his head as if genuinely puzzled, then smiled brightly as realization dawned.
“Ah, is it because I killed your father, the one who told me to stay away from you? I’m sorry—I lost my temper. But I paid for it, didn’t I? I served my time properly.”
“You lunatic. You’re insane……!”
“Lunatic? That hurts. But……”
His gaze shifted to Seo Do-gyeom behind her.
“What’s this, sunbae?”
The moment his constant smile vanished, Seo Do-gyeom’s body froze.
It was the first time he had ever felt true fear.
