Chapter 18
‘…My life is one hell of a spectacle.’
From the moment she’d been possessed, she’d become an orphan, gotten adopted into a gang family, faced death threats, and suffered a burn accident.
‘And now, kidnapping on top of it all.’
As soon as she opened her eyes and grasped the situation, Baek I-hae let out a bitter laugh inside.
If she really thought about it, these were the kinds of episodes that should happen to the female lead—why did they keep piling up on her instead?
But even if she pondered it like this, there was no one around to kindly explain.
Right now, Baek I-hae wasn’t tied up. She wasn’t stuffed in a car trunk. She was just sitting in the back seat of an ordinary sedan.
“I didn’t expect this. I thought you’d scream or cry the second you woke up.”
Instead, flanking her on either side were Cha I-ryeong and Baek Young.
Baek Young had his legs crossed, staring out the window, while the one who’d spoken to her was Cha I-ryeong.
She still had that innocently pure appearance, so much so that it was hard to believe she was the action leader of a rival faction.
‘Rival faction? Which one was that again?’
Baek I-hae furrowed her brow. Something felt like it was on the tip of her memory, but it wouldn’t come.
“Crying won’t change the situation anyway.”
Even as she grimaced, her words came out flat, like she’d given up on everything, and Cha I-ryeong gave her a look of genuine surprise.
It made sense—last time, the moment she’d seen her face, Baek I-hae had yelled out Seo Do-gyeom’s name and bolted in a panic.
Whatever she was thinking, Baek I-hae just sighed.
‘Am I an idiot?’
She’d met her at the hospital and assumed she was a normal person, so she’d tried to get close. Was that such a fatal mistake?
With a dazed expression, she rubbed her unbound wrists before asking Cha I-ryeong,
“Don’t kidnappers usually tie up the hands and feet at least?”
“It doesn’t matter if we don’t. If you want to run, go ahead. But I can’t guarantee what happens after.”
It was the confidence of a true action leader. Baek I-hae, who’d been briefly plotting an escape in her head, tossed the whole plan aside.
Then she shrank her shoulders and tried to sit as demurely as possible. At that, Cha I-ryeong smiled and said,
“You’re kinda cute, you know. You look cute and dumb, but then it seems like you’re quick on the uptake too.”
“If I were quick on the uptake, I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“That’s true. But you didn’t do anything wrong—it’s our fault.”
“…Sorry, but that sounded so normal just now, I almost got emotional.”
Spouting words she didn’t even mean, Baek I-hae racked her brain furiously. They were letting their guard down.
But they could afford to, with skills like theirs—that’s why they were so relaxed. Baek I-hae was just an ordinary high schooler who’d never taken self-defense classes or even exercised.
‘If they’re a rival faction, they’ve got a ton of members. If Uncle comes to rescue me there, things will blow up, and there’ll be a lot of casualties.’
Gangsters wouldn’t just throw punches—people could end up dead.
Would Seo I-heum really come to rescue Baek I-hae, even knowing the truth? Despite how close they’d grown lately, she could answer with a firm no.
From what she’d observed of Seo I-heum so far, he seemed like someone who prioritized practical gains over sentiment.
‘Even if I’m Seo Do-gyeom’s fiancée, there’s no real benefit in saving me. I’m the kind of person who can be discarded without consequence.’
Baek I-hae closed her eyes and leaned back. Cha I-ryeong asked from beside her if she was sleeping, but she didn’t respond.
‘I can’t rely on anyone. I have to escape on my own.’
If she wanted to survive, she couldn’t entrust her life to someone else. Baek I-hae had never been cherished by anyone.
That’s why, in a situation like this, the idea of trusting and waiting for someone was unimaginable.
“What’s this? You suddenly went quiet.”
When Baek I-hae stayed still, Cha I-ryeong, apparently bored, prodded her.
“But you’re really something. You were indebted to that family, and you must have figured out I was a spy. Why didn’t you stay more on guard?”
“I know. I’m an idiot. You were good at acting, but I was stupid too.”
At the formal address of “the person here,” Baek Yeong flinched. But Baek I-hae, aware of it, didn’t even glance her way.
She just continued speaking calmly, her face expressionless.
“I didn’t realize trusting people could be this dangerous. Thanks for the valuable lesson.”
“You’re so naive, I-hae.”
“Thanks for the shitty compliment.”
“You’ve got a pretty way with words too. I thought you were just timid, but you’re bolder than I expected. I like girls like you. They’re fun to watch.”
Whatever.
Baek I-hae clamped her mouth shut again, deciding there was no point in engaging further. She just wished the woman would stop talking.
She gazed out the window. Baek Yeong’s eyes flicked toward her briefly, but she ignored it and let out a small gasp of admiration at the sea visible outside.
“Ah…”
She never imagined she’d see the sea she’d longed to visit like this.
“Are we heading to the sea, by any chance?”
“Something like that. There’s a secluded spot, and we’re inviting you there.”
Baek I-hae nodded at Cha I-ryeong’s words. Seeing her like that, Cha I-ryeong held something out in front of her.
It was Baek I-hae’s phone.
“Make the call.”
“…I bet you already have his number anyway.”
“I do. But it’s better if he hears your voice directly.”
“What if I tell him where we are?”
“That’s fine. Your phone probably has location tracking anyway, and we’re hoping he’ll come find us.”
These people were strange. And terrifying.
They kindly connected the call to Seo I-heum, saved in her contacts as “handsome uncle.”
After a few rings, the other end picked up.
-I-hae. You’re not hurt, are you?
The question came as if he’d been waiting, as if he already knew the whole situation.
For a moment, Baek I-hae’s voice nearly trembled with a surge of emotion, but she answered as calmly as she could.
“Yes, I’m perfectly fine. My limbs aren’t even tied, so I’m not uncomfortable at all.”
“Yeah. I know you’re scared, but just hold on a little longer. I’m on my way.”
Was it true, or was it a lie?
Chai-ryeong, standing nearby, let out a soft giggle at Seo I-heum’s words.
The way she seemed to mock his concern didn’t sit well with Baek I-hae.
Should she tell him not to come?
But if she did, what other lifeline did she have? Baek I-hae had no one else to rely on.
Should she beg him to save her? But who was she to ask for that? She was just a guest, not family.
“…”
Baek I-hae hesitated, her lips twitching a few times before she pressed them tightly together.
Then, as if gathering her resolve, she spoke slowly.
“I wanted to go to the sea with you, sir. It’s a shame. I even bought a swimsuit I really liked.”
“You’ll go. If that’s what you want.”
“No, it’s okay. The sea’s not that special anyway. You can take Yeol-i and the family later. Forget what I said about taking me to the sea.”
It was her roundabout way of saying he didn’t need to come for her—a subtle plea wrapped in her own careful phrasing.
Whether he understood it or not, she wasn’t sure.
After a brief silence, Seo I-heum’s voice came through again.
“I-hae, are you good at swimming?”
“Huh? Uh, well, I’m not bad at it, I guess?”
Blinking in confusion at the sudden question, she waited as Seo I-heum responded.
“Then you’d better be there. The three of us can’t swim, so it’ll be safer with you around.”
What nonsense.
Baek I-hae clamped her mouth shut. She realized this was his answer.
He’s rejecting my plea not to come. He’s saying he’ll come for me anyway.
“Could you pass the phone, please?”
Her nose stung with the threat of tears, but then a familiar voice broke through.
It seemed Seo Do-gyeom was with Seo I-heum, as he took the phone and spoke.
“Baek I-hae.”
Even Seo Do-gyeom, who always acted like he didn’t care, had a certain warmth in his voice.
When she’d been burned, he was the first to look after her, always showing care despite his aloof facade.
If there was anyone she didn’t doubt would come to her rescue, promising not to worry, it was Seo Do-gyeom.
“Get ready to get an earful when I see you.”
“…Huh?”
The words caught her off guard.
Instead of comforting a kidnapped person, telling her to relax, he was telling her to brace for a scolding?
Stunned into silence, her mouth hung open, unable to form a response.
Seo Do-gyeom’s voice continued.
“And I’m going to train you so you never again act like some lovesick puppy chasing after weird guys.”
“What?”
I’m not some wild dog, you know.
Of course, if she’d said that out loud, both Seo Do-gyeom and Seo I-heum might have denied it in unison.
“So don’t run away. Just wait.”
The call ended there.
“…”
“…What did you do to upset them?”
At Chai-ryeong’s question, Baek I-hae pressed her lips tightly together.
She could feel Baek Yeong’s incredulous stare boring into her, but she had no words to offer.
Even if I wanted to run, I couldn’t…
So why did she feel this overwhelming urge to bolt like a madwoman?
For the first time, Baek I-hae’s face crumpled into a tearful expression.
