Chapter 89
She didn’t even need to go looking for Baek Yeong—the Baek faction members lingering near the entrance heard her story and flew into a rage. One of them immediately ran off to fetch Baek Yeong while the others dragged the man forward as if kidnapping him. Their movements were so perfectly coordinated, as though they’d rehearsed it, that Baek I-hae felt a little flustered. Still, it meant she didn’t have to lift a finger.
“I’ll find out who’s behind this.”
It should have been a hassle, yet Baek Yeong offered without hesitation. He didn’t phrase it gently, but the meaning was clear: don’t worry.
This time, he even assigned men to escort her home.
“The boss must really treasure you.”
Yes, it definitely wasn’t her imagination.
Baek I-hae gave an awkward smile at the member’s casual remark as they walked side by side.
‘I hope they figure out exactly who ordered it.’
She glared at the status window floating in midair. It was the notification for the quest reward she’d just received.
[Scenario #5 Quest Triggered! You have perfectly completed “Escape from the black shadow targeting you.” Rewards will be granted. Reward: Reputation +10, Luck +20] [A special reward will be granted.] [Preparing…….]
‘If it’s a special reward, it could at least tell me who the culprit is.’
Baek I-hae clicked her tongue. The window was unusually slow, as if building suspense for something grand. She wasn’t expecting much anyway, so she ignored it and gazed out the car window at the passing scenery while the member drove.
“We’ve arrived.”
She had dozed off briefly; a careful voice woke her. Baek I-hae opened her eyes, looked at the house through still-sleepy lids, and nodded.
“Thank you for bringing me home. Drive safely.”
“Yes, but… it looked pretty chaotic earlier. Should I walk you in?”
Baek I-hae tilted her head. Had something happened while she was asleep?
She shook her head to indicate she was fine and stepped out of the car. The member watched her with obvious unease, but she smiled reassuringly.
‘What did he mean by chaotic?’
The moment she opened the front door, the sound of shattering glass exploded from the second floor—loud enough to make her flinch.
“Young master, please! Stop this! The young lady will be back any moment!”
Old Man Oh’s frantic voice turned Baek I-hae’s face ashen. She instantly knew it was about her.
She raced upstairs and froze at the devastating scene before her.
“What on earth…?”
Seo I-heum and several organization members were gathered in Seo Do-gyeom’s room. Seo-yeol leaned against the hallway wall, looking utterly battered—as if someone had beaten him.
“Noona, don’t come in. Go downstairs for now.”
Seo-yeol spotted her and spoke urgently. His split lip and the way he clutched his side, grimacing, suggested he’d taken serious blows.
“Why are you hurt?”
“Oh, this happened while I was trying to stop hyung… I’ll explain later, so please go downstairs for now. Okay?”
Baek I-hae’s expression hardened. Ignoring Seo-yeol’s protests, she pushed past the members and entered Seo Do-gyeom’s room.
The place was a disaster—the word “wrecked” barely covered it. Furniture and objects lay scattered as if he’d hurled everything in reach; it was nothing like his usual tidy space.
And Seo Do-gyeom himself stood with one foot on the window ledge, looking ready to leap out at any second.
‘Crazy bastard.’
She truly thought it, even though she loved him.
“I-hae.”
Seo I-heum seemed about to stop her from approaching, but the situation made it clear: Seo Do-gyeom’s behavior was because of her.
Avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything. Sure enough, the moment he noticed her, he froze—just as he’d been about to jump.
His silent, piercing stare felt almost eerie.
“Is this because I came home late without telling anyone?”
“No. It’s not your fault. Yeol told me you’d gone to Baek Yeong’s place, and this incident is that bastard’s doing.”
“…The young master kept saying he had to go because he was worried about the young lady, so when young master Yeol tried to stop him, he hit him. When the boss couldn’t stand it anymore and locked him in the room, he smashed the window.”
Old Man Oh, standing beside Seo I-heum, hurriedly added the explanation.
Baek I-hae felt a throbbing headache. No matter the reason, beating his own family because of her—it was absurd.
Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes looked as if he’d lost all reason. Why was he reacting so extremely?
‘Did he think I went to Baek Yeong’s house—the man who likes me—to cheat? But he’s the one who met another woman first for engagement purposes.’
What exactly was she supposed to endure, and for how long?
Suddenly she remembered the original novel’s Seo Do-gyeom, who had killed the heroine’s family and everyone around her to possess her.
She’d believed the current Seo Do-gyeom would never do such a thing. Had that been naive?
No matter how hard she tried, people didn’t change?
“…I want to talk to Do-gyeom alone.”
Baek I-hae looked up at Seo I-heum. He paused in silence, then nodded with a sigh.
“Fine.”
“B-boss.”
“Even if that kid has lost his mind, he’s not the type to lay a hand on I-hae.”
Despite Old Man Oh’s anxious protest, Seo I-heum respected her wish.
At his gesture, everyone retreated downstairs, casting worried glances back.
“I’ll stay here—my room’s right there.”
Only Seo-yeol stubbornly planted himself in front of his own door.
Seo I-heum rubbed his forehead as if he had a migraine, then went down without further argument.
“Young lady, if anything happens, call for me right away.”
Old Man Oh whispered almost inaudibly before following Seo I-heum.
Baek I-hae glanced at Seo-yeol, who was staring at her.
“Yeol, at least get treated while you wait.”
“I’m fine. Noona can take care of me later.”
So stubborn.
Just as she was about to nod, her wrist was roughly yanked.
She vaguely caught Seo-yeol jolting to his feet in alarm.
Of course, it was Seo Do-gyeom who had grabbed her wrist. The moment she entered the room, he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
Pressing close against her as she leaned against the door, he whispered,
“Please… stop provoking me.”
“Ha. Now you’re jealous of Yeol after Baek Yeong?”
“I know Seo-yeol likes you.”
“So what if you know?”
She sharply slapped away the hand brushing her hair.
“At least he’s better than you—leaving your girlfriend to meet another woman for engagement purposes.”
“I explained that last time. It’s for your sake.”
“I told you I hate it!”
Baek I-hae’s patience finally snapped; she shouted. It might carry outside, but she no longer had the presence of mind to care.
She’d believed that if she spoke calmly, if she just waited a little, Seo Do-gyeom would understand and consider her feelings.
“For my sake? I don’t want it, and it hurts me—how is that for my sake?”
She hated him for never reflecting on his own actions, for hurting his own family because of her.
“How long? Do you even plan to marry me?”
The thought that she might be carrying his child had, in one corner of her heart, brought joy—a real family at last.
But if he engaged and married another woman to “protect” her, what would she become?
“…The fact that I love you hasn’t changed.”
Seo Do-gyeom evaded the question. That alone told her everything.
It had been her wishful thinking.
“Even if we had a child?”
“Yes. A child born as mine would only be unhappy.”
Did he even understand what he was saying?
‘It’s practically the same as saying he’d abandon the child.’
She was certain that revealing a pregnancy would only make him more stubborn.
Baek I-hae clenched her fists in bitter turmoil.
