To Me, Who Doesn’t Love You

In the end, today’s remaining seminar was abruptly halted. The atmosphere had become far too tense for presentations or any productive discussion from other departments. It was evident that the immediate priority was to remove Juno from his duties and uncover the full extent of the situation.

Although official action against Juno was postponed pending police investigation, it was clear to everyone that he had paid for information to attack Suhan and even disclosed confidential materials from Seosang. These findings were substantiated by concrete evidence and credible testimonies.

No matter how close Juno was to the chairman’s family, keeping him in the company any longer seemed unacceptable. The chairman and his wife instructed Juno to remain at home until the allegations could be thoroughly cleared. Suhan had no doubt that today would be Juno’s last day at Seosang’s headquarters.

“Letting him off so easily is such a shame.”

Given the resentment Juno had stirred with his suspected affair, Suhan felt that the reasons behind it were unimportant and only wished to give him a memorable parting. Without giving Yeonseo a chance to stop him, Suhan followed Juno and the employee who was seeing him off, waiting until Juno had seated himself in the taxi. Then he swiftly grabbed the handle on the opposite side and swung open the backseat door.

“…!? W-What…!”

As the door unexpectedly opened, Juno turned pale as though he’d seen a ghost. Smiling calmly, Suhan uttered words he had carefully rehearsed in his mind.

“I gave you a chance, but it seems you couldn’t resist throwing it all away yourself.”

As Juno stammered in confusion, Suhan gripped him by the collar, as if to restrain him.

“Next time, it won’t be a warning but a blow right here. Think I won’t do it? You should’ve taken what you had and run before you rack up another criminal record. Did you really think no one would ever find out about all the things you did in the U.S.?”

Juno’s eyes widened in shock, his body frozen. Trapped inside the cramped car, he had nowhere to flee. In a futile attempt to escape, he reached for the taxi door, which was already unlocked, only to find his hand trembling too much to open it. The pitiful sight brought Suhan nothing but contempt. How could this person, thinking himself untouchable, have tried to manipulate him? With a final warning, Suhan released Juno, tossing him away as if he couldn’t stand touching him any longer.

“I’m always one step ahead of you, so please, just live quietly, alright?”

Before I lose control and end up doing something I’ll regret. He released the back door handle, letting it close. The car hesitated for a moment before finally pulling away from the parking lot. Left behind, Suhan noticed Yeonseo standing awkwardly, looking unsure of what to say.

“……”

Glaring after the departing car, Suhan thought grimly that this ending felt far too lenient. Even if Juno were convicted for his corruption, he probably wouldn’t serve a long sentence. With the right resources for legal defense, he might even get off with a suspended sentence. The idea of giving him a more severe “farewell” briefly crossed Suhan’s mind, but he paused when he saw Yeonseo trembling like a drenched puppy.

Maybe I should abandon the idea. I don’t want to risk putting this beautiful husband through anything because of my temper. Letting his expression soften, Suhan cupped Yeonseo’s cheeks as Yeonseo looked at him with teary eyes.

“Why are you here when you should be in the hospital?”

But if I hadn’t come, you would’ve had a hard time. Suhan thought, imagining how Yeonseo would faint if he heard about what had happened at the villa. Embracing him tightly, Suhan felt the warmth of Yeonseo’s body; it was so comforting after the icy tension he hadn’t realized he’d been feeling.

“I couldn’t bear the thought of lying alone in a hospital bed while my husband was working so hard.”

At Suhan’s joking response, Yeonseo scowled.

“I wasn’t joking.”

“Neither was I.”

Suhan found happiness in this quiet moment, scolding and making excuses as though nothing had happened. He wished it could last forever, but reality demanded they move on and sort out the chaos that had just erupted.

“Director! Please come up to the chairman’s office!”

A voice echoed from the hallway connecting the parking lot to the main building, and both Suhan and Yeonseo had no choice but to move. We’ll talk about the rest later, okay? Suhan reassured Yeonseo with a smile, but about 40 minutes later, he got a thorough scolding.

“Are you out of your mind? You should be in the hospital, not here!”

As Yeonseo pushed him into the passenger seat and took the wheel, Suhan mumbled, exhausted.

“Look, I got treated quickly, so I’m fine now…”

“Why are you the one deciding that?”

“They say if you’re fine a few hours after, you’re likely okay. I looked it up.”

“Is a search engine a hospital? What kind of nonsense…”

To be honest, Suhan was so tired that he just wanted to sleep. But Yeonseo, who’d insisted on taking him to the hospital instead of letting him rest at home, left Suhan no choice but to comply.

He’d been incredibly lucky. When he’d escaped through the smoke, someone had called for help, and he’d received immediate medical attention. The taxi driver who’d seen the smoke returned to check on him. It was pure luck that couldn’t be explained otherwise.

The emergency responders who arrived tried to take Suhan to the nearest hospital, but he’d adamantly refused, insisting on heading back to the main office. They’d warned him that inhaling smoke required medical attention even if he felt fine, but time was of the essence, and he had to get back. Whatever aftereffects might come didn’t matter; his only concern was getting back in time. What Suhan hadn’t considered was that he was no longer on his own.

As he started to explain himself, he caught sight of Yeonseo’s devastated face and went silent. It was still hard to believe that he was carrying a child—his stomach hadn’t noticeably changed, though his energy had dropped. The ache he’d felt in his stomach before collapsing had subsided, but he knew Yeonseo must still be worried. Seeing Yeonseo’s worried expression made him start to feel anxious, too. What if something really was wrong with the baby?

At the ER, Suhan’s heart pounded nervously as they awaited the test results. After a long wait, he was finally given the all-clear to go home, with an unexpected suggestion.

“Have you considered getting a genetic analysis? Maybe after the birth, if not now. Usually, even with quick treatment, this level of exposure would cause at least some inflammation. You might have a unique physical trait.”

The doctor added that Suhan’s apparent immunity might be genetic and suggested he reach out anytime if he was interested. The comment struck Suhan as oddly relevant.

Someone came to mind immediately—someone who had survived severe smoke exposure without long-term lung damage, who had endured burn scars yet smoked like a chimney when no one was watching.

“……”

It was a strange feeling. It was perhaps only natural for children to inherit their parents’ traits, yet it felt as if he owed his life to someone who had already passed away. At the same time, he thought it would have been better if Lee Suhan before losing his memories had been the one to hear this story. But then, it was a meaningless thought since they were, in fact, the same person. If he could know that his father, whom he had resented all his life, had been protecting him, perhaps that lingering bitterness would ease somewhat. Perhaps a bit of his father’s harshness could be interpreted as a form of affection, however slight. As Suhan was lost in thought, Yeonseo, who had completed the processing at the counter, approached him carefully.

“Let’s go home quickly. Let’s eat and rest well.”

How many times did Yeonseo tell him to go home, as if he were someone with separation anxiety who couldn’t be out for more than a few hours? Suhan almost burst out laughing but stopped himself, imagining Yeonseo scolding him. “Are you seriously laughing right now? Do you not realize what a close call you had?” His face would be all pouty as he nagged away. Although Suhan found even that cute, he didn’t have the energy to endure the scolding now, so he obediently accepted Yeonseo’s support as they headed to the car.

Once seated in the passenger seat, Yeonseo, as expected, began voicing complaints—from the recklessness of engaging in dangerous activities while not alone, to grievances about Juno and his family, and even complaints about Suhan’s parents who hadn’t cut ties with that family sooner. Yeonseo wasn’t usually so talkative, but today, he didn’t stop. Suhan, who found this outburst of emotion adorable, could feel his mouth twitch despite his exhaustion.

“Are you seriously laughing right now?”

In the end, as he had expected, he heard those very words. Well, he’d anticipated this outcome. Like a newborn who had just been discharged from the hospital, Yeonseo seemed determined not to let Suhan lift a finger. Suhan didn’t stop Yeonseo from helping him shower, fearing that if he did, Yeonseo might sulk so much that he’d never recover. Going along with him to the bathroom, Suhan briefly worried the atmosphere might turn a certain way, but as Yeonseo scrubbed him with soft, foamy hands, Suhan could only laugh at the grime coming off.

Considering the circumstances, he was bound to be covered in a bit of filth. Since he’d barely managed to wash his face before rushing out, there was soot in places he hadn’t even thought of.

“This is seriously embarrassing. What if I get banned from TV for lack of hygiene?”

Suhan, flushed to the tips of his ears, was clearly embarrassed, yet Yeonseo seemed to find his discomfort amusing rather than annoying.

“It’s not dirty. It’s not like there’s any smell….”

Though there was no odor, it was still embarrassing to show himself in this state to someone he cared about. Suppressing his urge to hide, Suhan washed off the remaining grayish foam. As he finally finished, drowsiness overtook him, leaving him unable to keep his head up. He’d been thinking for some time now that it would be better to just sleep, but he had forced himself to stay awake. Now that he was clean, he couldn’t hold out any longer. As Suhan’s head drooped, Yeonseo held him up and began drying his hair with a warm, comforting touch.

Yeonseo’s long, pale fingers combed through Suhan’s hair—an oddly striking image for a man in his thirties. But this was not the time to be concerned with appearances. Suhan’s body slumped backward, almost collapsing into Yeonseo’s arms. Once Suhan’s hair was dried to a soft fluff, Yeonseo scooped him up and carried him to the bed. As he laid Suhan gently onto the mattress, Suhan was already fast asleep, oblivious to the world.

“…Goodnight.”

Yeonseo pulled the blanket up to Suhan’s chin, then lay down beside him.

“Mmm….”

Sensing the presence next to him, Suhan reached out toward Yeonseo, even with his eyes closed. When Yeonseo didn’t move away, Suhan clung to him, wrapping himself around Yeonseo like a body pillow. Though it was hardly a comfortable position, Yeonseo didn’t pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arm around Suhan’s back, embracing him. While not all of their problems were solved, for now, this was enough. The warmth of this touch was enough to soothe the anxieties about the future.

Now, it was finally his turn to act, to protect the strongest and most resilient person in the world.

* * *

Meanwhile, Juno, who had arrived at the officetel he’d contracted to stay in while working in Korea, couldn’t bring himself to go inside. Instead, he lingered at the entrance, fiddling with his phone.

Even as he tried to ignore the flood of notifications, he knew he couldn’t keep running forever. What should he do now? Once the investigation began, his past actions would be laid bare, each one exposing the next. The dread of impending judgment and the fear that the time to pay for his crimes had finally arrived consumed him. Before he could steady his trembling hands, his phone screen lit up with another incoming call.

[Caller: Mom]

[010-XXXX-XXXX]

Juno quickly rejected the call and blocked the number, but new messages immediately appeared on his screen.

[Mom] Pick up now 12:54 PM

[Mom] Pick up 12:54 PM

[Mom] I can’t wait any longer 12:54 PM

The mounting missed calls and messages made him want to run far away. Brushing away the notification, Juno slumped down onto the floor. Years ago, when he was practically exiled to the U.S. due to Suhan, the look his parents gave him still burned in his memory—the cold gaze of disgust as though he were something unsalvageable.

It seemed his parents were beginning to realize that taking Suhan on directly was futile, and were perhaps contemplating bringing him over to their side. But that was something Juno could never allow. For now, Suhan mistakenly believed Yeonseo was responsible for what he did, but secrets never remain hidden forever.

While his parents had never fully grasped why Juno rejected Suhan so vehemently, they had only thought it was a simple matter of sibling rivalry—until they found the scar on Juno’s lower abdomen.

“I’m too disappointed in you to even bother. You’re a disgrace.”

After interrogating him, his parents’ attitudes changed drastically. They maintained the appearance of a perfect family, but once the guests left, Juno became nonexistent to them.

“Don’t interfere. You’d only get in the way if you tried.”

What Juno had briefly thought about, his parents had turned into reality.

After surviving two fatal attacks, Juno wondered how much further his parents would go to stop Suhan. Now, with not only a loss in standing but a scandal barring him from returning to any managerial position, he feared his parents might even try to remove him next. Sitting pale-faced, gripping his head in despair, he noticed a resident chatting on the phone while walking past him.

“Oh, just got home. Just a thirty-minute flight, but I’m exhausted. We should meet soon, though! The sea was gorgeous.”

The resident jumped back upon noticing Juno sitting in the corridor and quickly stepped away, frowning as they took a detour toward the elevator.

“Oh, nothing, just some drunk guy passed out in the hall. Scared me for a second…”

The cheery voice faded, leaving a single thought in Juno’s mind: to escape. Somewhere no one would think to look. Once the police investigation started, there would still be time until the case was formally filed, which would give him a chance to flee. First, he’d need as much cash as possible… Staying in this house, vulnerable to his parents’ ruthless attempts on Suhan, was as good as a death sentence.

A short while later, the couple from the main house, finding that Juno’s phone was off, arrived at his officetel, only to discover the place in utter disarray, as if it had been ransacked. They sighed as they surveyed the chaos and placed a call.

“Oh, Yeonseo? Yes, I’ve heard. I really must have failed in raising my child. Who could’ve guessed he’d be doing such things in secret? And how is Director Lee? It’s awful, especially in his condition…”

Their voice, unashamedly slipping back into the habit of using Suhan’s old title, sounded calm and unfazed, almost chillingly insincere.

Suhan woke up to a feeling more solid than usual. As he opened his eyes, he quickly realized he’d fallen asleep while fully wrapped in Yeonseo’s embrace, and the shock made him jolt.

The last thing he remembered was falling asleep normally… or, at least, he thought so, though he couldn’t quite recall when sleep had claimed him. He could vaguely remember getting ready for bed, but when he blinked his eyes open, he was neatly dressed in his pajamas.

“

”

Suhan tried to hide his embarrassment but couldn’t help shifting awkwardly, which caused Yeonseo to stir and slowly open his eyes. Surprisingly, they both woke up around the same time, and their drowsy gazes met.

“…”

Seeing Yeonseo’s slightly dazed expression, Suhan almost burst out laughing. Normally, Suhan would be the one tossing and turning, sleeping in late while Yeonseo either got up early to head to work or was already in the kitchen making breakfast. It was rare to find themselves both cozily warm under the blankets, looking at each other so peacefully.

“Did you sleep well?”

Suhan pulled Yeonseo close, wrapping him tightly as he asked. Yeonseo blushed and answered softly.

“Yes…”

Suhan chuckled to himself, hugging Yeonseo’s soft yet firm body. He found the gentle sound of Yeonseo’s breathing by his ear soothing. Just sharing this unhurried moment together made him happy. Perhaps it was because they’d both been through so much stress lately. Suhan closed his eyes again, listening to Yeonseo’s heartbeat, when suddenly it struck him,

He shot up in bed.

“…!?”

Suhan had sat up so abruptly that he left Yeonseo pinned under him, blinking up in surprise, his sleepiness replaced by wide-eyed alarm.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

Watching Suhan confirm this first thing, Yeonseo gave a bewildered smile and replied.

“I took the day off. Yesterday’s incident caused my seminar to be postponed anyway, and I’d be too worried about you to focus on work.”

Suhan tried to say something in response, but he clammed up, realizing he was the reason for this.

he thought, somewhat at a loss. Yeonseo filled Suhan in on the events before his sudden appearance at the venue. Hearing the story, Suhan lay back down on the bed but felt a persistent urge for something more decisive.

Yet, Suhan knew that crossing that line would land him in serious trouble, so he held himself back.

When Suhan called the precinct again, he was informed that the fire had been put out that afternoon and the site was under investigation. Worried he might be suspected of arson, Suhan peppered them with more questions, only to be told that a witness interview would be scheduled soon. Clearly, it was still too early for the case to be wrapped up.

Now, all that was left was clearing up some very long-standing misunderstandings.

“This might take a while. How about a walk?”

Suhan had only intended to suggest a short stroll to the nearby park to clear the air. But before he knew it, they were following a GPS route to a lake park farther away. What was supposed to be a simple chat had somehow turned into a full-blown day out. Still, he didn’t mind it; it felt like a refreshing break. Provided Yeonseo could drive them back in one piece.

After a 20-minute drive down a quiet road, they arrived at a spacious lakeside park. A few families with children and people walking their dogs were around, but not enough to interfere with any serious conversation. In fact, it was so calm that it felt as though they were the only two people there.

“It’s nice, taking a walk in such a quiet place.”

Suhan seemed to be setting the mood as if for a serious confession, which made Yeonseo a bit uneasy.

But if they had, he wouldn’t be acting so calmly and kindly now. Suhan noticed the apprehensive look on Yeonseo’s face and almost laughed, but instead, he softened his expression.

“Don’t take this too seriously. I’m not telling you this to make you worry; I’m saying it so you don’t.”

Yeonseo nodded, unable to shake his concern, and then heard something shocking.

“What? I think… I might have misheard you…”

Yeonseo’s face went white, his voice trembling as though he’d heard bad news, while Suhan, in contrast, was composed.

“No, you didn’t mishear. I haven’t regained all my memories, but a few things are coming back, about what happened.”

With Suhan’s calm revelation, Yeonseo, now pale, seemed on the verge of fainting as he cried out.

“We should report this right away…! We can’t just stand here…!”

He looked as if he’d dash to the police station immediately. Suhan, who hadn’t expected such a reaction, rubbed his throbbing head and blocked Yeonseo’s path.

“Let’s calm down first. That guy tried to commit assault, and I almost went to jail for attempted murder? You want me behind bars? And what about the baby?”

“T-that’s…”

Yeonseo hesitated, then muttered quietly in protest.

“…Wouldn’t it be seen as self-defense?”

Suhan thought. Considering he’d hit the guy with a baseball bat and stabbed him badly enough to cause serious bleeding, self-defense might not hold up so easily. Even with a generous judge and a hefty legal fee, a criminal record was almost certain. And even if he somehow avoided jail, being a well-known public figure, he’d face endless scandal and likely be barred from working in the industry.

That’s why, however unfair it seemed, avoiding a legal case was the better option. Suhan had already come to that conclusion.

“….”

As Suhan shook his head, Yeonseo looked down in anguish, frustrated by his own helplessness.

Suhan thought. He just wanted Yeonseo to know that the reason for his resentment wasn’t because of anything Yeonseo had done wrong, but simply a misunderstanding. Yet instead of feeling relief, Yeonseo seemed even more pained, saddened by the fact that Suhan had carried such a heavy burden alone.

“Don’t dwell on it too much.”

Rather than say more, Suhan hugged Yeonseo and patted his back. He wasn’t letting the man go free; rather, he was determined to let him live each day on edge, forever fearing the day Suhan might strike. There was more than one way to make him pay.

When they returned home, they were greeted with news that Yeonseo’s uncle and aunt had reported Juno themselves.

“What? Hold on…”

Yeonseo, who had received a call of apology from his aunt just yesterday, was caught off guard. She had apologized profusely, saying it was her own fault for raising her son poorly. Now, she’d suddenly drawn a hard line, admitting that Juno had acted alone, taking full responsibility.

“I had no idea my own child was capable of such things,” she’d sobbed. “This agony is unbearable…”

Listening to her tearful confession over the phone, Suhan muttered dryly to himself.

“Give me a break.”

While Yeonseo felt uneasy, Suhan was cold, his face devoid of sympathy. If she truly couldn’t bear it, she could always end things. He wanted to spit those words out but refrained, fearing he’d unsettle Yeonseo even further.

If she genuinely felt remorse, there was a quick and straightforward way to atone. The fact that she was trying to make Juno the sole scapegoat only made Suhan angrier.

Not long after, they received news of Juno’s sudden disappearance. Suhan grabbed his car keys, ready to drive to his uncle’s house in a fury, and Yeonseo barely managed to stop him.

Suhan was simmering with dark thoughts when he noticed Yeonseo looking at him with a pained yet endearing expression. Calming down, Suhan let out a small laugh. His long-standing toxic relationship was finally over. Whatever he planned for those who had wronged him could wait, as his future was now with Yeonseo and their soon-to-arrive baby. With a devoted husband who adored him, what more was there to worry about?

No matter what happened, Suhan reassured himself,

He took Yeonseo’s hand, placing it over his chest and then over his lower abdomen.

“Even if my memories return and I forget everything that’s happened, the ‘me’ who loves you will still be here.”

“Promise me you’ll protect ‘us.’ You can, right?”

Yeonseo slowly nodded, as if to seal the vow. Suhan pulled him close, his embrace fierce, his kisses spontaneous, and Yeonseo welcomed him warmly, his every movement filled with love.

Yeonseo thought, holding Suhan tightly.