Na-ri couldn't believe her ears. Maybe—just maybe—she was hearing things. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her because of how tired she was. Her hand was shaking as she stepped toward the hallway.
She moved slowly, almost like a ghost, her heels clicking softly on the wooden floor. Her heart was beating so loud it echoed in her ears. With a trembling hand, she pushed open the bedroom door.
Her eyes widened.
There they were—her husband, Lee Tae Joon, and her cousin, Jung Ji-a. Naked. Tangled in each other's arms, still kissing, still lost in their moment.
Na-ri gasped and took a shaky step back.
Her throat tightened. She couldn't breathe. Her knees gave out, and she had to lean against the wall so she wouldn't fall. Then she ran to the sitting room, her legs barely able to hold her weight. She dropped her purse, and her suitcase rolled to the side, forgotten.
Inside the bedroom, Tae Joon and Ji-a froze. "Shit," Tae Joon cursed under his breath and scrambled to pull on his trousers. Ji-a didn't even look remorseful. She casually grabbed the bedsheet to cover herself, slowly getting up like it was nothing.
Tae Joon, half-dressed and breathing heavily, rushed out to the sitting room. "Babe… I… I didn't know you were coming. I swear, I—"
Na-ri didn't even look at him. She was sobbing, her whole body shaking. Her heart felt like it had been ripped in half.
Ji-a walked into the living room, still wrapped in the bed sheets . She picked up her lingerie and clothes and started getting dressed like it was a normal day.
Na-ri's voice cracked as she asked, "How long have this been going on?"
Tae Joon blinked. "What… What are you talking about?"
She screamed, her voice raw, "How long have you been sleeping with my cousin?! How long have you been planning to steal everything from me? You son of a bitch!"
She picked up the cake box still on the table and hurled it at him. It hit his chest, exploding into pieces.
Tae Joon stayed quiet.
Ji-a, now fully dressed, let out a laugh. "How long?" she said coldly. " Two years? Maybe more."
Na-ri's mouth dropped.
"Are you shocked?" Ji-a smirked. "He was with me on your birthday when you were in Japan. And your wedding anniversary, too. Remember when he said he had a business trip in Jeju? That was a lie. He was with me. Even the night before you announced your engagement, he was also with me. I guess he wanted to stay away from boring, plain Na-ri. Take a look at yourself in the mirror Na-ri, nobody wants you."
Na-ri couldn't hold back anymore. She ran at Ji-a and slapped her hard across the face. Ji-a stumbled, shocked but not for long—she fought back, grabbing Na-ri's hair.
"You bitch!" Na-ri screamed pulling Ji-a's hair. "How could you do this to me?! We grew up together! I treated you like my sister!"
"Let go of me!" Ji-a shrieked, pulling Na-ri's hair in return.
Tae Joon rushed in, but he didn't pull them apart fairly. He pushed Na-ri away with so much force that she fell to the floor, hitting her elbow on the centre table and scraping her palms. Blood started to drip from her hand, but she didn't care.
Ji-a ran into Tae Joon's arms and hugged him.
Tae Joon looked down at Na-ri, face cold. "Let's stop pretending, okay? I never loved you," he said bitterly. "I married you for your money. That's all. It's not my fault you were desperate for love and so naive. I can't stand you. I hate everything about you."
Na-ri's eyes widened in pain. She stood up slowly and slapped him, hitting his chest over and over with her fists. "I gave you everything you asked of me!" she cried. "I paid all your debts! I got your family a house! I helped your mother open a business! I paid your siblings' tuition fees! I loved you!"
But he didn't even flinch. He grabbed her by the arm and shoved her out the door.
Into the cold, heavy rain.
Na-ri stood there in the dark, soaking wet, crying. She looked back at the house. Her house. The place she bought. And now, she had no one.
She sat down on the ground, not even noticing how her clothes got dirty or how her elbows and palms bled. Her whole body shook from the cold and from the heartbreak.
She couldn't breathe. Her chest felt tight.
She stood up and walked slowly to the garage. She got into her car and started the engine with shaky hands. She drove off, the rain pouring heavily and her tears falling just as hard.
Inside the car, everything felt blurry. Her husband's cruel words. Ji-a's mocking smile. Their betrayal. All of it echoed again and again in her mind.
She cried harder, struggling to see through her tears and the rain.
Suddenly, a flash of lights.
Her car hit another.
It wasn't a strong collision, just a bump—but it was enough to jolt her back a little.
Both cars stopped.
From the other car, a tall, young man stepped out. He was handsome, neatly dressed in a dark coat and black shoes, and held a big umbrella. His car looked expensive, the kind that screamed wealth.
He walked up to her window and knocked gently. "Miss, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Na-ri pushed her door open for air and dropped to her knees in the rain, still crying, barely able to speak.
The man quickly rushed to help her up. He covered her with the umbrella, looking at her with worry. "Are you okay? Please… come, let's get you back in the car."
He helped her sit in the passenger seat and put on her seatbelt. She was still shaking.
"You're not in the right state to drive. Let me call someone to get you home safely," he said, stepping out into the rain to make a call.
But Na-ri wasn't listening anymore. Her thoughts were spinning.
He kicked me out. He never loved me. He used me. They both used me…
In a sudden rush of panic, she jumped to the driver's seat and started the engine.
"Wait!" the man shouted, trying to stop her. "Miss, please!"
But she didn't hear him.
She stepped hard on the gas.
She drove, faster and faster. Her heart was burning, her hands trembling. The rain was too heavy, her vision was too blurry. She didn't see the truck.
The crash was loud. Her car spun, flipped once… twice…
Then silence.
Flashing lights. Distant sirens.
Voices. Screams. Everything felt far away.
Na-ri blinked slowly. The cold rain mixed with warm blood. Her vision dimmed. The world around her faded as she slipped into unconsciousness.