Chapter 2: The Mysterious Man
The police were unable to find the body of Kang Yuri.
Throughout the night and the days that followed, numerous articles speculating about his death flooded the media.
It was a death full of mysteries.
He was someone who always had a driver take him around.
Due to his habit of avoiding any action that could strain his fingers, he rarely drove himself. However, this time, he drove the car himself.
Additionally, the car’s brakes were malfunctioning.
While the police mentioned that further investigation was needed, articles flooded in suggesting that someone had intentionally tampered with the brakes.
“His wife killed him.”
“Well, she’s from a wealthy family, but she doesn’t seem to have much. A film columnist?”
“She published one book, but she must have had family support for that.”
“They can do anything when they want to get married.”
Amid sharp words, Lee Seo didn’t even flinch.
Even when the police came to ask for her statement, or when they took her to the accident scene.
Everything felt surreal.
No piano sounds could be heard anymore in the early hours.
“If anything uncomfortable happens, call the number I gave you. You don’t even have your husband’s number?”
This happened not long after Lee Seo and Kang Yuri got married.
Back then, Lee Seo was firmly holding on to her weekly five-day work schedule.
With the construction of their new vacation home nearing completion, she took a bus after work to check what she would need for the next day.
The ride to their newly established house, Byeolujae, required two transfers and a taxi ride to get deep into the countryside.
Though the path was inconvenient, it was manageable as the next day was a holiday.
…But someone has been following her.
As the bus exited the city and headed towards the outskirts, Lee Seo, wearing earphones and reading a book, felt a sense of unease and lifted her gaze.
Quietly, she took out her phone and used the camera to capture the view behind her. She could feel the gaze of a stranger looking directly at her.
Although she didn’t recognize the face, having worked as a journalist for a magazine affiliated with a major corporation, she instinctively knew—he was a reporter.
Since her marriage, countless interview requests had come in, and she always sent sincere apologies in response.
A scene flashed before her eyes—a senior urging her to take a solo interview with a major corporation.
Why bother following me? Just ask outright instead.
Though a part of her considered getting off the bus and switching to another, it felt unnecessary.
After all, he was just a reporter, so there should be no danger.
The problem was how naïve she was.
The man had been bitter after writing critical articles about a prominent family group and had been reassigned after his department moved. His lingering resentment grew toward the influential family.
At the bus transfer station, someone stopped Lee Seo.
“Please, may I have a moment for an interview? I understand you’ve been refusing all interviews due to the pressure from your in-laws. Let me help!”
“I’m sorry, but please refrain from speculating. If you go further, you won’t be able to return home easily. Please leave. Interview requests can be sent by email.”
“…Ah. Are all of them the same?”
His rough muttering was followed by him forcefully grabbing her shoulder.
The sudden tug caused her body to tilt sharply. A wave of fear swept over her, but even more than that, the attention from passersby was overwhelming.
She had to avoid being noticed at all costs.
She quickly flagged down a taxi and fled.
That was the only solution.
As she rushed toward the road, a sudden jolt pulled on her laptop bag strap again, causing her to trip and fall onto the road.
Fortunately, her arm wasn’t broken, but a minor fracture caused her to need a cast for several days.
That’s when Kang Yuri, who was at a regional competition as a judge, arrived at the hospital.
Was it to keep up appearances? How did he know I was here, without even sending a message?
Lee Seo pondered quietly, wondering whether to go to the nearby emergency room for treatment or return to Byeolujae.
In front of Lee Seo stood Kang Yuri.
For a moment, he remained silent, then asked if she had his number.
Referring to himself as her husband for the first time, Lee Seo was taken aback.
Though they were legally married, they hadn’t been living together since the vacation home was still under construction.
“I’ll stay at a hotel for now.”
Whether it’s you or me—there was no need to ask. After that day, Kang Yuri began staying at a hotel to avoid the noisy atmosphere.
Choosing a separate suite room, they continued living apart.
Though their situation hadn’t changed much, strangely enough, he managed to sync his schedule with her commuting hours, and for the following week, the two moved together.
Such days came and went.
“Follow the journalist and bring him here.”
Over the past five days, there had been no progress in the investigation or search.
Since no usual signs of life were present, his death was presumed certain.
Lee Seo kept her phone off.
She didn’t want to speak to anyone.
Arriving in this distant place, she shut all the curtains, trying to avoid the noisy journalists.
As she stepped out of her apartment, a bodyguard sent by Seonjin took her to a waiting car.
The sunlight was blinding. The rain that had fallen that evening felt like it had been forgotten entirely.
That’s when Lee Seo realized this was her rare outing in a long time.
“…You’ve come.”
What greeted her was Kang Yuri’s cousin, someone she had seen before marriage.
She was someone who had grown up with Kang Yuri as a childhood friend.
The secluded cathedral had security personnel stationed at every entrance.
It was an unofficial funeral service, as Seonjin hadn’t yet officially acknowledged Kang Yuri’s death.
They continued searching for him, promising they wouldn’t give up, though their silence was deafening.
Given the ongoing battles over corporate succession and stock shares, this wasn’t surprising.
But still, why hold a funeral service?
“…Hello.”
A chilling air filled the room.
The Seonjin family members arrived one by one. Though they didn’t speak much, they were all aware of Lee Seo’s presence.
Seeing that they weren’t taking steps to prevent malicious media coverage—despite being able to—showed their stance clearly.
No corporation is opposed to siding with victims.
Many loved Kang Yuri deeply.
Among them, those who cherished his elegant looks and his sensitive nature found it difficult to accept his marriage.
So now, as his death was becoming a certainty, no one knew who to place on trial.
“The funeral service will begin. He was a great pianist and a beloved son…”
Beloved son.
Hearing those words, Lee Seo’s mouth felt dry.
The only thing they shared—Kang Yuri and Lee Seo—was that they both carried the burden of family above all else.
Silence could be a punishment.
Throughout the funeral, no one spoke directly to her, though occasional whispers about inheritance passed through the crowd.
Meanwhile, the glances directed at her were sharp enough to sting, making her skin crawl.
Returning home, she slept for a long time. Her phone remained off, and thanks to Byeolujae’s unique layout—a long entrance with the house turning its back to the entrance—she felt completely isolated from the outside world.
Since her workplace communication was exclusively done through email, there were no disruptions to her work.
When she finally woke up, her stomach growled with hunger.
Following her request, the helper stopped visiting after that day.
After the accident, when Lee Seo hesitated to ask the assistant for Kang Yuri’s contact, the manager seemed unaware, taking a long moment to respond.
So, had everything been handled by Kang Yuri?
That thought struck Lee Seo, making her suddenly realize how little she truly knew about him.
Even though they were living together, he was still her husband—someone she should have known deeply.
“You know very well. You know what problems I have.”
Kang Yuri said, as he proposed to Lee Seo.
However, she knew nothing about him.
She pulled her hat low and covered it further with a hoodie.
As autumn deepened, a chilly breeze swept through the vacation home, making it feel even colder.
Yet, the chill seemed almost comforting.
She brushed off the dust from the bicycle resting by the side of the garden, though she had never ridden it before.
The bike’s height seemed perfectly suited for her, not Kang Yuri’s much taller frame.
“Welcome.”
She stepped out and rode the bicycle down to the nearby convenience store.
It was to buy bread, ready-to-eat soup, and an apple.
At the store, she noticed someone standing by the bicycle.
A tall, broad-shouldered, well-built man stood there.
His face looked younger, maybe three years younger than her, but his cheerful smile was refreshing.
It was clear he wasn’t local.
“…Who are you?”
Lee Seo asked cautiously, and he introduced himself as Lee Seongha.
He worked for a publishing company.
Lee Seo recognized the publishing house. It was affiliated with Baek Kwang, the media company that operated her magazine.
“Did you sleep well?”
“What do you need from me?”
“I was wondering if you could write a book. Someone needs to remember your late husband.”
“…”
“You and your husband were deeply in love.”
He smiled, as if he could see through everything.
His smile was clean and smooth, reminiscent of a charming movie actor.