Side Story 05
The scandal surrounding the Baek Jang-ho family’s disgraceful private lives has finally started to subside more than half a year after the debacle began.
Professor Shim Gyu-jin was arrested, candidate Baek Ui-yong is on trial, and spokesperson Baek Sa-eon is dead. Other relatives, anticipating fallout, either stepped down or retreated from the public eye. A political dynasty spanning generations now seems destined for decline.
However, recent sightings of the late Baek Sa-eon have been trending on social media.
Rumors of him spending time with a woman circulated, spreading rapidly at locations like the airport, Doldam-gil, the mart, and the lake park.
“What on earth are you doing?!”
Hong In-ah stormed into the new apartment, seething with anger. Her hands were full, carrying rolls of toilet paper, detergent, and orange juice, yet her expression was nothing short of ferocious.
“Didn’t you decide to live in hiding and become my intel?! Why are there always rumors following you around? Honestly, you’re not even trying to be discreet!”
“Sister, it’s been a while.”
“Why do you constantly engage in public displays of affection, like holding hands, kissing, and hugging at the crossroads? Doesn’t it ever get tiresome? Aren’t you at all embarrassed by being seen by others…?”
“Was traffic okay?”
As Heeju offered her slippers, In-ah responded with a scowl.
“The roads were empty, but my mind is anything but.”
“Do you want water?”
“No, juice.”
Heeju smiled faintly and stepped away.
“Answer me, brother-in-law!”
She turned to confront him once Heeju was completely out of sight. As always, his cold, impassive gaze—like he regarded her as no more than a roadside pebble—infuriated In-ah.
The unshakable unease he exuded only made it worse.
She was still livid about how he had completely ensnared her younger sister, and now, his gaze seemed to strip her of her status as a guest, treating her like an intruder instead.
“Why are you even here?”
Baek Gyo-eon leaned lazily against the wall.
“I don’t recall neglecting my duties as your ‘intel.’”
Except for when he was tutoring me, we always met in public, so we spoke politely even though we didn’t have affection for each other. But he suddenly threw away his formal speech. Hong In-ah hesitated for a moment at his casual speech.
“I came to see Heeju, obviously!”
“Why?”
His head tilted as if her reasoning were incomprehensible.
“Why do you need to see my wife?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I am her sister!”
In-ah’s face twisted in barely contained disgust.
“Is this how you treat your sister-in-law? My younger sister married a man presumed dead, and you think I wouldn’t check in?”
“Your sister, huh…”
His sharp, deliberate words hit their mark, yet his composure remained unshaken.
“You’re the one who sold Heeju off to me, weren’t you? Why are you acting hypocritical now?”
“…!”
In-ah’s lips trembled. No matter how much time passed, she could never shake off that guilt. Her selfish decision to prioritize her safety over her sister’s. The sin of handing her sister over to an unknown man without knowing his background. In-ah would never be free from the shame of that act.
“Come to think of it, I never properly thanked you.”
“What are you—”
“Thanks to Hong In-ah, I got what I wanted.”
He snatched the housewarming gift from her hands with a careless indifference.
“And I appreciate the gift, too.”
Leaning in close, he murmured softly, his voice sending chills down her spine.
“Especially for what you did twenty years ago, outing me in front of Baek Jang-ho.”
“…!”
“For fearing me so much that you ran away.”
“…”
“I’m truly grateful. That alone fulfilled your purpose. But now, acting like a sister to Heeju? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
In-ah bit her lower lip, anger simmering beneath the surface.
“Don’t visit too often.”
His warning was subtle but unmistakable.
“You can only visit Heeju when she needs you, and even then, it would require my approval..”
“…!”
Thinking back, it has always been like that. The man in front of her looked down on her sisters equally, treated them harshly, and constantly scolded them, but strangely, he was more lenient toward his younger sister.
He displayed a hostile demeanor towards me, his glare intense and intimidating. However, his behavior softened considerably when Heeju was present.
Even when we were both nodding off, I was always the only one who had a hard time. He wasn’t the type of person to let it go because he was young.
He was quite fond of Heeju, even though he may not have consciously realized it at the time.
He would deliberately give Heeju candies and playfully doodle on her work instead of marking errors.
And then… He asked for my sister’s hand in marriage as a hostage.
His indifference, initially perceived as coldness, now struck Hong In-ah as a sign of remarkable patience.
“I have no desire to live in hiding for the rest of my life. I’ll throw you a story when the time is right. Of course, it would be exclusive.”
“….”
“I plan on getting everything back so that Heeju can walk around proudly.”
His cold eyes gleamed, devoid of warmth or mercy. Heeju reappeared just then, oblivious to the tension in the air.
Baek Gyo-eon’s demeanor softened instantly as he wrapped an arm around Heeju’s waist.
In-ah forced a stiff smile under his chilling gaze and mouthing.
“Wow, your house is so nice, Heeju.”
“Did the entrance alone lead you to that conclusion?”
“Well, at times you can judge by the cover”
In-ah thought bitterly, Of all the people, why him, Heeju?
A few weeks later―
A special feature about a man who had lived under a false identity in his nephew’s name began circulating.
From being one of Baek Jang-ho’s victims to a key figure in a high-profile trade company’s hostage crisis, Baek Gyo-eon returned to the public eye with a carefully crafted narrative.
Thus, the man reemerged, armed with a new name and a wealth of public sympathy.
***
「Political World Ablaze: Who Will Win This Unprecedented Scout War?」
「Former President: ‘We must pay attention to the twists and turns of that man’s life.’」
Heeju tried to forget the headlines plastered across an entire page of the current affairs section as she scrubbed and cleaned their new white-toned home.
The former presidential spokesperson, long thought to be dead, resurfaced unexpectedly. His surprise testimony in the Baek Jang-ho family trials brought him back into the spotlight.
Flashes erupted from every direction, and the reporters trailing him resembled swarms of spiders. With his newfound influence and media appeal, Baek Gyo-eon became tirelessly busy as political parties scrambled to recruit him.
「Baek Gyo-eon’s Past Exposed: Can He Represent the New Generation for the Nationalist Party?」
Despite their fresh start with new names and connections, Heeju couldn’t shake her unease. Lingering memories refused to fade, and as he commanded the public’s attention, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being left behind.
The decrepit safe house in Argan.
The rickety ceiling fan whirring precariously overhead. The flickering, reddish bathroom light.
Those surreal days had grown hazy, like an old dream.
‘But this was the reality.’
People don’t change so easily. He was still a workaholic, still ambitious, and drawn to power.
‘Am I pathetic for even thinking this way?’
She wanted him to reclaim his glory, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to drift too far away. It was a contradictory feeling.
“I wish he could stay home just a bit longer. It’s so peaceful having him around,” Heeju mused as she diligently polished the floors.
Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen—it was her husband.
“Oh…”
A jolt of unexpected nervousness surged through her. After spending so much time together, the suddenness of his call threw her off guard. Without hesitation, she swiped to accept.
“Hello?”
— “…”
But the other end remained silent.
“Gyo-eon, can you hear me?”
— “…”
“Hello?”
Heeju bit her lip nervously and checked the signal. The call timer was running normally. Then she heard it—a voice she had never heard before.
— “Hello.”
“…!”
This wasn’t her husband’s voice. It was lower, rougher, with an unsettling distortion, as if there was interference.
‘Is someone using voice modulation?’
Her excitement drained away, replaced by unease. She pulled the phone away and rechecked the caller ID. It was indeed Baek Gyo-eon’s new number. A wave of dread washed over her.
“…W- Who is this?”
— “I’m a little disappointed that you don’t seem to recognize me.”
what??? 👀