Chapter 112.1

Chapter 112.1

Hyunsu leaned in and whispered something to the waiter, who was neatly dressed in a shirt, vest, and bow tie. The waiter nodded and guided them through a maze of winding tables.

Miran tilted her head again, puzzled.

‘No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like a place for an after-party.’

When the waiter opened the door to a private room tucked away in the corner, Hyunsu gently pushed Miran forward. His cheerful voice rang out.

“Surprise! You two have a great time!”

Startled, Miran turned around just as the door slammed shut behind her.

A strange feeling crept up her spine as she slowly turned back.

“…Andre?”

Her whisper scattered like breath in the air.

A vase filled with bright yellow freesias. Flickering candles. A dim, romantic glow from the low lights. In the middle of it all sat Andre.

Miran stared at him without blinking. Andre didn’t move either, his deep green eyes fixed on her like still water.

She was the first to look away. When she finally lifted her gaze again, his throat moved in a long, tense swallow.

Her heart pounded as if it might burst through her ribs.

Something she had kept buried deep down surged up like a waterfall, threatening to drown her in one breath. Panic crashed over her chest. Her breathing quickened as instinct screamed at her to run. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned toward the door, reaching for the handle.

“Miran!”

His voice broke through, tight and trembling. She flinched, frozen where she stood, her hand still gripping the knob. A rush of footsteps followed, and then his shadow fell over hers.

Andre’s arm came around her, his hand pressed against the doorframe beside her head. Lowering his face close to hers, he whispered hoarsely,

“Miran, please…”

After a moment of hesitation, she slowly turned around. She couldn’t bring herself to lift her head. She knew that if she saw his face, her resolve would crumble. It had been barely a month since she’d left, yet he looked so much thinner than she remembered. Her heart shrank painfully at the sight.

Neither of them spoke. The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing, echoing far too loudly in the still air. The steady pounding. She couldn’t tell whether it was his heartbeat or hers.

Miran swallowed hard and was the first to speak.

“Congratulations… on your marriage. What brings you to Korea?”

Her voice cracked, ugly and raw. She bit her lip and clenched her trembling jaw. Whatever happened, she refused to cry in front of him.

Andre said nothing, his breath ragged and uneven.

“Does your wife… know you’re here?”

Still, no answer. He only tugged at his tie with trembling fingers and let out a rough, shuddering breath.

“Look… meeting like this, just the two of us, when you’re a married man… It’s honestly a bit uncomfortable. I’ll get going now.”

She gave a small bow and turned to leave, but something fell from Andre’s chin with a faint drop. When she glanced up, she gasped.

“Why are you sweating so much… Andre, are you okay? Your lips—no, your face…!”

His forehead glistened with sweat, and it wasn’t just that. His breathing came in short, shallow bursts, as if he couldn’t get enough air. Veins stood out along his neck, his lips were pale blue, and beads of sweat rolled down his temple and dripped from his jaw.

“Andre!”

Her scream came at the same instant his body gave out. With a heavy thud, the broad-shouldered man fell to his knees and collapsed against the floor, then stumbled forward into her arms.

Terrified, Miran cried out and instinctively caught his head against her chest. He drew in a long, sharp breath, his shoulders jerking violently.

She cupped his face and lifted it from her embrace. His green eyes rolled halfway back beneath reddened lids, showing flashes of the whites before returning again.

“Andre, can you hear me? What’s wrong? You’re scaring me!”

Miran broke down, tears streaming as they fell onto his face. When focus flickered back into his eyes, he reached up, brushed her hands aside, and pressed his face into her palms.

His chest swelled deeply as he exhaled a hot, uneven breath into her palms. As if they were his only lifeline, he clasped her hands together and, with visible effort, drew in and released ragged breaths. Between each inhale and exhale, his voice broke out in bursts, spilling from him like blood.

“I’m… sorry. Hh… I was wrong…”