Chapter 53

Chapter 53

“Sure, I know that. But is being his doctor and him being your employer really all there is?”

“Should there be more?”

Heeju asked back matter-of-factly. Seokchan studied her face like he was trying to pry out even the smallest clue, but she showed no reaction at all, wearing the calm, unreadable expression of someone used to situations like this.

“If you’re really just his doctor, then why did Executive Director Kwon flip out like a complete lunatic at the pool that day? For someone who supposedly only touched his doctor, he looked like he didn’t see a thing around him.”

A flicker of irritation crossed Seokchan’s face at her continued composure. At the same time, for some reason, he looked strangely excited.

“And it’s not like he even really touched you. All we did was talk that day, right? No matter how much he acts like he doesn’t know his place, that was the first time he ever laid hands on the chairman’s biological son.”

All we did was talk? He must have conveniently forgotten grabbing her arm and blocking her from leaving with that suffocating atmosphere he created. Or he knew and simply didn’t consider such behavior rude or wrong.

“Giju acting out isn’t new. He’s always been like that. I’ve wanted to smash his face in more times than I can count, but we just put up with it. Useless brat or not, the chairman dotes on him. But the real question is, why did Executive Director Kwon react like that?”

A sharp, hungry interest gleamed in Seokchan’s eyes. Heeju felt an involuntary wave of disgust rise at having to sit through this conversation.

She should have listened to the voice in her head telling her to walk away, to not engage. But she had been foolish enough to stop because he mentioned the name Ko Heejin.

“Do I have to answer that?”

“I asked a question, so yes, Miss Ko, you answer. Whether Executive Director Kwon lets you get away with things or not, I don’t tolerate people getting above themselves. Even if that person happens to be a very pretty woman.”

He was smiling as he said it, but everyone in the room would know that was a threat.

“You seem to think there’s some emotional rift between you three, but why you’re looking for the cause in me, I don’t know. Almost as if you want me to be something to Executive Director Kwon.”

“Hah. Interesting. Is it because you’re sisters? The way you talk is a lot like your older sister.”

“……”

Heeju stared at Seokchan quietly. So he really did know Ko Heejin… or claimed to.

“To be honest, yes. I’m one of those people who would like Miss Ko to be ‘something’ to Executive Director Kwon. I’m also fairly convinced. I’ve watched Gukhyun for a long time, so I know him well. He’s not that kind of guy, but this time he’s acting seriously strange.”

Heeju made her judgment. Yoon Seokchan was a hyena sniffing for Kwon Gukhyun’s weakness. There was no reason to let herself become prey for someone like that.

“Think whatever you want.”

Her voice held clear irritation.

“I’m just his doctor. I have nothing going on with Executive Director Kwon. But if Director Yoon wants to believe otherwise, you’re free to do so. I have no intention of convincing you.”

“You’re saying I’m believing whatever I want to believe? That there’s nothing between you and Gukhyun, not even that you two… slept together?”

It was insulting to have him outright ask if she slept with Gukhyun. But Heeju kept her expression perfectly calm. She didn’t want to show Seokchan even a hint of the reaction he was fishing for.

“I don’t see any need to keep listening to this. I’ll be going.”

She turned and walked toward the door. But one of the men standing guard stepped in front of her, blocking her path. When she looked back, Seokchan gave a thin, apologetic smile.

“I don’t remember telling you you could leave.”

“So you’re saying you’re not letting me go right now?”

“Well, the situation kind of calls for it, don’t you think?”

“If I scream, everyone outside will hear.”

“There are three big guys here. You think we can’t shut up one little woman?”

Heeju looked at the threatening men one by one, then turned back to Seokchan.

“Director Yoon, your way of talking is pretty low.”

“Oh no, I lost more points.”

Yoon Seokchan let out an exaggerated sigh.

“See? This is what happens when you keep insisting otherwise. The conversation keeps going nowhere. Like I said from the start, this isn’t even what I want to talk about. I don’t want to be on bad terms with you, Miss Heeju. Honestly, I’d prefer if we got along and helped each other out.”

“People don’t usually bring thugs to threaten someone they want to ‘get along’ with.”

“Wow, she just straight up called us gangsters. I can’t tell if she’s brave or if she’s got no sense of fear at all. If he’s letting you talk to me like that, Gukhyun must really like you, Miss Ko.”

Seokchan laughed, shoulders shaking.

“I love it. If you’re not easy to handle, Gukhyun’s going to have a real headache…”

He grabbed his stomach like something was hilarious, then wiped the moisture gathering at the corner of his eyes and cleared his throat.

“Miss Ko. Want a piece of advice?”

His tone shifted, low and suggestive.

“Don’t give Executive Director Kwon your heart too deeply.”

“…….”

“He’s going to hurt you.”

For a moment, Seokchan’s gaze turned strangely wistful. He’d said they grew up like brothers, didn’t he? Could their long, tangled history really be summed up as something like love and hate? Heeju couldn’t understand it.

“I appreciate the advice, but I can take care of myself.”

“No, see, that’s not the right answer…”

He shook his head and spoke candidly.

“People like me and Gukhyun did every filthy, rotten thing you can imagine to get where we are. If someone told us we’re destined for hell, we’ve heard it so often it barely registers anymore. And I’m sure even Gukhyun knows he’s not getting into heaven.”

“I’m not interested in other people’s afterlives.”

“Talks back every time, huh? You must hear that you’re cute a lot.”

Meaning: stop talking back unless you want to be called cute. Heeju shot him a cold glare.

“Anyway, I’m saying this because I’m practically like an older brother to you… even scum like us have a limit. But Kwon Gukhyun? He doesn’t have that limit. In short, he’s dangerous.”

Seokchan studied her composed expression, then asked in a loaded tone:

“He doesn’t tell you much about himself, does he?”

“…….”

A faint crack formed in Heeju’s otherwise calm eyes. Seokchan didn’t miss that tiny shift. His lips curved, just barely.

“He’s never going to talk about the future with you. He’ll never tell his woman anything that gives real certainty.”

“…….”

“The truth is, you’re curious what kind of person Gukhyun really is, aren’t you? You’re afraid he might be a much worse man than you think. That’s why you were willing to listen to me.”

Looking at the pale, wax-doll stillness of her face, Seokchan felt a flicker of amusement. He must have hit the mark.

When he tossed out the bait named Ko Heejin, he’d seen the tiny ripple in her reaction. She wanted to trust Gukhyun but couldn’t, and she probably never would.

He had just sown a seed of distrust on ground that had barely been holding its balance.

“Are you trying to probe me right now?”

Heeju let out something like a sigh. “It seems like you’re the one more interested. In Executive Director Kwon,” she said.

“Oh, I’m always interested in Gukhyun.”

Seokchan pressed his palms together lightly, rubbing them as if warming up.

“Don’t misunderstand. I like the guy. I want him around for a long time. That’s exactly why I want him to stay the same. Don’t change anything. Just keep being our little wild dog.”

“Should I cheer you on or something.”

Her quiet sarcasm made him smile like he was genuinely enjoying their conversation.

“You know he had parents, right?”

“…Unless someone drops out of the sky, everyone has parents.”

“You’d see him differently if you knew what he did to his own.”

Heeju’s eyelids twitched. The movement was tiny, a flicker, but because Seokchan had been watching her that closely, he caught it. He smiled with thin satisfaction. She didn’t look away as she answered, slowly.

“That kind of vague talk doesn’t mean much to me.”

“You can act tough all you want, but once you know the truth, you think you’ll still look at him the same way?”

“You keep repeating yourself, but whatever that truth is, whatever he did to his parents, I’m just an employee. As long as the accounts between us add up, that’s enough.”

“And you two still manage to keep the books straight even while sleeping together?”

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