Episode 1

"Move aside! Patient coming through!"

So-jung lost all sense of time since the accident; the concept seemed irrelevant as she remained fixated on the direction of the operating room.

Urgent voices pierced the air from one side of the bustling emergency room. Blood-soaked figures hurried toward the operating room.

“What is the patient’s condition?”

“We need to operate immediately. He has sustained severe head trauma.”

Blood pooled beneath the man’s head as he lay on the stretcher. Realizing the critical nature of the situation, the medical staff began to move frantically.

“…!”

Equally frantic was a woman who approached the man in a daze. Observing his pale, motionless face caused her hands to tremble.

“Please step aside. We need to move him into the operating room now.”

“He’ll be okay, right? He’ll survive, won’t he?”

“We’ll do our best. But for now, you also require treatment. Stay calm.”

Though not as severely injured, the woman was also wounded. Her hair was disheveled, and her hands were covered in blood—not her own, but her husband's, who had shielded her during the accident.

“Are you in any particular pain?”

“…”

“Do you know where you are? What is your name?”

As the nurse tried to administer aid, the woman stood trembling. After a moment, she spoke.

“My name is Lee So-jung. This is the emergency room.”

Lee So-jung. Her husband’s name was Choi Hyun.

It had been an ordinary evening until her husband had unusually suggested they leave work together.

Their car was driving down the road when a massive truck loomed into view. So-jung’s memory ended there.

By the time she regained consciousness, the antiseptic scent filled her nostrils. Her next sight was of her own injured body, but thoughts of her husband lying motionless erased any perception of pain.

Despite the medical staff's attempts to force her away, So-jung stubbornly sat in a chair near the operating room, her hands trembling.

“Why… why my son….”

The news of the accident had already reached their families. Hyun’s mother, Mi-ae, rushed to the hospital and turned pale upon learning of her son’s condition.

“Why is my son in surgery? Why?!”

“Ma’am, please calm down…”

“How could this happen to my son? Hyun, Hyun!”

Despite efforts to calm her, Mi-ae's cries filled the corridor. Then, her sharp eyes turned to So-jung.

“You… you….”

“…”

Slap!

Before anyone could intervene, Mi-ae’s hand struck So-jung’s cheek, causing it to swell.

“Why are you fine?”

“…”

“Hyun is in surgery, yet you’re fine! It’s your fault, isn’t it? You caused this!”

Mi-ae’s anger did not abate, and So-jung only bowed her head, silently enduring the tirade.

“I should have stopped my son from marrying into a ruined family. You’ve ruined everything!”

The scene turned chaotic as people eventually pulled Mi-ae away, her cries still echoing throughout the hallway.

“Sister!”

Another person who had heard the news of the accident arrived: So-jung’s younger sister, So-jin.

“How did you get here?”

“Secretary Kim informed me. Are you okay? What happened to your face?”

Despite her swollen cheek, So-Jung only nodded silently.

“You’re injured. You should get treatment. I’ll stay here.”

“I’ll wait until we know the results.”

“But sister….”

“I’m fine.”

Despite So-jin’s persuasion, So-jung remained resolute. Finally, So-jin sighed and sat beside her.

“How’s brother-in-law?”

“He has a severe head injury. The bleeding is significant. They said we would know more after the surgery.”

It was a miracle they survived the truck's impact. If Hyun hadn’t shielded her, she might have been in critical condition as well.

Why did you do it, Hyun…?

Though wed, their marriage was loveless. They rarely fought, not out of love but because they were good roommates and friends. She even thought they could congratulate each other on finding new lovers.

〈I have something to tell you today.〉

In the car, under the streetlights, Hyun had said this.

The atmosphere in the car had felt different, odd yet tender. Hyun’s gaze was mysterious and foreign to So-Jung.

Hyun stared at her, and she stared back. The emotions in their intertwined gazes made her heart pound. She was about to ask what he wanted to say when…

“Sister, the surgery is over.”

So-jin’s call brought So-jung back to reality. She stood abruptly as the medical staff walked out of the surgical room.

“How’s the patient? Is he okay?”

“The surgery was successful.”

Ah, thank goodness…

So-Jung’s legs gave way as relief washed over her. So-jin supported her body.

“But the impact and blood loss were severe. We need to monitor his condition closely.”

“Yes, thank you, doctor.”

So-jung bowed deeply, despite her injuries. As Hyun’s bed was wheeled out, she saw his clean face, sleeping peacefully.

“Let's go in and rest now, sister. You’re a patient too.”

“…”

“Sister!”

“Oh, yes. Let’s do that…”

So-jung’s eyes remained on Hyun until So-jin’s voice brought her back.

---

“We keep receiving calls to the office.”

Days had passed since the accident. Hyun was still unconscious, and So-Jung hadn’t left his side. Standing beside her was Hyun’s secretary, Kang-chan.

“I’ve tried to keep it under wraps, but the accident was too big… The news has already spread.”

“What about the company?”

“The vice president is handling things for now.”

As the son of a conglomerate chairman and the CEO of H Hotel, Hyun was always in the public eye. Naturally, his sudden accident caused chaos within the company.

“When did the doctor say he would regain consciousness?”

“They’re not sure. We just have to wait….”

“Alright.”

The longer Hyun stayed unconscious, the more complicated things became. As So-Jung’s mind filled with these thoughts, her phone rang. It was So-jin.

“Hello?”

So-Jung stepped out to the hospital terrace to take the call. A cheerful voice greeted her.

—Mom!

“…Harim?”

—Mom, when are you coming home?

So-jung bit her lip to hold back her emotions. So-jin’s voice followed.

—Sorry, sister. She kept asking for you and her father…

—Mom, come home soon!

Ignoring So-jin’s words, Harim’s plea continued. So-Jung forced a bright tone.

“Harim, are you listening to Auntie? Mom and Dad will come get you soon.”

—When?

“Ten more nights, okay?”

—Okay! Ten nights!

So-Jung felt a mix of pride and sadness for the child who was still waiting bravely for her parents.

—What about Daddy?

“Daddy… Daddy is sleeping now. He can’t answer, but I’ll tell him to bring lots of gifts for you.”

—Really?

Harim’s voice brightened. So-jin took over the call.

“Thanks for taking care of Harim.”

—It’s nothing. The housekeeper does most of the work. How’s Brother-in-law?

“The same. No change.”

The daily updates from So-Jung were always the same. As she mentioned Hyun’s unchanged condition, Kang-chan's urgent voice called out.

“Madam, madam!”

Kang-chan rushed towards her. His following words caused So-Jung to instinctively drop the phone and widen her eyes.

“Mr. Choi has woken up.”

“…What?”

“He woke up right after you left. We called for the medical staff and tried to reach you, but you were on the phone…”

So-Jung rushed inside. She hurried down the long hallway and entered the room where the medical staff were gathered.

“…”

Her abrupt entrance drew everyone’s attention. Hyun, sitting up on the bed, also looked at her.

“Hyun, Hyun…”

“…”

Tears of relief and joy caused So-Jung's lips to tremble. But Hyun’s expression remained indifferent as if he were seeing a stranger.

“Who are you calling Hyun?”

His sharp words caused So-Jung's eyes to widen.

---

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