A wave of nausea washed over Ji-woo as the truth surfaced: all of this was an illusion.
His words from before echoed in her mind. If I don’t remember anything, will our relationship get easier? And she had given him the treacherous answer he wanted: “Yes.”
One lie piled on top of another.
Even so, she clung to the moment, desperate to live a normal life, to forge memories of this time that she could cherish forever.
It was an hourglass of her own making, and the sand was already slipping away too quickly.
Seo Tae-joon finally pulled his lips from hers, a lazy grin spreading across his face. “I think I need to get to work,” he murmured, his voice low. “The way you react… it’s making it difficult to stop.”
Stunned by his bluntness, a hot blush crept up Ji-woo’s neck. She fought the urge to look down, her eyes fixed somewhere just past his shoulder.
His gaze held hers. “I’ll work,” he said, his tone firm. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”
Ji-woo bit her lip. An animal rescuer? She couldn’t picture it. Seo Tae-joon seemed more like the type to hunt animals than save them.
Joo Dong-mi stared at the closed door, a pang of guilt twisting in her gut. She hoped Ji-woo would forgive her for flirting with her husband. It was wrong to meddle in another couple’s business, let alone hit on a married man right in front of his wife.
Feeling ridiculous, she scratched her head and rounded a corner. That’s when she saw someone that stopped her in her tracks.
I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before… But where?
A man was leaning against the wall of the house. Normally, she would have walked right by, but his build caught her eye. It was rare to see a man with a frame like that in Cheongdo, and stranger still to see him just loitering on a weekday.
Most of all, there was something naggingly familiar about him.
“Hey there,” she said with a friendly smile.
Jang Beom-hee flinched as she approached. He’d expected her to ignore him, but she was heading straight for him. He tugged the brim of his cap lower, but it did little to deter Joo Dong-mi’s curious gaze.
“Hi there!” she said cheerfully. “Do you live around here?”
He didn’t answer, but she saw his throat work as he swallowed.
Joo Dong-mi pointed to the logo on her jacket. “I’m with the Wildlife Rescue Center,” she explained.
Jang Beom-hee ignored her and tried to sidestep past, but Joo Dong-mi moved to block his path. She was used to wrangling reluctant animals.
“I don’t mean any harm,” she said, holding up a hand. “It’s just… have we met before? You look so familiar.”
Jang Beom-hee tried to avoid her eyes, but it was no use.
“Oh! I remember now!” Joo Dong-mi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. “You were the server who took my glass at my uncle’s party!”
The man stiffened, clearly flustered.
Of course, Jang Beom-hee knew who she was. He knew everyone connected to the young master and Ji-woo. Taking her glass had been a careless mistake, one he’d hoped she wouldn’t remember.
“I knew it,” Joo Dong-mi said with a satisfied smile. “I’m good with faces. But your clothes…” She took a step back to get a better look. “Is that a police uniform?” Jang Beom-hee froze, and Joo Dong-mi’s brow furrowed.
Her gaze dropped to his uniform. He’d come straight from wrapping up an incident at the drug farm and hadn’t had time to change. What terrible luck. Why did someone have to recognize him here, of all places?
His hand instinctively went to his pocket, his fingers closing around the small knife he kept there.
“What is it with this town?” Joo Dong-mi laughed, completely oblivious to his growing tension. “Seems like everyone has a perfect physique all of a sudden.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “So, why was a cop working my uncle’s party? Was it an undercover gig? Did my uncle get caught up in some money laundering scheme? He’s not a bad guy, but that does sound like something he’d do.”
Joo Dong-mi lifted a hand to her chin, lost in thought, but Jang Beom-hee had had enough. He shoved her aside and strode away.
“Hey! What’s your name?!” she yelled after him. “How old are you?!”
Before she could shout another question, he spun around, grabbed her by the collar, and slammed her back against the wall.
“Stay out of my way,” he said, his voice a low growl. He released her and turned to leave, but a sudden, sharp kick sent him staggering. Before he could recover his balance, a rope snaked around his ankle and yanked him off his feet.
“Is that how a cop is supposed to treat a citizen?” she demanded, looming over him. “Who the hell are you, you bastard?”
Jang Beom-hee shot a nervous glance toward the house. If Seo Tae-joon came out now, this would get much worse. His job was to protect the Young Master and maintain order in Cheongdo, not cause a public disturbance.
Deciding on the fastest course of action, he scrambled into a low crouch and clamped a hand over her mouth. “Just be quiet for a second,” he hissed. He let out a weary sigh, running his free hand over his face. “Fine. What do you want?”
Joo Dong-mi’s eyes lit up.