"Oppa," she called softly.
Hyunwoo stopped, his back still turned. Then, slowly, he turned to face her. His expression carried a ghost of a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes.
"You're leaving already? You didn't even wish us," she said, her voice calm but hurt.
Hyunwoo exhaled, his lips curling into a sad smirk. "Congratulations, Hauen. Your life has finally settled with Suho." His tone was low, bittersweet, almost mocking.
Her brows furrowed. "Are you… Not happy for us?"
"Of course I am," he said, letting out a small, bitter laugh. "After all, you two ended up together. I thought this day would never come… figured by now, you'd be back home." His gaze hardened slightly as he added, "But look at you, Mrs. Kim. Permanently."
His sarcasm stung. Hauen stared at him, her chest tightening. "You're saying this because I refused to do what you asked that night, aren't you?"
He scoffed and looked away.
"What kind of brother are you, Hyunwoo?" Her voice trembled. "How selfish can you be?"
He turned back with a humorless smile. "Selfish? I'm the one who made this marriage happen, remember? I helped you settle into this luxury. But when I needed your favor, you backed off."
Her eyes welled with tears, but she blinked them back. "As if you didn't push me into this marriage for your favors," she shot back, her voice breaking.
Hyunwoo looked at her sharply, almost taken aback by the edge in her voice.
But she didn't stop.
"Did you ever think about what would happen to me after this contract ended? Even once?" Her voice shook, but she kept going.
"Did you ever think about what I was supposed to do if things didn't magically turn out this way? If this marriage had actually stayed a contract, have you ever thought about the impact it would have had on my life? My future?"
Hyunwoo opened his mouth, but no words came out. He had nothing, because every question she asked was true.
"You're ungrateful," she whispered, pain now spilling into anger. "You've always been. You only think of yourself, oppa. Always."
A single tear slipped down her cheek before she turned away. "You know what? Go to hell. You deserve everything you're going through now. I wanted to help you, for one last time, but I see it clearly now, you don't deserve mercy."
She turned to leave.
"Stop, Hauen," Hyunwoo said quickly.
She ignored him, stepping forward. But he moved faster, grabbing her wrist tightly.
"Leave me, Hyunwoo," she growled, her voice low and dangerous.
He didn't. His grip tightened, desperate now. "Listen… I'm sorry."
She turned her head slowly, her eyes red and glistening. He saw the disappointment there, raw, cold. She yanked her hand out of his grip.
"Hauen, please… listen to me," he begged, and then suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her.
"I'm sorry, my little sis… I was just angry for a moment," he said softly, trying to win her over with that same old tone.
She stared at him, disbelief turning into pure rage.
"Please help me… just one last time," he whispered, almost pleading.
But she didn't bend. Not this time.
She scoffed, a cold, bitter sound. "You know what? I've never seen a double-faced person like you."
His expression froze.
She continued, voice steadier now, because anger had replaced pain.
"Since childhood… you've been the same. Cunning. Manipulative. Greedy. And foolish on top of all that."
Hyunwoo's jaw tightened.
"You never cared about me. Not once. Not as your sister, not as a human being. Even this marriage, did you ever think what would happen to my life? What would I face? No. You only saw profit. And you pushed me into it."
Her voice cracked, but she powered through.
"You never looked back at me after the wedding. Not even once. You have no idea what I went through… all these months."
She shook her head, tears finally falling. "And now, the moment you see another benefit, you fall on your knees?"
She let out a broken, bitter laugh. "You're shameless, Hyunwoo. You don't even have dignity left."
He froze as she turned to leave, but then, his voice, sharp and venomous, cut through the silence, something she didn't expect at all.
"I'll expose your contract marriage to everyone," Hyunwoo said from behind her.
Hauen froze. Her breath hitched, anger and disbelief burning through her veins.
"If you don't listen to me," he continued, voice colder, "I'll expose the truth behind your marriage."
She clenched her fists, her body shaking slightly, but before she could answer—
"Go ahead."
Another voice cut through the space. Hauen turned and saw Suho standing there. Calm. Sharp. Dangerous.
"Go ahead and expose it," Suho repeated, walking toward them.
"Suho…" she whispered, stunned.
He didn't take his eyes off Hyunwoo. He simply reached out, took Hauen's hand, and pulled her gently toward him.
"Go on, Hyunwoo. Tell the world," Suho said, voice low, almost amused. "Expose everything. Prove it."
"Suho, don't—" Hyunwoo tried, but Suho cut him coldly.
"I'm not stopping you," Suho said, a dark smirk forming. "If you want to expose something… go ahead. Do it. Prove yourself."
His arm slipped around Hauen's waist, pulling her close, protective and unbothered.
Hyunwoo's face twisted, thrown completely off balance.
"What's wrong?" Suho chuckled, tone dripping with mockery. "What happened, Hyunwoo? Don't have any proof?"
Hyunwoo froze, caught off guard. Speechless. Exposed.
Suho raised an eyebrow, the challenge crystal clear.
Hauen stood beside him, shocked, heart trembling, but Suho didn't waver for even a second. His eyes darkened, his entire aura shifting.
"Don't you ever dare mess with my wife again," Suho said, his voice low and sharp. "This is your last warning. If I see her cry because of you even once more… I'll have to wipe out your broken reputation in the industry completely," he threatened him.
Hyunwoo's eyes widened, breath caught in his throat. His legs practically trembled.
Suho stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.
"Hauen is mine now," he said firmly, each word solid as stone. "My wife. My other half. You have no right to use her, threaten her, or play with her emotions."
Hauen swallowed, tears still clinging to her lashes.
Suho's tone sharpened like a blade. "So mind your tongue before you speak to Mrs. Kim Suho."
Hyunwoo stood frozen, fear creeping into every corner of his expression.
Then Suho turned to Hauen, his entire demeanor softening in an instant. He gently brushed away the tears from her cheeks, his thumb warm against her skin.
"Come," he murmured, almost tender. "Let's go home."
He intertwined their fingers, holding her hand protectively, leading her away without looking back.
Hyunwoo remained rooted where he stood, shaken, speechless, and utterly lost.