#56.

On a bright weekend afternoon, Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo took their son Jin-woo out for a stroll in the apartment complex park in a stroller. However, an awkward silence flowed between the two.

Lee Hyun-woo tried to start a conversation with Kim Eun-ju, but was frustrated by her indifferent attitude. He simply kept his eyes on Jin-woo and moved his feet.

,Honey, our Jin-woo is really handsome, right? I think he’s starting to look more and more like me.”

Lee Hyun-woo spoke in a bright voice.

,Yeah…”

Kim Eun-ju’s answer was still short and dry.

Lee Hyun-woo lowered his head with a bitter expression. Just then, a woman approached from the other side of the promenade.

,Hello, Eun-ju-ssi! Hyun-woo-ssi, you came out too.”

,Oh my, Su-jin-ssi! Long time no see. How have you been?”

Kim Eun-ju greeted her with a welcoming voice, unlike the attitude she had shown Lee Hyun-woo just now. Han Su-jin smiled brightly and looked at Jin-woo in the stroller.

,Wow, Jin-woo has grown a lot. I heard he’s already started walking?”

,Yes, he’s been walking well these days. I’m worried he’ll be running around soon.”

A smile naturally spread across Kim Eun-ju’s face as well. The two women naturally began to share stories about their children and even household matters.

,I’m planning to return to work next month. Fortunately, the daycare center in the complex takes care of the kids until late…”

Han Su-jin nodded as if relieved.

,That’s a relief. Still, it’s really nice here because the daycare center is close and well-run.”

Kim Eun-ju gave a bright smile at Han Su-jin’s words. As she was chatting, Kim Eun-ju’s gaze suddenly turned to Lee Hyun-woo. Lee Hyun-woo was just quietly pushing Jin-woo’s stroller and didn’t seem interested in her.

Someone approached Kim Eun-ju and Lee Hyun-woo, who were talking with Han Su-jin.

,Hello, Su-jin-ssi!”

Park Min-ah greeted her with a bright smile.

,Min-ah-ssi, long time no see! How have you been these days?”

Han Su-jin also greeted her happily and hugged Park Min-ah.

Park Min-ah soon turned her gaze to Lee Hyun-woo. A shy look appeared on her face.

,Hyun-woo-ssi, I’m really sorry about what happened when I was drunk last time. I’ve been refraining from drinking since then.”

Lee Hyun-woo nodded indifferently.

,Don’t worry about it. Things like that can happen.”

A strange feeling arose in Kim Eun-ju as she watched Park Min-ah and Lee Hyun-woo’s conversation. Just then, Park Min-ah shared some new news with Han Su-jin.

,Ah, Su-jin-ssi. I got a boyfriend. I’m going on a date today!”

As she looked at Park Min-ah’s happy face, a doubt crossed Kim Eun-ju’s mind.

,Wait, a boyfriend?’

Han Su-jin said enviously.

,We must have been like that when we were that age.”

The moment she heard those words, Kim Eun-ju’s mind became confused. The suspicions she had harbored about her husband and Park Min-ah began to waver little by little.

,If I’ve been misunderstanding…’

After giving a brief greeting to Han Su-jin and Park Min-ah, Kim Eun-ju headed home with the stroller. On the way back, Kim Eun-ju’s mind was complicated. While regretting her actions, she felt a constant sense of guilt towards Lee Hyun-woo.

,What have I done…..’

When she reached the front door of her house, Kim Eun-ju gave Lee Hyun-woo a faint smile. It was a smile full of apology. Lee Hyun-woo silently watched his wife’s back. Kim Eun-ju wanted to say something, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Kim Eun-ju calmed her trembling heart and asked Lee Hyun-woo.

,Honey, what’s your relationship with Park Min-ah-ssi? What was that apology about earlier?”

Lee Hyun-woo looked puzzled.

,Min-ah-ssi? We’re just neighbors who live in the same apartment complex. We often run into each other and exchange greetings because our quitting times are similar.”

He paused for a moment and added.

,Ah, the apology? That’s because last time I came home late after a company dinner, Min-ah-ssi was drunk and staggering and bumped into me. So I guess she apologized today.”

Kim Eun-ju felt a part of her heart collapse when she heard her husband’s words. She was momentarily speechless and couldn’t say anything.

,So all my suspicions were in vain… Lee Hyun-woo never betrayed me, but I misunderstood and was just making unnecessary assumptions…’

A deep sense of guilt washed over Kim Eun-ju. She was ashamed and embarrassed of her actions of not trusting her husband and suspecting him.

Along with her apology to Lee Hyun-woo, regret about her relationship with Lee Han came crashing in. She bitterly regretted being in another man’s arms because of a pointless misunderstanding.

Kim Eun-ju lowered her head with tears welling up in her eyes. She bit her lip tightly to hold back her sobs, but her voice was already trembling.

,Honey, I’m sorry… I didn’t trust you and suspected you. I’m really ashamed and sorry…”

Lee Hyun-woo looked surprised at his wife’s appearance and looked into her face.

,Eun-ju-ya, it’s okay. It was a situation where you could misunderstand, but I should have explained it first… I’m sorry.”

He held his wife tightly in his arms. Hot tears streamed down Kim Eun-ju’s face. She buried her face in Lee Hyun-woo’s broad chest and cried silently.

Lee Hyun-woo patted his wife’s back and whispered.

,It’s okay?. Why are you crying all of a sudden. Eun-ju didn’t do anything wrong.”

Kim Eun-ju nodded and swallowed her sobs.

–

After putting the child to sleep, Kim Eun-ju quietly entered the room where Lee Hyun-woo was sleeping. Lee Hyun-woo was already asleep. His peaceful breathing filled the room.

Kim Eun-ju sat gently on the bed and pondered for a while. The truths that had been revealed today filled her head.

,How could I have had such a misunderstanding… I suspected Hyun-woo because of my wrong judgment, and even had that kind of relationship with Lee Han-ssi…’

With a deep sigh, tears welled up in Kim Eun-ju’s eyes. Her heart was heavy with guilt and regret.

,I’m so sorry to Hyun-woo… I don’t know how to ask for forgiveness for my mistakes. And how should I end my relationship with Lee Han-ssi…’

Complicated thoughts weighed down on Kim Eun-ju. She sobbed silently. She buried her face in the pillow and tried to hold back her wails.

,It’s all my fault… Everything has become a mess because of me…’

Kim Eun-ju floundered in despair. The desire to protect her family, the guilt about her relationship with Lee Han, and the worry about how she should live in the future.

In the midst of a whirlwind of complex emotions, she cried for a long time. The pillow was soon soaked with tears.

Looking at Lee Hyun-woo’s sleeping face, Kim Eun-ju whispered quietly.

,Honey, I’m really sorry… Please forgive me…”

But the only answer was a quiet silence. Kim Eun-ju buried her tired body in the blanket and tried to fall asleep. She closed her eyes, but the door to her heart would not close easily.

The night, marked by tears and regret, deepened. Only the sound of the ticking of the clock on the bedside table echoed in the quiet bedroom.

–

Amidst the warm morning sunlight, Kim Eun-ju headed to the management office with a heavy heart, pushing the stroller. She wondered what to say and where to start.

When she opened the door to the management office, Lee Han greeted her with a bright smile.

,Hello, Eun-ju-ssi.”

Lee Han picked up the child in the stroller and started playing with him affectionately. The child laughed happily and snuggled into Lee Han’s arms.

As time passed, the child became tired and fell asleep in Lee Han’s arms. Lee Han carefully laid the child down in the stroller and approached Kim Eun-ju.

Kim Eun-ju calmed her pounding heart and opened her mouth.

,Lee Han-ssi, I’m really sorry. I had a big misunderstanding all this time. It made my relationship with Hyun-woo worse. Now I want to turn it back to normal.”

Lee Han smiled strangely when he heard her words. Then he whispered quietly in Kim Eun-ju’s ear.

,What if Hyun-woo-ssi is really having an affair, what would you do then?”

Kim Eun-ju replied in a firm tone.

,That can’t be. I misunderstood.”

But Lee Han did not back down easily. He reminded Kim Eun-ju that she had already suspected and betrayed Lee Hyun-woo once, and dug even deeper.

,But Eun-ju-ssi, you’ve already suspected and betrayed him once.”

At those words, Kim Eun-ju lowered her head and shed tears.

,That’s my fault. I’ll probably have to live my whole life atoning for it…”

Lee Han smiled ambiguously and said as if testing her resolve.

,Can Eun-ju-ssi tell Hyun-woo-ssi what you did?.”

Kim Eun-ju was overcome with anxiety at Lee Han’s words. She felt a strange sense of pressure from his attitude and tone.

,Why is he saying this?’

While feeling doubtful, Kim Eun-ju tried to shake off her anxiety. But Lee Han’s next words made her even more confused.

,If Eun-ju-ssi has made up her mind, I’ll go with you. I’ll watch to see if you’re telling the truth, and if you can’t tell him, I’ll tell him for you.”

,What? Is he telling me to tell Hyun-woo about our relationship?’

Kim Eun-ju’s heart began to beat rapidly. Something hidden behind Lee Han’s smile threatened her. It was like the eyes of a beast trying not to miss its prey.

At that moment, Kim Eun-ju felt a chill down her spine. It wasn’t the Lee Han she had known until now. His eyes were cold, and his smile seemed to be hiding something.

,Lee Han-ssi, I’ll take care of it myself, so don’t worry. I should get going now.”

With these words, Kim Eun-ju hurriedly pushed the stroller and left the management office. She felt Lee Han’s gaze piercing her back, but she didn’t look back and hurried her steps.

She felt like a cat toying with a mouse. Kim Eun-ju muttered to herself in terror.

,It’s not the Lee Han-ssi I’ve known until now… Was I mistaken?’

Lee Han didn’t move and just smiled as he watched her back.

,Go carefully, Eun-ju-ssi. See you next time.”

All the way back home on trembling legs, Kim Eun-ju’s mind was in complete chaos. The fear of Lee Han’s identity and what would happen in the future weighed down on her.

Unlike the bright morning sunlight, Kim Eun-ju’s future was dark. A sense of despair, as if she had lost a place to hide, swallowed her up.