episode_0071

As I finished tidying up the place, I whispered to the man, “Let’s go home quickly.”

Although I had the desire to escape from this place filled with unpleasant things, I had to go back home to finish what I had left with the man earlier.

Moreover, since I had achieved the purpose of visiting this place, I thought it wouldn’t matter if I just went back as it is.

“I’ve decided to stay here for the night.”

It was decided that I would spend the night in this house while I was asleep.

It was already quite late, and most importantly, I needed to rest for the night after screaming and fainting.

Of course, I wanted to go back home right away, but considering our man’s personality, if I were to refuse this suggestion, I would most likely be dragged to the hospital forcibly like last time, so I had no choice but to accept the proposal obediently.

I was worried that the residents of this place would be uncomfortable with this situation…

“Miss, if you need anything, please feel free to let us know!”

“Anything at all! While you’re here, we will serve you wholeheartedly without causing any discomfort!”

The servants, who always ignored and showed hostility, suddenly started fawning over me, making me feel awkward.

Although it was a good thing that I needed some rest, their unfamiliar kindness made it difficult for me to maintain a poker face.

What happened while I was unconscious?

It was strange that they were watching me, but the man’s gaze towards them was not ordinary.

Well, thanks to that, the dinner was luxurious, and ultimately, it was a good thing that I could spend the night in a proper guest room…

“I’m alone again.”

I told him not to leave me alone, but he stubbornly left me. He said he needed to have an important conversation with his mother.

Minjeong also intervened, and I was naturally led by the servants to this point.

How important could the conversation be that he showed a stubborn attitude even when I didn’t want to be left alone? If he hadn’t kissed me as a sign of waiting a little longer, I might have caused another scene in front of the family.

Thanks to that, the man seemed satisfied, but staring at the smartphone alone was boring.

“It’s boring to just sit here… Should I read this?”

Unable to bear the boredom, I lay on the bed and picked up the diary I had left by my head.

Although I wanted to tear it apart immediately because it was her belongings, I was also curious about what was written inside.

— Rustle

Suppressing the violence that seemed to burst out, I slowly flipped through the diary, and on the first page, there was a photo of two newborn babies, Jueunseok and Jueunhye.

“Jueunseok, Jueunhye, one year old…”

As I quietly read the words written below the photo, I turned the diary to see a photo of the twins who had grown even more, a photo of the younger sibling crying while sitting, and the older sibling patting the younger one’s head, and a photo of the woman hugging the twins with a bright smile, similar to Eunhye.

So, this diary must be an album collecting childhood photos of me and Eunhye.

“To be honest, I don’t remember anything from so long ago… This is how I was.”

As I observed the photos in the diary one by one, I slowly began to turn the pages.

Was it because of the nostalgia of childhood? Even though I was looking at her face like this, I didn’t feel as much hatred boiling up as I had expected.

“…resembles that man.”

As I flipped through the pages, watching the twins grow, this time under a solo photo of just me, there were those words written below.

That man… Could it be referring to my and Eunhye’s father?

“Eunseok sees the face of that hateful man.”

Reading the words written alongside the photo, a restless feeling that was hard to put into words swept over me, and I felt my lips starting to dry up.

After calming my trembling hands, I took a deep breath and turned the page.

“What is this?”

This time, instead of our photo, there was a picture of a boy I didn’t recognize.

Was he around the same age as me when I was young? The boy standing in front of a building looked frail, almost like someone sick.

But what caught my eye wasn’t the boy in the photo, but the familiar-looking building in the background.

Eventually, I realized that the building was a childcare center, and that it was the very same one where that woman had abandoned me 15 years ago.

“…”

My second mother had mentioned working at a childcare center in the past, but she had to quit due to circumstances. I had first met my second mother at the childcare center.

And the place where she abandoned me was also the childcare center.

“…a child who lost their life due to abuse by a childcare center teacher.”

In Eunhye’s memories, I was someone who had died at the age of 5.

But I had definitely gone through the proper adoption process and met my second families.

“Eunseok was entrusted to a childcare center teacher. Once again, he owes a great debt to the childcare center director.”

I felt like the end of the story was approaching.

My chest began to feel a strange heaviness.

“…liberation.”

As I read the last words written, I felt a sharp, spiderweb-like sensation wrapping around my heavy chest.

I couldn’t understand why I felt this way, but I knew it wasn’t a good feeling.

So, why did I start turning the pages one by one, trying to find liberation from this strange feeling, even though I confirmed that the next page was blank?

“If this is really all there is, if you felt liberated after abandoning me, why did you deteriorate day by day in Eunhye’s memories?”

I was captivated by the impulse to find out which side, the one I knew of that woman or the one Eunhye knew of her mother, was the real face of that woman.

If there was more to the story after abandoning me, it might hurt me more and make me regret it.

But… I couldn’t bear not confirming it with my own eyes.

“Huh?”

As I continued to flip through the diary, I felt a subtle, heavy sensation in my hand.

I noticed that there was a photo on the next page.

At the same time, a small speck of dust fluttered, and the page turned.

“This is… my photo…”

There, filled with photos of me after being abandoned.

With the words “I’m sorry” written in small letters.

“…If you’re sorry, then what?”

After maintaining a few seconds of silence, I suddenly threw the diary I was holding.

“It was you who abandoned me!”

Recalling that memory, I opened my mouth.

“How much did I suffer because of you? How difficult was it for me! To abandon me like that and then say you actually loved me, what nonsense is that? Don’t make me laugh!”

Imagining that woman who had committed such an absurd act and was now regretting it, I realized my hand was shaking faintly and clenched it tightly.

That woman had abandoned her own child with her own will. She must have gone insane before her mind went wrong.

Truly, she was a foolish woman.

“…I’m really grateful that neither I nor Eunhye resemble you.”

But the moment I realized that the woman was already dead, I let out a disappointed laugh, feeling as if all the anger and tension that had been holding me captive had flown away somewhere.

“I will never become parents like you.”

Looking down at the diary that had been thrown aside with cold eyes, I muttered quietly.

I don’t know if I can be a good parent, but if our uncle… Kang Sunwoo becomes my husband, I believe I can handle anything.

“So if that happens, our uncle will become a dad, and I will become a mom, right? Then someday, I might be showered with love by him and even have his child… Wait, what am I thinking!? Oh my god! Am I going crazy?”

I quickly pulled my hand away from unconsciously stroking my belly and jumped onto the bed.