[Sim Seju]

Time is unpredictable. You can feel it fade in a rush, or move at such a slow pace that it freezes. A lot has happened over the last few weeks; yet, they've could been hours or, on the other hand, years. Nothing can ever be taken for granted.

While I'm relieved the shit that came out from the marriage between Nina and her nightmarish soon to be ex-husband has turned public, how it intertwines with the other drama involving people close to Himchan and Daegwang scares me. It looks as if it's part of a major design that's meant to set me and my brothers up.

To add insult to injury, Saejeong is also in the mix, hellbent on marrying into our family. She wants to be one of us. I'm convinced she's actually in love with Himchan (I think), but won't admit it because, otherwise, there goes her façade of an intriguing woman who knows her way to get through men's bank accounts.

Anyway, if Saejeong is desperate for a wedding reception and a honeymoon, Nina almost recoils at the thought of it. She is here now to hand me a pen drive. She reveals. "There's something I haven't told you yet. There's one video inside. Watch it. I promise you won't regret it."

I do as she says. I plug the pen drive on my computer; as soon as it's ready, I call Kevin and we start watching the video together. It's a very long one: two hours and a half. Kevin jokes. "Maybe I should've brought some popcorn!"

I shut him down. "Shh! Focus. We can't miss any detail."

The video goes on. It shows Nina and Bret on honeymoon, on what seems to be their first night. They both lie on a bed, looking awkward and also a little bored, if I dare say. Nina seems to be looking at her phone, her eyes never leaving it to glance at Bret or the room.

Out of a sudden, Nina is seen stand up and leave her phone on the drawer next to her. She slowly starts taking her clothes off until she's completely naked. She then lies again on the bed and picks up her phone once more, paying attention not to be seen by her husband.

He tries to peek in, only for her to ignore him. She fails to acknowledge him as he keeps calling her name with growing insistance and annoyance. That is, until she snaps at him. "Stop it! Do you expect to be on my ass all the time? This is my personal business. Respect my privacy!"

Bret can be seen pull her hair and breathe intensely on her. She pushes him. "Get away, brute!"

His grip tightens. "Excuse me. Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Don't think I ever agreed to marry you to please my family. You know it's not true. I'm out for your assets—I've always wanted to marry rich so that I'll be settled for life." Nothing new apparently. But the way she makes this statement. It's clear she has something more to hide, beyond her secret love story with Alivia.

"I won't give you anything, Nina. You don't deserve anything, by the way. Do you realize I only married you for your looks and because you're the best fit as a mother to a potential child?" Shit. That's beyond disgusting. He only saw Nina as an incubator. This, combined with her expecting him to be nothing but her ATM, is further proof this marriage was never meant to be.

But that's not all. The video continues with a bombshell that promises to be more than explosive. Nina opens a drawer and yanks a bunch of documents she kept in her suitcase inside. Too bad Bret follows her moves and manages to take them, swinging them on her face.

He reads them aloud, leaving his not so dear bride petrified. "So, you're double dealing, huh? You think you're smart, but you're nothing but a stupid, dimwitted bimbo. Now, I make the rules and you have to do what I tell you, or I promise you won't come out alive of this cabin, okay?"

Oh, shit. He blackmailed her into staying in that horrendous marriage because she had a contract with... Saejeong! This, of course, doesn't sit well with that scumbag. Before Kevin can ask malicious questions, I make it clear Saejeong owns a talent agency. Apart from working as an artist and art contractor with me, Nina is also a performer.

I don't know much about her activities as an entertainer; she only told me she used to perform at clubs in New York on Thursdays. This means one thing: Bret forced her to stop unless she'd want to face terrible consequences for not "listening" to him.

Kevin and I finish watching the video with the realization that we need to talk to Nina now. She has to send all the proof to authorities now if she wants her plan to succeed.

***

"I feel relieved," says Nina as the two of us leave the police station. She then turns to me to apologize. "I'm sorry. I should've told you way earlier about being represented by Saejeong. I know you don't like her, but-"

I reassure her. "It doesn't matter, Nina. Bret is the main danger here, not Saejeong, as much as I don't like how she meddles around." Her distress is palpable to the point that I have to tell her to take deep breaths.

"Yeah, that's good. I can't wait for that piece of shit to be arrested. Anyway, I've got to go. I have some other business to attend." We say goodbye and I watch her dash away, not wanting to know what she's up to for now. What matters is that she's happy.

I'm about to go back home, expecting to find Kevin there promising me a relaxing evening. However, it looks like drama isn't over just yet. I receive a bunch of lengthy WhatsApp messages from Himchan. I read them quickly, focusing on the last one in particular.

'Seju, you don't know how glad I am that all this mess has been sorted. It truly means a lot to us. Look at how far we've come. Trust me, you'll make up for the time you wasted stressing over something out of your control. I know you had to help Nina and she counted on you, but it's time for us to reap what we have sown.'

I don't reply to his message straight away. I want to express my gratitude at him for not losing sight of the goal in person. I hope Daegwang will also be with us. It seemed as if troubles from people around us kept us in touch with one another, when our connection should've come natural in other ways.

It's not time to dwell on the past anymore, though. I do answer Himchan's messages, but to invite him and Daegwang to dinner. It takes him a while, but he accepts. After receiving a positive response from Daegwang, as well, I finally reach home.

Kevin has no trouble deducing we'll have guests for dinner. Being his usual cheerful self, he sets up the table in a few minutes and makes quick adjustments to the menu. All that's left for us is to enjoy the night without having to talk about mysteries or strategies.