Chapter 23:

The club was alive with pulsating music, red lights casting a hazy, intoxicating glow across the room. Neon signs flickered against the walls, and a thrumming bass reverberated through the floor, filling the air with an electric energy that was meant to drown out thoughts and emotions. But for Ha-neul, none of it mattered.

He walked in, his hair damp from the rain, his shirt slightly wrinkled. His face was pale, his usually bright eyes hollow and rimmed with redness. He pushed through the crowd, his steps unsteady as he made his way to a secluded corner of the club. Sliding into a plush red sofa, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his head hanging low. The red lighting spilled over him, softening the hard lines of his face with a faint pinkish glow.

Ha-neul stared at the table in front of him, his gaze unfocused, his mind racing. His chest ached with a pain so deep it was suffocating. The din of the club faded into the background, the laughter and chatter of patrons a distant hum. He didn't drink, didn't move, he just sat there, utterly still, lost in the whirlwind of his emotions.

A stripper, dressed in shimmering silver, noticed him from across the room. Her sharp eyes caught the heaviness in his posture, the way his shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world rested on them. Intrigued, she approached him, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

"Hey, handsome," she said, her voice warm and teasing as she slid onto the sofa beside him. She placed a light hand on his shoulder, leaning in slightly. "How are you?"

Ha-neul didn't even look at her. He didn't flinch or acknowledge her presence. His gaze remained fixed on the table, his hands clasped tightly together.

The stripper tilted her head, her lips curving into a playful smile. "How are you, hottie?" she asked again, nudging his shoulder gently.

And then, the dam broke.

"괜찮지 않아요." (I'm not okay.) His voice trembled, the words escaping his lips like a confession.

The stripper froze, her playful demeanor shifting into one of concern. She didn't understand what he had said, but the anguish in his tone was understandable. Ha-neul lifted his head, and his face crumpled. Tears spilled freely down his cheeks, his entire body trembling as the emotions he had held back for so long came rushing out.

"너무 아파요. 숨 쉴 수가 없어요." (It hurts so much. I can't breathe.) His voice cracked, his words coming out in choked sobs.

The stripper's eyes widened, unsure of what to do. She placed a hand on his back, rubbing it gently in an attempt to comfort him, though she didn't understand a single word he was saying.

"내 심장이 찢어진 것 같아요. 누가 그걸 발로 짓밟는 것 같아요." (It feels like my heart's been ripped apart. Like someone's stomping on it.) He clutched his chest, his fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as though trying to ease the unbearable pain. His face contorted with every word, his brows furrowed deeply, his lips trembling.

"그녀를 사랑했어요. 처음으로 누군가를 사랑했는데... 그녀가 내 형의 아내였어요." (I loved her. For the first time in my life, I loved someone... and she's my brother's wife.) He let out a broken sob, his shoulders shaking as he buried his face in his hands.

The stripper glanced around, unsure of how to handle the situation. The other patrons were oblivious, caught up in their own revelry. She leaned closer to Ha-neul, whispering softly, "It's okay, baby, whatever it is. Just let it out."

But Ha-neul didn't hear her. He was consumed by his grief, his voice growing louder, more desperate.

"나는 그녀에게 고백하려고 했어요. 그녀가 나를 거절했을 때도, 나는 계속 희망을 가졌어요. 하지만 이제는... 모든 게 끝났어요." (I was going to confess to her. Even when she rejected me, I kept holding onto hope. But now... it's all over.) His breath hitched, and he wiped at his face with trembling hands, but the tears kept coming.

The stripper, realizing the depth of his pain, scooted closer, her hand moving from his back to his shoulder. "Shh, it's okay. I don't know what you're saying, but it's okay. You'll get through this."

Ha-neul shook his head violently, his eyes wide and filled with despair. "그녀를 사랑하지 말았어야 했어요. 하지만... 하지만 내가 그녀를 볼 때마다, 숨이 멎을 것 같았어요." (I shouldn't have fallen in love with her. But... but every time I looked at her, it felt like I couldn't breathe.) He gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening as fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.

"그녀가 나를 좋아했을 거라는 환상을 가지고 있었어요. 하지만 이제는... 내가 얼마나 어리석었는지 깨달았어요." (I had this illusion that maybe she liked me too. But now... I realize how foolish I was.) His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to contain the storm inside him.

The stripper sighed, her hand still on his shoulder. She didn't understand his words, but she didn't need to. She could see the heartbreak etched into every line of his face, the way his lips quivered as he tried to speak, the way his entire body seemed to collapse under the weight of his sorrow.

"You're gonna be okay," she murmured softly, her voice gentle and soothing. "I don't know what's going on, but you're gonna be okay."

Ha-neul let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow and broken. "괜찮지 않을 거예요. 나는 괜찮을 수 없어요." (I won't be okay. I can't be okay.)

His face was a portrait of pain, his brows deeply furrowed, his eyes red and swollen. His cheeks were wet with tears, his lips parted as he struggled to catch his breath. It was as though the weight of his emotions was crushing him, leaving him gasping for air.

The stripper leaned back slightly, giving him space as she continued to watch him with a mix of pity and compassion. She didn't know his story, didn't know the words he was saying, but she could feel the depth of his despair. And in that moment, all she could do was sit beside him, offering her silent support as he poured out his broken heart to the void.

***

Ha-joon stepped out of the shower, a towel draped loosely around his waist, his damp hair glistening under the soft light of the bedroom. As he dried his hair with another towel, he noticed Scarlet sitting on the edge of the bed, her arms crossed, a pout on her lips, her gaze distant. She was zoning out, and he could tell something was bothering her.

"What happened now?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.

As soon as she heard his voice, Scarlet snapped out of her daze, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at him with surprising force. It hit him square in the chest.

"Woah! Woah! What happened?" Ha-joon asked, dodging another pillow she flung his way. He dropped the towel he'd been using to dry his hair and held up his hands in mock surrender. "Red, talk to me! What's going on?"

Scarlet's face crumpled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She grabbed another pillow and hurled it at him.

"Scarlet, stop!" Ha-joon said, climbing onto the bed to try and calm her down. But as he got closer, she shoved him back with surprising strength.

"Don't come near me!" she snapped, her voice trembling. Tears streamed down her cheeks now, her earlier anger morphing into raw emotion. She looked away, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hold back her sobs.

"Red, what happened? Tell me." Ha-joon's voice softened, and he moved closer again, this time slower, his hands raised in a gesture of peace.

Scarlet shook her head, wiping her cheeks furiously. But the tears kept falling. "Do you even understand what you've done downstairs?" she said, her voice breaking.

Ha-joon frowned, sitting back on his heels. "What are you talking about? What did I do?"

Scarlet let out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What did you do? You introduced me as your *wife*, Ha-joon. Your *wife*! And not in a way that felt like anything meaningful. It was cold, calculated, and humiliating!"

Ha-joon blinked, genuinely confused. "It was decided, wasn't it? You agreed to pretend to be my wife for this situation..."

Scarlet cut him off, her voice rising. "Yes, I agreed! But not like this, Ha-joon. I never thought it would feel this... awful." Her words faltered, and her voice cracked as the weight of her emotions spilled over. "I always dreamed of this moment. Meeting your family for the first time. But not like this."

Ha-joon froze, his eyes narrowing slightly as her words sank in. "You... dreamed of this moment?" he repeated, his tone softer, almost unsure.

Scarlet didn't even realize the slip in her words. She was too lost in her emotions. "Yes! Of course, I did! I always thought that if I ever met your family, it would be under the right circumstances. Not like this. Not where I have to lie and pretend to be someone I'm not. Not where your aunt would shout at me for being a bad wife when this isn't even real!"

Ha-joon's jaw tightened. He moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes focused on her trembling form. "Scarlet, I..."

"No!" she interrupted, her voice thick with emotion. "You don't get it, Ha-joon! I can't even look at myself right now. I wore this ring, this ring with your name on it, and I felt... I felt like everything I wanted, everything I've ever dreamed of, was reduced to a lie. A lie that I agreed to be part of, but I never thought it would hurt this much."

Ha-joon's breath caught in his throat. He stared at her, his mind racing. Did she just admit she had always dreamed of marrying him? Did she just confess, in her own way, that she cared for him more than he ever realized?

Scarlet continued, her words pouring out in a rush. "Do you know what it was like to stand there and pretend to be your wife? To have everyone stare at me like I didn't belong? Your aunt shouting at me, accusing me of being a bad wife, when I'm just trying to survive this mess you've dragged me into? I can't take it, Ha-joon. I just can't."

Ha-joon's hands twitched as he fought the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms. "Scarlet, I... I didn't think it would affect you like this," he said softly.

"Of course, you didn't!" she shot back, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "You don't understand what it's like because you don't care. All you cared about downstairs was hurting Ha-neul. That's what this was about, wasn't it? You introduced me as your wife, but there was no love in your eyes, Ha-joon. There was only revenge. You didn't do it for me. You didn't do it for us. You did it to hurt him!"

Ha-joon flinched as if her words physically struck him. He looked down at his hands, guilt flashing across his face. She wasn't wrong. His actions downstairs had been fueled by his complicated relationship with Ha-neul, his need to assert his dominance, his need to show Ha-neul that Scarlet was his.

"Scarlet," he began, his voice quiet. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to hurt you."

Scarlet shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. "It's not just about hurting me, Ha-joon. It's about what this means. What it feels like to be caught in the middle of something I don't fully understand. And you... you didn't even think about how I would feel, did you?"

Ha-joon reached out hesitantly, his hand brushing against hers. She stiffened but didn't pull away. "I messed up," he admitted, his voice raw. "I didn't think. I should have. I'm sorry."

Scarlet let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping. "It's not just about saying sorry, Ha-joon. It's about understanding. I always... I always wanted this. To be your wife. But not like this. Never like this."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and loaded with meaning. Ha-joon's heart pounded in his chest as he processed what she had just said. Scarlet wanted to marry him? She had always wanted to be his wife? The realization hit him like a thunderbolt, and for the first time in years, he was at a loss for words.

Scarlet, oblivious to the effect her words had on him, continued. "You treated me wrong downstairs. You used me as a pawn in whatever this thing is with Ha-neul. And it hurts, Ha-joon. It hurts because I thought... I thought maybe..."

She trailed off, shaking her head as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. Ha-joon swallowed hard, his throat tight. He moved closer, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he said again, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll make it right. I don't know how, but I will."

Scarlet looked at him, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "You can't make it right, Ha-joon. Because it was never right to begin with."

***

Ha-neul's body shook as he sat hunched on the sofa, his trembling fingers clawing at his chest as if trying to rip the pain away. His eyes burned with tears, but the agony inside him was unbearable. He pointed down at the floor, his voice breaking into a shattered cry.

"여기 봐! 내 심장이 저기에 있어! 누군가가 그 위에서 뛰어다니고 있어!" (Look! My heart is right there on the floor! And someone's jumping on it!) His voice rose, raw and desperate, echoing through the dimly lit club.

The stripper flinched, her hand halfway extended toward him. She didn't understand his words, but his tone, the anguish in his voice, was unmistakable. "Hey, hey, calm down," she tried again, leaning closer to him. "It's okay, baby. Whatever's hurting you, it's gonna pass."

Ha-neul's eyes darted toward her, filled with a wild, pained intensity. "하지 마! 날 만지지 마!" (Don't do it! Don't touch me!) He pushed her away, his movements frantic, his voice rising in volume. "내게 가까이 오지 마! 아무도 내 가까이에 있기를 원하지 않아!" (Don't come close to me! I don't want anyone close to me!)

The stripper stumbled back slightly, stunned by his sudden outburst. Around them, the red and pink lights of the club flickered in rhythm with the heavy bass, but no one paid any attention to the broken man in the corner. Patrons danced and laughed, oblivious to the storm raging within Ha-neul.

"I don't want you near me!" he shouted again, this time in English, his voice hoarse from crying. His words were sharp, filled with pain, a plea and a warning all at once. "I don't want anyone!"

The stripper's expression softened. "Okay, okay, I get it," she said, stepping back cautiously. "I'll stay back, alright? But you need to calm down, honey. You're scaring yourself."

But Ha-neul wasn't listening anymore. His chest heaved as he broke down completely, his sobs tearing through the thick, smoky air of the club. He wrapped his arms around himself, his hands clutching at his chest as though trying to hold his heart together.

His tears fell freely, dripping onto his lap, but his vision was too blurred to notice. His face was a portrait of devastation-his brows drawn tightly together, his mouth quivering as he gasped for breath between sobs. The pain he felt wasn't just emotional; it was physical, stabbing through his chest like a dagger, over and over again.

"숨 쉴 수가 없어... 너무 아파..." (I can't breathe... It hurts so much...) he whispered to himself, his words barely audible over the pounding music. His entire body trembled as he rocked back and forth, holding onto himself as though he might fall apart if he let go.

The stripper hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. She looked around, hoping someone else might step in, but the rest of the club continued as if Ha-neul didn't exist. The laughter, the clinking of glasses, the shuffle of feet on the dance floor-it all went on, oblivious to the man breaking apart in the corner.

Ha-neul pressed his palm against his chest, his sobs growing quieter but no less intense. His face was crumpled, tears streaking down his cheeks, soaking into his shirt. He whispered again, his voice trembling, "그녀가 내게 이런 일을 할 줄은 몰랐어요..." (I never thought she'd do this to me...)

He tilted his head back, his eyes squeezed shut as fresh tears rolled down. His lips moved as if forming more words, but no sound came out. The ache in his chest was unbearable, and the weight of it pushed down on him like an immovable force.

The stripper took another tentative step back, her hands raised in a gesture of surrender. "I don't know what you're saying, sweetheart, but I can tell you're hurting real bad. Just... take your time, okay?" she said softly, her voice almost drowned out by the heavy bassline of the music.

Ha-neul didn't respond. His hands clenched into fists against his chest, his nails digging into his palms. His breathing was ragged, and he shook his head as though trying to deny the reality of his pain.

Finally, with a quiet, broken gasp, he whispered, "나는 그녀를 절대 잊을 수 없을 거야... 절대..." (I'll never be able to forget her... never...) His tears fell harder, his body folding in on itself as he sobbed quietly, the world around him continuing without pause.

For Ha-neul, time stood still. He was trapped in his pain, drowning in the overwhelming weight of his emotions. No one in the club noticed him, and those who did chose to look away. He was just another face in the crowd, another person lost in the chaos of the night. But to him, the world had ended, and nothing could pull him from the wreckage.

***

The Other Side of the Mansion. In the dimly lit parlor on the other side of the grand mansion, Mrs. Kang sat on the rocking chair near the window, her frail hands gripping the armrests tightly. The soft creak of the chair echoed through the silence of the room as she rocked back and forth, unable to stop the tormenting thoughts swirling in her mind.

"그녀는 내 아내예요! 스칼렛을 만나다." ("She's my wife. Meet Scarlet.")

The words replayed over and over in her head like a broken record. Ha-joon's voice, so calm yet cutting, and the look on Ha-neul's face when those words fell from Ha-joon's lips. Mrs. Kang had seen her son stumble backward, his face pale, his eyes brimming with disbelief and heartbreak.

Ha-neul, her pride and joy, had been shattered in that moment. The pain of watching her son suffer silently had been unbearable, and now, hours later, the anguish only grew stronger.

"안 돼... 안 돼..." she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling with suppressed anger and grief. ("No... no...")

Mrs. Kang couldn't take it anymore. She had been holding herself back for far too long, swallowing her frustration, her rage, and her sorrow. But not this time. Not when her son was left to endure the pain of betrayal, and not when Ha-joon, that selfish and reckless man, had humiliated their family with his secret.

Without a second thought, Mrs. Kang reached for the phone sitting on the side table. Her hands trembled as she dialed a number she rarely used, her sister, Mrs. Wi, Ha-joon's mother.

The phone rang twice before a sharp, clipped voice answered on the other end. "여보세요?" ("Hello?")

"언니..." Mrs. Kang began, her voice shaking with a mixture of anger and desperation. ("Sister...")

Mrs. Wi sighed audibly, half asleep by the interruption. "무슨 일이에요, 수스터? 이렇게 늦은 시간에." ("What is it, sister? It's so late.")

Mrs. Kang's grip on the phone tightened. "언니, 큰일 났어요. 하준이가... 하준이가 결혼했어요!" she burst out, her words tumbling over one another in her urgency. ("Sister, something terrible has happened. Ha-joon... Ha-joon is married!")

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then, in a tone laced with disbelief and irritation, Mrs. Wi responded, "뭐라고요? 하준이가 결혼했다고요? 무슨 말이에요?" ("What did you say? Ha-joon is married? What are you talking about?")

Mrs. Kang could hear the sharp intake of breath, the disbelief evident even through the phone. "네, 결혼했어요," she confirmed, her voice cracking. "그리고 아무도 몰랐어요. 우리를 속였어요!" ("Yes, he's married. And no one knew. He deceived us!")

"말도 안 돼!" Mrs. Wi snapped, her tone growing harsher. "그 녀석이 그런 중요한 일을 숨겼다고요? 누구와 결혼했나요?" ("Unbelievable! That brat hid something so important? Who did he marry?")

"스칼렛이라고 하는 미국 여자예요," Mrs. Kang replied bitterly. "그녀는 영어만 할 줄 알아요. 예의도 없고, 제대로 된 태도도 없어요." ("An American woman named Scarlet. She only speaks English. She's ill-mannered and has no proper upbringing.")

Mrs. Wi's voice turned icy, the disapproval evident. "미국 여자라고요? 또 미국 여자라니. 하준이는 정말 가족을 무시하는군요." ("An American woman? Another American woman. Ha-joon really has no respect for the family.")

Mrs. Kang pressed on, her voice growing more frantic. "언니, 지금 당장 파리에 오셔야 해요. 하준은 이 여자를 데리고 와서 자신의 아내라고 소개했습니다. 언니이 와서 이 문제를 해결해야 해요." ("Sister, you must come to Paris immediately. Ha-joon brought this woman and introduced her as his wife. You must come and handle this.")

There was a long pause before Mrs. Wi responded, her voice low and menacing. "하준이 정말 한계를 넘었군요. 나는 그 애가 변할 거라고 생각하지도 않았어요. 결혼은 중요한 문제인데, 우리를 무시하고 이런 결정을 했다고요?" ("Ha-joon has really crossed the line this time. I never thought he'd change. Marriage is a serious matter, and he made this decision while disregarding us?")

Mrs. Kang nodded, tears pricking her eyes. "그렇습니다, 언니. 하준이는 항상 이기적이었어요. 언니 오셔서 이 모든 걸 해결해야 해요." ("Exactly, sister. Ha-joon has always been selfish. You must come and resolve this mess.")

Mrs. Wi exhaled sharply, her frustration evident. "알겠습니다. 내일 바로 파리로 떠날 준비를 하겠습니다. 하준이가 어떤 처벌을 받아야 할지 결정해야겠군요. 그 아이는 늘 우리 가족을 실망시켜 왔어요." ("Fine. I'll prepare to leave for Paris immediately. We need to decide what punishment Ha-joon deserves. He's always been a disappointment to this family.")

Mrs. Kang let out a sigh of relief. "저 혼자서는 이 상황을 감당할 수 없었어요." ("I couldn't handle this situation on my own.")

"걱정하지 마세요," Mrs. Wi replied coldly. "파리에 도착하면 모든 걸 바로잡을 겁니다. 하준이가 감히 우리 가족을 이렇게 부끄럽게 만들었으니, 그 대가를 치르게 할 겁니다." ("Don't worry. Once I arrive in Paris, I'll set everything straight. Ha-joon will pay for bringing such shame to our family.")

As the call ended, Mrs. Kang sat back in her rocking chair, her chest heaving. She had done her part. Now, it was up to Mrs. Wi to come and confront Ha-joon. And if Mrs. Wi's reputation was anything to go by, the confrontation would be nothing short of explosive.