Contract Marriage with a Male Friend - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#70

Hyung Jun checked his watch and rose from his seat.
Lunch would be coming soon, and he intended to visit Soo Yi during that time.
He couldn’t bear to wait until evening to leave work.
If he didn’t see Soo Yi’s face right now, he felt his heart might burst.
Besides, when Soo Yi’s mind was troubled or she was worried about something, she often skipped meals.
Surely she hadn’t managed so much as a proper meal, let alone a sip of water, since last night.
He grabbed the bento box he’d pre-ordered from the hotel and headed to Soo Yi’s house in Unneung-gu.
Going to see his wife at that old place still bearing traces of the past, rather than their proper newlywed home.
Hyung Jun’s mood sank as he gripped the steering wheel.
‘I need to take her away as soon as possible.’
This would be the last time they were apart like this.
From now on, he would never leave Soo Yi alone again.
“…….”
Entering the alley, he caught sight of Soo Yi’s car in the old garage and felt somewhat reassured, moving toward the front door.
But when he rang the bell and knocked, there was no sound of anyone stirring inside.
‘Where could she have gone?’
He immediately called Soo Yi.
He knew well she wouldn’t answer on the first ring, but as expected, the call went through only the tone before disconnecting.
Hyung Jun’s eyes darkened.
Perhaps she’d gone for a brief walk to clear her mind.
Yet given his uncle’s calculated and cunning nature, he might have had people watching without Hyung Jun’s knowledge.
He couldn’t afford to let his guard down for even a moment.
He called the secretary director.
“Director Ma.”
– Yes, sir.
“Has anyone suspicious been loitering around Soo Yi last night?”
– No sir. There was nothing particularly noteworthy to report.
Since the neighborhood was so small and quiet, and Soo Yi had a habit of frequently checking outside for fear her father might appear, he worried she might think the person he’d sent was monitoring her.
So last night, Hyung Jun had instructed Director Ma to watch the area around the house only until morning.
– Should I send the men back?
“I’m heading there now, so send them again from this afternoon. Make sure Soo Yi doesn’t notice anything.”
– Yes, understood.
If his uncle learned that he and Soo Yi had grown distant, he would never let it rest.
He would certainly try to use Soo Yi.
Hyung Jun had no intention of allowing that.
After ending the call, Hyung Jun gazed quietly at the small, pristine white house that was Soo Yi’s.
‘I thought there would never be a reason for An Soo Yi to come here again.’
So he had deliberately neglected to maintain it.
That way, if she happened to drop by, seeing the place in disarray would discourage her from staying, and she’d come back to him.
Yet now, watching Soo Yi remain in a dusty home, regret washed over him that he should have sent someone to clean it properly long ago.
He couldn’t bear for Soo Yi to be even slightly uncomfortable wherever she stayed.
……Or was that wrong?
Perhaps if the house were too clean and cozy, past memories and familiarity would make her reluctant to ever return to him.
Then Hyung Jun’s gaze grew heavy once more.
‘How should I tell her?’
The shock would be severe.
Yet he couldn’t hide it forever.
Yesterday, Hyung Jun had finally found it.
Where Soo Yi’s father was buried.
‘If only I’d found him a little sooner, I might have been able to see his face.’
Tracking An Dong Jin’s movements down to Namhae, Hyung Jun heard from those who frequented the underground gambling dens there.
An Dong Jin was no longer of this world.
According to their testimony, one night a year ago, An Dong Jin, while sitting at a gaming table, suddenly complained of severe headache and collapsed.
The gamblers around him simply thought he’d gotten drunk and fallen asleep, leaving him where he lay.
But when dawn broke, he never opened his eyes again.
He was already dead.
The sudden death threw the illegal gambling den into chaos.
They couldn’t report An Dong Jin’s body to the police—as a man with no family ties—without facing arrest for operating an illegal house and habitual gambling.
Terrified of losing their livelihood and facing punishment, the gamblers ultimately chose to cover up the crime by secretly burying An Dong Jin’s remains in a remote mountain area nearby.
Those present at the scene afterward spread false sightings, claiming An Dong Jin was still alive, to hide the fact that they’d abandoned the body.
Being gamblers who never lingered long in one place, constantly traveling across the country, An Dong Jin—through rumor layered upon rumor—had transformed into a cunning drifter who seemed to appear and vanish across the nation.
But there was something that troubled Hyung Jun.

“It was definitely An Dong Jin! He said he was going to Yeosu to make a big score and then slip out of the country……. But, but he was drunk, I think, when he suddenly said he wouldn’t let the eldest grandson of the Kangho Group off easy. He said he’d definitely take revenge…….”

Hearing these words from someone completely unaware that the man before their eyes was that ‘eldest grandson of the Kangho Group,’ Hyung Jun’s gaze turned to ice.
Someone was impersonating An Dong Jin.
To take revenge on the Kangho Group.
More precisely, on him.
When he hadn’t known An Dong Jin was dead, he’d assumed the man was angry that his daughter had married the grandson of his enemy.
But now that Hyung Jun had confirmed An Dong Jin had died a year ago—
All the facts pointed in one direction.
‘His uncle. Could it be?’
Hyung Jun called Ma Do Hwan again.
“Find Soo Yi’s location right now. Also identify where Dok Go Jin Su and Dok Go Seung Jin are and what they’re doing. Hurry.”
– Yes, sir. By the way, sir—the surveillance team reported one last thing as they withdrew.
“Tell me.”
– This morning, as they were pulling out of the alley, they saw from a distance the car of Pyo Yeon Su, the representative of Seonham Mutual Aid, entering that neighborhood.
“Representative Pyo and his wife?”
– Yes. Their timing was almost like a baton pass—the team left just as they were entering.
Representative Pyo and his wife were among the few people Hyung Jun had permitted to remain by Soo Yi’s side.
The surveillance team, knowing they were Soo Yi’s former workplace superiors and trustworthy adults, had apparently deemed it unremarkable and omitted the report.
But hearing the report—
An ominous premonition began to creep up from deep within Hyung Jun’s chest.
They were people who genuinely cared for Soo Yi.
People who treated and worried over her like family, despite sharing no blood.
Yet…….
Just as his foolish uncle had deceived him and his grandfather, orchestrating a vast scheme behind the scenes—
Could he truly vouch for their innocence?
Moreover, Hyung Jun had recently begun to suspect information was leaking from inside.
The imposter had evaded his pursuit with uncanny precision and lost him far too effectively.
If Soo Yi, unable to contain her frustration, had confided in them—
And if she had mentioned rumors that might serve as a clue to An Dong Jin’s whereabouts—
And if Representative and Mrs. Pyo, hearing this, had passed it on to the man impersonating An Dong Jin…….
Perhaps he was overthinking it.
It might be a phantom born of his own excessive doubt.
Yet Hyung Jun was already issuing instructions to Ma Do Hwan.
“Track the location of Representative and Mrs. Pyo as well.”
Before he’d even finished giving the order, Hyung Jun hung up and immediately called Soo Yi again.
After several rings, Soo Yi’s voice came through.
– ……Hello?
At the sound of Soo Yi’s voice through the phone, Hyung Jun’s wildly racing heart seemed to steady, if only for a moment.
“An Soo Yi, where are you?”
– I just stepped out for a bit.
“With Representative and Mrs. Pyo?”
– How did you know? We’re right now—
Click.
The call cut off abruptly.
Hyung Jun tried calling back urgently, but Soo Yi’s mobile phone was already powered off, the monotone automated voice repeating its message.
“Damn……!”
Hyung Jun got into the car roughly and slammed on the accelerator.
With a roar, the car shot quickly through the alley.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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