Contract Marriage with a Male Friend - Chapter 73

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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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#73

Seeing An Soo Yi collapse, Dok Go Beom Jin took the Bucket that Ma Do Hwan had rushed to bring and poured it directly over his own head.
“Executive!”
Without hesitation, Beom Jin plunged into the inferno, and the bodyguards, dousing themselves with water as well, hurried after him.
From every corner of the high-ceilinged Warehouse, charred debris and heavy structural beams rained down like meteors.
But Beom Jin paid no mind.
Even as flames licked at his back, threatening to devour his flesh, his eyes pursued only the fallen figure of Soo Yi on the ground.
When he finally reached her, cold and motionless on the floor, his heart plummeted.
“Soo Yi, An Soo Yi!”
An Soo Yi, who had collapsed from choking on thick smoke, forced open her heavy eyelids with what little strength remained.
“Beom Jin…….”
She barely whispered his name before her consciousness slipped away entirely.
Beom Jin urgently pressed a water-soaked Handkerchief to her lips, then lifted her into his arms.
The men who followed in behind roughly cleared the collapsing debris, desperately cutting a path to escape.
‘Please, please……!’
Like a man possessed, Beom Jin prayed over and over, carrying Soo Yi through the smoke.
Please let her live.
My life means nothing without you.
There is no reason for me to go on in a world where you don’t exist—he whispered these thoughts endlessly to himself.

***

“Soo Yi.”
Father?
Soo Yi drew near to the man smiling brightly toward her.
“I’m all right now, Father. So you don’t need to visit anymore.”
At those gentle words, her footsteps froze.
“Go back quickly. Someone is waiting for you so very much.”
Who?
I’m truly alone now.
“Our dear Soo Yi, I’m sorry for making you suffer all this time. I should have been at your side, not chasing after sudden riches, just living an ordinary life with my daughter.”
Tears she had held back spilled from her eyes.
‘That’s all I ever wanted.’
I asked for nothing more than that you live beside me, ordinary and simple, even without money.
“But I’m so grateful. Now you have someone beside you who loves our Soo Yi more than life itself.”
Someone who loves me…….
“Live happily, live joyfully, and stay for a long, long time. Don’t come back too soon.”
Her father, dressed in clean clothes, waved gently toward her.
“I’ll be watching over you. I love you, my daughter.”

***

The sharp, acrid sting of disinfectant filled her nostrils as her eyes fluttered open.
Blink. Blink.
Lying beneath the pristine white ceiling of the Hospital, Soo Yi felt the warmth of a hand gripping hers with crushing intensity, and slowly turned her head.
Beyond the Oxygen Mask, she barely drew breath as a low, ragged voice reached her ears.
“……An Soo Yi.”
Her blurred gaze struggled toward the source of the voice.
The moment his eyes met hers, Beom Jin—whose eyes were red and raw from weeping—drew in a sharp breath.
“I…… you, you…….”
Unable to finish, Beom Jin pressed his forehead to the back of her hand.
“No, that’s not important right now. We’ve caught Pyo Yeon Su and O Sang Chul. You can rest easy. I won’t let you be in danger ever again. I promise.”
She wanted to call his name, but pain bloomed in her throat and she had no voice.
Instead, Soo Yi squeezed the hand that held hers as tightly as she could.
When he lifted his head, a transparent tear fell from his eye with a soft tap.
“I love you. From now on, I’ll never leave you. Even if you tell me to.”
Despite his firm tone, Soo Yi saw how desperately he awaited her response, and gave a faint smile.
‘I love you too.’
She answered with her eyes and gave a small nod.
At her response, Beom Jin bowed his head, pressing his forehead to her hand.
Feeling the hot tears falling one by one onto the back of her hand, Soo Yi slowly closed her eyes.
The flames that had burned so fiercely around them were beginning to fade.

***

After her discharge from the Hospital and recovery, the first place Soo Yi and Beom Jin visited together was the hillside where her father was buried.
On a sun-drenched slope overlooking the blue sea, her father’s grave lay in neat repose.
“Are you all right? Not tired?”
“How many times are you going to ask me that?”
Yet Beom Jin’s eyes still held their worried gleam.
Ever since the day of her Hospital discharge, Beom Jin had taken leave and never strayed even a second from Soo Yi’s side.
Not only did he personally ensure she ate three meals a day, spoon-feeding her with his own hands, but he remained like a shadow when she bathed and when she slept.

“Shouldn’t you go back to the company?”
“I’ve already explained. Grandfather told me to focus only on your recovery. So don’t even think of kicking me out, all right?”

Whenever Soo Yi insisted she was fine and begged him to return to work, Beom Jin would lower his eyes mournfully and plead to be allowed to stay. In the end, she had no choice but to surrender her body to his care.
‘I think I’ve only gone to the restroom alone since he came into my life.’
Even then, if she stumbled even slightly, Beom Jin would dash over and scoop her up in his arms before she could take another step.
“If you feel even a little tired, tell me right away. Don’t hold it in, all right?”
“I will.”
Smiling, Soo Yi leaned against Beom Jin and gazed upon the grave.
“……Father.”
Her throat tightened, and Beom Jin wrapped his arm around her shoulders, comforting her.
“I wish I had found you sooner. Please…… rest in peace. I won’t worry you.”
“I will cherish Soo Yi well for all my life, sir.”
The tears that had gathered were quick to dry, but at Beom Jin’s formal address, color bloomed softly across her cheeks.
“What is this, really…….”
“It’s only right, sir.”
Beom Jin interlaced his fingers with hers as he spoke.
“I’ve cared for you from long ago. I fell for you at first sight and ran away from home because of it.”
Beom Jin continued without a shred of embarrassment.
“I do resent that you were left alone, but I will do all the better for it. I won’t let you feel his absence.”
“……You’re already doing that.”
At her shy murmur, a happy smile bloomed across his lips.
“Thank you for taking me. I’ll be good to you for life.”
At his words, Soo Yi caught her lower lip between her teeth.
A man who possessed everything, yet he endured all of this—for her alone.
Learning only now that the reason Beom Jin’s business trips had been so frequent was because he had been searching the entire country for traces of her father, finally tracking down his remains, Soo Yi wept openly.
That must be why Father came to her in dreams, putting her mind at ease.
Telling her never to let go of someone who loved her so deeply.
Saying now the two of them should live happily and without worry.
Soo Yi gripped Beom Jin’s steady hand even more tightly.
“Grandfather seems to be entrusting a new business venture to us.”
Beom Jin added, bringing her hand to his lips.
“To the two of us.”
“……To me?”
“He said there’s no one as suited as Team Lead An Soo Yi. It seems he wants to atone in his own way.”
Through Beom Jin, Soo Yi had learned the full story.
Though Dok Go Hyung Jun was the ultimate authority, the shameful Processing of her father had been carried out by his subordinates and by his second son, Dok Go Jin Su.
“He said he wants to meet you in person and ask for your forgiveness.”
That proud and arrogant Dok Go Hyung Jun asking for forgiveness…….
“But if your heart isn’t ready, you don’t have to accept. Forgiveness forced is no true forgiveness.”
“Would he…… accept me?”
At Soo Yi’s worried expression, Beom Jin spoke softly.
“Your uncle will be removed very soon. He’ll never set foot in the group again for the rest of his life. Neither will his family.”
When Soo Yi’s eyes widened, Beom Jin carefully wiped her cheek and reassured her.
“Don’t worry. That’s just the surface. Grandfather said he’ll make sure they pay a true price for their sins.”
Incensed that anyone would lay a hand on what he considered his family, Dok Go Hyung Jun had resolved to cut his second son, Dok Go Jin Su, off completely.
“But…… still…….”
“Grandfather is actually worried the opposite way—whether you’ll accept him. Whether in this life he’ll be called Grandfather by you.”
Soo Yi covered her trembling lips with her hand.
I really do have a family now…….
“I’ll be by your side for all my life. I’ll be your husband, your friend. I’ll be your father, your brother, your mother—everything. So please, don’t ever leave me.”
At his confession, Soo Yi nodded through her tears.
Beom Jin held her close in his embrace.
Even long after her weeping ceased.
The two, sharing their warmth, gazed at each other with smiles.
“Father, I’ll visit again soon.”
Soo Yi bowed her head respectfully to her father’s grave, eyes still wet.
“And someday, it might not be just the two of us. Maybe three, or four.”
“What do you…… what are you saying?”
“……Never mind. Figure it out yourself.”
As Soo Yi, flushed with embarrassment, averted her gaze, Beom Jin stared in stunned silence before suddenly wrapping his arms around her and lifting her high into the air.
“Ahhh, too high! I’m scared!”
“I’ll do my best, darling. Whatever our darling wants, I’ll give it all I’ve got.”
“Lower your voice, this is embarrassing!”
Soo Yi’s cry and Beom Jin’s laughter rang out long and clear beneath the bright sky.
Blossoms blooming near the grave swayed gently as the breeze brushed against them.
It was a day of warm sunlight.
-Thank you.-

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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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