Impossible Romance - Chapter 61

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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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61.

Days blurred together in relentless succession. Autumn had slipped away, and winter’s threshold had been crossed before I knew it—Christmas now loomed just ahead. News reports warned of an unusually severe cold snap expected that winter.
Kwon Seok-ha, having just disembarked from the aircraft and completed immigration procedures, turned up the collar of his coat slightly. Though the outside air was frigid, the airport terminal itself wasn’t cold enough to justify the unpleasant chill creeping down his neck.
In that moment, Jun-hee came to mind.
‘Is something wrong with Jun-hee?’
The sudden thought of her unsettled him. Yet he quickly steadied himself—even amid his busiest days, Jun-hee was always on his mind, so this was nothing extraordinary.
He attributed it to fatigue accumulated from shuttling between Europe and the United States, working relentlessly, and walked toward the exit.
With each long stride, the burgundy coat’s hem swayed elegantly. Despite the grueling flight, he exuded composure and confidence rather than exhaustion. Hwang Manager walked beside him.
Having exited through the business-exclusive gate, Kwon Seok-ha offered a light greeting to his accompanying staff. Most were operational personnel, though several company executives were included.
“Everyone worked hard. Enjoy your weekend, and let’s continue our meetings on Monday.”
After giving them a brief briefing and final instructions, he headed outside. Despite the grueling schedule, everyone wore smiles—the project results had been excellent.
The project Kwon Seok-ha had been focusing on lately was offshore wind power generation. It was an eco-friendly energy initiative that had garnered attention for several years. Since the government had designated it as a strategic industry, securing private business rights was his objective.
Always moving one step ahead, Kwon Seok-ha had maintained close relationships with both domestic and international developers for years to achieve this goal.
This time, he had struggled to secure exclusive technology rights related to submarine cables. The results had been promising.
Once this project concluded, Kwon Seok-ha intended to formally propose to Jun-hee. Since it was a major undertaking for Seonjin Group, success would solidify his position further.
After putting his own affairs and surroundings in order, he planned to ask Jun-hee to spend her life with him. He believed this was the right timing to hold her close before she could flee due to unnecessary worries—Jun-hee was always cautious about such matters.
After parting with his staff and stepping outside, the waiting Driver opened the car door. Before getting in, Kwon Seok-ha glanced at Hwang Manager.
“Please get home safely.”
Hwang Manager bowed. The extended business trip must have exhausted him as well, yet as Secretary Director, he had attended to Kwon Seok-ha’s needs with meticulous care.
“You did well. See you Monday.”
Kwon Seok-ha nodded and got into the car, instructing the Driver to depart. As the vehicle slowly pulled away, he finally relaxed, loosening his tie slightly with a sense of relief.
“Ah…”
Exhaling languidly, he pulled out his phone and immediately searched for Jun-hee’s contact. At this very moment, he longed to see her desperately. After spending every day together, being apart for roughly ten days made both body and heart ache with anticipation. The thought that he no longer wanted to be separated from her even for a single day brought a smile to his lips.
Suppressing his excitement, he pressed the call button. But moments later, an automated message informed him that the phone was powered off.
‘Perhaps she’s sleeping.’
Outside, the sun had set and night was deepening. Though it wasn’t terribly late, it wasn’t Jun-hee’s usual bedtime. When they’d exchanged messages as he left New York, she’d said she’d come pick him up at the airport.
An inexplicable unease settled in his chest. He’d told her not to trouble herself because he knew she was tired, but now he regretted not insisting she come anyway.
‘No, she must be exhausted and needs rest.’
Perhaps today’s work had been demanding, and she’d collapsed into bed the moment she arrived home. There must have been considerable matters for the Secretary’s Office to handle while he was away in New York.
Kwon Seok-ha placed his palm over his heart, just above his jacket. Confirming that the gift he’d purchased from a jeweler in New York for Jun-hee was safely nestled in his inner pocket, he felt somewhat reassured.
Beside him lay an elaborate bouquet that he’d had Kim prepare in advance. He would have preferred to buy flowers himself, but his schedule hadn’t permitted it. Purchasing flowers and going home would only delay seeing Jun-hee further.
His Grandfather’s approval was all but secured. Before leaving on the business trip, he’d mentioned having found a woman he cared for, and his Grandfather had simply smiled and asked him to bring her next time. It meant his Grandfather was granting him the choice in marriage.
His Father would raise no objections to anything his Grandfather approved of, so that would be fine. And his Mother had shown no particular opposition recently.
Since he and Jun-hee had already discussed marriage, it wouldn’t be long before it became reality. So there was no need to feel slighted over being thirty minutes late.
Kwon Seok-ha steadied his anxious heart by looking at the gift and bouquet in his jacket. However, when Kim pulled into the parking lot, his forced patience finally crumbled. It was only natural—this was the longest he’d gone without seeing Jun-hee since they’d begun their relationship.
The moment he exchanged greetings with Kim, he practically sprinted toward the elevator. The usually swift elevator felt agonizingly slow today. From rushing into it to stepping out before the entrance, it felt as though hours had passed.
He considered ringing the doorbell but, not wanting to wake Jun-hee if she was sleeping, he entered the security code at the entrance door instead. As he’d half-expected, the apartment was silent—Jun-hee was indeed asleep.
Or rather, the silence felt almost desolate. In all the time living with Jun-hee, he’d never experienced such quietness. The emptiness was so profound, even a chill seemed to permeate the air, raising goosebumps on the back of his neck.
Seok-ha pressed down the anxiety rising from deep within his heart and made his way to Jun-hee’s room. He reached for the handle to open it, but then thought better of it—he’d surely hear about it from Jun-hee later—so he knocked first instead.
Knock, knock.
But there was no sound from within. Jun-hee must have known he was coming home today, yet perhaps the day had been too exhausting for her.
Yet rather than disappointment, an ominous premonition crept across the nape of his neck. Just as it had when he’d stepped off the airplane earlier, goosebumps rose along his skin.
Seok-ha gently touched the small gift box close to his heart, then slowly opened the door. In his other hand, he held a magnificent bouquet of roses.
“…!”
The room was desolate. Jun-hee, who should have been lying asleep on the bed, was nowhere to be seen. The bedding was arranged so neatly, as though she had gone on a trip.
Seok-ha’s heart began to race violently. He set the bouquet he’d been holding on the nightstand beside the bed and stepped into the living room.
Of course, Jun-hee wasn’t in the living room either. He checked the kitchen and opened the bathroom door. Just to be sure, he even went to his own room, but Jun-hee was nowhere to be found.
“Where could she have gone? Did she go to the convenience store?”
He grasped at reasons to suppress his growing anxiety. His mouth had gone dry with tension. On a hunch, he called her, but her phone remained off.
“Why am I so uneasy?”
Seok-ha, who rarely grew tense, found himself thinking back to four years ago, his heart constricting. But back then, he’d been reassigned to the United States, and he and Jun-hee hadn’t even been dating. In a way, their timing had simply been misaligned.
Yet strangely, just as it had been then—or perhaps even more so—an ominous premonition weighed heavily on his chest.
Seok-ha, who had been sitting on the sofa waiting for Jun-hee, rose from his seat once more. He felt he should search the apartment more thoroughly, and if he still couldn’t find her, he would have to call the police.
Returning to Jun-hee’s room, Seok-ha began to examine it carefully and methodically this time. The bedding was indeed far too neat. Now that he looked, the vanity was equally pristine. In fact, there wasn’t a single cosmetic left—as though nothing had ever been there at all. Even the laptop she treasured was gone.
When Seok-ha opened the wardrobe, a hollow breath escaped his lips. Among the empty hangers, Jun-hee’s clothes were nowhere to be seen. Only the clothes he had bought for her remained.
“Ha…, ha….”
Ragged breathing poured from his mouth. Seok-ha looked at the vanity again with a distorted expression. He hadn’t noticed it before, but there was an envelope in front of a small container that had originally been there.
He hastily opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. On the white stationery, written in neat handwriting that resembled Jun-hee’s own, were two concise sentences.

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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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