Impossible Romance - Chapter 62

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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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62.

[I’m leaving. Please don’t look for me, and be happy.]

There was no recipient or sender listed, yet it was unmistakably clear who was writing to whom.
“Why! Why on earth?”
Kwon Seok-ha cried out loudly to no one in particular. Then he struck his own chest with his fists, again and again. Overwhelming emotion surged from within, stealing his breath away.
“Haah….”
Kwon Seok-ha breathed heavily and raggedly, as though he had forgotten how to draw air into his lungs.
“No. It can’t be. You wouldn’t leave me behind.”
He could not accept the reality before him. Kwon Seok-ha’s eyes slowly closed as he collapsed into the chair. His legs had lost all strength; he could no longer stand.

***

After getting off the bus, I boarded a ferry. I had heard the ferry to the Island only ran twice a day, and even then, it wouldn’t operate if the weather turned bad.
In that sense, I was fortunate today. I hadn’t had time to properly rehearse my plan, yet everything fell into place seamlessly.
The name change request had been approved faster than expected, and the timing of receiving my new identification card was equally fortunate. As though my past misfortunes were repaying me now, luck poured down upon me.
I had prepared meticulously from the day I decided to leave Kwon Seok-ha. And I executed the plan while he was away on an extended business trip.
I took a few days of vacation instead of submitting my resignation immediately, since Kwon Seok-ha would surely find out if I officially quit. Eventually it would become unauthorized absence, but no one would know I had left by the time he returned. I had removed every trace of my belongings from the apartment.
‘Will it only end when I’m dead?’
When I heard that my mother and brother were demanding money from Kwon Seok-ha, I wanted to die from the shame of it all. The family I should have cherished felt like a noose tightening around my living, breathing self.
Each day felt unbearable, as though death alone could end the pain. But I couldn’t die. I wanted to place my hope in life one more time. And so I chose to run away.
I sent a message to my mother and brother telling them never to look for me again, that I was leaving Korea. I even took legal measures to prevent them from accessing my personal information, no matter how much they were family. Still anxious, I changed my name as well. It cost money, but hiring a lawyer turned out to be a wise choice.
‘Was this the right decision?’
My wavering heart occasionally questioned itself, remembering the comfort of the past. Perhaps if I just endured a little longer, everything would be fine?
But once I realized that my unhappiness was also touching Kwon Seok-ha, I couldn’t stay still. Just as Han Seon-young had said, I couldn’t be the one holding him back.

“Do you really have to hold our Seok-ha back like this?”

Even now, Han Seon-young’s words stung as though she were speaking right beside me. So this was the right decision. Now, cutting ties with the past and running away, my heart felt lighter.
As the ferry moved forward, the Blue Sea churned white foam in its wake. Kwon Seok-ha’s face appeared in my mind, as it always did.
A person I missed. A person I was grateful for.
He absolutely had to live happily.
My nose stung as tears threatened to fall again, but I held them back with all my strength. I was doing the best thing I could for him right now, so I couldn’t cry.
He would finally be truly happy.

***

Seok-ha hadn’t slept a wink the previous night. Rather, he’d spent the entire night wandering from place to place, living through it as though it were daylight—so it would be more accurate to say he’d forgotten what night even was.
Hwang Manager, who’d been dragged out early that morning in consequence, looked equally haggard. He’d been hoping to rest over the weekend after a grueling business trip, but when he heard that Jun-hee had disappeared, he couldn’t remain idle.
With dark circles descended nearly to his jawline, he arrived at the table carrying a coffee with an extra espresso shot. The cafe in the Company Lobby was empty at this early weekend hour.
“Please drink this. I asked them to make it strong enough to be poison.”
Seok-ha watched Hwang Manager, then drank the coffee he offered without hesitation. Despite the three extra espresso shots, he didn’t even flinch—it was clear his mind had checked out entirely.
After finishing the coffee, Seok-ha set the cup down on the table and studied Hwang Manager. No matter how busy he normally was, he always maintained perfect composure, yet now he looked far worse than during those nights of overtime work.
“You delivered the full details to Kang?”
Kang referred to Kang Choong-sik, the company’s legal counsel. Before reporting directly to the Police, Seok-ha had instructed Kang to handle all matters related to Jun-hee through proper channels. He was worried something disadvantageous might happen to her.
Since reporters from the social and economic desk were always lurking around the Police Station, it wouldn’t have been wise for Seok-ha to go there directly. Of course, this was Hwang Manager’s suggestion, and Seok-ha had no choice but to follow it.
“Yes.”
“Any news?”
“The Police refused to file a missing persons report, naturally. They figured she’s an adult who probably just left after arguing with you—that’s the impression I got. Of course, they don’t know you’re the Executive Director.”
Hwang Manager gave a brief report of the past few hours’ developments.
Since Seok-ha had no legal relationship to Jun-hee and she was already an adult, a missing persons report couldn’t be filed just because she’d been away for a day or two.
“They’re also looking into the immigration records you mentioned. Since they can’t request it directly from the Ministry of Justice, they’re exploring alternative channels. However, they did manage to find information about her card transactions and airline ticket purchases through indirect means…”
When Hwang Manager trailed off, Seok-ha lifted his head anxiously. His face, roughened overnight, bore the shadow of stubble that had begun to grow in.
“But what?”
“She did purchase an airline ticket, but we can’t confirm whether she actually left the country. As I mentioned, it’s difficult to check immigration records without proper justification. It will take time. What is certain, though, is that Jun-hee left without your knowledge—in other words.”
Hwang Manager chose his words carefully, watching Seok-ha’s expression.
This man had never looked so dejected in any serious situation before, which made him all the more concerned. And he was usually the type to bulldoze through frustrating matters, yet now he seemed half-absent from reality.
“So she left me. Because she dislikes me? Is that what you’re saying?”
Seok-ha lifted his head, gazing into the distance before exhaling a long, pained breath.
“I can’t say whether she dislikes you, but it does seem certain that she left of her own volition rather than due to any accident or incident.”
Having finished speaking, Hwang Manager wore an awkward expression. He’d unconsciously stated only the facts. Yet offering comfort in this situation where Jun-hee had vanished felt inappropriate, and he had nothing else to say.
“Hah, I see. That’s possible. But how did the Secretary’s Office not notice?”
Seok-ha spoke in a hollow murmur and clenched his fist.
“According to Park Deputy, she simply took a vacation. Since you and I were away on business, the Secretary’s Office was swamped. They were annoyed that she took time off, but they were too busy to pay it much mind.”
“So starting tomorrow, it would technically be an unauthorized absence.”
“Since she didn’t submit a formal resignation, that’s correct.”
Hwang Manager nodded in agreement. Had she submitted a formal resignation, Seok-ha would have inevitably learned of it through some channel, even while overseas.
So Jun-hee had wanted to leave Seok-ha. And she’d wanted to do it in secret.
Though the two men hadn’t explicitly discussed it, they’d arrived at that conclusion nonetheless. When Hwang Manager glanced at Seok-ha, his complexion had become extremely pallid.
He was thinking he should take Seok-ha to the Hospital for rest when Seok-ha’s eyes suddenly gleamed. Following his gaze, Hwang Manager turned to see Lee Sook-hyun and Ahn Jun-young standing at the cafe entrance.
“They’ve arrived.”
Hwang Manager spoke upon seeing the two of them.
“Bring them here, and you stay nearby.”
At Seok-ha’s instruction, Hwang Manager guided the two over and withdrew to a distance.
Lee Sook-hyun and Ahn Jun-young looked considerably better than the last time he’d seen them. Dressed in evidently expensive clothing, the two of them smiled broadly and sat before Seok-ha.
“Hello, Executive Director. It’s even nicer to see you here.”
Lee Sook-hyun looked around the cafe with exaggerated enthusiasm. Previously, she’d been too concerned about Jun-hee to even approach the Company area, but now that she was actually inside the Company Building itself, she felt emboldened.
“Yes.”
Seok-ha answered curtly. This was no time for pleasantries or small talk.
“But what brings you to call on a weekend? Of course, whenever the Executive Director summons us, we drop everything and come running.”
His voice was surprisingly cheerful and bright for someone whose daughter had vanished.

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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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