Impossible Romance - Chapter 79

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

79.

“Everyone, stop!”
That was when Hwang Manager and the police officers came rushing from nearby. Behind them, two police cars wailed their sirens as they approached. It was an unprecedented response for this Island Village.
“No, no… what do I do? It’s because of me… Seok-ha, what do I do? Please… God, please save my brother!”
Jun-hee wept uncontrollably while holding Seok-ha. She couldn’t bear to let him slip from her grasp for even a moment, terrified he might slip away.
Jun-hee prayed desperately for Seok-ha’s recovery, begging forgiveness for every sin she’d ever committed. Sobbing, she prayed fervently, afraid that some unknown transgression might cause him harm.
Seok-ha pressed his hand against the knife wound, enduring the agony as he lay cradled in Jun-hee’s small embrace. Though his body screamed in pain, a faint smile escaped his lips at the feeling of her holding him so tightly.
“Executive Director! Are you alright?”
Hwang Manager, alarmed, examined Seok-ha and immediately called for emergency services. With only a small health clinic on the island, he requested helicopter transport, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Park Dong-gil, who had been dragging Jun-hee away, sighed heavily upon seeing the arriving police officers. He realized the situation was already over before it had truly begun.
He hadn’t anticipated that someone would actively help Jun-hee simply because she was a stranger to the island—a critical miscalculation. With this madman suddenly appearing and risking his life, and now the police arriving, everything was ruined.
Seok-ha’s subordinate, who had been cowering in fear, immediately fled. Two police officers chased after him. There was no point in trying to escape from this island anyway.
“You’re under arrest for assault, kidnapping, and attempted unlawful confinement. You have the right to remain silent and the right to retain a lawyer. Damn it. What is this doing in such a peaceful neighborhood!”
The officer, irritated, apprehended Park Dong-gil and placed him in the police car. He seemed offended that a crime report had suddenly surfaced in such a peaceful community.
With the fleeing thug and the bleeding man on the ground both arrested, the criminal situation was brought under control.
It was naturally Hwang Manager who had called the police. Following Seok-ha out of the office, he’d sensed something was terribly wrong and immediately made the call.
“When will the helicopter arrive?”
Jun-hee asked Hwang Manager, her face drained of all color.
“It should be here soon.”
Hwang Manager’s worry was evident on his face.
“Jun-hee…”
Seok-ha called to her softly.
“Yes, are you conscious? I’m here! I’m right here!”
“I have… a request…”
Seok-ha spoke in a voice drained of all strength.
“Anything, anything. What is it? Tell me?”
Jun-hee trembled as she spoke, terrified something might happen to him. She felt as though she’d caused him so much suffering, as though she’d never properly shown him her heart, and everything felt like an apology.
“When I recover… let’s get married.”
“Married?”
Jun-hee paused in confusion, repeating his words. Marriage? In a life-or-death situation like this? Was he really saying that? She worried he might have injured his head as well as his body.
“Do you hate it?”
Seok-ha asked with difficulty, his brow furrowed in pain.
“No! I love it! I’ll marry you, Seok-ha. So please, just get better!”
“You promised.”
“Yes! Of course. Just recover. Don’t think about anything else.”
Jun-hee nodded, wiping away her tears. Her eyes glistened with tears, her cheeks swollen from crying, her pale lips trembling—she looked even more broken than Seok-ha.
“Yes. You promised.”
Seok-ha stroked Jun-hee’s back, then his eyes met Hwang Manager’s. A satisfied smile lingered on the face of a man who looked as though he might collapse at any moment.
A flicker of doubt crossed Hwang Manager’s eyes as he observed Seok-ha. Now that he thought about it, the wound wasn’t particularly visible, and the crimson bloodstain smeared across the shirt seemed to belong to the massive man who had collapsed earlier, not to Seok-ha himself.
A helicopter arrived moments later. Emergency medical personnel and paramedics loaded Kwon Seok-ha onto a stretcher and transferred him to the aircraft.
Jun-hee watched the scene with tear-filled eyes, her heart clenching with anxiety.

***

Jun-hee was aboard a boat with Hwang Manager. As the vessel cut through the azure waters, countless thoughts churned through her mind.
Fortunately, the Seonjin Group operated a hospital in this province. Seok-ha, transported by emergency helicopter, was immediately taken for treatment. The doctors confirmed that his wounds weren’t deep and posed no threat to his life.
Upon hearing this news through Hwang Manager, I could finally breathe properly. Watching Seok-ha, who wouldn’t spare his own life for my sake, I felt only gratitude and remorse.
Moments ago, when I thought he might disappear from this world, I felt as though I were dying. Only now did I realize that without Seok-ha, there was no reason to live.
I had left him to avoid causing him harm, but there were other reasons too. I didn’t want to show the man I loved only my inadequate self for the rest of our lives.
I wished to show him a harmonious, loving family, even if we weren’t particularly accomplished. But my family fell far short of that ideal. So I understood Han Seon-young’s opposition.
Still, I found it difficult to endure the humiliation Han Seon-young inflicted. I hated my family’s torment, and ultimately, I despised myself for always becoming subordinate before Seok-ha.
But watching Seok-ha changed my heart.
What did it matter if I were always subordinate before him? He was the person I loved.
I resolved no longer to avoid the torment of my family or Han Seon-young’s insults.
I would protect Seok-ha from such people and love him even more. Even if I couldn’t match what he did for me, I would grow more confident thinking of him. I steeled my resolve.
Gazing at the blue sky and the endless sea, I vowed to live happily with Seok-ha, to hide no longer.

Before long, the boat reached the mainland. After disembarking, I traveled by car with Hwang Manager to the VIP room at Seonjin Hospital to see Seok-ha.
“Please don’t worry too much. You’ll fall ill yourself, Miss Jun-hee.”
Hwang Manager spoke quietly as he walked toward the hospital room.
“Yes. He needs to recover quickly.”
I walked slowly, gently biting my lip. Though they said his life wasn’t in danger, I couldn’t feel at ease until I saw his face.
After exiting the elevator and passing through a pristine gray corridor, I entered the VIP ward, distinctly different from ordinary hospital rooms. Standing before the largest room, Hwang Manager grasped the handle and looked at me.
“Please go in first. I’ve been instructed to enter later.”
“Why?”
“Who knows? Does he have something to discuss with you alone, Miss Jun-hee?”
Hwang Manager chuckled quietly, his face brimming with amusement.
Since Seok-ha was the heir to the Seonjin Group, they had rushed him via the hospital’s helicopter. Yet he appeared remarkably unscathed. That was fortunate, but Hwang Manager sensed there was something cunning beneath the surface.
“Yes.”
I nodded without understanding. Either way, I was eager to see Seok-ha quickly.
Hwang Manager knocked lightly and immediately opened the door. As he stepped back, I entered the hospital room.
Click.
The moment the door closed and I saw Seok-ha standing by the window, I ran toward him. I knew logically that running in a hospital room was improper, but I found myself rushing to him without thinking.
“Are you alright, Executive Director?”
“You said ‘older brother’ just now.”
For someone who had been stabbed, Seok-ha looked remarkably fine. The fact that he was even joking about the form of address suggested he was in good spirits.
“Yes. It doesn’t matter if you’re my older brother or anything else. How’s your body?”
I became distressed seeing the bandages wrapped around his torso beneath and over his patient gown.
“It hurts quite a bit, doesn’t it? What should we do about this?”
“It’s just a graze. You know me, Brother. Something like that is nothing.”
He twisted one corner of his mouth into a wry smile, his expression almost mocking. Jun-hee was worried that she’d been startled because of him, but part of him felt a secret joy at her concern.
In truth, the blade hadn’t cut deeply. When Park Dong-gil rushed at him from behind, Jun-hee’s cry had given him just enough time to dodge slightly. His natural athleticism had played its part as well.
Still, being stabbed was being stabbed—instinct had overridden reason. In that moment, his only thought had been to save Jun-hee.
“I really do seem to be lucky.”
After all, I’d even received her acceptance of my proposal.
“Are you really saying that now?”
Jun-hee glared at Seok-ha after confirming he was unharmed.
Seok-ha laughed and cupped her cheeks in both hands, lifting her face toward his.
“You know you can’t run away from me now, right?”
“Mm-hmm. I’m not going anywhere without you, Brother.”
Jun-hee looked at him and nodded slowly. Then, rising onto her tiptoes, she pressed her lips against his.

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