LOGINSarang’s Pov The next couple of days, I did my best to avoid the people trying to control my life. Minjae had attempted to explain himself, saying he was only worried about me, but I hadn’t forgiven him yet. His concern didn’t change the fact that he had overstepped, made choices on my behalf, and acted as if he knew what was best for me when he didn’t understand the weight of my pain. All I wanted was to complete my studies, get a decent job, and leave this city behind. I longed to go far away, somewhere Zayren wouldn’t exist in my world anymore... somewhere his name, his presence, wouldn’t suffocate me at every turn. But more than anything, I wanted my mother to wake up. Because I couldn’t live like this. I was dying slowly, every single day, and I didn’t even have enough courage to lie to myself and pretend that I was fine. Because I wasn’t. How could I be fine when I couldn’t even sleep at night? When, every time I closed my eyes, I was haunted by the memories of him... of the
Sarang’s POV “For my pregnancy.” She placed a hand on her stomach and looked up at me with a smug expression. “It’s been more than two months.” I took a shaky step back. Jiyeon chuckled. I stumbled back, feeling the blood drain from my face. My heart pounded painfully in my chest, but my body felt numb. Two months…. Two. Months. That meant… I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, trying to steady my breathing, but the weight of her words crashed down on me like a brutal wave. Zayren had been cheating on me long before... maybe even before he took my innocence. The thought made my skin crawl, a sickening wave of disgust washing over me. How could he and Jiyeon feel no shame, no regret for what they did to me? I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms, but I refused to let my emotions spill in front of her. I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. Jiyeon’s lips curled into a smirk as she took a step closer. “Shocked?” she asked sweetly. “You shouldn’t be. After al
Sarang's Pov “Don’t call me that,” I gritted out. Zayren chuckled under his breath, stepping toward me like a predator enjoying the chase. “Why not? You didn’t mind when I used to say it before.” “Before?” I let out a humorless laugh. “Before you cheated on me? Before you married someone else?” His smirk didn’t falter, but there was something darker lurking beneath it. “I don’t belong to you anymore, Zayren,” I spat, my voice shaking. “Stay the hell away from me. And from my mom.” I spun on my heel, my hands shaking as I made my way to the nurse’s station. They would know. They would make sure he never set foot in that room again. I would make damn sure of it. The moment we stepped out of the hospital, the cold evening air biting at my skin, I turned to face him. “Don’t you ever show your face to me again,” I seethed, my entire body trembling. “You are married. You have no right to be here, to talk to my mom, to act like you still care.” His jaw tightened. For a moment,
Zayren’s POV The office felt suffocating, the air thick with something I couldn’t name. Restlessness? Regret? Maybe both. The screen of my phone glowed in the dim light, the latest pictures of Sarang staring back at me, burning into my mind like a cruel reminder of what I had lost. She looked… different. Changed in a way that made my chest tighten, my fingers curling into a fist against the desk. Her long hair was gone, cut to her shoulders, sharp and effortless, a contrast to the soft waves she used to have. The glasses that used to slip down her nose were nowhere in sight. She was thinner... too thin... but her presence, the way she carried herself, was colder. More distant. There was something hollow in her eyes, something unreadable, but it wasn’t weakness. No, if anything, she looked untouchable, as if she had locked herself behind walls so high no one could break through. Not even me. And yet, the thing that made my blood simmer beneath my skin wasn’t her transformation.
Sarang’s Pov The evening air was cool, carrying the distant hum of city life beyond the quiet space Minjae and I occupied. We sat side by side, the remains of our coffee cups resting on the table between us. The golden hues of the setting sun cast long shadows, stretching across the pavement as I finally found the courage to speak. “I’ve decided to see my mom,” I said, my voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside me. Minjae turned to me immediately, his expression shifting from casual to something softer... something almost relieved. His lips parted slightly as if he wasn’t sure he had heard me right. “Really?” he asked, his eyes searching mine. I nodded once. “Yes.” A slow smile broke across his face, and for the first time in a long time, it wasn’t teasing or smug. It was genuine. Warm. Like he was proud of me. His fingers wrapped around my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “That’s good, Sarang,” he said, squeezing lightly. “She’ll be happy to see you.” I swallowed the
Sarang’s POV The scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries clung to the air, mingling with the low hum of chatter and the occasional clatter of dishes. The morning rush had ended, leaving only a few customers lingering in the cafe... students hunched over textbooks, an elderly couple sharing a pastry, and a pair of girls whispering about someone’s love life like it was breaking news. I wiped down the counter, my expression blank, moving on autopilot. It had become routine... wake up, work, ignore everything that hurt, repeat. “Sarang,” Minjae’s voice cut through the air, teasing. “You’re scaring the customers again.” I didn’t look up. “Good.” He sighed dramatically, leaning over the counter like he had all the time in the world. “You know, most people who work in customer service at least pretend to be friendly.” I met his gaze, deadpan. “I’m not most people.” “Clearly.” He smirked, tapping his fingers against the counter. “Do you ever think about smiling?” I turned away







