The scene begins with Jaeahn staring at a photograph of a boy, looking deeply confused.
"Where have I seen him before? I know this face… but why can't I remember?" she whispers to herself, frustration tightening her voice.
Just then—
Ding Dong…
The sudden sound of the doorbell makes Jaeahn jump like a startled child. She was so lost in her thoughts that the noise shocks her.
"Seriously?? Who is it now, at this hour?"
She mutters angrily to herself while walking toward the door.
"It's definitely not Do Hwan… he said he had work. And Jongsuk…"
Her voice lowers, bitter and trembling,
"Why am I even saying his name? I don't want to talk to that… mother—f… How could he talk to me like that?"
She opens the door.
It's Jongsuk.
He is crying like a child, eyes swollen.
"Please… forgive me. I lost control. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" he begs.
Jaeahn looks at him with cold, broken eyes—
And closes the door right in his face.
She leans against the wall, struggling not to cry.
She tries to sleep but can't. Her body is weak, dizzy, and her mind tormented by nightmares.
---
Morning
Do Hwan calls her.
They must go find information about Hyejin's boss.
In the parking area, Do Hwan notices the silence.
"Why are you two not talking? What happened?" he asks.
"Nothing." Jongsuk answers quickly.
Jaeahn ignores him and speaks sharply,
"Let's go. We have work."
At the office, Jaeahn grabs Hyejin's phone and laptop. Inside the car, she texts Hyejin's boss—but shockingly, he calls her first.
Without hesitation she answers.
"I'll send you an address. Come alone," the man says.
They arrive at an abandoned site, where Hyejin's boss is waiting with his men.
The moment Jaeahn steps in, a voice shouts:
"Kill them all!"
Jaeahn smirks,
"If you wanted to kill us, you wouldn't have called us here."
"But I want to," the boss replies.
A fight breaks out.
They fight fiercely, defeating many attackers—until someone throws a knife directly at Jongsuk.
Without thinking, Jaeahn jumps in front of him, catching the blade with her hand and shoulder. Blood pours, but she doesn't stop. She continues fighting brutally until she knocks out the boss with a single punch.
---
Hospital
Everyone is shocked to see the boss lying unconscious—he is just a young boy.
Jaeahn sits on the hospital bed, injured and stitched near her neck and arm. Jongsuk tries to help, but she refuses to speak to him.
The boy wakes up.
Jaeahn looks at him with sarcasm.
"Hey… are you Hyejin's boss? What's your name, little boy?"
"Eunwoo…" he whispers.
"Are you still in high school?" Jaeahn asks eunwoo.
"No! I'm twenty!" he replies angrily.
"Oh then we're the same age," she smiles.
Do Hwan asks, "How did you kill Hyejin? And your voice on the phone sounded different."
Eunwoo shakes his head.
"I used a voice changer. And I didn't kill her. I only witnessed it. They threatened me. I gave information to Hyejin… I worked under them… but I never wanted this."
Tears flood his eyes.
they kidnapped my sister
and forced me to do this
"Please help me. I know who murdered Hyejin. One of the men you fought—he took orders from someone higher. They used me and now they want me dead."
Jaeahn replies seriously,
"So you're the only witness. Now how could I know who the real mastermind is."
Then she stands.
"Enough for today. Let's get dinner."
Do Hwan asks, "You want to eat now?"
"Of course I do," she grins.
Eunwoo panics,
"What about me? If I go back, they'll kill me."
Jaeahn looks at the boys.
"Fine. You're coming with us. Any problem?"
Do Hwan hesitates, but agrees.
Jongsuk strongly disagrees—but eventually says nothing.
He's clearly jealous of how comfortably Jaeahn speaks with Eunwoo.
---
Home
At night, after dinner, Jongsuk and Eunwoo sleep in the same room.
Jaeahn sits alone on the couch staring at the picture again.
Suddenly she runs to her room, pulls out an old photo album, and finds the same picture.
"Is he the one I think he is…?" she whispers.
Do Hwan is heading to sleep when his phone vibrates.
A message from Jihu.
"Jaeahn is okay now." he replies.
He opens his gallery and looks at the same photograph—the boy standing with Jihu.
"The day we first met…" he murmurs.
The boy they found is connected to Jihu.
End of Chapter 17
---