I. The Unexpected Delivery
Three days after the arrests of the primary conspirators, Kim Taehyung was presiding over a virtual board meeting in his secure office, fielding questions about the sudden "resignation" of Madam Park. The façade of normalcy was exhausting, but necessary.
The flow of corporate life was abruptly interrupted by a package delivered via a private, unmarked courier service—the same kind of untraceable delivery used by the unknown Architect, Choi Min-ho.
The package was addressed simply to "The Protector."
Inside was an ordinary, folded white linen handkerchief, slightly soiled with mud. Tucked into the folds was a handwritten note. The handwriting was careful and precise, familiar to Taehyung: it belonged to Joo Yeong-ho, the former investigative journalist now in custody.
The note contained a single, chilling message:
I was watching the Architect (Min-ho). He was watching a Clinic. Not Park's Promise, but P's Progress. You only caught the ones who broke the Vow. The one who healed it is still loose. – Y.H.
II. Deciphering the Code
Taehyung immediately locked down his office, dismissing his staff. Yeong-ho's message confirmed her identity as the False Prophet but revealed she was providing information—perhaps in exchange for a lighter sentence, or simply to ensure the complete truth came out.
The message contained three crucial coded clues:
"Clinic": This suggested a medical or psychological facility, likely where Ha-eun was taken after her faked death and before she was delivered to his house.
"Not Park's Promise, but P's Progress": This was the key. The entire Taewon saga revolved around Mr. Park's Final Promise (the 'Harami' document). "P's Progress" implied a connection to Ha-eun's physical or psychological condition—the amnesia.
"The one who healed it is still loose": This confirmed that Min-ho had a collaborator, likely a medical professional, who had engineered Ha-eun's amnesia and recovery. The conspiracy ran deeper than just the Taewon family circle.
Taehyung immediately cross-referenced Min-ho's known contacts with any private medical facilities specializing in neurological trauma. The search yielded a small, discreet neurological and rehabilitation center known as "Progressive Wellness Clinic"—a perfect match for "P's Progress."
III. The Art of Psychological Defense
While Taehyung prepared to investigate the clinic, the constant demands of his domestic life intervened.
He found Ha-eun ('Eun-ji') standing in the middle of the living room, holding a half-empty bucket of blue paint.
"Taehyung! The colour of your financial anxiety is shifting again! It's too teal today, not nearly navy enough! It's because you are worried about the Architectural integrity of the narrative," she declared, quoting one of his previous lies.
"Eun-ji, I am focused on maximizing shareholder value," Taehyung said, trying to step past her.
"No! You are worried about the little flower!" she insisted, referring to her split flower drawing. "You promised to protect the colorful side! If you leave without promising me a forehead kiss every hour on the hour until you return, the dark side might win!"
Taehyung felt the familiar, crushing weight of the emotional blackmail. He knew the demand was rooted in the terror she felt after the gallery confrontation. He realized he was not just protecting the lie; he was constantly reinforcing the psychological barrier that kept the ruthless Ha-eun locked away.
He gave in, offering a brief, firm kiss. "Only until 6:00 PM. Then we revert to the negotiated terms of the 'Affection Clause.'"
As he walked away, Ha-eun returned to her painting, perfectly content. Taehyung looked at the coded message in his hand: The one who healed it is still loose.
He had defeated the architects of the Broken Vow (power and revenge), but now he faced the architect of the Necessary Lie (psychological defense). His next move had to be against the silent healer who helped create his fragile 'Eun-ji.