A second chance at vengeance

What a fool I was, she thought bitterly. But wasn't love supposed to endure all things? That's what she had believed, anyway. She had given him her everything, and he had taken it without a second thought.

The sound of a car horn startled her, pulling her out of her thoughts. A taxi had pulled up in front of the hospital. Yuna hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She had made up her mind to go to him, to see Jaewon one last time. She wasn't sure why. Perhaps a part of her still hoped for closure, for an apology, for some sign that he had cared about her at all.

She climbed into the back seat, the door closing with a soft thud. "Please alight me at XX Apartment," she said quietly, her voice hoarse from lack of use.

The driver, an elderly man with kind eyes and a weathered face, nodded and started the car. The engine's hum filled the silence, and Yuna leaned back against the seat, staring out the window. The city blurred past her, a kaleidoscope of colors and movement that felt both distant and overwhelming.

She let out a sigh, her thoughts spiraling once more. What would she even say to Jaewon when she saw him? Would he even care that she was there? Or would he dismiss her, as he always did, with a cold, cutting remark?

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his gaze thoughtful. "You seem troubled, miss," he said, his voice gentle.

Yuna blinked, startled by his words. She offered a small, polite smile. "I guess you could say that."

He chuckled softly, the sound warm and reassuring. "Life has a way of weighing us down sometimes," he said, his hands steady on the wheel. "But my father used to tell me something whenever I felt like giving up."

Yuna tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes. "What did he say?"

The driver's smile deepened, and his gaze softened with memory. "He used to say, 'Even the strongest trees bend in the wind, but they don't break. And if they do, their roots find new ground and grow again.'"

The words hit Yuna like a wave, and she felt her breath hitch. Her father had said the same thing to her when she was a child, back when she was still innocent and full of dreams. The memory of his warm smile and steady voice brought tears to her eyes.

"Your father must have been a wise man," she said, her voice trembling.

The driver nodded. "He was. And he was right. No matter how hard life gets, there's always a way to start again."

Yuna swallowed the lump in her throat and turned her gaze back to the window. The apartment building was coming into view, its familiar facade stirring a mix of dread and determination in her chest.

The car came to a stop, and the driver turned to her with a kind smile. "Here we are, miss. Take care of yourself, and remember—every storm passes eventually."

Yuna nodded, her voice caught in her throat as she handed him the fare. She stepped out of the taxi, the spring air hitting her again, carrying the faint scent of flowers. She stood there for a moment, staring up at the building, her heart pounding in her chest.

With a deep breath, she took her first step toward the entrance, her thoughts swirling with fear, hope, and the faintest flicker of defiance. She didn't know what awaited her inside, but she knew she had to face it. For herself.

Yuna stood frozen in front of the apartment door, the cold metal handle pressing against her palm, sending a jolt through her hand. Her heart hammered in her chest, its rhythmic pounding almost deafening in her ears. She stared at the door, feeling its weight, as though it were the only thing separating her from the truth she was both dreading and craving.

Why am I here? The question echoed in her mind, but it didn't have an answer. She wasn't sure what she expected to find on the other side. Is it even worth it?

Her eyes lingered on the door, her thoughts a tangled mess. The idea of seeing Jaewon, after all this time, after all the hurt... it made her stomach twist. But her love for him still lingered, despite everything. She had never been able to let go, not completely.

He's my husband. My heart still belongs to him, she thought, her breath catching in her throat. But does he feel the same?

For a moment, she wondered if this was all a mistake. Maybe I should just turn around and walk away. But something held her there, her feet rooted to the floor, as if fate itself had a hand in this moment.

Her fingers tightened on the door handle, the cold metal sending a shiver up her spine. What am I afraid of?

She was afraid of the truth, afraid of betrayal, afraid that all the love she had given, all the sacrifices she had made, might have been for nothing. The thought of facing Sohee, her best friend, after everything that had happened... What if I can't handle it? Her throat tightened, but she refused to let the tears fall. Not yet.

I can't turn back now. I need to know. I need to know if everything I believed was a lie.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself. The world outside the door was the same as it had always been—the same familiar apartment, the same quiet hallway—but it felt different now, as though she were walking into a nightmare of her own making. She pushed the door open slowly, the quiet squeak of the hinges like a prelude to the storm brewing in her chest.

And then, there they were.

Her eyes landed on the familiar sight of Sohee's red heels by the door. A pang of confusion pierced her heart, followed by a sharp twist of betrayal. Why are Sohee's shoes here?

She stepped inside, her pulse quickening. The apartment was quiet, but the faint sound of laughter drifted from the bedroom.

What's going on?

Her footsteps faltered as she reached the threshold of the bedroom. The laughter—soft, sweet—sounded so innocent, so carefree. But Yuna could feel the weight of something far darker beneath it. She hesitated for a moment, her hand still gripping the doorframe. Maybe it's nothing... But deep down, she knew it wasn't. It's never nothing.

And then she heard the words. The words that made everything stop.

"So, when are you going to tell her the truth? That I'm carrying your baby, hm?" Sohee's voice was sweet, but there was an unmistakable edge to it now. The words sliced through the air like a blade, each syllable sharp and unforgiving.

Yuna felt the world tilt beneath her feet, as though the ground itself had shifted. No... no, this can't be happening...

She heard Jaewon's voice, distant yet clear, cutting through the silence. "Don't tell her anything, she doesn't even have much time left yet..."

The blood drained from Yuna's face. Much time left? What... what does that even mean?

Her legs felt weak, as though the very strength had been drained from her body. But she couldn't stop herself. She had to see it. She had to know the truth. She stepped forward, her breath shallow, her heart pounding in her chest as she pushed the bedroom door open.

And there they were. Sohee, her best friend, her sister in every way that mattered, sitting in Jaewon's lap, her lips pressed against his in a kiss that should have been meant for Yuna alone. A sick feeling twisted in Yuna's stomach, her body frozen in place as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes.

"Sohee... Jaewon...," Yuna's voice was barely a whisper, her words choked on the rising tide of grief and fury that crashed over her. Is this really happening?

The couple pulled apart, startled by Yuna's sudden appearance. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Sohee quickly grabbed the bed sheet, her face flushing as she scrambled to cover herself. Jaewon's eyes widened, and his face twisted into something Yuna could barely recognize—guilt, shame, or something darker.

But it was too late. The truth was already out in the open.

"Yuna..." Jaewon's voice was strained, full of an emotion Yuna couldn't place. "It's not what you think..."

Yuna's eyes burned with unshed tears as she looked at them, her chest tightening with the realization of what had been going on behind her back. How could they do this to me? Her voice cracked with the weight of it all. "How... how could you?"

She let out a harsh breath, the anger and betrayal threatening to choke her. Her fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to keep herself from collapsing.

"Is this what you've been doing behind my back? While I've been lying in a hospital bed, waiting for you, hoping you'd come see me, not knowing..." The words caught in her throat, but she forced them out. "Not knowing you were making a baby with my best friend... Jaewon. And you—Sohee..." Yuna's voice broke on the last word as she turned her accusing gaze toward her best friend. "Is this what I get in return after everything? After treating you like a sister?"

Everything I've done for them... everything I've sacrificed for them... this is how it ends?

She couldn't take it anymore. She was shaking, her anger rising like a storm, but it wasn't enough. She needed more. I trusted you. You were the only family I had left. Her words burned in her chest as she took a step forward, her eyes wild with hurt and betrayal. She grabbed Sohee by the hair, pulling her toward her with a strength she didn't know she had.

"I'm going to kill you!" Yuna screamed, her body trembling with rage. But before she could do anything else, Jaewon intervened.

The slap was so sudden, so brutal, that Yuna didn't even see it coming. The impact sent her sprawling backward, her cheek burning with the sting of his hand. She stumbled, shocked, her eyes wide as she touched her face, trying to process what had just happened.

"How dare you!" Jaewon's voice was a growl. "Are you trying to hurt the mother of my unborn child?"

Yuna could hardly breathe, the shock of it all washing over her like a wave. The pain was too much, the betrayal too deep. She didn't understand any of it. She didn't understand how they could do this to her, after everything.

Jaewon grabbed her by the hair, dragging her out of the bedroom, his grip unrelenting. Yuna fought, tried to pull away, but his hold was like iron.

"You don't touch her," he spat, his voice venomous. "She's going to be the mother of my children. Don't you ever touch her again."

The words were a slap to her face, worse than the physical blow. She had no words left, no strength. She couldn't even defend herself.

With one final, brutal slap, Jaewon sent her crashing into the glass table. The sound of shattering glass filled the room, the sharp shards cutting into her skin as she fell. The pain was instant, but she couldn't even scream. She couldn't move.

I can't move...

Her vision blurred, the world spinning around her as darkness began to creep in at the edges. She couldn't fight it. Her body was too broken, too tired, and everything was fading too fast.

Is this how it ends?

But as everything went black, one last thought flickered through her mind.

They're all I have left... and now, I have nothing.