When The Phone Rings

‘—Live freely for the rest of your life, and maybe think of me every now and then.’

Hong Heeju abandoned the laundry she was folding and stood up abruptly.

His way of speaking was always cryptic and elusive, but this time, she felt she couldn’t afford to miss the signal.

Her feet moved instinctively, leaving no time to weigh or reconsider old wounds.

‘It can’t end like this…!’

She scrambled to find her coat and car keys when the phone rang.

The moment she checked the caller ID and answered, her sister’s frantic voice exploded.

"—Where are you?! Are you anywhere near the memorial hall?"

Heeju tapped the tablet twice, signaling "no." Her sister hesitated, her tone faltering.

"…You saw the news, didn’t you?"

Heeju recalled that her sister had been the first to publish an exclusive article about the scandal.

"I… I tried to figure out who the other woman in the recordings was, but I couldn’t."

"…"

"The audio files were scrubbed of her voice entirely. It’s like someone was trying to protect her."

Her sister huffed in frustration.

"I should’ve stopped this marriage earlier…! Damn it, I’m so angry!"

"Don’t come here, Heeju. Stay home today, okay? This place is packed with reporters—you can’t even take a step. And it feels off."

There was an urgency in her sister’s voice, a mix of panic and unease.

"Ugh… Why does this feel so ominous?"

Her sister’s breathing grew heavier, as if she was running somewhere.

"Where the hell is Baek Saeon broadcasting from? All the reporters are here, so who’s he doing the live broadcast with?"

Heeju grabbed a coat and moved toward the living room.

"Ugh, shit… Did I jump in too quickly? God, this is driving me insane. What the hell is going on?"

Her sister’s voice, strained and distant, pierced through the receiver.