LET THE WORLD BURN || P.SH X K.SN

S E V E N T E E N

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU

'PARK SUNGHOON'

I sat in my office, the light dim as the sun filtered weakly through the blinds. My fingers traced the edges of an old photo frame, my eyes locked on the picture inside. It was from years ago, back when things between Sunoo and I were easy. We were smiling, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, like nothing could ever break us apart.

I chuckled bitterly, leaning back in my chair. How stupid I was, I thought, waiting for him all those years. Every time Sunoo got into a relationship, I’d find myself waiting—waiting for it to fall apart, waiting for him to come back to me like he always did. And then, just like that, it was over. Our friendship ruined.

I used to cry for him. There were nights I’d lie awake, replaying every argument, every hurtful word, wondering where things went so wrong. But eventually, those tears turned into something else. Anger. Resentment. It had taken time, but now that bitterness was all I had left.

And honestly? I was glad.

Still, I couldn’t lie to myself—not completely. I hadn’t moved on, not really. No matter how much I told myself I hated him, I knew deep down, I was still in love with him. Even though we were married now, tied to each other in a way I never imagined, I couldn’t bring myself to look at Sunoo the way I used to. Not even once had he come back to apologize.

The audacity. He had the nerve to ask me why I hated him, as if everything that happened between us was just a distant memory to him. As if he wasn’t the reason our friendship shattered in the first place.

I sighed, setting the photo down on my desk. "No matter what, Kim Sunoo," I muttered under my breath, "I’m never forgiving you."

Just then, the door to my office swung open. “Hey, mate! I’m back!”

I looked up from the photo, and there he was—Sim Jaeyun, my old friend.

"Jaeyun, you’re back!" I stood up and hugged him tightly, relief and happiness flooding me. It had been so long.

"Woah, calm down. I can’t breathe," he chuckled, patting my back as I pulled away with a grin.

"You’ve been gone for a year," I pouted, trying to hide how much I’d missed him.

Jaeyun laughed and we walked over to the couch, sitting down like old times. "Heard you got married," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.

I groaned, the mere mention of that day making me cringe. "Don’t remind me of that horrible day. I hate Ms. Jang for this... out of everyone, KIM Sunoo?"

Jaeyun burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the room. "Of all people, right?"

I rolled my eyes, smacking his shoulder lightly, making him wince in mock pain. "But seriously, getting married to your enemy? What kind of K-drama is this?"

"I wish it was a K-drama. At least those have happy endings. This is more of a nightmare for me." I leaned back, rubbing my temple. "For years, I tried so hard to turn all the feelings I had for him into hate. And then... one marriage, and it all falls apart. My hard work down the drain."

Jaeyun gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, his face softening. "Sounds like you’re still going through it, huh?"

"Every day," I muttered, grateful to have Jaeyun back. We spent the rest of the evening talking, catching up on everything I’d missed during his time away. Eventually, we had dinner together, and for a few hours, I felt like myself again.

But, as much as I didn’t want to, I knew I had to go back to the mansion. My life. The one I’d tried so hard to escape.

When I stepped into the house, the first thing I heard was the sound of a baby crying, and then... Sunoo’s cries mixed in. I sighed heavily, walking toward the hall. I found Sunoo sitting on the floor, looking like a complete mess, holding Sun-hee—Sun-ah’s daughter. It had only been two days since we adopted her after Sun-ah’s death, and Sunoo was already falling apart.

"Sunghoon..." he called out, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.

I hummed in acknowledgment as I sat on the couch, watching the scene unfold.

"Can you hold her? I’m so tired, and she won’t stop crying." Sunoo whined, his eyes pleading with me.

"No," I said coldly, just to tease him. I could see the frustration flash in his eyes, but I couldn’t help myself.

Sunoo glared at me, clearly at his wit’s end. "For your kind information, I didn’t adopt her to take care of her by myself. You’re also her parent, so you should take responsibility too!"

I rolled my eyes, enjoying this far too much. "Say please."

Sunoo gave me a look, half judging, half exasperated. "I don’t have time for this, Sunghoon! Look at me, I’m a mess right now!"

I bit back a laugh, taking in his disheveled appearance. His hair was all over the place, his eyes puffy from lack of sleep. He looked terrible—but in a weirdly endearing way.

"First, say please," I repeated, "and I’ll hold her."

Sunoo sighed, glaring at me before giving in. "Please."

"Thank you," I smiled in victory. "Give her to me."

"Thank God," Sunoo groaned as he handed Sun-hee over to me. "You can have her for the rest of the night." And with that, he practically sprinted away, leaving me with the tiny, crying bundle in my arms.

As soon as she was in my lap, though, Sun-hee stopped crying. I looked down at her, her big eyes staring back at me, and I couldn’t help but smile.

"Aww, you’re so cute, Sun-hee," I murmured, rocking her gently. "Come on, Daddy will feed you."

Sun-hee giggled, the sound warming my heart. I’d always wanted a daughter, and despite everything, holding her made me feel... peaceful. For the first time in a long time.

I fed her, taking my time, enjoying the quiet moments as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Once she was tucked into her crib in the corner of the room, I crawled into bed beside Sunoo.

I turned my head to look at him, his face calm in his sleep, no longer the exhausted wreck from earlier. No matter how much I tried to hate him, I couldn’t. Not fully. I had spent years hardening myself, building up walls, trying to turn love into hate. But every time I looked at him like this—vulnerable, soft—those walls crumbled just a little.

Even now, as I lay here next to him, I knew deep down that I was still in love with him.

But I couldn’t forgive him. Not for everything he’d put me through, not for all the hurt I carried.

"No matter what, Kim Sunoo," I whispered to the darkness, "I’m never forgiving you." i mumbled, more like convincing myself