Ransomed Fiancée (Michaeng) ✔️

Summary (Part 25)

Chapter 36:

The cemetery was silent. There was only the soft rustling of leaves in the cool morning breeze.
This wasn't her first. Her first visit was the very day of her release. That day, she had come directly from the gates to the cemetery after asking Tzuyu for the address.

Chaeyoung always brought the same thing. She didn't know if he'd ever enjoyed it in his life but she tried as a silent apology to the man she had wronged. Chaeyoung knelt in front of the grave, her hands brushing away the dirt and leaves that had gathered over time. She placed the food offering neatly in front of the headstone and sat down, staring at the name engraved in the cold stone.

She let out a shaky breath. "Hi, Mr Myoui. It's me again... Chaeyoung," she started hesitantly.

Her hands rested in her lap, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "I don't know what I'm even doing here. You are probably annoyed, " she chuckled, "I just... I thought..... maybe it's stupid, but—" She stopped and bit her lip, her gaze dropping to the ground.

"I'm sorry," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "For everything. For what I caused. I know it doesn't change anything. You're still here, and I can't... I can't undo any of it. But I need you to know that I regret it. Every second of it."

Her eyes turned toward the sky. "Do you think you'd forgive me? Probably not, right? How could you? I can't even forgive myself,"

She paused, her fingers brushing against the headstone. "I keep telling myself I've paid my debt—- that I deserve a chance to rebuild my life. But standing here, looking at this..." Her voice wavered and she shook her head. "Why would you forgive me? What right do I have to even ask?"

She sat there for a few more minutes. The quiet gave her no answers. Finally, she stood then brushed herself off. "I'll keep coming back," she said softly. "Even if it doesn't mean anything to you. Even if it's just for me."

She rose and left the cemetery. Chaeyoung returned to this place whenever she could find the time or whenever happiness crept in too strongly. It wasn't just a visit but also a reminder. She came to remind herself that she didn't deserve to feel too much joy. How could she let herself be happy when a man's death rested squarely on her shoulder?

"Chaeyoung," Jimin called.

Chaeyoung glanced up from her desk, pausing mid-sketch. The cramped rented house was quiet. Her teammates were fast asleep in the living room, sprawled across the couch and floor. Despite GroundUp's growing success, Chaeyoung hadn't moved out yet. She told herself it was because she wasn't financially stable even though her office was up and running.

Chaeyoung tilted her head and craned her neck towards the living room, "I thought you are asleep,"

Jimin leaned casually against the doorframe. "Minjeong's asleep. She doesn't want to play with me anymore." She shrugged dramatically.

Chaeyoung chuckled, "That's because you keep bothering her." She set her pencil down and turned her attention to Jimin. "But what's up? Do you need something?"

Jimin stayed quiet for a moment, studying Chaeyoung. "What's GroundUp Foundation?" She asked casually.

Chaeyoung's lips curved into a smile. Even after months, Jimin still wasn't fully informed about the business beyond her specific job. "Second chances," Chaeyoung answered and returned her gaze back to her sketchbook. "Building a new life."

"Do you believe it?"

"Of course,"

Jimin's voice softened. "For yourself, I mean. Do you believe it for you?"