Broken Paths || Wen JunHui

Chapter 36: Changing

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The days blurred together as Da-Rae tried to push through her remaining time at the hospital. She kept her head down, avoiding lingering conversations or any further emotional entanglements. But no matter how much she focused on her work, the unease in her chest refused to fade.

Her decision to marry Hyun-Woo had sparked a cascade of emotions she hadn't anticipated—dread, guilt, and, most disturbingly, a simmering resentment. Every time she thought of him, his controlling tone and dismissive remarks, she felt like she was suffocating.

It was late in the afternoon when she finally received a call from her fiancé. She had ignored his earlier texts, but now her phone buzzed persistently. With a deep breath, she answered.

"What is it, Hyun-Woo?" she asked, her voice clipped.

"You've been ignoring me," he replied, his tone accusatory. "Do you realize how that makes me look?"

Da-Rae pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm at work. I've been busy."

"That's not an excuse," he snapped. "We're less than a month away from the wedding, and you can't even be bothered to answer my messages?"

Her grip on the phone tightened. "Hyun-Woo, I've been handling everything. The hospital, the wedding... all of it. Maybe if you helped instead of criticizing me constantly, I wouldn't feel so overwhelmed."

There was silence on the other end for a moment before his voice returned, colder. "You're overwhelmed because you insist on working when you don't have to. My family has made it clear they want you to focus on being a wife, not a doctor."

Da-Rae felt her heart drop. "My work is important to me. I've told you that from the beginning."

"And I've told you that your priorities need to change," Hyun-Woo said sharply. "This isn't just about you anymore, Da-Rae. You're part of something bigger now. Start acting like it."

She couldn't find the words to respond, her throat tightening as her frustration boiled over. Instead, she ended the call, dropping the phone onto her desk with a shaking hand.

That evening, Da-Rae went to Jun's room for what she intended to be a brief check-in. She wanted to ensure everything was in order before her temporary leave.

Jun was sitting on the bed when she entered, his eyes immediately locking onto hers.

"You came," he said, his voice soft but with a strange undercurrent she couldn't quite place.

"I wanted to check on you," Da-Rae said, forcing a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

Jun tilted his head, studying her. "You look tired."

"I'm fine," she said quickly. "Just a lot going on."

"With the wedding," Jun said, the words slow and deliberate.

Da-Rae hesitated, her smile faltering. "Yes."

Jun stood, his movements fluid and unsettlingly graceful. He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "You don't have to marry him."

"Jun..." she began, but he cut her off.

"You're not happy," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "You don't love him. Why are you doing this to yourself?"

Da-Rae took a step back, suddenly uneasy. "It's... complicated."

"It doesn't have to be," Jun said, his tone almost pleading. "You could leave him. You could be free."

"Jun," she said firmly, trying to regain control of the conversation, "this isn't something we should be discussing. I'm here as your doctor."

"And I'm here because of you," Jun said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Everything I've done, every step I've taken to get better, it's all because of you. I need you, Da-Rae."

Her heart raced as she took another step back, the intensity of his words cutting through her composure. "You're making progress, Jun. That's what matters. I'll be back in a month, and—"

"You don't have to leave," he interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "Stay. Stay here. Stay with me."

The raw desperation in his tone sent a chill through her. "Jun, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."

She turned and left quickly, closing the door behind her. Her breathing was shallow as she leaned against the wall for a moment, trying to collect herself.

Inside the room, Jun stood motionless, staring at the closed door. His jaw tightened as his mind spiraled.

I can't lose her. Not to him.

⋆˙⟡♡⚕🩺⊹ 🤍