Mr and Mrs Sim ⋆ s.jake

45 - Good In Goodbye

- One month later -

Rose's POV

A month had passed since that messed-up trial attempt.

Since then, Jaeyun and I had been called in by the head of the bar to answer for the scene we'd caused in court. I pleaded overwork, while Jaeyun coldly pulled a wad of cash from his wallet.

We handled it like a happily married couple.

And for having cheated on Jaeyun once, I had cheated on Heeseung far too many times to count, sleeping with Jaeyun whenever I got the slightest opportunity.

The feeling of being touched only by me must have made him feel untouched. He used me as a protective charm, and I used him as a temporary fix for the void left by Heeseung. We both knew it, and we both went along with it.

I had, of course, been allowed to see Heeseung again to continue preparing for his postponed trial. Shin Yuna was dead. Murdered. Did that make her entitled to justice? No one thought so, but Kim had fought to see the case through.

Speaking of death, I could still hear Riki's demonic voice through my husband's phone every night. Yet I could feel his end creeping closer. Jaeyun could too. That beaten‑dog look he wore after every call with Riki gave him away every time.

I ached for my husband, but how could I admit it, knowing it would mean betraying the first brother in heart he once had? Jongseong kept refusing my defense, allowing the media to tarnish his reputation. At first I was confused, then I realized he wanted to bear this pain alone — and seemed to take some satisfaction in it. He was a lost cause. I focused on Heeseung.

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic was crazy."

Liar. You were making out with Jaeyun in your backseat.

"How long do you plan on lying to me?" Heeseung snapped without even turning around. The ward clicked the door shut behind me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, stepping closer, tossing my trench coat over the chair.

"I know you were with Jaeyun — maybe even fucking him." He kicked the chair just as I was about to sit. I glared at him; his doe eyes were darker than hell itself. "Go on. Say it."

I shook my head, slammed the chair back into place, and sat.

"I'm using him because you're not here. We fuck without any feeling."

I felt the urge to justify myself, even though I didn't owe him anything. But for Heeseung, I did. I loved him so much I was willing to crawl through misery just to prove he was worth it.

"And you're proud of that?" He clicked his tongue and tilted his head, a sneer flickering on his face.

"I—"

"Because you shouldn't. What you're doing is wrong, and it's pathetic to do it in my name."

I was taken aback. Heeseung had always been so kind, backing me through every mistake, that being called out so sharply sent a hot wave of anger up my spine.

"You want to know what's pathetic, Lee Heeseung?" He raised an eyebrow. "That I still have to defend you when you're innocent and Yuna is dead." My throat tightened. "I just want it all to stop... for you to get out of jail so we can live together."

He nodded absently, jaw tight, shoulders stiff. He wasn't listening. He was thinking.

"Are you being naïve on purpose?" He leaned across the table, fists clenched. "You know damn well I'm going to spend years in prison. And if by some miracle I manage to escape, Kim will have me executed." The last words came out as a vulnerable whisper.