when the phone rings novel

Baek Sa-eon was a man who displayed extreme indifference toward everything except himself. Even during the signing of their marriage contract or at countless events, he had never shown any active interest in Hee-joo. Even during his engagement with In-ya, he had been a detached figure, sipping water indifferently.

"My wife has her own voice to translate," he said with a darkened expression, gripping Hee-joo's hand firmly.

"If you intend to run for president, at the very least, you should familiarize yourself with the social climate before speaking."

"What?"

"If I were your advisor, I would have told you to shut up long ago."

"You...!"

"If you don't have an aide willing to speak frankly, you're simply wasting money."

"..."

"Now, the stud will go and do what a stud is supposed to do."

Hee-joo, nearly dragged by him, was forcibly pulled out of the gathering. For the first time since their marriage, she left the table before her in-laws.

The man who had hauled her out into the hall remained silent as they stepped into the elevator.

"My hand hurts...!" She tried to pull away from his grip, but the harder she struggled, the tighter his hold became. Her wrist felt constricted, blood no longer circulating, and the unfamiliar warmth made her feel acutely uncomfortable. For some reason, her heartbeat began to quicken.

"Hong Hee-joo, do you really want a divorce from me?"

"...!" Her knees nearly gave out, and her stiff gaze locked with his.

"But you were dragged into this to replace your missing sister-"

"And you can't even speak up." He slammed the button for the first floor with his fist.

"Even when your in-laws bark like rabid dogs, you don't dare utter a word."

"...!" His icy tone pierced her like an ice pick, striking directly at her core.

"As expected." He leaned closer, sweeping his gaze over Hee-joo's face before clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction.

"Not even a single tear."

Baek Sa-eon's cutting words stabbed at Hee-joo's heart, but he never loosened his tight grip. The contrast between the coldness and warmth of his touch paralyzed her.

"Nothing has changed, not a thing-"

"..."

"But why is it so irritating?" Baek Sa-eon stubbornly stared at her from head to toe, as if scrutinizing her for flaws. Hee-joo felt a chill run down her spine, her shoulders involuntarily trembling.

No, that's something I should be saying!

Anyone could tell that the strangest person recently was her husband. Ever since the threatening calls began, his behavior had been like a machine with a misaligned switch. Conversations, meals, even their rare moments of eye contact—it was as if the three silent years of their marriage had been a lie.

"Blue House sign language interpreter."

"...!" Hee-joo shuddered inexplicably at the mention of this title.

"If you're that desperate, climb up yourself."

"..."

"Don't sit in that old man's campaign truck. Come work beside me."

Suddenly, the elevator felt suffocating. Hee-joo grew dizzy, longing desperately for fresh air.

The car arrived. Baek Sa-eon practically shoved her into the back seat as if she were cargo, then slammed the door shut. But no matter how long she waited, he didn't get in. Hee-joo finally rolled down the window, only to hear the driver turn on the radio.

The chaotic noise made her shiver as if struck by lightning, even though she knew her reaction was excessive.

"Driver, the radio is too loud. Turn it off, please."

At that moment, whether by coincidence or intent, Baek Sa-eon casually gave an order.

"You head home first."

He stood outside the car, one arm resting on the roof, looking down at her.

Hee-joo instinctively raised an eyebrow, her forehead slightly furrowing.

"I have something to take care of."

As he spoke, the corner of his lips curved faintly upward.

Realizing the implication behind his expression, a tide of anxiety surged through her chest.

He was waiting for the blackmailer.

"Eat properly when you get home. No picky eating," he said in his usual cold tone, but the words felt oddly misplaced.

Hee-joo nodded hastily, rolling up the car window to avoid further interaction.

What a long day it had been.

But the night was far from over.

As soon as she returned home, Hee-joo retrieved her long-unused backup phone. The screen's blue glow illuminated her tense face.

This isn't the first time. Why am I still this nervous?

Her fingers trembled slightly as they pressed the numeric keys.

Because the blackmailer might be listening.

If her threats failed, if Baek Sa-eon managed to suppress her—she couldn't predict when or how that deranged blackmailer might hurt her father again.

Her back was as cold as if carrying a bomb. Hee-joo, feeling like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, picked up the phone. But the conclusion is still the same. Both she and the kidnapper needed to force Baek Sa-eon to act.

Beep, beep.

Hee-joo paced in the dark living room, eventually stepping out onto the balcony. The cold wind immediately cleared her mind. After wasting several days by stopping the threats, everything needed to be wrapped up quickly now. She waited patiently under the heavy pressure, listening for the signal.

When Baek Sa-eon answered the phone, all the tension—her father, the kidnapper, the grinding of teeth, the election trucks—everything...

"406."

The moment his voice came through, all the pressure dissipated.

"After causing so much trouble, why are you answering the phone so late?"

Strangely, she was suddenly speechless. Although she had just been with him, hearing his voice now felt particularly awkward. She rubbed the back of her neck.

"Are you waiting for me?"

"The guy who can even pull out people's teeth—would he hide?"

Hee-joo suddenly recalled the bloody scene, clenching her lips tightly.

"Why didn't you call immediately?"

"...... Why do you always drag things out?" Her voice trembled slightly, but it seemed that being sensitive worked better. "I only have one request. Hurry up and restore things to how they were...! If you won't, give me 2 billion. If that's not possible, then resign."

"......"

"You underestimated my threat, and that's your mistake." At the same time, this was the consequence of Hee-joo grabbing the wrong phone. "You almost suffocated, and yet you're so relaxed?"

Thinking of the man who came home that day in such a pitiful state, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. Why didn't he make a choice immediately, when he almost died? Hee-joo tried to suppress the anger rising in her chest and not think about it.

"Before that, I have some questions for you, which is why I've been waiting until now."

"......"

"I have to hear it from you, 406."

"What exactly do you want to ask...?"

"If I take care of Hee-joo, what will you get?" His voice sharply pierced through. "If you can't give me a proper answer, the negotiation will be indefinitely delayed."

"......!"

What Hee-joo could get, of course, was freedom.

But now, she had hidden her identity and couldn't directly say what she wanted to. From here, Hee-joo's plan started to go off track. She couldn't come up with a reasonable excuse.

"You want to set fire or pull whatever you like, it's up to you."

"......"

"But I must hear the answer." His cold, stubborn attitude made Hee-joo run her hands through her hair in frustration.

"......Because I hate you, and I want to see you suffer!" These words blurted out without thinking. Hee-joo made a regretful expression, but once the words were said, they couldn't be taken back. The line was silent.

What was happening? Did he hang up? She checked the screen; the call was still going. There was no sound, not even his breath, just eerie silence.

Suddenly, heavier breaths came through the line.

"Hah...! You have no idea how ridiculous that sounds." His mocking voice was tinged with suppressed emotion. "What exactly is your relationship with Hee-joo?"

"...W-what?"

"Your threat sounds like it's for someone else."

"......!"

It seems like you know my wife very well."

"......"

"Let me ask again."

Hee-joo's face stiffened, a bad feeling washing over her. "What exactly is your relationship with Hee-joo?"

"......!" His voice, sharp as a needle, pierced into her ears.

"Wh-what nonsense is this?" She stammered as she spoke. "Did I find Hee-joo first, or did I catch you first?"

"......!"

It was just his voice, but that cold, threatening atmosphere spread like poison.

"Why is 20 billion 20 billion? How do you have that photo? You want Hee-joo to get a divorce and restore the original political marriage? Do you know how your words sound to me? Wait... Could it be...!

Hee-joo broke into a cold sweat, biting her nails in fear.

"It sounds like you want to take that kid away from her.

What?

What did you just say?"

"You want Hong Hee-joo to divorce, and then what?"

"......!"

"Anyway, you're just a madman who would hurt Hee-joo's father. Do you think I would bow to a corrupt person like you?"

Her mind went blank.

"No matter if you were once involved with her, or if you're still her lover, I won't let you take Hong Hee-joo away."

"What? Lover... what?"

"From the car to the husband to the father, you harass the people around Hee-joo so violently—you're nothing but a madman. No, wait, hold on!"

"I never intended to let go from the start."

Her face quickly flushed. "What the hell is this nonsense...!"

Hee-joo felt as if her throat was being tightly squeezed.

She couldn't let this disadvantageous evidence be caught. If there was a wronged spouse, it should definitely be her husband, not herself. She couldn't swallow this...!

Baek Sa-eon was a man who displayed extreme indifference toward everything except himself. Even during the signing of their marriage contract or at countless events, he had never shown any active interest in Hee-joo. Even during his engagement with In-ya, he had been a detached figure, sipping water indifferently.

"My wife has her own voice to translate," he said with a darkened expression, gripping Hee-joo's hand firmly.

"If you intend to run for president, at the very least, you should familiarize yourself with the social climate before speaking."

"What?"

"If I were your advisor, I would have told you to shut up long ago."

"You...!"

"If you don't have an aide willing to speak frankly, you're simply wasting money."

"..."

"Now, the stud will go and do what a stud is supposed to do."

Hee-joo, nearly dragged by him, was forcibly pulled out of the gathering. For the first time since their marriage, she left the table before her in-laws.

The man who had hauled her out into the hall remained silent as they stepped into the elevator.

"My hand hurts...!" She tried to pull away from his grip, but the harder she struggled, the tighter his hold became. Her wrist felt constricted, blood no longer circulating, and the unfamiliar warmth made her feel acutely uncomfortable. For some reason, her heartbeat began to quicken.

"Hong Hee-joo, do you really want a divorce from me?"

"...!" Her knees nearly gave out, and her stiff gaze locked with his.

"But you were dragged into this to replace your missing sister-"

"And you can't even speak up." He slammed the button for the first floor with his fist.

"Even when your in-laws bark like rabid dogs, you don't dare utter a word."

"...!" His icy tone pierced her like an ice pick, striking directly at her core.

"As expected." He leaned closer, sweeping his gaze over Hee-joo's face before clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction.

"Not even a single tear."

Baek Sa-eon's cutting words stabbed at Hee-joo's heart, but he never loosened his tight grip. The contrast between the coldness and warmth of his touch paralyzed her.

"Nothing has changed, not a thing-"

"..."

"But why is it so irritating?" Baek Sa-eon stubbornly stared at her from head to toe, as if scrutinizing her for flaws. Hee-joo felt a chill run down her spine, her shoulders involuntarily trembling.

No, that's something I should be saying!

Anyone could tell that the strangest person recently was her husband. Ever since the threatening calls began, his behavior had been like a machine with a misaligned switch. Conversations, meals, even their rare moments of eye contact—it was as if the three silent years of their marriage had been a lie.

"Blue House sign language interpreter."

"...!" Hee-joo shuddered inexplicably at the mention of this title.

"If you're that desperate, climb up yourself."

"..."

"Don't sit in that old man's campaign truck. Come work beside me."

Suddenly, the elevator felt suffocating. Hee-joo grew dizzy, longing desperately for fresh air.

The car arrived. Baek Sa-eon practically shoved her into the back seat as if she were cargo, then slammed the door shut. But no matter how long she waited, he didn't get in. Hee-joo finally rolled down the window, only to hear the driver turn on the radio.

The chaotic noise made her shiver as if struck by lightning, even though she knew her reaction was excessive.

"Driver, the radio is too loud. Turn it off, please."

At that moment, whether by coincidence or intent, Baek Sa-eon casually gave an order.

"You head home first."

He stood outside the car, one arm resting on the roof, looking down at her.

Hee-joo instinctively raised an eyebrow, her forehead slightly furrowing.

"I have something to take care of."

As he spoke, the corner of his lips curved faintly upward.

Realizing the implication behind his expression, a tide of anxiety surged through her chest.

He was waiting for the blackmailer.

"Eat properly when you get home. No picky eating," he said in his usual cold tone, but the words felt oddly misplaced.

Hee-joo nodded hastily, rolling up the car window to avoid further interaction.

What a long day it had been.

But the night was far from over.

As soon as she returned home, Hee-joo retrieved her long-unused backup phone. The screen's blue glow illuminated her tense face.

This isn't the first time. Why am I still this nervous?

Her fingers trembled slightly as they pressed the numeric keys.

Because the blackmailer might be listening.

If her threats failed, if Baek Sa-eon managed to suppress her—she couldn't predict when or how that deranged blackmailer might hurt her father again.

Her back was as cold as if carrying a bomb. Hee-joo, feeling like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, picked up the phone. But the conclusion is still the same. Both she and the kidnapper needed to force Baek Sa-eon to act.

Beep, beep.

Hee-joo paced in the dark living room, eventually stepping out onto the balcony. The cold wind immediately cleared her mind. After wasting several days by stopping the threats, everything needed to be wrapped up quickly now. She waited patiently under the heavy pressure, listening for the signal.

When Baek Sa-eon answered the phone, all the tension—her father, the kidnapper, the grinding of teeth, the election trucks—everything...

"406."

The moment his voice came through, all the pressure dissipated.

"After causing so much trouble, why are you answering the phone so late?"

Strangely, she was suddenly speechless. Although she had just been with him, hearing his voice now felt particularly awkward. She rubbed the back of her neck.

"Are you waiting for me?"

"The guy who can even pull out people's teeth—would he hide?"

Hee-joo suddenly recalled the bloody scene, clenching her lips tightly.

"Why didn't you call immediately?"

"...... Why do you always drag things out?" Her voice trembled slightly, but it seemed that being sensitive worked better. "I only have one request. Hurry up and restore things to how they were...! If you won't, give me 2 billion. If that's not possible, then resign."

"......"

"You underestimated my threat, and that's your mistake." At the same time, this was the consequence of Hee-joo grabbing the wrong phone. "You almost suffocated, and yet you're so relaxed?"

Thinking of the man who came home that day in such a pitiful state, she felt a sharp pain in her heart. Why didn't he make a choice immediately, when he almost died? Hee-joo tried to suppress the anger rising in her chest and not think about it.

"Before that, I have some questions for you, which is why I've been waiting until now."

"......"

"I have to hear it from you, 406."

"What exactly do you want to ask...?"

"If I take care of Hee-joo, what will you get?" His voice sharply pierced through. "If you can't give me a proper answer, the negotiation will be indefinitely delayed."

"......!"

What Hee-joo could get, of course, was freedom.

But now, she had hidden her identity and couldn't directly say what she wanted to. From here, Hee-joo's plan started to go off track. She couldn't come up with a reasonable excuse.

"You want to set fire or pull whatever you like, it's up to you."

"......"

"But I must hear the answer." His cold, stubborn attitude made Hee-joo run her hands through her hair in frustration.

"......Because I hate you, and I want to see you suffer!" These words blurted out without thinking. Hee-joo made a regretful expression, but once the words were said, they couldn't be taken back. The line was silent.

What was happening? Did he hang up? She checked the screen; the call was still going. There was no sound, not even his breath, just eerie silence.

Suddenly, heavier breaths came through the line.

"Hah...! You have no idea how ridiculous that sounds." His mocking voice was tinged with suppressed emotion. "What exactly is your relationship with Hee-joo?"

"...W-what?"

"Your threat sounds like it's for someone else."

"......!"

It seems like you know my wife very well."

"......"

"Let me ask again."

Hee-joo's face stiffened, a bad feeling washing over her. "What exactly is your relationship with Hee-joo?"

"......!" His voice, sharp as a needle, pierced into her ears.

"Wh-what nonsense is this?" She stammered as she spoke. "Did I find Hee-joo first, or did I catch you first?"

"......!"

It was just his voice, but that cold, threatening atmosphere spread like poison.

"Why is 20 billion 20 billion? How do you have that photo? You want Hee-joo to get a divorce and restore the original political marriage? Do you know how your words sound to me? Wait... Could it be...!

Hee-joo broke into a cold sweat, biting her nails in fear.

"It sounds like you want to take that kid away from her.

What?

What did you just say?"

"You want Hong Hee-joo to divorce, and then what?"

"......!"

"Anyway, you're just a madman who would hurt Hee-joo's father. Do you think I would bow to a corrupt person like you?"

Her mind went blank.

"No matter if you were once involved with her, or if you're still her lover, I won't let you take Hong Hee-joo away."

"What? Lover... what?"

"From the car to the husband to the father, you harass the people around Hee-joo so violently—you're nothing but a madman. No, wait, hold on!"

"I never intended to let go from the start."

Her face quickly flushed. "What the hell is this nonsense...!"

Hee-joo felt as if her throat was being tightly squeezed.

She couldn't let this disadvantageous evidence be caught. If there was a wronged spouse, it should definitely be her husband, not herself. She couldn't swallow this...!