when the phone rings novel
"Then, there was the car accident, Hee-joo."
"...!"
"The car we were in... I was injured, and my brother died in that accident."
Hee-joo felt her mind go blank.
"It happened the day after Representative Baek Jang-ho smiled at me."
Her sister's words echoed in her mind, refusing to fade. The screech of brakes, the truck crossing the center line, the crushing impact—everything flattened in pain. Her younger brother, who had died before even having the chance to cry, the vivid red blood, and the pungent smell of gasoline. The chaotic scene seemed as if it had happened just yesterday, vividly reappearing in her mind.
At the same time, the puzzle pieces slowly came together.
So, every time In A saw Baek Sa-eon, she would get tense? And that's why her expression was always so stiff? How had her sister managed to hide this secret for so long? Hee-joo had only been nine years old when the accident happened, meaning her sister had harbored doubts on her own for nearly twenty years. The sense of unease had grown as she did—a kind of invisible punishment.
"And as time passed, I once told our father—" Hong In A clearly remembered that day.
"Our father acted like it was nothing. At that time, Representative Baek Jang-ho was still alive. He provided the Sankyung Daily with scandalous material on government officials and news tips. Thanks to him, Sankyung Daily got all the exclusives and grew stronger."
"......"
"The two families were already in a mutually beneficial relationship. Naturally, my father ignored my words. The only thing he cared about was his ambition of becoming a 'kingmaker.'"
"......"
"That's why I ran away." Hong In A bit her lip. "Because I couldn't marry a man I knew nothing about."
Those words brought an inexplicable pain to Hee-joo's heart.
Hee-joo signed, "So... you saw him the day before the wedding?"
Her sister seemed a little surprised but nodded.
"Yes, I was determined to come back to you."
"...What do you mean?"
Her sister's face suddenly turned cold.
"The last time I saw Baek Sa-eon, I was trying to break off the wedding, even intending to threaten him."
"...!"
"I threatened to expose his secret."
Hearing the word "threaten," Hee-joo couldn't help but tremble.
"I went to him just to threaten him."
"...!"
Hong In A clenched her teeth.
"Even when I threatened to expose his identity, he didn't even blink. Instead, he brought up the car accident—and smiled."
"...!"
"He's a complete lunatic."
In A breathed heavily, anger and hatred clear in her clenched jaw. At that moment, I finally understood where her hostility came from. It wasn't directed at me—it had been aimed at Baek Sa-eon all along.
"That was when I became sure that a careless sentence I said as a child had truly killed my brother." A deep sense of guilt appeared on In A's pale face.
She then lowered her head, as if confessing.
"But... it ended up being me who got threatened instead."
Three years ago, Hong In A had been deeply agitated. Her mind was a mess, and when she confirmed the truth she had suspected all along, her fighting spirit crumbled. Even communicating through written notes had its limitations. From beginning to end, In A was in a weaker position, while Baek Sa-eon seemed effortlessly in control. It felt like facing a knife without emotion, merely disguised as a human.
Back then, Baek Sa-eon made a suggestion: hand over your sister.
"He said if I handed you over to him, he would let me leave safely."
"...!"
"He said he would ensure I left without our father finding out."
As she looked at Hee-joo with pained eyes—a sense of foreboding overwhelmed her. It was an instinctive feeling, something she didn't want to hear.
"As hush money, Baek Sa-eon demanded you as collateral."
It felt as if someone had pierced her throat with a nail.
"I knew it was despicable, but I was truly terrified back then..." Her voice shook like a storm.
"He said if I handed over Hong Hee-joo, he would let me leave safely, and free me from the political marriage. At that time, what he wanted was you."
"......"
"That man is a total madman, completely unhinged."
Hee-joo's vision grew blurry. He had said he'd let her escape from the political marriage? That had always been Hee-joo's wish. However, learning that Baek Sa-eon had proactively made this offer to her sister, while Hee-joo had only come to know about it through a threatening call, ignited a deep anger within her.
What had these three years of marriage been like? It was more akin to living as a hostage, per Baek Sa-eon's demands. Hee-joo felt not only incredibly unfortunate but also powerless, accustomed to being ignored. Although she had once loved him, this wasn't the kind of life she had wanted. An indescribable sense of emptiness surged through her heart.
At the same time, a violent urge to tear something apart spread like wildfire. Her sclera turned bloodshot.
"I admit, back then, I only thought about myself and left you behind to run away. But... he killed our brother, and pushed you to that extent. I couldn't stand it... Even after running away, I couldn't bear it."
"......"
"So, I made up my mind to restore everything to how it was."
"......"
"That's why I came back."
Even as she listened to her sister's apology, Hee-joo's mind was blank.
"We were never a real couple."
"You were just a 'hostage' sent to my side."
Was that it? So it really was like that. Knowing the truth made her realize how naive her heart had been.
"So, don't fall for that man, Hee-joo."
"......"
"He can't be trusted."
The bit of confidence Hee-joo had finally regained plummeted once again. Today's interpreting had been perfect—so perfect, it felt like they were spiritually in sync.
"But how could you fall for someone like him?!"
The emotions she had managed to piece together shattered once more, leaving only a deep sadness. Hee-joo didn't even know how she had walked to this place. Looking at the asphalt road ahead of her, she didn't know how long she'd been walking.
From the start, this political marriage had been woven out of threats—a perilous venture. Whether it was the pact between families or the secret agreement between her sister and Baek Sa-eon, Hee-joo had been used, inside and out. Why did this unsurprising reality suddenly feel so despairing?
Her sister knew Baek Sa-eon's most fatal weakness, and Hee-joo was used as a hostage to keep her sister silent.
"Ha ha..."
Even now, Hee-joo felt as if she had been pushed outside once again. The sense of loss drained all her strength. She had walked until her heels were bleeding without realizing it, only snapping back when her phone vibrated continuously.
A restricted number.
Seeing those long-unseen words made her breath quicken. She had completely forgotten about the call while talking with her sister. Looking around, she found herself standing in a desolate place without any road signs.
With a dazed expression, Hee-joo answered the phone, her hand holding it trembling.
"Sister, how have you been lately?"
"......"
Just the simple greeting made Hee-joo take a deep breath.
"You didn't pick up for so long, I almost got angry..."
"......"
"Things got really interesting while I wasn't around, didn't they?"
He chuckled, the cold wind blowing her hair into a mess.
"Do you remember our promise?"
"......"
"You promised to say what I wanted to hear."
"......"
"Debts must be settled."
Hee-joo looked up at the sky, nodding silently. Strangely, she no longer had the strength to respond. She merely bit her cold, bluish lips. She was completely lost.
"We even practiced our lines, and your sister helped by enduring all the harsh words."
For a moment, the kidnapper's mocking laughter echoed in the air. Then, he slowly stopped laughing and spoke in a low voice.
"This is my confession. Please accept my confession."
"......!"
Hee-joo's aimless steps came to an abrupt halt.
"At that time... when Baek Sa-eon died, I was just watching."
"......!"
"As the only witness."
"......"
"When you watched me die, what were you thinking?"
What does this mean?
Hee-joo's gaze was lost and shaken. The twilight slowly approached the horizon.
"This is what I've always wanted to hear."
"What do you mean... I, I..."
"Still don't understand?"
"......"
"Didn't you say you wanted to go back to your old life?"
"......!"
"My lost name, position, and honor... Even though it's late, I will take them all back."
The kidnapper's voice became slightly unsteady.
"Baek Sa-eon, that name was originally mine! Damn it, that was my name!"
"......!"
It felt like a sharp stab inside her chest, the pain unbearable. Hee-joo could only shake her head helplessly, facing the truth that shattered the only name she had liked.
The kidnapper laughed again and asked:
"Sister, you don't really want to live with me, do you?"
Her thoughts slowed down, her eyelids trembled, and her ears buzzed. But finally, a boiling groan escaped her lips.
"If I become Baek Sa-eon again, technically, you would be my wife."
"...!"
"Could you live like that?"
It was terrifying. Hee-joo's pupils trembled violently, as if someone had grabbed her neck from behind.
"So, damn it, hurry up and end it. Hm? Quickly, quickly, damn it."
"..."
"When I become Baek Sa-eon again, I won't take you with me. Didn't you say you were just a burden?"
Though his voice was low, it was full of excitement.
"If you can't bring me a confession, this time it won't be your father who dies; it'll be your husband... the guy who stole my life will die."
"...!"
"I never joke around; that's why you fell off that mountain."
Hee-joo couldn't help but shudder.
"Remember? Who was it that pushed you?"
No, no way... It couldn't be that. Hee-joo shook her head desperately.
But the long-forgotten feeling resurfaced in her mind—the feeling of a heavy arm shoving her. It all happened too fast. They had taken a group photo together, raised their hands, and shouted slogans.
"No, it couldn't be..."
There was no one there besides the publicity office staff...
Her recently healed limbs began to tremble. In the final moment of the fall, whose face had she seen?
Hee-joo instinctively tried to remember, but everything remained blurry.
"It's time to hand over the phone, Sister."
The confession—this was the kidnapper's final order.