Chapter 5: Silent Pain

[Kang Group Headquarters – Late Afternoon]

The day had dragged on slowly, and by the time the sun began to set, Yujin was utterly exhausted. The work had piled up, and although he tried to focus on the reports and meetings, his mind kept drifting back to the morning’s events—how Jiwoon had walked past him without a word, without so much as a glance at the breakfast he had carefully prepared.

He hadn’t touched his food either. A small part of him had hoped that Jiwoon would at least acknowledge the effort, but of course, that had been wishful thinking. It didn’t matter.

Yujin rubbed his eyes tiredly, trying to focus on the final presentation for the day. But as he was lost in his thoughts, the door to his office creaked open, and his heart skipped a beat.

It was Jiwoon.

Yujin looked up in surprise, his emotions a tangled mess. Jiwoon was dressed in his usual business attire, his face as cold and unreadable as ever. The tense silence between them felt heavier than any words could convey.

“What do you need?” Yujin asked, trying to sound professional, even though his voice wavered slightly.

Jiwoon didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked into the room with purpose, his eyes scanning the papers on Yujin’s desk. Yujin’s breath hitched, but he forced himself to stay calm.

“I need you to revise this report,” Jiwoon said flatly, handing Yujin a set of papers.

Yujin nodded, though a bitter taste spread in his mouth. “Sure,” he said quietly. “I’ll get on it right away.”

Jiwoon’s cold gaze lingered for a moment longer before he turned to leave.

Just as he reached the door, however, he stopped. His shoulders stiffened, and for a fleeting moment, his back seemed to tense, as if he were considering something. Then, with an audible sigh, he turned back to face Yujin.

“You look tired,” Jiwoon said, his voice softer than usual.

Yujin’s heart raced at the unexpected words, but he forced himself to nod, keeping his emotions in check. “I’m fine.”

There was a brief, heavy silence between them, and for a moment, it seemed like Jiwoon might say something more. But then, as if shaking off whatever thought had crossed his mind, Jiwoon turned his back to him.

“Get the report done,” Jiwoon said with finality, and Yujin nodded, though the bitterness in his chest intensified.

Jiwoon didn’t even glance back as he walked out, leaving Yujin alone in the dimming office.

---

[Kang Family Mansion – Night]

Later that evening, Yujin returned home, his body weighed down by fatigue and the crushing loneliness he felt. Jiwoon hadn’t come home yet, and Yujin wondered, not for the first time, whether he ever would. Would he ever come back and show just a fraction of the care he used to? Or had their marriage become nothing more than a hollow formality?

As Yujin set the table for dinner, the door remained silent. No sound of Jiwoon’s arrival.

Yujin’s heart sank as the hours passed, and still, Jiwoon didn’t come back. The emptiness in the house was suffocating. Even the warmth of the dinner couldn’t quell the loneliness that spread through him.

Finally, as the clock ticked past midnight, Yujin could no longer keep the doubt at bay. His fingers trembled as he picked up his phone and dialed Jiwoon’s number, his hope flaring as he waited for the call to be answered.

But the call didn’t go through.

After a moment of silence, Yujin tried again.

This time, it wasn’t Jiwoon who answered.

“Hello?” Minjae’s voice came through the phone, casual and smooth.

Yujin’s heart lurched, his breath caught in his throat. “Minjae…?” His voice faltered, disbelief creeping in. “Where is Jiwoon?”

Minjae’s tone remained unphased, though there was a slight pause before he responded. “He’s… staying over tonight,” Minjae said, as though it were the most normal thing in the world.

Yujin’s world tilted. He felt dizzy as his grip on the phone tightened. “What do you mean, staying over?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“He’s not coming back,” Minjae said lightly. “He needed some time away. Don't worry about it.”

The words felt like a slap in the face. Yujin wanted to protest, to demand an explanation, but his throat had closed up.

Minjae’s voice came again, sounding almost too calm. “He’s fine. He just didn’t feel like coming home. Don’t worry.”

But how could Yujin not worry? How could he not feel the cold sting of betrayal?

“Okay…” Yujin managed to whisper before hanging up the phone.

The room seemed to spin around him as his legs gave way beneath him. He sank into a chair, his body trembling. His mind raced, and yet, nothing made sense anymore.

---

[Kang Family Mansion – Late Night]

Yujin sat in silence, the phone still in his trembling hands. The reality of it all felt unbearable—Jiwoon had spent the night somewhere else, with Minjae, and no explanation. Just the hollow words from Minjae.

Yujin closed his eyes, the weight of the situation crashing down on him. The house, once filled with memories and promises, now felt like a prison. Every corner was a reminder of how far apart they had drifted. How much had changed, and how little hope remained.

He couldn’t even call out for Jiwoon anymore.

The tears came then, silent and heavy, as the realization finally set in.

Jiwoon had chosen to leave him. And Yujin was left to pick up the pieces of a shattered marriage.

---

(To be continued in Chapter 6...)

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