"Any business rivals?" the officer asked.
Suho thought for a moment before replying, "I don't think so, Officer. It's been almost seven months since I've been in a wheelchair, and I haven't been very active in business. So I don't believe it's from any rivals."
The officer nodded. "Alright, Mr. Kim. I'll look into it. It might just be a street robbery attempt. Please take care, and if I need any more information, I'll contact you."
Suho nodded quietly. The officer stood up, gave a brief look around the family, and then walked out of the room.
Daehyun and Mrs. Kim stepped closer to Hauen. "Are you okay, Hauena?" Mrs. Kim asked with concern.
"Yes, Ommoni, just feeling a little weak," she said softly.
Mrs. Kim turned to Suho. "And you, Suho? How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine, Omma," he said quietly.
Daehyun placed a reassuring hand on Suho's shoulder. "Don't blame yourself, Suho. It's not your fault. Hauen is safe, and that's what matters."
Suho lowered his head, unable to hold back the tears that slipped down his cheeks.
Grandpa sighed softly and said, "Alright, everyone, let's step out for a while. You're all making him more upset. Let them breathe."
He gently motioned for everyone to leave the room. After a few moments, the room grew quiet again. Grandpa walked closer to Hauen, his expression soft but full of worry. He reached out and stroked her hair tenderly.
"Thank you, dear… for taking care of my Suho," he said, his voice trembling slightly before he kissed the top of her head. "But you shouldn't put yourself in danger like that. What if something happened to you?" he scolded gently.
Hauen smiled faintly. "I couldn't think of that at the time, Haraboji," she said softly.
Grandpa gave a small smile, eyes warm. "I understand, dear. And I truly appreciate your courage."
Hauen smiled.
He then turned to Suho. "You okay, my boy?"
Suho nodded quietly.
Grandpa smiled reassuringly. "Don't feel bad, okay? You did your best to protect her, and she's safe; that's what matters. So don't carry this weight in your heart anymore."
Suho nodded, trying to hold back the emotions rising in his chest.
"How is your therapy going?" Grandpa asked.
Hauen smiled and answered, "He's doing really well, Haraboji. His progress is amazing! The doctor said he'll be able to walk perfectly in about four months."
Grandpa's face lit up. "Really? That's great news."
Suho nodded a small smile crept on his face. "It's all thanks to her. She's been doing so much for me… sometimes I feel guilty," he admitted quietly.
Grandpa chuckled softly. "Don't feel bad, my boy. She's your wife, it's only natural that she takes good care of her husband."
Suho's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Hauen, and she met his gaze for a moment before quickly looking away.
"Alright, that's enough talking," Grandpa said with a gentle smile. "I spoke to the doctor. He said you can go home now, so let's get you both back to the mansion."
Suho looked at Hauen, and she seemed to understand what he was thinking.
"Haraboji," she said softly.
"Yes, dear?" he replied.
"We'll stay at the penthouse. We're comfortable there."
Grandpa frowned. "Hauen-ah, what are you saying? I can't let you both stay there. You're both patients; it'll be hard to manage on your own."
"I understand, Haraboji," she said calmly. "But we'll be fine. Bora and Mr. Lee are with us at home; they help with everything."
"But—"
She interrupted gently, "Suho is recovering well, and going back to the mansion might disrupt his progress. It's better we stay at the penthouse for now."
Grandpa looked at her and thought for a moment. "Alright… but if anything goes wrong, I won't listen to your excuses next time," he said firmly.
Hauen smiled brightly. "Don't worry, Haraboji. I won't give you a reason to scold me," she said playfully.
Grandpa chuckled at her cuteness, which made Suho smile softly, too.
"Fine, fine," Grandpa said with a grin. "Take care, both of you. I'll be calling every day to check on you both."
"Deal," Hauen replied cheerfully.
"Good. I'll go talk to the doctor and complete the discharge process," he said.
They both nodded, smiling as Grandpa left the room.
At Pent house:
Hauen and Suho were finally back at the penthouse, both having freshened up. Suho still carried a heavy weight on his heart, apologizing countless times throughout the car ride. Even Mr. Lee had apologized for not being able to protect her in time. Hauen did her best to calm them both, assuring them it wasn't their fault.
Suho sat quietly on the couch, his gaze never leaving her as she moved around the kitchen. Bora was helping her fetch some warm water.
"Don't look at me like that, Teddy Bear," Hauen called from the kitchen, her voice teasing.
Bora chuckled softly, a guilty smile tugging at his lips, but before he could speak, Hauen cut in, "If you're going to apologize for the hundred-and-first time, please just keep quiet."
Hauen carried a cup of warm water and walked over to Suho, her bandaged hand catching his attention. She sat beside him and gently ruffled his hair. "You shouldn't stress yourself like this, Suho. I'm fine. Look, I can even move my hands, it's just a small wound, that's all," she said softly, her eyes warm.
He looked down at her, guilt still weighing him down. "But it happened because of me."
"No," she said firmly. "Who said that? You're assuming things on your own."
Suho looked at her, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation.
Hauen smiled and pinched his cheeks playfully. "Stop feeling bad already! Look at your eyes, they're all puffy. You're looking like a dumpling," she teased, trying to lift his spirits.
He glared at her, his brows furrowed. "I'm sad for you, and you're calling me a dumpling?" he argued, clearly offended but in the most adorable way.
She smiled, unfazed. "That's exactly why. Stop being sad, or else you'll really end up looking like a dumpling."
He glared but turned away, pretending to be mad. Hauen couldn't help but laugh softly, the sound filling the quiet space. Then she leaned in and gently pulled him closer by his arm.
"I mean it, Suho," she said softly, her tone turning gentle. "Stop feeling guilty already. When you're sad, it makes me feel sad too. If I'm sad, then I won't heal quickly. And if I don't heal quickly, you will be sad again. And if you're sad again, you'll cry… which will make you look like a dumpling again."
Her logic was so silly that he couldn't hold it in anymore. That broke him, and he burst into a small laugh despite himself.. She smiled in relief, seeing that sound escape him again.
"Stop calling me a dumpling. I'm still not over being called a teddy bear and an elephant," he grumbled.
She grinned, eyes glinting playfully. "Then stop crying already. You've cried enough for me."
His smile softened as his gaze dropped to her bandaged hand. "You sure it's not hurting you?" he asked quietly.
"It does," she admitted honestly, looking at him. "But not as much as what you're going through, for the past few months."
Her voice was gentle but full of meaning, and for a moment, silence fell between them, only their eyes speaking what words couldn't.
His heart raced as she smiled at him, cupping his face gently. "This… this is nothing compared to what you've been going through, Suho. What you're dealing with is far worse than this small injury of mine that you're worrying about so much," she said softly, her words wrapping around his heart like a warm embrace.
He looked at her, a strange, new feeling stirring within him.
"So don't stress over me," she continued. "Focus on your recovery, you're almost there. Don't let silly things like this affect your health, okay?"
He lowered his gaze, unable to meet her eyes, feeling the weight of her words.
"From tomorrow, you'll resume your practice sessions, okay?" she asked gently.
He nodded slowly, still looking down. She smiled, teasing lightly, "Now smile a little, Teddy…"
His lips twitched, betraying the faintest hint of a smile. She leaned in and kissed his hair softly.
"Okay… It's late already. You must be tired. Let's go to bed," she said, her voice warm.
He nodded again. Mr. Lee came in to help him into his wheelchair and guided him to the bedroom. Hauen followed, tucking the blanket over him gently.
"Good night, dumpling," she said with a grin.
"Stop calling me that," he mumbled.
"Not tonight," she replied with a playful smile.
"Good night," he said, smiling genuinely, before walking toward her bedroom, his heart lighter than it had been in days.
As she lay down on her bed, a soft sigh escaped her lips. Her arm throbbed painfully, a dull ache pulsing beneath the bandage, but she had hidden it well, smiling through it all so Suho wouldn't worry.
She turned on her side, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying everything that had happened today, the dinner, the laughter, the attack, Suho's tearful face. It all felt like a blur until one thought hit her suddenly.
The message.
Her brows furrowed. She sat up slightly, wincing from the pain in her arm, and reached for her phone. Unlocking it quickly, she scrolled through her inbox, checking every conversation. But there was nothing, no such message.
"Am I hallucinating?" she whispered under her breath. But no, she remembered reading something. Something about… the accident.
Her pulse quickened. "Is there someone trying to hurt Suho?" she murmured, the question hanging heavy in the quiet room.
She leaned back against the headboard, mind spinning. Since her marriage to him, strange things had been happening: someone had secretly given her those pregnancy control pills, then the horrific accident that took their baby, and now this attack on Suho.
Could it all be connected?
The thought sent a chill through her. But she had no proof, nothing she could hold onto. Just suspicion. Just fear.
She stared at her phone one last time before setting it on the table beside her. Something's not right, she thought, eyes growing heavy. And I need to find out what it is…
With that thought lingering in her mind, she finally drifted into a restless sleep.