Adis' wedding was just a few days away. The house was buzzing with celebration, yet Ria couldn't shake off the lingering shadows of that night by the seaside. One afternoon, she stood alone on the rooftop, watching the sunset. She wore a light blue sari, and the breeze kept lifting her pallu.
The Unexpected Rooftop Moment
As Ria gazed absentmindedly at the sky, someone suddenly grabbed her hand from behind. Before she could react, she saw Adis standing there, his eyes wild with an unexplainable frenzy.
Without a word, Adis pressed her against the wall. Ria's 6'3" tall frame seemed to freeze under his sudden force. Before she could utter a word, Adis kissed her deeply on the lips.
For a few seconds, the world seemed to stop. Ria's eyes widened in shock. When Adis finally pulled back, only one whispered word escaped her lips—
Ria: (in a hushed, stunned voice) "Adis! Are you crazy? What did you just do?"
Adis, still staring into her eyes, his breathing heavy, replied:
Adis: (smiling slightly, but with determination) "Yes, Ria, I'm crazy! And this madness is nothing new. Years ago I never had the courage… today, I did it to finally release the torment I've carried. You're now Mr. Lee Min-ho's wife, a mother of two—I know all of it. But inside me, the little Adis who loved you all these years is taking his last farewell."
Ria's lips trembled as she placed her hand over them. She didn't know whether to be angry or cry.
Ria: "But Adis… your wedding is just around the corner! Didn't you think of Sayra? If Lee had seen this, what would have happened?"
Adis: "If Sir Lee had seen, he might have killed me—and I would not have regretted it. I will marry Sayra, yes, but I want to carry this memory of your lips with me to the grave. Say whatever you want—hit me if you dare."
Ria was speechless. Tears glimmered in the corners of her eyes again. Adis turned and walked down the stairs, leaving her alone on the rooftop. The red glow of the sky slowly melted into darkness.
The Rooftop Accident
Seconds after Adis went down the stairs, the rooftop seemed to fall into darkness. The usually stormy wind stilled, and a buzzing sound filled her ears. Ria clutched the wall, trying to steady herself, but her body refused to obey.
Her 6'3" tall, regal frame collapsed onto the rooftop floor as she fainted.
At that moment, Lee Min-ho arrived at the rooftop with milk bottles for the kids. As he stepped onto the rooftop, his feet slipped, and he froze, seeing his beloved Ria lying unconscious.
Lee Min-ho: "Ria! Ria, open your eyes!"
In his 6'5" strong arms, Ria felt feather-light, yet her pale face filled him with fear.
Lee Min-ho: "Adis! Adis! Check her! What happened to Ria?"
Hearing Lee's voice, Adis froze mid-step. Seeing Ria unconscious in Lee's arms shook him to his core. He wondered if his impulsive act had almost sent her to death.
Adis: (shivering) "Sir… she was fine just a moment ago!"
Lee Min-ho: "I don't know! I came and saw her collapse. Adis, get the car! We need to take her to the hospital!"
Inside the Hospital
Lee Min-ho paced the corridor, his white shirt sleeves rolled up, face full of deep worry. Adis stood in a corner, guilt written all over his face. After a while, the doctor, a close friend of Lee, came out.
Doctor: "Lee, Ria is out of danger. But the reason she fainted was extreme mental stress. Her nervous system couldn't handle the emotional shock."
Lee frowned: "Mental stress? She seemed fine at home."
The doctor smiled slightly, placing a hand on Lee's shoulder, and whispered:
Doctor: "The real news is… Ria is pregnant. She's conceived again."
Lee froze for a moment, overwhelmed by a mix of joy and disbelief. But the doctor, with a crooked smile, whispered further:
Doctor: "Tell me honestly… even with her physical weakness, did you… have any physical relation with her? At this stage, she's very sensitive, so extreme caution is needed."
Lee Min-ho's face went pale. He had been away on a business trip for a month!
Lee Min-ho: "With whom? What are you talking about? I haven't been near her for weeks! I just returned today!"
The doctor's face turned pale. "But… Lee, she's about 5–6 weeks pregnant!"
Lee's mind flashed back to the night by the seaside and today's rooftop scene—where Adis and Ria were alone.
Face-off: Lee Min-ho vs. Adis
Without a word, Lee Min-ho grabbed Adis by the collar and slammed him against the wall. His eyes blazed with rage.
Lee Min-ho: (shouting) "Adis! Did the doctor say that? I was away for a month! And you… you took this chance… is this your reward for my trust? Tell me the truth! Were you behind Ria's condition?"
The hospital fell into pin-drop silence. Adis trembled, but hearing Lee's words, his years of suppressed resentment and defiance erupted. He didn't step back.
Adis: (laughing crazily, crying) "Yes! It's me! I did it! I did everything! You think money and a palace bought her? I loved her when everyone laughed at her height! You gave her a royal life, but I gave her my soul. Yes! I touched her! Because she wants me more than your fake royalty!"
Lee Min-ho: "You… bastard! I considered you a brother!"
He threw a fierce punch at Adis' face. Adis flew back, blood trickling from the corner of his lips—but he did not stop.
Adis: "Hit me! Hit me more! Will that change the truth? The life growing inside Ria belongs to me! Either divorce her or kill me, but she will never be yours alone again!"
At that moment, Ria stumbled out, gripping the wall, her face pale, tears streaming. She had heard everything.
Ria: (in a broken voice) "Stop… Lee, Adis… stop!"
Lee Min-ho's eyes hardened, fury radiating like a dark shadow. The weight of betrayal coursed through his veins.
The Deadly Nod
Lee Min-ho drew out his phone. Maim, a cold-blooded bodyguard in a black suit, stood ready. A single nod from Lee meant "finish it."
Maim restrained Adis and shoved him into the elevator. Ria screamed, holding onto Lee's shirt, sobbing uncontrollably.
Minutes later, a gunshot echoed from the hospital's parking lot—'Bang!' The entire building trembled.
Maim returned, holding the still-warm pistol. Calmly, she said:
Maim: "It's done, Sir. Adis will never disturb you again."
Ria collapsed into Lee Min-ho's arms. His hands trembled as he held her. Victory? Or had the trap of Adis' impulsive love left permanent scars even in their hearts?The sound of the gunshot and Adis walking away created a storm that Ria's body and mind simply could not endure.
Just as Lee Min Ho reached out to lift her, a horrifying sight unfolded.
The Terrifying Moment: Ria's Bleeding and Coma
As Ria collapsed lifelessly, fresh blood suddenly began to pour from her nose. Within seconds, her white dress turned red. The severe psychological shock had triggered internal bleeding in her brain.
Lee Min Ho screamed in panic,
"Doctor! Hurry! Ria! Ria, look at me!"
Nurses and doctors rushed in with a stretcher. Ria was immediately taken to the ICU. Outside in the corridor, Lee Min Ho stood like a madman. His pride, his authority, his composure — all reduced to dust.
After some time, the doctor came out, his face extremely serious.
Doctor: "Lee, the condition is critical. Due to severe psychological trauma, she has suffered a brain hemorrhage. Ria has gone into a deep coma. Whether she survives… and even if she does, whether she remembers anything — only God knows."
Lee Min Ho dropped onto a chair in the corridor. One thought echoed in his head:
"What have I done? What have I done?"
Lee Min Ho's Breakdown
At that moment, his doctor friend came and sat beside him. Lee grabbed his hand tightly, tears flowing uncontrollably.
Lee Min Ho (crying): "Bro… what do I do? In my anger I finished Adis, and now Ria is leaving me too! Who will I live for? What will happen to my twin children? What about the unborn child in her womb?"
Doctor Friend: "Calm down, Lee. You let your emotions win and made a terrible decision. Maybe Adis lied, but you never gave him a chance to speak. If Ria doesn't come back from this coma, you will never forgive yourself."
Lee stared blankly at the hospital wall. The gunshot sound and Ria's scream still echoed in his ears. The man who once kept the world beneath his feet now stood helpless before the possible loss of his love.
The hospital corridor felt like a graveyard.
Lee Min Ho sat with his face buried in his hands, his body trembling silently.
At that moment, Ma'am slowly walked toward him. She wore the same black coat, her face emotionless.
Lee looked up, eyes bloodshot.
Lee Min Ho: "What did you do, Ma'am? I said it in anger, but why did you really pull the trigger? Everything is ruined… everything!"
Ma'am remained silent for a moment. Then she took out a shirt button from her pocket — Adis's shirt button.
Ma'am's Secret Truth: The Dramatic Twist
Ma'am (calmly):
"Sir, you trained me to be your shadow. When you lose control in anger, I must think with a cool head. If I had actually killed Adis today, Madam Ria would never have returned to your life, and you would have become a murderer forever."
Lee Min Ho straightened up like he had been electrocuted. A faint light of hope appeared in his eyes.
Lee Min Ho: "Then… the gunshot?"
Ma'am: "The shot was fired into the air. I did not kill Adis, Sir. I have kept him in a safe house outside the city. After Madam Ria went into a coma, I interrogated him. He broke down. He confessed that the pregnancy story was completely false. He only wanted to destroy your happy family so that you would throw Madam out, and he could run away with her."
Lee Min Ho stared at Ma'am, stunned. Relief that he wasn't a killer… but also the crushing betrayal of a friend like Adis.
Ma'am: "Sir, Adis is under my custody. And Madam Ria… the doctors say your presence is very important for her recovery. Go to her and whisper in her ear that Adis is alive. Maybe this news alone can bring her back from the coma."
Lee Min Ho ran toward the ICU window.
On the other side of the glass, Ria lay motionless. An oxygen mask on her face. The bleeding had stopped, but her body looked terribly pale.
Lee Min Ho placed his hand on the glass and broke down in tears.
Lee Min Ho:
"Ria… come back. I won't let anything happen to you. Adis is alive, Ria. Everything will be okay. For our children… please open your eyes…"Inside the ICU, a terrifying silence hung in the air.
Suddenly, a long, continuous sound came from the monitor —
"Peeeeeeeeeeee…"
The jagged line of the heartbeat turned completely straight.
Ria's heart had stopped.
The Final Tragedy: Ria's Departure
The doctors rushed toward her immediately. Electric shocks were given. CPR was performed. But Ria's 6-foot-3 body showed no response.
After several desperate attempts, the doctor slowly removed his mask, his face filled with sorrow. He stepped outside and placed a hand on Lee Min Ho's shoulder.
Doctor: "Lee… we tried our best. But Ria is no more. She is dead."
Lee Min Ho stood there like stone. It felt as if no sound could reach his ears. Ma'am stood beside him, unable to hold back her tears. She had saved Adis for the sake of Lee's family, but now that very family had turned into a graveyard.
Lee Min Ho staggered into the cabin.
Ria's lifeless body lay under a white sheet.
He pulled the sheet away and looked at her peaceful face. The girl whose height the world once mocked had now risen above all humiliation and existence forever.
Lee Min Ho (broken voice):
"Ria… how could you leave me like this? What will happen to our little twins? What was the fault of our unborn child? I never wanted to be a killer, Ria… I only didn't want to lose you. But in the end, I am the one who killed you…"
He kissed her cold forehead one last time. His tears rolled down onto her still cheeks.
Adis's Fate
In the hospital basement, Adis sat under the guard of Ma'am's men.
When he heard that Ria was gone, he began screaming like a madman, banging his head against the wall.
Adis:
"What have I done! I wanted to have Ria, but I sent her to the grave! In trying to hate Lee Sir, I destroyed Ria instead!"
Adis's lies and stubbornness destroyed two lives in a single moment.
Even though he was alive, every second of his remaining life would now feel like hell.