I Was Reborn at My Engagement Party, So I Proposed to Someone Else novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: Episodes

Ji-an didn't call So-hee.

She went downstairs barefoot and found Tae-gyeom awake at the long table, in a grey T-shirt, with his laptop open on the same post.

He closed it when he saw her.

"Sit," he said.

He put a kettle on and came back with a mug of something pale gold that smelled like autumn.

"Persimmon-leaf tea," he said. "My mother dries the leaves on her roof. She sends me a bag every month and a lecture about my liver."

Ji-an wrapped her hands around the mug.

"It isn't true," she said. "I was never in a hospital. I saw a counselor for a year after my father died. Once a week. In a building with a bakery downstairs."

"I didn't ask."

"I'm telling you."

He nodded, once, as if she'd handed him something and he'd put it somewhere safe.

"It's Jae-hyuk," she said. "He has the only copy of that letterhead. I gave it to him myself, when I thought he should know everything about me."

"What do you want to do?"

"Daeyang has its spring charity auction on Saturday. He'll be on stage. I'm still on the guest list."

"Then I'm coming."

"You weren't invited."

He took a sip of his own tea.

"I'm never invited," he said. "I still come."

The Daeyang Hotel ballroom was all white orchids and old money.

Every head turned when they walked in, and then every head turned carefully away.

Ji-an heard it moving around the room behind her.

Psychosis. Hidden. Poor Jae-hyuk.

A woman she had lunched with every month for three years looked straight through her.

Tae-gyeom stayed exactly one step behind her left shoulder, the whole time.

Jae-hyuk took the stage after the third lot, a pair of celadon vases.

He had chosen a dark suit tonight. Mourning colours.

"Before we continue," he said into the microphone, "I want to say something about Ji-an."

The room went soft and attentive.

"Many of you saw what happened last weekend. I just want everyone to know that I don't blame her." He swallowed. "She's been struggling for a long time. I hope her family finally gets her the help she needs."

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