67. The Bomb
Since Junhyuk occupied the man’s room, the boss waited for updates in one of the inner rooms on the first floor.
Knock knock.
The door opened as the knock echoed, and an excited subordinate entered with a bright expression.
“[Boss, we’ve confirmed it. The amount is indeed accurate.]”
Hearing the subordinate's report, the man’s face lit up with excitement.
“[So, can it be sent immediately?]”
“[I checked that as well. According to that guy, the transfer isn’t that simple. A bank’s approval is required, and even after multiple attempts, it stated that a personal visit to the bank would be necessary.]”
“[What nonsense is that?]”
“[He claimed it’s because it’s related to a trust account.]”
“[Well, we can withdraw it by tomorrow morning, right?]”
“[That’s what I was told.]”
“[In the meantime, make sure the captives can’t pull any tricks. We’ll leave this place by boat tomorrow morning.]”
“[Are you really letting them go? If the slaves are freed, it might cause trouble later.]”
Lowering his voice, the subordinate cautiously asked.
The man grinned slyly in response.
“[Have you forgotten what’s beneath this building?]”
“[Ah…!]”
To erase all evidence when needed, bombs had been installed beneath both buildings during construction. With the press of a button on his phone, the detonation devices could be activated.
“[As soon as we receive the money from that guy, we’ll blow up both buildings. So, there’s no need for unnecessary worry.]”
“[You’re wise. Then all we have to do is keep them locked here.]”
“[Exactly.]”
Though the island was valuable, the man didn’t regret it much. Land could always be acquired again later. For now, he needed to keep a low profile and plan his comeback while avoiding police scrutiny.
“[Any word from the police?]”
“[No, there’s been no news yet. I think they’re still trying to handle the report.]”
The informants planted within the Mindanao police were unresponsive throughout the day. Knowing when the authorities might move would have helped to gauge the situation ahead.
“[Just in case, load all the goods onto the boat beforehand.]”
“[Understood.]”
***
The captives were visibly relieved at the thought of being freed the next day.
Amihan’s condition had significantly improved, seemingly due to the effective medication.
Se-ah tended to Amihan while constantly glancing toward the door, almost every 10 seconds.
“You’re going to hurt your neck at this rate.”
Jisang clicked his tongue at Se-ah’s behavior, though he himself paced near the door, worried about his friend.
Late at night, Junhyuk returned.
Se-ah immediately jumped to her feet and ran to him.
“Are you okay?”
His face was clean as if he’d just washed off dried blood, but his clothes were still in disarray. Yet, his commanding presence was as strong as ever.
“Of course I’m fine. What about you? Any discomfort?”
He scanned Se-ah from head to toe with a meticulous gaze, almost like a customs officer.
Se-ah discreetly clenched her fist to hide a scratch on her palm—an injury she hadn’t even noticed until now. She knew all too well how overly concerned he could be over the smallest wounds.
She pulled Junhyuk aside to a secluded corner.
After glancing around cautiously, she lowered her voice as much as possible.
“Where did you get that kind of money? You’re not secretly dipping into company funds, are you? That would be disastrous!”
Se-ah was terrified at the thought of Junhyuk breaking the law for her sake.
Considering it was nearly impossible for an individual to have access to such a large sum, she assumed the money he was arranging must be company funds.
Junhyuk, seeing the unease on Se-ah’s face, chuckled lightly and replied with a smug air.
“So what if I use a little company money for you? I’ll inherit it all anyway.”
“Are you out of your mind? This isn’t the olden days! You’ll get caught!”
“Well, if I get caught, you’ll have to visit me in jail. It’s all because of you, right?”
“This man!”
“Ahahahaha.”
Junhyuk laughed as he looked at Se-ah, who was fuming with wide eyes. He then leaned closer and whispered so only she could hear.
“Do I really seem like someone who wouldn’t have that much money?”
“Well, you might have real estate or other assets. But having that amount of cash on hand is a different story.”
“You underestimate me. If there’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about, it’s money. Unless, of course, I die counting it.”*
“Wow…”
Se-ah’s jaw dropped at Junhyuk’s confidence.
“You know, that sounded so cool just now. If you’d said that when you proposed, I would’ve never divorced you.”
“If I had, we probably wouldn’t have ended up on this deserted island.”
Junhyuk playfully tousled Se-ah’s hair.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Coming here feels like fate, as if it’s telling us to start over.”
His words made Se-ah blush deeply.
She felt the same.
Though life on the island had been uncomfortable, it had given her countless memories with him. Experiences that money couldn’t buy.
Because she was here, she had seen the real Do Junhyuk.
And, eventually, she found herself falling for her ex-husband all over again.
If they returned safely tomorrow, she didn’t know what kind of life awaited her. But one thing was certain—she wanted to be by his side.
However, there was one thing she needed to confirm first.
Moistening her dry lips with her tongue, Se-ah called out to him.
“Junhyuk.”
“What?”
“Can I give you a quiz?”
“A quiz? Out of nowhere?”
“If you get all the answers right, I’ll do anything you want.”
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
At her answer, Junhyuk straightened his posture as if he were preparing for a serious exam. He looked as determined as a test-taker cramming for a major exam.
“Ask me anything—general knowledge, art, you name it. I’ll get everything right.”
Whatever he wanted must have been quite significant.
His eyes glinted with a peculiar intensity, and he stared at her lips with unwavering focus.
Gulping nervously, Se-ah asked her first question.
“Um… After you passed out from getting hit by the coconut, what did I do to you?”
“You tied me up.”
“What was that big animal we saw while exploring the forest?”
“A wild boar.”
“Where did we both fall?”
“Into a swamp.”
“Who was hanging off the cliff?”
“Boss Nam and you.”
As Se-ah continued her questions, her voice began to tremble with emotion.
Junhyuk had answers to all her questions.
He hadn’t forgotten a single memory.
Still, she wanted to keep confirming.
She needed assurance that the Junhyuk she once knew was still there, unchanged.
“And…”
“Enough.”
Junhyuk suddenly pulled her into his arms, cutting off her next question.
“You don’t have to ask anymore.”
“But still…”
“That guy you’re talking about is still here, inside me. Though I’m sure he’s annoyed about suddenly disappearing.”
“Then… does that mean the feelings from back then are still the same?”
Se-ah hesitated, her voice soft as she looked up at him.
Junhyuk gently cupped her face, lifting it with his fingertips.
“So that’s what’s been bothering you. No wonder your reactions have been strange since my memories returned. You should’ve just told me earlier.”
He chuckled lightly before letting out a small sigh, his shoulders drooping slightly.
“But what should I do? Even though the memories came back, my feelings aren’t quite the same as they were back then.”
Se-ah’s heart sank at his words.
Just because memories were shared didn’t mean the emotions tied to them would remain.
The moments that once made her heart race now felt like they belonged to her alone.*
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I’m fine…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Junhyuk pressed a finger gently to her lips.
“You have to let me finish. Of course, they’re not the same—they’ve only grown stronger. I like you even more now.”
His words made Se-ah’s eyes widen.
The breath she hadn’t realized she was holding finally escaped, and her chest filled with relief.
“I got all the answers right, so now it’s time for you to keep your promise.”
“What do you want?”
“When we return, let’s get married again.”
“That’s already…”
“That was a promise you made to someone else.”
Se-ah blinked in disbelief. It was clear that both of them were stubborn and resolute in their own ways.
And if there was a problem, it was that she found his determination endearing.
As she shook her head, Junhyuk added with conviction.
“I’ll make the proposal unforgettable. I’ll make sure you’re the happiest bride anyone has ever seen.”
☆TDIMEH Chapter 68-70(End Main Story)☆
The link will remain available until the next update. Thank you!]
🍓; *“Unless, of course, I die counting it” adds a witty twist. It implies that he has so much money it would take him a lifetime to count it all—and he might die in the process. This exaggeration reinforces just how financially well-off he is.
*it conveys a bittersweet feeling: something that was once full of shared emotion is now a private memory, no longer mutual.
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