Jeremy’s expression shifted rapidly as he realized what Yeon Yiseo was holding. Relief—thank goodness—and then satisfaction, as if he were reaffirming Yeon Yiseo’s usefulness. Watching that entire sequence play out, Yeon Yiseo felt strange. The Jeremy standing in front of him felt utterly unfamiliar. It didn’t seem like the Jeremy he’d known, the one preserved in his memories.
Yeon Yiseo looked at Jeremy again, as if to re-evaluate him. His complexion was poor, his face pale and drained, fatigue hollowing out his features until he looked gaunt. His posture was bad—his neck craned forward, his back hunched—making him appear far smaller than his actual build.
Who, exactly, was this man standing before him? Was this really Jeremy? The Jeremy he remembered had been… at the very least, a little more—no, at least better than the Jeremy he saw now.
Yeon Yiseo pressed his lips tightly together. His stomach churned, dizziness washing over him. One thing was clear: this wasn’t a good sign. The vertigo grew strong enough that he had to steady himself on his legs.
“Take it.”
He held out the check to Jeremy.
“Thank you…!”
Jeremy brightened and tried to snatch the check from his hand—but Yeon Yiseo tightened his grip. Alexander’s words resurfaced unexpectedly, about wearing the bracelet if he ever felt like it. From Alexander’s perspective, it might’ve been nothing more than an offhand remark. But Yeon Yiseo realized that as long as he continued this kind of relationship with Jeremy, that day would never come.
This relationship wasn’t healthy. It wasn’t as if he’d never thought that before. But he’d been unable to make a clean break, letting things drag on aimlessly, burdened by emotions he couldn’t quite define.
He felt sorry for Jeremy. He pitied him. But separate from that, his parents’ deaths weren’t Yeon Yiseo’s fault. The one who killed them was the robber. It was never Yeon Yiseo’s responsibility. Even if he’d been part of the chain of events, the entire blame didn’t rest on him.
And yet, knowing all that, he still couldn’t turn his back on Jeremy as he collapsed after losing his family. Jeremy’s parents had been kind, generous people who had shared warmth with Yeon Yiseo. That was why he couldn’t push him away. He hated being dragged down like this, but at the same time, he pitied Jeremy—unable to escape his grief, blaming everything on Yeon Yiseo because that was the only way he could survive.
Objectively speaking, Jeremy’s inability to stand on his own was his own fault. Even so, Yeon Yiseo believed he should do what he could. Not because he was kind—but because he got something out of this relationship too. A flimsy sense of responsibility, convincing himself he was supporting Jeremy in place of his parents, carrying him until he could stand on his own.
He hadn’t never wanted to escape. But he knew too well what would happen to Jeremy if he did, and that made him hesitate. Still, now—finally—he found the resolve. The courage to break free.
Patience wears down eventually. And once it was exhausted, the realization buried beneath it finally surfaced.
Yeon Yiseo was about to say something he’d never said to Jeremy before. The years they’d spent together clung like adhesive, making it hard to tear away. The words wouldn’t come easily. But he had to say them. He couldn’t shoulder Jeremy’s life forever. He didn’t need to live tied to Jeremy anymore. He’d done enough. He wasn’t Jeremy’s parent. He wasn’t his sibling.
Once he steeled his heart, everything moved with surprising speed. Jeremy shot him a puzzled look, unused to Yeon Yiseo hesitating like this instead of handing over the check immediately. Yeon Yiseo pressed his lips together once more.
“Let’s make one thing clear. After this, never come looking for me again.”
At his firm declaration, Jeremy froze like a mounted animal. His brown eyes bore straight into Yeon Yiseo. His lips twitched, and then he finally spoke.
“…You serious? You’re trying to wipe everything clean with this?”
“Think whatever you want. What matters is that I’m done being dragged around. I’m not cleaning up after you anymore.”
Yeon Yiseo cut him off. No matter what Jeremy said, his decision wouldn’t change. He wouldn’t waver. There was no point in listening—just wasted time.
Jeremy stared at him in silence. In the end, though, he had no choice but to accept it.
“Fine. I won’t.”
As he spoke, Jeremy snatched the check from Yeon Yiseo’s hand.
“So this really is the last time.”
His tone was sharp, like he was venting his anger. All Yeon Yiseo could see in his eyes was resentment—not a shred of gratitude for everything Yeon Yiseo had done for him over the years.
He’d thought he expected nothing in return from Jeremy. But that wasn’t true. Yeon Yiseo had been hoping—quietly—that Jeremy might recognize his sincerity, even just a little. Only now did he understand his own feelings.
And yet, it had all been for nothing. None of it had reached him. Yeon Yiseo had endured financial hardship and constant inconvenience because of that money. To Jeremy, it had all simply been a given. He felt it now, unmistakably.
Clack. The door opened and closed, and then there was silence. Jeremy was gone.
There was no way to be certain Jeremy would truly stay away. But if he did come back, Yeon Yiseo wouldn’t be the same man he’d been before. That was what mattered.
“…Haah.”
Letting out a long breath, Yeon Yiseo’s legs gave out and he collapsed onto the sofa. His fingertips trembled, his eyes stinging with moisture. He didn’t know why—too many emotions tangled together, making it impossible to stay calm. He didn’t want to cry. Closing his eyes, he waited for the storm to settle. It took a long time.
Thinking he couldn’t afford to let this affect his work tomorrow, Yeon Yiseo stood up. Remembering the bracelet, he picked up the jacket he’d draped over the chair. He took the box from his pocket and opened it—then sucked in a sharp breath. His heart dropped.
It was gone. The bracelet that should’ve been inside wasn’t there.
He blinked several times, wondering if his eyes were deceiving him—but it was real. Had he failed to bring it properly? Had he dropped it on the way home? As his thoughts raced through every possibility, a memory flashed back—Jeremy standing awkwardly as Yeon Yiseo emerged with the check.
Jeremy had stolen it.
His breathing turned ragged, the back of his neck stiffening. A wave of violent anger made his head spin. Even if he ran out now, he wouldn’t catch Jeremy. The sheer audacity—coming to beg for help and then stealing from him—made his vision burn red with fury.
At the same time, confusion flooded in. The price alone was astronomical, but that bracelet meant far more than money. The bracelet Alexander had given him carried a value beyond its worth.
Why hadn’t he checked sooner? His fingertips turned cold, his heart pounding violently in his chest.
He grabbed his phone and called Jeremy immediately, but all he got was a message saying the phone was powered off. Yeon Yiseo then dialed 911.
—Yes, this is 911. How can I help you?
“I—I was robbed. Something was taken from my home. It was inside a box, and now it’s gone. I have a good idea who took it, but…”
His thoughts were in disarray, his words coming out clumsy and unfocused.
—Are you currently confronting the suspect, or is the suspect visible to you right now?
The operator’s calm voice contrasted sharply with Yeon Yiseo’s state, helping him steady himself slightly.
“No, that’s not the case…”
—Then this would be considered a non-emergency. We can’t process this through 911. For incidents that have already occurred, you’ll need to call 311. Please contact them—I’ll forward a record through the 311 system.
After following the instructions and reporting the theft, police came to Yeon Yiseo’s apartment. The only reason they arrived so quickly at such an early hour was because the stolen item was extremely valuable. The officer, looking visibly tired from the late-night call, listened to Yeon Yiseo’s statement and scratched his head.
“So you’re saying the Cartier bracelet that was inside this box was taken. But why are you certain this person—Jeremy, was it?—is the one who took it?”
“We were alone together, and when I checked after he left, it was gone.”
“Hm… I noticed when I came in that there’s no CCTV near the entrance. There’s no concrete evidence proving he took it. Let’s see… You do have the certificate of authenticity, so I’ll take that in as evidence for now.”
As the officer slipped the warranty papers into an evidence bag, Yeon Yiseo spoke.
“If you dust the box for fingerprints, wouldn’t that prove who took the bracelet?”
“That’s true, but as you know, this isn’t a violent crime, so it’ll be pushed down the priority list. We’ll submit it, but it could take several months. I’m sorry.”
Which was essentially the same as saying there was almost no hope—and not to expect much.
