It happened three days later.
Seo-yeon was sitting in the living room, pretending to read while her mind wandered somewhere far from the present.
The house was quiet.
Safe.
Fragile.
Then—
A knock.
Three sharp taps against the front door.
Her body froze.
Something about the sound felt wrong.
Not familiar.
Not gentle.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Her father stood from the kitchen.
"I'll get it," he said casually.
Seo-yeon watched him walk toward the door.
Her instincts screamed at her.
Something was wrong.
He opened the door.
A man stood outside.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Expression unreadable.
His eyes moved past her father briefly, scanning the house.
Calculating.
Her father stiffened slightly.
Recognition.
Fear.
Carefully hidden.
"…You found me," her father said quietly.
Seo-yeon's blood ran cold.
The man smiled faintly.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
Professionally.
"I was always going to," the man replied.
Her father stepped outside.
Closed the door behind him.
But it didn't matter.
Seo-yeon had already seen enough.
Her hands trembled.
The past hadn't disappeared.
It had only taken a different path.