Chapter 10

The Red Notebook — Episode 10: (The Door)

Yuri couldn't sleep.

One sentence kept repeating in her mind.

“Ask your father what he saw when the door opened.”

What had happened at 8:40 PM?

And who had been behind that door?

The next morning, Yuri waited until her father was alone.

“Dad.”

He looked up.

“What?”

Yuri placed the hotel receipt on the table.

“You said you met Mrs. Han in Room 214.”

Her father stayed silent.

“What happened when the door opened?”

His expression changed.

“Yuri, I already told you to leave this alone.”

“You didn't answer me.”

He looked at the receipt.

For a few seconds, he said nothing.

Then he quietly asked,

“Where did you get this?”

“You already know.”

Her father sighed.

“At 8:40, someone knocked.”

Yuri's eyes widened.

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“You opened the door.”

He looked at her.

“Yes.”

“What did you see?”

Her father hesitated.

“I saw someone standing there.”

“Who?”

“I couldn't see their face.”

Yuri frowned.

“Then how do you know it was connected to the case?”

“Because they knew about our investigation.”

Yuri's heart began beating faster.

“What did they say?”

Her father looked away.

“They told us to stop.”

“Stop what?”

“The case.”

Yuri stared at him.

“And Mrs. Han?”

“She refused.”

“What did you do?”

Her father didn't answer.

“Dad?”

“I made a decision that night.”

Yuri waited.

“I decided to leave the case.”

Yuri's expression hardened.

“You left Mrs. Han alone?”

“I thought it was the only way to protect my family.”

Silence filled the room.

Yuri picked up the receipt.

“But you never told me any of this.”

“You didn't need to know.”

Yuri looked at him.

“Maybe I did.”

She turned to leave.

Her phone suddenly buzzed.

Unknown Number.

“He told you about the door.”

Yuri froze.

Another message appeared.

“But he didn't tell you what was left behind.”

Yuri slowly turned toward her father.

He was staring at her phone.

And for the first time, Yuri noticed something strange.

He looked scared.

Not of the message.

Of the question she hadn't asked yet.

What was left behind in Room 214?

To be continued…