Lee Hyun was bothered by the image of Yura’s seemingly very upset face that kept lingering like an afterimage.

Was she displeased about being assigned a bodyguard? Or was she offended by the meddling regarding her work hours? He had no idea which part had hurt her feelings.

Last night, mentioning compensation for damages had inadvertently intensified his thirst, leaving him flustered.

The problem wasn’t his parents being downstairs, but Yura’s mood. If he forced himself on her in this situation, that would truly make him a beast.

Still, not having her by his side made him miss her, and he couldn’t focus on work, so he finished his tasks by Yura’s sleeping side. Looking down at the soundly sleeping Yura, her swollen cheek kept bothering him.

It was clearly Jin Kang Su’s doing, but what bomb had he dropped to make her keep her mouth so tightly shut, and why did that bomb need to be dropped? These unresolved questions still burned inside him.

His personality of not being able to let go of curiosities wouldn’t change. Lee Hyun went to see Yu Geon from the morning.

Given the chaotic situation, Yu Geon’s face was a mess too. Seeing his bloodshot eyes, it was clear he hadn’t slept.

“You’re here? You look terrible too. Sit down.”

“I’m busy.”

“If you’re busy, why did you come here?”

At Yu Geon’s somewhat aggressive words, Lee Hyun bluntly voiced his curiosity. First, the thing he was most curious about.

“Yura’s face, whose doing was it?”

“……”

Yu Geon, who seemed surprised and hesitated, firmly shut his mouth like his sister. It was obvious if someone who went to the family home came back in that state, what was he trying to hide? Lee Hyun suppressed the urge to strike the silent Yu Geon.

“Then should I go and check for myself?”

“…Sigh, you already know, why ask?”

Yu Geon seemed embarrassed to bring it up, knowing Lee Hyun had already figured it out. Well, no one would be proud of parents who crudely resorted to violence. Then, the second question.

“What’s the reason?”

“The fact that such a scandal broke out is the problem itself.”

It was an expected flow. Jin Kang Su, who values face and is sensitive to people’s gazes, would have gotten angry regardless of the reason. Lee Hyun felt pathetic for missing such an obvious thing.

“I heard Yura threw a bomb, what’s that about?”

“Are you interrogating me instead because Yura is keeping her mouth shut?”

“Well, if not you, I’d have to go to the in-laws’ house, should I go there and check?”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“What was that bomb?”

Yu Geon seemed to be pondering for a while, scratching his head. However, Lee Hyun didn’t care about Yu Geon’s deliberation. When he urged him to speak quickly since he was going to talk anyway, Yu Geon finally spoke up in a troubled voice.

“Father didn’t believe in Yura’s innocence. At those words, Yura exploded with what she had been holding back. She said she would cut ties and left. Saying not to look for her even if they heard news of her death.”

Even with that brief explanation, Lee Hyun could sufficiently imagine what words were exchanged. Jin Kang Su was known for spewing out any words when angry, causing many scandals. He wouldn’t have stayed quiet, especially to his daughter Yura.

The words Yura heard were probably related to her conduct, and she must have lost hope in parents who betrayed her trust. That’s why she said not to look for her even if she died.

“…Did she cry?”

“She’s probably crying inside, even now.”

“I see.”

Lee Hyun quickly turned around as if there was nothing more to confirm. As he reached out to open the office door, Yu Geon’s voice caught his ankle.

“Lee Hyun.”

It was just calling his name, but he knew the meaning behind it. Lee Hyun spoke in a cold voice suppressing anger, as if making a vow, without even turning his head.

“I won’t use force. Don’t worry. But I won’t leave it like this either.”

Fortunately, Yura’s commute went without any major issues. Though reporters were still camped around the art center, entry into the building was controlled.

Moreover, since it wasn’t her usual vehicle, she arrived safely at the underground parking lot without arousing suspicion from the reporters.

Yura sent the driver back, saying she would contact him before the end of work hours. And the place she immediately went to was the CEO’s office.

Ji Ho, with a face full of worry, let out a deep sigh.

“You should rest more.”

“I’m fine.”

“I feel ashamed towards you for bringing in someone unnecessary.”

“I’m not entirely happy about it, but I understand.”

Yura had understood from the beginning. Baek Jin Ho’s goal was also to reclaim first place, and that was the same for Yura. For that, Oh Se Jin’s choice was one of the good means.

So this problem couldn’t be blamed on anyone. If one had to find a cause, it would be Oh Se Jin. No, maybe it was Yura’s fault for providing the initial cause. Yura felt her chest tighten as bitterness spread thickly.

“Want to hit me instead?”

Seeing Jin Ho cockily sticking out his chin, Yura also raised her hand in response.

“Should I?”

“Hey, I’m still your brother-in-law.”

“Tsk, coward.”

Jin Ho muttered something about a scary woman who doesn’t take jokes as jokes. Meanwhile, Manager Kwon brought in some herbal tea, saying it’s good for mental stability. Following the faintly spreading aroma, Jin Ho explained the flowing situation.

“We’ll release an explanatory article soon. I’m sorry it’s such a poor explanation.”

“What are you going to explain? Oh Se Jin interviewed saying they’re still in love, what explanation is there?”

Unable to refute, Jin Ho just groaned painfully. Yura proposed to Jin Ho to put her decision into action.

“Just say there seems to be a small misunderstanding, that it was just accompanying the assigned artist to the hospital.”

“And then?”

“I’ll go to the reporters…!”

“No.”

Jin Ho cut her off with a stern voice before she could finish. Anyone could see this was the most effective method.

Before rumors spread further, she needed to step up herself and set the truth straight. For her own sake, and for Baek Lee Hyun’s sake too.

“There’s no other way to overcome this situation except that.”

“No one wants you to step forward.”

No, why does she need permission from others for her own problem? If not others, there was only one person who could make such a request.

“Is it my elder brother who says so? If that’s the case, I’ll persuade him.”

“Baek Lee Hyun doesn’t like it.”

Yura was at a loss for words at the unexpected name. Things had become noisy because of her, and CH Group’s image was being tarnished.

That’s why stepping up to explain was the quickest method. But he doesn’t like it? Yura just blinked her eyes with a bewildered face.

“Lee Hyun will change the flow of the game soon. Step up then, if you do.”

It meant to chime in from behind after Lee Hyun reveals the truth. Why should he step up to clean up her mess? He’s already a busy person, is he saying he’ll take on such a burden instead? That seemed too shameless.

This issue will eventually lead to divorce, would there really be a man who wants to clean up the scandal of a wife he’s going to divorce?

“It’s my problem. I’ll do it.”

“You’re Baek Lee Hyun’s wife and the mistress of CH Group. So this is Lee Hyun’s problem too. Try trusting him a bit.”

It was ridiculous that Yura had to trust him when Lee Hyun didn’t trust Yura. She also felt pathetic for not being able to refute Jin Ho’s words.

In the end, Yura left the CEO’s office without being able to say anything more.

She had to go to the office, but as her mind was complicated, she couldn’t bring herself to move for a long time, crouching in the emergency stairwell before finally gathering strength to move.

Fortunately, she didn’t encounter any other employees on her way to the office.

Separately from that, when she actually stood in front of the office, her heart pounded so much that she couldn’t easily open the door. After several deep breaths, when she raised her head, she met Ji Hye’s eyes head-on.

“Team leader!”

Seeing Ji Hye running over with a surprised face, Yura entered the office with an awkward smile. In an instant, team members surrounded Yura.

“Everyone must have had a hard time.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“The media is in an uproar.”

“I’m sorry. Everyone.”

While everyone was pouring out words full of worry, all Yura could say was sorry. Feeling awkward at how inarticulate she was, Manager Jung calmed the commotion with a composed voice.

“Team leader, rather than just being sorry, please tell us clearly. We think we should know the truth too.”

“That’s right. We won’t go around arguing whose words are right or wrong, but at least we who follow you would like you to tell us.”

Eun Young chimed in to Manager Jung’s words, urging for the truth. Yura pondered what words to say. It was the truth to her, but would they really believe it? In front of the truth that even her parents didn’t believe, Yura felt herself becoming infinitely small.

After moving her lips several times, Yura slowly and clearly conveyed what she had to say briefly. Without adding any unnecessary details, she just listed the key points.

“I used to date pianist Oh Se Jin. It was before I joined Songlim, and we broke up when he left to study abroad. This is all the truth I can tell you.”

Silence fell in the office for a moment. Yura was afraid and scared of this silence and couldn’t bring herself to raise her gaze from the floor. Then, Manager Jung took Yura’s hand. The fingertips that had been trembling slightly without her knowing stopped with Manager Jung’s warmth.

“I understand well. Then, don’t be discouraged. Looking so deflated doesn’t suit you, team leader.”

At Manager Jung’s kind voice, no different from before, Yura raised her trembling eyes.

“You… believe my words?”

“I don’t know about other things, but I know you’re not the type to lie, team leader. So be more confident.”

Eun Young, who was nearby, also wrapped one arm around Yura’s waist and spoke as if agreeing with Manager Jung’s words.

“We believe in you, team leader, who else would we believe? Five years of time didn’t just pass by.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Yura felt her eyes becoming moist. She felt ashamed for not trusting these good people. She had thought they were just coworkers, no different from others, but now they seemed to know her better than her family.

She had thought she lived a vain life without friends to confide in, but perhaps that was because Yura herself had built walls around her.

She didn’t have the courage to pour out everything and complain right away, but if she tried from now on, this relationship seemed like it could improve further.

Yura suddenly felt that workplace colleagues could sufficiently become friends. So from now on, wouldn’t it be fine to make this relationship even closer? She thought that maybe she hadn’t lost all her friends yet.

“Now, since the team leader is here too, let’s get to work quickly. Work!”

At Manager Jung’s loud words, everyone quickly moved to their own seats.

Yura quietly looked around the still unchanged office and walked towards her own office. As Manager Jung said, she headed to her seat with her shoulders straight and confident as always.

It was just as Yura was about to open the door to the team leader’s office.

“T-Team leader! Th-This! This!”

Ji Hye’s shout rang loudly through the office.

From the startled Yura to the other employees who had been sitting at their desks, everyone stood up and turned their attention to Ji Hye.