The composed face of this chairman, who had maintained composure, contorted. He rose abruptly, gripping the armrest of the sofa as if he would crush it.

“Just letting this trash of a child go! Don’t worry; I’ll have Seo Jang take care of it.”

“Father, please wait a moment.”

Min-young urgently restrained her father’s hand searching for a phone from all around.

“I know you’re angry, but please listen to me. Initially, I wanted to report him. However, if I report it, it will spread through rumors, and I will be in the gossip articles again.”

“You can stop the articles.”

“In times like these, it’s not easy, as you know. Even Cha Eui-won is doing as he’s asked, unable to handle that girl.”

“Heh, I see.”

The chairman slumped back into his seat. Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he took a deep breath.

“Moreover, it could unnecessarily lead to another controversy. If Hyun-tae is involved again, talking about this and that situation… I can’t bear it anymore. People everywhere either laugh at me or pity me, and my confidence is low. It’s too hard.”

Tears welled up in Min-young’s eyes. Shivering even down to her thin shoulders, she looked pitiful. The chairman watching her also felt aching in his heart, and his eyes seemed to moisten.

“I know you’ve had a hard time. That’s why I sent you to the United States.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Father.”

The chairman let out a heavy sigh. While Min-young was crying, she quickly rolled her eyes to catch her father’s mood.

“If I marry Mr. Kang Woo, Hyun-tae won’t be able to meddle anymore. Also, there won’t be any more rumors about me and Hyun-tae. Even false ones. Places similar to our household will treat me as if I have a defect. I can’t live while enduring such a situation.”

“Min-young, why do you think so negatively.”

Min-young’s eyes, which had stopped crying, flashed blindly.

“Anyway, if Mr. Kang Woo marries, he’ll bow down to us more from his side. Just think of it as having a smart and capable man as a son-in-law. Right, Father?”

“Think carefully. Don’t cry.”

The chairman pulled out a tissue and affectionately handed it to his daughter.

“Because your heart is so difficult, you’ll have a hard time leading the company later.”

“If I get married and stabilize, I’ll be able to handle work better. Promise, Father. Please.”

“I know. Let’s just go out and have a meal.”

With a deepened expression, the chairman rose from his seat. Min-young’s gaze, playfully holding her father’s hand, seemed to have captured the most precious toy.

In the early dawn, Se-ah woke up. She lay comfortably in the guardian’s bed, but she couldn’t sleep deeply while being with the patient.

Did Mr. Kang Woo’s test results come out this afternoon?

The chief physician who came for the check-up yesterday said there seemed to be no particular problems. However, she needed to hear the results to feel reassured.
The doctor emphasized that even when he returns home, he must stick to porridge for a while. He needs to avoid overworking and manage stress well, but does he have the time to listen? Returning to work immediately, he was about to be overwhelmed by work.

Sleep fled in an instant. Silently standing up, she looked at Kang-woo, who was sound asleep on the opposite bed.

Perhaps it was due to the stability agent mixed in the IV, or maybe it was because of the extreme fatigue accumulated so far. The agile him sleeping so peacefully made even her feel serene.

Carefully finding slippers and putting them on, she lifted her foot gently. She had said that if he moved even a bit, she would come back to bed. Fortunately, he didn’t make any movements.

She pulled the guardian chair placed next to the bed, trying not to make a sound. Sitting comfortably, she admired his sleeping face.

I wonder what his reaction would be if he wakes up now and sees me stealing glances at him. If he wakes up after sleeping, would he glare at me as if asking why I’m stealing glances…?

His countenance seems cold, yet it looks intellectual, mainly due to his long and sharp eyes and distinctive nose. If you only looked at his slightly parted lips and smooth jawline, he might have had a handsome face. His mouth corners naturally lifted.

“I love you.”

Whispering to him who couldn’t hear, she quietly stood up. Since a while ago, a red light had been blinking on the bedside table.

It was the light emanating from Kang-woo’s phone. It seemed like the alerts for missed calls or messages were continuously ringing.

They had never casually looked at each other’s phones before. It was an implicit agreement, but Kang-woo had subtly shown interest.

While focusing on the phone, she was surprised by his sudden reflection in the screen several times. Also, there were times during the chat when he openly asked who it was, looking directly at her.

Actually, I was curious, too, but I pretended not to be. I had a one-sided crush for a long time, and I still love him more. It seemed like I might become repulsive if I showed excessive attachment.