Covering herself with the blanket up to her head, she sobbed. Unable to breathe properly, she sat up abruptly.

The person she saw after two weeks was completely different from when he went on a business trip. The cold and indifferent man she resented, a chilling atmosphere she had never seen before.

His fully dilated black pupils were supported by malice, and his twisted smile was chilling without knowing whom it was mocking.

And… the slow and low-spoken words were so sharp that even though it wasn’t a long speech, her heart shrank. Because she saw deep wounds in his eyes captured by seething hatred.

Yet, it was just good. Good to see him again. Even if Nam Tae, with his eyes wide open and alive, said not to meet again, even though they knew it was an irreparable relationship.

While sobbing, she played with the necklace. In the midst of it, feeling suffocated, she punched her chest with a fist.

“Oh… Oh…”

Drip-drop. The ceiling echoed with the sound of rain. Tears-like spring rain fell throughout the night.

Since last night, the rain had subsided to a drizzle. Se-ah, tossing and turning in her blanket, reluctantly got up at the sound of the alarm.

Out of habit, she glanced at her phone. 8 AM. Since Kang-woo didn’t contact her, the phone was practically useless. She even thought about getting rid of it. It only made her look at it unnecessarily.

Although there wasn’t much to do, it felt like she spent the morning busily. And when she dozed off at her desk, there was a light knock after a brief silence, then another, and another.

Belatedly realizing the knocking sound, Se-ah got up groggily. Still half-asleep, she opened the door. Surprisingly, Kang-woo, with a stern expression, was squinting at her.

“Did you open the door without checking who it was?”

She thought it might be a dream. The Kang-woo who had left last night, the one who had coldly turned away, had come again the next day.

Rubbing her eyes, Se-ah hesitated before Kang-woo, who was now staring at her with a bemused expression. Soon, he reached out and touched her forehead.

“No fever.”

He said coldly and withdrew the hand Kang-woo had reached out. Only now realizing the reality, Se-ah tried to quickly close the door. However, Kang-woo had already firmly grabbed the doorknob.

“…What’s the matter again?”

“I told you yesterday. It won’t be over until I get tired of it.”

“When will that be?”

Her voice, which was usually calm, turned cold if not indifferent. The morning’s practice had its effect.

“You’ll have to see how far it goes.”

Even yesterday, there seemed to be a fierce gaze mixed with emotions, but now his voice was chilling. If she could endure and not react a couple of times, he might give up.

“I have nothing more to say to Mr. Kang-woo. Haven’t you heard what happened already?”

Kang-woo, who had nonchalantly nodded his head, took off his jacket. The area around his shoulders was slightly wet, probably from getting caught in the rain. Kang-woo pulled a shirt button without tying a tie.

Se-ah’s eyes, unintentionally touched, trembled faintly. The necklace that always hung around his neck was gone. Even though she thought she saw it yesterday…

“Watching you makes it hard to breathe.”

With the bass voice, she finally came to her senses.

“So, please don’t come.”

Trying to pull the door strongly, Kang-woo didn’t allow it.

“Did your father tell you to come? This team leader called you and threatened you over the phone, right?”

A sudden sharp gaze was thrown at her. Soon, a wry smile spread.

Just yesterday, engulfed in betrayal, her eyes had turned cold. The sudden words he brought out made her heart pound. If Nam Tae found out, she didn’t know what cruel thing he would do to Kang-woo.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then it’s true that you colluded with your father?”

“So there are two contracts. You have a good memory, right? Let me tell you when I made the second contract.”

“That’s enough.”
The sound of biting the lower lip rang out. Kang-woo, with an impatient look, raised his long eyebrows and let out a sigh.

“You can do anything with someone you hate, huh?”

“…….”

“Not just words and glances, but even bodies. Impressive. It feels like it was the last mercy when Kojinho attacked, tying my tie. Was that your final act of kindness?”

Looking at the deep pupils filled with despair, he could be sure that he had just tested her.

It was fortunate that he didn’t see the bitter smile at the end of the voice that had been released. It was unfair to be treated like this even though she did well. At the end of the relieved voice, he turned his gaze without daring to look at the chilly smile.

“How does it feel? Getting hit once.”

“…….”

“Oh, I asked the wrong question. I should have asked how it feels to run away. You must have felt refreshed at the thought that it was over.”

“That’s right. It was refreshing.”

His narrow forehead became narrower, and the area around his dark, melancholic eyes turned red. Of course, he twisted his lips so that it wouldn’t look like that.

“Give me an umbrella.”

Se-ah’s eyes became faintly narrow at the unexpected words.

“I hate getting wet in the rain.”

“You have a car.”

“I don’t.”

“You drove for five hours.”

Could it be that something happened last night? No, it’s just a pointless delusion. Why would he lose his sanity over a woman who betrayed him?

“I don’t know. Anyway, just get me something.”

“…Buy it at the convenience store.”

“I don’t want to go there if it’s raining.”

“Don’t force yourself.”

“Don’t act petty over trivial things. I made 1.5 billion because of me.”

Quietly went inside and brought out a three-tiered umbrella. Without looking, she extended the umbrella.

But why is he asking for it now and not taking it when he wanted it? As if in a nervous breakdown, he didn’t look back, but felt a persistent gaze.

Unable to endure, she tried to turn her head to meet his eyes, and the umbrella disappeared. Instead, a cold metallic touch touched her palm. It was a car key with a logo of a top-tier brand.

“The promised third one.”

“Kang-woo…”

“I bought it to give it to you anyway. If I see it, it’ll just scratch my nerves.”

“…Then sell it.”

“Why, are you apologizing now?”

“…….”

“There’s nothing wrong with taking more for yourself. Don’t pretend to be modest in front of me in this messed-up situation.”

Kang-woo shook the jacket hanging on one arm and put it on.

“After all, you were going to get the third gift I promised you. What’s the rush?”

Kang-woo turned his steps. Se-ah, belatedly wearing any shoes, ran out, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Standing in the middle of the alley, she turned back, and her gaze fell on the building’s parking lot.

An expensive foreign car that didn’t match the building at all. On the driver’s seat of the car, there was an envelope with a 2-tier cake and a bouquet inside.

Right, today was the birthday I had forgotten.