After getting into the taxi, Kim Chae Won leaned her body against the backrest and looked out the window.

Pitter-patter. The light rain was scattering on the glass.

‘Didn’t you know? Today is the CEO’s birthday.’

‘We’ll keep the celebration at the company simple and send him off as quickly as possible, so you two enjoy yourselves today!’

Even though she had said several times that it wasn’t necessary, Secretary An smiled even more and spoke as if being considerate.

Lifting her wrist to check the time, Chae Won wondered how he might be spending his birthday right now.

Still, he probably spent it happily with the company employees.

After work, he could spend time with a really close friend.

He could spend it with his grandmother.

“…No. Yoo Gun’s grandmother would expect to spend it with me, wouldn’t she?”

Then is he spending time with close friends?

But given his personality, it somehow doesn’t seem like he would have many friends.

Even though she’s not his real girlfriend, now that she knows his birthday, it keeps bothering her.

Biting her lip as she thought, Chae Won finally took out her phone, thinking she would just check.

Ring. Ring.

Before long, his voice was heard.

“It’s me.”

– Yes.

She was worried his voice would be heard amidst the silence, but fortunately, there was also loud music.

Thinking her worry had been needless, Chae Won adjusted her grip on the phone.

“Where are you?”

– At the gym.

“Gym… the gym?”

She had naturally thought he would be with friends or spending his birthday outside somewhere.

What nonsense is going to the gym on your birthday.

Right. I should have known.

He wouldn’t have friends. You can tell just by his personality.

– You’re talking like I shouldn’t be at the gym?

“Of course you shouldn’t.”

– Why not?

Suddenly. She thinks she may have gotten too involved, even though she’s not going to celebrate his birthday, so there’s no reason she should.

Thinking of a suitable excuse, Chae Won said with a disappointed expression.

“Because we need to take the photos again… No matter how I look at it, I don’t like the morning photos.”

– Didn’t you say this morning that they were fine?

“No, they’re really not good. Being all puffy in the morning, it’s a mess. I can’t allow such an unflattering photo to remain in my life. I’ve realized photos are better taken in the evening. So.”

Let’s meet for a bit.

She ended up saying it like that.

She really wasn’t going to meet him today.

– Where are you?

“I’m on my way to meet Noh Jae Min now. He said he’s drinking alone… I’m thinking of calling Go Ro Na too with this opportunity.”

– You’ll be drinking when you’re already lacking sleep.

“I’ll try not to drink much, but my condition is the worst anyway. Thanks to you.”

– When you arrive, leave your location. I’ll come pick you up.

After ending the call, Chae Won found it strange how her heart settled as she made plans to meet him.

She thought her heart would settle if she avoided meeting him as much as possible for a while,

But instead she felt relieved when making plans to meet.

She tries to habitually deny it, saying it’s just because the photos didn’t turn out well and she wants to retake them, but she actually knows.

That it’s all just an excuse.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Chae Won turned her head to the window as the car sped up.

The fierce raindrops hitting the glass blurred in large streaks one after another.

*

Taking a bite of peach, Ro Na hummed as she moved her pen.

“If we’re getting married within a month, it’s too rushed so we’ll do the wedding photoshoot after the wedding? Hmm… We should go to the dress shop right away this weekend.”

Sweetly chewing the peach in her mouth, Ro Na carefully examined the wedding checklist.

Tomorrow is the meeting of the families, the next day is reserving the wedding hall, trying to prepare for the wedding that usually takes at least three months in just one month was quite busy, but her heart was still joyful.

She doesn’t know how long she’s been dreaming of this moment.

“Oh right! Who will catch the bouquet!”

Suddenly remembering, Ro Na hurriedly took out her phone and looked at the names of her unmarried friends.

“Ah, yes. I should ask her.”

Swallowing the peach she had been chewing, Ro Na immediately called her friend.

“Hey Shin Young, it’s me, Ro Na. Yes, are you doing well?”

After exchanging a few greetings, Ro Na soon said with a blushing expression.

“Actually, I’m getting married soon.”

Hearing her friend’s voice expressing surprise at the sudden news, she giggled.

“It’s happening a bit suddenly. The date is within a month? Yes, I’m looking at venues these days. Mm-hmm. Oh, that’s why I’m calling, will you catch my bouquet for me?”

While receiving congratulations from her friend and chatting with a smile, several text messages came in on her phone.

Ro Na was about to skim them with her eyes and return to the call, but when she saw the sender was the detective agency president, she sat up straight.

“Oh, Shin Young, I’m sorry. I’ll call you right back. Okay!”

After ending the call with her friend, Ro Na hurriedly pressed buttons to check the incoming messages.

“Why at this hour?”

Muttering, Ro Na opened the message inbox and froze at the photo she saw first.

“…What is this.”

Jae Min, who had clearly been at home when they talked after work, was now drinking with Kim Hee Joo with a cheerful expression at this hour.

All of the several photos showed Jae Min’s smiling face.

Ro Na checked the date and time stamped below the photos with an unbelieving expression.

“Ha… So you’re saying they’re drinking together right now?”

Biting her lower lip hard, Ro Na immediately called Jae Min.

She would confront him as soon as he answered.

Where he was and what he was doing.

She waited for the signal with the thought that she would never let it go if he lied, but he did not answer the phone.

“Ha, so you’re planning to deny we didn’t meet tomorrow, Noh Jae Min?”

With trembling hands, Ro Na called the detective agency president.

Click. The president answered the phone quickly.

“Where are these two people?”

Ro Na’s face was chilling as she stood in front of the vanity.

*

“Do you know how hard this is for me right now?”

When Chae Won arrived, Jae Min was already quite drunk.

Since she didn’t come to be his drinking buddy anyway, Chae Won looked at him with a cold gaze as she crossed her legs.

“Are you having such a hard time because you can’t divorce me?”

Jae Min frowned and waved his hand in the air.

“No, that’s not it.”

He let out a long sigh as if he had just gone through a sticky breakup.

“I don’t even know my own feelings. Why I’m acting like this.”

Chae Won picked up the green bottle and filled his glass.

“Have a drink since it’s hard.”

“Mm.”

The full glass of alcohol quickly emptied as it poured down his throat.

“You probably don’t understand how I feel right now. How complicated I am.”

Brushing back her hair, Chae Won smiled softly and said.

“Why wouldn’t I know. I understand everything.”

“No, no. You don’t know.”

“Have a drink since your heart is complicated.”

Jae Min brought his newly filled glass close to Chae Won’s glass.

The two glasses clinked together with a clear sound.

“Haa, I’m really suffering.”

“Have a drink since you’re suffering.”

Once again, the two glasses clinked together with a clear sound.

“Why does it feel like I’m the only one getting drunk?”

“That’s not true, I’m quite drunk too.”

Jae Min, who had become completely intoxicated, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and asked.

“Did you just drink?”

Chae Won smiled as she shook her empty glass.

“I did.”

“Ah. I see, I see.”

“Here, cheers.”

“Cheers.”

Chae Won clinked glasses with him one more time before pouring the alcohol onto the rag thrown in the trash can below.

Since she didn’t come out intending to drink leisurely with him, there was no reason to swallow the alcohol from the glass that touched his.

“Hee Joo, should we just run away? Just up and run away?”

This time Chae Won really laughed because it was so funny.

Noh Jae Min, who fell for it so easily after being tempted a few times with a completely changed appearance.

The man who was trying to hide his affair and get divorced, now forgetting even the child in his mistress’s womb and asking to run away with his lawful wife.

“Why would I run away with you.”

“Huh?”

At the rare informal speech, Jae Min slowly blinked his heavy eyes.

Facing him, Chae Won smiled gently.

“We can just live together without divorcing, why run away?”

“Ah, right. That’s what you think… But your father keeps…”

At the sudden mention of an unexpected person, Chae Won straightened her head.

“My father?”

“Ah, no no. You don’t need to know.”

As she was looking at him with a puzzled gaze, she saw Ro Na entering the place.

Chae Won naturally turned her gaze to Jae Min.

“Honey.”

“Hm?”

His neck, which had been tilting as if he would fall asleep any moment, lifted with difficulty at Chae Won’s voice.

“My hands are cold.”

“Your hands? Why are your hands…”

Jae Min took Chae Won’s hand and mumbled that it seemed fine before finally dropping his head on the table.

“Jae Min!”

At Ro Na’s voice that had finally approached, Chae Won naturally raised her head.

“Ro Na, what brings you here?”

As expected, Ro Na, who had appeared, stared at Chae Won and Jae Min’s hands clasped together affectionately and moved her lips.

“Ro Na?”

Chae Won called her name, waking her from her daze as she couldn’t come to her senses with her pale complexion.

Turning her head again, Ro Na spoke, trying to calm herself.

“I was just passing by coincidentally. The back view looked familiar.”

“Ah, so you were just passing by coincidentally.”

“Yes.”

Ro Na glanced at the passed out Jae Min with a displeased look, then looked at Chae Won again with a fiercer expression.

“May I join you? We’re not strangers after all.”

“Of course.”

I invited you after all.

Chae Won gently stroked the tips of Jae Min’s fingers that were still touching hers, as if to show Ro Na.

Ro Na bit her lower lip as she stared at it with displeasure.

“He said my hands were cold, so he held them. He’s not letting go even though he’s fallen asleep like this.”

You don’t have the right to boldly tell me to let go of that hand right now.

You must have rushed here angrily, but you can only watch.

Because you’re the mistress.

“Did you two become close again with the divorce approaching?”

“That’s how marriage is. You fight and then quickly reignite the passion again.”

You must have thought Kim Hee Joo was stupid.

Not realizing how stupid you are for choosing such an unimpressive married man.

Now, it’s time for you to be upset.

“How are the wedding preparations going, Ro Na?”

At Chae Won’s words, Ro Na clenched her fists tightly under the table.

The gazes of the two women facing each other are fierce.