“There’s a publication celebration for Assemblyman Choi Min Wook tomorrow.”

At Ki Bum’s words, Gyeo Wool recalled sorting mail not long ago.

A rectangular envelope with “Office of Assemblyman Choi Min Wook” written large on it.

Perhaps the envelope contained things related to the publication celebration.

Gyeo Wool believed Tae Wook already knew Ki Bum was trying to marry him to the assemblyman’s daughter.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have instructed to discard all mail coming from Assemblyman Choi.

“You make sure Tae Wook attends the publication celebration somehow.”

“What? How can I…”

“That’s for you to figure out.”

How could she possibly make Tae Wook go to the publication celebration?

Gyeo Wool was at a loss.

“If you’re helping Tae Wook with pure intentions, help him marry Assemblyman Choi’s daughter. But if you become an obstacle!”

A gloomy voice filled with malice.

“I won’t leave you or your family alone, you can be sure of that.”

“Please don’t touch my family!”

Gyeo Wool cried out in shock.

Her heart tightened and cold sweat broke out on her back.

“If you want your family to be safe, just do as I say.”

“But…”

“How dare you say ‘but’. Do as I say. Understand?”

“Yes. I understand.”

Gyeo Wool reluctantly answered.

“I’ve said all I needed to, now get out.”

Ki Bum gestured to the car door with his chin, not even his hand.

His attitude was arrogant and disdainful of her to the end.

As soon as Gyeo Wool got out of the car, the vehicle carrying Ki Bum left the parking lot.

Gyeo Wool’s legs, which had barely been holding up, gave out and she stumbled as if about to collapse.

“Mom!”

Gyeo Wool needed to pull herself together.

She took out her cell phone from her jacket pocket and called Myung Sook.

“Answer, Mom… please answer the phone.”

Unable to bear the anxiety, she twisted her lips with her fingers each time the dial tone rang and disconnected.

She twisted so hard that her lips turned from red to purple with bruising.

[Daughter! What’s the matter at this hour? You’re calling?]

The call connected and Myung Sook’s voice came through, happy to receive Gyeo Wool’s call.

“Mom… sniff!”

Perhaps because she had been so worried. The moment she heard Myung Sook’s voice, Gyeo Wool burst into tears.

[This is the timeline separator]

Underground parking lot of Flore Resort headquarters.

“There’s a problem with the apartment.”

Tae Wook was talking on the phone in the back seat of the car.

The person who answered his call was Butler Song, who was in charge of affairs at the family home.

[Has something serious happened?]

“Father bribed someone who works for me with money.”

[The vice chairman has done something he shouldn’t. You must have been very shocked.]

Butler Song didn’t seem particularly surprised.

And with good reason.

Chairman Kang may have succeeded as a businessman, but he completely failed at raising children.

Ki Bum and Jin Joo were troublemakers from a young age.

After dealing with the siblings who caused so many incidents, this level of trouble might not seem like much.

“I’d like Mrs. Lee moved to the apartment.”

[I conveyed your message to Mrs. Lee when you called last time. But given her age…]

“I know. Still, please ask her again. I need someone I can trust.”

[Alright. I’ll relay the message once more.]

Tae Wook ended the call.

Then he leaned back deeply in the seat and closed his eyes.

He felt stifled. To the point where it was hard to breathe.

After finishing a meeting with buyers, Tae Wook had tried to contact Ki Bum.

But neither Ki Bum nor his secretary answered Tae Wook’s calls.

Of course, he had expected that.

Even so, he wanted to give Ki Bum a chance to explain. Because he was his father.

“It’s Secretary Han, sir.”

Hearing Driver Choi’s words, Tae Wook opened his eyes and looked out the window.

He saw Gyeo Wool coming out through the glass doors, walking towards the car he was in.

The moment he took her in with his eyes.

“Hoo, hoo…”

Once, twice…

The breath that had been filling his chest to the point of bursting suddenly gushed out like a dam breaking.

How strange.

His breathing, which had been labored for hours, suddenly became easy the moment he saw Gyeo Wool.

Before getting in the car, Gyeo Wool looked around nervously.

It was because of Ki Bum.

She was afraid he might be watching her every move from somewhere.

“You don’t need to be that concerned. There won’t be any executive staff left at this hour.”

Tae Wook said to Gyeo Wool, who still looked tense.

But there was something he didn’t know.

That the person Gyeo Wool was worried about was Ki Bum.

He hadn’t even considered that Ki Bum might have summoned her while he was away.

“It doesn’t hurt to be careful.”

Gyeo Wool smiled faintly and looked out the window, avoiding Tae Wook’s gaze.

.

.

.

Tae Wook and Gyeo Wool returned to the apartment after having a simple dinner.

“Did you let the housekeeper know we’d be back after dinner?”

Gyeo Wool asked Tae Wook, looking towards the kitchen.

The housekeeper who always waited for them to return from work was nowhere to be seen.

“I wonder if she had some urgent business.”

The kitchen light was still on, and things looked somewhat messy, as if not properly tidied up.

It felt like the housekeeper had left in a hurry without finishing her work.

“Huh? Why is there a cell phone lying over there?”

Gyeo Wool noticed a cell phone lying between the living room and kitchen.

She tilted her head curiously and moved to pick up the phone.

But Tae Wook was faster.

He bent down and picked up the phone from the floor.

“This belongs to the housekeeper.”

“The housekeeper’s? Did something happen to her?”

Given the state of the kitchen and the phone on the floor, Gyeo Wool thought something must have happened to the housekeeper.

“I dismissed her.”

“What? So suddenly?”

Gyeo Wool asked in surprise at Tae Wook’s nonchalant words.

He hadn’t mentioned anything about this while they were having dinner out.

“Suddenly? I thought I said we needed to change because of the food.”

“Well, yes, but…”

Gyeo Wool trailed off, her expression darkening.

Though she had agreed with Tae Wook’s words, she felt bad about taking away the housekeeper’s job.

Moreover, wasn’t she the one who smiled and wished them well every morning as they left for work these past few days?

“You could have told me in advance.”

“What difference would that have made?”

“I could have at least thanked her for her hard work.”

Not knowing what had transpired between Tae Wook and the housekeeper, Gyeo Wool pouted her lips.

It seemed like he thought lightly of people he paid to employ.

“What’s there to thank…”

Tae Wook raised his thick eyebrows at an angle.

Not knowing what the housekeeper had been up to all this time.

Recalling the housekeeper talking on the phone with Ki Bum’s secretary, Tae Wook felt the anger he had been suppressing rise again.

He intended to keep quiet about what the housekeeper had done.

Letting her know about Ki Bum’s involvement would only amplify her anxiety.

“It might take a day or two until a new housekeeper comes.”

“That’s fine with me. While we’re finding a new housekeeper, I can…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Tae Wook cut her off before Gyeo Wool could finish speaking.

As if he knew what she was going to say, he drew a firm line.

“We can use the apartment’s breakfast service in the morning, and eat out for lunch and dinner.”

“I may not be great at cooking, but I can make simple things.”

Gyeo Wool wanted to help within her capabilities.

“Even if Secretary Han were a chef-level cook, don’t try to do anything. I don’t like it.”

“I… understand.”

She couldn’t insist any further.

“You must be tired. Go in and rest.”

“Yes. You too, sir.”

Gyeo Wool gave a slight nod and took a few steps towards the guest room.

But for some reason, she stopped and turned back.

Had he been watching her?

She felt his gaze, which had been fixed on her, waver slightly in surprise as their eyes met in mid-air.

“Did you have something to say?”

“Would you like to have a drink together?”

“A drink?”

Tae Wook looked quite surprised at Gyeo Wool’s sudden suggestion.

Seeing his brow furrow, Gyeo Wool felt she had spoken out of turn.

“If you’re not up for it…”

“No, it’s fine. Let’s drink together.”

Fortunately, Tae Wook didn’t refuse.

Gyeo Wool didn’t think she could fall asleep sober.

She had never tried sleeping with the help of alcohol before, but just for today, she wanted to fall asleep like that, as Tae Wook had done.

Then today’s pain would disappear and she would wake up to tomorrow.

“Let’s freshen up and meet. I’ll choose the drinks.”

.

.

.

Gyeo Wool quickly showered and changed into comfortable clothes.

She thought about drying her hair before going out, but that would make Tae Wook wait too long.

She roughly wrapped her hair in a towel and left the guest room.

Tae Wook wasn’t visible in the living room. The dining room lights were off too, so he wasn’t there either.

Gyeo Wool made her way to the home bar next to the study.

As she expected, Tae Wook was there.

He must have just towel-dried his hair after washing it,

as his hair was still damp and falling over his forehead.

Just letting his hair fall over his forehead softened his features and made him look a few years younger.

Moreover, he was dressed in pajamas, as if planning to fall asleep while drinking.

Did I dress wrong?

Gyeo Wool looked down at her own outfit.

Cotton pants and a sweater.

What would normally seem casual looked uncomfortable compared to pajamas, and she felt uneasy, as if she had come out guarded against him.

“I was about to start without you.”

He was just pouring whiskey into an on-the-rocks glass.

“Sit down.”

Tae Wook pointed to a chair for Gyeo Wool, who was standing awkwardly.

After seeing her sit down, he uncorked a wine bottle he had prepared in advance.

“I’d like to try something strong too.”

Gyeo Wool gestured with her eyes towards the crystal glass in front of Tae Wook.