“When the trip ends……”

Se Hee’s eyes trembled as she looked at Kyle.

“I’m thinking of staying in Venice a bit longer. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay together.”

Kyle asked carefully.

With a trembling heart, Se Hee looked up at Kyle.

After the trip ends?

Does promising about the time after that mean all of this isn’t an act?

The thing called hope that had faintly bloomed in Se Hee’s heart cautiously poked out its head.

A small beam of light seemed to gently illuminate Se Hee’s dark heart.

But in that moment, the content of articles about Kyle that flashed through her mind swallowed up that small light of hope.

[A fearsome entrepreneur who will stop at nothing for the success of new business.] [A young CEO with cold reason and bulldozer-like tenacity.]

Just the words used to describe him were enough to know what kind of person Kyle was.

He is a perfect person in every way, rational in any situation and able to control his emotions.

He was clearly showing that side of himself in this cruise business that the Evans Group was newly attempting to enter.

Having already experienced that Kyle, Se Hee was confused by the conflicting emotions crossing in her heart.

Is what he’s saying now sincere?

But soon negative thoughts came rushing in.

Of course not.

What if it’s true?

No, that won’t happen.

Se Hee was dizzy from her emotions changing countless times like flipping a palm.

But in the end, she was consumed by negative emotions.

A dark shadow naturally fell over Se Hee’s face.

Kyle must be a thoroughly calculating person.

So, talking about after must also be intentional.

Promising about after the trip ends would be the perfect safety measure to accurately wrap up Decona’s maiden voyage until the very end.

Se Hee thought Kyle’s proposal was his final ploy.

A bitter feeling spread through Se Hee’s entire body.

The deep depression made even the beautiful blue sea spread before her eyes look dreadful.

“I’m not forcing you. I just… wanted to spend a little more time together, so I asked. Se Hee, just tell me comfortably according to your schedule. Of course, if you allow it, I’ll take care of all the preparations.”

Having read Se Hee’s expression showing severe mood swings in that brief moment, Kyle quickly added that it was okay to refuse.

But the meaningful look Se Hee had shown kept bothering him.

It must have been an unreasonable request to suddenly propose plans for after the cruise trip ends.

Kyle blamed his rash self for carelessly bringing it up, driven by the purely personal thought that he didn’t want to part ways right after the trip ended.

“……I do have about a week of time left.”

Se Hee’s answer was unexpectedly positive after hesitating for a moment with a strange expression as if contemplating.

“A week? You can spend more time with me in Venice?”

A bright smile spread across Kyle’s face like a child who had received an unexpected gift.

“Yes. I want to… be with Kyle too.”

These words were Se Hee’s true feelings.

Hoping he would understand that desire to be with him.

Enough to want to say it directly.

But she also already knew it would be an unkept promise.

That it would be a promise that would disappear into thin air in two days.

“Kyle.”

Se Hee called Kyle softly.

“Can I hug you just once?”

And then she asked with a shy expression.

Kyle furrowed his brow as if Se Hee’s request was somehow displeasing.

“No.”

He firmly refused.

Se Hee’s surprised eyes immediately grew large.

“Because once won’t be enough.”

Kyle, who had been gazing at Se Hee with deep eyes, spread his arms wide.

At Kyle’s action, Se Hee’s expression soon softened and she leapt into his arms as if being pulled in.

And she hugged Kyle tightly with all her strength.

I love you.

Kyle.

I truly love you.

I’ll never forget this moment.

She pushed those words she couldn’t bring herself to say deep into her heart.

Se Hee, who had buried her face in Kyle’s chest, ended up shedding tears.

“Se Hee?”

Kyle was flustered, immediately noticing Se Hee’s trembling as she sobbed.

“It’s because… I’m so happy.”

Saying that, Se Hee buried her face deeper into Kyle’s chest.

Because this moment is so precious.

Because every moment spent with you feels like a dream.

Only the sound of bells was ringing in Se Hee’s ears.

The bells announcing 12 o’clock when the magic would be broken.

Se Hee inhaled as deeply as she could.

She engraved Kyle’s scent deep into her lungs as if it were the last time.

So she would never forget.

Kyle Graham Evans.

I bid farewell to my love.

* * *

The next morning.

The Decona arrived at its final port of call, Bari, Italy.

As soon as they arrived at the port, Kyle was proceeding with work at a whirlwind pace from early morning.

But trying to wrap up tomorrow’s schedule in Bari as well, he was running very late returning to the Decona.

Even while frantically proceeding with work, Kyle’s mind was full of nothing but thoughts of Se Hee.

He had tried to spend time alone with her last night, saying in advance that he wouldn’t be able to join the port excursion today because the day’s schedule was tight.

However, Kyle had to take a step back again at Se Hee’s ambiguous attitude, not readily answering.

Perhaps because of that, Kyle was even more curious about what Se Hee had been doing alone all day today.

He tried to comfort himself that they would be able to spend time just the two of them starting tomorrow, so he shouldn’t rush, but all of Kyle’s nerves were already directed towards Se Hee.

After finishing work, why did the way back to the Decona feel so long? As time passed, it became increasingly difficult for Kyle to be patient.

“Dave. The preparations for the Venice hotel tomorrow……”

Kyle’s words weren’t even finished when Dave let out a heavy sigh openly.

“Sir, I’m sorry but I think you’ve asked that question more than three times.”

Even though he knew and had closed his mouth, Dave went so far as to tell Kyle the number, making him wince.

“……Sir.”

Dave’s voice that followed was lower than usual.

“……Are you serious?”

Dave asked carefully.

Kyle knew what he was asking about, but didn’t answer.

Dave glanced at Kyle with a worried expression.

“As you know well, sir…… I……”

“Dave.”

Kyle’s cold gaze soon flew to Dave.

At Kyle’s sharply rebuking voice, Dave had no choice but to close his mouth again without finishing what he was going to say.

This was as far as he could go in expressing his opinion.

He couldn’t break Kyle’s stubbornness after he had already made up his mind.

Dave realized once again that he could no longer step in.

However, Dave’s face deepened with concern, unable to hide his uneasiness.

* * *

Se Hee did not choose the port excursion in Bari, which was the final port of call.

Because today was the time for Se Hee to wrap up everything related to the trip, including Kyle.

Instead of the port excursion, she quietly packed her belongings now.

Tomorrow this trip will all come to an end.

Se Hee, who had first packed the suitcase she had brought, finally checked the gifts she had received from Kyle one by one.

She had thought she was receiving them from a cruise line CEO she didn’t even know, but to think it was Kyle.

She really received a lot during that short period.

When receiving them, she was just happy without knowing anything.

Just thinking she was lucky, without knowing the inside story.

A hollow laugh escaped.

Se Hee carefully checked each item as if handling precious treasures and placed the gifts intact in the original boxes they came in.

And she stacked and arranged them in the center where they could be easily seen by whoever comes in after she leaves.

As Se Hee got up after placing the boxes, she bumped into something standing next to her.

It was the wedding dress set up in the middle of the room.

The wedding dress, flaunting its figure glamorously, seemed to be shining especially beautifully today.

The day she wore this dress was the happiest day of her life.

Not a single thing was without precious memories.

Soon teardrops rolled down once again.

Se Hee’s wet gaze slowly moved to the wedding photo of the two of them placed next to the dress.

The wedding photo given by the event staff was well contained in the provided luxury frame.

So it looked even more like a real wedding frame.

Wiping away her tears, Se Hee picked up the frame.

This was the only thing she decided to take with her.

In the photo, Se Hee was smiling brighter and happier than ever before.

Kyle standing next to her looked truly wonderful.

Like a beautiful and happy newlywed couple, the two in the photo matched so well.

Se Hee stroked Kyle’s face in the frame with trembling hands.

She thought she had made enough memories with him for herself.

Recalling it, her surging emotions welled up again.

She felt like a fool for still not being able to cut off her feelings, her emotions for him, despite knowing such shocking facts.

It seems she had truly come to love him so terribly in such a short time.

Taking slow deep breaths, Se Hee had to forcibly put down her emotions.

While wrapping up everything from the trip,

She decided to carefully fold up those emotions one by one and bury them forever deep in her heart.

* * *

It had already been two hours since Kyle, having finished his schedule, arrived at Francois’ private room for dinner with Se Hee.

But Se Hee still hadn’t shown up.

She had never been this late before?

Even when she was late due to the circus performance, it wasn’t more than thirty minutes.

So when thirty minutes had passed, he comforted himself not to rush.

But when an hour had passed, he started to worry if something might have happened.

However, recalling past incidents ruined by haste, he decided to wait a little longer.

And another hour passed.

Finally, Kyle’s patience reached its limit.

Just as Kyle, who had jumped up from his seat, was about to go out the door, Se Hee entered.

Kyle’s deeply furrowed brow immediately relaxed.

“I was worried. Were you not feeling well?”

As if his two hours of waiting time and patience were nothing, Kyle first checked on Se Hee’s well-being.

But Se Hee’s face was stiff.

Kyle’s heart grew cold at Se Hee’s expression, similar to the last masquerade ball.

Kyle tried to ignore his feelings, thinking Se Hee looked very tired.

“If you were so exhausted, you should have just said you’d rest. We’d better go right in. You look like you’re about to collapse. You’re not sick, are you?”

Asking carefully, Kyle approached Se Hee’s side and gently grasped her shoulder.

Se Hee’s watery eyes trembling finely as she looked up were clearly visible to Kyle.

“Kyle…… I have something to say.”

Kyle quickly sensed an ominous feeling from Se Hee’s shaking voice.

“……Shall we eat first?”

Like someone’s saying that bad premonitions are rarely wrong, Kyle instinctively realized at once that the words to follow would be negative.

As if wanting to delay that time even a little, he was instinctively avoiding it.

“I ordered in advance today, and I don’t think you’ll have any complaints about my choices.”

Kyle naturally returned to his seat as if nothing had happened.

“Kyle.”

Kyle’s heart stopped completely as he looked at Se Hee’s eyes that had turned cold.

“If it’s not urgent, let’s eat first and then……”

Se Hee’s cold voice flew towards Kyle, who was trying hard to avoid it.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to join you.”