“Is this really my face right now?”

On the morning of her first day back at work, Se Hee sat in front of her vanity and was speechless at the sight of her miserable appearance.

Her haggard face and ashen skin were serious problems.

She thought she had been to the emergency room thanks to Manager Kim, and had been eating well since then.

It seemed to have been too severe, and it was taking time to recover.

Se Hee sighed heavily and applied thick makeup.

She wanted to avoid looking gaunt if possible.

Manager Kim would understand the reason for her condition, but other employees would surely make strange misunderstandings by connecting it to Cha Hyo Jun.

She didn’t want to receive such ridiculous misunderstandings, but she had been too exhausted to think that far ahead.

After finishing her makeup as meticulously as possible, applying it thickly like stage makeup, Se Hee left her home.

Faced with the reality of gray buildings packed tightly together instead of the blue sea, it felt even more real that the wonderful trip was over.

Although a month had passed, everything seemed unchanged.

The only thing that had changed was Se Hee herself.

Se Hee, who now had a deep wound in her heart.

And painful memories too.

As always.

They would flow away with time.

As if nothing had ever happened.

Se Hee took a step forward with a heavy sigh.

After getting off the subway, she bought an iced Americano at her regular cafe and headed straight to the company.

When Se Hee entered the office, everyone looked at her with surprised expressions.

It must be because of her haggard appearance.

It seems that makeup alone wasn’t enough to cover it up.

Pretending not to notice, Se Hee nodded greetings to the employees and headed first to Deputy Manager Yang.

“Thank you for your help. I’m back.”

After bowing quickly, she hurried to her desk.

Surprised by Se Hee’s serious face, Deputy Manager Yang couldn’t even properly return the greeting and stared blankly at Se Hee’s back.

Se Hee paid no attention to the glances darting her way or the buzzing atmosphere in the office.

Adapting to the harsh reality had always been Se Hee’s role.

As soon as she sat down and turned on her monitor, a message from Manager Kim popped up.

[It’s okay. You did well. Fighting for today too!]

With that message, Se Hee’s uncomfortable feelings melted away.

“Looks like you didn’t have a good vacation? I wonder why?”

But just as her mood was improving, Se Hee’s brow furrowed properly at the sound of an unwelcome visitor’s voice.

Hyo Jun was standing there, as if he had been waiting, throwing out sarcastic remarks.

“If you were going to be so obvious about it, why did you do it? Making people’s hearts flutter. Looks like you haven’t been eating properly. Let’s go downstairs. Let’s have breakfast together.”

Hyo Jun said brazenly.

Are you crazy?

Se Hee was so dumbfounded she couldn’t speak.

But what was really strange was that before going on the trip, she had been full of worries about how to deal with Cha Hyo Jun when she returned,

but now, seeing Cha Hyo Jun in front of her, she felt none of those emotions.

He just looked like an annoying squid or cuttlefish.

No, Hyo Jun looked so pathetic it was unfair even to squids and cuttlefish.

In vulgar terms, he looked contemptible.

To think that this Cha Hyo Jun, who had once shaken her entire being, now seemed contemptible.

Pfft. Se Hee couldn’t help but laugh.

“What? Are you happy that I’m taking care of you?”

Hyo Jun was interpreting the meaning in his own way.

“Deputy Cha Hyo Jun.”

Se Hee called out to Hyo Jun seriously.

Se Hee felt a surge of irritation at the very, very inappropriate word chosen by the contemptible Cha Hyo Jun.

“Yes. Your elder brother is right here. Say it.”

Whether he knew or not, Hyo Jun still responded nonchalantly.

“It’s five minutes before work starts. Why don’t you stop talking nonsense and go back to your seat?”

Se Hee said sharply in a stiff tone.

“What? Non-nonsense?”

Hyo Jun’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

He froze in place, unprepared for Se Hee’s unexpected attitude.

Se Hee looked at Hyo Jun leisurely.

This newfound strength must be thanks to that person.

If what happened with him hadn’t been an act, she might have been able to deliver an even stronger punch to Hyo Jun.

For a moment, a sharp pain arose in a corner of her heart.

It still hurt just to think about it.

Ah, Se Hee let out a deep sigh to calm herself and shifted her gaze to the monitor.

Hyo Jun lowered his posture and approached closer, fumbling at Se Hee’s desk.

“Are, are you crazy?”

Hyo Jun’s voice lowered, seeming conscious of their surroundings.

“I came on purpose, thinking of you, because we have a past connection. Are you rejecting this blessing?”

Hyo Jun glared fiercely at Se Hee, growling.

“Blessing? Who? You? Cha Hyo Jun? Are you the one who’s crazy?”

Se Hee deliberately spoke in a loud voice.

“Hey!”

Hyo Jun’s voice finally rose as well.

“Take good care of your wife. Past connection? Don’t make me laugh. What’s with this crude behavior? Do you still have lingering feelings for me? Well, too bad. I don’t have any at all. So, could you please. get. lost?”

Se Hee spoke in an even louder voice, emphasizing each word.

Hyo Jun’s face turned red and blue with an expression that said this was the ultimate humiliation.

“You…… Lee Se Hee. You’ll really regret this.”

Hyo Jun returned to his seat, glaring as if cursing Se Hee one last time.

“There’s a saying that those who say ‘you’ll regret this’ aren’t scary at all, right? Or was it a proverb?”

Se Hee added one last taunt, directed at the back of Hyo Jun’s head.

Manager Kim quietly turned his chair and gave Se Hee a thumbs up.

Total victory!

He mouthed the words and turned his chair back, trying to hold back his laughter.

Several company messenger windows popped up on the monitor simultaneously.

Thunderous messages of support from the employees.

Se Hee couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation.

Just how much had Hyo Jun tormented people?

He hadn’t been that bad of a person before, but they say position changes people.

It seemed he had become like a Japanese collaborator.

And Kyle, who had been in such a high position…….

Se Hee naturally thought of him.

She could tell just by how the general manager of François Restaurant had treated Kyle so respectfully.

Authoritative and cold…… a frozen man.

Pfft. Se Hee laughed.

And at the same time, sadness washed over her.

It seems it won’t be easy to forget.

Every moment, he came to mind like a habit, and each time, pain followed as if it were one with that memory.

Focus, Lee Se Hee.

This is work.

My livelihood depends on this.

I decided not to believe in eternal love anyway.

Even though she tried to forcibly suppress it, that faint energy continued to envelop Se Hee’s entire body for a while.

* * *

Kyle’s office at the British headquarters was so suffocating with his foggy aura that it was hard to breathe.

The only one who could overcome that energy was Dave, who had been silently keeping his place by Kyle’s side for a long time.

The headquarters was in an uproar due to Kyle’s sudden decision in Venice regarding a new business plan related to Korea.

However, Kyle had already beautifully succeeded with the new cruise line business that everyone had opposed.

Because of this, no one dared to voice any opposition to this new business venture.

Everyone thought that Kyle’s choice of Korea must be based on an extraordinary business insight for investment.

Only Dave knew the inside story.

“Sir.”

Dave cautiously called out to Kyle.

“Do you have more to report?”

Kyle asked without even giving a glance.

Kyle, who seemed to never take his hands off work 24 hours a day, had become even sharper recently.

More precisely, from the moment the schedule on the Decona ended.

“The materials you’ve seen are all there is. However.”

“However?”

Kyle’s gaze flew sharply at Dave’s unsettling ending.

“It has been confirmed that Whalens is already preparing for the bid. By now, they’ve probably noticed that we’ve entered as well.”

Dave answered with an uncomfortable expression.

“So?”

As expected, Kyle’s expression showed that nothing seemed to be a problem.

“If possible, it would be better to avoid…”

“If anyone should avoid it, it should be them. Don’t you think?”

Kyle said mockingly, cutting off Dave’s cautious words.

“I apologize, sir. But if this gets on the lips of those who like to talk, your condition…”

Kyle’s piercing gaze cut off Dave’s words once again, as if he had overstepped.

“What I want now is SY Hotel.”

Because Lee Se Hee is there.

“I understand. I will do my best to ensure there are no hitches in the acquisition.”

Dave bowed his head as if resigned.

He always voiced his opinions out of concern, but the response was always negative.

But Dave thought that just mentioning it was the best he could do.

Although Kyle said he didn’t believe in superstitions, Dave knew he was always mindful of them.

Just then, the direct line to the CEO’s office rang.

−Sir. It’s the CEO of Whalens Group.

Dave’s expression darkened at the sound coming from the phone.

It seemed Whalens was moving quickly as soon as they heard the news.

Dave sighed deeply and looked towards Kyle.

However, Kyle’s expression seemed rather amused.

His arrogant expression was gaining a strong energy.

“Connect it.”

Although it wasn’t a call he particularly wanted to receive, Kyle decided to allow it as there was something he needed to make clear.

−Connected, sir.

As soon as the secretary’s words ended, a voice full of unpleasant energy flowed from the other end of the receiver.

−Kyle Graham Whalens. Long time no see.

Even at that severely sarcastic tone, Kyle’s expression didn’t change.

−Ah… That’s right. It was Evans, wasn’t it? I’m still not used to it.

“Can’t help it if you’re stupid.”

At Kyle’s low response, there was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

After a while, an unpleasant voice continued with a sigh.

−Ha, even after such a long time, you’re still as unpleasant as ever.

“Just state your business.”

Kyle cut him off shortly.

−You already know, so why ask? Don’t touch other people’s food. Get out now.

A irritable voice warning him came through the receiver.

“I wonder whose prey will be the tempting morsel thrown before the predators? If you’re not confident, you should be the one to get out. Before you get badly hurt.”

The other party seemed intimidated by Kyle’s cold, low voice alone and was silent for a moment.

−It’s just a small hotel. It’s not even that good a prey for you. Besides, I claimed this one first.

But soon, a screaming voice as if struggling resounded through Kyle’s office.

“SY Hotel is currently the most attractive prey to me.”

Kyle’s voice was firm.

−So this is all-out war, is it?

“All-out war?”

Kyle’s cold sneer transmitted even through the receiver.

“Would that be possible? For Raymond William Whalens to dare challenge Kyle Graham Evans?”

Kyle properly provoked and trampled on his opponent.

−You’ll regret this. Kyle.

Raymond ended the call first, speaking as if grinding his teeth.

* * *

Raymond threw the phone on the table as if to smash it.

Damn it.

Why did he suddenly jump in?

Until now, he had acted as if he had no interest in Korea at all, not even glancing at it.

Why was he putting the brakes on his business at this point in time? Raymond’s anger towards Kyle surged.

He had been doing underground work, investing more money and time than expected.

If he lost this acquisition as well, Raymond might forever lose his place in Whalens.

It was a precarious situation where he might have to step down from his position as CEO.

Raymond nervously pulled at his own hair.

He acted like a gentleman on the outside, but that bastard Kyle was no different.

He must be trying to ruin my business.

If Kyle was determined to fight, the outcome was obvious.

He had already experienced several times that he was no match for Kyle.

He just couldn’t admit it.

Ha, I need to think of another way.

Another way.

Raymond’s dark blue eyes flickered dangerously.