“I heard you went on a date.”

That day, I couldn’t bring myself to ask why the two of you went to that hotel. My heart was burning with curiosity. But I heard you went on a date.

I thought you were ex-lovers and believed you when you said you had never forgotten her.

But it turns out what you wanted was a date with that woman.

You kissed me to get that date, and like a fool, I even gave you the night.

So why are you losing sleep over it? Why can’t you sleep?

“Stop biting your lip.”

Si Heon reached out and pulled So Yi’s lip down.

She didn’t avoid it. She just looked up at Si Heon with lifeless eyes, swallowing the words she wanted to say.

“What can I do to make you forgive me?”

His languid voice was filled with pleading, almost desperate.

It’s disgusting.

Does he want to hold me more during the contract period anyway?

Since we spent one night together, two or three times would be even easier, right?

Even if he can’t have me completely, does he want to enjoy me like a passing breeze?

How easy must I have been?

I didn’t pull, but I was drawn in. I clung to him on my own.

‘Our contract isn’t over yet.’

He couldn’t comfort me about how difficult and painful it was for me, but he was good at saying things that tore my heart apart.

“Did you enjoy sleeping with me?”

The jumbled thoughts came out as nasty words before I could organize them.

“What?”

His steady gaze suddenly distorted.

“Is that why you want to sleep with me more?”

Once the floodgates opened, it all came pouring out uncontrollably.

“Do you want to hold me more during the contract period?”

“Jin So Yi!”

A vein popped out, running along his firm neckline.

“You didn’t actually take my drunken confession seriously, did you?”

So Yi took a short breath and said:

“It seems you’ve mostly achieved what you wanted, but haven’t reached your perfect goal yet? If you have, please terminate the contract here.”

I should have just stayed as I was.

If you hadn’t pretended to like me, pretended to be shaken by me, I might have continued my one-sided love like a fool.

“Watch your words.”

“I’m speaking after careful consideration. I’m useless to you now anyway.”

So Yi finished in an intensely cold voice. Si Heon’s eyes sank coldly.

Feeling blood rushing from his toes to his head, Si Heon gritted his teeth and continued:

“Fine, let’s end it.”

So Yi clenched her fists tightly, lips pressed firmly together.

“Alright. I’ll take that as your answer then.”

She replied calmly, suppressing her trembling breath.

“I’ll be going now.”

So Yi quickly turned around to hide the tears welling up, and left the CEO’s office with Si Heon behind her.

Only after getting in the elevator to return to her office did the tears burst forth.

I shouldn’t have fallen for him.

No, I should have just admired him from afar.

Like an unreachable celebrity, I should have just looked at him with vague adoration and admiration.

Why did I try to have him?

Why did I become greedy?

Hot tears flowed endlessly down her cheeks.

She only now realized that after the sun had fully set over the sea, all that remained was the dark, cold night.

She hadn’t known then that the red sunset staining the sea doesn’t linger for long.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Did you see the CEO’s expression earlier?”

After So Yi was called to the CEO’s office, the office was abuzz with talk about her.

“I know. I didn’t think Jin would be so bold.”

“I thought something was strange. She started wearing expensive clothes and accessories one day, but never had lunch alone with him at the company.”

Finally unable to listen anymore, Hye Na stood up from her seat.

“That’s not true. They’re really dating, I’m telling you.”

“Come on, Ms. Yoo. Don’t defend her needlessly. You’ll get criticized along with her.”

“What? Mr. Kim, aren’t you being too harsh? Why should So Yi be criticized? What did she do wrong?”

As Hye Na was about to snap back angrily, So Yi returned to her desk.

Seeing her bloodshot eyes, people held back their questions and just watched So Yi cautiously.

Hye Na glared at people irritably before sitting back down and asking So Yi if she was okay.

So Yi just nodded silently.

I thought I was lucky today.

I guess I used up all my luck this morning for this to happen.

So Yi wiped away hot tears with the back of her hand and took off her necklace without a word.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Sir, here’s the list for tonight’s meeting.”

Jang Woo said as he placed a file on Si Heon’s desk.

“Oh, and it seems things are definitely over with Jin So Yi? She asked me to give this to you.”

Si Heon’s eyes widened at the small box Jang Woo handed over next. It was the necklace he had given to So Yi.

“I guess it’s better to clean things up now, since you’ll be setting a date soon too. But it looked a bit harsh. Still, we should catch the person who spread it on social media, right?”

Jang Woo keeps talking obliviously.

Si Heon couldn’t take his eyes off the necklace box So Yi had returned. His sunken heart ached dully.

“It’ll be a bit awkward for a while. I think Jin So Yi is on the list for today’s meeting too.”

Si Heon finally moved his fingers to pick up the file.

[Dinner meeting list for the Business Support Team.]

So Yi’s name was indeed on the list Jang Woo had handed over.

“Should I ask to change the list if it’s uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine. You can go now.”

Si Heon replied briefly.

“Alright, then I’ll send the location and venue to the meeting attendees.”

Jang Woo finished speaking and turned to leave the office.

Si Heon stared blankly at the list, biting his lip.

His mouth felt parched and it felt like all the blood had drained from his body.

Is she really planning to end things like this?

Was that confession that day really nothing?

It felt like someone was squeezing his heart.

He couldn’t focus at all, feeling like he had swallowed a sharp blade, his throat and chest torn apart.

Si Heon abruptly stood up and went to the window.

Feeling like something was choking him, he hooked his fingers into his tie and loosened it. But once he loosened it, he realized it wasn’t his throat that felt tight.

He slowly closed and opened his eyes, staring out the window.

Even though it wasn’t rush hour yet, the 8-lane road was already packed with cars.

He took a deep breath as he looked down at the congested road.

Like the road unable to move an inch, not knowing where the blockage started, somewhere in his chest felt completely blocked.

He couldn’t even begin to solve it without knowing what the problem was, and the numbness with no apparent cause or solution showed no signs of improving.

“What exactly is the problem? What am I supposed to do?”

Si Heon sighed heavily and rubbed his face, muttering in a low voice.

How can I have you again?

How can I make you smile at me again?

What exactly do I need to do…

[This is the timeline separator]

“Sigh, can I really not skip this?”

As the end of the workday approached, So Yi’s heart grew heavier.

Of all days, she had been chosen to attend the dinner meeting with the CEO today.

“Jin So Yi. What’s going on with you?”

Hye Na asked with a worried expression.

“In this situation, you even took off the necklace and returned it. What are you thinking?”

“I’m planning to take some time off. People will forget soon anyway.”

So Yi got up from her seat, speaking in a weak voice.

“Sigh, anyway, let’s have a drink sometime soon. I have so much to say. And so many questions.”

“Okay. I’m heading out first, see you tomorrow.”

After saying goodbye, So Yi left the office.

The dinner meeting was to be held at a buffet restaurant near the company.

Since it was a group chosen by the team leader and they had checked everyone’s evening availability in advance, she couldn’t skip it.

“Ms. Jin. Let’s go together.”

Mr. Kwak from the Compensation Support Team approached So Yi and spoke.

“Where did your necklace go?”

“I returned it.”

“Oh my, why did you return it?”

“We’re going to break up anyway, so what’s the point of me keeping it?”

Mr. Kwak looked at So Yi with surprised eyes at her words about breaking up.

“What? So you really were dating?”

So Yi nodded with a wry smile.

“I guess it doesn’t make sense to me either. Someone like our CEO dating someone like me.”

“Oh my, what are you saying? You received gifts and went on dates.”

“That level of gift probably means nothing to the CEO.”

As she was answering awkwardly, the building of the reserved restaurant came into view in the distance.

She already felt sick to her stomach.

So Yi sighed at the suffocating feeling of her chest tightening, and Mr. Kwak patted her shoulder.

“Cheer up. That’s why they say ‘their world’. Yeon Ri Na, the CEO. They live in their world.”

So Yi nodded meaninglessly at Mr. Kwak’s words.

“Oh, I see the team leader over there. Let’s go in quickly.”

Once again feeling choked up to her throat, So Yi was led by Mr. Kwak’s hand towards the restaurant.

“Hello, sir.”

As Si Heon entered the reserved room, the employees stood up and greeted him.

Si Heon nodded in greeting and headed to the empty seat.

Why did the seat next to me have to be empty?

So Yi inwardly muttered as she sat down next to Si Heon, avoiding his gaze.

At Si Heon’s words to eat first before talking, people started getting up from their seats one by one.

“Ms. Jin, aren’t you going to get food?”

When Mr. Kwak asked, So Yi answered with a faint smile.

“I don’t have much of an appetite.”

“But you should eat something. Sir, aren’t you eating?”

“I don’t have much of an appetite either. Please go ahead, Mr. Kwak.”

At Si Heon’s words, Mr. Kwak hesitated as if reluctant to leave, then left the room.