There was no contact from So Yi until the next day.

Feeling frustrated, Si Heon sent So Yi another message.

[I’ll be in front of your house by 6 PM tomorrow, so be ready.]

She checked the message, but again there was no reply.

Suppressing the burning feeling inside and his parched mouth, he endured another day.

In the end, there was still no contact from So Yi by the time he left work.

Si Heon, trying to soothe his aching heart, headed to the meeting place to see the employees who had been fired from Chahan Media and Danbi Media.

Most of the conversation was led by the HR manager from Chahan Life who came with Hyun Seob.

With the HR manager’s gentle and calm demeanor, combined with his soft-spoken manner, the dinner atmosphere flowed rather smoothly.

As Yu Kyung had said, it was indeed a matter of just sitting there.

When the HR manager carefully brought up the topic of additional compensation, the fired employees reluctantly nodded and agreed.

This was so easy.

Why didn’t they handle it this way from the beginning, instead of making such a big deal out of it?

To receive my apology.

Just to receive that one apology letter.

What difference would it have made?

Si Heon’s eyes paused momentarily as he fiddled with the glass in front of him, lost in thought.

If…, if he had apologized. Could it have soothed the angry employees’ hearts?

‘Someone was hurt because of my mistake. Regardless of my intentions, if someone was harmed, it’s only right to apologize. Just like if I accidentally kicked a stone while walking and it hit someone, the first thing to do would be to apologize.’

So Yi had said that when they went to Incheon to meet a customer demanding compensation.

That if someone was harmed, apologizing first was the right thing to do.

His mind buzzed, as if struck by lightning.

That statement, that even for a mistake, apologizing first is the right thing to do, began to echo madly in his ears.

Although he hadn’t maliciously deceived Jin So Yi.

Although he hadn’t intentionally tried to deceive Jin So Yi and meet another woman.

Nevertheless, she had suffered and been saddened because of it.

Should he have comforted her heart first?

All this time, I’ve been trying to argue why it wasn’t my fault since I didn’t intentionally deceive her.

I thought if I just removed the problematic factor, everything could go back to normal as if nothing had happened.

‘What you’re doing to me now, sir, is simply possessiveness. It’s obsession.’

It was natural that she couldn’t trust my feelings.

‘It’s like plucking a pretty flower you see while walking down the street, just wanting to hold it in your hand for a moment.’

Of course it would have felt that way, since I told her to stay by my side without even comforting her wounded heart.

Si Heon stared into space like a madman, unable to even blink.

“Chairman Cha? Are you alright?”

When Si Heon had been silent for a long time, just fiddling with the glass in front of him, the HR manager asked in a low voice.

Si Heon slowly parted his lips, emerging from his reverie.

“I’m fine.”

But his focus quickly blurred again. His mind was so full of Jin So Yi that he couldn’t concentrate on any other conversation.

The realization that there was only one way to approach Jin So Yi flashed through his mind.

If he sincerely apologized, would she turn her heart back to him?

That he was sorry for hurting her. That he would reflect on making her suffer because of him.

Why hadn’t I realized that? Why couldn’t I say those words?

Saying I’d do anything if I could go to you.

Saying I’d do anything if I could have you again.

What was a mere apology…

Why couldn’t I say those simple words?

Why did I hurt you so much by not saying those words?

The pain in his chest throbbed again.

His throat stung and his breath caught.

If only he had apologized.

That it wasn’t because of Yeon Ri Na who came to meet me for a blind date, but because of me who deceived you and went on that blind date.

If I had said I was sorry, would you have been less hurt?

If I had admitted my mistake and asked for forgiveness, would you have taken me back?

Instead of embracing you when you were defensive, trying not to get hurt more.

‘Our contract isn’t over yet.’

I spouted such nonsense, saying I would try to break those sharp edges.

‘Fine, end it.’

‘Smile. Like before. And tell me you like me. That’s all I need.’

‘When I say I want to hold you, let me.’

Like a river swollen with rainwater suddenly breaking its banks, it all came rushing in.

“I’m going to get some air for a moment.”

Si Heon went out onto the terrace extending from the building and leaned on the railing.

Even breathing was difficult.

He clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, feeling as if his solar plexus was being torn apart.

What on earth had I done…

Si Heon clenched his fist tightly at the regret that was only now sinking in.

The sharp night wind, having settled considerably, was fiercely clawing at Si Heon’s chest as it passed.

A moment later, Si Heon returned to the room and calmly composed his expression.

“I’d like to say something as well.”

As the meal was coming to an end, Si Heon spoke up.

Straightening the slightly disheveled collar of his jacket and sitting up straight, he addressed the employees sitting across from him.

“I sincerely apologize for judging your abilities by my personal standards.”

The room instantly fell silent.

“I also deeply regret that despite such thoughtless words of mine being spread and reaching the ears of those concerned, I tried to compensate only materially without a word of apology.”

The HR manager’s eyes were already as wide as they could be, and Hyun Seob also continued to stare at Si Heon with his jaw clenched.

“I hope that by accepting the modest compensation offered by Chahan Life as a gesture of consolation, you will be able to let go of your anger.”

The employees who had maintained sour expressions throughout opened their eyes wide.

Hyun Seob was nodding slightly while trying to manage his expression.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the meal, Si Heon was scheduled to meet Ji Wook.

The HR manager kept smiling and thanking Si Heon.

Thanking him for offering a sincere apology.

Hyun Seob, too, couldn’t show it much outwardly, but he patted Si Heon’s shoulder a few times before leaving his seat first.

An amicable agreement was reached with Si Heon’s single apology. Although there were still some who kept their eyebrows furrowed and avoided eye contact, the representative of the employees reluctantly bowed his head in response to Si Heon’s apology.

Si Heon had to restrain himself several times from rushing out to So Yi right then.

It was this easy.

Why had he held out for so long over something like this?

He wanted to go to So Yi’s house right away, but he couldn’t apologize while drunk.

So Yi hadn’t replied to his message about coming to pick her up tomorrow, but Si Heon didn’t mind.

Thinking that he would make So Yi smile again somehow.

That he would win back her heart somehow, as he was getting on the elevator, a message came from Ji Wook.

[Cha Si Heon, Jin So Yi is here… Did you really break up?]

At Ji Wook’s words asking if they had really broken up, a flash of light sparked in Si Heon’s eyes.

[This is the timeline separator]

A little while ago.

Ji Wook was drinking alone at the lounge bar.

He was leisurely waiting for Si Heon, who said he would come after having dinner with the fired employees, when he heard a familiar voice from somewhere.

“Oh? Jin So Yi? Yoo Hye Na?”

Ji Wook spoke first, recognizing the two.

“Oh? Actor Choi Ji Wook?”

Even though he was wearing a black baseball cap pulled low, Hye Na recognized him immediately.

So Yi just bowed her head slightly in greeting to Ji Wook’s greeting.

“Did something happen? So Yi, you seem to have drunk a lot.”

Hye Na said in a low voice, glancing at So Yi’s condition.

“It’s because of that friend of yours.”

“Cha Si Heon?”

Even though Ji Wook’s voice was clearly audible, there was no reaction.

So Yi just kept gulping down the beer the bartender had brought.

“Don’t tell me, it’s because of that article? With Yeon Ri Na?”

“That’s right. It seems he was two-timing. She said they broke up because of that.”

“Two-timing? That’s impossible.”

Ji Wook tilted his head in disbelief and spoke again.

“First of all, that guy Cha Si Heon has never had a proper relationship in his life. He’s so insensitive to those kinds of emotions that I even tried to provoke him recently because it seemed like he didn’t understand his own feelings.”

“Provoke?”

Ji Wook recalled how he had recently provoked Si Heon by asking if he really had no genuine feelings for So Yi.

On the day they came out to the gathering together, he could feel it instantly in the elevator. He had just smiled brightly and greeted her as a fan service since she said she was his fan, but Si Heon’s eyes flared up.

It was the same when Jang Ha Young asked about So Yi’s parents. In over 10 years of knowing Si Heon, it was the first time he had seen him like that.

Just a few days ago, he was spouting nonsense about it being a fake relationship, or pretending to date to provoke his mother, but throughout the gathering, he couldn’t take his eyes off So Yi’s every little action.

If she slightly turned her head as if looking for something, he would immediately hand her a napkin or refill her water glass. Throughout the gathering, all of Cha Si Heon’s attention was focused on Jin So Yi.