She played in the water, lightly splashing around. While playing alone, a man in a triangle swimsuit with a polka-dot pattern approached her.

With skin that looked sun-kissed, the casually dressed man swept his long hair, matching the color of his swimsuit, to the back.

Seeing a visual she had never encountered before, Taeein widened her eyes and looked at the man. The man, revealing white teeth, smiled and brushed his thick gold necklace with his hand.

“Do you have a lover?”

Startled, Taeein covered her gaping mouth with her hand.

“Wow, I’ve never received a question like this. Kang Nokhyun should be here.”

Although she felt sorry for the man who asked the question, Taeein only wanted to boast about Nokhyun.

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Without further delay, Taeein slightly nodded and moved away from the man, playing her water drum alone.

However, the man, not willing to let go of Taeein so easily, approached again.

“It seems you’re embarrassed. Did you come with a friend? I have company too; let’s play together.”

Perhaps thinking that a woman came alone wouldn’t swim, the man in the polka-dot swimsuit stuck to Taeein.

As the man’s gaze scanned Taeein’s body, he wiggled his thick eyebrows.

“It’s okay.”
Taeein flatly rejected him with a single word. Despite growing irritation, she tried to maintain a firm attitude since she couldn’t spit in his face in person.

“Hey, just play with me.”

The man grabbed Taeein’s slender arm, and simultaneously, a stream of water splashed on the man’s face.

“What the? Who is it?”

Wiping the water from his face, the man grumbled in a voice that had a hint of annoyance.

“It’s me.”

Nokhyun, dressed in a shirt and slacks, replied with his head slightly bowed.

“Do I know you? Why did you interfere, and who are you…?”

The man, who had been growling as if preparing for a fight, flinched.

Given the apparent difference in stature, the man’s voice naturally lowered.

“Who are you, picking on someone you know nothing about?”

When Nokhyun raised his chin, the man finally released Taeein’s hand and furrowed his eyebrows.

“What, a lover?”

“No, a husband.”

Nokhyun smiled gently, but his gaze was chilling, as if he could kill the man with just a look. The somewhat intimidated man bowed his head even more.

“…I apologize.”

In the end, the man left with those words, swimming away. Only then did Nokhyun’s gaze turn towards Taeein.

“Why did you come alone without saying anything?”

“I thought you were busy.”

Taeein’s subdued voice flowed out. The excitement that had initially made her want to boast disappeared somewhere, leaving only discomfort. If Nokhyun hadn’t appeared right on time, she would have raised her voice and argued.

With a slightly pursed lip, Taeein looked up at Nokhyun and spoke.

“I could have handled it alone.”

“I know, but I was worried.”

After a moment of contemplation, Taeein emerged from the water. Nokhyun covered Taeein’s body with a large towel as if to shield her from any onlookers.

Taeein quickly dried herself and put on a gown.

“Is work all done?”

“Yeah. Why aren’t you playing more?”

“I’ve played enough.”

“I won’t be able to play in the pool tomorrow.”

At Nokhyun’s words, Taeein chuckled. Then, he kissed her neck.

Taeein understood his intention immediately.

He won’t let me off easily today either, Kang Nokhyun.

Taeein felt a slight sense of unease.

“Hey, please find people quickly. I heard Director Kim is unable to do the work, or is it that people can’t be found? I’ve been staying at the hotel these days.”

Yuran explained to Cheolhan with a clinging voice. The workers, including Najudak, tried to hide their presence. Although they threatened to dismiss everyone, it was uncomfortable for Yuran when no one was at home. Moreover, Najudak said he was doing nursing work for Mora.

Collapsing as if about to die, and now a skilled murderer, really.

“I already told Director Kim, so stop blocking him. What about Jiwooni?”

“Lately, Jiwooni is taking business classes again. You have to give her a suitable position according to what she can do.”

At Yuran’s words, Cheolhan chuckled and fake-coughed. When Cheolhan woke up, HK executives visited once. They praised Nokhyun unanimously, saying that the company, which almost experienced a stock collapse due to Jiwoon’s drug incident, stabilized with Nokhyun’s help.
I cherished Jiwoon the most, but to be honest, I never acknowledged his managerial abilities. He had even been put in charge of the main office, but instead of fulfilling his duties, Jiwoon only caused trouble. Moreover, with drugs involved. Unable to conceal her displeasure, Yuran quickly withdrew her tail.

Unlike Nokhyun, who started from the bottom, Jiwoon lacked both the ability and patience. When Cheolhan was young, he sacrificed sleep and mealtime to gain recognition from his father, the founding chairman. Not being particularly bright, Cheolhan worked harder than others.

However, Nokhyun rapidly grew with a remarkable mind resembling the founding chairman and effort resembling Cheolhan. He was not someone to be compared with Jiwoon.

“I’ll think about it. Just stay inside for now. I’ll rest a bit alone.”

Yuran picked up her bag and stood up.

“Father, I’m here.”

Jiwoon, who had just entered the room, shook hands warmly.

“Let’s go; your father needs to rest.”

Yuran took Jiwoon by the back and left the hospital room.

Show your face a bit, Jiwoon.

Disappointed, Cheolhan reluctantly got up from his heavy body. He was willing to see her off only to the elevator.

However, there was no one in front of the elevator. Cheolhan, who was wandering around, stood in front of the slightly open emergency exit door.

“Mom, that old man said he wouldn’t let me return to the company?”

“It seems difficult for a while. After revising the will, he should have been killed immediately. The atmosphere changed after those directors came. We can’t just sew their mouths shut.”

“Darn old man, isn’t he regretful now that he’s acknowledged my brother? Mom is too soft-hearted. If it were me, I would have killed him already.”

“Lower your voice. If you hadn’t caused the accident, I wouldn’t have woken you up. HK was all yours.”

Listening to the conversation between Jiwoon and Yuran, Cheolhan covered his mouth, took a step back, and stumbled. Returning to the hospital room, Cheolhan sat down on the floor.

Suddenly, he remembered what had happened just before he collapsed. Yuran had caught wind of the fact that they were planning to check Jiwoon and his relationship through a kinship test. After that, he had no memory.

‘Honey, don’t you trust me? Jiwoon looks just like you.’

A chilling voice echoed in his ears, and Cheolhan covered his ears, letting out a silent scream.