Splash, the transparent brown liquid filled the glass almost to overflowing. A few drops of water fell into it with a plop.

Tae Ha was sitting in an unfamiliar bar in Cheongdam-dong, a place he didn’t usually frequent, emptying whiskey.

The reason he avoided hotels was that he didn’t want to be noticed by people. By the time words he didn’t understand made their rounds and reached him, even stories that started as documentaries would have turned into fantasy.

As he downed one glass, the bartender refilled it.

Tae Ha emptied that drink as well.

He had withdrawn the marriage annulment lawsuit. Now it was up to Eun Seo.

If she really didn’t want the marriage, she would even pursue criminal charges.

But it was certain that the kind Eun Seo would not file criminal charges.

Because she wouldn’t want to make a fool of Kwon Tae Ha.

Then the way to cut ties with Kwon Tae Ha would be divorce.

Divorce would be better.

Then he could generously cut off half of his assets and give them to her.

Not knowing that among the things she had, Kwon Tae Ha was the most valuable.

Yet if she would let go of Kwon Tae Ha, if she would act so foolishly, he was willing to accept that too.

It was a night unlike a lover, a night when being a lover was achingly hateful.

How were those last two nights in Bali?

They were the most difficult nights to fall asleep among the many nights he had experienced so far.

It was a night of constantly controlling his heart, unable to subdue or possess what was right in front of him.

Imagining that the breath that escaped from the woman’s lips would be floating somewhere in the bedroom as air, the insomnia became sweet sleep.

It was a night that passed like that.

Even though he had never experienced what a night between a man and woman was like, withdrawal symptoms came as if he had already experienced it. He needed relief.

“Are you here alone by any chance?”

As Tae Ha was just pouring a drink, the chair to his left was slowly pulled outward.

A woman in a black silk blouse and red skirt sat down and smiled subtly. A strong scent of perfume wafted from her wavy, voluminous brown hair.

The toe of a black open-toe bootie heel glinted towards Tae Ha from the tip of her crossed legs.

As Tae Ha straightened his back, the woman put her elbow on the bar and swept her hair back behind her ear.

“I came alone too.”

When Tae Ha glanced at her and smirked, the woman fiddled with her earlobe and ordered from the bartender.

“Two martinis here.”

Two glasses. Tae Ha was not unaware that one of those was for him.

Even a woman he’d never met before was being so generous to him, yet Song Eun Seo…

“I’ve been watching for a while and it seemed like you were alone. I was sitting over there.”

The woman pointed to a secluded table at the corner of the bar. Then, folding her arms, she subtly bumped Tae Ha’s chair.

“If you came alone, let’s have fun together. What’s your name?”

She was an annoying woman.

“I’m Han Yoon…”

“This is so tiresome.”

For the first time, displeasure was clearly evident on his previously expressionless face.

“Pardon?”

Irritated at having his time interrupted, Tae Ha finished his glass and placed two checks on the bar.

The woman’s gaze at him turned sharp.

“I didn’t come alone.”

At Tae Ha’s words, the woman craned her neck to look around him. But seeing no trace of anyone, she asked,

“It doesn’t seem like anyone’s here?”

“Here.”

Tae Ha tapped his head, indicating Song Eun Seo inside, then stood up, swiftly grabbing his jacket from the chair.

* * *

It was dawn when Eun Seo discovered Tae Ha.

Finishing her translation and feeling thirsty, she was heading to the kitchen when she found a figure sprawled out on the sofa beside the piano.

He was the person who made the non-existent ‘mom’ jump out of her throat.

Why. Why not go inside to sleep.

With each step closer, his form was faintly revealed in the noble moonlight. Even before getting close, the strong scent of whiskey stung her nose.

He’s drunk.

His tie knot was loosely undone, and his jacket was messily strewn under the sofa.

Eun Seo picked up the jacket that would have been neat normally and draped it over the sofa back. Then she looked at the tie knot that somehow seemed constricting.

Should I loosen it?

No. Shaking her head.

A moment later, as if having made up her mind, Eun Seo knelt halfway in front of him with a shrunken heart. After gauging the angle with her eyes, she carefully hooked her fingers on the tie knot.

Only the soft sound of fabric rubbing filled the silent space.

After a while, having managed to undo the tie knot, Eun Seo bit her lower lip firmly and pondered. Then, grabbing one end of the tie, she began to slowly pull it out from behind his neck.

As her tense fingertips hesitated for a moment, the man’s brow furrowed and his eyelashes twitched, causing Eun Seo to hastily withdraw her hand.

Eun Seo smooths out her pounding heart with a long breath.

But before the breath was fully exhaled, her gaze slowly moved downward.

The black leather belt. That belt holding the shirt tucked into the pants looked constricting.

Should I loosen it?

No, no. What if he opens his eyes.

Eun Seo shook her head gently, then sat quietly on the floor, hugging her knees.

The neat forehead beneath thick eyebrows, the sharp shadow cast by the prominent nose bridge, the distinctly lined red lips below.

He didn’t look human.

As if entranced, Eun Seo raised her hand and gently caressed Tae Ha’s cheek.

If he hadn’t been asleep, she wouldn’t have had the courage to do this. Brushing back his disheveled jet-black bangs revealed his smooth forehead.

‘Why did you do it? Just leave the lawsuit be. If you’re suffering because of that, I should be the one who’s sorry.’

Eun Seo tucked her hair behind her ear and lightly brushed her trembling lips against the man’s forehead.

His scent was barely perceptible.

Eun Seo wiped her lips with two fingers, then rested her chin on her knees, gazing at him from a suitable distance.

Then she softly murmured her turbulent feelings to the soundly sleeping man.

“Handsome Mr. Kwon Tae Ha.”

“…”

“Why did you do that? Making someone’s heart soften.”

“…”

“They say you shouldn’t forget your place.”

“…”

“Is it really okay for me to be greedy for you?”

“…”

“If you answer now, I’ll just…”

“Just what?”

“Oh my god.”

Eun Seo fell back on her bottom with a thud.

Tae Ha roughly swept his hair back with his hand as he sat up on the sofa. As if trying to gather his senses, he rubbed his eyes while supporting his thighs with both arms, then chuckled seeing Eun Seo sprawled on the floor.

Then he stretched out his arm and offered his hand.

“Here.”

When Eun Seo took his hand, Tae Ha swiftly pulled her to sit between his legs. Then he bent his upper body deeply, lowering himself to meet Eun Seo’s eyes as she sat on the floor.

“What did you say?”

“…I said why aren’t you going in to sleep, why are you like this…”

The sparsely placed words were all alike.

“Lies.”

“…”

“The thing I hate most is when you do nice things for me without me knowing. Do it in front of me, not behind my back. Like me.”

Long fingers parted through her moonlit hair.

As Eun Seo’s nape was gently pulled forward, languid gazes overlapped.

As the tilted chin was drawn, moist lips slowly parted. A faint whiskey scent mixed dizzily between their warm intertwined breaths.

Though Tae Ha was the drunk one, somehow it was a night where Eun Seo became intoxicated.

* * *

“Father, where are you?”

Tae Ha left the office, slipping his arm into his jacket sleeve.

– I’m meeting with the president of Seongwoon University. Remember, I gave a lecture here with Chairman Kim of Miseong Group not long ago? So we decided to have a meal together. Why?

“I have something I’d like to tell you in person.”

Tae Ha had made up his mind. To reveal Eun Seo’s existence.

– That’s good timing. The president was grateful for giving a lecture to the students and decided to give a few spots for top students. You deliver that to Seotaek.

“What about the driver?”

– I sent him home early. It’s not good to keep someone around for long when they’re not even working.

“I understand.”

Passing by the desk in front of the secretary’s office, Tae Ha gestured to Eun Seo and Assistant Han that he was leaving. Then he took the wheel himself instead of the driver.

– Tae Ha, we’ll be having dinner, so you have dinner too before coming.

Chairman Kwon called again, and by the time he stood in front of the main building of Seongwoon University to meet his father, it was nearly 9:30 PM.

He parked the car and got out.

Since the president’s office was on the second floor, he climbed the central staircase instead of taking the elevator.

As he climbed three or four steps, he saw a woman on the landing. Under the dim light, the person Tae Ha encountered was Ha Eun.

“You’re here now?”

Ha Eun greeted him with a bright smile. She had waited without leaving even after dinner, hearing that Tae Ha was coming.

“Did you perhaps get a job as my father’s secretary? I see you every time I come.”

“I’m not the only one who came. Miseong Group’s daughter was here too. So don’t scold me too much.”

“Is it perhaps the Jandi Department?”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind if you don’t know.”

Ha Eun tilted her head at the puzzling words. Then quickly giving up on interpreting them, she continued.

“The chairman is in the president’s office. He’s looking at the top student spots.”

Realizing that the meeting that was supposed to end quickly wasn’t ending, Tae Ha sent a text to Chairman Kwon. After a moment, the door of the president’s office opened and Chairman Kwon came out.

“Tae Ha, come in and say hello.”

“Yes, Father.”

Tae Ha followed into the president’s office. President Won and Chairman Kim extended their hands to Tae Ha.

“Should I call you Director Kwon?”

“No need, President.”

“But what to do? It seems you came because you have something to say to your father, but we were just about to move to have a drink. I’m sorry, but I’d appreciate if you could let us borrow Chairman Kwon for today.”

At the president’s words, Chairman Kwon chuckled and stroked the armrest.

“You heard him, Tae Ha.”

Clearly, he had no intention of meeting. It was probably to create an opportunity with Ha Eun on purpose.

However, being in front of the elders, Tae Ha bowed politely and turned his eyes to the stone artifacts lined up along one wall.

“Oh right, Tae Ha. I called Ha Eun, but there’s no one to take her home. You escort her.”

“What about the artifacts?”

“Those can be taken later.”

Tae Ha closed the door without answering.

Ha Eun was waiting for him on the landing. As if they had already agreed, her waiting posture was full of expectation.

“Take a taxi on your own.”

As Tae Ha briskly passed by Ha Eun, she urgently called out to him.

“Excuse me! It’s just…”

Ha Eun quickly cut off her words and turned her waist sideways. Then she slightly opened the part that was half-covered by her gold clutch.

“Actually, I leaned against the wall earlier, and my clothes got caught on a protruding nail. The dress is torn, so it’s hard to walk out, and it’s a bit difficult to take a taxi.”

The side seam of the brown skirt was torn about 20 centimeters, revealing her white thigh.

It was a sight that made him sigh involuntarily.

Seeing her condition, he couldn’t let the woman out on the street like this, nor could he send her off in a taxi.

Tae Ha clicked his tongue once and turned his head. After contemplating, he took Ha Eun to the parking lot. Ha Eun’s steps were very hurried as she matched Tae Ha’s stride.

As Tae Ha’s white car drew closer, the corners of Ha Eun’s mouth soared towards the sky.

Finally, they would be in the same space. The opportunity she had been longing for so desperately.

The torn part of the skirt was at most 3 centimeters. It was Ha Eun who had made it more miserable.

To make the most of this hard-earned opportunity.

As Ha Eun, whose mouth corners had soared to the sky, was about to open the passenger door, Tae Ha pointed to the driver’s seat with an insincere gesture.

“You know how to drive, right?”

“Pardon?”

“Bring the car to the company building tomorrow.”

The car keys traced a parabola towards Ha Eun.