On the deck was a beautiful on-deck party.

Sounds of glasses clinking and gentle laughter echoed in the refreshing river breeze, weaving through the summer night. People were eagerly awaiting the highlight of the party, the fireworks.

A harmonious jazz melody from the piano and contrabass accompanied the lively and leisurely party. Amidst such people, Junhwi and Yeonwoo remained in silence.

The soft and lively atmosphere seemed to avoid only the bench where the two were seated.

“······.”

Junhwi silently stared at Yeonwoo, who had rejected him.

As if unaware of his face slowly stiffening, Yeonwoo just stared at her toes.

“Feeling unwell?”

Finally, Yeonwoo, who had closed her lips until now, offered an excuse that wouldn’t hold up.

Even thinking about it herself, it didn’t make sense. Just a moment ago, she was wandering around like a child in the best condition imaginable.

······However, now that she knew about the tremendous events, it didn’t feel right to smile in front of him as she did when she knew nothing.

“Not feeling well? Should we go to the infirmary?”

“Not that serious.”

“If it gets serious, I’ll get off the ship.”

“No, it’s really okay.”

“What’s not good?”

Ah, please. If someone says their condition isn’t good, you should just overlook it.

At that moment, his detailed questions felt burdensome.

“Lawyer, I’ll rest alone!”

“······.”

“······It’s okay if I rest.”

In the end, she reacted sharply. She felt sorry for getting annoyed with him, who didn’t even know English.

No. Wasn’t it okay to get angry because of this man who caused her pain?

It was confusing. Yeonwoo quietly bit her lower lip.

This precarious confrontation wasn’t intentional. In front of him, Yeonwoo was supposed to be in a state of not knowing anything.

Would anything change just because he was the third-generation heir of a conglomerate?

Between us, there is already a huge difference, ‘Successful Lawyer,’ and ‘Ordinary Secretary.’

Adding a spoonful of ‘Actually, he’s a real prince’ to that doesn’t make a difference.

It’s like Cinderella’s sad ending version. Dancing with the prince, forgetting her situation for a moment, and suddenly realizing her misery as the magic is released.

Come to think of it, Cinderella was originally a noblewoman. So, overcoming the momentary gap with the prince and eventually continuing is plausible.

One thing is for sure. Yeonwoo is not Cinderella.

The incident with Lim Nayoon happened long before we met, and her handling of it was flawless, so there was nothing to be excited about.

I wanted to wait for him to tell me everything in an adult and cool way and considered that to be the answer.

But, but my heart keeps moving in the opposite direction.

Spitting out annoyance, avoiding eye contact, thinking sarcastically about his kindness.

Self-esteem plummeted into the ground, and resentment surged.
Moreover, why would she proudly expose her wounded heart as if secretly stolen, like a cat burglar? I acknowledge that it is an immature behavior. I know it better than anyone else, but…

An immense gap has emerged between the ‘model answer’ and the ‘actual feelings.’

During the time spent suppressing her emotions and trying to fill that gap, Yeonwoo wished for no one to disturb her until she could organize everything on her own.

Right now, Yeonwoo was like a fragile balloon, ready to burst with the slightest touch.

“Is there a problem?”

However, he, who couldn’t just let even a trivial matter slide, began to scrutinize again.

Pop. The balloon burst.

And the child holding the balloon was on the verge of tears.

“No. What’s the problem?”

Tears for no apparent reason were about to burst. To suppress them, Yeonwoo sharpened her attitude.

“But why is it different from usual?”

“What’s wrong? I just want to take a break.”

“It’s not like Kim Yeonwoo. Not the lively and bright Kim Yeonwoo.”

What’s that supposed to mean? What’s ‘like me’? Should I recite lines from a 90s teen drama? Am I supposed to be someone who laughs like ‘hehe,’ just to get attention? Ah, did he fall for that kind of nonsense?

One messy tangle of emotions gradually spread in a negative direction.

“Are you angry because I keep leaving you alone?”

“What, no. You seem like someone who can’t understand a busy lover.”

“Then why are you acting like this? You have to tell me the reason.”

“I told you. I just want to rest.”

Junhwi irritably ruffled his well-combed hair.

Watching his reactions becoming more and more cynical, Yeonwoo’s heart ached.

But it was impossible to turn back the air that had already soured between them. Just like how time couldn’t be turned back before Yeonwoo hid behind that pillar.

“What are you hiding, Kim Yeonwoo?”

He seemed to calm down again, as if he were exercising patience.

But he chose the wrong question.

You, who hid tremendous things from me!

“Do you have nothing to hide from me?”

“Me?”

I should have pressed it desperately.

“Sang Group heir, is that true? Why didn’t you tell me?”

But she couldn’t. In the end, Yeonwoo showed an ugly side of herself.