Despite a turbulent moment, the formal meeting ended smoothly thanks to Ji Eun calming down. As desserts and tea were being prepared, Chairman Jung suggested giving the two some time alone, so everyone left the room, leaving only Woo Jin and Tae Eun.

As the tension dissipated, Tae Eun suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom.

Although there was a restroom inside the room, Tae Eun was worried about potential noise, so she excused herself to Woo Jin and left the private room to use the outdoor restroom located near the entrance, which she remembered seeing earlier.

Once inside the restroom, Tae Eun lowered the toilet lid, sat down, and let out the breath she had been holding.

“Phew…”

Releasing the breath that had been weighing heavily on her chest, the tension she had been suppressing seemed to dissipate in an instant.

Let me stay here for just 3 more minutes.

Trying to erase that precarious moment from her mind, Tae Eun relaxed her body. But then, she heard familiar voices.

“Ugh, I broke out in a cold sweat because of elder sister Young Ja.”

“Why? I found it rather refreshing! I really wanted to say something too, but Mom warned me so sternly that I had to hold back, and it ate me up inside.”

“Speak quietly. What if someone hears us?”

“Who’s going to hear? We rented this entire place.”

It was Young Hee and Young Sook. They must have stopped by the restroom one last time before leaving the restaurant by car.

Tae Eun held her breath to avoid being noticed by the two. She feared that being discovered in this situation could lead to an awkward encounter.

“But, elder sister Young Ja wasn’t wrong. I was also a bit uncomfortable hearing it, to be honest. It doesn’t feel like someone else’s business when I think about Woo Jin. Ugh, she’s clearly a typical stepmother. She praises her own contributions at every turn while subtly putting down the child. And then she takes the side of her son who went to a third-rate university?”

“Exactly. Aho, I thought I was going to die from frustration. Does she have the audacity to try to parachute into our Woo Sung Group? But Woo Jin endured all that? That’s unlike him.”

“I know, I was surprised too. With his quick-tempered personality, I was actually worried he might lash out before elder sister Young Ja.”

“But you know what? Isn’t it strange? No matter how crazy he is about a woman, what is Woo Jin thinking, trying to establish a relationship with such a family? You saw it. They subtly expressed their intention to enter politics and wanted our support.”

“Could it be, you know?”

“What?”

“The two of them, a contract marriage… something like that.”

“You really watch too many dramas. Watch in moderation, in moderation.”

“No, elder sister. I heard a lot of young people do that these days. It’s not an uncommon story. They just live together as partners without interfering in each other’s personal lives.”

“No… way. Why would Woo Jin do that?”

Young Hee asked Young Sook, waving her hand dismissively. Young Sook then lowered her voice and answered with conviction.

“Why? To protect Park Seo Woo, of course.”

For a moment, Tae Eun doubted her own ears. She never expected to hear the name Park Seo Woo here.

“Are you crazy? They broke up.”

“No, they may say that, but they could be secretly meeting without us knowing. You know how meticulous Woo Jin is. I don’t think the scandal from a few months ago was baseless.”

“Come to think of it, I heard Park Seo Woo is being considered as the model for the refrigerator they’re launching.”

“See! See! I’m right! How desperately in love were they? Even with all the threats from Mom and elder sister Young Ja, Woo Jin didn’t even flinch. But I was really surprised when they suddenly said they broke up.”

“True, it was a bit puzzling. Even when elder sister Young Ja threatened to bury Park Seo Woo’s career in the entertainment industry, Woo Jin told her to go ahead, and that he wouldn’t see her face again if she did that. Right? It was quite baffling.”

“Ha, now it all makes sense. He didn’t care about marrying into such a family because it’s that kind of marriage. No, it’s even better. A lowly family like that is easier to shut up cleanly if things go wrong.”

Young Sook spoke with conviction. But after a moment, Young Hee raised an objection again.

“No, no matter how I think about it, that doesn’t seem right. He always faced things head-on, no matter what. If he liked Park Seo Woo, he would have married her regardless of who opposed it.”

“Is that… so?”

“Of course. You know Woo Jin’s personality. Once he makes up his mind, even Mom and elder sister Young Ja can’t stop him.”

“That’s true. Come to think of it, our Woo Jin isn’t the kind of jerk who would do this just to protect Park Seo Woo behind her back. Right?”

“Exactly, that’s what I’m saying!”

With that conversation, the two left the restroom.

However, even after they left, Tae Eun couldn’t breathe for a long time. The name Park Seo Woo, which she had unexpectedly heard, had deeply pierced her heart.

* * *

Entering the room with a pale face, Tae Eun couldn’t even properly drink the tea before leaving, causing Woo Jin to glance at her and speak.

“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital? You look really unwell.”

“I’m fine. I think I just got a bit of indigestion from being so nervous. I’ll be okay after some time.”

After politely refusing, Tae Eun gazed at the passing scenery outside and became lost in thought again.

The name Park Seo Woo, mentioned by the aunts, kept circling in her mind. Despite being well aware of the scandal before meeting Woo Jin, the facts she heard from the aunts’ mouths came as a bit of a shock.

What if the aunts’ concerns were true?

What if he chose her to protect Park Seo Woo?

Numerous questions swirled in her head, but she couldn’t ask Woo Jin to resolve those doubts. She feared the truth she might hear from him. She was afraid he might admit everything and call off this marriage.

In any case, even if the aunts’ concerns turned out to be true, Tae Eun didn’t have the courage to call off this marriage. Not only had they already had the formal meeting, but she had become even more desperate for this marriage.

Of course, it was ridiculous to get married without confirming the truth, but nothing was worse than losing everything if the marriage were called off.

Then, was there a need to confirm the truth and push herself into hell?

Tae Eun slowly closed and opened her eyes, gazing at the passing night scenery. Then, she practiced mind control.

“Come to think of it, our Woo Jin isn’t the kind of jerk who would do this just to protect Park Seo Woo behind her back. Right?”

She deeply internalized Young Sook’s final words.

The aunts who knew him best didn’t firmly deny it again. She decided to believe those words. That he was absolutely not that kind of person.

While she was sorting out her feelings, Tae Eun felt the car smoothly parking. Unlike her expectation of going straight home, it was an unfamiliar place.

“This is…”

“To help you relax a bit. Get out. There’s something I want to show you.”

Woo Jin got out of the car first, and she followed. She then followed him into the elevator inside the building.

“Where are we?”

“The company. Where I work. The Woo Sung Electronics headquarters building.”

“Your company, Woo Jin?”

“Right now, we’re going up to my office.”

“Why, why?”

“I told you. There’s something I want to show you.”

As the elevator chimed and the doors opened, he walked with familiarity. Passing through a short corridor and opening a door, desks were visible on both sides. The well-organized desks seemed to belong to the secretaries assisting him. Passing those desks and opening another door revealed a spacious office. The office, decorated with a large desk and luxurious furnishings, felt as foreign as his immense aura.

Following him inside and looking around, Tae Eun was surprised. One wall of the spacious office was entirely glass, and through that glass, the night view of Seoul that could be seen at a glance was incredibly beautiful.

“Wow…”

“I knew you’d react like that. My office has the best view. Pretty impressive, right?”

Pretty impressive? This wasn’t just impressive; it was a spectacular view that could provide healing just by looking at it. Enough to neatly organize the random thoughts floating in her mind.

“It’s so beautiful. Is it this pretty during the day too?”

“Well, it’s decent during the day. But I prefer the night view. Sometimes, when I work late, I find comfort in this night view.”

“I bet. It must be a tremendous comfort.”

Tae Eun admired the night view with sparkling eyes as if she had seen a different world. Watching her marvel like a child, Woo Jin sat on the edge of his desk, stretching out his legs.

He thought it was a good decision to bring her here. After being extremely tense throughout the formal meeting, Tae Eun had turned pale upon returning, and she seemed to be in a bad mood the entire time in the car, but now she was sparkling as if nothing had happened.

Just her eyes were sparkling, but it felt like she was radiating light. Woo Jin had to squint for a moment due to that brightness.

“It must be nice. Working while seeing this scenery every day.”

“Then, would you like to come and work with me, Tae Eun? I’ll put a desk next to mine for you.”

At his joke-like remark, Tae Eun turned around to give him a gentle glare. However, contrary to her intention, she missed the opportunity to glare at him. The sight of him sitting on the edge of the desk with his legs stretched out was as spectacular as the night view.

As Tae Eun’s eyes slowly swept over the man’s appearance, they lingered on his hand beckoning her to come closer. The man’s appearance, as unfamiliar as the night view of a different world, also felt very foreign.

Perhaps it was because of that.

As if enchanted, Tae Eun approached and carefully placed her hand on his outstretched hand. Then, a gentle force pulled her, guiding her into the man’s embrace.

She placed her hand on his chest to create some distance and prevent her body from pressing against him any further, but that only served as a small trigger.

Despite being tightly wrapped in a dress shirt, vest, and suit jacket, she could vividly feel his firm chest muscles through her palm.

As her face naturally reddened, he asked,

“Feeling better now?”

“…Yes.”

“Then, can I kiss you?”

“That’s…”

As she hesitated to speak, he grinned, lifting the corners of his mouth. The low laughter that flowed out was so pleasant.

“Why, are you going to tremble again like last time?”

It was a question, but a strange one that didn’t wait for an answer.

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at her and leaned in with a swift motion.

The bewilderment was brief, as their lips overlapped, and she was helplessly drawn in.