After that, Yi Hyun and Ha Jun’s daily lives remained the same every day.

Yi Hyun always came at night.

And as he had once promised, he persistently imprinted thrilling, hot, unforgettable memories on Ha Jun every day.

But that was all.

Ha Jun still showed no emotion, and Yi Hyun tried to ignore the inexplicable emptiness, frustration, and anger he felt seeing her like that.

And Ha Jun… was desperately trying not to give her heart to the man named Kim Yi Hyun anymore.

The end of the relationship was obvious.

Either he would get bored and leave, or he would leave to find a match of his level like his elder brother Il Jun and Se Ra.

Leaving, that was the only conclusion in the end. So all Ha Jun could do now was to stop holding him in her heart and suffering.

But that was much harder than she thought.

Today too, as the door lock disengaged, Yi Hyun burst in and approached the sofa where Ha Jun was sitting, just like always.

His jacket and tie were thrown onto the table, and the buttons of his shirt popped open with a click, click sound.

Ha Jun just silently stared at Yi Hyun. Yi Hyun also said nothing as he pulled Ha Jun close and trapped her in his arms.

Holding her delicate body that seemed like it would crumble with the slightest force, Yi Hyun lay down on the sofa. Ha Jun naturally ended up lying on his chest.

His firm, warm, broad chest was vibrating slightly, unable to contain the fierce heartbeat.

His heart is beating so hard…

Slender fingertips carefully wandered over the trembling shirt.

Without realizing it, Ha Jun listened to the sound coming from his chest. The quick, strong pulse thump-thumping in her ears gave her a strange sense of calm.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

The voice that suddenly rang out had a hint of laughter in it.

Unable to find words to reply, Ha Jun pressed her hand on the sofa to raise her body, putting strength in her arm.

“Just stay.”

A strong arm wrapped around Ha Jun’s back, pulling her back towards him.

“It’s heavy. Let me go.”

“Oh really? Should I?”

As Yi Hyun moved swiftly, their positions were instantly reversed.

Lying on the sofa, Ha Jun looked up at Yi Hyun.

Yi Hyun’s appearance from this angle was truly beautiful.

The large, firm chest muscles with a deep groove in the center visible through the open shirt, the straight, refreshingly extended collarbone and thick shoulders above it, the smooth, masculine Adam’s apple with protruding veins slowly pulsing and undulating.

The straight jawline, the red lips with a slightly thicker lower lip, the elegantly handsome bridge of the nose, even the deep gaze looking down at her from a slightly slanted angle…

Everything about him had made Ha Jun’s heart flutter helplessly. In fact, it still does.

However, Ha Jun appeared to be looking at Yi Hyun with her usual emotionless, expressionless face. Fortunately, hiding her emotions was what she did best.

This one-sided love that would not change even if Yi Hyun knew about it. Ha Jun intended to keep it as her own secret until the day this relationship ended.

Unaware of Ha Jun’s inner thoughts, Yi Hyun gazed down at the expressionless Ha Jun and asked.

“You’re coming to Oh Se Ra’s engagement party tomorrow, right?”

“…I have to.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

Once his elder brother’s engagement was settled and a wedding date set soon after, it would be Yi Hyun’s turn next.

Yi Hyun continued to stare at Ha Jun, who was lying down with an expressionless face and lowered eyes.

A woman so quiet it was hard to tell if she was breathing, and always expressionless as usual. Looking at Ha Jun like this, Yi Hyun suddenly thought.

If I said I was getting married, what expression would Lee Ha Jun make?

If she remained expressionless, it would feel really awful.

I don’t know why I’m having these thoughts.

From the beginning until now, the woman called Lee Ha Jun had been like a large thorn stuck in his throat. But Yi Hyun could neither pull out that thorn nor swallow it, so he just kept holding onto it as it was.

Gulp, forcibly swallowing the uncomfortable feeling in his throat, Yi Hyun gently caressed Ha Jun’s small cheek.

“I might be very late tomorrow. After the engagement party ends, I’ll probably be dragged around here and there for greetings.”

“I see.”

“So I’m planning to stay longer tonight.”

As Yi Hyun’s lips curved into a pleasing arc, they came down and overlapped Ha Jun’s lips at an angle.

Instead of answering, Ha Jun stretched out her arms and embraced Yi Hyun’s firm back.

Even if there was no love between them, at this moment, the man called Kim Yi Hyun belonged entirely to Lee Ha Jun.

The next day, at the Crystal Room of Jaein Hotel where Se Ra and Il Jun’s engagement party was being held.

Ha Jun arrived an hour early with Yeon A to double-check the guest list and hand it over to the hotel staff.

After exchanging brief greetings with the secretaries from Jaein Group’s representative office who seemed to be there for the same purpose, Ha Jun and Yeon A sat in their designated seats.

“Ah~ It ended quicker than I thought. We still have 30 minutes before the managing director arrives. Should I call the office manager to see where he is?”

“He’ll come when it’s time. Yeon A, would you like some coffee?”

“Sure! What would you like to drink, Ha Jun?”

“I’ll go buy it. You stay seated, Yeon A. Iced vanilla latte, right?”

“Yes! Hehe~ I’ll enjoy it!”

Ha Jun smiled slightly and got up from her seat, heading towards the coffee shop on the first floor. But as Ha Jun was standing in line at the counter, she could hear the voices of Jaein Group people chattering behind her.

“Still, since we’ve already done this once, the director’s secretarial office will have it easier for the director’s engagement party. Right?”

“Yeah, with another engagement at the same place in just a month or two~ There won’t be much to change.”

“But we should at least change the meal menu! The guests will be mostly the same.”

“That’s right. The food is the most important. Hahaha!”

The secretaries’ chatter about Yi Hyun’s upcoming engagement schedule, which wasn’t particularly secret.

Ha Jun’s vision blurred at the cheerful voices heralding the end of their relationship. But she couldn’t show any reaction here.

She could only grit her teeth and endure.

Ha Jun barely made it back to her seat and handed the coffee to Yeon A, but unable to control her painfully trembling heart, she finally stood up again.

“Um, I need to use the restroom…”

Yeon A’s eyes widened at Ha Jun’s faintly trembling voice and pale complexion.

“Ha Jun! You don’t look well. Why suddenly? Oh my! Are you sick?”

“No, it’s just… my stomach… I’ll be right back.”

Ha Jun clutched her handbag and ran to the bathroom as if fleeing. Entering the farthest stall and leaning against the wall, tears flowed incessantly from her eyes. Tears silently running down her cheeks wet the floor.

The engagement party began.

Ha Jun was sitting with Yeon A at a table at the very back of the round tables where the guests were seated.

They were proudly looking at Se Ra, who was standing in the center of the hall with Il Jun, wearing a light ivory cocktail dress.

“Our managing director looks really beautiful today. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, she’s very beautiful.”

“But Ha Jun, you look pretty too. Hehe~ You’re definitely in love! Right?”

“…”

Ha Jun couldn’t say anything to Yeon A’s cute whisper.

“Huh? You’re not denying it today? I knew it~ But you know, there’s a man over there who’s been staring at you since earlier.”

Ha Jun’s gaze followed where Yeon A’s finger was pointing. At the end of it was Team Leader Choi Se Ho.

“Ah…!”

Yeon A tilted her head at Ha Jun’s face, which instantly turned pale.

“What’s wrong? Do you know him?”

“Yes… from before, that…”

Yeon A’s eyes widened as she watched Ha Jun stammer, turning deathly pale. She remembered the reason Ha Jun had come to the main office.

“The son of Seongjin Distribution’s president? Is it the one who kept chasing after you?”

“Yes…”

“Oh my…! He must be crazy. Why is he staring like that!”

Yeon A, horrified, glared at Se Ho with a look of disgust and then quickly turned her head away.

“Ha Jun, after the engagement party ends today, don’t be alone until you get home. Understood?”

“Yes…”

Gulp, Ha Jun swallowed dryly and lowered her eyes, turning her head away to avoid Se Ho’s persistent gaze.

Meanwhile, Se Ho’s eyes weren’t the only ones watching Ha Jun inside the engagement hall.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Yi Hyun furrowed his handsome brow as he watched Ha Jun sitting with a precarious expression.

Then, the small, indifferent voice of Chairman Jang In Hwa sitting across from him pierced Yi Hyun’s ears.

“Do you still dislike her that much?”

“No. Who am I to like or dislike her?”

“Then smooth out your expression. Your only elder brother is getting engaged, what kind of face is that for the younger brother to make?”

“Yes.”

Yi Hyun’s face instantly became expressionless.

In Hwa clicked her tongue softly at the surly expression that could hardly be called good, and turned her head towards where Il Jun and Se Ra were standing side by side.

At the same time, Yi Hyun’s eyes turned back to Ha Jun.

But her complexion seemed even paler than before.

A faint crease appeared again between Yi Hyun’s brows.

He wanted to rush over and take Ha Jun out of here right away, but he was infuriatingly unable to do so.

Meanwhile, as the engagement ceremony ended, In Hwa rose elegantly and stepped forward to take the microphone.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has attended today. I hope you will enjoy the reception to your satisfaction as well.”

Applause much larger than fitting for the brief greeting erupted, and the guests sitting at the dinner tables began to rise and move.

Among them, Yi Hyun saw Ha Jun leaving the Crystal Room, sticking close to Yeon A.

Yi Hyun stared intently at their retreating figures.

While it wouldn’t be good for either of them to acknowledge each other in this setting, Ha Jun’s pale face kept disturbing his vision. He wanted to check why she was like that, if she was alright.

After deliberating, Yi Hyun finally followed after them.

However, Choi Se Ho was already one step ahead, following closely behind Ha Jun who was disappearing as if fleeing.