After finishing the investigation, Hyun Baek Hap got into the car but couldn’t decide which direction to go.

There was no justification to visit the chairman’s office, and her stomach churned at the thought of going home.

“Let’s go to the art gallery.”

As soon as Hyun Baek Hap entered the art gallery, she took out her frustration on the employees.

The secretary who came in holding Hyun Baek Hap’s schedule was scolded for wearing a tie.

“Are you wearing a tie right now? You’re wearing a tie?!”

Hyun Baek Hap berated the employee for an absurd reason.

“There’s no official event, so why are you wearing a tie! Are you excited that I’m appearing at the prosecutor’s office?!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Take it off! I said take off the tie! Take it off right now!”

Hyun Baek Hap shouted like a madwoman. Terrified, he quickly loosened his tie.

“From now on, decline all schedules related to the prosecutor’s office on your own.”

With those words, she threw the schedule.

“Yes…!”

Even after the employee left the director’s office, Hyun Baek Hap couldn’t calm her furious heart.

“Me, to that wench Cheon Ha In? I’ll never lose to her.”

Hyun Baek Hap muttered in a low voice and clenched her fists tightly. The red ruby ring on her finger glinted like blood.

* * *

The sound of the printer stopped at 2 a.m.

Ha In sat in the chair, completely drained of energy.

The strong scent of Hyun Baek Hap’s perfume seemed to brush the tip of her nose. Ha In slowly blinked her heavy eyelids, trying to blur the afterimage of Hyun Baek Hap.

She had to stay calm and not get caught up in the pleasure of seeing her frustrated.

“Hmm…”

Ha In got up and stood in front of the printer.

These were the documents needed for Chairman Lee’s summoning investigation.

Ha In checked the contents one last time to make sure nothing was missed.

Given who they were dealing with, it was only natural to check and prepare several times. But more than that, she had to be meticulous because of the promise made with Je Guk.

Summoning Chairman Lee wasn’t to strike Cheonha Group, but to cut off Hyun Baek Hap’s hands and feet.

As long as Chairman Lee didn’t score an own goal, the underlying work for this summoning investigation was to ensure Cheonha Group wouldn’t take a big hit.

It wasn’t satisfactory, but this much should be enough to not worry too much.

Today had to end here.

When Ha In left the prosecutor’s office building, the parking lot was quiet.

Working late was a daily occurrence, so the unfamiliar scenery wasn’t strange. Wanting to get home and rest as soon as possible, she quickened her pace.

Before starting the car, Ha In took out her cell phone.

– Ha In, make sure to text me when you get home.

It was a message from Je Guk.

– Okay, I’m leaving now.

– Be careful while driving. There are cars speeding late at night.

The reply came back almost immediately. Ha In felt so warm at the thought of someone looking out for her.

The road in front of the prosecutor’s office was really quiet. It was a privilege of leaving work late.

Ha In gradually increased her speed. But she felt a car behind her also increasing its speed to match hers.

Ha In felt goosebumps rise on her arms at the chilling sensation.

“Ha, I’ve become too sensitive.”

Ha In thought it was because she hadn’t taken any of the prescribed medication today due to the major schedule.

Ha In turned on the radio to refresh her surroundings.

The main topic on the early morning news was, of course, the story of Hyun Baek Hap’s summoning investigation. Not wanting to listen to the news, she switched to a classical music station.

Even when trying not to be conscious of it, the surroundings kept drawing her attention.

The problem was the car currently following Ha In. It could be going in the same direction, but matching the speed was suspicious.

Ha In half-doubted that the car behind her was tailing her until she reached the front of her house.

Just in case, she gave way for the car behind to go first. But the car behind didn’t go ahead and stuck close to Ha In.

She tried changing lanes like that one more time. As expected, that car only followed Ha In and didn’t go ahead.

At this point, it was definitely tailing.

Her heart began to pound heavily. If she entered the underground parking lot like this, she would be cornered by the following car with room to spare.

In an instant, Ha In swerved the steering wheel to change direction. Then the vehicle also turned the steering wheel in the same direction as Ha In.

Ha In, at a loss for what to do, recklessly drove towards Je Guk’s house.

The car engine roared loudly with a “vroom!”

While increasing her speed, Ha In’s mind went blank, wondering if she could shake off those following her with her driving skills.

Ha In’s heart was pounding so hard with fear that she felt like she would lose her mind. The more her hands trembled, the tighter she gripped the steering wheel.

She had no idea how long she had been driving.

Suddenly feeling the surroundings become quiet, Ha In slowed down and checked the side mirrors. The car that had been chasing her was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

Je Guk was working in the study, planning to go to sleep after confirming Ha In had arrived home safely.

At that moment, Je Guk’s cell phone vibrated. Feeling happy, he quickly picked up the phone. But it wasn’t Ha In.

It was the head of security Je Guk had assigned to Ha In. He had reassigned the one who always guarded Je Guk to Ha In.

Je Guk quickly answered the call.

“Yes, chief.”

– A tailing vehicle was following. The prosecutor also noticed and turned the car around in front of the parking lot after arriving at the house.

Je Guk calmly listened to the head of the legal department’s words.

– We cut in behind the prosecutor’s car and shook off the tailing vehicle.

Only then did Je Guk feel like he could breathe a little.

“Good work.”

After ending the call, Je Guk was about to call Ha In when she called him first. Je Guk quickly answered.

– Director Lee, it’s too late. I’m sorry.

“No, did something happen?”

Je Guk asked calmly, pretending not to know, worried that Ha In would take the situation too seriously.

– No. It’s not that. Can I come over now?

Ha In’s voice trembled as she asked. Je Guk put on his clothes and grabbed the car keys.

“Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

– No, no. Don’t come out.

It sounded like she was saying it was dangerous here, so don’t come. Je Guk swallowed the urge to raise his voice in urgency.

“Ha In.”

– I’m almost there. Really.

After ending the call with Ha In, Je Guk couldn’t just stay still and went outside.

He was about to leave the garden when a notification rang on his cell phone that Ha In’s car had passed the front of the village.

Je Guk strode towards the main gate.

Ha In’s car was approaching at a fairly fast speed. Spotting Je Guk, Ha In immediately got out of the car, looking very anxious.

“Ha In.”

At the sound of Je Guk calling her, Ha In was startled but tried hard not to show it.

She thought she had been followed but had no concrete evidence. But she didn’t want to tell Je Guk and make him worry for nothing.

Je Guk approached Ha In.

She looked pale, having been so frightened while driving here.

Je Guk placed his hand on Ha In’s tense, raised shoulders. Then she threw herself into his arms.

Je Guk held back the urge to ask what had happened for a moment. Calming Ha In down was the priority. Je Guk hugged her tightly.

“I missed you so much, how did I endure it?”

Ha In buried herself in Je Guk’s embrace as much as she had been afraid.

“I’m so grateful that you missed me this much.”

Actually, he wanted to say he was grateful that nothing had happened.

“Ha In.”

Je Guk comforted Ha In and patted her back. Ha In felt a little better. Her heart, which had been beating painfully fast, gradually calmed down.

Without any capacity for judgment, she had rushed here to survive. Instinctively, she felt Je Guk’s arms were the safest place.

Taking a deep breath, Ha In slowly raised her head to look at Je Guk. Then Je Guk brushed her hair back.

“It’s cold. Let’s go inside.”

Je Guk kissed Ha In’s forehead with a smacking sound and held her hand. Ha In’s legs were shaking, but she firmly walked holding his hand.

When they entered the house, a warm energy enveloped Ha In. Perhaps because the tension had dissipated, she was suddenly sleepy.

It was serious.

She had intended to stay briefly and leave, but her body kept sinking to the ground.

“Sit for a moment. I’ll give you some warm water.”

Je Guk sat Ha In on the sofa and brought her warm water.

“You must be very tired. You look in terrible condition.”

“Today, I was very tired.”

That was all Ha In explained.

She still didn’t want to tell him that someone had followed her all the way here and make him worry for nothing.

“It’s very late today.”

Je Guk said, looking at the large clock on the wall.

“Sleep here tonight.”

Je Guk was blaming the late hour, but in reality, he didn’t want to send Ha In out alone because it was dangerous outside.

Flustered, Ha In couldn’t answer and just looked at Je Guk.

She desperately wanted to do as Je Guk said. But the words agreeing to it wouldn’t come out of her mouth. Sleeping over was still… difficult.

Ha In lowered her eyes, conflicted.

“No. I’ll get going after seeing your face.”

Ha In quickly grabbed her bag and stood up. She felt pathetic, wondering since when she had become so weak as to rely on someone like this.

Thinking calmly, it was no big deal.

The people following her had disappeared at some point. She might have been oversensitive and mistaken, but even if it was really a tail, she didn’t want to be scared.

“It’s late, so get some rest soon.”

The moment Ha In was about to take a step, Je Guk pulled her into his arms. He hugged her with a truly earnest heart.

The sight of her rushing over with a pale, frightened face lingered in his mind, and he couldn’t let her go like this.

He didn’t want to see her back as she returned home alone in the dark night.

“No, don’t go Ha In. I can’t let you go today.”