At Lee Je Guk’s words, Cheon Ha In’s heart pounded like crazy. It felt different from when her heart raced due to unsavory incidents on her way home from work.

If Ha In went back alone like this and got hurt, she felt like she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

“You came all the way here to see me at this late hour, how can I let you go back alone.”

“Sir……”

Je Guk hugged Ha In with all his strength.

“Sir, I won’t go. Let me stay here tonight. Please let me stay here tonight.”

His sincerity reached Ha In as well. With him showing his true feelings first, it became a bit easier for Ha In to be honest too.

It was true that she was afraid to go back alone.

She had hoped Je Guk would stop her just once more, and now that he was holding her tightly and not letting go, it felt incredibly reassuring.

Je Guk separated Ha In from his embrace and looked at her face. He was so grateful that she accepted his intention.

* * *

Hyun Baek Hap, who had returned from the summons investigation, became very sensitive to the atmosphere flowing differently than expected.

On top of that, with the news that Lee Je Ni was on the verge of being arrested, her head throbbed. The only child she had was really of no help at all.

At times like this, she had to firmly win over Lee Hoe Jang’s heart. She absolutely could not let go of the things she had gained by blocking Lee Hoe Jang’s ears and covering his eyes all this time.

“The chairman has left work.”

Baek Hap looked in the dressing table mirror and applied a lipstick that made her lips look full of vitality.

After fixing her hair one more time and getting ready, she went out to greet Lee Hoe Jang.

“Chairman, you’re here.”

Baek Hap greeted Hoe Jang with a bright smile like a flower.

“You must be tired after going through that ordeal. Take some rest.”

Hoe Jang said with a worried expression.

“What have I even done. It’s all thanks to you taking good care of everything that I had a smooth visit. It was nothing much, right?”

“Really? With you coming out so energetically like this, they can’t make a move, can they?”

“Of course.”

Baek Hap spoke as if there were no problems at all.

Hoe Jang nodded his head, then looked at Baek Hap with pity. He felt bad that she was going through needless hardship.

“Shall we eat out? Is dinner alright? You get indigestion when you’re stressed.”

“What stress do I have? I proved my innocence and came back, so I actually feel refreshed.”

Baek Hap acted like a truly innocent person.

“Eating out tonight sounds good, but let’s eat at home. I prepared the sushi you like, Chairman. Hurry and change clothes, wash your hands, and let’s have dinner together.”

Baek Hap followed Hoe Jang to his dressing room. She helped him change clothes like she was his hands and feet.

“The lawyers, are they doing well? No need to go easy on them for no reason.”

“They’re doing well. Don’t worry. And I told you before. I only need you by my side, Chairman.”

Baek Hap spoke while hiding her dark inner thoughts. Baek Hap wanted Hoe Jang to continue staying by her side foolishly like this.

“By the way, I feel so bad for our Je Ni.”

Baek Hap carefully brought up the topic of Je Ni. When talking about Je Ni, she had to appear like a mother full of maternal love.

“The timid child has been trapped in an unfamiliar place for days now.”

“Ehem, there’s a lot to say about that too. But won’t she come out without any major issues?”

Hoe Jang spoke displeasedly. He thought the prosecutors were needlessly harassing his rabbit-like daughter.

“Now that things have turned out this way, our Je Ni must have been targeted by Cheonha Group executives, right? Our Je Ni is really being slandered unfairly right now.”

“Who, who dares to target my daughter.”

Seeing Hoe Jang’s reaction, Baek Hap felt relieved. Fortunately, it seemed the inheritance hadn’t gone down the drain.

“Still……”

Baek Hap wanted to make it a bit more certain.

“Je Guk is your only son, Chairman, and even if you’re distant now, blood is thicker than water, right? In the end, you’ll give him all the inheritance anyway.”

“You reap what you sow. Look at what that kid Je Guk is doing. So arrogant. It’s not like I have three or four children.”

At those words, Baek Hap was overjoyed inside but acted dignified on the outside.

“It’s alright. Chairman, our Je Ni is already receiving enough. When has our Je Ni ever wanted such things?”

“Whether she wants it or not. Being born as my child, it’s a right she should naturally enjoy.”

“And I’m not even your legal wife, do you think Je Guk will stay still?”

“I never considered that brat my son! And who says you’re not my legal wife!”

Hoe Jang spoke, ignoring all reality. Baek Hap looked at him with eyes full of love.

“You’ve had a hard life since meeting me. I always feel sorry.”

At Hoe Jang’s words, Baek Hap hugged him and expressed her emotions with her entire body.

Baek Hap confirmed that Hoe Jang was still on her side, but for some reason, she kept feeling uneasy.

Not long after that, Baek Hap received another summons to appear at the prosecution.

* * *

“It would be nice to come and stay like this often.”

Je Guk said while showing Ha In the bedroom.

Ha In also wanted to do that. She felt so reassured when she was with Je Guk.

“Shall we live together like this?”

“What?”

Je Guk wasn’t joking, but Ha In took it as him playing around. Providing a house wasn’t a simple matter.

Je Guk took out his cell phone and sent Ha In a text message.

“This is the passcode to my place. Starting tomorrow, I’ll register your fingerprint and give you a master key too. Come and stay anytime. Like today.”

It was a less burdensome suggestion than saying to live together.

Je Guk then sent a text to the building manager.

Knowing Ha In liked books, he considered setting up a separate study for her but held back.

Instead, he had a space prepared in his study for Ha In to use. He wanted to see Ha In one more time, using the study as a hideout.

“You can rest well here today.”

Je Guk went and stood by the window. Then he opened the window and gestured for Ha In to come over too. Ha In went and stood next to him.

The sky spread out over the lush trees made them feel refreshed.

Next to the terrace of Ha In’s room was the terrace of Je Guk’s room, standing shoulder to shoulder. He liked that too.

“Let me know anytime if there’s anything uncomfortable.”

Ha In nodded. No matter how much she looked around, there wasn’t a speck of discomfort.

“Is a glass of wine alright?”

Ha In nodded.

“The bathroom is over there, so wash up briefly and come to the study. 30 minutes should be enough?”

It seemed best to hurry since it was late in the evening.

When Ha In showered lightly and came out, there were silk pajamas and a robe placed on the shelf by the door. This house had everything.

As Ha In entered the study, Je Guk poured wine into a glass.

Feeling awkward in her attire, Ha In approached him timidly.

“Let’s sit.”

Je Guk handed Ha In a glass and sat down.

“This is the last time now. That I receive something from you, sir. It’s already enough.”

Ha In felt sorry for only receiving from Je Guk.

At those words, Je Guk paused and put down the glass he was holding.

“Why, are you drawing a line because you’re afraid I’ll ask to live together?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm……”

Je Guk felt bitter that Ha In seemed to not understand his feelings.

It didn’t seem like a matter to force, so this was also something that needed time. Je Guk drank a sip of wine to soothe his inner thoughts.

Ha In also drank some wine and got up from her seat to look around his study.

“When I come to your study, sir, it reminds me of old times.”

As Ha In imposed on Je Guk again today, she suddenly remembered the past.

“What kind of memories.”

“You knew that I secretly stole glances at books while cleaning your study, right?”

Je Guk vaguely remembered it.

“At that time, when I was caught reading a book secretly without knowing you were there, I thought I was dead for sure.”

Talking about it like that, he started to remember a bit.

“But then you told me that since I read books secretly, as punishment, I had to come to the study every day and read one book from then on.”

That’s right. Wondering how much she wanted to read books that she would secretly crouch in a corner of the study to do that, Je Guk had given Ha In access to the study and books.

“You remember all sorts of things.”

“That’s when I first learned that I had an interest in studying.”

To Ha In, Je Guk was always someone she was grateful to. Today was no different. Ha In approached Je Guk closely.

“I feel like I’m always imposing on you. You don’t have to do anything more for me now.”

“Those words sound so disappointing to me. If that will is virtuous, are you treating me, who would show kindness to a passing child, like this?”

Je Guk spoke, genuinely disappointed. He felt that Ha In’s attitude was because there was an imperfectly collapsed wall.

“Sir.”

“Enough, if it’s that kind of talk, I understood the meaning sufficiently.”

Ha In tried to appease Je Guk’s mood, but Je Guk cut her off decisively. Then he downed the wine as if chugging it.

Sensing Je Guk’s mood had soured greatly, Ha In became crestfallen.

“I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“Are you really sorry? Do you know what you did wrong?”

Je Guk asked again, acting strict. Ha In thought her apology was insufficient, so his heart wasn’t fully appeased.

“If you feel you were that wrong, come to this study every day from now on and read one book. As punishment.”

At those words, Ha In looked at Je Guk with startled eyes.

He wasn’t really angry but said that to reference the situation Ha In had mentioned. Only then did Ha In feel relieved.

“I don’t think I heard an answer yet.”

Je Guk’s voice was stern, but his expression was not at all.

“Alright. I’ll come often.”

“I clearly said every day though.”

Ha In nodded, saying she understood. Only then did Je Guk smile and suggest a toast to Ha In.