Je Ho simply gazed at her, turned away from him in sleep.

“Uh.”

There must have been some unease left in her mind. She couldn’t remember, but it felt like she had a nightmare.

Every time, a warm hand would stroke her hair and soothe her shoulder. There seemed to be gentle whispers, but they vanished like smoke from her memory the moment she woke up.

Yul Li slowly blinked her eyes open. The faint blue light of dawn was seeping through the gaps in the curtains.
What time might it have been? It seemed just before dawn.

Suddenly, someone’s hand pulled her tightly from behind. Only then did Yul Li realize she was lying in bed, her back against Je Ho’s solid chest.

One of Je Ho’s arms was under her neck, and the other wrapped around her waist. Warmth radiated from his back. It felt so good, it was as if she could melt into it.

She had felt empty and sad when she woke up alone in the bed earlier, but now she felt incredibly cozy and happy.

“Hmm.”

A long breath escaped her lips involuntarily. The feeling of not being alone was this pleasant.

Then, the hand around her waist tightened, pulling her closer.

“You were sleeping pretty well.”

His low whisper, along with his warm breath, flowed into her ear.

“Looks like the bed suits you.”

Yul Li tried to turn around, but she couldn’t move due to his tight embrace. Je Ho murmured lowly, resting his chin on her shoulder.

“It’s still early. Sleep a little more.”

Different from the promise… He said he wouldn’t touch a finger but…

However, instead of complaining, Yul Li closed her eyes again as Je Ho suggested. His wide and warm embrace felt too good to think about anything else.

Je Ho soon began to breathe evenly, perhaps falling back to sleep. Yul Li gently caressed the hand on her waist. The ticklish breath on her neck made her sigh unintentionally.

She felt a little scared. What if she got used to this? What if she found it hard to sleep and wake up alone?

She shouldn’t get too comfortable with being with him… She had to return to her normal life soon.

Yet, she couldn’t move an inch in Je Ho’s comfortable embrace.

When she woke up, Je Ho had already left for work. The table was set with a crispy almond croissant, bacon, scrambled eggs, and a simple breakfast for her. Alongside it was a note from him, suggesting she use his car, with the car keys beside it.

Yul Li called Chae’s aide. After some difficulty, she found out when Chae would be free and immediately headed to the party’s building. It was important to discuss her residence with him after Min Woo’s return, and the sooner the better.

After waiting for over an hour, she finally got to meet Chae in his private office. He glanced at his wristwatch and sat down on the sofa.

“We have about 10 minutes before the next meeting. So, what’s this urgent matter you had to discuss? I thought we covered everything during yesterday’s call.”

“Once Min Woo returns and the marriage is officially canceled, I plan to live independently.”

Chae frowned, seemingly not expecting this. Yul Li quickly continued before he could respond.

“There’s no need for you to monitor me anymore. I can’t tell anyone now.”

Chae’s affair and her late mother’s past were entangled in complexity. Just as Chae worried about his own secrets being revealed, Yul Li now had to worry about her mother’s past being exposed.
“Father, seeing my face every day is tough for you, isn’t it? It reminds you of mom.”

“Hmm.”

Chae, the Congressman, just coughed dryly, keeping a sorrowful expression. Somehow, he looked sad, although that was unlikely.

“I should leave and let you live happily with my stepmother and Yuri. Don’t worry about me and go on family trips comfortably. You only went on one family trip this year, right?”

Chae’s eyes flickered for a moment, seemingly surprised that Yul Li knew about the family trip. But he soon regained his composure and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll get you a decent apartment.”

“No. I’ll look for a place near the company to rent. I can handle that much on my own.”

“That won’t do. I’ll take care of it, so just stay quiet. We don’t want any strange rumors.”

Chae’s top priority was always the image he presented to the voters. Yul Li realized she had no choice in the matter.

“Okay, then.”

“Have you decided not to marry Director Kwon for sure?”

Instead of answering, Yul Li just nodded her head.

“Director Kwon will probably return in about a week. There’s still time to think until then.”

“I decided not to marry Min Woo a long time ago.”

At that moment, Chae’s aide knocked and announced that it was almost time for the meeting. Chae stood up, about to leave the room, then stopped and turned back to Yul Li.

“Don’t think that just because things ended with Kwon, you can be with Je Ho. You two already broke off an engagement once. Plus, you were almost married to his cousin, Director Kwon.”

“So, it’s about how it looks to others.”

Precisely, it was about the voters. Again, the tiresome concern over voters, public opinion, and support.

But there was no need to provoke Chae. Yul Li clenched her hands and took a deep breath.

“Don’t worry. I know Je Ho will return to America someday.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Can’t I be with him just while he’s in Korea? He won’t be here long.”

Expecting a flat refusal, Chae pondered for a moment, then spoke in a dry tone.

“Fine. I won’t stop you from playing with fire. Try it if you think you can. But keep it under control.”

With that, Chae left the room. Left alone, Yul Li sat still, contemplating his words.

Was their relationship doomed to end as a mere flirtation?

Chae’s words weren’t wrong. Je Ho was her former fiancé, and she had almost married his cousin, Min Woo. It would be awkward for both families to start a new relationship.

Je Ho must know this too. So why does he approach her so boldly? Was he also viewing this as just a fling?

Yul Li smiled bitterly, slowly standing up.

If it was going to be a fling, then it should be a grand one.

No regrets.

A blaze that burns everything.