“It’s not about money, Chairman. This kind of thing will continue to happen. Until now, the small lady has been blocking it well, but someday, it will inevitably explode.”

Chairman Kwon looked down at the photo of Sindahui on the desk. It was gruesome to look at, taken the day after Minwoo assaulted her. Although they tried to pass it off as falling down the stairs, it was doubtful whether anyone truly believed that.

“So, what do you suggest I do? Let me hear your opinion.”
Jeho deferred his response, lowering his gaze to the photos and documents on the desk. Did he truly remain oblivious to Minwoo’s misdeeds? If that were the case, his emotional control would be at an astonishing level. But was it really so?

While looking at Sindahui’s photo with a moderately sympathetic gaze, Chairman Kwon’s expression seemed somewhat awkward. Was Chairman Kwon pretending not to know everything?

“Why are you asking for my opinion? Everyone knows, and you’ve already devised countermeasures.”

Jeho carefully brought up the words he had in mind, looking directly at Chairman Kwon.

“It’s unreasonable to think that Grandfather didn’t know about Minwoo’s actions for more than a day or two. Isn’t that right?”

“Hahaha, that rascal.”

Rather than denying, Chairman Kwon burst into laughter, rising from his seat. He wrapped Jeho’s shoulders with both hands and spoke with a strong tone.

“That’s why I trust you. You are fundamentally different from that rascal Minwoo.”

Unlike Chairman Kwon, who wore a satisfied smile, Jeho had to force a smile. He couldn’t comprehend how Chairman Kwon could laugh so freely in the current situation.

As he walked out of the chairman’s office, Jeho received a message from Yuri.

As planned, they decided to spend the weekend at her place. Although he initially said he would come in the late afternoon, it seemed he had changed his mind. Jeho smiled gently and replied immediately.

Putting his phone back into his jacket pocket, Jeho quickened his pace to reach her a little earlier.

Confirming Jeho’s reply, Yuri sent a message to Chief Kim this time. A prompt response came back. After carefully reading the replies, she drank all the remaining coffee in the cup.

After checking all the messages, she purposely dropped the coffee cup she was holding.

“Ah.”

Letting out an exaggerated scream, she contorted her face as if injured by the shattered cup. At that very moment, the phone on the table rang. Though it was an unknown number, she pressed the answer button.

“Hello?”

[Uh, Yuri. It’s me.]

Minwoo’s voice flowed through the phone. Was he really watching her now? While pretending to clear away the broken cup, Yuri intentionally cut her hand.

Red blood dripped onto the white coffee table. However, Yuri made no sound. On the contrary, a desperate, almost breathless sound came from the phone.

[Yuri, are you okay?]

“Nothing’s wrong. What’s up?”

While calmly replying, Yuri extended her hand toward the camera, ensuring her bleeding was visible.

[Uh, no, well, it’s just…]

“Minwoo, I’m sorry, but I urgently need to do something right now. Can we talk later?”

[Uh, sure, okay.] After ending the call, Yuri pulled out tissues from each box and tightly pressed them around her finger, which was bleeding. The vein began to throb, causing a burning sensation.

Yuri bit her lower lip, stood up, and fetched the first aid kit. She turned away from the camera, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

“Ah, ah.”

Applying ointment to the throbbing area and wrapping it with a bandage, she made a sound of discomfort. It wasn’t painful enough to make her groan, but she did it to provoke Minwoo.

I must have lost my mind. I was about to marry that crazy jerk.

Yuri forcibly suppressed a smirk, shaking her head. Still, was she relieved that at least the bathroom was not equipped with cameras?

Wrapping her injured finger, Yuri internally resolved to finish work quickly by the end of the day.

Treating all her wounds, she called Minwoo using the number that had called earlier.

[Uh, Yuri.]

Minwoo answered the call after a single signal. Yuri changed her posture toward the camera so that he could see her expression well.

“Sorry for hanging up abruptly earlier.”

[No, no. Thank you for calling me back without forgetting. Yuri.]

As if touched, Minwoo’s voice trembled thinly. Even hearing that voice was disgusting, but Yuri regulated her breathing and continued the call.

“I didn’t call to hear nice words. I’m calling to ask you to stop bothering me. Please.”

[Yuri, what are you talking about?]

“I don’t want you to act fussy around me anymore. I’m going to tell Father clearly today. Since we’re canceling the marriage anyway, there’s no need to drag this on. The by-election is already over, and now seems like a good time.”

Perhaps shocked or unable to control his anger, Minwoo remained silent for a moment. After a while, his voice shook as he spoke.

[You… even when I stoop down like this and come out, you’re going to keep refusing me harshly? Rejecting me so coldly might be your charm, but it seems a bit excessive.]

Crazy jerk.

Yuri spat out a curse inwardly, smirking with a raised corner of her mouth.

Who is the one going too far with such words here?

“Minwoo, what do you want me to do? I have no feelings for you. I’m more attracted to your cousin than you.”

[What did you just say!]

Finally, the suppressed anger seemed to explode. Minwoo began to speak loudly without stopping, as if screaming.

“Hey, Cha Yulri, wake up! Jeho already has a girlfriend. I saw it last time. No, not just that girl, but many others too. He meets different women. That jerk plays around with so many dirty and messy women. That jerk, so-called, a bad guy!”] The more Minwoo got excited, the colder Yuri’s face became. She checked the time on the wall clock. It seemed about time to make Minwoo explode.

“Minwoo, listen to what I’m saying.”

Yuri spoke with a bright smile, her voice becoming very kind. As she changed her tone affectionately, Minwoo stopped yelling as if his excitement had subsided.

“But what should I do?”

As the other party became silent, Yuri continued in a gentle voice.

“I’m more attracted to bad guys.”

As she finished speaking, beep, beep, beep, the sound of pressing the password echoed.

Suddenly, the entrance door opened, and Yuri turned her head towards the back, holding the phone.