“No, once is enough.”

In fact, I shouldn’t even make such a mistake to you once.

Jeho smiled bitterly as he strengthened his arms around Yulli.

It was too late to turn back the past. The cup had already been overturned, and the water had spilled. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do now. When the time came, all he could do was reveal everything and wait for her decision.

But in that process, the one who would be most hurt is not himself but her. That’s why Jeho felt even heavier-hearted. Despite saying he would protect her, in reality, he was causing her the most significant pain.

Feeling like the atmosphere had sunk, Yulli pulled away from the embrace and looked up at Jeho. Her eyes showed a sad expression.

“Why do you look like that?”

When Yulli asked with a worried expression, Jeho gently smiled, tilting his head.

“Too moved. Because you said you would forgive me not once but twice.”

“Then, Mr. Jeho won’t do that?”

“I…”

Jeho was momentarily speechless. He realized that the weight of the mistake she imagined and the weight of the mistake he committed were incomparable.

She would never be able to imagine it. Just imagining what expression she would have when the truth was revealed made his heart ache.

“Yulli.”

Jeho pulled her back into his arms and leaned his chin on her forehead. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but the reality that he couldn’t overwhelmed him. But all of this was his fault. So, there was no one to blame.

“Of course, you should forgive as much as you want.”

“Heh, if Mr. Jeho would do the same…”

Not knowing Jeho’s true feelings, Yulli laughed lightly and buried her face in his chest. She was grateful for Jeho, who had turned a potentially horrible day into a beautiful one and was thankful that he was always by her side.

“Let’s go together to the cemetery where my mom is.”

“Sure.”

Jeho whispered, gently stroking Yulli’s head as his lips met hers. It was a subdued voice, but Yulli, intoxicated by the sweet atmosphere, didn’t notice. When Jeho lowered his head, their lips met, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. Overwhelmed by happiness, her heart fluttered.

“That day, I was quite drunk, right? I’m sorry, senior.”

Yuri, who had promised to treat Dahee to dinner for taking care of her at the last university alumni gathering, apologized.

“Don’t apologize; it’s possible.”

Dahee smiled brightly, as if it were nothing. Pouring wine into Dahee’s glass, Yuri cautiously opened her mouth.

“Actually, rather than taking care of me, you should hate me. Because of Jaesik Senior…”

“What are you talking about? If someone who doesn’t know hears it, they might think you’ve got a crush on Jaesik. If you think about it, you’re also a victim. Jaesik got drunk and bothered you.”
Despite saying such things, Dahee’s heart was burning at the moment.

Son of a b****.

Just mentioning that name made her feel dirty, indicating that the anger had not yet subsided. Dahee and Moon Jaesik, who were university classmates, had been a couple since their freshman year. They were close from the beginning of their freshman year. He waited for her until he was discharged from the military, but as soon as Jaesik returned to school, he fell for a junior in the department and dumped her.

The person he fell for was Chae Yoori, the daughter of a member of the National Assembly and a wealthy family. It seemed that he had put in a lot of effort other than confessing, but it ended as soon as it began. Yoori firmly rejected Jaesik, saying that she already had a man she liked.

Honestly, except for appearing in front of Jaesik, there was nothing wrong with Yoori. However, even if it wasn’t intentional, it was a fact that Yoori stole Jaesik’s heart. Dahee knew that Yoori had noticed how Jaesik approached her and probably enjoyed the thrilling tension.

If she could, she wanted to grab Yoori’s hair and slap her right away. However, Yoori, the daughter of Congressman Cha Hyungshik, was someone she couldn’t easily touch, back then and even now. And…

“But senior, why did you suddenly quit your job at the company?”

“Yeah, it felt like I’ve been at the same company for too long. I want to recharge by taking a short trip abroad.”

After taking a sip of wine, Dahee asked Yoori a serious question.

“Oh, by the way, did your sister and Director Kwon Minwoo’s postponement of marriage turn into a cancellation?”

“How do you know about that?”

“Yeah, it’s not official yet, but Director Kwon has been assigned to an overseas branch. So, of course, the marriage is canceled. Your sister didn’t tell you anything?”

Yoori’s expression instantly stiffened, seemingly shocked. Dahee suppressed her laughter and gave Yoori a puzzled look.

“At least for about three years, he’ll be at the overseas branch, they say.”

“…Ah.”

“Sister, let me comfort you. No matter how strategic the marriage is, marriage is still marriage. If a marriage breaks up like this, the bride is the one who gets hurt.”