“After hearing that from Minwoo, I was worried and called you, but the call didn’t go through. So, I called Yuri, and she told me you collapsed and were in the hospital. That’s why I rushed here.”

Hyeonkyung opened her arms wide and hugged Yuri tightly.

“Oh, our poor baby. You must have been shocked. Yeah, even I would have been terrified.”

Hyeonkyung seemed to misunderstand that Yuri collapsed because of Minwoo. Of course, that incident was also very shocking. However, compared to being betrayed by someone she had finally opened her heart to, it was nothing.

But instead of correcting the misunderstanding, Yuri wrapped her arms around Hyeonkyung’s back and hugged her. No matter how close Hyeonkyung was as a friend, Yuri couldn’t reveal the story with Jeho.
In an instant, tears poured out. Even though she was the only friend she could trust in the world, she had to hide it. It felt like she was constantly deceiving Hyeonkyung, and it made Yuri sorry.

“Hey? Are you crying? Why, Yulri?”

“Sniff, …because I’m so happy to see you… Hyeonkyung, I… I felt so lonely without you.”

“Hey, hey, don’t cry.”

As Yuri burst into tears, Hyeonkyung seemed bewildered, not knowing what to do. Hastily, she took out a handkerchief from her handbag and wiped the tears off Yuri’s cheeks, which were soaked with tears.

“It’s not lonely without me. Mr. Jeho would be disappointed if he hears this.”

Then, she lowered her voice with an expression as if to say, ‘What if someone overhears?’

“They still don’t know at home, right?”

“Yeah.”

Yuri seemed to have sensed the relationship between the two, but there was no need to worry too much. She wasn’t the type to spread rumors recklessly. Mrs. Ahn was the same. And anyway, it didn’t matter since she wasn’t even the real daughter.

Even after Hyeonkyung left, Yuri remained on the terrace, silently gazing at the garden.

Her once complicated thoughts were gradually being organized. First, she had to find out why he approached her and what he wanted in the future.

To do that, she had to avoid letting him know for a while that she knew everything. She needed to observe him closely, as if monitoring him.

Honestly, she didn’t feel indifferent about confronting him. She might involuntarily raise her hand or spit out curses. However, whether she sought revenge or forgiveness, she couldn’t make a decision by separating from him. Even if it was a clumsy excuse she came up with because she didn’t want to break up, it couldn’t be helped.

It wouldn’t be easy, but it was the best approach she could take for now.

Yuri tightly clenched both hands and closed her eyes.

Jeho, who had been holding and fidgeting with his phone, finally put it down and stood up from the sofa. Despite sending several messages, he received no response from Yuri.

Since she was recuperating at home, there shouldn’t be much to worry about. The attending doctor advised her to rest as much as possible, so perhaps she was sleeping all day.

Moving to the window, Jeho stared blankly at the gray sky filled with clouds. It had been a gloomy day for several days. As if peering into his own heart, Jeho twisted his lips into a wry smile.

How much does Yuri really know?

‘Does Father know about Mr. Jeho?’ The question must have meant something only to the parties involved.

It was mentioned during the process of questioning Sindahee. Did she sense something? If so, how much did she sense?

Even Assemblyman Chae seemed unaware of how much his daughter had discovered.
The worst scenario is that she, who knows everything, intentionally avoids him. There was a noticeable distance that hadn’t been there before. At first, she thought it was just because she was unwell and lacked energy, but looking back, Yuri had avoided facing him.

“Hu.”

Jeho touched his forehead with his hand and let out a long sigh. No matter how much he thought about it, it was just a waste of time now. When he meets her later, after she returns to work, he will know for sure.

First, he had to deal with the tasks at hand. Now that Minwoo’s communication from abroad had ceased, he needed to accelerate the progress of the work.

To do that, he had to first control the board of directors. Jeho contacted the major shareholders whenever he had time. He needed to expand the allies who could support him until the regular board meeting.

“Damn, that Minwoo.”

At that moment, Wookyul entered the room. He shook an envelope containing documents in his hand, wearing a bewildered expression as if he had heard something unbelievable.

“I hear there’s noise already coming from the Paris branch. Well, birds chirp inside and outside, but this is too much.”

“Is that so?”

As if expecting what happened, Jeho’s expression showed no significant change. He took a photo from the envelope that Wookyul handed him. At a glance, it was clear that it had nothing to do with work; it captured Minwoo indulging in entertainment, far from his professional duties.

“But this situation hasn’t been reported to Chairman or shareholders at all. Vice President Kwon is pulling strings in the middle.”

“I see.”

To Wookyul’s words, Jeho nodded casually.

Although it might not be reported to Chairman Kwon, it didn’t mean Chairman Kwon knew nothing. However, Jeho did not correct the wrongly conveyed situation. He still needed to hide the fact that Chairman Kwon was aware of everything. He had to find out Chairman Kwon’s intentions first.

“Then, let’s start by removing Vice President Kwon first.”

Jeho, who had been staring at the penetrated photo, spoke with a sharp gleam in his eyes.

The chessboard was somewhat set; now it was time to make a move.

After the temporary parliamentary session, Assemblyman Chae returned home the day before Yuri’s return to work. Chae called Yuri, who had recovered reasonably well over the past week, to his study. As she entered the study, Chae put down the documents he had been reading and looked up.

“Is your health okay now?”

“Yes. I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

“No, you have nothing to be sorry about.”

For some reason, today, Chae’s voice felt unusually gentle. Yuri softly bit her lip, feeling an odd sensation. Her father, who always felt like an adversary, seemed somewhat on the same side today. But that didn’t mean she intended to lower the walls of caution. The sense of betrayal she felt from Jeho was too significant.

“I heard there’s something you want to ask me.”

“…Ah.”
Yuri remained silent as if lost in thought. Soon, she gently smiled and lowered her head.

“It’s nothing. You don’t have to worry.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Father.”

Assemblyman Chae furrowed his brows in puzzlement, but he didn’t inquire further.

At first, Yuri had considered asking Assemblyman Chae about Jeho. However, she soon changed her mind, deciding to find out on her own.

“I’ll be returning to work from tomorrow. After work, I won’t stop by home; I’ll go straight to the studio apartment.”

“Is it okay to live alone?”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

With a cold smile, Yuri turned away and walked out of the study.

From now on, she wouldn’t trust anyone. Not her father, not anyone.

Then, at least, she wouldn’t have to experience betrayal.

No need to cry like a fool.