Seeing Jeho’s name on the screen, Hyunkyung, with a puzzled expression, asked.

Yuli slowly took a breath and firmly pressed the call button.

“Hello.”

[Sorry for the late call.]

Jeho spoke with his usual affectionate voice.

[I was so busy all day that I didn’t even know my phone was turned off.]

His voice through the phone was utterly calm. Yet, it couldn’t be concluded that nothing happened during the board meeting. Yuli carefully opened her mouth, suppressing the words she wanted to ask.

“I guess you were really busy.”
[Yes, a bit. Actually, I’m in Seoul right now. There was a sudden emergency board meeting at KG Group.]

Although her heart felt guilty at the mention of an emergency board meeting, Yuli asked with a deliberately steady voice.

“An emergency board meeting? Was there something bad?”

[Well, for someone, it might have been. Not for me, though.]

“Ah…”

A sigh of relief escaped Yuli’s lips.

Was there really nothing wrong?

[Honestly, it’s quite a satisfying result for me. If I return tomorrow night, let’s celebrate together with champagne.]

“Champagne?”

[Yes, champagne.]

He started laughing, seeming in a good mood. Yuli felt pain in her chest as if her heart was being squeezed. He laughed, but she wanted to cry.

[Anyway, it’s good news, so look forward to tomorrow night.]

After ending the call, Yuli wore a puzzled expression.

He must know that the ledger has changed, so why…

Is he mocking me now?

Contemplating alone, Yuli leaned her head against the window, closing her eyes in silence.

What’s the use of all this?

Regardless, tomorrow night will be the end for both of them.

Whether she wants it or not.

Just the thought of parting from him already felt like her heart was breaking. However, like cutting off rotten flesh before it’s too late, they had to end it before the relationship twisted even further.

It was the wisest decision she could make right now.

Even though she knew it better than anyone.

“Sigh.”

A melancholic sigh filled Yuli’s dry chest.

The next day, on her way home, Yuli stopped by the mart to buy smoked salmon, smoked ham, fresh cheese, chocolate, various fruits, and more.

He didn’t specify exactly what time he’d return, but since he mentioned tomorrow night, it probably meant he’d come after having dinner.

Still, she wanted to prepare something simple for him. After all, today would be the last day.

She also visited a liquor store to buy the finest champagne and got a strawberry-covered cream cake from the hotel bakery.

She prepared flowers and candles of various colors to beautifully set the table.

“Hoot.”

Filling the plates with various fruits, fresh cheese, smoked salmon, smoked ham, chocolate, and more, Yuli paused for a moment and smiled wryly.

If she had known it would end so quickly, she would have spent more time like this…

Wasn’t she pathetic, wasting time on revenge and such? Even though it couldn’t be with him from the beginning. She knew it from the start.

Was it fortunate that she realized it now?

Yuli, who had set the table, headed to the guest room to change her clothes.

She wanted something prettier than a shirt and pants, but she hadn’t brought anything other than her office suit this time. Besides the silver dress that she and Hyunkyung had prepared as a couple look.

She didn’t want to wear the same clothes again, but she had no choice. There was only this dress.
“Too beautiful. If my mother were alive, I would have thanked her. Thank you for giving birth to me so beautifully and raising me.”

Suddenly, the words he had said came to mind.

“Sincerely. Let’s meet later and say hello.”

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

“Sure.”

He said that, but he probably wouldn’t go to the cemetery where his mother was buried with her. Perhaps he never intended to go there from the beginning.

Wearing a dress this time, Yuli headed to the study. She took a wooden box out of the safe and put a watch on her wrist. Since today is the last day, she wanted to show him wearing the watch she received as a gift.

Returning to the dining table, Yuli placed the champagne bottle in the ice bucket filled with ice.

Preparations were all perfectly finished, and now there was only to raise a toast with champagne.

Yuli checked the time with her wristwatch.

The last night together was rapidly approaching.

“Why is your face like that?”

Despite all the time and effort she put into it, Jeyo’s gaze, as he returned home, was not on the table but on her face. Even though she had applied thick makeup to make it less noticeable, he seemed to recognize it at a glance. He furrowed his eyebrows as if extremely angry.

“Are you hurt?”

“It’s nothing. I hit the wall while going to the bathroom half-asleep.”

Yuli repeated the excuse she had given to her colleagues earlier. Jeyo didn’t say anything and just stared at her intently. After a while, he muttered as if talking to himself.

“It must have hurt.”

“A little.”

Lifting Jeyo’s hand, he gently stroked her swollen cheek. Although the stinging sensation had almost disappeared by now, Yuli unknowingly closed her eyes because she liked the cold touch of his hand.

“So, did you call because you were in pain? To let me know that you’re hurting as we agreed?”

He might say that, but he probably knew that wasn’t the case. But for now, until he spoke first, she wanted to follow his lead as it was the last time. Yuli nodded silently and leaned her face against his cold palm.

“Sorry. Also, for not answering the call without knowing.”

“It’s okay.”

When she slowly opened her eyes and looked at herself, Jeyo smiled gently, lowered his head, and bit his lip.

She could feel him being careful not to touch the swollen lips. Eventually, Yuli gently wrapped his cheeks with both hands, and she took the initiative to approach him.

She couldn’t be satisfied with such a simple kiss, not knowing if it was the last.

After a while, Yuli finally pulled her lips away and took a deep breath. When her breath returned to normal, this time, Jeyo lowered his head first and sucked her lower lip like sucking candy.
Exhilarating pain pierced through the lips, but along with it, even greater joy surged. The emotions she had held back until now were pouring out uncontrollably all at once.

“……Ha, Mr. Jeho.”

This time, too, Yuli stepped back first, taking a gasp of breath. Jeho just stared at her silently. It seemed like he had something to say, but he looked like he was holding back.

Is he trying to talk about the fake ledger?

Both of them should stop the false pretense now.

But instead of speaking, Jeho reached out his arms and pulled her into his embrace. Just being held by him made Yuli’s body tremble with overflowing emotions.

The warm body temperature and the sweet, refreshing citrus scent coming from him were so pleasant that tears welled up in her eyes.

“Sorry for the long business trip. I thought I was going crazy missing you.”

And his tender and gentle voice…

“…Is everything done well?”

“Yeah.”

With her head tilted back, Yuli met eyes with Jeho, who was holding her. She couldn’t find the words to ask about the emergency board meeting. Asking about it would shatter the current pink happiness into pieces.

But she couldn’t continue to turn a blind eye to it.

She needed to know what happened to him because of the ledger she swapped.

Yuli smoothed her trembling voice and cautiously opened her mouth.

“The emergency board meeting held yesterday…”