“Why are you asking me that? I should be the one asking you.”

For a while, Minwoo couldn’t say anything. With a pained expression that was pitiful to see, he rubbed his face with his palms. Then, in a strained voice, he managed to speak with difficulty.

“Yuri, this is a misunderstanding! ……It’s really a misunderstanding. Someone must be playing a prank right now. Yesterday was really…… not like that. I swear!”

His reaction was too indignant to be a lie. Honestly, Minwoo did feel wronged. This photo was definitely not taken yesterday. He didn’t know when it was taken, but it certainly wasn’t yesterday.

Minwoo was so sure because last night, while he was asleep, Dahee quickly changed into a different slip and took photos. To make the deception more convincing, she even attached ornate fake nails over her short ones.

The woman in the photo was cleverly cropped to hide her face, showing only long nails and a dark-colored slip. After taking the selfie, Dahee removed the fake nails and took off the slip, so to Minwoo, the woman in the photo was definitely not Shin Daeri, but someone else.

“So you’re saying this isn’t you in the photo? Then are you saying someone played a prank with Photoshop?”

“That’s not it……”

Minwoo glared at the photo with a confused expression. He had dated so many women that he simply couldn’t remember who the woman in the photo was. And that wasn’t all – there were quite a few women he had enjoyed for just one night and then discarded.

“Okay, Yuri. To be honest, I’ve been with a lot of women.”

Minwoo admitted his colorful past in a subdued voice. Since it was a fact everyone knew, he couldn’t deny it. Yuri knew this too. As Yuri nodded slightly, Minwoo strained his neck and continued speaking.

“But after I decided to marry you, I cut ties with all of them. It’s true, believe me.”

That wasn’t a complete lie either. Except for Shin Daeri, he really had cut ties with all the women around him. Shin Dahee was the only exception. Unlike other women, she was clever and excelled at understanding her position. He planned to maintain their relationship comfortably even after marriage, as she would never cross the line.

“It must be one of the women I dated before. She must be jealous that I’m marrying you and trying to cause trouble.”

“So who is this woman in the photo?”

“I don’t know that either.”

Minwoo shook his head with a troubled look.

“Just looking at the nails, it seems like it might be one of the models I met a few times before……”

“Nails?”

Yuri frowned as she looked at the nails Minwoo was pointing to. Only then did she notice the ornate fake nails. She remembered that the woman called Shin Daeri she saw at the company had short nails. At least, she wasn’t wearing such flashy fake nails. Does that mean this photo isn’t of Shin Daeri?

“Anyway, it’s a woman I met before and I’m not seeing her now. Really, believe me.”

As Yuri’s eyes, which had been full of distrust, began to soften slightly, Minwoo loudly proclaimed his innocence. Even so, Yuri’s face didn’t brighten. For the first time since deciding to marry her, Minwoo felt a sense of crisis. Cold sweat ran down his back at the thought that she might say they should break up.

What should I do?

Minwoo quickly racked his brain. But no solution came to mind. If possible, he wanted to cling to her in tears, but if he made a wrong move, he might lose more points.

Just then, the phone next to him rang. Checking the caller, Minwoo quickly pressed the answer button as if welcoming a savior.

“Oh, elder brother.”

It’s a small world indeed. Who would have thought Kwon Jeho’s call, usually a thorn in his side, would be so welcome!

[Where are you?]

“Namsan, ‘Meadowood’. I’m having a meal with Yuri right now.”

It seemed like he would have to call Jeho out. Surely Yuri would pretend to be affectionate in front of others, and the awkward atmosphere might dissipate while looking at houses together.

[If you don’t have time, we can meet another day. I don’t mind.]

“Send me the address, elder brother. I can be there in 30 minutes.”

After ending the call with Jeho, Minwoo looked at Yuri with an excited face.

“Elder brother said it has to be today or it’ll be difficult, so I said okay. Is that alright?”

Yuri didn’t answer and just stared at Minwoo silently. To suddenly go look at a house in this atmosphere – anyone could see this was an evasion. When Yuri didn’t say anything, Minwoo made a troubled expression and tried to persuade her.

“I made a mistake with elder brother yesterday, so we’re meeting to kill two birds with one stone. It’s easier to resolve things face to face.”

Yuri, who had been silent, finally nodded. She wanted to refuse, but it would be strange to say she couldn’t go today after agreeing to take on the newlywed house design from Jeho yesterday. Instead, she needed to wrap up their current conversation before moving on.

“Alright, I’ll let it go this once.”

Minwoo’s face brightened at Yuri’s words.

“But don’t bother me with something like this again.”

“Of course.”

Minwoo answered energetically, showing his palm as if making an oath. Yuri nodded lightly and put a cut piece of steak in her mouth.

[This is the timeline separator]

The place Jeho mentioned was not far from the restaurant by car. Soon after the two arrived, Jeho also arrived. As Yuri watched Jeho’s car approaching slowly, reducing speed, she bit her lower lip hard.

Has the pain subsided enough for him to drive? He was taking painkillers just yesterday…….

As Jeho’s car drew closer, a heavy iron gate opened with a clang between the vine-covered walls. Jeho drove in first, and Minwoo followed. Inside the iron gate, a completely different world unfolded.

The mansion built of glass and concrete looked like a giant gallery of modern architectural style. Next to the mansion, a swimming pool shimmering with soft lights flowed down like a waterfall, meeting the brilliant night view of Seoul.

“What do you think?”

Jeho, who had parked his car first, approached the two who were just getting out of their car.

“Well, it’s not bad.”

Though inwardly quite impressed, Minwoo maintained an expressionless face and shrugged his shoulders. Jeho turned his head to look at Yuri standing next to Minwoo.

“I thought you liked modern style.”

Even though they hadn’t worked together for long, Jeho seemed to have noticed the style Yuri liked. Unfinished concrete walls, natural materials like wood and stone harmonizing with artificial materials like glass and steel, straight angles instead of curves at the joints – except for its large scale, the mansion before her eyes was the dream house Yuri had always imagined.

Jeho began explaining without waiting for Yuri’s response.

“It needs a bit more work, but it’s almost at the final stage. You can move in the week after next.”

“Do I know the homeowner too?”

Minwoo looked around with a curious expression. Someone who could build a mansion of this caliber in the heart of Seoul must be no ordinary wealthy person. They would surely be among the top 10 in the business world.

“Well, you might, or you might not.”

Jeho continued with an indifferent face.

“Client information is confidential. Now, follow me.”

As he turned his back and walked towards the mansion, Minwoo quietly put his arm around Yuri’s waist. When Yuri stiffened at his touch, he persuaded her in a gentle voice.

“The path is rough because construction isn’t finished yet.”

As Minwoo said, there was a bumpy gravel path leading to the mansion. If she had known this, she would have worn flat shoes instead of high heels….. With no choice, Yuri headed towards the mansion with Minwoo’s help.

As Jeho entered the passcode on the keypad, a massive pivot door made of reinforced glass opened with a cheerful alert sound. Yuri momentarily held her breath at the sight before her. The interior was even more impressive than she had imagined from the outside.

“I’ll build your newlywed home with a clear view of Seoul like this too.”

Jeho explained as he walked towards the living room’s glass wall overlooking the Seoul night view.

“But wouldn’t it take at least 6 months to build something like this?”

Minwoo asked in an excited voice, as if it were his own house.

“Your house will be smaller than this, so it should be faster.”

Minwoo’s eyes narrowed for a moment, offended by the comment about the smaller size. Then, remembering what he had said to Yuri, he forced a smile. He had said they were meeting Jeho to resolve things face to face.

“This is the main kitchen.”

After finishing his words, Jeho turned around again and led the two to the back of the living room.

Yuri furrowed her brow slightly as she looked at Jeho’s back walking ahead. Since entering the mansion, he hadn’t once glanced at her. Even when they got out of the car earlier, he had looked at her worriedly as if asking if she was okay to drive, but what she got in return was a cold gaze.

The atmosphere was definitely different from yesterday. Why? She thought they had grown a little closer, but was that not the case? Was it just her imagination? She couldn’t understand why the man who had been so gentle yesterday was so cold today.

Yuri’s face gradually darkened as she faced Jeho, who wouldn’t even look at her. As a result, she couldn’t pay attention to the conversation between the two men.

“……Yuri?”

Only after Minwoo called her name two or three times did she snap out of her thoughts.

“Yes?”

“Would you like a wine room in our house too?”

“……Ah.”

Yuri slowly blinked her eyes and looked at the glass wine room. As she opened her mouth to answer, Minwoo’s phone rang. Minwoo’s expression suddenly turned serious as he checked the caller.

“Sorry, I have to take this call……”

As Minwoo looked around the house for a place to talk, Jeho pressed a wall switch to open a sliding door leading to the garden.

“Thanks.”

Minwoo rushed to the garden with his phone in hand. Suddenly left alone, Yuri swallowed dryly, feeling awkward. Jeho, who hadn’t even glanced at her until now, finally looked at her. As their eyes met, he smiled at her for the first time.

“Let’s take our time looking around, just the two of us. It seems like it’ll be a long call……”

He spoke as if he knew who Minwoo was talking to. Yuri’s gaze naturally turned to Minwoo in the garden.

Who could it be?

Even from behind, she could sense Minwoo pleading desperately to the other person.

[This is the timeline separator] [Ha, finally connected. Do you know how many times I’ve left messages through Director Roh, Manager Kwon?]

A gruff male voice flowed through the phone. The other party was President Park of Moa Development Industry. On the surface, it was a subcontractor of KG Group, but in reality, it was Kwon Minwoo’s source of funds.

Still, it was rare for President Park to come to the forefront directly. He always communicated through his subordinates. But today, for some reason, he had called directly.

“I’m sorry, President Park. I’ve been a bit busy lately dealing with the shopping mall accident.”

[I know, I do. Manager Kwon, you’ve been extremely busy lately. That’s why I’ve been patient until now. But this is not right.]

“I don’t know what you mean by that……”

Minwoo looked around with a troubled face, as if someone might be eavesdropping.

[This is the timeline separator]

What could it be?

Yuri couldn’t readily leave her spot as she followed Jeho. Through the glass window, Minwoo looked very anxious. Seeing Minwoo, who was usually fearless, with such an attitude, could some big problem have arisen?

It doesn’t seem to be a call from the chairman…….

Just then, a low voice was heard from behind.

“……Why.”

Jeho, who had approached from behind, stretched out his arm to pull Yuri towards himself and said,

“Are you still shaking even now?”

As their embrace, like that of lovers, was faintly reflected in the glass window, Yuri flinched and squirmed. Jeho gently pressed his lips to her ear and whispered softly, as if to soothe her.

“Shh, it’s okay. They can’t see from outside.”

For a moment, their gazes intertwined through the glass window. A meaningful smile spread across Jeho’s lips as he stared intently.