At the words “sincere apology,” warning bells went off in Yuri’s head.

“No. No. It’s fine.”

She hurriedly backed away, but it was too late. Jeho had already firmly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into the bedroom. As soon as they entered, he tried to undress her and headed straight for the bed. His words and actions were completely contradictory right now.

Yet instead of resisting, she blushed and her heart pounded in anticipation of his next move. Come to think of it, her words and actions were just as inconsistent as his.

After sitting Yuri on the bed, Jeho quickly disappeared into the bathroom. A moment later, he returned with a first-aid kit in his hand.

…Huh?

Was this what he meant by a sincere apology?

As disappointment began to show on her face, Yuri quickly lowered her head. Jeho set the first-aid kit on the table, climbed onto the bed, and naturally scooped Yuri up in his arms.

For a moment, Yuri’s heart raced again. It seemed he hadn’t brought the first-aid kit just to treat her injuries.

Perhaps he kept it in there because it’s also a kind of medical supply? Even though he said he wouldn’t go all the way, why?

What should she do? Push him away or accept it? Unable to reach a conclusion, her mind was plunged into chaos.

“Just lean on me comfortably.”

She expected him to lay her on the bed and passionately kiss her, but instead, Jeho gently set Yuri further back on the bed and helped her lean against the headboard.

Leaving the bewildered Yuri, Jeho opened the first-aid kit, took out a medical ice pack, and forcefully struck it with his fist. As the ice pack rapidly cooled, he carefully held it against her bruised arm.

“Doing this will help relieve some of the pain.”

He indeed had an upright character. Yuri couldn’t help but laugh at herself for letting her imagination run wild without knowing that. As she giggled, trying to hold back her laughter, a puzzled expression appeared on Jeho’s face.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

He gazed at her for a moment, then silently took her other bruised arm. He seemed to interpret that she had found the cold ice pack ticklish.

“Let’s spray some cooling patches on this side for now.”

Chiiik, a cold patch containing menthol was sprayed on the bruised area.

Once all the treatment was finished, Jeho closed the first-aid kit and casually asked,

“You decided not to get married, right? You talked about it with Minwoo today. That’s why he got all riled up and did this to you.”

Yuri slowly nodded. There was no point in denying it now that he had already figured it out.

“Did you two agree not to tell anyone until Minwoo reports it to the Chairman?”

“How do you know that?”

Yuri asked with a surprised look.

“Minwoo’s thought process is pretty predictable. I’ve watched him use his brain since we were kids.”

“What?”

“For now, let’s wait and see. When Minwoo will report it to the Chairman.”

“What do you mean by…”

Her next words disappeared into her mouth before they could come out because Jeho had overlapped his lips with hers. The hand gripping her chin tightened, and the invading breath was incredibly deep.

Was it because he felt relieved knowing they wouldn’t be getting married? He was even bolder and more persistent than last night. Yet he was careful not to touch her bruised arms at all. Instead of crushing her in an embrace, he cupped her cheeks with both hands and focused his attack solely on her lips.

It wasn’t easy for the inexperienced Yuri to keep up with the skilled Jeho. It was so overwhelming it brought tears to her eyes, but it also felt good. Her heart raced at the fact that he desperately wanted her.

…It feels too good.

Yuri closed her eyes and whispered softly to herself.

The bedroom gradually filled with thick, sweet breathing sounds.

[This is the timeline separator]

Although he understood Minwoo’s situation, he kept postponing telling Chairman Kwon. The weekend passed, and even halfway through the week, Minwoo took no action. Instead, he even postponed the dinner plans at Chairman Kwon’s house to the following week.

[Father said it would be better to have dinner with you. You’re in Geoje Island now, right? He said let’s do it next week when you come back up.]

It was an engagement that would naturally be canceled once they found out the marriage was off, yet Minwoo suggested postponing it for now.

“Do you really have to go that far?”

Yuri wanted to ask when he would finally tell the Chairman, but she couldn’t rush him. She had no choice but to ask indirectly.

[I’m sorry, Yuri. I wanted to tell him as soon as possible, but he hasn’t been feeling well lately with a cold. I’m planning to tell him once he regains some energy. I should be able to tell him by this weekend or early next week at the latest. Please wait just a little longer.]

She was the one who should be sorry, but Minwoo kept apologizing, so she couldn’t say anything more. Yuri said she understood and hung up, then turned her gaze to the calendar.

She counted the days left until the wedding. There was still plenty of time to cancel before the ceremony. It seemed there wouldn’t be any major issues as long as he told them by early next week. Yuri sighed and pulled out the 3DS file she had been working on from the folder.

“Yuri, are you working late today?”

How much time had passed?

Sun-young, the last employee remaining in the office, asked as she got up from her seat. Yuri made a startled face and looked around. Everyone had already left, and the office was empty.

“You were so focused on your work that you lost track of time again, right? It’s already 9 o’clock.”

Sun-young pointed to the clock and headed for the door.

“Don’t stay too late and go home. They said due to regular maintenance, the power for the entire building will be cut off after 11 PM today and tomorrow. Just in case, I’ll lock the door on my way out.”

“Okay, thanks. Sun-young.”

“See you tomorrow.”

After Sun-young left, the sound of the door locking could be heard. Yuri turned her head back to the computer and immersed herself in the work she had been doing. For some reason, errors kept occurring and the 3D model wasn’t being generated properly. As a result, it took much longer than expected.

She finally identified the problem and was about to shut down the program when she heard the locked door open with a click. Turning around, she saw Jeho entering.

The two looked at each other with surprised faces.

“Why haven’t you left yet? What are you doing?”

“Weren’t you supposed to go straight home from the site?”

As questions poured out simultaneously, they both burst into laughter at the same time.

“I was just about to leave.”

“I came to pick up some documents for my business trip.”

At Yuri’s answer, Jeho walked to his desk, gathered some blueprints, and put them in his bag. Just as Yuri turned off her computer and picked up her bag, a pop sound was heard and the lights and all power in the office went out.

The two froze in place as darkness instantly engulfed them.

“Ah, right.”

She remembered what Sun-young had said as she was leaving.

“She said there’s regular maintenance today and tomorrow, so they’re cutting power to the entire building after 11 PM.”

Checking the time on her phone, it had just passed 11 o’clock.

“Let’s hurry out.”

As she tried to head for the door, he reached out and grabbed her.

“Wait a moment.”

When Yuri stopped walking, he hugged her from behind.

“Mmm.”

Jeho buried his face in Yuri’s neck and took a deep breath.

“I missed you so much I thought I’d go crazy.”

A husky voice flowed from his mouth. It was the first time they were alone together since parting at the villa that day. Until both families fully accepted the cancellation of the wedding, they had agreed to refrain from being alone together for the time being, except for when they ran into each other at work.

The wedding would be called off soon anyway, so they could meet as much as they wanted after that. They thought there was no need to give anyone any reason to make an issue of it.

But the dates kept getting pushed back, and the two didn’t have many opportunities to see each other at work either. Lately, Jeho had been making frequent site visits.

Today, he went straight to the construction site, and starting tomorrow, he had to go on a week-long business trip to the southern region, including Changwon.

How could her heart ache so much just from not being together for a few days?

Brief phone calls weren’t enough to satisfy them.

Jeho hugged Yuri even tighter, rubbing his nose against her neck and inhaling her scent.

“I thought I’d go insane wanting to smell your scent. You’re so sweet. So sweet I want to bite you.”

He lightly bit her ear with his teeth. Yuri reflexively closed her eyes and shrank at the electric sensation.

“This part is your biggest weakness.”

“Stop.”

Unable to endure the stimulation, Yuri turned her head, trying to get away from him. But instead of letting go, Jeho nibbled on her earlobe even more persistently.

“We… said we wouldn’t do this. We agreed to avoid being alone together.”

Yuri spoke with difficulty, biting her trembling lips.

“Who’s going to see us in a powerless building?”

His arms tightened around her, showing no intention of letting go. The truth was, she had been desperate for his embrace too. But now thinking that she wouldn’t be able to see him for another week, her heart already ached.

“Let me see. I need to check how your bruises are doing.”

“It’s so dark you won’t be able to see anyway…”

As Jeho walked to the window and pushed the blinds aside, bright neon lights from the building across the street flowed in, illuminating the dark interior. The faint light allowed them to see each other’s appearance, albeit dimly.

“This is enough.”

In the darkness, she found unusual courage. Yuri obediently unbuttoned her blouse and took it off. She wasn’t wearing a tank top today, but instead had on a modest bra. Thank goodness she had stubbornly refused when Hyunkyung suggested buying her sexy lingerie.

The simple, clean cotton fabric was very neat compared to sheer materials and far from creating a provocative atmosphere. But that was just her thinking. The simple design actually emphasized her figure more, making it look stimulating.

The bruises were still there, but the ugly purple hue had faded to some extent.

“Does it still hurt?”

Jeho asked as he carefully caressed the bruised area with his fingertips. Yuri shook her head and looked down at her bruised arm. Seeing the marks of violence left by Minwoo made her feel strangely depressed.

That’s why she did it. To try to lift her spirits, even just a little.

The darkness also made her unusually brave. A bold impulse that she could never have in the light took hold.

“Kiss me.”

Yuri wrapped her arms around Jeho’s neck, stood on tiptoe, and whispered softly. Her flushed face shyly emerged in the darkness, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she gazed at him.

“This isn’t meant to be a temptation, is it…?”

He looked at her with meaningful eyes and thinly stretched his lips.

“Sometimes I want to be the one to ask for a kiss.”

“Asking your man for what you want?”

Yuri smiled brightly and shook her head.

“No, I’m not the easy type who falls for a few kisses either. You’re not my man yet, Mr. Jeho.”

“Oh yeah? Then what should I do?”

“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you. You have to figure it out and make an effort yourself, Mr. Jeho. It won’t be easy though.”

Yuri was acting tough again. As if she would back away immediately if he came on just a little strongly… But this side of her was cute and lovable. Jeho gladly decided to play along.

Jeho lowered his head and deeply captured Yuri’s lips. The dizzying feeling made her legs wobble so much that she couldn’t stand anymore. Jeho’s hands swiftly caught Yuri as she was about to sink to the floor.

“Remember this kiss and think of me while I’m gone.”

He whispered in a languid voice as he caressed her swollen lips with his fingertips.

“Because I’ll give you an even deeper kiss when I return.”