“If it’s not Min Woo, then why do you suspect someone else is behind the car accident?”
“No, that’s not what I mean…”
When Woo Kyul misunderstood, Je Ho quickly shook his head.

“Even if it’s a strategic marriage, I can’t leave her to marry a man like Min Woo.”
“What?”
Woo Kyul furrowed his brow, trying to figure out who the subject omitted from the sentence was.

“You’re… worrying about Yul Li now?”
“Yeah.”
“Suddenly, why?”
“I don’t know either.”
It wasn’t that he was avoiding the question, he truly didn’t know. But one thing was certain. Knowing she would be unhappy, he couldn’t just stand by and watch. Just the thought of her tearstained face and her biting her lip to keep it from trembling made bitter bile surge up his throat.

Wouldn’t that be reason enough?

Coming back from his reverie, Je Ho gently pushed Yul Li’s hair behind her ear with a soft smile. Then, he whispered.

“Don’t get married.”
When Yul Li blinked as if she didn’t understand, Je Ho repeated, emphasizing each word.

“Don’t get married.”
“On what grounds are you saying that?”
Sadly, the conversation ended there. Min Woo, who had just finished a phone call, turned around, and soon the sliding door opened. Je Ho naturally stepped back. But Yul Li couldn’t. She glanced at Min Woo with anxious eyes and then turned back to Je Ho. His expression had become emotionless.

“Sorry, the call took a while.”
From the look on Min Woo’s face, it seemed the conversation hadn’t gone well.

“It’s okay. The first floor seems to be done, let’s go to the second floor.”
Je Ho briskly uttered his words and headed towards the stairs leading to the second floor. As she was about to follow him up the stairs, Min Woo naturally put his arm around Yul Li’s waist. Yul Li, startled, instinctively pushed Min Woo’s hand away.

“Ah.”
Min Woo, surprised, let out a short exclamation.

“Sorry.”
Looking at the startled Min Woo, Yul Li apologized with a guilty expression. She was as surprised by her own reaction as Min Woo. She didn’t know why. The moment she felt Min Woo’s touch on her waist, she couldn’t bear it. Just moments ago, Je Ho’s hand had rested there…

“It’s a bit hot in here.”
Yul Li fanned herself with her hand and turned her head away from Min Woo. For a moment, she caught eyes with Je Ho, who was looking down from the stairs. It seemed a faint smile had appeared on his neat lips, but he quickly turned around before she could confirm.

Frankly, she didn’t remember much about the tour of the house. Throughout, the words Je Ho said kept circling in Yul Li’s head.

“Don’t get married.”

It was different from when he’d asked if she really had to marry as if teasing. This time, there was a determination to stop the marriage no matter what.

After the tour of the mansion, Je Ho asked her to note down parts she liked for reference in the design.

After parting with Je Ho, Min Woo drove Yul Li home. They remained silent until they arrived at her place. Both of them had their minds full.

“Ha!”

The realization that her necklace was missing came to her as she was about to sleep. Seated on the bed, Yul Li absentmindedly touched her neck and felt the emptiness. The familiar touch that she should feel with the palm of her hand was missing. Yul Li hastily rose from the bed and went to the mirror on the dressing table.

Her bare neck, devoid of the necklace, reflected in the mirror. Yul Li sat in place, her hands wrapped around her neck. Where on earth could she have lost it?

It was a precious relic from her mother. She couldn’t easily give up on it. She racked her brain, recalling her reflection on the window. Back then, the necklace was neatly hanging on her neck.

“Ah, that’s right.”
Recalling another scene, Yul Li rose from her spot, picked up her phone that was on the dressing table. She had a photo taken in front of her favorite interior decoration. The photo was taken at an angle that showed her upper body, to estimate the size of the real object. Yul Li quickly zoomed in on the screen with her fingertips.

“It’s not there!”
In the photo, her necklace was not visible on her neck. So, it was clear that she had dropped the necklace somewhere in that house, or in the garden.

What to do?

Yul Li bit her lower lip with a helpless expression.

((()))((()))((()))

After dropping off Yul Li, Min Woo headed home but then changed his mind and steered the wheel towards Shin Dae Ri’s house. His mind was too complex, he needed someone by his side. He didn’t want to sleep alone in this mood.

“Ah, damn it. Because of that XX.”
Thinking about the call with Park, the president of Moa Development Industry, a curse came out of Min Woo’s mouth. How dare he, a gangster, speak so loudly… He was so disgusted that he couldn’t stand it. It was a mistake to not cut him off in time and to keep dragging him along.

From the demolition, Moa Development Industry took on all the jobs that KG Construction did not want to handle. At first, even if a few pennies were thrown, they were thankful, but as they became richer and bigger, they started to become greedy.

Did a loan shark gangster want to become a decent company? Then, at some point, they began to pressure Min Woo. Instead of doing the dirty work, they wanted not money, but a stake in KG Construction. They also wanted to open a highend spa salon on the top floor of Arcadia Mall.

In urgent need of help at the time, Min Woo promised Park verbally without his father, Kwon’s, knowledge. But as he kept postponing the promise, he began to be annoyed by the constant calls. Then today, even Park himself called.

“Darn XX, he is quick.”
Of course, he had no intention of handing over the top floor of Arcadia Mall to a gangster. If he could persuade him by making a suitable excuse and arrange a place in one of the local resorts, that would be it.

He believed that once Chairman Kwon retired and he took the chairmanship skipping his father, he would no longer need to deal with these vulgar people.

With a cynical smile, Min Woo pressed hard on the accelerator pedal.

((()))((()))((()))

All day Sunday, Yul Li was torn between whether or not she should contact Je Ho. She couldn’t just lose her mother’s only relic, but she couldn’t simply call Je Ho and ask to go to the mansion. And even if she wanted to call him, she realized she didn’t even know his phone number.

In the end, Yul Li had no choice but to wait until Monday. But even after she went to work, she couldn’t easily approach him. It wasn’t until after lunch that she approached Je Ho.

“I’m sorry, but can I visit the house we went to on Saturday again?”
“Why, is there another part you want to see?”
“Well…”
“I’ll only be available after work, is it okay if it’s late at night?”
“Yes.”
Although it would be difficult to find the necklace in the dark, this was not the time to be picky.

“Oh, and…”
As Yul Li was about to return to her seat, Je Ho called her to a halt. Turning around, she saw him wearing a playful smile.

“We’re going alone.”
He whispered, luring her with a sweet voice.

“Without Min Woo.”

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