“Yes, it’s me.”

Jeho answered the phone in a subdued voice after pressing the call button. There was no need to check who the caller was. An ominous feeling beckoned.

[Can you see me now? I’m near your house. I think we have some things left to talk about…]

“Understood. I’ll come out now.”

Jeho hung up and turned his head towards the bedroom. He felt uneasy about leaving without saying anything, but he should be able to return before she wakes up. He grabbed his car keys and walked quickly to the garage.

The streets were gradually darkening as the red glow of sunset faded.

[This is the timeline separator]

As Jeho arrived at the meeting place and parked his car, the driver’s door of the car that had arrived first opened and Secretary Kim appeared. He bowed his head towards Jeho and opened the back seat door. As Jeho got into the car, Secretary Kim closed the door and stepped back.

“What is Yuri doing now?”

As Jeho got in the car, Assemblyman Chae, who had been looking out the window, turned his head.

“She’s sleeping.”

“I see, she must have been quite shocked today…”

Assemblyman Chae smiled bitterly as he took off his glasses and pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. His voice sounded a bit hoarse, perhaps from fatigue.

“Before we get to the main point, let me ask you one thing first. Your father, I mean Jewoong. Is his condition very bad?”

At the blunt question, a small spasm appeared in the corner of Jeho’s eye. Assemblyman Chae closed his eyes and pressed his forehead with one hand.

“When I was a prosecutor, I was once threatened while chasing after a big figure in a gangster organization. At that time, I told your father this. If he doesn’t receive a birthday call from me, assume something has happened to me. Since then, your father and I always called each other on our birthdays, no matter what.”

Pausing for a moment, Assemblyman Chae opened his eyes and put his glasses back on. Then he turned to Jeho and stared at his face.

“But this year, he didn’t call on my birthday. And he didn’t answer when I called. At first, I thought he was just busy. But when I found out that you were investigating Director Kwon Minwoo’s background, I suspected something had happened.”

Assemblyman Chae’s expression darkened as he looked at Jeho.

“Is his condition so bad that he can’t even answer the phone?”

The only information Assemblyman Chae had found out was that Vice Chairman Kwon Jewoong had been in a car accident while drunk driving. No one knew exactly about his condition after that. Even Director Kwon and Minwoo only knew that much.

“He’s in a coma.”

“…Huh, I suspected as much.”

A long sigh escaped from Assemblyman Chae’s mouth. Jeho briefly explained about the accident that happened to Vice Chairman Kwon. Assemblyman Chae listened silently with a hardened expression.

“…As you know, my father doesn’t drink at all. And in broad daylight. It couldn’t possibly have been drunk driving. At the time, my father was investigating ‘Arcadia Mall’.”

“I know, he was also asking me about the site selection and building permit process.”

Vice Chairman Kwon had recorded all of his phone conversations with Assemblyman Chae and saved the files on a teddy bear disk. During the call, Assemblyman Chae tried to persuade Vice Chairman Kwon to stop at this point and eventually went so far as to warn him that he would get hurt.

“I’m sorry about your father too. But stop here now. If you keep digging, the aftereffects will be quite large.”

Assemblyman Chae threw the same warning at Jeho.

“So you agree that there’s a behind-the-scenes player in my father’s traffic accident?”

“Revealing the mastermind won’t make your father get up from his sickbed.”

“Does that mean I should stop here?”

Instead of answering the question, Assemblyman Chae slightly changed the subject.

“So is that why you approached Yuri? Did you think Director Kwon was behind it and wanted revenge?”

Finally, the expected words flowed from Assemblyman Chae’s mouth. When he handed over the file containing the relationship between Minwoo and President Park, he had already prepared for this. Involving Assemblyman Chae was like opening Pandora’s box. Assemblyman Chae, who sees through all the moves, wouldn’t pass him by carelessly, and would eventually figure out Jeho’s intentions.

When Jeho remained silent, Assemblyman Chae shook his head and leaned back in his seat.

“I’m not blaming you. It’s my foolish daughter who fell for it easily.”

“The start may have been impure, but not anymore. My feelings for Yuri are sincere now.”

“I know. That’s why you passed the information to me to stop the marriage.”

A dry gaze devoid of emotion touched Jeho’s face. From his expression alone, it was impossible to tell what Assemblyman Chae was thinking right now.

“Don’t worry too much. I won’t tell Yuri. Everything depends on you. Whether you confess the truth, or naturally disappear from Yuri’s sight when your revenge is over. That’s your choice.”

“You’re saying there’s no future with Yuri unless I reveal the truth?”

“That’s right.”

There was no expression on Assemblyman Chae’s face, but his eyes looking at Jeho were as cold as ice.

“I told you before. It won’t be easy to date Yuri. But if she finds out that you approached her intentionally, how do you think she’ll react? No matter what anyone says, Yuri is my daughter. There’s no finger that doesn’t hurt when bitten. I don’t want to see my daughter in pain.”

Assemblyman Chae slightly twisted his lips as if mocking.

“However, if Yuri accepts you knowing everything, I won’t oppose anymore. Of course, she probably won’t accept you.”

A cold glint flashed behind his glasses.

Assemblyman Chae knew everything but, like a seasoned politician, didn’t step forward directly. At first, Jeho had suspected he might be behind it. But as the puzzle pieces of truth were put together one by one, his identity turned out to be closer to that of a bystander. Assemblyman Chae wouldn’t move a step as long as it didn’t harm him.

Such an Assemblyman Chae came to see Jeho directly about Yuri’s matter. It seems he can tolerate making his daughter cry himself, but can’t stand others making his daughter cry.

Jeho stared at Assemblyman Chae with his mouth shut. Hoping that at least some fatherly love for Yuri was included in the warning Assemblyman Chae had thrown…

“I understand well. Thank you for giving me the choice.”

Jeho also answered in a calm voice that betrayed no emotion. In the darkened car, the two men stared at each other for quite a long time.

Assemblyman Chae was the first to turn his gaze away. He loosened his tie knot as if uncomfortable.

“I’ll be going now.”

Jeho bowed his head politely, then opened the door and got out of the car. Watching Jeho’s back, Assemblyman Chae instructed Secretary Kim to start driving as soon as he got into the driver’s seat.

Only after Assemblyman Chae’s car had disappeared did Jeho start his car and drive off. Although his heart was pounding wildly like dust flying, the fact that he was heading home to Yuri gave him some comfort.

For now, that alone is enough.

Chae Yuri, she is still by his side. The future can be worried about later.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…Mmm.”

When she opened her eyes, darkness had already fallen around her. Yuri slowly raised her body, blinking her heavy eyes. Jeho was nowhere to be seen, having woken up before her and left the bedroom.

When she went out into the hallway to look for him, pitch-black darkness was waiting for her. Usually, the lights turn on automatically due to motion sensors, but for some reason today, inky darkness enveloped her surroundings.

As she was feeling along the wall to find the light switch…

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from behind.

“…Ah!”

Yuri’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned around.

Starting with candle lights turning on, followed by tiny bulb lights like snow, the atmosphere changed to something dreamlike, as if she had entered a fairy tale. Yuri looked around with a puzzled expression.

Jeho appeared from somewhere in front of her, smiling as he approached.

“We’ve never had a romantic meal together until now.”

He took both of Yuri’s hands and led her to the dining room.

“We don’t necessarily need to go to a fancy restaurant, but I wanted to enjoy a proper dinner even at home, so I prepared something special. But then something completely unexpected happened… I was going to postpone it thinking we couldn’t enjoy a romantic meal in this mood, but I changed my mind. Maybe it’s more needed on a day like today.”

Yuri looked at the colorful table filled with all sorts of hues with a touched expression. Earlier, due to the dark view, she hadn’t even noticed the delicious smell wafting through the air.

“Did you do all this, Jeho?”

“I’m sorry, but except for the salad, I didn’t make it myself. I just put special orders from Michelin-starred chefs in the oven.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Looking at the table that seemed like an entire French restaurant had been moved, Yuri once again showed a touched expression. But soon she realized that she was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, which didn’t match the setting Jeho had prepared.

“Just a moment. I’ll go change clothes and come back.”

Not just change clothes, I should put on makeup too. Ah, should I fix my hair as well?

Yuri hurriedly entered the bedroom and quickly opened her suitcase. Earlier, she had gone straight to bed without unpacking, so there was no time to organize her clothes. There were only monotonous blouses, shirts, and pants suitable for wearing to work.

If I had known this would happen, I should have brought some nice clothes…

Then she noticed a silver one-piece dress rolled up inside the mesh pocket. She must have packed it last time and forgot to take it out. Fortunately, it was made of wrinkle-free fabric, so when she shook it out and smoothed the dress, it quickly regained its shape.

It was a bit too revealing as Hyunkyung had chosen it, but Yuri had no choice now. She quickly changed into the dress and brushed her hair. There wasn’t enough time for perfect makeup, so she just applied lipstick and eyeshadow.

Checking in the mirror, she looked better than when she was wearing a t-shirt and jeans earlier. The extremely short skirt length bothered her, but on the other hand, she wanted to show off her smooth legs.

To no one else but him…

When she came out after getting ready, he was just taking food out of the oven and plating it. A smile appeared on Jeho’s face when he saw Yuri who had changed clothes.

“Are you trying to tempt me back to bed before we even eat?”

“Why? Is it too sexy?”

Yuri blushed as she grabbed her skirt with both hands and pulled it down. Jeho wrapped his arm around Yuri’s waist and bent down to kiss her lips.

“No, you’re too beautiful.”

After a short but deep kiss, he whispered softly on Yuri’s lips.

“If your mother were alive, I would have thanked her. For giving birth to and raising such a beautiful person.”

Yuri looked a bit surprised at the unexpected words. Jeho gently brushed her hair up and continued speaking.

“I mean it. Later, please let me visit and greet her properly.”

Yuri’s eyes welled up with tears at Jeho’s words, taking care of her deceased mother even in this way. As she tried to turn her head to hide her reddened eyes, Jeho gently cupped Yuri’s chin with one hand and met her gaze.

“From now on, cry while looking at me. When I’m not around, when I can’t see you, never cry.”

“…How is that possible?”

“It is, right here.”

His fingertips gently caressed her reddened eyes.

Yuri was displeased with herself for tearing up so easily. She was equally displeased with Jeho for making her like this. As she pouted her lower lip, Jeho opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace.

“You have to cry in front of me so I can hold you like this.”

He whispered softly, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“Yuri, what if… What if I end up doing something terribly wrong to you, will you forgive me just once?”

“Only once? I could forgive you twice…”

“No, once is enough.”

Actually, I shouldn’t make such a mistake to you even once.

Jeho smiled bitterly and tightened his arms around Yuri.