“Mmm.”

As she stirred in her sleep, a gentle touch and warm body heat were transmitted behind her back. Yuri opened her heavy eyelids as she woke up.

Through blurry vision, she could faintly see the blue hue of dawn seeping into the room. She couldn’t remember exactly, but it seemed she had fallen into a deep sleep at some point.

“Sleep a bit more. It’s still early.”

At that moment, a low, husky voice flowed into her ear. Instead of closing her eyes, Yuri let out a short sigh. This would be the last time she woke up in his arms. Thinking that, she couldn’t bring herself to go back to sleep.

She wanted to enjoy a little more of the happiness that made her smile involuntarily in this cozy and languid mood. Even if it was just pretend, she didn’t mind. Her heart fluttered pleasantly.

Yuri thought that perhaps she was like a mayfly repeatedly licking honey, unaware that its wings were getting soaked. In the end, it would be unable to escape and die in the honey pot…

Even knowing this, she couldn’t easily resist the temptation.

When the sun rises and day breaks, she would completely push him out of her mind, but couldn’t she extend this vain dream for just a moment, a very brief moment?

Noticing that she hadn’t fallen back asleep, Jeho half-raised his body and whispered softly in her ear.

“I didn’t get to say it earlier… The wristwatch really suited you well.”

“…Ah.”

After hesitating for a moment, Yuri continued in a composed tone.

“Since today is the last day. I thought I should show you how I look wearing the watch at least once before returning it.”

Instead of saying thank you, Jeho turned her to face him. Their gazes slowly intensified as they looked at each other.

“Can I ask for one favor?”

He asked while gently stroking Yuri’s hair.

“Could you keep the wristwatch instead of returning it? You don’t have to wear it out. Just keep it with you.”

“That’s…”

Yuri hesitated for a moment as she was about to refuse.

Would it seem too harsh if I refuse right away?

Although it was burdensome, it was the first gift she received from him, and also the last. She could just keep it for a while and quietly return it later.

“I will.”

“Thank you.”

As she accepted without refusing, Jeho smiled softly and pressed his lips to hers.

The sweet sensation that started from their lips soon moved elsewhere. As his large hands curved around her slender waist, Yuri closed her eyes and surrendered her body to his strong touch.

Was it because this was truly the last act of love? Unlike the intense night before, he handled her carefully as if she were a fragile glass doll. Slowly but powerfully, gently but intensely until the end…

“Yuri.”

He whispered to her as she was falling into extreme pleasure and ecstasy.

“Whatever the reason, if you want to come back, come back anytime.”

His deep voice flowed into her fading consciousness.

“I’ll wait. …I love you.”

Did he really say this?

Or was it an auditory hallucination in her dazed mind?

When she opened her eyes again, she was alone in the bed.

“…Mmm.”

Yuri struggled to sit up and looked around with half-closed eyes.

There was no trace of him anywhere. If he hadn’t gone out for his usual morning exercise, he must have left to avoid running into her.

Perhaps that was better than parting awkwardly after facing each other.

“Ah.”

As Yuri was about to step onto the floor, she collapsed right there. Perhaps from overdoing it, her legs had no strength.

He said he wouldn’t go easy on her, and last night he really didn’t. Except for their final union at dawn, there was no consideration for her. Then had he been accommodating her all this time?

“Whew.”

Yuri exhaled deeply and tilted her head back towards the ceiling.

Even though she decided to completely forget, thinking about that man as soon as she opened her eyes…

Get a grip, Chae Yuri!

It’s only the first day after breaking up, you can’t get weak already, okay?

Forcing herself to get up, Yuri dragged her heavy body to the bathroom.

She wanted to soak in the tub to loosen her stiff muscles, but there wasn’t enough time for that. She had to finish preparing as quickly as possible before he returned.

As she turned on the hot water after entering the shower booth, the bathroom was instantly filled with white steam.

“Hic.”

At the same time, the tears she had been holding back all night burst forth. Yuri quickly tilted her head towards the forcefully pouring water. Thanks to that, she couldn’t distinguish whether her face was wet from tears or the water stream.

“…Hic.”

Until the sobbing subsided…

Yuri stood under the shower for a long time.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Damn it! You expect me to eat this? Hey, do you think I’m a pig or something?”

Minwoo glared at the unidentifiable food on the table and waved his hand with a grimace. However, the local guide who couldn’t understand Korean just kept gesturing for him to eat and then left the room.

“Damn, there’s no interpreter either. What am I supposed to do?”

Communication wasn’t smooth with just hand gestures, but it wasn’t easy to find an interpreter in this situation.

It was fortunate enough to have safely crossed the border thanks to the forged passport. In fact, as a fugitive, he couldn’t expect comfort. The situation worsened drastically each time he crossed borders through various countries.

This place he arrived at a few days ago was a country that enforced prohibition, where even alcohol couldn’t be freely consumed. It was truly maddening.

“This won’t do at all.”

Minwoo, who had been glaring at the dirty wall covered in mold, suddenly stood up and called the mobile phone the local guide had given him for emergencies only.

[Minwoo, what’s wrong? Are you okay?]

As soon as the call connected, Mrs. Na’s trembling voice flowed out, sounding startled.

“How could I be okay? Even a pigsty would be better than this. How long do I have to stay in this beggar’s den? Huh?”

Then there was a loud noise from behind, and someone snatched the phone from Mrs. Na’s hand.

[Is this the time for you to be complaining about such things? Don’t contact us unless you’re dying, just stay put.]

“Father?”

Minwoo frowned at the sudden sound of Director Kwon’s voice. This was the first time talking to his father since hastily fleeing from France. But Director Kwon’s voice was full of irritation rather than concern.

[What did I tell you? Didn’t I say to cover things up well before leaving for Paris? But what is this? Huh? I’m about to be covered in filth because of you.] [Dear! What are you saying? To a child who’s suffering right now, if you can’t comfort him…] [Comfort? What comfort? Why should I? Did I kill anyone?] [You, are you crazy?]

Along with Mrs. Na’s scream, there was a loud crash of something breaking. At the same time, the call disconnected with a click.

“Hello? Hello?”

He quickly tried calling back, but it wouldn’t connect. No matter how many times he tried, there was only a dial tone and no answer.

“Damn it, what’s going on?”

Minwoo shouted and threw the phone onto the sofa.

Until now, no matter what trouble he caused, Mrs. Na and Director Kwon always handled everything without a hitch. But now, their response was inadequate because it wasn’t in Korea.

If he had known it would be like this, he should have stayed in France and faced the investigation boldly.

“Honestly, it’s not like I killed her.”

He had only hit her a few times in anger, but the woman fell to the ground foaming at the mouth. She must have reacted that way because she was riddled with drugs.

Then it’s clearly death by drug overdose, so why is it my fault?

Even the act of knocking down the man who suddenly barged in was close to self-defense. Seeing the woman collapsed on the floor, the man rushed at him like a madman, and Minwoo had no choice but to strike the man’s head with whatever he could grab.

So why do I have to take the blame for everything!

Minwoo felt like he would go crazy from the unfairness of it all.

Ah, how nice it would be if Yuri were by my side at a time like this!

“Yuri.”

The more he sank into the dark abyss, the more unbearably Minwoo missed Yuri.

“…Yuri. Ugh, Yuri.”

Minwoo sat on the floor, clutched his head with both hands, and curled up.

If he had to keep running away like this, he thought it might be better to die in front of Yuri.

[This is the timeline separator]

Before heading to work, Yuri visited her family home to see Assemblyman Chae. She felt she needed to inform him of the situation before it was too late.

Once again, as Yuri arrived early in the morning without notice, Mrs. An wore a worried expression. She seemed to sense that something was amiss.

“Where’s Yuri?”

Upon entering the house, Yuri first asked about her sister.

“She’s not home. She said she’d stay over at a friend’s house yesterday.”

“I see.”

Perhaps it was fortunate that Yuri wasn’t home. She didn’t want to worry her sister unnecessarily if possible.

“I came because I have something urgent to tell Father. Stepmother should hear this too.”

“Me too?”

They went to the study together, where Yuri briefly explained the situation to Assemblyman Chae.

“What? Director Kwon knew?”

Mrs. An collapsed onto the sofa as if in shock.

“There’s no need to worry too much yet. He won’t spread it to the media. He tore up the paternity test in front of me and said there were no copies.”

“Right, Director Kwon wouldn’t want to stir up trouble by messing with me unnecessarily.”

Unlike Mrs. An, Assemblyman Chae maintained a calm expression.

“But he didn’t tell me who he sold the information to.”

“Of course not. He won’t interfere, but he won’t help either.”

“He said that if it’s Father, you could find out before the information is sold elsewhere.”

“Sigh. It’s not like finding a needle in a haystack.”

Assemblyman Chae sighed with a troubled face.

“Father, is there anyone around you that you suspect?”

“The problem is there are too many suspicious people, not just one or two. Everyone around me is an enemy…”

Until then, Mrs. An, who had been listening quietly, asked Assemblyman Chae with an anxious face.

“Then what should we do about our Yuri now?”

“What else? We’ll send her to New Zealand as soon as possible.”

“Alright. I’ll prepare for that.”

At first she seemed dazed from the shock, but realizing she needed to pull herself together to protect her daughter, Mrs. An hurriedly left the study. As Mrs. An left, Yuri also stood up to leave for work.

“I’ll be going now.”

Then Assemblyman Chae asked casually.

“By the way, what’s wrong with your face?”

“Pardon?”

“Your cheek is swollen. Your lip is split too. What happened?”

“…Ah, well.”

Yuri was momentarily flustered, not expecting to hear such words from her father.

If she said she was hit by Director Kwon, how would he react? Would he get angry, saying it’s fine for him to slap his daughter but not for others to do so?

“It’s nothing. I just bumped into the bathroom wall…”

“Tsk tsk, you should be more careful.”

“Yes.”

This is strange. Hearing such words from Father felt unfamiliar. Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t bring herself to leave right away. Standing still in place, Yuri cautiously opened her mouth.

“I’m late in saying this, but thank you for telling me about Jeho’s father last time. Thanks to that, I was able to understand Jeho a little better.”

At those words, Assemblyman Chae’s eyes wavered softly.

“…Could it be, Yuri, you?”

“You already knew, didn’t you, Father?”

There was no need to ask what he knew, nor any need to answer. Both of them knew all too well what it meant.

Assemblyman Chae nodded silently with a bitter expression.

“Did you know from the beginning? Is that why you said Jeho was absolutely not allowed?”

“That’s not it. I had suspicions then, but I wasn’t certain. I only found out for sure recently.”

“Why didn’t you tell me right away after you found out? I’m not blaming you. I’m just curious.”

She was truly curious. Assemblyman Chae had disapproved of their relationship from the start, after all.

“It’s a matter between a man and a woman, so the parties involved should resolve it. I’m just a third party.”

“I see.”

“Have you two broken up?”

“Yes, Father.”

At the dry response, Assemblyman Chae looked at Yuri with a complicated gaze.

Even in a twisted father-daughter relationship, he couldn’t comfortably face his daughter’s unhappiness. Towards such an Assemblyman Chae, Yuri smiled calmly.

“You don’t need to worry anymore. The dangerous game is over.”