Knock, knock, knock.

“Chairman, Cha Hi Ra is here.”

“Tell her to come in.”

Hearing the low voice through the slightly opened door, Hi Ra closed her eyes tightly and quietly took a deep breath.

It was an opportunity.

The first and last chance.

If she made a mistake, not only would her career built so far crumble, but it could also reach her grandfather’s ears.

Everything would be decided by this meeting with Chairman Han. She could ruin everything, or Lee Han could be by her side.

“……”

As soon as she entered the door, she saw Chairman Han sitting there. Even though he was just sitting, his overwhelming dignity immediately overpowered her. Hi Ra hesitated at the sight of Chairman Han welcoming her with an appearance that looked like not a drop of blood would come out even if touched.

“Welcome.”

Unlike the low voice heard from outside, the voice that seemed to be laced with kindness made Hi Ra’s hair stand on end and goosebumps rise all over her body as soon as she saw him.

“Hello, Chairman.”

“Have a seat.”

One leisurely drinking coffee and one trying not to show that she was not at ease while drinking coffee. Chairman Han and Hi Ra, with different appearances, each took a sip of the coffee in front of them.

“So what brings the star actress here without an appointment? How is Chairman Cha doing?”

“……”

“I don’t have much time. Surely you didn’t come all this way just to have coffee with me?”

Every word Chairman Han uttered felt intimidating. Could she really win this fight? Hi Ra put on the mask of acting, which was what she did best, to win this battle, took a deep breath, and opened her eyes wide.

“Lee Han, please give that person to me, Chairman.”

Silence fell.

As soon as Hi Ra finished speaking, Chairman Han looked at her with a faint smile, and Hi Ra swallowed dryly but did not avoid his eyes.

“Since you said you don’t have much time, I won’t take up too much. So please give him to me.”

“If you like Han, you should tell him that. You’ve come to the wrong address.”

“No. I’ve come to the right place, Chairman.”

Hi Ra crossed her legs, reached for the coffee cup in front of her again, took another sip, and raised one corner of her mouth while looking at Chairman Han. The intimidated appearance from earlier was nowhere to be found.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Ba… Ha? Han Ba Ha, was it?”

As the unexpected name came out of Hi Ra’s mouth, Chairman Han’s face gradually hardened.

“Yes. What about our Ba Ha?”

“Our Ba Ha, huh. Well, there are many rumors going around. That the Chairman hid his daughter away because she was too weak and precious? In fact, not knowing that she can walk around on two feet just fine.”

“……”

“I know. I came here knowing everything. The relationship between Song Seol Ah, Han Ba Ha, and you, Chairman. So now you need to take her away. So that person can never come near him again.”

Chairman Han’s composed appearance was gradually disappearing, and he felt nasty about being caught off guard by this young upstart.

“They say the world has improved a lot, but for a mere entertainer to have such courage.”

“I’m not just any entertainer. Ah, how about this then?”

Hi Ra looked at Chairman Han and continued speaking with an unpleasant smirk.

“The love between an entertainer and an illegitimate child.”

“……”

“It’s just the kind of story that would make a good topic. It would be even more interesting if Taesan was involved. What do you think, Chairman?”

A tiny provocation.

How should he deal with this young pup who doesn’t know to fear the tiger? Chairman Han tried hard to maintain his composure.

“What if I can’t give you what you want? You might not see it, but the person in front of you right now is that child’s father.”

“Then I have no choice. But Chairman, you should know one thing.”

The end of this scene was becoming visible. It was almost there. Hi Ra continued speaking to win this fight against Chairman Han.

“People will bring up this story over and over again. Those who have seen the Chairman’s image as cleaner than anyone else will feel betrayed by this fact. They will point fingers and curse. And Han Ba Ha, that woman will live with the label of an illegitimate child for the rest of her life. For life.”

“……”

“The world has become too good, so whenever it’s about to be forgotten, it will come up again and again, binding that woman. So if you’re her father, no, family, as you said, Chairman, you should join hands with me.”

“Why are you going this far? Just for Han, that guy?”

Chairman Han looked at Hi Ra and smiled coldly.

“I’m not asking for much. I just want to be that person’s weakness. If only that person is by my side, I won’t be greedy for anything more.”

“Weakness… I don’t do business at a loss. Alright. I’ll do as you wish. And may I ask one thing?”

“Yes. Please speak.”

It was over.

Was it because she had received a promise for what she wanted? As the tension that had wrapped her body loosened, a faint smile spread across Hi Ra’s face. Soon, Lee Han’s smile would be directed at her. Lee Han’s gaze would also look at her.

Now everything that had been directed at Han Ba Ha would be hers.

“Do you think what you’re doing now is love?”

“Yes. There are many kinds of love, after all.”

At Hi Ra’s words, Chairman Han burst into a mocking laugh, and Hi Ra narrowed her brows as she looked at Chairman Han, who seemed to find her ridiculous.

“That’s not love. It’s just obsession disguised as love.”

Obsession.

Well, it didn’t matter. She wanted to become Lee Han’s weakness. To do that, she had to get rid of the weakness he already had first. That’s why Hi Ra decided to use Ba Ha, Lee Han’s weakness, by shaking and manipulating her.

Just to become his weakness.

“It doesn’t matter. I believe you will keep your promise.”

“……”

“That’s how people are originally. The more you have, the harder it is to give up. Greed grows, you know.”

Hi Ra stood up with a hardened expression, bowed slightly towards Chairman Han as if to show one last bit of courtesy, and turned her back. She smiled faintly as she heard Chairman Han’s voice from behind.

“I will do so.”

Bang-!

“Cha Hi Ra! What are you doing now?”

Hi Ra, who was sobbing, and Ba Ha, who had been silently watching her, were startled by the sudden noise and turned their gaze towards the door, where Lee Han was standing.

A face never seen before, a voice never heard before. He was standing there, looking angry, with an unfamiliar appearance.

“What did I do! Why are you only like this to me!”

Seeing his expression that seemed to be disgusted, Hi Ra went beyond sobbing and cried out loudly. She hated him for not even caring why she was crying. The fact that his gaze wasn’t on her first again as soon as he opened the door made Hi Ra glare at him fiercely while shedding endless tears.

“Ba Ha, I’m sorry. Ha… Cha Hi Ra, get up. Stop it.”

Lee Han sighed deeply and pulled the arm of Hi Ra, who was sobbing endlessly, and Ba Ha watched the two with a frown on her face.

What on earth were they doing?

“What… is this? Why is Cha Hi Ra acting like that?”

Lee Han seemed to have forgotten that he should have closed the door, probably due to his rising anger. The waiting room door was wide open, and the area around it quickly became noisy as people gathered one by one.

“Come out.”

As Ba Ha hesitated with a face that seemed very surprised by the commotion around, Lee Han pulled Hi Ra even more forcefully, as if he wanted to end this situation quickly.

Hoping that attention wouldn’t go to someone else.

“What’s going on here? Did I catch a bad timing?”

As a familiar voice was heard from behind the staff, another commotion began. It was Tae Un. He had been unable to focus on work all day, worried if Ba Ha was crying again, or if Lee Han was trying to sweet-talk her into coming back. When he came to his senses, he found himself already walking towards Ba Ha.

The situation he saw upon arrival seemed like more than one or two people had already tried to sweet-talk Ba Ha.

The timing was really shit.

“What brings the Vice Chairman all the way here?”

“Ah… I’m a passionate fan of Lee Han.”

Tae Un, who voluntarily became a passionate fan in response to the director’s question, spoke while scanning Ba Ha, who was visible behind Lee Han, with his eyes.

“But it seems everyone is quite free. I have no intention of investing more money here. Shouldn’t we finish within the time limit?”

Tae Un warned in a low voice, essentially telling everyone to get lost. Lee Han watched Tae Un’s behavior with a completely hardened face, not letting go of Hi Ra’s wrist to prevent her from causing more trouble.

“Alright…! Let’s all quickly get ready again! Lee Han, go get some fresh air with Hi Ra for a moment.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

At the director’s words, Lee Han deliberately didn’t even glance at Ba Ha and headed outside with Hi Ra.

“Cha Hi Ra, come out. Let’s talk.”