Seung Jun was looking at Seol Ah with an indifferent gaze.

Seol Ah, clutching a bag with documents, also looked at Seung Jun.

She was on her way out of the headquarters after submitting the documents to JK Foods. Just when she thought she was fortunate not to see Seung Jun, she ran into him head-on.

“You’re not here to see me, I suppose.”

A refreshing scent wafted from him as he approached. Seol Ah slightly lowered her head. Although she wore a mask and a hat, it seemed evident who she was.

“No. I just had some other business here.”

Seol Ah bowed her head and was about to turn and leave, but she stopped.

Seung Jun’s gaze was still on her.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

This man knows what happened between Yu Min and Shin Young. Why did Yu Min hit Shin Young in the first place?

“If you have business, you should make an appointment in advance.”

Seung Jun withdrew his gaze, coldly turned around and walked away. Watching his back, Seol Ah bit her lip.

That’s right, they’re nothing to each other now. There’s no reason for him to stop for her.

“You should teach your child some manners. If they’re already hitting others like that, they won’t be able to adapt in elementary school.”

Seung Jun’s steps halted.

Those were the words his own child heard. Even if not for Seol Ah, he would feel differently when it comes to his child.

“Is that what that woman said?”

Seung Jun’s eyes had changed when he turned around.

“I couldn’t say anything in response. Because I didn’t know what had happened.”

Seung Jun lowered his head while facing Seol Ah. From the way he ran his hand through his hair, Seol Ah could tell he was furious.

“Follow me.”

Seung Jun led the way with long strides and left the headquarters building.

The place he entered was a shabby cafe located in a small alley. It was so out of the way that even the company employees were hardly aware of it.

“Pay for it.”

Seung Jun handed his card to Seol Ah and sat down. They were the only customers.

Seol Ah was about to say she had money too, but realizing it would only prolong the argument, she paid with the card he gave her.

Suddenly, an old memory came to mind.

The memory of always bringing a warm Americano to Seung Jun, who would lie on the chair with his hand on his forehead after a meeting.

He never said thank you, but he would hold Seol Ah’s hands, warmed by carrying the coffee, for a long time.

Liking that, Seol Ah would also gaze at Seung Jun’s closed eyes for a long time.

Seol Ah waited and received a tray with two Americanos on it. As she slowly carried the tray over, Seung Jun picked up one and spoke.

“Now talk. What exactly happened?”

The dream had shattered and reality was before her eyes. The man who was now nothing to her.

“Before that, I’d like you to tell me first. About what happened that day.”

Seol Ah sat across from Seung Jun and straightened her back.

“If I tell you, do you think you can handle it?”

Seung Jun crossed his legs leisurely.

“I’m Yu Min’s mother. If it’s about Yu Min, I have to handle it no matter what.”

“And yet someone like you let Yu Min hear those words?”

Wrinkles formed between Seung Jun’s brows.

Seol Ah unconsciously clenched her fists tightly.

“You probably couldn’t say anything after hearing that and just left.”

Seung Jun fueled the fire in her chest even more.

“That’s because…”

“Because you don’t have that kind of power. No wealth to grandly put them in their place either.”

This time it felt like fire was pouring over her head.

Seol Ah took out her wallet.

“Perfect timing. Take this.”

Seol Ah opened her wallet and held out a black card.

She had given it to him before, but Seung Jun didn’t accept it and just left.

“I won’t use a single cent of your money.”

Because that would be acknowledging that Yu Min is ultimately Seung Jun’s child.

Then Yu Min would have no choice but to go to Seung Jun.

Seung Jun was about to say something upon seeing the card.

The door opened and a couple walked in.

“Anyway, it’s fine. Speak. What happened?”

Just as Seung Jun opened his mouth, turning his eyes away from them, the man gently put his arm around the woman’s waist and said,

“We may be in a place like this now, but once I get into JK, I’ll definitely take you somewhere fancy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I passed the documents and aptitude test. I just need to do the interview. You’ll hear good news soon.”

The man Seol Ah glanced at looked to be in his late twenties. His youthful face was flushed white.

“You’ll definitely do well. You worked hard.”

The man hugged the woman from behind and pressed his lips to the crown of her head.

Seol Ah quickly turned her head back as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

“I told you to speak.”

In front of her eyes sat Seung Jun with a cold expression.

Could he have ever imagined?

That 7 years ago, she had said the same words to him as that couple.

– There won’t be any mistakes, right?

At dawn, after pulling an all-nighter preparing for the presentation, Seung Jun pressed his tired eyes and said.

– If I don’t make mistakes, I think we can expect a not-so-bad outcome.

– You worked hard, so you’ll have good results.

Seol Ah, who had stayed up all night with him, held his hand and said.

– Other times it’s fine, but it’s in front of the chairman.

He rarely revealed such thoughts in front of others. Seol Ah was grateful for that. It felt like he trusted and confided in her.

– You don’t need to be nervous. I’m sure the chairman will greatly praise you through this presentation.

At those words, Seung Jun finally smiled and pulled her into an embrace.

She thought he was just hugging her, but he deeply pressed his lips against hers.

Laughter, heat, and his firm body that she couldn’t resist.

– Reserve that room for tonight.

And he held out a black card.

It was a notice that he would spend the night with her after the presentation was over.

– Understood, Director.

– Replenish your energy beforehand.

It meant he wouldn’t let her sleep.

It didn’t matter if she didn’t sleep. At that time, Seung Jun was Seol Ah’s everything.

“I’ll have an Americano.”

“No, order a cafe mocha. And add whipped cream too. I have enough money for that.”

“Whipped cream is usually added for free. And I want to drink an Americano.”

The banter of the poor but generous couple kept tugging at Seol Ah’s heart.

Yes, if only Seung Jun was from an ordinary family. If he wasn’t a man from a chaebol family. If he was someone she could aspire to be with.

Could she have asked him after the marriage announcement? Could she have confronted him about what happened? Could she have protected her child without running away so miserably?

And could she have avoided reuniting with him like this, as someone worse off than others?

“This card is suspended.”

Seol Ah’s head turned back in that direction.

The man seemed flustered as he rummaged through his wallet.

“The card, it’s the only one I have.”

The man spoke to the woman with a panicked look.

“I’m really sorry.”

“Ha, oppa.”

But the woman’s gaze changed in an instant as she looked at the man.

Just a moment ago, they were a sweet couple.

“How many times has it been? You still haven’t paid off your credit card debt?”

The man lowered his head in front of the fuming woman.

“I was going to pay it off. But my father is sick.”

“Again? Why is your family always like this? Even if you get into JK, it’ll be the same, right? Your father is always sick and you always have debt.”

The woman brushed off the man’s hand and left the cafe. The man hurriedly followed her out.

The cafe door closed and silence returned.

Seol Ah turned her eyes to look at Seung Jun.

“Didn’t you say you don’t need money?”

That one sentence summarized the absurd situation from moments ago.

“This is what money is. It can create love that didn’t exist and make existing love disappear.”

One corner of Seung Jun’s mouth curled up slightly.

Outside the window, the former couple could be seen. The man was following the woman ahead with a pitiful expression.

The woman turned to the man.

Seeing the tears flowing from the man’s eyes, the woman shouted something and then shed tears together. The man embraced the crying woman.

– Anything to say?

– No, nothing. It was my fault and you only spoke the truth.

On the evening he was harshly scolded for a mistake, Seung Jun left Seol Ah alone. Seung Jun, who had been intently observing her frozen face, got up from his seat.

He pulled her chin to make her look at him, loosened his tie with one hand, and unbuttoned the top button. His collarbone and firm chest were visible through his shirt.

– Since it’s a wound inflicted by lips.

He drank in her lips as if savoring them. Only after seeing a smile bloom on her face did he lift the corners of his mouth as well.

– Let’s resolve it with lips.

Seol Ah, who had been watching the reconciled couple kissing, turned her head back to face Seung Jun.

“But money isn’t everything.”

I didn’t embrace you for money. I loved you, and even though you didn’t say it, I believed you had a heart that cared for me.

Seung Jun silently put the black card in his wallet and looked at his watch. His brows furrowed and then relaxed.

“I need to go. If you have business in the future, contact me in advance.”

He got up without hesitation and left the cafe. Watching his back, Seol Ah closed her eyes tightly.

*

“Is this all the CCTV footage?”

“Yes, Vice President.”

“Assault, verbal abuse, if it’s all there, can we proceed with a lawsuit?”

Seung Jun was investigating the assault and verbal abuse incident that occurred at ‘Gold Land’ as soon as he returned to the company.

After hearing from Seol Ah, he became convinced. A leaking bowl will leak outside as well.

As expected, there were several scenes caught on CCTV of Shin Young’s mother getting angry, hurling verbal abuse, and throwing objects.

“Yes, it’s possible. But if the company files a lawsuit against a customer, the news will spread…”

Nam Ki Hyun, the chief secretary, found it strange that Seung Jun was ordering something unprecedented and was also excessively obsessed with it, which was different from usual.

“I know. That’s why we need to go together. Inform the media too. With the video attached. This much should be enough to sway public opinion.”

Seung Jun’s eyes shone.

“It would be good to have a column about the reality of emotional laborers and powerless employees suffering at the hands of abusive customers. Find someone who writes well too.”

“Understood, Vice President.”

Shin Young’s mother would be in big trouble. Even if she covered her face, people around her would inevitably find out, and once sued, there would be a lot to deal with until the trial.

After Secretary Nam left, Seung Jun stood by the window in a good mood for a moment, then lowered his eyes with furrowed brows.

The affectionate couple. And Seol Ah’s expression as she watched them.

As if she was looking at a certain point in the past.

“Crazy.”

What am I thinking right now? Feeling his mood plummet again, Seung Jun leaned deep into his chair.