On the way to Hwa-an-dong, riding in Eun Hyeok’s car heading in the same direction.

Even though he offered to go all the way to her house, Do Eum stubbornly got off at the bottom of the hill.

After asking the substitute driver for understanding, Eun Hyeok, who carried Do Eum’s bag instead, came about halfway up the hill.

“Sit here for a moment.”

He stopped at the stone steps in front of someone’s gate.

“Huh?”

“Let me see your foot.”

What Eun Hyeok took out of his pants pocket was a bandage and ointment.

It seemed he had stopped by a pharmacy when he briefly went out at the pub.

“You won’t go to the hospital if I tell you to, so let’s at least do this.”

Before she could stop him, Eun Hyeok sequentially removed her sneakers and socks, placing Do Eum’s small foot on his knee.

Rather than feeling embarrassed about entrusting her foot to someone else, Do Eum giggled and squirmed because it tickled.

“Hehe, it tickles.”

“You got cut? Summer wounds easily get infected if not disinfected.”

Eun Hyeok’s words, having experienced many injuries from sports, were likely correct.

“Okay, I’ll disinfect it well.”

“Even after washing, be sure to dry it thoroughly…”

Before Eun Hyeok could finish speaking, Do Eum frowned at the headlight illuminating in front of her eyes.

Meanwhile, Eun Hyeok shielded Do Eum with his broad back.

“It must be the house owner, let’s get up.”

When the two hurriedly got up, only seeing the outline of the vehicle, unable to tell who it was.

Tak.

As the car door opened and the sound of shoes approaching grew closer, a familiar scent spread to Do Eum’s nose.

It was undoubtedly Ji Wan’s scent.

*****

Inside Ki Hyeok’s car heading to Anseo-dong.

Kwak Sang Tae, the department head self-proclaimed and known as “Seo Ki Hyeok’s right-hand man,” cautiously opened his mouth.

As with stories that need to be told secretly away from prying eyes, Kwak Sang Tae lowered his voice carefully even in the car with just the two of them.

“There’s an opinion to decide on the agenda for appointing Director Seo as CEO simultaneously with the dismissal of President Seo Myeong Han at this shareholders’ meeting.”

It was a well-known fact that the position of Bando Group’s president had been vacant for two years due to the illness of Seo Myeong Han, the only son of Chairman Jang Ho Muk.

Rather than empowering his grandson, the chairman prioritized preserving the position of his only son, who was barely clinging to life, causing the succession to be delayed, which made Ki Hyeok’s heart burn with impatience.

However, no matter what, Myeong Han was still his father.

It would be better to be known for showing loyalty to the end as a son’s duty, rather than pulling down his father and taking that position, even if it was just an empty justification.

“If you just say the word, I’ll gather the shareholders. Though Ji Wan is far from the position of Bando’s head now, you never know about people’s affairs. With Bando Construction thriving like this, even Chairman Jang must be impressed…”

Sseup.

With a rough breath, Ki Hyeok’s brow furrowed fiercely.

It was a rebuke not to carelessly utter words that could become seeds if spat out.

“That old man has thick bones from the countryside marketplace. He’s not the type to give even a speck of dust to anyone who’s not of pure Bando bloodline, no matter what.”

Although he was President Seo Myeong Han’s son, Ji Wan was merely an outsider coveting his position, an illegitimate child.

Ki Hyeok had always treated Ji Wan that way, and though he didn’t know for sure, Chairman Jang would likely be no different.

“Since we’re on the topic.”

As the car stopped upon arriving in Anseo-dong, Ki Hyeok slowly opened his mouth while adjusting his suit.

“With construction thriving like that, what is Oh Jong Taek doing? If the hunting dog can’t find anything to bring back, he should make something up.”

Kwak Sang Tae bowed his head and pursed his lips tightly.

He was no different from a mere hunting dog to be used, so the criticism aimed at Jong Taek was no different from being directed at himself.

“Hold off on the shareholders’ meeting agenda. Don’t stir things up unnecessarily when it will come to me anyway if we just wait. If you have nothing else to do, learn how Kong Ki Hoon and Han Woo Seok are assisting Seo Ji Wan.”

Ki Hyeok, having adjusted his clothes, lightly stepped out through the open door.

“It’s so regrettable that one loyal dog is like this.”

With those biting words, the back door slammed shut roughly.

*****

– Oh, isn’t that the young lady over there?

That’s where it started.

Something that began boiling hot from the very bottom, rising through the chest, past the larynx, and up to the top of the head.

It had been barely a day since he decided not to interfere with that woman’s love life, thinking his marriage to her would last a year at most.

Ji Wan’s jaw clenched fiercely.

“Let’s stop the car.”

Driver Park, who was about to pass by pretending not to see, finally stopped the car.

It was those small feet that had been treading the marble floor as if it were his own heart, and for some reason, his heart had started beating strangely fast whenever he heard the sound they made.

It was right after those small feet that shook his heart as if it were broken were held in the hands of an unfamiliar man.

That’s when Ji Wan’s patience seemed to reach its limit.

Patience had been a lifelong challenge.

From childhood, there hadn’t been a single moment when Ji Wan couldn’t endure.

But from the moment he saw the woman’s feet in the hands of a strange man, his clenched fists tightened.

His breathing was as rapid as if he’d just finished a 100-meter dash, and his steps quickened unintentionally as he walked briskly.

Damn it.

He felt nauseous.

It was beyond the point where he could hide it with patience.

“What are you doing here?”

Ji Wan’s words, spoken while trying his best to suppress his emotions, came out coldly despite his efforts.

Only then realizing that the owner of the headlight vehicle was Ji Wan, Do Eum abruptly stood up and snatched her sock from Eun Hyeok’s hand.

Her upper body kept swaying unsteadily, so urgent was she.

“Ah, ah!”

Eun Hyeok, standing beside her, grabbed her hand lest she fall over, which inevitably caused Ji Wan’s brow to furrow again.

“I asked what you’re doing.”

“Ah, well, that…”

Do Eum’s voice shrank about an inch at Ji Wan’s appearance, which was about ten times colder than usual coolness.

It was understandable, as it had been just a day since she was asked by Woo Seok to be careful, though there was no need to announce the marriage.

The person who needed to be careful was sitting in this state in front of someone else’s house, drunk, so it was bound to be frustrating for someone as impeccable as him.

“Do Eum hurt her foot. She said she stepped on something wrong and got hurt, so I disinfected it just in case. She’s been having trouble walking all day. She didn’t drink much.”

Eun Hyeok’s words, trying to help lest Do Eum, who was staying at her cousin’s house, get scolded again, once again irritated Ji Wan.

With his back to the headlights, Ji Wan’s expression wasn’t fully visible, but even just his silhouette standing still was overwhelmingly intimidating.

“What are you standing there for, Kang Do Eum.”

Hearing her name called out distinctly in that deep voice felt unfamiliar.

The long fingertip slowly rising in the air and pointing towards her seemed infinitely slow, like a scene from a movie.

As if telling her to quickly take his outstretched hand, Ji Wan murmured softly.

“…Come to your elder brother.”

Despite the maximally restrained emotion, the coolness was intact, and as cool as it was, it was also dazzlingly affectionate.

It was almost simultaneous.

Hic.

Hic.

That was the start of sudden hiccups along with the word ‘elder brother’ from the mouth of the stoic man.

It was she who had introduced Ji Wan as her cousin brother, so she should rightfully respond to that cool face beckoning her to come, but if she grabbed that hand, she felt like he would hear her heart pounding as if she had bared half her body when she had only taken off one sock.

It had been like that from the moment the man appeared, backlit by the dazzling light.

From the moment she was caught in an intimate pose with another man in front of him.

It wasn’t fear of being thrown into the fire pit as punishment for her indiscretion.

It was just an earnest wish that this man, Seo Ji Wan, wouldn’t misunderstand this scene with a strange man.

Jae Han’s voice echoed in her ear.

If that was true, this fake marriage would be over right now.

She needed to be sure if this indefinable trembling was really due to liking him.

When Do Eum didn’t readily take his outstretched hand, Ji Wan tilted his body diagonally and lightly raised and lowered his chin.

It was a final warning to come to his side immediately.

The man standing askew with furrowed brows scanned Do Eum’s face without error.

Neatly dressed in a vest and tie, it wouldn’t be easy to look so delinquent.

“…Let’s, let’s go.”

Ji Wan grabbed Do Eum’s slightly extended hand and shifted his gaze to Eun Hyeok on the opposite side.

“It’s late, so you should go now.”

Eun Hyeok, who had been hesitating, carefully spoke up.

“Since I’ve come this far, let me carry Do Eum on my back. She’s hurt more than she looks.”

Do Eum, standing behind Ji Wan, shook her head repeatedly.

Eun Hyeok, who had looks, knowledge, and wealth, seemed to lack tact today more than ever.

“I’ll do that too. So you…”

“Eun Hyeok, Choi Eun Hyeok.”

Even after clearly stating his full name, Eun Hyeok didn’t leave.

He seemed determined to carry her since he had offered to do so.

Woo Seok, who had been keeping his distance and observing the situation, slowly approached and half-bent his waist in front of Do Eum.

The best solution he came to was for him to carry her, given the standoff between the woman who had no intention of being carried, the man determined to carry her, and the other man who wouldn’t let either scenario happen.

“Han Manager.”

Ji Wan nudged Woo Seok’s shoulder.

It was clear to anyone that if Do Eum wasn’t going to be carried on Eun Hyeok’s back, he should be the one to carry her.

It made much more sense for a cousin brother to carry his younger sister than for a secretary who appeared out of nowhere to carry a woman who was a complete stranger.

Ji Wan took off his suit jacket, handed it to Woo Seok, and turned his back to Do Eum.

“Get on.”

Do Eum hesitated in front of Ji Wan’s back.

If she got on, what would he say to her later?

No, if she didn’t get on, he was the type of person who would stay here all night like this.

After much deliberation, Do Eum reluctantly got on Ji Wan’s back.

“The substitute driver must be waiting for a long time. Hurry and go, Eun Hyeok. Thanks for today. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay, I will. Don’t forget to apply the ointment once more before bed. Then, I’ll leave her in your care.”

Eun Hyeok handed Do Eum’s bag to Woo Seok and turned to go down the hill.

Ji Wan silently climbed the hill carrying Do Eum, followed slowly by the sedan driven by Woo Seok and Driver Park.

“CEO, let me carry her now.”

“Has he left?”

“He’s leaving, but keeps looking back.”

In response to the unnecessarily persistent Eun Hyeok and the overly honest Woo Seok’s collaboration, Ji Wan reluctantly replied.

“It’s fine. Let’s just go.”

Woo Seok smirked at the sight of Eun Hyeok looking back several times as he went down.

He seemed as persistent as the boss he served, and capable of doing anything he set his mind to.

“I’m okay, CEO. Please put me down now.”

“If I put you down, that bastard will come running back right away.”

He was referring to Eun Hyeok, who had been demoted to ‘bastard’.

“It looks unseemly, so Manager Han, take the car and go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It was a comment on how unsightly it was to have a man aimlessly following behind and a luxury sedan slowly trailing them, even if he himself was carrying Do Eum on his back.

“Will you be alright?”

“If I’m not alright, what, should we take turns carrying one woman between the two of us?”

At the sharp voice, Woo Seok quickly changed his stance.

It seemed like the timing where he wouldn’t hear anything good if he pushed further.

“Ah, yes. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As Woo Seok was about to get into the sedan, he turned back and hung Do Eum’s bag around Ji Wan’s neck.

Handing the suit jacket to Do Eum, Woo Seok lightly bowed his head and quickly disappeared.