His voice sent chills down Jae Yi’s entire body.

Since meeting at the company cafe, this was the first time they were face to face in 6 years.

Jae Yi’s hands trembled slightly without her realizing it, and she grasped her shaking hand with her other hand.

As Jae Yi trembled with a pale face, Tae In didn’t say anything more.

The expression Jae Yi gave him as she looked at him was pure terror. The smiling face she used to show him before was nowhere to be found.

Nevertheless, Tae In was glad. Because she was here in front of him.

“Elder sister…”

“…”

So we’ve finally met like this. We’ve met like this.

It feels like the knee he injured a week ago is throbbing again. The wound on his knee ached as if it had festered again.

He could no longer avoid it. She wasn’t someone who wouldn’t appear just because he avoided her. It was time to face her.

Seeing no response from Jae Yi, he called out to her once more.

“Elder sister Jae Yi.”

At him calling her by name, Jae Yi’s body naturally flinched. His voice was so chilling.

“I have so much I want to say to you, elder sister. But first… I’m sorry for everything.”

“…”

His eyes grew moist.

“I’m truly sorry. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”

He was speaking earnestly while continuously looking at Jae Yi.

Jae Yi was conscious of the people around them.

She could see people glancing at her and Tae In, but Tae In’s face showed no concern at all. His face said he could only see Jae Yi.

Jae Yi clenched her fists tightly and let out a deep breath.

“If you’re sorry, then don’t ever come looking for me again…”

It was the first thing she had said to him in 6 years.

I don’t want to see you or Park Ga Yeon anymore. So don’t come looking for me and don’t act like you know me.

“Don’t come looking for you… Why are you saying that, elder sister?”

“I’m not your elder sister anymore. You and I… We’re not family.”

“…”

“We’re nothing to each other. We’re strangers now. So—”

“Han team leader!”

Jae Yi’s lips closed at the voice calling from behind.

Manager Im approached and looked at Tae In and Jae Yi.

Seeing the serious expressions on both their faces, Jin Seop looked at them curiously before fixing his gaze on Jae Yi.

“Han team leader, you worked really hard today. It must have been tough coming all the way to Ilsan, right?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“By the way, do you two know each other?”

Just as Jae Yi was about to answer, Tae In’s lips parted first.

“Yes. We’ve known each other for a long time.”

As if determined to say unnecessary things, Tae In’s lips wouldn’t stop.

“I’ve wanted to see her for so long, and we finally met again here.”

Jae Yi’s fists clenched tightly.

“Oh? I see. That’s interesting.”

As Jin Seop spoke with a smile, Tae In just gave a silent eye-smile.

“If you were such close acquaintances, you should have given us a heads up. We could have changed the person in charge. It’s better for Han team leader to work with someone she knows, right?”

A smile suddenly spread across Park Tae In’s face and words flowed from his lips first.

“If that’s possible, could you change the person in charge?”

“Of course, if that’s what Tae In wants—”

“…I refuse.”

At Jae Yi’s curt interjection, Jin Seop looked at her with a surprised expression.

“Han team leader.”

“I think I’ve been away from my post for too long. I’ll be heading back first.”

Just as Jae Yi was about to move, Tae In hurriedly grabbed her wrist.

It felt like all the blood in her body was freezing. As his chilling touch revived again, Jae Yi’s body stiffened.

“Don’t go, elder sister.”

“Let go… Mr. Park Tae In.”

Jae Yi spoke while trying her best to control her emotions, but he still wouldn’t release her hand.

She hated the feeling of his touch on her skin.

Jae Yi tried to forcefully pull her arm away, but the more she did, the tighter his grip became.

Other people had started glancing this way. As the atmosphere suddenly grew tense, Tae In’s manager hurriedly approached.

“Tae In!”

Tae In’s gaze was precarious. His expression suggested he might follow if the woman in front of him disappeared, so the manager quickly spoke.

“Tae In. Who is she?”

“I’ve always told you. Elder sister Jae Yi.”

“Ah…”

It was her. The one Park Tae In had been searching for all this time.

“Um, right… Why don’t you let go of her hand and talk, Tae In? There are a lot of people watching.”

“Hyung, please keep elder sister Jae Yi here until filming is over.”

“W-what are you saying, Tae In?”

As the manager asked in bewilderment, Tae In looked at Jae Yi.

“Stay here. Elder sister.”

Jae Yi furrowed her brow.

“You. What are you…”

“It would be better if you stay. Otherwise, I’ll do something crazy here.”

Manager Im, standing behind them, apparently hadn’t heard Tae In’s quiet voice, as his face showed curiosity about what the two were discussing.

“Tae In. That’s a bit…”

“Please, hyung. I want to talk more with elder sister Jae Yi. So just until filming is over. I’m begging you.”

Jae Yi looked at Tae In, who was still gripping her wrist.

If she shook off his arm and left here, he would surely act like a madman, just as he said.

Jae Yi let out a deep breath and spoke.

“What are you doing… Park Tae In…”

At Jae Yi’s voice, an expression of delight spread across Tae In’s face.

He smiled, happy that Jae Yi had casually called his name after so long.

“I just want to talk with you more, elder sister.”

“Let go of my hand…”

“I can’t. You know I’m not in my right mind when it comes to you, elder sister.”

“…What?”

Jae Yi’s eyes wavered. He was muttering as if talking about that last night 6 years ago.

“All I need is Han Jae Yi… So don’t think about running away. Elder sister.”

* * *

Jae Yi, seated in a chair, looked at the manager standing guard in front of her.

“Why are you really doing this? Please move aside.”

“I want to move aside too. But Tae In begged me to keep Han Jae Yi here for a bit, so how can I refuse?”

“I’ll sneak out quietly. I’ll leave without anyone knowing.”

At Jae Yi’s desperate voice, the manager turned his head. Even while filming the commercial, Tae In kept glancing over at Jae Yi.

“Sigh, how can you sneak away when that guy is watching like that? Don’t do that and just stay until filming is over. I don’t want to do this either.”

Jae Yi’s hands, resting on her thighs, began to tremble.

Jin Seop, watching Jae Yi from afar, found their relationship puzzling.

“Strange. Really.”

He took out the phone tucked in his jacket and called someone. After a few rings, the other person’s voice came through.

― Yes, Manager. Did you take care of the urgent matter? I’m sorry about earlier. I was so busy too.

“Thanks to Jae Yi, the urgent matter was resolved. It’s fine.”

― That’s a relief, really. There’s no employee like Jae Yi. She always steps up willingly even though she has a lot of her own work. Did Jae Yi go home?

“No. Not yet.”

― What? Why? She was happy about stopping by there and then going straight home. Why hasn’t she left yet? Don’t tell me you’re making her work more?! I told you to take it easy on her.

“It’s not that. Jae Yi can’t go home right now.”

At Im Jin Seop’s nonsensical words, Su Bin, who had been taking the call in the office, stepped out into the hallway to continue the conversation.

“Say that again. Why can’t Jae Yi go home? Who is it? Park Tae In?”

Do Yoon, who had been passing through the lobby, stopped in his tracks when he heard Jae Yi’s name and leaned against the railing, watching Deputy Manager Han Su Bin on the phone.

* * *

Executive Director’s office.

Geon Hak was reviewing the documents scattered across his desk.

He was completely preoccupied with this merger and acquisition issue. They needed to get approval for the biotech-related business in order for the Cha Myeong Group to enter the medical field this time.

Geon Hak pressed the back of his neck, as if finding the materials he was reviewing difficult.

When he heard a knock at the door, Geon Hak’s gaze naturally turned towards it. Do Yoon entered with an urgent expression, and Geon Hak looked at him.

“Why do you look like that after just going to the director’s office to deliver approval documents? What did Director Choi say?”

When there was no answer from Do Yoon, Geon Hak took off his silver-tinted glasses and pressed the bridge of his nose.

“What is it? What did he say?”

“Executive Director.”

“Speak.”

“It seems Han Jae Yi has met Park Tae In right now.”

Geon Hak’s expression instantly contorted.

How could Han Jae Yi, who was at the company, suddenly meet Park Tae In?

“Are you saying Park Tae In came here again without my permission?”

He abruptly stood up from his seat and looked down at Do Yoon. In an instant, his eyes turned cold and Geon Hak’s face became uncontrollably frosty.

“Han Jae Yi is at the Ilsan filming location right now.”

“Why is she there? Isn’t Park Tae In and Im Da Na’s commercial being filmed there today?”

“Yes, that’s right. It seems she stopped by for other business and they met.”

Ha, damn it.

Geon Hak grabbed his jacket hanging on the coat rack.

“I’m going to Ilsan right now, so reschedule all my afternoon appointments for tomorrow. And cancel the dinner meeting with Chairman Yoon Cheol Jung of Hanseo Group that was scheduled for tonight.”

“Yes, I understand, Executive Director.”

Geon Hak moved towards the door while slipping one arm into his jacket.

As he strode out, Geon Hak’s eyes sank infinitely.

He hurriedly went down to the third basement level and immediately started his car.

Geon Hak was frantic at the news that Han Jae Yi had met Park Tae In.

A week ago, when he found Han Jae Yi trembling in fear, he wanted to kill Park Tae In.

When she ran away covered in sweat, Geon Hak sensed it.

That Park Tae In was even more of a bastard than he had thought.

* * *

On the entire drive to the Ilsan filming location, Geon Hak nearly got into several accidents.

He hurriedly parked the car and got out.

His heart started pounding as if it would burst.

The atmosphere instantly changed when Cha Geon Hak burst into the filming location.

Geon Hak spotted Jae Yi sitting in a corner.

Ha.

He saw her with her head bowed low, trembling slightly, not yet having noticed Geon Hak.

“Cut! Good work everyone!”

The director’s cut sign was followed by applause from the staff.

Everyone cheered at the successful completion of filming, but Jae Yi’s body began to shake even more.

It’s over…

Tae In, who was in the studio, looked at Jae Yi. She was still sitting there waiting for him.

Han Jae Yi is there. Waiting for him there.

He planned to first have dinner with Jae Yi, who must have had a hard time waiting for him, and then clear up any misunderstandings while talking alone.

A big smile spread across Tae In’s face.

As he raised his head while greeting the staff in front of him, he spotted Cha Geon Hak striding over.

Tae In’s face instantly hardened.

Geon Hak, who had rushed over in one breath, grabbed the shoulder of the manager in front of Jae Yi.

The manager’s head turned, and his lips began to tremble as if having a seizure at the sight of Geon Hak there.

“Ex-Ex-Executive Director…”

At the manager’s trembling voice, Jae Yi slowly raised her head.

Seeing Cha Geon Hak standing before her, Jae Yi blinked, wondering if she was dreaming.

However, no matter how she looked, it was clearly Cha Geon Hak.

He was looking at Jae Yi while breathing heavily.

“…Executive Director?”