Seo Jun leaned his body slightly forward, resting his elbows on his thighs and interlocking his fingers.

Five people sat with serious expressions on the sofa in the VIP room’s reception area. Eom So Yeon and CEO Gu Won Hoo faced Director Yoon Ji Wan and writer Kwon Eun Young, while Seo Jun’s gaze formed a triangle encompassing the four of them.

“I will……”

Unable to ignore Seo Jun in her blurry vision, So Yeon quietly parted her lips, composing her aching heart.

“Step down.”

Her unwavering expression and graceful mouth shape uttered the calm voice.

“I don’t regret it at all. Rather, I’ve been ashamed of hiding this fact all along. I will never again deny or ignore my precious child because of the role I’ve taken on.”

If the world looks at my choice askew, I will boldly face the world’s eyes.

If someone points a finger at me and my child, I will break that finger.

I will never be intimidated.

As a mother, I will become even stronger.

She had resolved countless times not to become weak, and today too was something she had prepared for. That’s why So Yeon could remain composed even at this moment. But she couldn’t stop her large eyes from reddening on their own.

Because she was sorry, so sorry.

For not being able to tell him what he should have known.

For that secret she could no longer reveal after missing the chance, that truth she had to keep deeply hidden even now.

No matter how she might say it was an unavoidable situation, it would just be a feeble excuse now. Every time she met Seo Jun’s heavy gaze, So Yeon’s heart became infinitely painful. Trying hard to calm it, she couldn’t allow even the tiniest blemish on Tae Seo Jun’s future.

When So Yeon unhesitatingly expressed her willingness to step down if her presence hindered the drama’s progress, the room was enveloped in chaotic silence for a while.

At this point, CEO Gu Won Hoo broke the silence by sharing his thoughts.

“I acknowledge that Eom So Yeon has caused confusion. I deeply apologize for that first. However, I hope you can appreciate her sincerity in revealing this difficult truth now, even if belatedly, to avoid harming the company and Director Yoon’s work. Moreover, looking at Eom So Yeon alone, isn’t she an actress with potential? She’s also a hard worker who gives her all to her roles.”

Of course, one couldn’t say Eom So Yeon did well by keeping her personal life secret until now, but CEO Gu brought up her strengths as an actress and pushed his opinion more forcefully without hesitation.

“Strictly speaking, she’s not even the main character, is she? As I said earlier, I believe we can proceed as is without any problems.”

It was natural for a company CEO to lean towards protecting their actor. However, Gu Won Hoo’s argument had its merits. But writer Kwon Eun Young, who had been sitting with an uneasy expression, seemed to have a different view.

“You need to talk sense. It’s not such a simple matter. She plays the female lead’s past life character. Although a supporting role, it’s a character identified with the protagonist. I’m worried that Eom So Yeon might damage the mysterious and elegant image of that role.”

After this immediate objection, writer Kwon earnestly conveyed to everyone her sharp standard that there should be no noise, given the large investment in this project.

This was why Director Yoon had been seriously considering.

Investors willingly put up an unusually large sum because they wanted a drama more cinematic than a movie. To raise the work’s quality to meet their expectations, Tae Seo Jun was undoubtedly necessary, and that had been achieved with difficulty.

But now it felt like ash might be sprinkled on the rice just as it was cooked.

“Eom So Yeon is talking about stepping down, but what are your thoughts, Tae Seo Jun?”

When Director Yoon Ji Wan, who had been sparing with words until now, asked, Seo Jun answered without hesitation.

“If Eom So Yeon is excluded from the drama work, I too will never set foot on the ‘Master of the Sun’ set.”

“……!”

Why on earth……!

So Yeon’s eyes wavered widely. She wondered if it was necessary to go that far just for her.

The ‘maybe’ became ‘indeed’.

Director Yoon nodded once and then asked:

“What’s your reason for wanting to overturn everything we’ve shot so far?”

Seo Jun crossed one leg leisurely and spoke in a relaxed posture.

“I’m a person who values promises. There’s already a signed contract, and if that written promise changes even slightly, the disappointment would be quite large. To Eom So Yeon, of course, who ruins public work with her private life, and to all the producers.”

Eom So Yeon has a child.

The moment he first heard this, Seo Jun was dumbfounded. Even though Gu Won Hoo wasn’t one to talk nonsense, he almost tore his mouth. It was that shocking and truly unbelievable.

But Eom So Yeon, who entered the room, acknowledged it without hesitation in front of the four people. That CEO Gu’s words were true.

Her appearance as she declared herself a mother of a child looked so dignified and bold that Seo Jun felt a throbbing, burning sensation in his head as if struck by a hammer.

Alright, let’s say everything you said is true.

As with me, you’re a woman with looks that would captivate anyone at first glance, so men must have always followed you. You must have had quite a few relationships too. A child? Well, that could happen too.

But why am I……

Even knowing this fact, why am I……

Despite her having another man’s child, despite it not being such a simple matter, why can’t I give up on Eom So Yeon?

Until now, Seo Jun had dismissed his interest in Eom So Yeon as just a sprout of unresolved lingering attachment from long ago, merely a man’s instinct. He never thought it could be anything more. He had been too unaware of his own heart all this time.

But what became clear through this incident was that he was hopelessly fallen for Eom So Yeon. The fact that he was diminishing her shocking coming out as ‘just that much’ and not minding at all was proof of how much he liked her.

Seo Jun, having finally realized his true feelings, couldn’t help but think more deeply.

Can I really let her go? Can I cleanly push her out of my head and heart? No, I’m not that kind of guy.

If I could stop my heart from flowing towards you with that level of twist, I would have just passed by from the start, without calling your name on the company rooftop.

I have to continue this damn thing. At least until I can lightly let go of a woman like you.

It was already a concluded matter.

Seo Jun, who had made up his mind before Eom So Yeon expressed her intention to step down, fixed his haughty and arrogant gaze towards the sofa on the left.

“I’ve finished speaking, so it seems it’s time for the director and writer to give their answer.”

From mentioning overturning all the ongoing filming to bringing up the contract was pressure.

In this way, Tae Seo Jun was the strong one holding the sword of rise and fall in this drama project.

Director Yoon persuaded writer Kwon that with Tae Seo Jun alone, the success of the work was a foregone conclusion, so they should embrace all worries or expectations.

But, looking at it, aren’t all three men here in cahoots? Why are they all unanimously shielding Eom So Yeon? What is she?

Was it an inferiority complex overwhelmed by her young age and shining beauty? Was it because of feeling isolated? Writer Kwon’s voice came out completely distorted.

“That’s when we didn’t know about the ‘single mother’ fact! Director Yoon, you know too! That one actor’s disgraceful matter can ruin the entire work! But a woman who had a child without a husband… This is a serious problem that can’t possibly be understood by the public!”

“……”

So Yeon’s white face was instantly colored with humiliation at writer Kwon’s unrefined speech and contemptuous gaze. Her lips, at a loss for words, trembled slightly. Such changes in So Yeon’s expression were impossible to ignore even if one tried.

At least for Tae Seo Jun.

“Writer. Kwon. Eun. Young.”

The clear lips pronouncing each syllable as if chopping them, Seo Jun’s deep and dark eyes furrowed at once.

An unexpected emotion.

Uncontrollable anger.

Yeo Jin stood in front of the mirror in the powder room, delicately adjusting her elegantly styled hair.

Beside her, Yeo Jeong’s blank gaze watching her elder sister’s figure was tinged with a strange energy. Despite living a more abundant life than anyone, she always found herself relegated to a supporting role when with Yeo Jin, and her position was thoroughly unsatisfactory.

But more than that, she was constantly jealous of everything her sister had – her husband’s love and the respect of her children.

Yeo Jin, not unaware that her younger sister’s disgruntled expression wasn’t solely due to that reason, smiled softly.

“Yeo Jeong.”

“Yes, elder sister.”

“Still, Won Hoo has been consistently doing business. He started his own company and achieved remarkable growth in just a few years. Where else could you find such a diligent son? Later, when he inherits your husband’s company, he’ll be able to manage it well with that experience.”

“Oh, please don’t, elder sister. Do you know how much our Chairman Gu is after Won Hoo? He’s always angry that his only son is still chasing his own dreams, so I’m constantly on pins and needles.”

Yeo Jeong grumbled, sighing deeply with a face full of worries.

“When I inherited the general hospital and its surrounding land from father, you insisted on several buildings in the heart of Gangnam, saying you’d pass them on to Won Hoo. Even if your son completely fails, you can help him with that, so what’s there to worry about? The real problem is Seo Jun, who refuses to take over the hospital management and keeps doing other things.”

Though it was a makeshift solution, Yeo Jeong’s expression brightened somewhat as her sister deflected by mentioning Seo Jun. Seeing this, Yeo Jin smiled brightly.

“They’re still so young, everything is fun for them, and even if they get hurt, they can quickly bounce back. So let’s not live too desperately ourselves. If we get one more wrinkle worrying about disobedient children, only we’ll be the losers.”

“That’s true, elder sister.”

“Seo Jun is probably in the guest room. Won Hoo might be with him too, so let’s drop by there in a bit.”

As Yeo Jin gathered her pouch and left the powder room, Yeo Jeong, her mood now improved, followed closely behind her elder sister.

There was no need to verbalize the rebuke that for someone who was supposedly a star drama writer, who should possess broader insight than anyone else, was this all the flexibility they could muster?

The sharp gaze was already relentlessly pressing on writer Kwon Eun Young’s windpipe.

“Writer Kwon, do you have a lover?”

“I don’t……”

Unable to grasp why the conversation suddenly veered in that direction, writer Kwon looked at Seo Jun with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.

“Ah, since you’re married, you must have a husband.”

“That’s right. But why……”

“Let’s not intentionally belittle by attaching other meanings to words that are sufficient as ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You should consider the listeners too. I’m saying this because it’s very uncomfortable for me to hear as well.”

“I didn’t make up anything that didn’t happen! This is too much! Eom So Yeon is the one who did wrong, so why are you doing this to me……”

“Wrong.”

Seo Jun’s arrogant smile, which cut off writer Kwon’s words, included both a sneer and derision.

“Not being honest from the start is wrong. But that’s where it ends. Having a child or being a single mother is not wrong, that’s what I’m saying.”

Seo Jun briefly pressed his lips tightly, then raised his eyebrows and tilted his head slightly with a nod.

This was behavior Tae Seo Jun showed when he was extremely sensitive. Won Hoo, the only one who knew this, felt tension run down his spine. However, as if controlling his emotions, Seo Jun pressed his fingertips firmly against his temple and began to speak.

“I don’t understand judging others’ biological matters as right or wrong. But perhaps someone who knows better can explain, Writer Kwon?”

He was asking why Eom So Yeon, who hadn’t committed adultery and was striving to be dignified as a child’s mother, should be frustrated for what wrongdoing.

“That’s……”

Finding it difficult to withstand Tae Seo Jun’s cold voice and intense gaze that seemed capable of piercing through anything, writer Kwon trailed off and looked at Director Yoon. It was a request for help from a fellow producer who had been driven into a corner.

However, the voice that was soon heard belonged not to Director Yoon, but to Eom So Yeon.

“I’m sorry for causing confusion, but I won’t apologize for anything else personal. It feels like I’d be sinning against my child.”

Choked up because of Tae Seo Jun who had become entirely her ally, So Yeon swallowed that hot lump. She absolutely couldn’t show tears here. With child matters, she would have to overcome countless hurdles in the future, and she couldn’t waver or become weak each time.

“The fetal name is ‘Haengbeumi’. When I realized this small life had come to me, I was happy and joyful. So much that it overwhelmed the fear that would soon come. For my lovely child, I will gladly walk even a thorny path.”

She had been cast in a big role in a good project, and if things continued this way, she would be taking glorious first steps as an actress. But Oh Min Jung’s words weren’t wrong. She could tell from the conversations she overheard. She was clearly a parachute. And not by the company’s power, but Tae Seo Jun’s.

“So I’ll say it again. It’s right for me to step down when I haven’t even started filming yet. It was a good opportunity, but I believe that if I work hard, an even better opportunity will come someday.”

With her back and neck held straight, So Yeon was able to speak clearly, putting strength in her voice.

Because what I gained without effort is not truly mine.