The four people who were watching the bickering between Yoo Jung Hwa and Oh Min Jung soon moved to the hospital.

The two women who arrived at the emergency room received high-concentration oxygen injections to their lungs and underwent detailed examinations. And while So Yeon and Do Soon were resting in their respective hospital rooms, Seo Jun and Won Hoo came to the lounge for a moment.

Both men were equally worried about the two women sleeping while receiving IV drips with sedatives. But compared to Seo Jun, who appeared outwardly calm even though he felt like he was going crazy inside, Won Hoo showed obvious signs of anxiety.

From sighing repeatedly with a dark expression to constantly tapping the table with his fingertips. Moreover, as if his insides were burning up, Won Hoo, who had already finished drinking a water bottle, crumpled it in one hand and said.

Crunch!

“If what Oh Min Jung said is true. I don’t think I can stand it.”

“If that’s how you feel, how do you think I feel?”

“Do you have no feelings left for Yoo Jung Hwa?”

“……”

“Ah, you were always like that, I forgot.”

As the silent Seo Jun artificially lifted the corners of his lips, Won Hoo also chuckled involuntarily.

Who was Tae Seo Jun?

If anyone was colder than him, they’d be sad. Wasn’t he a self-centered guy full of self-love in everything? So even when he was particularly close with Yoo Jung Hwa, he never revealed himself thoroughly.

To think that such a selfish guy who only cared about himself would cherish Eom So Yeon so dearly.

Just looking at that, there was no doubt that the love Tae Seo Jun was doing now was a deep love that transcended several dimensions.

“Do you like So Yeon that much?”

“Yes. I’m a man who lives for one woman, Eom So Yeon.”

“Tae Seo Jun is starting to look a bit more human now. But when are you going to bring the child? No, before that, Eom Hyun Woo, Tae Hyun Woo, what will you do about the child’s surname?”

“Well. I think both are fine.”

Seo Jun said with a mix of laughter and a joking tone.

It meant he hadn’t thought that far yet.

But Won Hoo’s question made one thing clearer.

It was natural to feel special about the child that firmly connected Eom So Yeon and himself.

However, he couldn’t help that the chicken came before the egg. Therefore, he didn’t care which surname the child had if Eom So Yeon wanted it. And more urgent than that was legally binding Eom So Yeon as his woman.

“Gu Won Hoo, Won Hoo”

“Don’t call me so affectionately. I get scared every time you call me like that, you bastard!”

Even the perfect Tae Seo Jun didn’t know everything. Before asking about that, Seo Jun raised his thick eyebrows gently and even added a faint smile to his face.

“What does a 4-year-old kid… like?”

“Oh ho, even the great Tae Seo Jun has something he’s nervous about? At the thought of meeting your son?”

“A bit… I guess.”

“Haha……”

That calm voice admitting it cleanly, and look at those moist eyes!

Won Hoo, who almost shouted ‘Who are you!’, grinned and shook his head. Although it was somewhat bewildering since this was the first time seeing Tae Seo Jun like this, his unfamiliar attitude showing humanity was somewhat desirable.

“I don’t know much, but seeing as you’re asking so earnestly, shall I give my honest opinion?”

“Go ahead.”

“Boys generally like hero dads. How about Gold Iron Man? I heard character suits are quite good these days.”

“You want… me to wear that?”

Seo Jun’s eyes suddenly became crooked, as if he had briefly imagined it.

“Do I have to do something that childish?”

“It’s your first meeting. Shouldn’t you give the child that much dream and hope as a father? If you don’t want to do it, should I? I’m willing to do it even for a 5th cousin nephew.”

“……”

“You should show at least minimal sincerity. He lived for 4 years without even knowing his father’s face.”

“……”

Seo Jun’s lips pressed into a straight line in disbelief.

It was because Gu Won Hoo’s advice hit home – if he couldn’t even wear a character suit for his child, if he didn’t even have that much spirit of sacrifice, he didn’t deserve to be a father.

This guy… I really hate him!

I really hate those snarky lips too!

Why are you so knowledgeable about this when you were born 3 months later than me? Huh?

His furrowed brow plainly showed his annoyance. However, the situation under the table was completely different from that expression. Seo Jun’s long, straight fingers were already typing a message.

[Please quickly prepare a Gold Iron Man character suit. Hyun Woo and I will wear it.] [This is the timeline separator]

The news of the dangerous Yangpyeong fire incident reached the ears of Chairman Tae, who was staying at Shaughnessy Heights in Vancouver, less than half a day after it happened.

“What, such a thing happened?”

“Yes, Chairman. If it wasn’t for the youngest young master, Eom So Yeon would have probably been in big trouble.”

“So. Who on earth did such a thing?”

Yeo Jin, who was sitting with Chairman Tae in the garden pergola enjoying the afternoon sun while drinking tea, was also startled by Secretary Kang’s report.

“The victims are pointing to Yoo Jung Hwa as the suspect. Although she’s firmly denying it, at the time of the fire, she was just watching from outside the building without even reporting it despite seeing the rising smoke. Not only that, even before the fire was extinguished, she hired a team of lawyers from a large law firm, which makes Yoo Jung Hwa very suspicious. The youngest young master also has suspicions in that direction and has requested an investigation.”

“Oh my, oh my, how dare she! If she was caught at the scene, why isn’t she being detained for investigation?”

“Because there’s no clear evidence.”

Secretary Kang reported in detail that Oh Min Jung’s side had already filed a complaint, and Yoo Jung Hwa had countered with a lawsuit for assault and false accusation.

Not only was the quick development of complaints and counter-complaints concerning, but Chairman Tae, who had keenly sensed that there was something unusual going on, quietly asked Cha Yeo Jin.

“Do you know anything about why Yoo Jung Hwa is acting like this?”

“Why, she came to see me before. She seemed to think Seo Jun was her man, and even asked me for help.”

“What did you say?”

“What could I say? I just dismissed her. She said Eom So Yeon was an unwed mother because she was promiscuous, and that Seo Jun was going down the wrong path by being close to such a woman, so we needed to separate them quickly. Also, she said Tae Seo Jun couldn’t do without her, and the meaning behind those words was so impure and brazen. She was crying with a sad expression, but I could tell from her determined eyes. She seemed like someone who coveted what belonged to others too much, so I didn’t engage with her.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

After discussing a bit more with Cha Yeo Jin, Chairman Tae made an exceptional decision. And he immediately instructed Secretary Kang.

“This matter shouldn’t fizzle out due to lack of evidence. So immediately convey my intentions clearly to that law firm’s representative. If they continue to shield that vixen… I’ll personally step in and crush that entire law firm!”

Rustle!

Tae Seok Ho crumpled the newspaper he was holding angrily.

It meant he would definitely do so.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Stop the excuses and put Director Noh on!”

−I’m sorry. The director is currently in a meeting and cannot take the call…

“Forget it!”

As Director Noh’s secretary kept repeating the same words, Jung Hwa, who had properly lost her temper, abruptly hung up the phone.

Just yesterday, Director Noh had gladly accepted Yoo Jung Hwa’s request for defense and worked hard to form a team of lawyers, but today, just one day later, he suddenly withdrew that intention.

Without any explanation, by email no less.

Because of that, Jung Hwa had been running around in vain all morning. She had poked around various law firms known in the legal world, but they all avoided her, making excuses about being busy before she could even make a request, as if they had made an agreement.

What could be the reason everyone was rejecting me, the top actress?

As she thought about the reason, Jung Hwa could easily guess. That someone’s great power had been at work.

However, no matter how much she racked her brain, there was something Jung Hwa couldn’t understand. That it was Chairman Tae Seok Ho who had cut her loose, and that everyone trembled at even his slightest breath. That she had wrongly provoked the mood of such a powerful person.

Returning home in the evening, Jung Hwa took a shower first.

It was because the traces of sweating while being rejected all day were irritating and uncomfortable, but tonight she absolutely had to meet someone powerful who could make up for the day’s wasted efforts. Someone who could help her, whoever it might be.

After washing up clean and sitting in front of her vanity, Jung Hwa stared blankly at her face reflected in the mirror. Around her burst lip where she had been hit by Oh Min Jung last evening, a dark blue bruise was clearly visible.

“Haa, how dare she lay a hand on my face?”

Jung Hwa, who blurted out her frustration, took concealer in hand and carefully painted over the bruised area.

That Oh Min Jung, who just reeks of nouveau riche. Such a little girl can be easily crushed with a team of competent lawyers. But Jung Hwa, who had encountered difficulties from the lawyer issue first, applied makeup like putting on armor.

She kept sighing while busily moving her hands because her own mistake hurt more than her injured face. No matter how angry she was and how much she wanted to tear Eom So Yeon to pieces, she should have endured. She should have acted at a more certain time with a calmly laid out plan.

In that sense, yesterday’s incident was clearly an impulsive mistake. But couldn’t it have succeeded? If only Tae Seo Jun hadn’t shown up there. No, if he had just appeared a little later, she could have achieved her intended goal.

So Jung Hwa, who couldn’t help but feel unsettled in various ways, resolved even more fiercely and decided not to look back on what had already passed.

After all, regret and reflection are not mine.

But what about Tae Seo Jun? It was clear that he, who had risked his life jumping into a dangerous fire pit just to save So Yeon, would not end with just requesting an investigation. With his personality, he might even despise me. But I’d rather he did even that.

If he would look at me even out of hatred, if he would give me attention even like that, then depending on my efforts, we might be able to return to our previous relationship.

But the problem is right now, isn’t it? What should I do now? How should I break through this difficulty?

Before she knew it, Jung Hwa was fiddling with the contacts in her phone.

It was no time to be idle. Jung Hwa, who had scanned through the names of big shots she had maintained relationships with even when it upset her sometimes for times like this, first touched the name of Chairman Hong of Hwaseong Group on her phone screen.

He was someone who had even been willing to truly divorce his legal wife to remarry her when she lightly suggested it, so she had no doubt he would grant her request without much trouble.

Ringing…

As the dial tone lengthened, Jung Hwa’s eyes shook anxiously, but she soon calmed down when a polite voice was heard.

−What brings Yoo Jung Hwa to call? It’s been a while.

“You can talk now, right?”

−Didn’t I answer like this? It’s fine, so tell me.

“Chairman, I’ve gotten into a bit of a complicated situation…”

The lie that she had gotten into trouble due to the machinations of a fellow actress who was jealous of her was the beginning.

Although there was no evidence she did it, there was also no evidence she didn’t do it, and Jung Hwa recounted in detail what happened at the fire scene with a coquettish voice. She earnestly poured out her circumstances needing help with a plausibly packaged story.

“So, I was wondering if you could assign your dedicated lawyer to me. You’ve told me before that I could ask for help anytime if I needed it, right?”

−Hmm, did I say that?

“It’s not a difficult thing, is it? You can help, right?”

−Well, you see…

“……”

As Chairman Hong’s words trailed off, Jung Hwa’s eyes shook anxiously again.

−Actually, it’s not so much difficult as the lawyers have been quietly talking a lot behind the scenes. I’m in a position where I need to avoid gossip. So that’s a bit hard…

“Chairman Hong! Are you really doing this?”

−You know too, don’t you? How the whole group is in an uproar these days because my daughter caused a big commotion with her gapjil at the department store. I’m sorry, but I don’t think this will work out.

“If you’re going to be like this, I won’t stay quiet either. You know that, don’t you?”

Haven’t we maintained a secret relationship for quite a long time, though it’s been infrequent lately? Just for that, he can’t do this to me. She was about to use that as leverage to pressure him.

−Even the foxy Yoo Jung Hwa has an unexpectedly naive side. Listen, when a man is bewitched, what words can’t he say?

“W-w-what did you say?”

Momentarily flustered by the cold and heartless voice she had never heard from Chairman Hong before piercing her ears, Jung Hwa bit her tongue.

−Go ahead and try if you want. For me, it’ll just end with a bit of embarrassment, but Yoo Jung Hwa will lose everything, let alone being an actress.

“…!”

In other words, saying he would help anytime was just empty words. It meant he had intended to push her away from the beginning when she came with such a troublesome request.

Jung Hwa, who was just dumbfounded, couldn’t even let out a bitter laugh.

−I’m sorry. I have to hang up now.

“H-how can you do this to me, Chairman…”

Before she could express her indignation at being rejected, the call was cut off.

Jung Hwa, who had been in a daze for a while from the shock of being played, soon called someone else. But maybe because it was late, they either quickly hung up saying they would call back later or didn’t answer at all.

Then among all those connections, the person left now was…

Executive Director Han Seung Jae of was a person with not only wealth but also broad connections in the legal field, even if his character was a bit bad. Jung Hwa, who could no longer be picky about people, had no choice but to touch his phone number.

−What brings the high-and-mighty Yoo Jung Hwa to call?

Jung Hwa, who had to bite her lower lip at his voice already soaked in alcohol, sighed as if letting everything go and brought up her business.

“Director, I need your help.”

−What is it?

“I’ve gotten into a bit of…”

Jung Hwa repeated the same story she had told Chairman Hong like a parrot.

−You must feel wronged. But why should I help Yoo Jung Hwa?

“Are you refusing?”

This man had cut off contact for over a year. So it was natural for him to be uncooperative.

“Forget it, I shouldn’t have called!”

Thinking it would be a waste of time to talk further, Jung Hwa gave up and pulled the phone away from her ear.

That’s when it happened.

−Kuk, you’re so impatient. Who said I wouldn’t help?

Han Seung Jae’s sticky voice, starting with a laugh, stopped Jung Hwa’s movement.

“What do you mean…?”

−Important talks are best done in person. Can you come to me now?

“!”

The man Tae Seo Jun had seen in Jung Hwa’s bedroom 4 years ago was Executive Director Han Seung Jae. He was also a man accustomed to alcohol and all sorts of debauchery.

So meeting wouldn’t end with just drinking. Knowing this full well, Jung Hwa decided to swallow bitter water once more. The daughter-in-law of Chairman Tae, owner of Hotel Estella. If she just married the chaebol heir Tae Seo Jun, she could be compensated for today’s events as much as she wanted.

Jung Hwa, as if dipping her foot into a swampy mire, tightly closed her dazed eyes and answered.

“Where should I… go?”