Ra Jin remained silent until the meal was over.

‘I’m glad.’

A Rin was grateful for his silence, but she was still afraid of being left alone with him after the meal was over.

‘I need to leave before he speaks to me. Let’s just finish the photo shoot and go.’

That’s when it happened.

The voice of the wedding MC echoed through the hall.

“With that, we will conclude the wedding ceremony. The order of the photo shoot will be the bride and groom’s family and relatives, followed by the bride and groom’s colleagues and friends, so please wait a moment. Ah, I’ve been told that the photo shoot will start with the bride and groom’s friends first. Colleagues and friends, please come forward.”

The photo shoot order, which should have prioritized family and relatives, had been changed.

‘Unnie……’

A Rin raised her head to look at Yu Jung.

Yu Jung was smiling at her.

“Thank you. Unnie.”

Did her words reach her?

Yu Jung nodded as if she understood.

Tears welled up in A Rin’s eyes at Yu Jung’s thoughtfulness.

‘It’s because I told her I would have to leave right after the ceremony since oppa was coming, even though I didn’t explain why.’

Since Yu Jung’s husband was acquainted with Ra Jin, she must have already known about his attendance. A Rin felt both grateful and sorry at the same time.

‘Unnie is taking care of me even when she’s so busy.’

Following the MC’s instructions, A Rin and Ra Jin stepped forward. The gazes of the people were palpable.

A Rin stood next to the bride, Yu Jung, while Ra Jin stood on the groom’s side.

“Yes, the photo shoot of the friends has ended. Next, we would like to invite the family members of the bride and groom. For those who have finished the photo shoot, please move to the banquet hall upstairs.”

A Rin felt the gazes, whether they were Ra Jin’s or someone else’s, she couldn’t tell.

‘There’s no need to greet him. I can just leave like this.’

A Rin deliberately avoided looking at Ra Jin.

Her pounding heartbeat was so fast and rough that it was audible even to her own ears.

A Rin quickly left the hall.

“A Rin.”

But the moment she went through the door, someone blocked her way.

“Ji Yun?”

“Huff. A Rin.”

Ji Yun was panting heavily as if she had run.

“Did you just arrive?”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry. Huff. Just a moment.”

Ji Yun caught her breath and said, wiping her sweat.

“I’m sorry. I’m so late.”

“It’s okay. Are you done with everything?”

“No. I have to go back. I think I’ll be home late today.”

“Ah. But why did you come.”

“I thought you would be waiting, so…”

Ji Yun stopped talking and shifted her gaze behind A Rin. Her face clearly showed a displeased look.

A Rin’s head turned at the same time.

“……”

She thought she had come out first, but Ra Jin was standing behind her.

Ji Yun threw a glance at A Rin as if telling her to explain.

“We’ll talk later.”

A Rin, feeling awkward, whispered carefully in Ji Yun’s ear.

“…Okay.”

A Rin was worried that Ji Yun, given her personality, would scold her for being together with him, but fortunately, she didn’t ask anything.

A Rin left the hotel with Ji Yun.

“Look, there’s a taxi. Take it first.”

“No, you said you have to go right away. You take it and go. I’ll take the car right behind you when you get in.”

Fortunately, several taxis were waiting at the main entrance.

“Are you going to take it right away?”

“Yes, I’m going to take it right away.”

At A Rin’s words, Ji Yun approached the taxi at the very front and opened the door. But as she was about to get in, she turned around.

“I’m sorry. A Rin.”

“For what?”

“I wanted to stay with you if possible, but I have too much to deal with.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about me and go. I’m not a little kid.”

“Still. Ah, what is this? I had all these plans to take you somewhere nice while you were here.”

Ji Yun, with a regretful expression, couldn’t close the taxi door.

“No, it’s because of work. It’s okay, hurry and go. You said it’s urgent.”

“Yes. I’m really sorry.”

“Hurry up and go.”

“Keep in touch. For sure.”

“Yes.”

“No, I’ll drop you off on my way.”

Ji Yun didn’t give up until she closed the taxi door. A Rin held the taxi door and said before closing it.

“No, and there’s another taxi right behind. Besides, I’m going to go home. It’s the opposite direction from where you’re going.”

“Still…”

“Didn’t I tell you not to worry? Hurry up and go. You’re getting a call right now. There won’t be anything for you to worry about. So go with peace of mind.”

Before closing the taxi door, Ji Yun focused her gaze not on A Rin, but on Ra Jin who was standing next to her.

“Call me as soon as you arrive at the hotel.”

Then she deliberately emphasized each word.

“Take a taxi. Got it? Don’t ‘ever’ take someone else’s car.”

Ji Yun, emphasizing each word, didn’t hide that she was wary of Ra Jin.

‘He’s the company’s CEO, so don’t be too harsh. Ji Yun.’

A Rin was worried that her friend might receive unfair treatment at the company because of her.

“I got it. Hurry up and go.”

A Rin pushed Ji Yun’s back into the taxi and closed the door. She waved at the departing taxi.

Even though she couldn’t see, she thought Ji Yun would be waving at her too.

The shadow of the taxi Ji Yun took was no longer visible.

A Rin felt at a loss.

Even though she had hurried because she felt uncomfortable being alone with Ra Jin, it ended up like this.

‘Sigh.’

A Rin glanced at Ra Jin’s expression, pretending not to look. Fortunately, there was no change in his expression at Ji Yun’s sharp behavior.

‘Still, I should tell her to be careful. I’d hate for Ji Yun to suffer because of me.’

A Rin pondered how to speak and escape this situation.

Seo Ji Yun was always like that.

A Rin was worried, but since it was a common occurrence, Ra Jin didn’t give it much thought.

Small dog?

With her small build, Ji Yun was closer to a small dog, but her determination to protect her owner was no less than that of a large dog.

No one openly showed hostility towards Ban Ra Jin of the VAN Group. Unless they didn’t value their life, no one would have the courage to defy him, the one and only in the world.

‘Come to think of it, Manager Seo has been hostile to me from the beginning.’

If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have let it slide, but Ji Yun was A Rin’s friend. Ra Jin also knew how terribly Ji Yun thought of A Rin. So, Ra Jin tolerated Ji Yun’s provocations.

Honestly, it wasn’t even a threat, it was ridiculous. Her appearance was like a Maltese growling in front of a hunting dog.

Ra Jin faced Ji Yun’s large eyes without flinching. Every time, Ji Yun would glare back as if she wouldn’t back down.

‘Moreover, Manager Seo was helpful today. If the person involved knew, she would be horrified.’

Thanks to Ji Yun blocking A Rin, Ra Jin was able to catch up to her.

That’s why Ji Yun’s behavior didn’t bother Ra Jin at all.

Ra Jin quietly watched A Rin’s back.

He was the only one who felt regretful about A Rin turning away from him without lingering.

Throughout the wedding ceremony, Ra Jin had no interest in the wedding. His attention was entirely on A Rin.

He wished the moment she was by his side would never pass.

‘If I say I want to stay a little longer, will she sense my feelings?’

The faint scent of flowers lingering at the tip of his nose muddled his mind.

The person he so desired was close enough to reach out and touch.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t touch her, a desire surfaced from deep within his heart. He clenched his fists so tightly that his veins bulged, trying to stop his hands from reaching out again and again.

The ceremony he wished would never end had ended.

Before he could even think of holding her after taking the photos, A Rin turned away without even looking at him and walked straight out.

Can I hold her? Can I hold her now?

‘If A Rin goes to Jeju Island, I don’t know when I’ll have another opportunity like this. No, even if the opportunity comes, there’s no guarantee she’ll acknowledge me like this.’

Ra Jin hurried after A Rin. But due to people who kept greeting him in the middle, he couldn’t narrow the distance with A Rin.

‘No.’

When he was trembling with anxiety that she would slip away forever if she went through that door, Ji Yun blocked A Rin.

‘No matter how I think about it, Manager Seo was a great help this time.’

A Rin only turned to look at him after watching the taxi carrying Ji Yun turn the corner.

“Then, goodbye.”

“I’ll take you.”

“It’s okay. I can take a taxi.”

“If we go separately… people will misunderstand even more.”

“I think everyone who would misunderstand already has.”

“…You may feel okay now after going through such things, but it must have been hard. So let me do this to the end.”

A Rin’s eyes wavered.

“Give me your time.”

A Rin’s gaze fell on Ra Jin’s hand holding hers. It was difficult to ignore the hand that was trembling like a lost puppy.

‘Did oppa have this side to him? He never showed such a weak side in front of me.’

Besides, Ra Jin had been a great help anyway, and what he said wasn’t wrong.

A Rin took a deep breath and said, pulling herself together.

“There’s no one watching us now.”

Moreover, she didn’t have the confidence to be in a confined space with Ra Jin. It wasn’t because of lingering feelings. She didn’t want to get entangled with him anymore.

She didn’t want to create a fierce ripple in her heart that had finally calmed down.

“I won’t do anything else. I just want to take you.”

A Rin shook her head firmly. She looked Ra Jin straight in the eye.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Ra Jin’s eyes widened at her words.

It seemed she needed to be a little more clear.

To him, and to her heart.

A Rin didn’t want to see the unfamiliar emotion that appeared on Ra Jin’s face.

A Rin headed to a nearby park with Ra Jin.

Come to think of it, it seemed they had never spent time leisurely like this even once after their marriage.

A Rin kept her eyes forward, trying not to reveal her fluttering heart.

“Honestly, I can’t understand. Why you’re acting like this now.”

Is the shaky bridge effect still lingering?

Normally, regardless of whether Ra Jin agreed to divorce or not, she wouldn’t have thought deeply about the reason.

No, she wouldn’t have even thought about spending time with him like this.

But today was different. In a moment of crisis, she received help from Ra Jin.

Is that why? The sharpness that had been so piercing, now felt a little bit duller.

“I’m grateful for your help. But…”

It was true that she had been shaken by Ra Jin’s appearance.

That feeling, whether it was lingering attachment or some unknown emotion.

A Rin had no intention of examining that feeling deeply.

Just because Ra Jin helped her today, it didn’t mean she wanted to rekindle their relationship.

She didn’t want to walk into hell again with her own feet.

“I think it’s too selfish of you to cause such confusion.”

His heart belonged to another woman.

Then why did he want to go back to their relationship?

‘I don’t like it. I don’t want to think about anything.’

She was so afraid that the everyday life she had finally regained would crumble again.

Loving someone else more than herself was something that ate away at her.

‘So I want to stop now. Such foolishness.’

A Rin’s fists on her knees turned white.

‘Don’t treat me so well anymore. It won’t change anything. So don’t look at me with that expression.’

“We are already over.”

“…A Rin.”

“This relationship is maintained only because you won’t give me a divorce.”

You wanted a divorce, didn’t you?

You said you had a woman you loved, didn’t you?

She didn’t want to say the words lingering in her mouth. She also didn’t want to ask when he would give her a divorce.

“I was grateful today. If it weren’t for you, Ban Ra Jin, I would have been in big trouble. Thank you. But that doesn’t change anything. I’m sorry.”

She wanted to sort out this ambiguous situation.

“I hope the next time we meet will be in court.”