Ha Yeon sat down and glanced behind Jae Hyuk. Behind him stood his secretaries, including Director Han.

“I wish it could be just the two of us.”

“Director Han, please step out for a moment.”

“Yes, sir.”

Now alone, Jae Hyuk stared intently at Ha Yeon.

For reasons unknown, Jae Hyuk felt uncomfortable around Ha Yeon. So even if their work inevitably intertwined, he didn’t want to get involved with her personal life.

“You said you had something to tell me.”

“…I’ll get straight to the point. This weekend’s dinner appointment. Please attend and do as I request.”

“I already declined the dinner invitation. Didn’t you hear?”

Jae Hyuk observed Ha Yeon closely.

‘First, I need to know why Executive Director Min, who has been compliant until now, has changed her attitude.’

Ha Yeon’s sudden change in attitude was suspicious. Jae Hyuk didn’t open his mouth as he observed her.

It was because he thought Ha Yeon might have some other intention. He scrutinized her expression even more closely to grasp her true feelings.

“No, the engagement will go ahead. The marriage will also proceed without the consent of the parties involved.”

Jae Hyuk raised an eyebrow at Ha Yeon’s words. His voice was cold, as if he was displeased.

“What are you planning to do when the people involved won’t even show up?”

“It might be an even better opportunity since the parties won’t be there.”

“Get to the point.”

Jae Hyuk crossed his arms and stared at Ha Yeon.

“At this weekend’s dinner, Father and Lady Jung will set the engagement date.”

“What? Who decides such things arbitrarily without asking for the opinions of those involved? I’m pretty sure I clearly said I wouldn’t do it.”

“Yu Jin wants it. She plans to make the marriage happen this time no matter what.”

It made no sense. Jae Hyuk’s brow furrowed mercilessly.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“…”

“It’s strange. Min Yu Jin and Min Ha Yeon are sisters. Even a passing dog would know this marriage is absolutely necessary for Executive Director Min.”

Jae Hyuk sarcastically remarked to Ha Yeon. She closed her mouth at his sharp criticism.

After a brief silence, she spoke sincerely.

“…I want to lessen my guilt.”

“What?”

Jae Hyuk’s gaze fixed on Ha Yeon’s face.

“I have someone I love. It’s a one-sided crush, so don’t misunderstand. I want to find that person again. I think now is the only chance I have to hold onto the person I let go due to my mistake. I don’t want to regret it again.”

Looking at Ha Yeon, Jae Hyuk was suddenly reminded of his past self. He had a natural poker face.

No emotion was etched on his expression.

“I’m curious how that relates to Executive Director Min’s reason for opposing my marriage.”

Facing Jae Hyuk’s expressionless gaze, Ha Yeon spoke calmly.

“I’ll be frank. To be honest, for me to find my love, you and my sister can’t get married. If Yu Jin marries you, that person will never accept me.

The person I love… is someone you know as well.”

Jae Hyuk felt that if he just asked, Ha Yeon would reveal who the other person was.

But he had no intention of finding out who that man was. Anyway, it wasn’t his business, so whoever she loved was just an irrelevant stranger to him.

“Are you saying you’ll oppose your sister’s marriage to find your love?”

“…In conclusion, yes.”

“Still, I don’t understand. Isn’t it better for Executive Director Min if I get married? If you love him that much, wouldn’t it be better to solidify your position as the next chairman?”

Jae Hyuk deliberately tested Ha Yeon. She spoke in a resolute voice at his words.

“Of course the company is important to me. But that person is more important to me than the company.”

“Chairman Min would be appalled to hear that.”

At the mention of Chairman Min, Ha Yeon’s face darkened.

“He probably would be. But I can’t help being selfish. I did what my father wanted once, so from now on, I’ll be selfish. If you truly wanted Yu Jin, I wouldn’t say this. But you have no intention of marrying either. That’s why I thought our intentions aligned.”

Director Han had told him that Ha Yeon always attended the dinner appointments their parents arbitrarily set. Her father, Chairman Min, had also conveyed that Ha Yeon was positive about Yu Jin and Jae Hyuk’s marriage.

Everyone had unanimously said the same thing. This marriage would proceed if only Ban Jae Hyuk changed his mind.

“I thought Executive Director Min also agreed with this marriage.”

“Me? No. I have never once agreed to this marriage. Yu Jin is my sister, but…”

Ha Yeon closed her mouth. After hesitating for a moment, she continued.

“I don’t think she suits you. If you two are together, both Yu Jin and you will only hurt each other. That’s why I oppose this marriage. I’ve told my father countless times that I don’t want the marriage, but our parents don’t seem to have any intention of changing their minds. Are you thinking of marrying Yu Jin?”

“You mean Executive Director Min? I’m not refusing to marry because it’s her. Regardless of who it is, I have no intention of marrying.”

Despite the rebuke, Ha Yeon smiled while brushing her chest, not looking the least bit hurt.

“Then that’s a relief.”

Ha Yeon waved her hand and spoke.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m not opposing it because of the rumors about you. It may sound strange, but if our intentions align, I’m willing to help you.”

Ha Yeon waited for Jae Hyuk’s answer. But Jae Hyuk didn’t immediately give the response she wanted.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand her willingness to give up the company for the man she loved.

If it were his past self, he would’ve thought it was nonsense, but after letting A Rin go, Jae Hyuk had completely changed.

He too could do anything for the woman he loved. However, there was a difference from Ha Yeon. He probably wouldn’t have extended a hand to an enemy-like opponent.

Until recently, the VAN Group and LW Group had been each other’s biggest rivals.

No matter how much she claimed to be finding love, Jae Hyuk didn’t think Ha Yeon would help him without any strings attached. So her actions still seemed suspicious.

Jae Hyuk stared at Ha Yeon’s face as if he would scrutinize her innermost thoughts.

Seeing him continue his silence, Ha Yeon finally revealed her trump card.

“You don’t trust me, I know. Do you know this? Even this LW Department Store acquisition is being carried out on the premise of marriage.”

Jae Hyuk’s eyes widened at Ha Yeon’s words.

“Did you know my father promised to hand over the department store if Yu Jin gets married?”

“Ha.”

Jae Hyuk let out an empty laugh as if astounded. He had thought Chairman Min’s sudden change in attitude was strange.

“The reason Chairman Min, who had threatened never to give up the department store even in death, changed his mind is…”

“Yes. To establish a deal called marriage.”

“A collaboration between my mother and your father?”

Instead of answering the question, Ha Yeon nodded.

Jae Hyuk’s anger surged.

‘So this is why she was pretending to be compliant.’

Lady Jung, who had acted in front of him as if regretting her sins and being obedient, was doing this behind his back…

He barely suppressed the curses that were about to spill out and continued.

“If we don’t get married, he won’t hand over the department store.”

“Yes. My father is that kind of person. But…”

Ha Yeon gazed at Jae Hyuk. The two gazes that collided in midair were utterly still.

“I promise you. Even if this marriage falls apart, I will take responsibility and have the LW Department Store acquired for you.”

“…How can I trust that?”

As Jae Hyuk, who had been eyeing the LW Department Store for a long time, there was no reason to refuse Ha Yeon’s proposal.

But she was a person from the LW Group, and the department store acquisition wasn’t something she could handle alone.

“Actually, handing over the department store is important for us too.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know when I’ll leave the company, but the LW Group doesn’t have the capacity to handle the department store as well. I want to clean up the sprawling management my father has done. If we continue like this, our side will struggle too. So I think it’s not such a bad deal for us to hand it over when a party willing to pay the highest price appears.”

“…”

“So please break off this marriage, Vice President. Then I’ll give you what you want most.”

Jae Hyuk fell into thought as he faced Ha Yeon’s firm gaze.

“Please, I beg you.”

Even at Ha Yeon’s earnest plea, Jae Hyuk remained silent for a long time.

[This is the timeline separator]

A short while later.

Jae Hyuk got into the car that had been waiting on the main road in front of the department store.

“Did you finish your discussion?”

“Yeah.”

Even after meeting with Ha Yeon, Jae Hyuk maintained his poker face.

‘What in the world did they discuss?’

Director Han was more concerned about Jae Hyuk’s nonchalant appearance.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Director Han.”

“Yes?”

“Where did you say the dinner location was this weekend?”

“…Pardon?”

Surprised by Jae Hyuk’s question, Director Han raised his voice.

“Didn’t you already decline that?”

Jae Hyuk recalled what Ha Yeon had said.

[I don’t want to regret it twice. I want to hold onto that person I let go. Whether that person accepts me or not, I want to tell them.]

Jae Hyuk had also once approached A Rin with the same feelings as Ha Yeon. He had bulldozed ahead without considering her feelings.

At that time, he thought it was for the best. But in the end, he lost his one and only love forever.

A broken glass bowl cannot be put back together. The same goes for relationships. It’s not easy to mend a relationship that has already shattered.

No matter how much he was consumed with belated regret, all that came back were the words ‘You should have done better then.’

It would be the same for Ha Yeon.

‘Is this vicarious satisfaction? No, what am I saying about Min Ha Yeon.’

For some reason, Jae Hyuk couldn’t refuse Ha Yeon’s proposal.

‘Perhaps, I wanted to see that a relationship that had been broken and pieced back together doesn’t always meet a sad ending.’

Jae Hyuk leaned back in the car seat and spoke.

“Tell them I’ll go.”

“Understood, sir.”

Only after hearing Director Han’s reply did Jae Hyuk raise a hand to cover his eyes. For some reason, the corners of his eyes felt hot.

‘I, who don’t even deserve to bring you back, am living so cowardly like this.’

In the past, he would have had no interest in the happiness of irrelevant strangers…

Jae Hyuk closed his eyes tightly at the foolishness of indirectly wanting to see the future happiness of A Rin and himself through a completely unrelated couple.

[This is the timeline separator]

The last day of the pop-up store quickly approached.

Near the Yeonnam-dong store, A Rin and Yu Hyun had obtained an office-cum-studio and stayed here instead of a hotel whenever they came to Seoul. Of course, they used separate rooms.

Since the day after meeting Jae Hyuk, every time A Rin visited the LW Department Store, she was anxious about encountering him again.

Fortunately or not, days passed without even a glimpse of Jae Hyuk’s shadow. As time went by, A Rin’s heart gradually settled down.

It was one day when her turbulent heart was finding stability.

A Rin, who had come out of her room, met eyes with Yu Hyun, who had been working in the living room since dawn.

“Oppa?”

“It’s only 6 AM, why are you up instead of sleeping more?”

A Rin, who knew Yu Hyun was diligent but didn’t expect him to be up this early, was startled.

Yu Hyun took off his latex gloves and placed them on the table as he stood up.