“I understand the situation without having to hear everything the director has to say.”

“……”

“I understand your desire not to inform Yu Hyun, but I cannot lie.”

“……I’m sorry.”

Choi A Rin was resolute. In response to her attitude, Jung Ha Eun’s voice trembled unusually thin.

“You can’t hide the fact that you’re the building owner. Yu Hyun will find out anyway. Learning about it after everything has happened will only hurt him more.”

A Rin was more certain because she had experienced it herself. She recalled the emotions she had felt from Ban Jae Hyuk.

“Director, no matter the intention of ‘doing it for someone’s sake’, I don’t think deceiving the person and proceeding with things on your own is truly caring for them. And you may think I’m being cold, but I don’t want to lie to Yu Hyun.”

Though she wasn’t unaware of Ha Eun’s feelings, she didn’t want to deceive Yu Hyun.

“Of course, I think I understand how you feel. But if you were going to do that, you should have given us a heads up. No, you should have pretended to know when you spoke to me about the Yeonnam branch.”

Ha Eun nodded slightly to A Rin’s words with a very downcast face.

“When we met a few days ago, everything was already decided then, right?”

“……Yes.”

“Haa.”

Was it foolish, or was it cunning?

A Rin couldn’t understand Ha Eun’s actions.

‘Why do all these rich people try to solve everything with money?’

Ha Eun was exactly like Jae Hyuk. Maybe that’s why she was even more angry.

A Rin clenched her fist tightly and controlled her anger. It was because she thought she shouldn’t be emotional towards Ha Eun, as getting angry at her wouldn’t change anything.

“Even if you didn’t know about what President Shin did, your actions can’t be justified.”

“I know.”

“Still, I’ll give you a chance.”

“……What kind.”

“Since words tend to get distorted as they pass from person to person, if Yu Hyun hears it through me, he might misunderstand your intentions more. So, though it might be difficult, I think it would be better if you spoke to him directly.”

A Rin looked at Ha Eun.

Her heart wavered as Jae Hyuk’s image overlapped with Ha Eun’s several times.

“Talk to Yu Hyun well, then talk to me again. He’ll answer if you call after 3 o’clock. The clean-up is now your responsibility. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. As I said, I have somewhere to go, so I’ll leave first.”

A Rin stood up first.

“I’m sorry.”

Ha Eun repeated the word sorry like a parrot. A Rin could see Ha Eun’s shoulders trembling finely. Although she felt concerned about the gloomy and dejected Ha Eun, she couldn’t deceive Yu Hyun out of mere sympathy.

A Rin left the cafe, leaving behind Ha Eun with her head deeply bowed.

[This is the timeline separator]

After leaving the cafe, A Rin first called lawyer Shim Sang Hoon.

[Yes, Ms. A Rin.]

“Yes, lawyer. The situation has changed a bit.”

[The situation, you say.]

“Yes. It seems like we might not need to leave, but it’s not certain yet. I can’t tell you for sure right now, but can I contact you again once things are sorted out?”

[Yes. Please do so.]

After ending the call, A Rin trudged towards Hongdae subway station and called someone else.

[A Rin.]

Seo Ji Yun answered the phone cheerfully.

“Ji Yun, I don’t think we need to go out.”

[What? What do you mean?]

“You know the person you said you’d introduce me to today. I’m sorry, but can I decline? Is it okay even though it’s the day of?”

A Rin was supposed to be introduced to an acquaintance of Ji Yun’s coworker.

Ji Yun had arranged the meeting thinking it might help, as that man had also gone through the same experience as A Rin.

[It’s okay. I can treat you to a meal next time. But is it really okay that it suddenly became fine? What happened?]

“Sorry, I can’t tell you anything right now. I’ll talk to you when Yu Hyun sorts things out.”

[Yu Hyun?]

“Yeah. I know you won’t understand, but please wait for now.”

[Okay. I understand. Then let’s have lunch, come this way.]

“Huh?”

Ji Yun’s workplace was the PR team at VAN Group headquarters. Of course, she wasn’t someone Jae Hyuk could easily meet.

A Rin was afraid of seeing Jae Hyuk even from afar. Noticing A Rin’s hesitation, Ji Yun got ahead of her.

[It’s okay. He’s on a business trip to Europe right now.]

“Huh?”

[What you’re worried about won’t happen.]

“……”

[If you’re still worried, let’s meet two blocks away from the company.]

A Rin could only say, “Okay. I understand.” to Ji Yun’s continued persuasion.

[This is the timeline separator]

A Rin arrived first at the restaurant Ji Yun mentioned.

She sat at a table in front of a large window overlooking a four-lane road and gazed at the VAN Group headquarters building, clearly visible even from two blocks away.

Among the tall buildings lined up in the heart of Gangnam, the VAN Group headquarters was the tallest and widest, standing out.

A Rin’s eyes wavered as she looked at the VAN Group building.

The current VAN Group headquarters was a new building constructed a few years ago.

The first official event A Rin attended as a couple after marrying Jae Hyuk was the completion ceremony of the VAN Group’s new headquarters.

The memory of that time unfolded in A Rin’s mind.

[This is the timeline separator]

On the day of the completion ceremony.

A Rin was busy preparing herself before attending her first official event.

[You don’t have any class. Even wearing luxury brands, you have no class. If you’re like this, our VAN Group will be criticized. So behave properly.]

Madam Jung disliked A Rin, but she knew well that if she sent her out looking shabby, she herself would be criticized.

She dressed A Rin from head to toe in luxury brands while grumbling.

[Just trust Director Park. He’ll make you look presentable.]

Pushed by Madam Jung, A Rin went to a makeup shop for the first time to get her makeup done.

[Oh my, he seems to have arrived.]

It seemed Jae Hyuk had entered the makeup shop, causing a commotion on the first floor.

The staff attending to A Rin became busy. Director Park, who did her makeup, put earrings on her ears and said,

[You’re the prettiest here today, madam. So hold your head high, okay?]

Shortly after, Jae Hyuk entered the VIP room.

[Then I’ll come back when you’re ready.]

As Jae Hyuk entered, Director Park deliberately left to give them space.

A Rin felt awkward being left alone with Jae Hyuk in the small space. Jae Hyuk’s scent lingered at the tip of her nose, and her heart was pounding crazily with nervousness. She was overwhelmed.

‘What if he says I look strange? I think he’ll think it’s weird.’

Jae Hyuk stared intently at A Rin. Feeling burdened by Jae Hyuk’s gaze fixed on her face, A Rin bowed her head deeply.

And how much time had passed? Jae Hyuk’s voice was heard from above her head.

At that time, she didn’t properly hear what he said and let it slip by.

[This is the timeline separator]

A Rin’s face frowned as she traced her memories.

“What did he say then? It must have been something bad, that’s why I can’t remember it?”

No matter how much A Rin thought about it, she couldn’t remember what Jae Hyuk had said at the end.

“It’s obvious. I can’t remember because it was hurtful. What’s the use of remembering bad things?”

Just as A Rin was trying to shake off the memories of Jae Hyuk, Ji Yun entered the store.

“A Rin. You’re already here?”

“Ji Yun……”

At that moment, as A Rin was about to call Ji Yun.

She suddenly recalled the memory from that time.

[……You’re pretty.]

Jae Hyuk’s voice saying ‘You’re pretty’ echoed clearly in A Rin’s mind.

‘No way.’

A Rin covered her mouth with her hand.

‘Was it really like that then?’

She had hoped for his attention and love by his side. Even if it wasn’t as much as she thought, wouldn’t Jae Hyuk think about her a little too?

She hoped and hoped again. But soon she was disappointed by Jae Hyuk’s indifference and hurt by his coldness.

Yet it was a time when she endlessly comforted herself and rationalized his actions, enduring and enduring.

‘But did he ever express his feelings to me? Was it that I didn’t hear it?’

A Rin’s heart wavered. With her emotions welling up, she bit the soft flesh inside her mouth hard.

She wanted to hear Jae Hyuk say ‘You’re pretty’ even once, even if it was just a formal comment.

However, Jae Hyuk never said she was pretty, let alone spoke to her kindly.

A Rin thought Jae Hyuk was truly indifferent.

“Ha. So that’s how it was……”

Ji Yun, who had sat down across from A Rin at some point, asked in a worried voice.

“A Rin, what’s wrong? Are you sick somewhere?”

Despite knowing Ji Yun’s concern, A Rin couldn’t say anything.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day.

Chief Han entered Jae Hyuk’s office with a very downcast face.

“Chairman Min’s side has said to forget about the LW Department Store acquisition.”

Chief Han, standing in front of the large office desk, said. Jae Hyuk’s expression didn’t change at all at Chief Han’s report. He tapped the desk with his long fingers.

“That’s the reaction I expected.”

Chief Han couldn’t help but feel upset at Jae Hyuk’s nonchalant response.

“You didn’t need to go that far. Couldn’t you have done it after the department store acquisition was completed?”

“Nothing would have changed. If I had refused the marriage after the acquisition, they would have said I deceived them and called it marriage fraud.”

“That may be true, but!”

“Either way, Chairman Min would have been furious, so there would have been some damage.”

Chief Han couldn’t deny Jae Hyuk’s words. Of course, the situation might have gotten worse if they had said he backstabbed them after getting everything he wanted.

But somehow, Jae Hyuk was different from usual.

“This isn’t like you, Vice Chairman.”

At Chief Han’s words, Jae Hyuk looked up at him. Chief Han knew better than anyone that Jae Hyuk couldn’t forget A Rin. Of course, at first, he understood Jae Hyuk.

It’s because past love that you couldn’t give becomes more regrettable.

But a considerable amount of time had passed since A Rin left. A year, enough time for love to change even between people who loved each other madly.

Chief Han found it difficult to understand why Jae Hyuk still couldn’t forget A Rin.

“What’s like me?”

Jae Hyuk asked in a casual voice.

“Someone who made the most rational judgments is acting emotionally when it comes to that person, so I’m worried.”

Chief Han didn’t miss Jae Hyuk’s eyes turning cold.

‘Still, I have to say what needs to be said. This time for sure!’

Chief Han respected Jae Hyuk. As a senior, as a man, as a businessman.

But now Jae Hyuk didn’t seem like the man Chief Han had been watching and following.

“You know it’s already over, don’t you, Vice Chairman? Nothing will change even if you do this. Do you think the madam will appreciate how much you’re struggling and sacrificing like this?”

“Chief Han.”

Jae Hyuk spoke in a firm voice, as if telling him to stop.

“Did Director Min ask you to do this? Why is he asking you to break off the marriage because he can’t do it himself? Shouldn’t he be the one to take responsibility for that? To be honest, isn’t it because he doesn’t want to take any losses himself that he’s asking you?”

Chief Han, who had never openly exploded with emotion in front of Jae Hyuk before, couldn’t hold back this time. He was angry. Chief Han had known from before how much Jae Hyuk wanted LW Department Store.

VAN Department Store was always second. It had never once surpassed TES Department Store in sales. If VAN Department Store were to acquire LW Department Store, which was in third place, it would be easy to surpass TES Department Store.

It was a golden opportunity.