Arin looked at Jaehyuk’s face and felt a bit confused. It was because a sudden thought crossed her mind.

“Is he genuinely making this proposal to me for the sake of one group?”

Even if he had feelings for her, this proposal was not solely beneficial for him, as he claimed.

“Moreover, it seems there is a way to take over the group.”

Chairman Ban despised his only son Jaehyuk. So, for any reason Jaehyuk wanted, there was a chance Chairman Ban might yield to his son.

It felt strange.

Although he often made an expression that sank into her words, there was no sign of displeasure.

Will you really accept my proposal?

There seemed to be such a thought. So, she drew a clearer and colder line.

He said he understood whatever she said.

“And if you want to use me, feel free to use me.”

“…….”

“I’m willing to be used as much as you want.”

It felt like a blow to the back of her head. The determination she had firmly grasped wavered.

Her heart was restless, and warning signals flashed in her mind.

“I can’t do this!”

Arin stood up abruptly, not looking at Jaehyuk.

“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll leave first.”

At her words, he urgently grabbed her with his hand.

“Finish your drink.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“I’ll take you.”

“No need.”

When Arin firmly rejected, he stood up to follow her.

“It’s okay. I’ll go alone. Don’t follow me.”

However, as if Jaehyuk would let her go, she quickly left the cafe without looking at him.

That evening.

After meeting with Jaehyuk, Arin organized and reorganized the words she had to convey to the new family.

“What are you doing? Here.”

Jiyoon tapped Arin’s shoulder after finishing work.

“When did you come?”

“A little while ago. Ugh.”

Yijoon yawned and walked to the refrigerator.

Arin sighed softly as she watched Yijoon’s back.

She had accepted his proposal. It meant leaving this house and living with him.

She wondered how to tell Jiyoon, Mrs. Seo, and Yuhyun about it.

“I have something to say.”

Arin hesitated and finally spoke.

“Something to say?”

Yijoon took out a cold orange juice from the refrigerator and mumbled.

“What is it?”

“To explain, it’s a bit long, so I want to talk with Oppa and Mother present.”

Yijoon scrutinized Arin’s expression. She was concerned about her friend’s somehow sunken expression.

“Is it serious?”

Arin nodded faintly.

“Alright, I’ll go wash up and come out. Wait a bit.”

“Okay.”

Yijoon gulped down the orange juice at once and headed to the kitchen. Arin, even after Yijoon left, stayed guardedly in the kitchen for a while.

A while later.

“What’s going on? Why is the atmosphere like this?”

Yijoon, wiping her wet hair, sat on the sofa. Already, Mrs. Seo and Yuhyun’s mother had taken their seats next to Arin.
“Today, I gathered you all because I have something to say.”

“Arin, what’s going on?”

Mrs. Seo asked with a worried expression on Arin’s face full of concern. Yuhyun’s expression, sitting across from her, was also not favorable.

“Yes.”

After a brief response, Arin nodded her head. Despite practicing countless times, when facing them, her lips did not part willingly.

Arin’s clumsy fingers fidgeted. The more she remained silent, the darker the expressions of the three people became.

“Arin, what’s happening?”

Yijoon, unable to endure the silence, broke it.

“Yijoon, Mother, and Oppa.”

Unable to delay any longer, Arin raised her head and met the eyes of the three people.

“I’m planning to move out for a while.”

Arin’s words caused a significant stir. As if plunged into great shock, the three people asked in confused voices simultaneously.

“What? Why all of a sudden?”

“What’s going on?”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

Although their reactions were different, their hearts were the same.

While Arin hadn’t planned on living together forever, the three of them couldn’t have imagined that she would suddenly leave the house like this.

“Why all of a sudden?”

Yijoon said.

“I’m so familiar with the concern you have for me that I’m worried about what to say. Even if Oppa spills everything he said, he’ll probably oppose it, saying, ‘What does that have to do with you?'”

She couldn’t even talk about the contractual relationship proposal, nor why she accepted it.

She didn’t want to worry them by revealing unnecessary truths. However, it was also awkward to disclose his situation to them in detail.

Although they were the most trustworthy people in the world, it was ironic that now she couldn’t be honest due to the circumstances.

“If I say it’s because of revenge against Mother or because of family, they will worry about the day I get hurt.”

After much consideration, she found a way to summarize the situation without causing them worry or getting scolded.

That was,

“I couldn’t forget Oppa.”

She just needed to attribute all the reasons to herself.

Their concern should only go as far as her lingering feelings.

She could now end it without further explanations about Jaehyuk or the situation. Although she might be seen as an immature woman…….