A large mole under his eyebrow made him particularly memorable.

His eyelids were languidly moving, seemingly heavy with inebriation.

“I was just taking a break, I’ll leave the spot for you.”

“No, wait a moment.”

The man, holding a wine glass, blocked her way as he placed it on the table.

“Dae Myung, uh, I’m Kim Min Sung from Dae Myung Foods. You know, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, how are things with Vice President Tae these days?”

“What?”

Seo Yoon asked, narrowing her eyebrows.

“Have you heard about the Flora Hotel? It seems like there’s talk of an engagement with them. I saw him with that person recently. It might proceed, you know. The other party isn’t a member of our group…”

Although rumors about Kang Hyun and Kim So Ye meeting had been circulating quietly, it was a world unknown to Seo Yoon.

“That’s enough, I don’t want to hear anymore.”

Seo Yoon, feeling a chill, hastily moved past the man blocking the entrance, fiddling with her coat with cold hands.

“Seo Yoon, wait. I’m not short on money either. I can maintain a lifestyle similar to what you have now.”

“…What are you talking about?”
“Haha, why are we like this among people who know? You’ll have to switch paths anyway. No matter what, being with a married man is a bit… isn’t it? I’ve been interested in you, Seo Yoon, since the first meeting. Try going out with me.”

The man licked his gleaming lips, eyeing Seo Yoon thoroughly.

Realizing what the man was implying, Seo Yoon’s face reddened as if it would burst any moment.

It was a different kind of insult than the scorn she received from the Seo family.

Overwhelmed with shame, she found it hard to breathe.

The words she wanted to say, that her relationship with Kang Hyun wasn’t what he thought, stuck in her throat.

She might have been able to say it confidently before, but now, she hesitated, wondering if she could really say they weren’t in such a relationship.

Whether it was her body or her heart, she provided what he needed and received material abundance in return.

Apart from craving Kang Hyun’s affection, it was a plausible assumption.

“Don’t reject it outright and think about it. Speaking of which, Vice President Tae lacks empathy…”

“Empathy, and what else?”

Kang Hyun’s voice, heavy like cracking thin ice, continued.

“Oh, uh, Vice President Tae.”

Crushed under his fierce gaze, Seo Yoon bit her lip and hurried out of the terrace.

“We’ll talk later.”

Confused, Kang Hyun glanced back and forth between the man and Seo Yoon, then leaned close to the man’s ear to mutter something, and grabbed Seo Yoon’s wrist.

“Brother.”

With a cold face, Kang Hyun led the way, and Seo Yoon wanted to ask about what she had just heard.

Was he really going to marry another woman?

What about her then?

But the words didn’t come easily.

If Kang Hyun admitted it, it would be more dreadful for her.

“You don’t need to attend these gatherings anymore.”

“What?”

“I’ve taken you along for too long.”

Kang Hyun, irritably rubbing his eyes, continued walking around the corner.

Without him, the sight of her talking with another man was enough to twist his sensitive mood.

“Brother.”

Seo Yoon’s eyes reddened as she called Kang Hyun again.

Several words the man said couldn’t leave her mind, causing her chest to heat up and her throat to tighten.

“What am I to you, brother?”

“What do you want to be? Whatever you want.”

“Do you like me? Love me?”

Kang Hyun paused, tilting his head slightly.

“I need you.”

Seo Yoon’s head dropped.

It was a painful realization, but not unexpected.

Thus, she resolved never to ask Kang Hyun the same question again.

Otherwise, she feared, she might end up with nothing left in her heart.

Upon reaching the room they sometimes stayed in after gatherings, Kang Hyun familiarly used the card key.

As soon as they entered, the solid door closed with a harsh noise.

Inside and outside were separated by just a door.

Cut off from the world, trapped with Kang Hyun.

“Jian, Seo Jian.”

“Huh…”

“Jian.”

Jian, recognizing Kang Hyun’s tender voice in her ear, lifted her eyelids.

“Ha, ah…”
Shivering, Jian abruptly sat up and took a deep breath.

After purchasing wine and snacks, they returned to the townhouse and started a movie.

The last thing Jian remembered was sitting snugly on the soft sofa, clinking glasses in a pleasant thrill.

The day had been long, and the wine had made her eyelids droop until she eventually fell asleep.

“We should go to the hospital; you’ve caught too much cold air,” suggested Kang Hyun, his hand trembling as much as Jian’s.

After tidying up Jian’s disheveled hair, Kang Hyun alternated between checking her forehead and neck, worried she might have a fever.

“No, no. I think I just had a nightmare,” Jian reassured.

“What kind of dream was it?”

Kang Hyun, who had dozed off while watching Jian sleep on his thigh, was startled awake by her moaning. He regretted not having properly tucked her into bed. Her face, soaked in cold sweat, seemed entirely his fault, causing him distress.

“Huh?” Jian rolled her large eyes, placing a hand on her aching chest. “I can’t really remember…”

She couldn’t recall the vivid scenes from her dream, but the pain experienced within lingered, making her throat burn.

Her eyes, moist enough to burst into tears at any moment, shook uncontrollably.

“Should I hold you?”

After confirming she had no fever, Kang Hyun let out a huge sigh of relief and opened his arms wide. Jian, as if waiting for it, nestled into his embrace. The icy chill that seemed to freeze her whole body was unbearable alone.