Returning home late in Seunghyun’s car, Eunseo sent a message to Seungjoo.

Where are you? I’m home now.

It was evident where she was. Seungjoo had seen her waiting at the bus stop while riding in Seunghyun’s car. Since she was home, the message implied she should stop waiting and quickly come home.

I just stepped out for a moment. I’ll be there soon!

Within less than ten minutes of the short reply, Seungjoo had returned home.

“Sister, when did you arrive?”

“Just now. I took a taxi. What about you?”

“I went out briefly to get some fresh air while studying.”

Seungjoo didn’t mention that she had been waiting for Eunseo at the bus stop. It was evident from the frozen back of her hands and ears how long she had been waiting.

She must have been glancing around with each person getting off the bus, wondering if it was her.

Meanwhile, I was sitting in an expensive restaurant with your younger brother!

Unseen, Eunseo clenched her fist tightly.

“Sister, you’ve been working overtime a lot lately. Have you eaten?”

Unable to withstand the gaze that seemed to look at her with pity, Eunseo headed straight to her room without even washing.

“I’m tired. I’ll sleep.”

As she closed the door, a gentle voice came from behind.

“Goodnight, sister.”

A sigh escaped as soon as the door closed.

“Phew…”

The thought of pretending to be in a relationship with Kwon Seung-hyun made her nauseous, but there was no other way.

[If Father finds out, he’ll either make Seungjoo a restricted heir or disinherit him. Would that be okay?]

Seunghyun was right. The moment this conversation reached Chairman Kwon’s ears, Kwon Seungjoo would be doomed.

Earlier, Eunseo had clearly heard Chairman Kwon’s voice coming from Seunghyun’s phone.

[Focus on your work at the company. If Seungjoo continues like this, wouldn’t you have to take over the company?]

Even without revealing the plan to take over the company, wanting to give it to his younger son, if he found out about the memory loss…

Seunghyun had mentioned it earlier.

[Do you know Seungjoo’s life goal? Even if he dies, he wants to inherit the position of the successor and eventually pass on the group. Dae Won Group was originally his deceased mother’s property. He doesn’t want it taken away by me, his illegitimate child.]

Eunseo was not ignorant of that.

Even after losing her memory, Seungjoo had clearly stated it when she found out she had a stepbrother.

[I’m not interested in things like being a successor, but I don’t want it taken away by that woman’s son.]

So, what was the original ‘Kwon Seung-joo’ like?

Living with an eighteen-year-old Seungjoo, Eunseo had vaguely understood why a thirty-three-year-old Kwon Seung-joo had become such a person. The father who disliked him, the stepmother who came in through an affair, and the resulting stepsister. Struggling to protect her place in that harsh environment, she gradually changed.

Thinking about how she had sold him as an individual born with a silver spoon without knowing, she wanted to die.
Eunseo wanted to somehow protect Seungjoo’s dream. She felt she could do anything for that cause, even if it meant dating a disgusting person like Kwon Seunghyun.

Of course, the decision didn’t make her any less sad.

“Ugh…!”

After turning the blanket over, Eunseo burst into tears, holding back the emotions she had been suppressing all evening.

When Eunseo opened her eyes at the usual time Seungjoo woke up, she found that Seungjoo had already left for work. It seemed she had left early, almost like dawn.

“It seems like work is really busy…”

Thinking about Eunseo, who hadn’t even had breakfast and had gone out, Seungjoo, who had been sighing at the thought, suddenly had an idea. After waiting until the usual working hours, she sent a message via messenger.

It was not to Eunseo but to Suna.

Suna, are you feeling better now?

Seungjoo inquired about Suna’s well-being first. That day, when they witnessed Chris’s elimination, Eunseo and Suna had hugged each other and cried.

A quick response came.

I’m not okay, but I’ll be strong because you’re worried, Seungjoo.

Suna’s always cheerful reply brought a smile to Seungjoo’s face.

But what’s going on since morning?

You know, Eunseo doesn’t seem to have much energy these days.

Yeah, she looked tired even in the morning. Is she tired?

So, what I’m saying is…

Seungjoo began discussing with Suna.

In early December, despite the biting cold, Eunseo wore the winter coat she had been wearing since ancient times and went to work. Although the coat Seungjoo bought her was much warmer and better, she couldn’t bring herself to wear it. It felt like she didn’t deserve to wear it.

Seunghyun, sitting in the next seat, whispered discreetly so others wouldn’t hear.

“Senior, let’s grab dinner together after this.”

“Okay.”