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How did he even get here?
Joo-eun’s tear-filled eyes trembled as she looked up at him.
But Min-hyuk didn’t spare her a glance, instead glaring at Heesu with an icy warning in his low voice.
“Get up.”
“Director... Director Min-hyuk...”
“Do you have any idea what kind of mistake you’re making right now? Do you even know how much this mistake is worth?”
Thud.
Heesu slammed her hand on the table, the dull sound echoing through the café.
Min-hyuk didn’t flinch. His tone remained firm and unyielding.
“I said, get up.”
If she left now like this… what would happen next?
Joo-eun hesitated, shaking her head as if refusing to move. Without hesitation, he grabbed her slender wrist and pulled her to her feet.
Yanked forward, she stumbled to stand beside him. The crowd, recognizing Min-hyuk, began murmuring among themselves.
It was only a matter of time before rumors spread.
She tried twisting her arm to free herself, but his grip was like stone—unmovable.
Unbothered by the curious stares, Min-hyuk made his intentions crystal clear.
“This marriage issue has been giving me a headache, but thanks to you, it’s all sorted out now. Let’s go.”
“Director Min-hyuk… If we leave like this…”
He acted as though he couldn’t hear her, striding forward without hesitation. Joo-eun tried to stop him, but it was futile.
Heesu’s trembling body radiated anger.
“You… How dare they! Why aren’t they stopping? Hey!”
Her harsh words followed them like daggers, but Min-hyuk didn’t falter.
Joo-eun felt as if she’d been struck by lightning on a clear day. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
When the two stepped into the elevator, startled onlookers backed away, leaving it empty despite the open doors.
Min-hyuk pressed the button for the basement level. Once the doors closed and they were alone, he finally released her wrist.
As Joo-eun wiped her tears, Min-hyuk noticed her wet face, his jaw tightening slightly.
“Why did you let that happen…?”
Her trembling voice barely carried the weight of her question.
“Song Joo-eun, you don’t deserve to be treated like that.”
“But isn’t GB Group’s investment crucial for DK Media to overcome its financial struggles? Do you realize how much money we just lost because of me? Why are you doing this for someone like me…?”
Fresh tears spilled over her already soaked cheeks.
Unable to hold back any longer, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
“I can’t live without you anymore.”
“In the end, you’ll regret it…”
“I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”
His warmth overwhelmed her, gratitude mingling with sorrow, causing more tears to fall. Her shoulders shook as sobs grew louder.
With a deep sigh, Min-hyuk gently pushed her back, gripping her shoulders firmly.
“Stop crying. Or I’ll make you stop another way.”
Their gazes locked, heavy with emotion.
The tears brimming in her large eyes finally spilled over, as if waiting for this moment.
Without hesitation, Min-hyuk leaned in and claimed her lips in a searing kiss.
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and shocked bystanders scrambled backward.
Undeterred, their kiss grew more intense, desperate, and raw.
As their breaths intertwined, sweet yet ragged, tears continued streaming down Joo-eun’s face—not from the insults or the prying eyes, but from something deeper.
Despite pretending to be strong and cheerful, her life had always teetered on the edge of a cliff. She feared clinging to him too tightly, afraid of being rejected and left behind.
She thought pushing him away enough times would hurt her pride so much that she could walk away without looking back.
But what was she supposed to do with a man who ran toward her with all his heart?
Pushing him away was becoming harder.
She wanted more.
As tears flowed unchecked, fear of her growing feelings dampened Min-hyuk’s cheek.
The more she cried, the tighter his arms wrapped around her waist and shoulders, and the stronger her grip on him became.
Overwhelmed by the flood of raw emotions, Joo-eun couldn’t resist anymore. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on tiptoes to meet his height.
Min-hyuk held her even closer, their heartbeats merging into one indistinguishable rhythm.
Even though this wasn’t their first kiss…
The sweetness of their synchronized breaths surpassed anything they’d shared before.
They wished they could stay tangled together forever.
But doing so might ruin everything before they could reflect on this colossal mistake.
She didn’t want to destroy DK Group, which was on the verge of securing record-breaking investments, nor jeopardize his promising future.
‘I just need to stop being greedy… Just me…’
As Joo-eun slowly lowered her arms and stood flat on her feet, his lips lingered, reluctant to part.
The lingering warmth of their kiss tickled each other’s lips.
“At least… your tears seem to have stopped completely,” she said dryly, as if their kiss had merely been a means to halt her crying.
Min-hyuk gently wiped away her remaining tears.
“Don’t cry again. Whether I’m there or not.”
Though she told herself not to be greedy, her traitorous heart raced wildly.
Every brush of his fingers scorched her skin, leaving her flustered.
No matter how hard she tried to suppress her feelings mentally, her body betrayed her helplessly.
Afraid he might see through her façade, she took a deep breath and forced an awkward smile.
“Don’t worry. I won’t cry anymore. You’re the one who shouldn’t regret this later. Because of me, billions in investments went down the drain.”
Her forced cheerfulness saddened him, and his expression softened slightly.
“I already told you—I’ve never regretted anything.”
Joo-eun nodded affirmatively.
If anyone else had said such a thing, she would’ve rolled her eyes and called them arrogant.
But somehow, with him, she believed it.
A man who sought to conquer the world because he already had everything wouldn’t know regret.
And yet…
She feared becoming his first regret.
She feared he might resent her someday.
Biting her lip, she swallowed the words she wanted to say.
“Should we get off now…? The elevator doors kept opening and closing while we were inside.”
After clinging to him so passionately moments ago, she suddenly acted as if nothing had happened, cool and composed.
Amused by her sudden temperature drop after their kiss, he smirked faintly.
Despite Min-hyuk’s offer to grab dinner, Joo-eun insisted on going straight home.
An oppressive silence filled the dim car.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by the buzz of a phone vibrating.
Joo-eun froze as she glanced at the caller ID—it was unmistakably from the company. Min-hyuk’s sharp gaze flickered toward her.
Before he could tell her not to answer, she picked up.
“Hello?”
Her once confident voice now sounded timid and subdued, irritating Min-hyuk.
[Song Joo-eun? This is Director Kwon from Strategic Planning.]
Realizing who it was, she straightened her posture.
“Yes, hello, Director Kwon…”
[What do you mean the documents weren’t delivered?!]
Kwon’s furious voice carried clearly through the phone.
“I’m sorry. I did deliver them, but…”
In an instant, the phone disappeared from her hand.
“…!”
Before she could react, Min-hyuk snatched it away, leaving her wide-eyed.
“This is Jeong Min-hyuk.”
Her already pale face turned ghostly white.
Unfazed by her anxiety, Min-hyuk spoke with razor-sharp authority.
“Treat the GB Group investment matter as if it never happened.”
On the other end, stunned silence reigned as the caller processed the situation.
“I’m hanging up now.”
[Wait! Director Min-hyuk? Is that really you?]
“Would you like a video call to confirm?”
[No, no! But why at this hour…?]
“It’s a leader’s duty to comfort an employee who endured humiliation from someone outside the company, fearing it would jeopardize the deal. Especially when that employee gave their all despite personal sacrifice.”
[Ah...]
“We’ll discuss further details tomorrow during the general meeting. Expect accountability. Assigning document delivery to an employee unrelated to the task will not go unpunished.”
His finger pressed the end call button without hesitation.
Oh no. What am I supposed to do now…?
Joo-eun stared blankly at him, unable to comprehend the reality unfolding before her.
Even blinking rapidly didn’t clear her vision. Tomorrow would undoubtedly be the day she submitted her resignation letter after confronting Director Kwon, one of the top strategists at the company.
As if nothing had happened, Min-hyuk handed the phone back to her, his gaze fixed ahead.
“Stop staring at me like that. I might change my mind about sending you home tonight.”
Though she didn’t particularly want to go home, her wide eyes instinctively shifted forward.
Startled by his insistent gesture urging her to take the phone, she quickly stuffed it back into her bag.
Whether it was the aftermath of the call or his bold declaration to Kwon, her heart pounded relentlessly.
“Waaahhh...”
A strange wailing echoed through the mansion, shattering the usual stillness.
Chaerin sat on an ornate bed, stomping her feet like a child and sobbing loudly.
“Hic... Fifteen years! I’ve waited fifteen whole years for that man! Why did Mom step in and crush my pure love!”
Her eyes were so swollen from crying that they were almost unrecognizable.
Heesu clicked her tongue in irritation, watching her daughter throw a tantrum.
After begging for help earlier, Chaerin now blamed her mother for ruining everything—a sight that made Heesu despise her even more.
“Are you still confused about whether it was Jeong Min-hyuk or me who crushed your so-called purity?”
“If only you hadn’t gone after him directly! We could’ve just dealt with that woman seducing him! It’s unbearable. I need to see him. He’s ignoring my calls. I’ll tell him my feelings are different from yours!”
As Chaerin stood abruptly to grab her bag, Heesu snatched it away.
“Snap out of it, Lee Chaerin! Do you even know what I’ve been doing since I got here?”
“I don’t care!”
“No, you should listen. I spent all this time managing the witnesses who saw them acting shamelessly in the elevator. Do you understand?”
Chaerin’s smeared eyeliner accentuated her trembling eyes.
“The elevator...?”
“They clung to each other for several trips up and down. Want me to describe it in detail?”
Chaerin covered her ears with both hands.
“Waaah... No, I don’t want to hear it…!”
“After enduring such humiliation, why do you think I silenced those people? It was all for you! To prevent rumors of your engagement falling apart because of some woman!”
“If Mom hadn’t arranged that meeting today, none of this would’ve blown up!”
“Enough.”
Chairman Lee’s voice startled both women as he entered unnoticed.
“Dear... When did you...?”
“Dad...”
Chaerin despaired. With her father knowing everything, it was clear that it was truly over.
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