Before today’s meeting, Kang-joon had thought countless times about what would be the best first words to say to Joo Se-hee, whom he was meeting after a full month. His concerns proved futile, as his first words came out simple and calm, almost anticlimactic.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Joo Se-hee.”

Kang-joon tightened the grip of his fingers, which were tucked into his pants pockets. Otherwise, he felt as if he would crush Joo Se-hee in his embrace. But now, he was someone who shouldn’t lay a finger on Se-hee; that was their relationship. Kang-joon took out a business card from his jacket and held it out to Se-hee.

“This is who I am.”

His gaze went to the small hand that received the card, somewhat bewildered. Looking at her slender, long, smooth fingers, his heart suddenly burned. Still, you shouldn’t have given her the ring. With what feelings did I give it to her? That alone was given to Joo Se-hee, not Yoo Tae-ryeong. In the end, Kang-joon averted his gaze. He wanted to pretend to be more composed, if only out of resentment for her leaving without trusting him to the end. Yet, seeing her like this, he was bitterly realizing a renewed truth: that when it came to Joo Se-hee, he was powerless. Still, a faint sense of pleasure coursed through Kang-joon’s rigid spine. He was maddeningly delighted by Joo Se-hee’s fluttering long eyelashes, her tightly bitten plump lips, and her agitated state because of him. Though she had lost some weight, her still beautiful and delicate appearance sent a chill through his heart. Because of this utterly stubborn woman, who would never have appeared before him in a lifetime, who would have avoided even a chance encounter, if he hadn’t come to meet her like this. Swallowing a bitter laugh, Kang-joon asked calmly.

“Perhaps, you know me.”

At that question, Se-hee finally lifted her head. Her clear eyes, so carefully hidden beneath long eyelashes and never fully revealed, were now exposed. Gazing deeply into those eyes he had missed so terribly, Kang-joon said nonchalantly.

“It’s good if you know me.”

It’s good if you haven’t forgotten your love for me.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t. We can get to know each other gradually from now on.”

Even if you’ve forgotten, it doesn’t really matter. I can make you remember that love again.

“...”

Instead of an answer, her clear eyes, looking up at Kang-joon, were cold. It was as if she was asking, “What kind of trick is this now?” He understood that feeling. But what could he do? Joo Se-hee, you’re the one who made me like this. He had endured for a month, but he couldn’t endure the remaining two weeks. If it weren’t for this kind of meeting, there would be no way to see her openly. So, his patient self had to endure. Because I, whose patience has run out, have to see you like this. As his thoughts reached that point, his scattered mind quickly gathered itself.

“I don’t prefer rooms because they’re stifling. Would you mind moving to a more open space?”

They needed to move to a location with CCTV cameras that could record this business meeting. That way, they could avoid any future gossip.

“I’m fine with it, please move to the location the CEO prefers.”

Her eyes were calm now, her voice still smooth and composed. At Joo Se-hee’s typical reaction, Kang-joon’s mouth tasted bitter again internally. It’s always me who goes crazy. Of course, he knew. He was the one who pretended not to know her first and drew the line. But now, an insurmountable wall existed between them. Until he shed the title of ‘married man,’ he had to be careful. For Joo Se-hee’s sake, not his own. If you can’t do it, I will. Whatever it is. Remembering the words he had silently repeated countless times in his heart, Kang-joon calmly escorted Se-hee.

________________________________________

When she first saw Kang-joon, it was like that. She couldn’t believe it, and so she couldn’t look. Her throat tightened, words wouldn’t come out, and she closed her eyes, fearing to show any agitation. But now, sitting across from him in a different setting, she was angry. Nevertheless, Se-hee sat before Kang-joon, composed and unwavering. Dining across from him, enduring his deep eyes that were as unfathomable as a quiet stream, pretending to be calm, pretending not to care, pretending to be a stranger. If you can do it, why can’t I? For Se-hee, it was a form of defiance.

“Is the food not to your liking?”

At the low voice that quietly penetrated, Se-hee finally raised her eyes. Once again, she met his dark eyes, which were observing her calmly. His gaze felt as if it was persistently piercing her heart. It was as if he was asking if her heart wasn’t beating even when looking at him. Her chest ached with longing, but now, his eyes were annoyingly hateful.

“It suits my taste. However, I’m not thick-skinned enough to eat in front of someone I’ve just met.”

So this time, she drew the line first and treated him like a stranger. At that, Kang-joon narrowed his eyes, as if amused.

“If you’re that shy, how do you plan to persuade me?”

A surge of emotion welled up for a moment, but she barely managed to swallow it again. Meeting his gaze directly, Se-hee answered calmly with a perfectly composed smile.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Dining is a private matter, and persuading the CEO is a public one.”

“In that case, I look forward to it, Ms. Joo Se-hee.”

She barely managed to eat a few bites, trying to act nonchalant, but she couldn’t anymore. Anyway, Kang-joon hadn’t touched his food either. Of course, a self-proclaimed carnivore wouldn’t like greens. But why should only she force herself to eat? Her stomach hadn’t been feeling well lately, and eating like this would surely give her indigestion. Se-hee put down the spoon she was holding and said.

“Actually, I had a light lunch before coming. I’d like to stop eating now.”

“That’s why you’re losing weight, not eating like that.”

At Kang-joon’s low mutter, which she barely heard, Se-hee almost asked, What did you say? But Kang-joon had already pressed the call bell. Soon after, the appearing staff member was asked to clear the meal and bring tea. This time, Se-hee stared intently at Kang-joon, who acted as smoothly as flowing water. She had imagined their reunion, but not like this. What on earth was he playing at? It clearly wasn’t a coincidence. Had his proud ego been wounded, causing him to shift his revenge from Alicia to her? Or was it a kind of protest, asking, Who are you to dare abandon and leave me? Was it to threaten her with a message that she was nothing to him? A silence settled between them while the staff member cleared the table and set up aromatic tea. Se-hee, having wet her throat with the fragrant tea, took out extra documents she carried in her briefcase.

“You’ll see from these documents that I am fully qualified to lead Inno Fashion as a professional manager.”

She wanted to end this meeting quickly. She felt as if the blood in her body would run dry if she stayed with this inscrutable man any longer. But Kang-joon, having received the documents she handed him, placed them on the chair without looking at them.

“I’ll listen to the explanation directly.”

Se-hee bit her lip, hesitating. The groundwork she had done while living as Yoo Tae-ryeong, as Seo Kang-joon’s wife. This was the moment she had to reveal it herself. She resented Kang-joon, yet she also felt, What does it matter anyway? His appearance here meant he had dug up every single thing, even what she didn’t know. He was capable of that and more. He was indifferent to most things, but once he set a target, he showed frightening concentration. So, it’s okay. I’ve already shown my bottom to this man anyway. There’s no more bottom to show.

“Of course, I’ll give a briefing. But please do look at the documents when you have time.”

Unlike her outwardly calm lips, her heart was aching. Because we’ve truly become strangers now. Your gaze is cold, and your voice isn’t gentle. I left because I couldn’t bear to see you like this, and I hoped you wouldn’t know about me. So she felt sad and angry. The more she felt that way, the more calmly and smoothly Se-hee spoke with unwavering eyes.

“The evidence to judge whether my claims are true or not is in there. Since we’re meeting for the first time, it might be hard for you to trust me.”

Se-hee looked into his eyes, as black as the night sea whose depths she couldn’t fathom. Even though her stomach churned and her fingertips grew cold, she gave a faint smile. It was a neat and smooth smile. *** She thought the briefing was perfect. But Kang-joon showed no answer or reaction. To Se-hee, who waited calmly and persistently for an answer, Kang-joon said nonchalantly.

“Aren’t you going to give me your business card, Ms. Joo Se-hee?”

As soon as Kang-joon received the business card Se-hee offered, he ended the meeting by saying it was time to leave. Instead of trying to stop him, Se-hee quietly rose with him. But at the desk, they briefly squabbled over who would pay.

“It’s 99,000 won for one meal. If you want to lobby me with a meal instead of your abilities, Ms. Se-hee, you can pay.”

In the end, Kang-joon paid, and the two walked side by side towards the parking lot behind the restaurant. This moment, walking shoulder to shoulder, was unbearably strange and awkward for Se-hee. Unlike Kang-joon, who strode forward confidently and indifferently, she was acutely self-conscious. His arm and fingertips seemed to brush hers with every step. His scent permeated her nostrils. His perfectly chiseled face kept drawing her gaze. So when she deliberately tried to fall back a little, he would stop his steps with uncanny timing. That tension, that subtle silence, choked Se-hee. She just wanted this moment to end. The few bites of food she had eaten felt stuck in her chest. She desperately wanted to go to the restroom and throw up, but she stubbornly endured and walked.

“Please go carefully.”

As soon as they arrived at the entrance, Se-hee quickly bid him farewell and turned to leave, but Kang-joon called her back.

“Ms. Joo Se-hee.”

What now? Se-hee turned back reluctantly, and Kang-joon smiled gently.

“Wait a moment.”

She should refuse, but his gentle smile momentarily stunned her. In that brief moment, Kang-joon stretched his long legs and strode off somewhere. Watching his tall back, a sigh-like murmur escaped her lips automatically.

“What exactly are you trying to do with me?”

At that moment, Se-hee desperately wanted to sit down anywhere and rest. After returning from Germany, she had thrown herself into work like a madwoman. Because only when she was working did Seo Kang-joon not come to mind. She had also been acutely on edge due to the shareholders’ meeting a month away. As a result of overworking, her condition had not been good since this week. In that state, she had endured the sudden meeting with Kang-joon. The extreme tension and nervousness of the past 30 minutes seemed to be exploding now. Yet, she couldn’t leave. Because now, she desperately needed him for another reason. If he didn’t side with her, the revenge she had chosen, even abandoning love for it, could all come to naught. So, endure. She saw Kang-joon arrive at his car and open the back door.

“Did he buy another car?”

It was a car she hadn’t seen before. Kang-joon bent into the back seat as if to take something out; that was the last Se-hee saw of him. As nausea combined with a headache, Se-hee closed her eyes and leaned against the wall as if collapsing. A minute felt like an hour.

“Ms. Joo Se-hee.”

At the low call, she lifted her heavy eyelids. She saw Kang-joon holding a bouquet of light pink ‘Jana’ roses, blooming in clusters.

“Take it.”

“...”

“Why aren’t you taking it?”

Se-hee slowly blinked. Even her vision began to blur and clear repeatedly. Just until I get to the car. Just endure for 5 more minutes, please. Se-hee clenched her fists and asked as calmly as possible.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

Kang-joon casually averted his gaze and put both hands in his pants pockets.

“I saw them on my way here, and they were very pretty.”

“...”

“I bought them impulsively, and I had no one to give them to, so...”

“...”

“They don’t mean anything, so don’t feel burdened.”

Se-hee muttered to herself. ...Liar. This was the man who said he found the beautiful flower garden gloomy and not pretty. Kang-joon placed the bouquet into Se-hee’s arms, as she still hadn’t taken it.

“Do whatever you want with it, whether you throw it away or not.”

The dense scent of flowers from the bouquet, which she had taken in a daze, permeated her nostrils. Perhaps it was because she wasn’t feeling well. The fragrance that should have been sweet felt metallic. The nausea and headache worsened, and she even heard a ringing in her ears. As her vision began to spin, the color drained from her face. Only then did Kang-joon seem to notice something was wrong and asked worriedly.

“Ms. Joo Se-hee, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Se-hee blurted out the words quickly, like a machine gun, closed her eyes tightly, and held out her hand as if defending herself. As if Kang-joon was about to approach. As if she was about to show another terrible sight. So, desperately wishing him to leave.

“So please just...”

Could you please leave? But Se-hee couldn’t finish her sentence. The moment her body, which had been stubbornly holding on, collapsed, she saw Kang-joon, with a surprised look, quickly reach out his hand.

“Joo Se-hee!”

That was Se-hee’s last memory.