The light in Central Park Building 1, Unit 505, turned on. And then, a beautiful face shimmered on the terrace. A small hand diligently waved. Kang-joon chuckled and, instead of getting in his car, checked his wristwatch. The time it took for Joo Se-hee to arrive home, turn on the lights, and come out onto the terrace was exactly 4 minutes and 30 seconds. It might seem like excessive obsession, but he just wanted to. The reason? It never hurts to be careful. He had told Se-hee with a smile back then, but many young wolves lived in this complex. That bothered him. The woman who had captivated even him would probably captivate other men too easily. He worried that others might steal glances at that beautiful face. After a moment of hesitation, Kang-joon made a call. He saw Se-hee, still standing on the terrace, answer her phone.

[Yes, Mr. Kang-joon.]

Despite the surprise kiss, her voice on the phone was annoyingly prim.

“Be wary of all men except me. They’re all wolves.”

[I think you’re the most dangerous wolf to me, Mr. Kang-joon?]

Had she truly become comfortable? He was disappointed that a faint hint of laughter was mixed in her prim voice. It felt like he really might have to give up on Joo Se-hee.

“I’m not a wolf; I’m a roaring tiger.”

[...]

“A very seductive and trustworthy one, at that.”

[Doesn’t it embarrass you to say such things about yourself?]

“A man who’s too ascetic isn’t attractive either.”

Kang-joon felt a little strange right now. Talking like this while looking at each other, despite the distance. Should he say that Joo Se-hee, who was just out of reach, felt even more endearing?

[Mr. Kang-joon, Freya is listening.]

“Tell Mom and Dad that they’re having a serious conversation, and she should cover her ears for a bit.”

[Mr. Kang-joon!]

Kang-joon chuckled and said nonchalantly.

“It’s okay even if it’s early morning, feel free to contact me anytime if you want something to eat.”

[I will.]

“Contact me if you’re uncomfortable or need anything.”

[I will.]

“Contact me even if you want to hear my voice or see me.”

[I will...!]

The moment Se-hee, who had been answering robotically, paused as if realizing her mistake, Kang-joon couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It was maddeningly cute when the usually impeccable and capable woman acted so carelessly sometimes. *** Returning to his office, Kang-joon sat down and played the video Se-hee had sent him. Was this the difference between a mother who carries and feels life within her, and a father who sees it with his eyes? Or was his paternal love simply lacking? He felt no particular emotion after watching the video. He was indifferent, thoughtless, and even bored. The video was entirely in black and white, with no notable movement, and nothing particularly stood out. Oh, there was one bead-like thing that popped out. He had no choice but to fix his gaze on it since there was nothing else to see. Only then did he notice a part inside the bead moving slightly. Thump, thump, thump. To the rhythm of a strong heartbeat. As if begging to be acknowledged, desperate and intense. How many times did he watch the video repeatedly? At some point, the heartbeat in the video seemed to beat in sync with Kang-joon’s own heartbeat. As if yearning for a father’s love. The only bridge that would connect their unbreakable bond as a couple. Our... child. It was the moment the baby’s existence was powerfully etched into Kang-joon’s heart. Suddenly missing Se-hee, Kang-joon sent her a message on his phone.

[What are you doing?]

Had she been holding her phone? A reply came immediately.

[I’m lying in bed.]

[I’m watching the ultrasound video. Is the fetal heartbeat normally this strong?]

[The doctor said so. That the heartbeat is unusually strong for the gestational age. He even joked that it might be a boy.]

It seemed Freya’s heart probably resembled his. Kang-joon chuckled, then hesitated, repeatedly typing and deleting a message before finally pressing send.

[Thank you for making me a father.]

This time, a reply didn’t come immediately. But Kang-joon waited patiently, and a few minutes later, a reply arrived.

[Thank you too for loving me. You seem like a truly good man and a good father. So, I don’t regret loving you.]

As promised, Joo Se-hee was honestly confessing her feelings for Kang-joon. Following her heart, her attraction, her instincts. But what to do, Joo Se-hee? He intended to be a good husband too. For Freya, who had a heartbeat like his own, Kang-joon could not let Joo Se-hee go.

________________________________________

Sitting at a bar and elegantly sipping her drink, Madam Jo finally couldn’t contain her rage and threw her old fashioned glass. Smash! The glass shattered into pieces against the wall. Her glassy eyes, twitching at the corners, were filled with fury. She had been leisurely relying on the major shareholder who held 14%, but it turned out to be Seo Kang-joon. And she only found out this morning, the day before the shareholders’ meeting.

“That damn bastard.”

No wonder he felt unlucky; he had finally stabbed her in the back. Even with Seo Kang-joon joining, they wouldn’t exceed a majority, but she couldn’t just relax. She hastily called a few minor shareholders, but their answers were consistently vague. As if they highly valued and supported Joo Se-hee’s ability. Perhaps that cunning one had demanded 5% of Inno Fashion’s shares instead of money for this very day.

“That unlucky bitch.”

Nevertheless, she had to admit that Se-hee had played her cards well. At the mention of a record-high dividend payout at the end of this year, the shareholders were all excited. She herself had been excited until yesterday. But now, that dividend payout was poison to her. With her foolish daughter having attributed all the credit to Joo Se-hee and resigned, the shareholders would now support Joo Se-hee, hoping for high dividends next year as well. Young-guk, who had been quietly observing, cautiously spoke up.

“Honey, let’s look at this positively. You’re the largest shareholder, so you’ll receive a lot of dividends, won’t you?”

“Are you telling me to be happy about that money now?”

“Well, there’s nothing to be sad about, is there? Honestly, she’s your flesh and blood, surely she wouldn’t harm you?”

“So, now you’re going to try to be a father to that child? That shrewd one will surely be delighted and treat you like a parent. She hated you, if anything, more than she hated me.”

Madam Jo’s eyes, glaring venomously like a wildcat, seemed to call him stupid and pathetic.

“I wondered who Alicia took after, with her slow mind, but now I know.”

As Madam Jo snorted, Young-guk suppressed his churning stomach and averted his gaze. An adopted child who wouldn’t have even been called ‘madam’ if it weren’t for him, yet she couldn’t even revere her husband like the heavens. Young-guk was fed up now. With his venomous wife, from whom not a drop of blood would come out even if pricked with a needle. First, he needed to meet that child. It looked like Seo Kang-joon had even divorced and was pursuing that child. If he got along well with that child, he might get some crumbs. And if that child wanted it, he was even willing to divorce his wife. After all, the bond between parent and child couldn’t be broken. For Young-guk, whether it was his wife or his daughter, he would just side with whoever offered him a greater advantage. Young-guk slipped away with a faint smile and went into the living room, leaving Madam Jo alone. She clicked her tongue.

“The Hanshin successor has such low standards for women.”

In any case, Seo Kang-joon was completely captivated by that foxy creature of dirty birth.

“They must have slept together, obviously.”

What else could make a man fall so hard? She wondered how that girl could act so exactly like her mother. But as long as Seo Kang-joon had set his mind on Joo Se-hee, she couldn’t touch a hair on that girl. The conclusion was that she had to make Seo Kang-joon abandon Joo Se-hee himself. Was there no good way? The Seo Kang-joon Madam Jo knew was an extremely arrogant, haughty, and noble man. His possessiveness would be equally immense. But what if Joo Se-hee was witnessed sleeping with another man? Could the noble Crown Prince of Hanshin still truly love Joo Se-hee then? Whether it was Joo Se-hee’s will or not would no longer matter. Most men in this circle were like that. They didn’t think about their own dirty deeds, yet they wanted women to be pure. Like that foolish old wolf sitting in the living room, oblivious to the atmosphere. Madam Jo softened her expression and called Director Jung.

“Pick one of your men who has no contact with us and is tight-lipped, and meet that young man again. You know what to say, right? Securing videos or photos is essential, so instruct him well.”

Director Jung was someone who, if told one thing, understood two or three. He was tight-lipped, well-built, handled tasks cleanly, and was unlikely to betray her. She knew that Director Jung’s loyalty to her was love. But Madam Jo knew nothing of love. It was enough to simply use Director Jung’s emotions appropriately. ***

[I’ll stop by on my way home from work, so come down when I call.]

Around dusk, Kang-joon’s message arrived. Se-hee replied okay and hung up, then closed her eyes on the sofa, lost in thought.

“It’ll be fine.”

The shareholders’ meeting was finally tomorrow. Among several agenda items, there was the appointment of a new director. Since Se-hee was a third party, not an existing executive, she first had to be appointed as an internal director at the shareholders’ meeting. After that, if the board of directors passed a resolution to appoint her as CEO, she would become the true CEO of Inno Fashion. Director Kang had already filled the board with his people, so he told her not to worry. Nevertheless, Se-hee was anxious with an unknown unease simmering within her. There was nothing as fickle as human hearts. Even with Kang-joon’s participation, they wouldn’t exceed a majority, and ultimately, Se-hee’s fate rested on the minor shareholders. Just then, Kang-joon called.

[I’ve arrived, so come down.]

This strangely anxious night, this somehow lonely and fearful night. Se-hee hated being alone. But she felt that being with Kang-joon would be okay. This anxiety, this loneliness, this unknown coldness, all seemed to disappear. They had agreed to be honest about their feelings during their seven months together. Honest with herself, not just with Kang-joon.

“...Will you come up, Mr. Kang-joon?”

________________________________________

Kang-joon parked his car in the villa parking lot and headed to Building 1 with a shopping bag. The elevator ascended to the 6th floor, then descended back to the 1st floor. Kang-joon’s eyes turned cold as he saw a young man getting out of the elevator. That’s him. The man he had accidentally encountered when Joo Se-hee had fallen asleep briefly in her car, and when he had come out to take a business call. Kang-joon vividly remembered the conversation this man had on the phone as he brushed past him back then.

‘I’ve run into her a few times in the elevator, and she’s absolutely stunning, I’m telling you! And from the looks of it, she hasn’t had any work done on her face at all. She’s very cautious, but if a woman gives in too easily, it’s no fun. Yeah, dude. First, I’m going to try to get close to her under the guise of being a neighbor.’

The building the man entered was Building 1, and Joo Se-hee also happened to be in Building 1. But not only were they in the same building, he was on the floor directly above Joo Se-hee’s apartment. The man, sensing the chilling gaze, glanced at Kang-joon, then quickly averted his eyes and went outside. He had immediately grasped that Kang-joon was not someone to trifle with. Even though the man had immediately backed down, Kang-joon’s gaze was stubbornly fixed on him. Only after the man completely disappeared from his sight did Kang-joon get back into the elevator and mutter.

“...He’s annoying.”

Kang-joon got off on the 5th floor and knocked, not wanting to startle Se-hee with the doorbell. But Joo Se-hee threw the door open without even asking who it was.

“What do you mean, opening the door without even checking? What if it’s a thief?”

Imagining that guy from earlier knocking, his low voice subtly sharpened. Se-hee, looking somewhat bewildered, returned the question.

“What idiotic thief knocks and enters through the front door?”

You’re so wary with me, but so careless with others.

“Break away from stereotypes when it comes to safety.”

Amused by Kang-joon’s overly serious tone about something so absurd, Se-hee smiled brightly.

“There’s no one else who would come besides you, Mr. Kang-joon.”

She stepped aside, as if inviting him in, but Kang-joon remained standing stiffly at the entrance. Kang-joon held out the shopping bag to Se-hee, who looked at him wondering why he wasn’t coming in.

“It’s grapefruit sorbet. They just released a limited-edition mango shaved ice, so I asked them to pack that too. I came to give you this, so I’ll be going now.”

As Kang-joon turned to leave without hesitation, Se-hee quickly asked.

“You’re not coming in? You’re really just leaving?”

Kang-joon slowly turned back and stared at Se-hee in front of him. A few strands of her softly tied-up hair had fallen, tickling her delicate neckline. Her clear, makeup-free face, the slender silhouette visible through her white T-shirt, her long, pale legs extending from under her short shorts. If they were alone in a space filled with Joo Se-hee’s scent, could he really maintain his composure? Well, he wasn’t confident. Not confident he wouldn’t do anything, not confident he wouldn’t get intimate.

“The invitation... I’ll accept it another time.”

Kang-joon’s pupils subtly dilated as he overcame the intoxicating temptation and turned away again. A small hand snaked around his waist and hugged him. A warm embrace gently pressed against his back, and a small, shy voice was heard.

“Can’t you stay the night tonight?”