* * *

Two days later, on Monday, Seol-ah arrived at work, doing her best to ignore the stares of her colleagues. Everyone in the office knew about her three-year relationship with Jung-jae. Their loud, public displays of affection had ensured that. So when word spread that she and Jung-jae had broken up, her colleagues were as shocked as she was.

Now, with all eyes on her, Seol-ah could feel the weight of the gossip that had surely spread. But she kept her head up, determined to move forward despite the whispers around her.

“I’m fine, everyone. Please get back to work. Deputy Kim, I’m fine. Assistant Manager Park, I’m fine. I was going to break up with him anyway – I got bored.”

Seol-ah said, her voice unnaturally cheerful, offering explanations no one had asked for.

‘Who could possibly understand this humiliation?’ she thought bitterly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Coffee, anyone? My treat today!” she called, raising her voice to sound cheerful.

Sensing Seol-ah’s effort to put on a brave face, Senior Manager Seo Inha quickly stepped in.

“I’ll take you up on that, but let me help with the coffee run.”

Inha said warmly, trying to ease the tension and offer Seol-ah some support in front of her colleagues.

Inha had been Seol-ah’s mentor when she first joined the company.

“Team leader Jin, you don’t have to try so hard. Seeing you like this makes us all feel a little heartbroken.”

Seol-ah suppressed the urge to crawl into a hole and managed a faint smile.

“Then I’ll just relax, but really, I’m not looking for pity. I swear, I don’t have even 1% of lingering feelings. I’m serious. I’m not just saying that.”

“I get it, I get it. Everyone heard that, right? From now on, no one brings up her ex or looks at her with pity.”

Inha said, her voice firm but supportive.

“Okay!” and “Yes!” echoed around the office.

“How about some coffee? I’m treating you all today! Everyone, order whatever you want!”

Inha’s cheerful voice filled the room, prompting exaggerated reactions from the other employees, each trying to lift Seol-ah’s spirits in their way.

“Wow, our team leader is the best! What are you doing? Clap!” someone teased, prompting a round of applause from the group.

* * *

It was nearing the end of the workday and Seol-ah was wrapping up her duties when Inha approached her.

“Team leader Jin, leave early today. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“Oh no, that’s fine. I’ll just finish what I’m working on and leave afterward.”

“Seriously, it’s fine. Take the opportunity to leave early and get some rest. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be working so hard that you might not get another chance to leave on time.”

Inha said smiling.

Seol-ah smiled apologetically and nodded. She knew that Inha was right – there wouldn’t be many chances to leave early shortly. Taking the chance now felt like the right thing to do.

“All right, just for today, I’ll leave early. Sorry, everyone.”

Seol-ah said as she finished her work and prepared to leave. The office staff waved at her with cheerful smiles, encouraging her to relax. The warmth of their gestures touched her and made her feel a little emotional.

Seol-ah was the head of the marketing team at Vision Advertising. Although the company wasn’t big, the projects they handled were far from small. Known for their reputation in the advertising industry, most of their clients were big corporations. Although they didn’t have the grand headquarters of the big players, Vision Advertising still occupied prime office space in an expensive commercial building in the heart of Gangnam.

As Seol-ah stepped out of the lobby and through the revolving door, she was heading for the car park when a loud honking startled her. She turned to see a familiar face through the open window of a sleek black limousine bearing the B Company emblem.

“!”

“Get in.”

Seol-ah looked around nervously, afraid that someone might see her. Without hesitation, she quickly got into the car – not because she wanted to, but because she had to get Hwi-gang out of their office building before any of her colleagues saw him.

“Drive, now,” she urged, her voice low but firm.

I’m already on it. Fasten your seat belt.”

Seol-ah grabbed the seatbelt and fastened it as the car pulled away from the curb gently. She watched anxiously as they put distance between themselves and her office, her heart only beginning to calm once they were far enough away. Then she turned to him, her voice urgent.

“Stop the car.”

“We’re going to dinner.”

“Dinner? No, we’re not. Just stop, please!”

Seol-ah gave Hwi-gang a sharp look, but he didn’t even flinch. It was as if her words hadn’t registered. Instead, he casually turned the wheel and drove into a complex of buildings in Cheongdam-dong – home to one of the most expensive traditional Korean restaurants in the area.

“I told you to stop!”

“You still need to eat, don’t you?”

Seol-ah wanted to argue further but decided to keep quiet instead. She planned to escape as soon as the car stopped – she’d make her escape as soon as they parked. As the valet signaled them into the VVIP lot, Hwi-gang stopped the car. Just as Seol-ah was about to get out, he grabbed her arm.

“Let go of me! I’ll scream.”

“Go ahead, scream if you want. But listen to me first. You can scream afterward if you still want to. I promise it won’t be too late.”

Seol-ah paused, reconsidered her plan to get out of the car, and sat back in her seat instead. Only then did Hwi-gang release her arm and speak again.

“I’ve been thinking about our marriage—”

“I’m not marrying you. Seriously, who takes a drunken proposal so seriously? Ask any random person on the street who’s being unreasonable here!”

“I know. I’m the unreasonable one,” Hwi-gang admitted without hesitation.

“!”

Seol-ah was at a loss for words. She hadn’t expected him to admit it so quickly.

“But I still want to marry you. It’s not a joke and I’m not joking. I’m serious.”

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Seol-ah frowned and asked, “Is there a reason? Why are you so serious?”

“There is a reason.”

“And what is it?”

Seol-ah was really curious. Everything about Hwi-gang – from the luxurious hotel the night before, to the car they were in, to his expensive clothes and the watch on his wrist – screamed that he was at least a

third or fourth-generation chaebol. Why, then, was a man like him so intent on holding on to a woman he had spent just one night with?

“My terminally ill grandfather’s dying wish,” Hwi-gang said plainly.

“!”

It sounded like something out of a drama and Seol-ah frowned, unsure if he was joking. But Hwi-gang’s expression was far too serious to be a joke. Then it hit her – he wasn’t joking.