Surprisingly, Yuhyeon seemed to have a deep understanding of the design. As if he could see directly into Soo-min’s mind, he carefully filled in the empty spaces. Then, stretching his long arms, he completed the upper part of the arrangement.

Ah… Ah…

Who is this man really?

After placing the last flower, Yuhyeon turned around. His cold expression made Soo-min freeze. She missed the moment when she could have thanked him.

Just then, he bent down and picked up a fallen flower from the ground.

“Oh, just leave it! I’ll clean it up…!”

He took the flower in his hand and crushed it. When he opened his hand, the shattered petals fell to the ground.

Even though the flower had already withered and lost its vitality, the act of crushing it so mercilessly in his hand felt deeply disturbing and cruel.

“Do you like it?”

“Ha… What are you doing?”

“Just taking care of something unpleasant to look at.”

“…….”

“You don’t want your team members to see traces of your mistake, do you? Especially one so basic.”

“What kind of talk is that? Do you really think something like that would hurt my pride? Anyone can make mistakes at work.”

“Is that so?”

Yuhyeon’s lips curved into a long smile.

‘Why… is he smiling?’

Soo-min couldn’t understand the reason for Yuhyeon’s sudden amusement.

“Alright. Let’s just say I got rid of it because I didn’t like the sight of it. But let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Your brother seems to be suspicious of us. Are you aware of that?”

“……!”

Soo-min took a deep breath.

‘No way… I thought it was just a possibility… but has he already found out?!’

Suddenly she felt dizzy.

“It didn’t seem like a mere suspicion.”

Yuhyeon took a step closer, her heart pounding wildly.

“…….”

As he placed both hands on the table with a thud, his lips came dangerously close, right in front of Soo-min’s face.

She immediately tensed up, afraid that someone might see them.

“My guard said he saw CEO Han watching the security team’s CCTV footage.”

“Ah…”

“That’s why you’re getting an apartment. What do you think, Soo-min?”

A slight smile played on Yuhyeon’s lips.

“That’s right. He seems curious about where the 10 billion won came from.”

“Looks like it won’t be long before the truth is revealed.”

“No. I’ve already arranged for my cousin to say that he lent me the 10 billion. So please keep this a secret from my brother.

“You don’t want him to see you fail a second time.”

A smug grin twisted his lips. His words weren’t just honest – they were cutting.

“There is no failure. Because it was never love to begin with.”

Because it was never love to begin with, there was no possibility of failure.

He and she were only bound by a contract – there was no room for emotion.

She wasn’t sure if he didn’t have an answer or if he simply accepted what she had said, but he remained silent.

The way he stared at her made her curious as to what he was thinking.

Even now, his expression… was so similar to Junhwan’s that it almost confused her.

Without realising it, she almost shouted Junhwan’s name.

An unexpected comment broke the heavy silence.

“Then let’s do this. When our secret relationship is inevitably discovered, we’ll become lovers.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to say it was love at first sight?”

“……!!!”

Soo-min’s heart beat wildly.

“Of course, it’s unpleasant having to go along with your lies, but if you make it up to me in bed, I might be willing to indulge you.”

His leg slid between her thighs, pressing tightly against her. He moved deliberately, mimicking the rhythm of penetration.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips as the friction against her cl*t sent shivers through her body.

She pushed against his chest, trying to create distance, but it only brought them closer. Had it not been for his hand supporting her from behind, she would have ended up sprawled across the banquet table.

Her head spun.

Her team members would be back at any moment.

If she was caught in this position with her hotel’s VVIP, it would be the end of everything.

“Please… not here….”

“I think it looks good.”

“Wait….”

“Just a little acting practice.”

“…Ah….”

Her breathing got heavier. A surge of juices seeped through her panties and pressed against his thigh. Panic gripped her – what if it seeped through and left a mark on him?

Whether he was aware of her distress or not, Yuhyeon continued to provoke Soo-min with a relentless, razor-sharp desire.

His lips drew closer – lips that seemed to invite a kiss. But instead of warmth, he spoke cold, cutting words.

“You must behave yourself. Your brother seems to think the world of his sister.”

“……!”

Soo-min’s eyes wavered, lost in uncertainty. Her mind went completely blank.

‘Love? Love at first sight?’

As if something was missing.

The word “love”, which he uttered without any emotion, made Soo-min’s heart flutter unexpectedly.

Just like the day Junhwan had told her he loved her – her heart was pounding again.

He grabbed Soo-min’s chin lightly, forcing their eyes to meet. But unlike the gentle Junhwan, the man in front of her had a look that glowed with danger, like a wild beast ready to pounce.

“Don’t make such a rapturous expression. It makes me want to take you right here and now.”

Her face flushed.

It was as if he had seen through the layers of secrets she had carefully hidden, leaving her utterly embarrassed.

Then, without warning, he walked away.

As if he had never been in the banquet hall at all, he was gone in an instant.

As she sat there, dazed, her team members entered the room.

“Ooooh! Boss, this piece is amazing as always!”

Cheers erupted from all around, but Soo-min’s mind was filled with distracting thoughts.

Pulling herself together, she made her way to the security team. She had to see if Yuhyeon’s words were true.

“Yes, the CEO checked the CCTV that day.”

‘Meeting him at the hotel seems too risky.’

A sinking feeling settled in Soo-min’s chest and an uneasy feeling surged through her. It was as if she had walked into a trap.

She hadn’t even fulfilled the contract and already Eunhyuk had found out. That was her mistake.

***

Yuhyeon tapped the golf ball lightly and it rolled smoothly into the hole.

The chief secretary approached and reported on the latest developments of the past few days.

“CEO Han’s contracted apartment is in the Blue Apartment, Building 102, Unit 1304.”

“…….”

“If she moves out after getting the apartment, it’s very likely that your plans will be delayed even further.”

“Han Eunhyuk… That guy has become an obstacle.”

“…….”

Yuhyeon threw the golf club at the guard without hesitation.

Taking off his leather gloves, he interlocked his fingers and stretched out his hands with a slight cracking sound coming from his joints.

“Then we just have to find a way to solve it all at once.”

“What do you think…?”

“Just wait and see. It will be quite interesting.”

The guard brought the wine and poured it into a glass. Yuhyeon drank it in one gulp without even taking a breath.

Yuhyeon wiped the wine from his lips with the back of his hand and gritted his teeth. His gaze was sharp, like a wild animal watching its prey.

***

Eunhyuk looked up and down at Soo-min. He seemed surprised. He immediately noticed that her clothes were from an expensive brand.

“Beautiful. Where did you buy it?”

“I didn’t have time to shop offline, so I ordered it online. Since the guests are special today, Jinseong specifically told me to pay special attention.”

“That’s right, it’s the first time that the grandson of the Jaewon Group is attending such a social event. I also made an effort.

The two siblings took after their mother in appearance, with a soft, pleasant look. As the saying goes, “clothes make the man”, and even Eunhyuk, dressed in high-end brands, looked like he was born into a wealthy family.

The siblings walked down to the car park side by side.

Eunhyuk’s car was parked in the VIP section, so as they walked towards it, they spotted a large limousine.

“A car like that…”

“Here he comes. Beom Yuhyeon.”

As expected, it was indeed Beom Yuhyeon. He walked straight up to the siblings and carefully scanned Soo-min from head to toe.

Soo-min began to feel uneasy about Eunhyuk. Since he had begun to suspect their relationship, she couldn’t afford to show any signs of weakness.

“Thank you for inviting me, Mr Beom Yuhyeon.”

“I’m the one who should be thanking you. After all, I’m paired with such a beautiful partner.”

“What?”

The siblings looked at each other and tilted their heads in confusion.

“Ah, Mr Go Jinseong, I know him as your cousin. Didn’t he tell you anything?”

“Not at all.”

Eunhyuk’s eyes immediately narrowed in displeasure.

“Actually, my partner cancelled this morning because she got a flu. So I looked around to see who else was left and it turned out to be only Soo-min.”

Today, they decided to go out on the field with their respective partners who matched their playing skills.

“I’m not boasting that I’m good at golf, but since I’ve invited a professional-level partner, each of you should play with your own partner.”

That was what Jinseong had told the siblings.

At that moment, a message from Jinseong arrived as if on cue.

[Han Soo-min, your partner won’t be here today.]

Ha, it was as if they had made a deal – each partner cancelled. It was probably the work of Yuhyeon and Jinseong together.

Soo-min couldn’t bring herself to disagree.

“Please get in. It would be rude if I’m late after inviting you.”

The personal secretary looked at Soo-min and opened the back door.

“I, I was supposed to take CEO Han’s car…”

“Is it really necessary to take two separate cars if we’re going to the same place? Let’s go together. How about you, CEO Han?”

“Sure, I’ll get in.”

Without hesitation, Eunhyuk got into the back seat. Soo-min reluctantly followed him.

The limousine was spacious enough to seat ten people. Inside there was a wine fridge and even wine glasses.

‘Does he like wine?’

Various types of wine were displayed.

“Would you like a glass?”

“Ah, no.”

Since she wasn’t good at golf, she couldn’t drink either. Yuhyeon took some canned drinks from the fridge and handed them to each of the siblings. 

As the car started to move, the two men remained silent. Soo-min sat next to Eunhyuk, but because the seats were arranged in an L-shape, as soon as she looked up, her eyes met Yuhyeon’s.

‘…How did it come to this…?’

It was uncomfortable. For some reason, there was an invisible, tense energy between the two men. The silence in the car intensified it.

‘If only they’d play some music…’

He seemed to read Soo-min’s thoughts as he pressed the button and the music began to play. For a moment, Soo-min’s body stiffened as if her blood had frozen.

This song…!

A chill ran down her spine.

It was a song Junhwan had loved when he was alive. Soo-min lifted her eyes and looked at Yuhyeon.

“I’ve always liked this song. I first heard it in a Broadway musical and fell in love with it. It’s about a man who dreams of revenge after being betrayed by the woman he loves. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Y-yeah. It’s a great song.”

‘It must just be a coincidence, right? How could we both like the same song?’

Soo-min’s confusion resurfaced. Even though she had thought Junhwan was dead countless times and had even visited his grave to confirm it, she still couldn’t shake the uncertainty.