***

In the end, the banquet started without the flowers that were supposed to be on the platform.

‘I guess the flowers weren’t necessary. After all, the star of today is Beom Yuhyeon – that man.’

Yuhyeon was surrounded by a crowd of people.

As they scanned the area, familiar faces gradually came into view. In the middle of them, the older cousin suddenly appeared. Since they weren’t particularly close, they looked away as soon as their eyes met.

As her cousin approached Yuhyeon, he held out his hand. As if honoured, her cousin eagerly took it and bowed at a 90 degree angle.

‘Anyway, he’s like a hyena.’

With a Russian tycoon setting foot in Korea, there was no way her cousin was going to pass up the opportunity.

With a deep sigh, Soo-min stepped out of the banquet hall and spotted Eunhyuk, sharply dressed in a suit.

“I should make my presence known as well.”

“Yes, it’s rare to see so many VIPs gathered in one place like this. Go ahead.”

“I’m nervous…”

“Straighten your shoulders and try to network well.”

Eunhyuk entered the banquet hall next to the general manager. Meanwhile, Soo-min trudged along, looking at her watch.

“I should just call it a day.”

She took her key from the reception desk and got into the lift.

With a soft ding, the lift doors opened on the 26th floor. Dragging her feet, she unlocked the door and stepped into her room.

Inside, several unpacked suitcases lay scattered around.

‘I have to find a place to live first…’

Since her parents-in-law had gone bankrupt, she hadn’t received the alimony she was entitled to.

She could afford a small apartment in Seoul with the money she has, but right now she can’t afford to spend a single cent carelessly.

‘If that bastard doesn’t pay back the money he borrowed, the hotel will be in danger…’

Soo-min gritted her teeth.

Eunhyuk was also staying at the hotel, so she couldn’t justify getting a room just for her own convenience.

‘I have to put out the most urgent fire first…’

She went to the window and opened the curtains. The night view of Seoul spread out before her in a breathtaking panorama.

Even after lying down on the bed, sleep didn’t come. Her mind was completely consumed by Beom Yuhyeon.

She tossed and turned, trying to force herself to sleep, but the more she tried, the more questions filled her mind.

Time passed…

The more time passed, the more awake she felt.

Finally, Soo-min abruptly got out of bed.

‘Maybe I should have just asked if he knew Junhwan.’

She thought that even if she asked, nothing would change.

Even if, like in a drama, they were long-lost twins separated in childhood, how could she say, “I was the former lover of your twin”?

And tell him that the day she had left him, he had died in a fire?

Her chest tightened.

Even after five years, the heavy guilt that weighed on her heart had never gone away.

‘If only I had gone back to him that day…’

‘If only I had refused Chairman Go’s offer…’

‘He would still be alive in this world.’

Tears threatened to fall. The wildfire wasn’t her fault, but losing him had left her with an unending pain in her heart.

‘I was finally starting to forget a little… but now someone who looks just like him has appeared…’

Soo-min wrapped her arms around her knees and held on tightly.

***

The next morning she saw him again early in the breakfast restaurant.

Dressed simply in light blue trousers and a single shirt, he looked effortlessly stylish – as if he could walk into a photo shoot at any moment.

“We meet again. Are you staying at this hotel by any chance?”

“Yes.”

“The Clitie Hotel must have great benefits for staff who work long hours.”

“I work hard for the hotel.”

“Looks like there’s no room. Do you want to join me?”

As she looked around, every table was full.

“Ah, no, I’m fine.”

Soo-min expressed her refusal and quickly left the restaurant.

She ordered a strong espresso from the café staff and found a suitable seat.

‘Shouldn’t I have refused him earlier?’

Regret crept in as she felt she had missed a chance to get a closer look.

Soo-min pulled out her phone and searched for news about the fire five years ago.

The article from that day was still there.

[KTN News – Reporter Jo Dong-sik]

It was the name of the journalist who had first reported the fire. Below it were several other articles – all written by the same reporter, Jo Dong-sik.

Soo-min had seen the charred remains of the site on the news and had been ill for weeks.

She had been so shattered that she hadn’t even been able to attend the funeral. Having lost the person she loved, she had spent the last five years suffering. Her heart was slowly losing its laughter and vitality.

If it weren’t for her mother and Eunhyuk, she wouldn’t have been able to bear it.

“…Hah…”

Just as she let out a small sigh, a familiar voice spoke from behind her – it was Eunhyuk.

“You’re at work already? Your face looks…”

“I think I drank too much last night.”

Eunhyuk’s face looked rough and tired.

“I need something to help with this hangover, but the restaurant is full of guests having breakfast…”

“I’ll settle for coffee too.”

“Did you drink until late?”

“Yes, Jung-wook joined me, and since he’s a heavy drinker… In the end, I felt like I was making my debut in high society, thanks to all the VIP customers”.

Jung-wook was a friend of Eunhyuk, the third son of R Electronics. Having been in similar situations, the two had become the closest of friends.

“Your job is all about dealing with people, so it’s good to make friends. Mum would be happy to hear that.”

“Yes, you’re right. Ah, wait a second…”

Eunhyuk suddenly jumped up from his seat and ran away.

When she turned around, she saw Yuhyeon coming from the direction of the restaurant.

Eunhyuk approached him, greeted him politely and the two of them started talking.

During their conversation, she tried to avoid the occasional glances that came her way, but she couldn’t help but focus all her attention on Yuhyeon.

After a short conversation, Eunhyuk returned to his seat.

“Thanks to our VIP guest, Clitie Hotel is full of people. I wish every day could be like this.”

“Yeah.”

“The big players bring in a huge crowd. Look over there – more people are gathering again.”

Indeed, guests were pouring in as if carried by waves. He was definitely a man who attracted attention.

“How much do you know about this VIP?”

“What I know is that he’s an important figure in Russia and runs an investment finance company. There’s a rumour that he invests in big companies all over the world and makes many times the profit. Some even say that a country’s stock market goes up whenever Vladimir invests in it.”

“Then what is the connection between that person and that man?”

“I’m not sure either. The person who made the reservation hasn’t shown up yet, so I discreetly asked Jung-wook, but he didn’t have any information. Some say he’s the one who manages Vladimir Vasiliev’s money, others say he’s his grandson. There is a lot of speculation, but nothing confirmed.

“I see.”

She tried to find a connection between Junhwan and the powerful Russian businessman, but there was none.

Junhwan was just an ordinary man preparing for employment, not someone with some great secret about his origins.

“But why are you suddenly so curious? Don’t tell me you’re also interested? The female staff practically had hearts in their eyes when they looked at him!”

“Nonsense!”

Soo-min waved both hands dismissively.

“Fine. I’d rather you weren’t interested. Men who have wealth, power and good looks usually take relationships lightly. Especially VIPs like him – there must be countless women around him, no different than pebbles at his feet. I don’t want to see you get hurt by a man again.”

“You misunderstand. I’m not interested.”

Even though she said this to Eunhyuk, her mind was filled with doubt.

She didn’t think she could get any information about Beom Yuhyeon from Eunhyuk…

It felt too unsettling to just dismiss him as someone who looked like him.