Song Minkyu's jaw tightened slightly. "Enough." Ji Eun stepped closer, gaze blazing now. "No. Not enough. You're letting a man who treats people's lives like bargaining chips walk into this house—into my life—and you're calling it 'reasonable'." Kate's voice softened. "We are trying to prevent you from doing something rash." Ji Eun froze for half a second. Then her eyes darkened.
"So that's it," she said quietly. "You're afraid I'll… what? Break? Hurt myself? Create another scandal?" Kate didn't answer. Because she didn't need to, the answer to the question was obvious. Ji Eun inhaled slowly, the anger turning colder—more controlled.
"You spoiled me," she said softly, echoing her father's earlier words. "And now you want to manage the consequences by handing me to the man who refuses to take no for an answer." Song Minkyu's voice was low. "We are not handing you to anyone." Ji Eun's gaze cut to him. "Then stop making decisions that put him within arm's reach."
The room fell silent.
Then Song Minkyu said, carefully, "Ji Eun… you are not being forced." Ji Eun's smile sharpened. "And yet he's sleeping under this roof." Kate's voice turned firm, pleading beneath it. "Please. It's only for a short time. It shouldn't be a bother to you since you've rejected him." Ji Eun stared at her mother for a long moment.
Then she took a step back once.
Slowly.
As if accepting something. But her eyes were ice.
"Fine," she said. And turned to leave. But at the doorway she paused, glancing back with a look that was almost calm. "If he crosses my line," she said quietly, "don't ask me to be polite about it."
Then she walked out.