Chapter 64
A small, bitter sigh escaped me. I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I had hoped, even just a little, that Yuna would help. But she didn't even consider it.
Still… I couldn't really blame her, could I? She was the head of a massive group, someone who always had to think of the bigger picture. She probably saw things from angles I couldn't. Maybe she was right. Maybe this really was something too big for me to ask her to fix.
Even so, my chest ached.
But then—
My phone lit up again, the vibration rattling against my palm. My heart jumped. Maybe it was Yuna again. Maybe she had changed her mind.
Without even checking the number, I answered quickly. "Yuna—"
"Mm? Yuna?" A familiar voice came through instead. "I'm quite disappointed hearing that."
My stomach dropped.
My grip on the phone tightened, panic surging through me. "S-Sera? Why… why are you calling me?"
"Why? Do I need a reason to call you?" Her voice was smooth, lightly amused. "Honestly, Haemin, I'm a little hurt, you know. I had to use a different number just to reach you after you blocked the first one and this is the welcome I get? I thought I'd at least get a warmer greeting from you."
"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, my throat dry. "But Sera… I don't mean to be rude, but I think I should hang up. It's… it's not right for us to talk."
"Why so sudden?" she asked softly, her tone dipped in curiosity. "I know Yuna isn't with you right now."
My breath hitched. "…H-how do you—"
"How do I know?" She gave a quiet chuckle. "Let's just say I have someone inside that building who tells me things. You don't need to be on guard with me, Haemin. I just want to talk."
I shook my head, pressing the phone tighter against my ear. "But still… I'll just get into more trouble if Yuna finds out I spoke to you. So I think… I think we should end this call here."
I pulled the phone slightly away, my thumb hovering over the red button.
"You really don't want to talk to me, huh?" Her voice suddenly turned colder that makes me froze for a second.
"Sera…?"
"Haemin," she said firmly, her tone low but cutting. "Listen carefully. Just so you know, I still haven't forgotten about last night. I haven't forgiven you for leaving with Yuna after everything I did for you. After I took care of you, you still chose her in the end. Do you have any idea how that feels?"
My chest tightened instantly. "B-but I'm doing that because—"
"I'm not done talking!"
Her sudden outburst made me freeze. I could almost picture her face on the other end, she was probably trembling with anger.
"You know," she went on, her voice breaking slightly, "I still can't understand what was going through your head when you just followed her like that. After everything she's done to you… you still went with her. Do you even realize how that made me feel? I'm really upset with you, Haemin. I really am."
I pressed my lips together, unable to find a word that wouldn't make things worse. The silence stretched between us.
For a moment, all I could hear was her breathing.
Then, after what felt like forever, she spoke again, quieter this time. "Alright then," she murmured. "I won't bother you anymore after this. But I want you to grant me one last request."
My pulse jumped. "W-What is it?"
"I want to meet you. Right now. Just once more."
My eyes widened in disbelief. "…What do you mean?"
"I said let's meet, Haemin. For one last time. After that, I'll let you go. I won't disturb you again. Don't you think you owe me that much after yesterday?"
"No! I cannot do that. I… I'm sorry for not properly thanking you, I really am." I whispered, guilt and fear tangling inside me. "But still… I can't meet you. Please, Sera. Try to understand me."
For a moment, she didn't reply. Then, I heard a soft sigh on the other end, followed by the faint tap of her nails against her phone.
"Then," she said lightly, "you leave me with no choice."
A second later, my phone vibrated.
"Go on. Have a look at what I just sent you."
My hands shook as I unlocked the screen and switched to speaker. The moment the image loaded, my stomach dropped. Cold sweat broke across my forehead. "S-Sera… what is this?!"
"It's nice, isn't it?" she said with a soft tone that chilled me to the bone. "Our pictures together in Busan. And the one at the mall, when we had drinks. You look good in them."
My hand trembled as I gripped the phone tighter. "How—how did you even get these?"
She chuckled faintly. "How do you think? Doesn't it strike you as strange that not a single photo of us ever leaked online when we were out in public? That's because I made sure of it. I kept them all buried."
"But Yuna already knows about this," I blurted desperately. "I told her everything."
"It doesn't matter," she said smoothly. "If one day your marriage with Yuna is exposed to the public… and these pictures came out at the same time? Just imagine what kind of damage it would do to her reputation."
"T-that's—" My words stumbled and died in my throat.
Still, she didn't let up. "And if that's not enough to make you come see me… should I remind you of what happened in my car that night in Busan?"
I panicked, my pulse spiking. "That—! That wasn't what you're making it sound like! You forced yourself on me. And nothing even happened!"
"Oh, really?" she murmured. "Do you think Yuna will believe that? Or will she only see the part where you were with me, alone in my car, with no one else around to back up your story?"
I couldn't answer. My tongue felt heavy, my chest tight.
On the other end, I heard her chuckle softly at my silence.
"Haemin, I'll make this very simple for you." Her voice lowered, dripping with calm threat. "If I don't see you in the next thirty minutes, I'll make sure everyone in Korea believes we're in a relationship. Unlike Yuna, who kept your marriage a secret, I don't care if anyone judges me for being with someone younger."
Her words sank into me like knives.
"I'll send you my location," she added, her tone snapping back into casual calm. "Don't make me wait."
______
Sera POV
The call ended with a soft click, and I let out a long breath before I knew it. My phone slipped from my hand and landed on the sofa beside me. I leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment as I pressed my palms against my temples.
My chest still felt tight, not from anger, but from the weight of everything swirling inside me. I didn't mean to threatening Haemin like that… I really didn't. But what else could I do? If I'm not forcing him, he wouldn't come otherwise.
Slowly, I stretched my legs across the sofa, sinking deeper into the cushions. My heart was still racing, but I forced myself to take slow, steady breaths. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. As I stared blankly at the ceiling, my thoughts wandered restlessly—until… a sudden realization hit me.
Not too long from now, Haemin would be here.
And we'd be…
alone.
Just the…
two of us.
"Should I just…" I whispered under my breath, the thought slipping out before I quickly shook my head.
No. Calm down, Sera. Think about the bigger picture here. You've already planned everything. Don't screw it up now. Once he's truly yours, you'll have all the time in the world. Just a little more patience.
With a quiet sigh, I leaned back against the sofa and closed my eyes, letting the silence of the room slowly settle around me.
Then, finally, after what felt like a long wait, a soft knock finally echoed against the door of my suite.
I pushed myself up from the sofa walking toward the door and open it.
Haemin stood in the hallway with his cap and face mask on, shoulders stiff, his eyes caught somewhere between nervousness and reluctance.
"…Come in," I said softly, stepping aside.
He hesitated, glancing past me into the quiet suite, but after a moment he slipped inside quickly, as if he didn't want anyone else to see. The door clicked shut behind him.
He removed his cap and lowered his mask, his voice low and uneasy. "W-What were you thinking?" he whispered harshly, turning toward me. "Calling me here of all places… in a hotel? What if anyone finds out?"
I folded my arms loosely and tilted my head, keeping my tone calm. "That's exactly why I chose here. No one will overhear us, and no one will bother us. Isn't that better? Or would you rather talk in public? I don't really mind."
His lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to argue, but he couldn't find the right words.
"Sit," I said gently, motioning toward the small table near the window. "You must be tense after rushing over. I'll make you something warm."
"Sera, please," he muttered, his voice strained. "I don't have much time. Yuna probably already knows I went out. Can you just tell me what you want and promise you'll delete—"
"Sit," I said again, this time firmer.
Haemin sighed, frustrated, but eventually lowered himself into the chair, his hands fidgeting nervously on his knees. I turned to the counter and poured hot water into the waiting coffee press. A moment later, I placed a steaming cup in front of him before sitting across from him.
"Here," I murmured, sliding the cup toward him.
He looked at it but didn't move.
"Why aren't you drinking?" I asked, my voice calm but edged with a faint amusement. "Afraid I put something in there? If I wanted to do something bad to you… I wouldn't need such a petty trick. We're alone right now, Haemin. Who's going to stop me?"
His shoulders tensed, his throat moving as he swallowed hard.
"Now drink," I said quietly.
He hesitated for a moment longer, then finally lifted the cup and took a cautious sip. The coffee barely touched his lips before he set it back down.
His eyes finally lifted to mine. "C-Can you tell me now, Sera, please?" he asked softly.
I smiled faintly. "Like I said, I just wanted to see you one last time." it's a lie, of course.
"S-Sera, please. Stop playing. Just tell me what you want… and delete those photos."
I let out a slow sigh. "Before I do that, can I ask you something?"
He blinked, a bit caught off guard. "Yes?"
"Why did you still choose to go with Yuna last night? You knew how much it hurt me, didn't you?"
He looked down, guilt flickering across his face. "I'm sorry… but she's my wife. It's only natural that I follow her."
"Even after what she had done to you?"
His breath hitched. "T-That's… I'm sure one day she'll change. I trust her."
I forced myself to stay calm, though my nails dug into my palm under the table.
"Haemin," I said, my tone low but steady, "I know I asked you this before, but I want to ask again. Do you really love her?"
"Why are you asking that, Sera? Of course I love her."
"Are you sure you're not just mistaking that for fear?"
"T-That's not—"
I smiled slightly, seeing his stutter. "See? You can't even answer properly."
He looked away, his fingers tightening around the edge of the chair.
"You know what, I'm curious," I continued softly. "I know she told you to drop out of university, but why did you agree to it so easily? Did she threaten you or something?"
"W-What? N-No, of course not. I just—" He faltered, clearly searching for an excuse. "She… she said it'd be better for me to work with her instead of wasting my time at university. Since I'll end up at her company anyway, she just… sped up the process."
I leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "You really don't know how to lie, do you?"
"No! It's the truth!"
"Haemin," I said quietly, "just tell me the truth. There's no point in lying to me. I always know when people lie."
"It is the truth," he insisted, his voice rising a little. "I'm not lying to you."
We went back and forth like that for a while, with me pressing him for the truth and Haemin denying it again and again. My voice grew firmer each time, until finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He let out a long, tired breath, realizing I wouldn't stop.
"It doesn't matter if she threatened me or not," he said finally, his voice trembling but firm. "As long as that makes her calm, I'll just do what she says. I don't want to cause trouble for anyone anymore because of her."
Hearing his words only deepened my jealousy toward Yuna. My chest aching, but I forced myself to remain calm.
"…What do you hope to gain from that, Haemin?" I asked. "By following everything she says? Do you really expect Yuna to change? Is that why you still choose to stay?"
He didn't answer right away. His eyes lowered, fingers curling against his knees again. His shoulders trembled slightly, as if the weight of everything pressing down on him was finally too much to bear.
But the longer I looked at him, the tighter my chest felt, and that tightness slowly turned into something bitter. The thought made frustration burn in my throat, and the jealousy beneath my calm expression grew even stronger.
I wanted to raise my voice and talk some sense into him, but seeing him so vulnerable like this, I couldn't bring myself to do it. So I forced myself to calm down.
"You're a kind and loyal, Haemin," I said finally, my tone softening. "Maybe that's why I fell so hard for you."
His eyes widened, and he shook his head slightly. "D-Don't say that…"
"But Haemin," I continued quietly, leaning forward a little, "I wish I could just make you see things clearly without having to show you proof. But since you trust Yuna so blindly, I can't help but wonder—what will you do when you find out what she's really been doing behind your back?"
His eyes blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by that, Sera?"
Reaching into my bag, I took out a large brown envelope and placed it on the table. The soft sound of paper brushing against the wood broke the silence hanging between us.
"Here," I said, my eyes fixed on him. "The real reason I asked you to come."
______
Yuna's POV
I walked down the hallway with Harin beside me. Today's meeting had drained more energy out of me than I cared to admit. All I wanted was a moment of quiet—away from the people who were constantly demanding my attention.
When we reached my office, Harin opened the door and bowed slightly as I stepped inside. I walked past my desk and slowly sank into my chair, resting my head against the backrest.
"Clear all my schedules for this evening," I said tiredly. "I don't want to see anyone."
"Yes, Chairwoman," Harin replied with a small bow.
I paused for a moment, then added, "And one more thing. I want you to find out every detail about that hospital. Since they dared to help Sera keep Haemin away from me, they should expect this to come back to them. Even if Daehan Group is behind them, I'll still make them pay."
Harin blinked, then straightened quickly. "Understood."
"Good. Handle it quietly," I said, my voice calm but cold.
She bowed again and left the office. The moment the door clicked shut, I let out a long, quiet sigh. My hands rested on my lap as I stared at the ceiling. I felt bad for lying to Haemin about his aunt, but I had no choice. I didn't care if he thought I was cruel or selfish.
I just didn't want to lose him again.
Closing my eyes briefly, I whispered an apology in my heart. I hoped he would understand. I was doing all this because I loved him too much. If he ever thought about leaving me again, I wanted to make sure he would think twice.
A soft sigh escaped my lips as I reached for my phone. I needed to calm down. Maybe checking where he was would help. So, I opened the GPS app.
But when the screen loaded, there was… nothing.
My brow furrowed. That couldn't be right. His signal was always visible. Maybe it was just a glitch. I exited the app and reopened it, waiting a few seconds and… still nothing.
The calm inside me began to crumble.
I leaned forward, refreshing it again and again, but his location stayed blank. My expression darkened as irritation crept through my veins.
"What the hell is this…" I muttered under my breath.
I immediately dialed his number. It rang, but no answer.
I tried again. Still nothing.
Once more. And again.
Each ring made my pulse grow louder in my ears.
"You can't be serious, Haemin…" I whispered sharply, anger twisting in my tone. "What is he thinking? Does he really want to ruin my mood today? I've been holding myself back… and this is what he does?"
Wait. Did he run away? Did he meet another woman in secret? Is that why he turned off his GPS and ignored my calls? I don't understand. Why is he doing this?
I slammed my phone onto the desk, breathing heavily. My hands trembled, not from fear but from pure frustration. I could feel my pulse pounding in my temples, my patience slipping away with every passing second.
"Just wait, Haemin," I muttered coldly, my eyes narrowing. "Just wait until I get home."
I was about to stand up, ready to end the day right there and go home, when a soft knock came at the door.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my irritation down and straightening my posture. "Come in."
The door opened, and one of my senior executives stepped inside—Executive Han, the man I had personally assigned to handle the acquisition of the Busan district. He bowed deeply, his face pale with tension.
"Chairwoman," he greeted respectfully, his tone laced with unease. "I came to report on the Busan matter. It's regarding the acquisition you instructed."
"Speak," I said coldly, folding my arms.
He hesitated for a brief moment. "There's been a development."
A chill crept down my spine. "Speak clearly, Executive Han."
He swallowed nervously. "Chairwoman, everything was running smoothly this morning, just as I reported. But about an hour ago, the situation changed completely. Busan district office suddenly canceled the inspection altogether. The entire council changed their stance. Our contacts went silent, even the ones who have worked with us for years."
My expression froze. "What do you mean canceled?"
"They've pulled out completely, Chairwoman. Not only that…" He lowered his voice. "The entire district, including the target property, has been purchased in full. Every single lot on that street changed ownership this afternoon."
The sound of my chair scraping against the floor echoed sharply in the room as I stood up. "What did you just say?"
He flinched slightly under my glare. "The district has been acquired by a private entity. The payment was made in cash through multiple shell companies. The transaction was clean. There's no trace of who's behind it. It all happened before our legal team could even file the purchase notice."
I felt my pulse spike, heat rising in my chest. "Are you telling me," I said slowly, struggling to keep my voice steady, "that someone outbid Nara Group under my watch—and bought the very property I marked from the beginning?"
"Chairwoman, we tried to respond," he stammered. "We raised our offer three times, but each time the other side countered within minutes. It's as if they already knew our numbers before we even sent them. We couldn't keep up."
I slammed my palm against the desk, the sound ringing through the office. "And you call that trying?" My voice sharpened, cutting through the air. "Do you have any idea what you've just cost me?"
Executive Han bowed his head quickly, sweat forming at his temples. "I take full responsibility, Chairwoman. But whoever orchestrated this, they were prepared for every move we made."
My breath came unevenly. The anger wasn't just from the failed acquisition. It was from what this could mean. If that restaurant had already been bought by someone else… then…
My hand clenched against the desk, my nails digging into the polished wood.
"Whoever did this," I said through clenched teeth, my voice trembling with quiet fury, "I want their name. I want every detail about them, every link, every contact, every person they have worked with. I want to know who had the nerve to double cross me. I do not care what method you use. Find them."
"Yes, Chairwoman," he said quickly, bowing low. "I'll start immediately."
"Get out."
He rushed out, closing the door behind him.
I stood there for a few seconds, frozen in place, before my legs moved on their own and carried me toward the window.
Panic clawed at the edge of my thoughts, mixing with anger and disbelief until I could no longer tell them apart.
Who dared to move against me? This didn't feel right. There was no way this was just a coincidence.
Sera… could it be you again? You're the only one with enough power to pull something like this off. But without proof, all I had were suspicions—and that only made the frustration burn deeper.
I pressed my hand against the cool glass, trying to steady my breathing, but my mind wouldn't stop racing.
Forget it. I can deal with this later. What matters right now is Haemin.
Turning sharply, I walked back to my desk and grabbed my coat from the chair, ready to leave.
But before I could take a single step toward the door, a faint commotion echoed from outside. My brow furrowed as I started walking toward the door, intending to step out and see what was going on.
But before I could reach it, the door suddenly swung open—and there he was.
Haemin.
I froze, caught between disbelief and confusion.
He stood in the doorway, breathing hard as if he had rushed all the way here, his face pale, eyes uncertain and searching for mine.