Chapter 75
I unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment.
When I finally reached my bedroom, I didn't bother turning on the lights. I let myself fall face-first onto the bed, the mattress sinking under me as I exhaled a long, tired breath.
"What a day…" I murmured softly, my voice muffled against the sheets.
My whole body felt drained, like I had used up every last piece of my strength just to survive today.
Then suddenly, a realization hit me.
I never properly thanked Sera for everything she did for me. And I just left the without saying anything.
"Ahhhh, great… good job, Haemin. Really classy of you. Way to be completely rude."
I pressed my face deeper into the bedsheet, groaning at myself.
At least I would see her again tonight. I could thank her properly then.
I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling blankly. My thoughts drifted, slowly becoming heavier.
Okay… just one more month. Endure it a little longer. Once the cooling-off period ended, I'll resign and finally be free.
But… can I really trust Yuna to keep her word?
I wasn't sure anymore.
For now, I should just be grateful for this.
I kept staring at the ceiling, completely lost in my thoughts. I didn't even realize how much time had passed. My mind kept running in circles, and everything around me grew quiet and blurry.
When I finally reached for my phone, my eyes widened a little.
It was already 6:52 p.m.
At that exact moment, my phone vibrated with a message.
[Sera: I will be there in 10 minutes.]
I quickly got up and rushed to get ready.
After getting dressed, I hurried downstairs and waited outside the apartment entrance. The evening air felt a bit cold against my skin.
Just a moment later, I saw Sera's car slowly pull up in front of the building.
I took a deep breath, opened the door, and got inside the car.
_____
As soon as I got into the car, Sera looked at me with a soft smile.
"Have I kept you waiting?" she asked gently.
"No, not at all. Thank you for inviting me."
She just chuckled lightly before shifted her attention back to the road and began driving. The city lights gradually brightened the evening sky, casting a soft glow around us as we drove.
After about fifteen minutes, the car turned into a sleek, modern district filled with tall buildings and bright lights. Sera stopped in front of a large glass building.
The entrance alone looked impressive, with a red carpet and uniformed staff waiting politely.
As I stepped out and looked around, I froze for a moment. Just a few steps away, two men in suits, faces I had seen before on TV were entering the building. One of them was a well-known CEO of a major tech company. Another was a popular political figure.
Sera noticed my surprise and gave a small, amused smile.
"This place hosts a lot of business meetings and formal gatherings, so it's normal to run into people like them."
I nodded, feeling slightly out of place.
Sensing my unease, Sera added gently, "Don't be too tense. They're just here as customers tonight, same as us."
My cheeks warm, and I look away for a moment, embarrassed that she seemed to know exactly what I was thinking.
The staff bowed deeply as soon as they saw Sera.
"Welcome, Ms. Hwang."
Sera nodded lightly and motioned for me to follow.
We walked through the lobby. A few guests glanced our way, some recognizing her immediately, whispering among themselves.
Before we could head farther inside, an older man in an immaculate suit approached with a warm smile. I realized he wasn't a staff member because his posture and presence were different.
"Ms. Hwang," he greeted, bowing with genuine respect. "What an honor to have you here tonight."
Sera returned his smile politely. "It's been a while, Mr. Hong."
"I wasn't informed you'd be visiting today. Had I known earlier, I would have prepared something special."
"That's unnecessary," she said with a light chuckle. "I just needed a quiet place."
Mr. Hong's eyes shifted to me, widening slightly in surprise, though he remained professional.
"And this must be your guest?" he asked.
"Yes," Sera confirmed simply. "Is the usual room available?"
"Of course, Ms. Hwang. It's always kept ready for you. Please, allow me to show the way."
He personally escorted us through a long hallway. Staff passing by bowed immediately when they saw him, and even deeper when they saw Sera. The atmosphere shifted around her everywhere she walked. Even without saying anything, her influence was unmistakable.
Mr. Hong opened a door with a graceful gesture. "Please enjoy your evening. If there is anything you need, don't hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you," Sera said, and Mr. Hong stepped out after another deep bow.
Inside, the private dining room was warm and tranquil. Soft amber lights illuminated the space, and a wide glass window showcased the glowing city far below.
For a moment, I just stood there, overwhelmed by everything.
Sera walked ahead, then turned to me with a faint, reassuring smile. Without a word, she placed her hand lightly on my arm and guided me toward the table.
"Sit," she said softly. "Make yourself comfortable."
"Thanks," I muttered quietly and took my seat.
Sera sat across from me with unhurried grace, crossing her legs and resting her hands calmly on the table. For a moment, she simply watched me.
A server entered quietly, placing two menus in front of us and pouring water into crystal glasses before slipping out without a sound.
I opened the menu, but almost everything inside was something I had never seen before. I'd been to a place like this with Yuna long ago. Back then, I pretended to know exactly what I was doing and confidently ordered something that sounded fancy… only to spend the night clutching my stomach on the bathroom floor.
Yuna didn't go to work the next day because she stayed home to take care of me the entire time, feeding me porridge and scolding me like a mother hen. Well, that was before something in her completely changed.
I let out a quiet sigh at the memory and kept staring at the menu, trying to decide without looking clueless.
"You don't have to overthink it," Sera said, immediately noticing my hesitation. "Just order whatever you feel like eating. If you're unsure, I can recommend something."
Her voice was gentle, almost reassuring.
I gave an awkward smile. "W-Well, if you don't mind… then please recommend something."
Sera smiled softly.
She signaled a server to come over, and in a calm, elegant tone, she listed a series of dishes so smoothly it sounded like she had memorized them long ago.
The server bowed politely and left.
Sera rested her chin on her hand, studying me for a moment.
"You look tired," she said softly. "These past few weeks… it must have been hard for you, hasn't it?"
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "Well… yeah, you could say that." I hesitated, then added, "oh, by the way, Sera… I've been meaning to ask. How did you know I would be at that hotel today?"
"Let's just say," she began, her tone calm, "I have people who keep me informed when there's something I need to know, whenever I want."
I blinked, taking in her words slowly.
"A-and what about Attorney Park?" I asked hesitantly. "How do you know him?"
Sera let out a soft chuckle, leaning back slightly.
"I met him when I was in Geneva," she explained. "Back then, my company was dealing with a complicated international legal issue. Most lawyers couldn't handle it, but he resolved everything flawlessly. At the time, he was already known as one of the most capable attorneys in international corporate law."
I listened quietly.
"After that, I chose to bring him onto my legal team," she continued. "He's the one I trust above anyone else when it comes to these matters."
"So he came all the way from Geneva?" I asked, surprised. "Isn't that… too much, just to help me?"
"Why not?" Sera replied casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Was he useful to you?"
I nodded without hesitation. "Yes. He's… incredibly capable. And I was genuinely impressed by how he handled the opposing attorney. He did exceptionally well today."
Sera's expression softened, hearing the sincerity in my voice.
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then—
"Haemin… do you want to know something?" Sera broke the silence, her voice calm yet firm. "I never actually intended to let you meet Yuna on your own today."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
Sera turned her eyes toward the window, the city lights reflecting faintly in the glass. "I have already heard the recording audio, Haemin."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
"It was when I went to your room to grab a blanket for you yesterday," she continued. "I saw that pen on your desk and I knew right away it wasn't an ordinary pen… because I have the same device myself."
I swallowed hard, my mind racing.
Sera's brow knit slightly, but she didn't avert her eyes from the city outside. "Hearing the content of that audio… it disgusted me. And when I reached the part where she tried to harm you…" Her voice trailed off, heavy with unspoken anger.
She paused, then spoke again, softer this time. "At first, I honestly wondered why you insisted on meeting Yuna alone. I thought maybe you were overconfident, or… maybe reckless. But then I realized… you had solid evidence in your hands."
I hesitated, unsure what to say.
"If it were up to me, I really would have gone with you. But I didn't want Yuna to turn my presence there to her advantage. That's why I decided to call my lawyer to help you. I just didn't expect you would back out in the end."
Sera looked at me and gave a soft smile. "Now you see why I was so upset when you let Yuna go, don't you?"
I looked down at my hands. "I… I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice barely audible.
Sera sighed slowly. "Forget it. I'm not mad about it anymore. Let's just forget about it."
Just then, the door opened and the food arrived. Beautiful plates were placed gently in front of us. After that, the server bowed and left quietly.
Sera smiled, lifting her glass slightly.
"Let's eat," she said.
I slowly lifted my glass and nodded.
"…Let's eat."
Her eyes softened again, more than before.
_____
Time really flew by. I barely realized how long we had been at the restaurant. Probably close to two hours. The food had been incredible, each dish carefully prepared. Even though I didn't know exactly what I was eating half the time, everything tasted amazing.
Sera and I talked casually throughout the meal. Most of the time, I asked about her life in Geneva. She shared everything with me, and I found myself completely absorbed in her stories. Somehow, I felt like I had learned more about her than I ever expected.
I also discovered that the man who had personally guided us to the private room was the owner of the restaurant. To think the owner of such a prestigious place would treat her with that level of respect.
Well… as expected of Sera.
Now, on our way home, Sera seemed in a good mood. I felt a small sense of relief. I wasn't entirely sure how to repay her for everything she had done for me. At the very least, keeping her company for the evening felt like a start.
A few minutes later, the car stopped in front of my apartment building. I took a slow breath and organized my thoughts.
"Sera… erm, thanks for the ride… and also for inviting me tonight," I began slowly, making sure every word was chosen carefully. "And also… I never really had the chance to properly thank you for everything you've done for me. Please, allow me to do that now. Truly, Sera, thank you. I really appreciate it."
For a moment, Sera didn't say anything, as if weighing each of my words. The silence stretched on a little longer before she finally let out a soft, almost disappointed laugh.
"I'm really going to lose my mind at this rate," she murmured to herself, shaking her head with a small, exhausted smile.
She leaned back against her seat, staring straight ahead. Her expression shifted.
"Haemin," she said quietly.
The tone in her voice made me look at her immediately.
"I don't want your gratitude," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "Do you really think I'm doing all of this just to hear you say thank you?"
My breath caught for a moment.
"You already know why I'm doing this for you," she continued. "So please… if you respect me even a little, stop pretending you don't understand. Acting clueless like this… it hurts me."
Panic rushed through me. "No, no— I never meant to make you feel like that. I truly didn't, I swear. I just— you know about my circumstances and—
I stopped myself, because the moment I mentioned it, her expression changed immediately. A sudden coldness settling over her eyes, like she didn't want to hear another word of that excuse.
I supposed it was inevitable we would reach this point.
"Sera… I really do appreciate everything you've done," I said softly. "I have known from the very beginning why you have been helping me and caring for me so much.
I paused, carefully choosing what to say so I would not upset her.
"But… can you wait?" I asked quietly.
"Whatever you're hoping for from me… can you wait until my cooling-off period is over?"
Sera didn't respond right away after hearing that. She just looked at me, and the silence stretched again.
"And how do I know," she finally said, her voice low, "that you won't change your mind after a month?"
"I—well…" I struggled, my voice cracking slightly. "I'm not really sure how to assure you."
I let out an awkward, nervous little laugh as I lifted my hand to scratch my cheek, unable to meet her eyes for a moment.
"It's not like I'm the type who casually flirts around," I said quietly. "And… you've been the one who's always been there for me, from the beginning. It's only natural that I give you my attention and… prioritize you after this."
The last few words slipped out more softly, almost to myself but loud enough that Sera clearly heard them.
She exhaled slowly, her shoulders loosening just a little. Then she leaned back in her seat again, trying to steady her emotions.
"Okay," she said. "I'll trust your word."
Her gaze locked onto mine, firm and unwavering now.
"But," she continued, pausing for a moment, "starting from now… don't avoid me anymore, Haemin."
Her words lingered in the air. I lowered my gaze, letting my thoughts settle.
After a moment of careful consideration, I lifted my head again and looked at Sera.
"…Alright," I said with a faint smile.
Sera's expression softened almost immediately at my response.
"Okay, it's getting late. I should head up now," I said quietly. "Drive safely, alright?"
I reached for the door handle, but before I could open it, I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder. The sudden warmth made me turn back toward Sera—
—and in the next second, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against my cheek.
I froze, completely stunned. My breath caught, and for a moment I couldn't even move. Sera pulled back just enough for me to see her expression. Her eyes were calm.
"For now… I'll take this first," she whispered softly. "Make sure you keep your promise."
My heart skipped a beat. I opened my mouth but couldn't form a single word.
Sera smiled gently as she looked at my reaction.
"Goodnight, Haemin," she said quietly. "I'll see you soon."
Still speechless, I finally nodded and slowly stepped out of the car. The door closed behind me, and the engine hummed softly as the car pulled away. I just stood there, watching the tail lights disappear into the night, still feeling the faint warmth lingering on my cheek.