Morning felt wrong.
Too bright.
Too sharp.
Too loud.
Ye‑rin stood outside the office elevator, staring at her reflection in the steel doors.
Pale face.
Dry lips.
Eyes that hadn't slept.
"Calm down…" she whispered.
Today was just a meeting.
Nothing more.
Nothing dangerous.
Just Seo Mi‑ra.
Her step‑sister.
Her nightmare.
The elevator dinged.
Doors slid open.
And fate dragged her inside.
The company floor buzzed with quiet activity.
Keyboards clicking.
Phones ringing.
Coffee machines hissing.
Normal.
Too normal.
Ye‑rin slipped into her desk like a shadow, head lowered, hair falling over her face.
Invisible.
She needed to be invisible.
Because if Mi‑ra saw her—
Everything would end.
Inside the CEO's office—
Kang Jae‑hyun stood by the window.
Hands in pockets.
Suit sharp.
Back straight.
Watching the city like it owed him answers.
He hadn't slept either.
Fragments kept replaying.
A girl leaving a hotel.
A child with familiar eyes.
His secretary's trembling hands.
Nothing connected.
Yet everything felt connected.
Annoying.
Unsettling.
"…She'll be here soon," he said calmly.
Ye‑rin nodded.
"…Yes, sir."
Her throat felt tight.
Click.
Click.
Click.
High heels.
Slow.
Confident.
Deadly.
The sound echoed down the hallway.
Ye‑rin's heart dropped to her stomach.
No.
Not yet.
Not now—
The office door opened.
Seo Mi‑ra walked in like she owned the world.
Designer dress.
Glossy lips.
Cold eyes.
Beautiful.
Cruel.
Her gaze swept the room lazily—
Then stopped.
On Ye‑rin.
Time froze.
Shock flashed across Mi‑ra's face.
Pure disbelief.
"…You?" she breathed.
Ye‑rin's body reacted before her brain.
She lowered her head fast.
Turned away.
Hair covering her face.
Please don't look at me.
Please don't—
"What are YOU doing here?!"
The scream exploded through the office.
Chairs scraped.
Staff jumped.
Mi‑ra stormed forward.
Fury replacing elegance.
"You shameless thing!"
Before Ye‑rin could move—
SLAP!
Her wrist was grabbed.
Hard.
Pain shot up her arm.
"I thought you ran away!" Mi‑ra hissed. "After disgracing Dad, you still dare come back to the city?!"
Ye‑rin's heart pounded.
Not here.
Not in front of him.
"Let go—" she whispered desperately.
"There's nothing left for you!" Mi‑ra snapped. "We already got everything! Why are you still alive—"
"Enough."
One word.
Cold.
Heavy.
The entire room went silent.
Jae‑hyun stepped forward.
Eyes dark.
Dangerous.
"…Do you two know each other?"
Silence.
Mi‑ra opened her mouth—
"She's just a friend."
Ye‑rin cut in quickly.
Too quickly.
Too smooth.
She forced a polite smile.
"You wanted to see her, right, sir?"
Mi‑ra stared at her.
Confused.
Suspicious.
Why lie?
But Ye‑rin's eyes begged her.
Don't say it.
Please.
Jae‑hyun's gaze sharpened.
Something felt wrong.
But he didn't press.
"…Sit," he said.
Mi‑ra sat.
Ye‑rin bowed quickly.
"I'll bring coffee."
And escaped.
Pantry.
Door closed.
Her hands shook so badly the cups rattled.
Breathe.
Breathe.
If she tells him we're sisters—
He'll ask questions.
He'll investigate.
He'll find Min‑joon.
No.
No.
No.
She grabbed the tray.
Walked back.
Each step heavier than the last.
Inside—
Jae‑hyun leaned back in his chair.
Eyes locked on Mi‑ra.
No emotion.
But terrifyingly calm.
"…Let's talk about five years ago," he said.
Mi‑ra stiffened.
"…Excuse me?"
"The hotel."
Silence.
"You entered my room that morning."
Her smile faltered.
"I—"
"You weren't alone. You had someone with you."
Her fingers tightened on her purse.
Jae‑hyun's voice lowered.
Sharp.
"Which means you knew someone was already there."
Her heartbeat showed on her throat.
Visible.
"…Director Kang, I—"
"I only need one thing," he cut in.
His eyes turned cold.
"Who was that woman?"
The door opened.
Ye‑rin entered.
Tray trembling.
Her ears rang.
He's asking.
He's asking.
Mi‑ra's lips parted—
"I—"
Ye‑rin's hand slipped.
Coffee spilled.
Splash.
Hot liquid poured over Mi‑ra's hand.
"AHHH!"
The scream tore through the room.
Cup shattered.
Coffee dripping.
Ye‑rin bowed repeatedly.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Mi‑ra clutched her hand, face twisted in pain.
"You idiot! It's hot!"
Jae‑hyun frowned.
Annoyed.
"…Go to the hospital," he ordered coldly.
An assistant rushed in.
Mi‑ra shot Ye‑rin one last suspicious glare—
Then left.
Door closed.
Silence returned.
Too quiet.
Too heavy.
Ye‑rin turned to leave—
"Wait."
Her feet froze.
Click.
The door locked behind her.
Her pulse exploded.
Slow footsteps approached.
One.
Two.
Three.
He stopped in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
"…Ye‑rin."
His voice was low.
Dangerous.
"…What are you hiding?"
Her throat dried instantly.
"I—"
"The other day at the academy," he continued quietly, "I noticed a child who looked strangely like me."
Her heart nearly stopped.
"You suddenly got 'sick.'"
Step closer.
"You distracted me."
Closer.
"Today, you and Seo Mi‑ra fight the moment you see each other."
Closer.
"And just now…"
His eyes dropped to her trembling hands.
"You spilled coffee before she could answer me."
Silence crushed the room.
"…Coincidence?" he asked softly.
She couldn't breathe.
"…I find something else strange."
Another step.
Their bodies almost touching now.
"…Apart from that woman five years ago…"
His hand lifted.
Slowly.
Touched her wrist.
Warm.
Firm.
"…you're the only woman I can touch without any reaction."
Her eyes widened.
"…Who are you really?"
Her lips trembled.
Should she tell him?
Should she lie?
Her mind screamed run.
But her feet wouldn't move.
"…Sir, I—"
He suddenly pulled her closer.
And kissed her.
Soft at first.
Testing.
Careful.
Then—
Something snapped.
Heat.
Recognition.
Memory.
His fingers tightened around her waist.
Her breath hitched.
That same feeling.
That same warmth.
That same scent.
Five years ago.
The girl in the hotel.
The trembling kiss.
The exact same lips.
His eyes opened mid‑kiss.
Shock flashed.
It's her.
His heart pounded wildly.
Impossible.
But—
It's her.
Ye‑rin's mind went blank.
Her body remembered before she did.
That night.
That warmth.
That safety.
She clutched his shirt unconsciously.
Just like before.
Time blurred.
The world disappeared.
Until—
Reality crashed back.
She pushed him away.
Breathing hard.
Eyes wide.
Terrified.
He stared at her like he'd seen a ghost.
"…It's you," he whispered.
Her heart dropped.