The office emptied. Only Kai and Hana remained.
He drew the curtains, shutting out the world. "Sit."
She sat at the edge of the sofa, her pulse loud in her ears.
Kai studied her for a long moment. "You've grown."
Her lips curved in a bitter smile. "That's all you noticed?"
His voice dropped, quiet but steady. "You're even prettier now."
Heat crept up her neck. She hated how much it still affected her.
Then he leaned forward. "Hana… let's go through with this marriage."
Her breath caught. "You're serious?"
"It's only for a while. Mom won't release my inheritance unless I settle down."
Her eyes narrowed. "So this is about money."
"No." His jaw clenched. "It's about Mom. She won't move on with her life until she sees me married. I don't want her tied to the past forever."
Hana's heart softened, just a little. He wasn't lying.
She sighed, looking away. "Fine. Six months. But that's all."
Relief flickered across his face. "Thank you, Hana."
He hesitated, then added lowly, "Jihoon can't know. If your brother finds out, he'll kill me."
Her chest tightened. Hiding it from Jihoon meant betraying him.
And in that moment, Hana realized—she was trapped between her brother's trust and the boy who once shattered her heart.