I. The Silent Consultation
Back in his sterile war room, Chairman Kim Taehyung felt the full weight of the new conspiracy. It wasn't about money or power; it was about the soul of the woman he was protecting.
He couldn't rely on general practitioners. Using his deep network, he contacted Dr. Han, a retired, world-renowned neuro-psychiatrist known for his discretion and expertise in trauma-induced memory conditions. The meeting was held under tight security, Taehyung providing only coded, vague details about a "family member recovering from a traumatic accident."
Taehyung presented the specific symptoms: the complete blank slate regarding personal history, the immediate adoption of a fictional, childish identity ("Eun-ji, the Corporate Poet"), the emotional regression, and the single, strong emotional anchor (the forehead kiss/new promise).
Dr. Han listened with solemn intensity, reviewing the carefully selected video footage of Ha-eun's erratic, demanding behavior.
"Chairman," Dr. Han finally stated, closing the file. "This is a classic case of Dissociative Amnesia, but with an intentional, protective layer. Her mind has not just lost memories; it has performed a psychological evacuation."
II. The Emotional Barrier
"What does that mean?" Taehyung asked, his voice low with dread.
"The trauma she experienced—the final betrayal, the corporate pressure, the family violence—was so immense, so existentially threatening to her core self, that her psyche chose to create a new, safe identity," Dr. Han explained. "This 'Eun-ji' persona is not accidental; it's the innocent self she always yearned to be: the painter, the poet, the child free from corporate ruthlessness."
Dr. Han leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "The dangerous truth, Chairman, is that restoring the old memories would be like sending a military strike against this new, fragile personality. The trauma that caused the amnesia is still there, lurking in the shadows."
"If I try to force the truth, what happens?"
The doctor gave a grave warning: "You risk dissolution. You will destroy 'Eun-ji,' and you might not resurrect 'Ha-eun.' You could trigger a complete psychological collapse, or—just as likely—you will bring back the ruthless Chairwoman who hates you, but this time, without the emotional fortitude to sustain that hatred. She will be capable but unstable."
Taehyung clenched his fists. The Unknown Architect, Min-ho, had forced him into an impossible choice. He had to choose between the kindness of the lie and the cruelty of the truth.
If he restored Ha-eun, he would lose the affection and trust she now placed in him, risking her sanity and bringing back the hostile rival. But if he kept the lie, she would remain vulnerable, dependent, and incapable of defending herself should Seok-jin's lingering network strike again.
III. The Art of Conflict
Taehyung returned upstairs, his heart heavy with the impossible moral burden. He found Ha-eun in the living room, sketching furiously.
"Taehyung! You are late for the afternoon limerick!" she announced, her eyes bright. "And look! I found a theme!"
She held up her sketchpad. It wasn't the usual abstract corporate dread. It was a simple, yet disturbing drawing: a single, delicate flower split down the middle. One side was vibrant and colorful, the other side was shaded in bleak, dark charcoal.
"It's a portrait of my brain," Ha-eun explained simply. "The colorful side is the funny poet who loves blue paint. But the dark side... the dark side feels like it knows how to manage a thousand employees, but is very, very cold. Which side do you like better, Taehyung?"
Taehyung looked at the drawing, seeing the literal representation of his dilemma. The choice was not hers, but his. To save the person he was beginning to cherish, he had to live the ultimate lie.
"I like the colorful side, Eun-ji," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "It is the side that is safe. It is the side we will protect."
He had made his choice: He would prioritize the promise of protection over the truth of power. He would sacrifice the old Chairwoman to save the vulnerable artist.
But in doing so, he placed himself in permanent, agonizing isolation, forced to love a memory and protect a lie, while still being the ruthless Chairman the world demanded.