Morning came too fast.
Ye-rin barely slept. Every time her eyes closed, she saw it again.
The car. His arm around her waist. His heartbeat beneath her cheek.
And that question.
Have we really never met before?
She groaned, burying her face into the pillow. "Why would he ask something like that…"
A small body stirred beside her.
"Mom…"
Her heart melted instantly.
Min-joon blinked up at her, messy hair everywhere.
"You came home late."
"I know," she whispered, brushing it back. "Sorry, baby."
"Bad boss again?"
She laughed softly. "…Something like that."
If only he knew. Her "bad boss" was actually—
No. Don't think about it.
She pinched her own cheek. "Okay. School first. Hurry."
By 9:03 a.m., the building felt colder than usual.
Too bright. Too quiet. Too tense.
As she stepped into the office, heads turned.
Whispers floated.
"She left with the CEO last night…"
"She must be special…"
Her ears burned.
She rushed to her desk, keeping her head down.
Damage done.
Interns staring. Employees judging.
Then—a chair scraped. Click. Click. Click.
High heels. Sharp. Familiar.
Ye-rin stiffened. Not her. Please, not her.
"Wow… look who's glowing today."
Han So-ra. Perfect smile. Perfect poison.
She leaned on Ye-rin's desk.
"So… you went home with Director Kang last night?"
The office fell silent.
Ye-rin forced a small smile. "He just dropped me off. It was raining."
"Oh really? From what I heard… he never drives women home."
Nails tapped. Slow. Taunting. "Must be nice… being special."
"I'm not," Ye-rin said softly.
So-ra tilted her head. "Mm."
Before she could respond—
"Seo Ye-rin."
Deep. Calm. Cold.
The floor froze.
Director Kang. Standing. Watching.
When did he get there?
Her heartbeat jumped. "…Yes, sir."
"Bring yesterday's report."
She hurried past So-ra, noting the cracks in her perfect smile. Jealousy. Ugly, sharp, obvious.
Inside the office, door closed, silence wrapped them.
Jae-hyun didn't sit. Didn't look at the file. Just watched her.
"…You're popular today," he said quietly.
"…Sir?"
"People talk too much."
Her throat tightened. "…Sorry if it caused trouble."
"You didn't. Let them talk."
"…Yes, sir."
He stepped closer. Just enough to make her nervous.
"…Relax. I don't care."
Her heart stumbled. Everything he said sounded dangerous.
She handed him the report. Fingers brushed. Electric. She recoiled.
His eyes darkened.
Before words could come—
Bzzz.
Her phone vibrated.
Min-joon. School break.
If she didn't pick up, he'd worry.
"…Sir, may I—"
"Answer it."
She turned, voice low. "Hello?"
"Mama!"
Her lips softened. "Yes, sweetheart."
"I finished my test! Teacher say I did well!"
"That's my smart boy."
Static crackled. The signal dipped.
"…Mama… when you come—"
"I can't hear you clearly," she said, moving to the window. "Min—speak louder—"
"Mijoon—"
Line cut. Silence.
"…Hello? Hello?"
No signal.
She sighed, turning back.
And froze.
Jae-hyun. Watching. Silent.
"…What did you just say?" he asked softly.
Her heart skipped. "Sir?"
"The name. That boy's name."
Her fingers tightened. "…I said I couldn't hear him."
"…Mm." His gaze lingered. Something shifted. Suspicion, tiny and sharp.
Because for a second—he thought he recognized it from the academy.
The boy. The academy. That bright little face which looks exactly like his.
Coincidence… right?
She put the phone down, trembling.
"…Kids," she whispered.
Behind her, Jae-hyun stood, silent. Cold. Calm. Dangerous.
But his chest tightened in a way he couldn't explain.
He didn't understand why her voice, soft and warm, made something twist inside him.
"…Five years…" he murmured under his breath. Shaking his head.
Ridiculous coincidences, he told himself.
Still…
He opened a drawer. Glanced at nothing in particular. The feeling remained.
Something about her. About that voice. About that name.
"…Who are you, Seo Ye-rin…"
Upstairs on the office floor, Ye-rin stared at her phone.
A message popped up from Min-joon:
I love you, Mama ❤️
Her eyes softened.
Another message appeared. Unknown number, no name.
We need to talk.
Her blood ran cold.
She recognized it instantly.
Han So-ra.