Ji-Ah stepped out of the house and let the door close quietly behind her.
She stood on the pavement for a moment.
Then she released a long breath. "Finally..."
Her shoulders dropped. She looked down at the bag hanging from her hand. Inside it were documents that had completely changed what she thought she knew about Min-Ji.
Her real name was Park Seo-Rin.
She had a husband. Park Ji-Hoo.
And they had a little boy. Park Tae-Hyun.
Ji-Ah's expression softened. "Poor kid..."
He had no idea. As far as Tae-Hyun knew, his mother was simply away.
He didn't know that she had left him behind. He didn't know that she was now engaged to a wealthy CEO.
And he certainly didn't know that money was the reason she'd chosen a completely different life.
Ji-Ah hugged the bag closer. "And Ha-Joon doesn't know any of this."
That was the part that bothered her most.
She needed to tell him. He deserved to know exactly who he was about to marry.
But then another thought entered her mind.
Will he believe me?
She imagined Ha-Joon looking at her with that calm expression. Where's your proof?
She had proof. But would he accept it?
And even if he did... Madam would probably make the situation ten times worse.
Madam had practically encouraged Ha-Joon and Min-Ji's engagement from the beginning.
For some reason, she seemed determined to find the "perfect" woman for her son.
Ji-Ah sighed. "She really thinks she's the CEO of everyone's love life."
She started walking. Then another thought struck her.
Ha-Joon doesn't even have his father around.
That meant Madam's opinion carried even more weight in his life.
And yet... Maybe he would still listen.
Maybe he would help.
Ji-Ah's steps became quicker despite her ankle. "If I tell him everything, he'll understand."
She nodded to herself. "Then he'll help me expose Min-Ji."
A tiny smile appeared. "It's not like he likes her anyway."
She stopped. "...Right?"
She stared ahead. "Right."
She continued walking.
Unfortunately, she didn't notice the two people standing farther down the street.
Ha-Joon and Min-Ji.
They had stopped near a small café. Ji-Ah's eyes caught them.
She immediately slowed. Ha-Joon was sitting across from Min-Ji.
He looked exhausted.
Min-Ji, on the other hand, looked perfectly pleased.
She was smiling brightly while Ha-Joon held a small piece of food toward her. "Try this."
Min-Ji opened her mouth.
Ha-Joon fed her. Ji-Ah stopped behind the corner.
Her expression went blank.
Seriously?
Min-Ji smiled. "That's good."
Ha-Joon gave a small nod. "Then eat it."
He looked like he would rather have been reviewing a hundred-page business contract.
Min-Ji, however, looked delighted.
She reached over and touched his sleeve. "You're always taking care of me."
Ha-Joon didn't answer.
Ji-Ah watched from a distance.
Her fingers tightened around her bag.
She doesn't love him. The thought came immediately. She wants his money.
Ji-Ah looked at Min-Ji.
Then at Ha-Joon.
If we could just get the truth out of her...
She glanced down at the bag.
She had the documents.
She had Ji-Hoo.
She had Tae-Hyun.
She had enough pieces to start putting everything together.
But exposing Min-Ji would be easier if Ha-Joon knew first.
Ji-Ah took a quiet breath. I'll tell him.
She turned around. She wasn't going to interrupt them.
Not yet. She walked away.
At that exact moment, Ha-Joon looked up.
Something had caught his attention.
A familiar movement.
Someone disappearing around the corner.
His eyebrows narrowed.
He turned slightly. But the street was already empty.
Min-Ji noticed. "What are you looking at?"
Ha-Joon stared toward the corner for another second. "I thought I saw someone."
"Who?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing." He looked back at her. "We should go."
Min-Ji blinked. "Already?"
"I have work."
She frowned slightly. "But we just got here."
"I know."
He stood and picked up his coat. "We'll go back to the hotel."
Min-Ji quickly stood too.
She slipped her arm through his. "Okay."
Ha-Joon glanced once more toward the street.
Still nothing.
Yet the strange feeling remained.
Somewhere nearby, Ji-Ah was carrying a truth that could change everything.
And Ha-Joon had absolutely no idea that the person he had just been looking for was already on her way back to him.
Ji-Ah finally made it back to the hotel.
The walk from the entrance to the reception desk felt much longer than it should have.
Her ankle throbbed with every step.
She tried to walk normally.
She failed.
One step was fine.
The next had her face tightening.
"I know..." she muttered under her breath. "I should've listened to him."
She glanced down at her ankle. "If I had stayed in my room, none of this would've happened. Ankle be grateful."
She limped toward the reception desk, pretending she was perfectly fine.
Then the hotel doors opened behind her. Ji-Ah froze.
She knew those footsteps.
She looked sideways.
Ha-Joon and Min-Ji had just entered.
Oh, wonderful.
Ji-Ah immediately turned toward the receptionist and smiled far too brightly.
"Beautiful weather today."
The receptionist blinked. "...It's raining."
Ji-Ah paused. "Exactly."
The receptionist looked confused.
Min-Ji walked past them, but Ha-Joon stopped. "Min-Ji, go ahead."
She turned. "What?"
"I need to take care of something."
Min-Ji glanced between him and Ji-Ah.
For a second, her eyes narrowed.
Then she smiled. "Alright. I'll see you upstairs."
She walked toward the elevators.
Ji-Ah continued pretending to be fascinated by the reception desk.
"So... do you have, um..." She searched desperately for something to say. "...nice elevators?"
The receptionist stared at her. Before she could answer, a hand gently tapped Ji-Ah's shoulder. She closed her eyes.
Of course.
She slowly turned around. Ha-Joon stood behind her.
His expression was a strange mixture of disbelief and disappointment. "Why are you here?"
Ji-Ah blinked.
"Oh." She pointed toward the windows. "I came to check the weather."
Ha-Joon stared at her.
She smiled.
"Wow. Beautiful weather."
He glanced toward the windows.
Rain streaked down the glass.
Then he looked back at her. "Ji-Ah."
"...Yes?"
"I told you to rest your ankle."
His voice was quiet, but there was a firmness underneath it.
"It is resting."
"You are standing."
"I'm resting emotionally."
The receptionist covered a laugh with her hand.
Ha-Joon sighed softly. "Your ankle isn't better."
"It is."
"You can't even walk properly."
"I can walk."
"Then walk."
Ji-Ah immediately took one step.
Her face twisted.
Ha-Joon raised an eyebrow.
She straightened. "See?"
"You almost fell."
"I was testing gravity."
His expression remained unimpressed. "Ji-Ah."
She sighed. "Fine."
He held out his hand. "Come here."
She stared at it "No."
His hand remained there.
"I can walk by myself."
"You're limping."
"I'm still walking."
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult."
"I'm not a disabled person."
The receptionist finally spoke. "Madam, just let him help you."
Ji-Ah pointed at her. "Don't encourage him."
Ha-Joon simply stepped closer and gently took Ji-Ah's hand.
She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already guiding her toward the elevator.
"This is humiliating," she muttered.
"You injured yourself."
"I know."
"You were told to rest."
"I know."
"And you ignored me."
"I know."
His voice softened.
"Then please don't make it worse."
Ji-Ah looked at him.
Something about the quiet way he said it made her stop arguing.
He wasn't angry.
He was worried.
They reached the elevator.
Ha-Joon pressed the button and stayed beside her, keeping one hand lightly around hers so she wouldn't lose her balance.
Ji-Ah looked down at their hands.
Then away.
Should I tell him now?
The thought returned.
About Seo-Rin. Ji-Hoo. Tae-Hyun.
She glanced at Ha-Joon.
He looked genuinely worried.
Maybe now was the right time.
But then she remembered everything she'd found.
The documents.
The photograph.
The medical records.
The little boy who still believed his mother was coming home.
Tomorrow.
She swallowed.
I'll tell him tomorrow.
The elevator doors opened.
They reached her room.
Ha-Joon opened the door and guided her inside.
This was the second time he had brought her back to her room because of that ankle.
Ji-Ah sat carefully on the edge of the bed.
She rubbed her face. "CEO Kim Ha-Joon..."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"You care about me more than your fiancée."
He became still.
Ji-Ah immediately looked down.
"I don't want to become a burden. And sometimes..." She hesitated. "I feel like the other woman."
Ha-Joon stared at her for a moment.
Then he sighed quietly. "Excuse me for caring about you."
Ji-Ah looked up.
"I'm sorry if you're deeply offended by me caring."
"I didn't say that."
"You sounded like you were about to."
"I wasn't."
He stepped closer.
His voice was gentler now "Ji-Ah, you're injured. You're tired. You went somewhere without telling anyone, and now you're barely able to walk. Of course I'm going to worry."
She looked away. "It's just ... this gives Min-Ji another reason to hate me."
Ha-Joon's eyebrows pulled together. "Another reason?"
Ji-Ah hesitated.
He stepped closer. "What are you trying to say?"
She looked at him.
"I..."
Suddenly, the room tilted.
Ji-Ah's expression changed.
She reached for the bed.
"My head..." She sat down quickly. "Oh, my head hurts."
Ha-Joon immediately crouched beside her. "Are you dizzy?"
"A little."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm telling you now."
He shook his head softly. "You really don't know how to take care of yourself."
He stood and went toward the small drawer beside the bed.
Ji-Ah watched him rummage through it.
He pulled out medicine and a glass of water. "Take this."
She frowned. "No."
"Ji-Ah."
"I don't like medicine."
"Drink it."
"No."
"Ji-Ah."
His tone remained calm, but there was no room for negotiation.
She looked at him.
He looked back.
She finally surrendered. "You're bossy."
"I know."
She swallowed the medicine and drank the water.
Ha-Joon took the glass from her. "You need to take better care of yourself."
Ji-Ah lowered her eyes. "I'll try."
"I don't want you to try."
She looked up.
"I want you to actually do it."
There was no teasing in his voice now.
Only concern.
He gently tapped her cheek.
The moment his fingers touched her skin, he froze.
Apparently, even he hadn't expected himself to do that.
Ji-Ah blinked.
He slowly withdrew his hand. "Rest."
She smiled faintly. "Yes, sir."
"And don't get up."
"Okay."
"And don't go wandering around."
"Okay."
He turned toward the door.
"Ha-Joon."
He stopped.
Ji-Ah looked down at her hands. "Don't."
He turned back.
"Don't what?"
She shook her head. "Don't keep taking care of me like this."
His expression softened. "Why?"
"Because..." She struggled to find the words. "Because I know where this leads."
He took a step toward her. "It doesn't have to lead anywhere."
She looked at him.
"I know what you're saying."
"Then why are you stopping me?"
Ji-Ah's eyes dropped. "Because there are things I need to tell you first."
He was quiet. "What things?"
She looked at him, but the words wouldn't come. Tomorrow."
His eyes searched hers. "Are you sure?"
She nodded. "Tomorrow."
He studied her for another second before finally nodding. "Alright."
He didn't push.
He simply walked toward the door again.
Ji-Ah watched him. "Ha-Joon?"
He looked back.
"Thank you."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Rest, Ji-Ah."
He turned the handle.
"And please..."
He glanced back at her.
"...don't make me come looking for you again."
She nodded quietly.
"I won't."
He left.
Ji-Ah sat there in silence.
Her smile disappeared.
She looked toward the door.
Tomorrow.
She had to tell him everything tomorrow.
About Seo-Rin.
About Ji-Hoo.
About Tae-Hyun.
And about the life Min-Ji had hidden from everyone.
She slowly touched the edge of her bag where the documents were hidden.
Ha-Joon deserves to know the truth.
And this time, she wasn't going to let fear stop her.