**Kael's POV - Two Weeks Later**
The conference room at KDX Entertainment was full.
My management team. PR. Legal. Director Han. And me.
We'd spent the last two weeks dealing with the fallout from my statement. Meetings with sponsors. Damage control. Crisis management.
But something had shifted.
After my phone call with Park Min-ho's mother—a conversation that had lasted over an hour, full of tears and apologies and something that felt like the beginning of forgiveness—the public narrative had started to change.
People began sharing the full story. Not just the headlines. But the details. The context. The fact that I was fifteen. That it was an accident. That I'd been carrying this guilt for nine years.
The hashtag changed from #CancelKael to #ForgiveKael.
Major news outlets started posting think-pieces about cancel culture, redemption, and the way we treat people who make mistakes as children.
Min-ho's mother had even released a statement of her own, saying that while she would never forget her son, she understood that I had been a child too. That she didn't want my life destroyed the way hers had been.
And slowly, sponsors started calling back.
Not all of them. But enough.
"So," my manager said, pulling up a spreadsheet. "Three major brands have confirmed they're staying. Two new brands have reached out about potential partnerships. And the Seoul Music Awards committee has officially stated they will not be revoking your Daesang."
Relief washed over me.
"What about the tour?" I asked.
"Still on. Ticket sales actually increased after your statement. People want to see you and Support you."
Director Han leaned forward. "Kael, you need to understand something. You're not going back to the way things were. You're moving forward to something different. You're no longer just an idol. You're a human being who made mistakes and owned them. That's powerful."
I nodded slowly.
"And," she continued with a small smile, "it helps that you have someone standing by your side through all of this."
Everyone in the room looked at me knowingly.
Sunshine.
---
**Sunshine's POV**
I was at my desk when my phone buzzed.
**Kael: Meeting's over. They're keeping the tour. Sponsors are coming back. I think we're going to be okay.**
I smiled.
**Me: Told you. People see the truth when you give them a chance.**
**Kael: Come to my office?**
**Me: Give me five minutes.**
I finished the schedule I was working on and headed to his office.
The past two weeks had been intense. After his statement went viral, after the call with Min-ho's mother, after everything—we'd made a decision.
We were going public with our relationship.
At first, Director Han had been hesitant. "The timing might not be ideal," she'd said. "People might think you're using this for sympathy."
But Kael had been firm. "I'm done hiding. I hid my past for nine years and it nearly destroyed me. I'm not hiding the woman I love."
So we'd posted a photo. Just one. Simple. The two of us on his couch, my head on his shoulder, his arm around me, both of us smiling.
The caption: *She stayed when everyone else left. That's all you need to know.*
The response had been overwhelming.
Some people were angry. Called me a gold-digger. A fool. Said I was only with him for fame.
But most people were supportive.
**She's brave for standing by him.**
**This is what real love looks like.**
**If someone stood by me through my worst, I'd never let them go.**
**They look happy. Let them be happy.**
And we were happy.
For the first time in nine years, Kael wasn't hiding. Wasn't pretending. He was just... himself.
And I got to be with him. Openly. Without sneaking around or worrying about being caught.
---
**Kael's POV**
She walked into my office, and my heart did that thing it always did when I saw her.
Skipped a beat. Stumbled. Reminded me that I was in love.
"Hey," she said, closing the door behind her.
"Hey."
She sat on the edge of my desk. "So? How did it go?"
"Better than expected. The tour is still on. Sponsors are coming back. Awards committee is keeping the Daesang." I stood up and moved closer to her. "Turns out honesty works."
"Told you."
I stepped between her legs, hands resting on her hips.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"For what?"
"For staying. For believing me. For standing by me when it would've been easier to walk away."
She cupped my face in her hands. "Kael, I love you. I'm not going anywhere. Ever."
I kissed her. Soft and slow and full of everything I couldn't put into words.
When we pulled apart, she was smiling.
"Your dad called me yesterday," she said.
I tensed. "He did?"
"Yeah. He wanted to thank me. For staying with you through everything. For being there when he couldn't be."
My relationship with my father had been complicated for years. But since that night in the hospital, since the article, since everything—we'd been talking more. Actually talking. Not just surface-level conversations, but real ones.
He'd told me he was proud of me. Not just for the award, but for facing my past. For being honest.
And he'd told me that Sunshine was good for me. That he could see the difference she made in my life.
"He gave us his blessing," Sunshine continued. "Said that any woman who stands by you through a storm like that is someone worth keeping."
My throat tightened. "He said that?"
"Yeah." She smiled. "I think he likes me."
I pulled her closer. "Good. Because I'm not letting you go."
---
**Sunshine's POV - Later That Evening**
We left the office together. No hiding. No sneaking out separately.
We walked out the front door, hand in hand, and got into his car.
Reporters were still camped outside KDX Entertainment sometimes, but they'd gotten used to us. The questions had shifted from "Is the relationship real?" to "Where are you two going tonight?"
"Your place," I said. "I want to be alone with you. No cameras. No people. Just us."
He glanced at me, something shifting in his eyes. Heat. Want. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
---
**Kael's POV**
We got to my house and went inside.
Mrs. Choi had left dinner in the fridge with a note: *Out visiting my sister. Back tomorrow. Enjoy your evening. - Mrs. C*
I smiled. She'd been doing that a lot lately. Giving us space.
Sunshine kicked off her heels and padded into the kitchen.
I'll heat up the food," she said.
I watched her move around my kitchen like she belonged there. And she did. She'd been staying over more and more. Had a drawer in my dresser. A toothbrush in my bathroom. Her favorite coffee in my cupboard.
We ate dinner on the couch, talking about everything and nothing. The tour. Her work. The future.
"I've been thinking," I said after we finished eating.
"About?"
"About you. Your career. Your future."
She turned to face me. "What about it?"
"You're my assistant. But you're so much more than that. You're brilliant. Organized. Smart. You could do anything."
"Kael—"
"I'm serious. What do you want to do? Long-term. If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?"
She was quiet for a moment.
"Law," she said finally. "I've always wanted to study law. Be a lawyer. Help people."
"Then do it."
"I can't just—"
"Why not?" I took her hand. "Sunshine, you don't have to be my assistant forever. You can go to school. Study. Build your own career. I'll support you every step of the way."
Her eyes filled with tears. "You mean that?"
"I mean it. I want you to have everything you want. And if that means going back to school and becoming a lawyer, then that's what we'll do."
She kissed me. Hard and fast and full of emotion.
When she pulled back, she was smiling through tears.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
The kiss deepened. Her hands slid into my hair. Mine tightened on her waist.
Heat flooded through me. Want. Need.
I stood up, pulling her with me.
"Kael—"
I lifted her into my arms. She gasped, wrapping her legs around my waist.
"What are you doing?"
"Something I've wanted to do all day."
I carried her to the kitchen, set her on the counter.
She looked up at me, breathing hard, eyes dark.
I stepped between her legs, hands sliding up her thighs.
"You're so beautiful," I murmured.
"Kael—"
I kissed her. Deep and hungry and desperate.
Her hands pulled at my shirt. My fingers found the zipper of her dress.
She arched into me, a soft sound escaping her throat that nearly undid me.
I kissed down her neck. Her collarbone. The top of her chest.
Her nails dug into my shoulders.
"God, Kael—"
I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her eyes were dark, pupils blown wide. Her lips swollen from my kisses. Her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"You're so beautiful," I breathed.
Before she could respond, I found the zipper at the back of her dress and slowly pulled it down.
The fabric loosened. Fell away from her shoulders.
I helped her out of it, letting the dress pool at her waist where she sat on the counter.
She wasn't wearing a bra.
My breath caught.
She was bare before me. No bra. Just skin and curves and perfection.
"Kael—" Her voice was breathless.
I didn't move. Just looked at her. Let my eyes travel slowly down her body.
"Please—"
I stepped closer, my hands on the counter on either side of her. Caging her in without actually touching her.
She squirmed. Bit her lip.
I leaned in, my lips hovering just above her collarbone. Close enough that she could feel my breath. But I didn't kiss her.
She whimpered.
"So impatient," I murmured, finally pressing one soft kiss to her collarbone.
"Kael—"
I trailed my lips across to her shoulder.
Down to the top of her chest. Barely touching. Just teasing.
Her hands reached for me.
I caught her wrists. "Hands behind you."
She obeyed immediately, gripping the edge of the counter.
"Good girl."
I finally let my hands slide up her sides. Slowly. Torturously slowly.
She trembled under my touch.
My thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts and she gasped.
I circled my hands around but didn't touch where she needed me most.
"Kael, please—"
I cupped her breasts. Filled my hands with soft skin.
Her head fell back.
I brushed my thumbs over her nipples.
She moaned. Desperate and needy.
I rolled them between my fingers. Gently. Then harder.
"Please—"
Her thighs tightened around my waist. She was panting now.
I lowered my head slowly. My mouth hovering just above her left breast. So close she could feel my breath on her sensitive skin.
She was shaking. "Please—"
I looked up at her. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Her lips parted. Her chest heaving.
I was just about to take nipple her into my mouth when—
My phone buzzed loudly on the counter beside her. Shattering the moment.
We both froze.
It buzzed again. And again.
"Ignore it," I breathed against her skin.
But it kept buzzing. Insistent. Urgent.
She pulled back, breathing hard. "You should check it. What if it's important?"
I groaned. Rested my forehead against hers. "I don't care."
"Kael."
"Fine." I grabbed the phone, ready to throw it across the room.
Then I saw the screen.
Director Han - 5 missed calls
Director Han: URGENT. Call me NOW.
Director Han: Kael, this is important. Pick up.
My stomach dropped.
Sunshine saw my face. "What's wrong?"
I hit call.
Director Han answered immediately.
"Finally! Where have you been?"
"What's going on?"
"The tour venue in Tokyo just called. There's a scheduling conflict—we need to move your departure date up. Instead of leaving in a month, you leave in ONE WEEK. I need you AND Sunshine at the office NOW for an emergency meeting. Travel logistics, schedule changes, visa expediting—the whole team is here."
"One week? But—"
"NOW, Kael. Both of you. This is non-negotiable."
She hung up.
I looked at Sunshine. Her dress still half-off. Her lips swollen from my kisses.
"We have to go," I said quietly.
She nodded, quickly fixing her dress. "Work never stops, huh?"
"Never."
I helped her with her zipper. Grabbed my keys.
We headed downstairs to the parking garage. Got in my car.
As I pulled out onto the street and approached my building's entrance, I saw it.
A familiar car parked outside my house.
Black Mercedes. Tinted windows. License plate I'd memorized years ago.
My heart sank.
No.
Not now.
Not her.
**END OF CHAPTER 16**