The following morning, Ha-eun walked through the wide, polished hallways of the Yoon estate, the soft echo of her heels breaking the silence. The air smelled faintly of cedar and ginseng tea—the scent that always lingered in her grandfather's study.
She paused at the carved wooden doors before knocking gently.
"Come in," Chairman Yoon's firm but warm voice called out.
Inside, the old man sat behind his mahogany desk, a stack of documents spread before him. His sharp eyes, still unclouded despite his age, softened the moment they fell on her.
"Ha-eun-ah."
She smiled, stepping forward. "Good morning, Grandfather."
He gestured for her to sit. "How was the event last night?"
For a heartbeat, the memory of panic and fear threatened to suffocate her again—the stranger's hand over her mouth, the pool water closing over her head. But she forced a smile, lowering her gaze politely. "It went well. Everyone seemed satisfied."
The old man narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her face. He knew her too well, knew when her smile was paper-thin. But instead of pressing, he gave a small nod and leaned back in his chair. "Good."
He shuffled a paper aside, then spoke again. "I heard your father introduced another suitor. I assume Se-mi is already figuring out how to send him away?"
That made Ha-eun chuckle softly. "Usually, yes. But… this time is different." She hesitated, then added, "Park Jun-ik actually spoke to me directly. He asked me to lunch."
Her grandfather's brows lifted in surprise. "Did he now?" His eyes gleamed, impressed. "That one is sharp, I'll give him that. What do you think about him?"
Ha-eun tilted her head, thoughtful. "I'm not sure yet. He seems… different from the others. But I can't tell if it's genuine or just another polished mask."
Chairman Yoon was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "Ha-eun-ah… I want to see you settled. I don't want to leave you all alone in this world. Your mother would send me back if I did."
The way he said it—half joking, half heavy with truth—made her heart tighten. She reached across the desk, resting her hand over his, and smiled through the sudden sting in her eyes. "Then you don't get to leave, Grandfather. Not anytime soon."
He chuckled, and when she stood , walked around his desk to embrace him, she knelt before she pressed her head against his chest. His steady heartbeat reminded her of when she was little, clinging to him for safety.
"I'll hold you to that," she whispered.
---
A few hours later, Ha-eun descended the grand staircase, fully dressed for work in a fitted navy suit that exuded authority. The sound of voices reached her before she reached the foyer.
She blinked in surprise when she spotted a familiar figure—broad-shouldered, laughing heartily at what the maid, Soo-ah must have said.
"Uncle Yoon-gi!" she exclaimed, breaking into a genuine smile.
Oh Yoon-gi, Se-mi's father and her closest uncle figure, looked up just in time to catch her as she practically launched herself into his arms. He laughed, patting her back warmly.
"Ha-eun-ah! Look at you—you grow sharper every time I see you. How have you been, child?"
She leaned back, still grinning, eyes glimmering with affection. "Busy, as always. Se-mi and I missed you."
"And I missed you both." His gaze softened. "I brought plenty of gifts from abroad, but first I must see the Chairman. Duty before spoiling my girls, hm?"
Ha-eun nodded, releasing him with a smile. "He'll be glad to see you. Go on, don't keep him waiting."
He gave her one last pat on the head before heading toward the study.
Ha-eun exhaled, still smiling faintly, she turned to Soo-ah. "Good morning," she said to the maid who returned her smile, "please tell the driver to bring the car around. I'm leaving now."
"Of course. Will you be having breakfast first?"
Ha-eun glanced at her watch, grimacing at the time. "No. I'll grab something on the way. I'm already running late."
"Understood."
Ha-eun picked up her bag, which she dropped running into Yoon-gi's arms, adjusting her blazer before stepping out into the crisp morning air. Despite her attempt at calm, her thoughts tugged back to the night before—the stranger's tattoos, the warmth of his chest, the strange gentleness in his voice as he told her she was safe.
She shook the memory off with a small scoff. Focus, Ha-eun. Work first.
_______________
The soft ding of the elevator greeted Ha-eun as the doors opened, revealing Se-mi already waiting with her tablet tucked against her chest.
"You know your dad's back?" Ha-eun asked, stepping in beside her.
Se-mi nodded. "I saw him before I left. He looked tired, but… happy."
Ha-eun smiled faintly. "Good. You must've missed him."
The elevator slid open to the executive floor. As they walked down the corridor, Se-mi began reading off the day's schedule—board briefings, two client calls, and a contract review—her voice crisp and efficient. But as they entered Ha-eun's office, her assistant's tone faltered.
Se-mi hesitated before pulling out a business card from her pocket, setting it delicately on the desk. Park Jun-ik.
Ha-eun stared at it, her jaw tightening. She slowly sank into her chair, fingertips brushing over the glossy print. For a long moment she simply looked at it, as if the decision lay heavier than it should.
"Should I schedule a meeting with him?" Se-mi asked gently.
Ha-eun exhaled, shoving the card into her drawer. "No. I don't have time for that right now."
Se-mi gave her a small smile and quietly excused herself.
---
An hour later, the office door burst open. Se-mi stumbled in, her face pale, panic radiating off her as she clutched her tablet.
Ha-eun immediately straightened. "What's wrong?"
Se-mi's hand shook as she turned the screen toward her. "This."
Ha-eun's breath caught. On the display was a photo—herself and Jun-ho, clinging to each other, wet and barely dressed. His torso bare, her dress clinging scandalously to her frame.
Her stomach dropped. "What… what is this?"
"It's trending," Se-mi whispered. "You're number one on every portal. They're saying CEO Yoon Ha-eun sneaks around with men in pools. That you skipped out on the gala to… to meet a secret lover."
Ha-eun's hand tightened around the desk edge.
Se-mi swallowed hard. "They're spinning it badly. Some say the reason you've refused marriage is because you prefer… younger men. They dug into him. He's a college student." She scrolled, revealing a profile: Lee Jun-ho, 22. Civil Engineering major, Seoul National University.
Ha-eun's head spun. She could already imagine her grandfather seeing this. She couldn't breathe.
Grabbing her bag, she stood so quickly the chair toppled. "Call the driver. Now."
Se-mi rushed to dial, following close behind as Ha-eun stormed out of the office.
Meanwhile, at Seoul National University—
Jun-ho strolled toward class with Se-jeong at his side, the other boy sucking on a lollipop, rambling about last night's gala and how surreal it felt.
Jun-ho chuckled faintly, though a prickling sensation followed him. People were staring. Whispering. But he shook it off—why would anyone look at him?
As they entered the lecture hall, the atmosphere shifted. Dozens of eyes snapped to them, murmurs rising like static.
"Uh… hyung," Se-jeong muttered, leaning closer. "Am I crazy, or is literally everyone staring at us?"
Jun-ho shrugged and sat, flipping open his notebook. "Probably imagining things."
But then Jung Min-ah rushed over, her expression frantic. She shoved her phone at him.
"Jun-ho… is this you?"
Se-jeong's lollipop slipped from his mouth, clattering onto the desk.
Jun-ho's gaze locked on the screen—the photo of him and Ha-eun, plastered across headlines, scandal dripping from every pixel. His face went cold, blood draining as realization sank in.
"…Fuck."