Sunshine's POV Friday, 8:00 AM
I woke up to kael voice, even in this heartbreaking time, I'm still obsessed around his song and can't stop listening to Fracture.
I sat up, about to head to the wash room, when my eyes caught my laptop on the other side of my bed.
The email was still open.
Subject: Resignation – Effective Immediately
I fell asleep last night trying to write this
*Dear Director Han,*
My hands shook.
*I am writing to inform you of my resignation from my position as Personal Assistant to Kael Kim effective immediately.*
Tears blurred my vision.
*Due to personal reasons, I am unable to continue in this role.*
Personal reasons.
Like loving someone who doesn't love you back.
Like protecting someone at a police station and then watching them get embraced by their ex-girlfriend an hour later.
Like being nobody.
*I apologize for the short notice and any inconvenience this may cause.*
*Thank you for the opportunity.*
*Sincerely,*
*Sunshine Reyes*
I read it over.
Short. Professional. Cold.
My finger hovered over the send button.
One click.
That's all it would take.
And everything would be over.
No more confusion.
No more watching him with her.
No more pretending I was okay with being second.
But also—
No more him.
My chest tightened.
I closed my eyes.
You're doing the right thing.
But it didn't feel right.
It felt like a loss.
Like I was cutting something out of my life that I wasn't ready to lose.
I exhaled slowly.
Then minimized the email.
Not deleted.
Just… not sent.
Not yet.
---
Kael's POV 10:00 AM
She didn't answer my calls.
Didn't reply my messages.
Didn't show up early like she always did.
And for the first time since this whole mess started—
I felt something close to panic.
"Where's Sunshine?" I asked Min-ji the moment I stepped into the office.
"She's… coming in later, I think."
Later?
Sunshine was never late.
Something was wrong.
I pulled out my phone.
Called again.
Voicemail.
I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.
"Damn it…"
---
Sunshine's POV – 11:30 AM
I walked into KDX like nothing had changed.
Like I hadn't almost walked away from everything two hours ago.
"Good morning," I greeted softly.
Min-ah looked relieved. "You're here."
"Of course I am."
But even I could hear how forced that sounded.
I walked to my desk.
Sat down.
Turned on my system.
And tried to pretend my heart wasn't breaking.
"Sunshine."
My body stilled.
I knew that voice.
Slowly, I turned.
Kael stood there.
Watching me like he hadn't slept.
Like he'd been waiting.
"We need to talk."
Professional.
Stay professional.
"I have reports to—"
"Sunshine."
My name.
Soft.
But firm.
Not a request.
A need.
I swallowed.
"…Five minutes."
---
**Kael's Office**
The door closed behind us.
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"I called you," he said.
"I know."
"You didn't answer."
"I wasn't available."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"That's not like you."
"Maybe I'm changing."
That hit.
I saw it in his eyes.
"Is this about yesterday?"
I let out a small, humorless laugh.
"What do you think?"
"Sunshine—"
"You didn't stop her."
The words came out before I could soften them.
Before I could hold them back.
His expression shifted.
"What?"
"You didn't stop her, Kael." My voice was still calm—but sharper now. "She hugged you. Held you. Touched you. In public. And you just stood there."
"I was surprised—"
"And I was humiliated."
That landed.
Hard.
Silence filled the room again.
"I tried to come after you," he said.
"But you didn't."
Because Hana was still holding him.
Because he let her.
I shook my head slightly.
"You don't get it."
"Then help me understand."
I looked at him.
Really looked at him.
Tired.
Stressed.
Carrying too much.
But still—
"That's exactly the problem, Kael. I shouldn't have to teach you basic respect."
His brows furrowed.
"It wasn't like that—"
"We're not private anymore," I cut in. "People know. They see us. They watch. So what exactly am I supposed to be when another woman is all over you in the lobby?"
He ran a hand through his hair.
Frustrated now.
"I have a lot going on right now, Sunshine. My father is being investigated. The company is at risk. I just got out of a police interrogation yesterday—"
"And I was there too," I said quietly.
That stopped him.
"I was in that same station. Answering those same questions. Protecting you."
My voice softened, but the pain was still there.
"And then I walk into the lobby and see that."
He exhaled sharply.
"I love you."
The words came suddenly.
Heavy.
Real.
"I love you, Sunshine. But everything is falling apart right now. I don't have the capacity to fight you too."
"I'm not something you fight, Kael."
"I know," he said quickly. "That's not what I meant. I just—" He paused, struggling. "I need you close. Not distant. Not shutting me out."
"And I need to feel respected."
Silence.
Raw.
Honest.
"Hana is nothing," he said finally. "She's helping. That's it."
"Then set boundaries."
"I will."
"You didn't."
"I will now."
I held his gaze.
"Not just words."
"I know."
A beat.
"The hug won't happen again," he added.
Something in my chest loosened.
Just slightly.
Not healed.
Not fixed.
But… heard.
"I'm not saying this again, Kael," I said softly. "I won't compete with anyone for a place in your life."
"You won't have to."
"Make sure of it."
He leaned closer to me and hugged me, and my heart couldn't help but betray me.
He went ahead to plant a soft kiss on my forehead and said,
"Let's not fight. I love you so much."
For a second—
Just a second—
Everything felt okay again.
Like the world wasn't falling apart.
Like we weren't standing on something fragile.
Like I hadn't almost walked away this morning.
Then—
His phone buzzed.
The moment shattered.
**Kael POV**
I reached for my phone
I sighed, already knowing—
"Director Han," I muttered, answering.
"Kael. Where are you?"
"In my office."
"Good. Put Sunshine on the line."
I glanced at her.
She was already looking at me.
I switched to speaker.
"We're both here."
There was a pause.
"…Both?" Director Han repeated.
Then—
Sunshine and I looked at each other.
And for the first time since everything started—
We laughed.
Soft.
Unexpected.
Real.
"Good," Director Han continued, "No time to waste. The advertisement shoot has been delayed long enough. You're both going now."
"Now?" I asked.
"Yes. Everything is already set. Finish it today. We need something stable in the middle of all this chaos."
My jaw tightened slightly at that.
Chaos.
Accurate.
"Understood," Sunshine said professionally.
"Handle it," Director Han added before hanging up.
Silence.
We both looked at each other again.
And somehow—
The tension from earlier softened.
Just a little.
"Guess we're working," I said.
She nodded.
"Let's go."
We stood side by side.
Not touching.
But not distant either.
A quiet space.
Not uncomfortable.
Just…
Careful.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Yes" She replied with a smile
"Hana."
She walked toward us like she had been summoned by the moment itself.
Elegant as always.
Effortless.
Untouchable.
"I heard you're heading for the shoot," she said.
"Yes," I replied.
She smiled. "I'll come with you."
A pause.
"Okay."
Simple.
No resistance.
No tension.
Just… allowed.
And Sunshine didn't react.
Didn't question.
Didn't look away.
She just walked forward.
And we followed.
Photoshoot Studio – 2:05 PM
The moment we stepped in—
Energy.
Movement.
Noise.
"Kael, over here!"
"We're starting immediately!"
"Makeup—quick!"
Everything happened fast.
Too fast to think.
And for the first time in days—
It helped.
Because thinking?
Was exhausting.
---
Sunshine's POV
"Let's move quickly," I told the team.
"No more delays."
They nodded.
Everyone got into position.
Focused.
Professional.
I moved around naturally—
Fixing things.
Adjusting schedules.
Coordinating timing.
This—
This was something I could control.
And for a moment—
That was enough.
---
Kael's POV
The lights came on.
Bright.
Warm.
The camera lifted.
"Ready?"
I nodded.
But something was different.
For the first time in over a week—
My chest didn't feel as tight.
Still heavy.
Still aware of Monday.
Of my father.
Of everything waiting.
But here—
Right now—
I could breathe.
And then after a few flashes
She stepped closer.
"Your collar," Sunshine said softly.
Fixing it.
Professional.
Careful.
But her fingers brushed my neck slightly.
And just like that—
Something shifted.
"Hold that," the photographer said suddenly.
"Wait—this is good."
Flash.
I looked at her.
Really looked at her.
And this time—
I didn't hold back.
Sunshine's POV
"Kael—focus," I whispered.
But he didn't.
Instead—
He smiled.
Not the public one.
Not the rehearsed one.
The real one.
And my heart—
Traitor that it was—
reacted instantly.
"Stay like that!" the photographer shouted excitedly.
Flash.
Flash.
"Closer!" someone else added.
I should have stepped back.
Created space.
Done my job.
But—
I didn't.
Because he moved first.
His hand found my waist.
Pulling me just slightly closer.
Not inappropriate.
Not obvious.
But intentional.
Very intentional.
"Kael…" I warned softly.
But my voice lacked strength.
And he knew it.
"Relax," he murmured.
Only for me.
"I've got you."
Flash.
The room shifted.
The staff started murmuring.
Then laughing.
Low.
Excited.
Invested.
"Ahhh look at them!"
"This is crazy chemistry!"
"Don't stop—keep going!"
I felt my face warm.
But I didn't pull away.
Because somehow—
For the first time—
It didn't feel like I was losing.
It felt like I was being chosen.
---
Kael's POV
I forgot everything.
The investigation.
The pressure.
The noise.
Everything.
Except her.
"Perfect!" the photographer shouted. "This is the best set we've had!"
And for once—
I agreed.
Laughter filled the room.
Staff smiling.
Whispering.
Watching us like we were something real.
Something worth rooting for.
And maybe—
Just maybe—
We were.
Then—
BANG.
The sharp slam of a door echoed through the studio.
The laughter stopped instantly.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Reality crashing back in.
I turned.
Hana was gone.
"Aigoo…
An older staff member shook her head slightly.
**Sunshine's POV**
My heart was still racing.
But now—
For a different reason.
Slowly—
I looked up.
He was already looking at me.
And this time—
Neither of us looked away.
And somehow…
That felt more dangerous than anything that had happened before.
---
END OF CHAPTER 23